OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of exercise load on apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA) of normal lumbar intervertebral discs in magnetic resonance (MR) diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).

METHODS
Thirty healthy volunteers (24 males and 6 females, aged 19 to 25 years) underwent examinations with MR T2WI and DTI of the lumbar intervertebral discs before and after exercise load. Pfirrmann grading was evaluated with T2WI, and the B0 map, ADC map and FA map were reconstructed based on the DTI data to investigate the changes in ADC and FA after exercise.

RESULTS
Of the 30 volunteers (150 intervertebral discs) receiving the examination, 27 with discs of Pfirrminn grade II were included for analysis. In these 27 volunteers, the average ADC and FA before exercise were (1.99 ± 0.18)×10⁻³ mm²/s and 0.155∓0.059, respectively. After exercise, ADC was lowered significantly to (1.93 ± 0.17)×10⁻³ mm²/s (P<0.05) and FA increased slightly to 0.1623 ± 0.017 (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION
DTI allows quantitatively analysis of the changes in water molecular diffusion and anisotropy of the lumbar intervertebral discs after exercise load, which can cause a decreased ADC and a increased FA value, and the change of ADC is more sensitive to exercise load.


The Covid-19 pandemic has provoked a deep and extensive health crisis and a trail of deaths globally and in Brazil (1). Brazil had reached the mark of 22,499,525 cases and 619,937 deaths by January 10, 2022 (2). The current Jair Bolsonaro government took too long to recognise the severity of the pandemic and also tried to discredit the vaccination process, and generated further controversy around the negotiations with the global suppliers. The harvest of this disastrous failure to manage the purchase and supplies of vaccines has been a hugely negative impact on the vaccination campaign, which was at a low of 22.4% in August 2021, and has only now reached 67.47% (3). There is still a long way to go to improve vaccination levels and to ensure easy access for the population (4).


The relaxation dynamics of nanoscale molecules such as arises from spin-lattice coupling and interaction with nuclear spins. Using a resolvent method in terms of the energy eigenstates and the first Born approximation with respect to phonon scattering, and averaging over the hyperfine field, we obtain a controlled approximation for the non-equilibrium magnetic relaxation behaviour and, in particular, for the corresponding rate. The rate is finite at T = 0, then increases linearly with T, and shows Arrhenius behaviour at higher temperature; for zero magnetic field B there are two different activation energies. The resonances as a function of B are shown to be slightly asymmetric about B = 0. Taking account of a quartic crystal field gives rise to a temperature-dependent shift of the resonant values of B. We find that, contrary to previous results, the rate is independent of the magnetic field at low but finite temperatures; for it is linear in B. Finally we compare our findings with various experimental data.


This study presents a method for distress image classification in road infrastructures introducing self-supervised learning. Self-supervised learning is an unsupervised learning method that does not require class labels. This learning method can reduce annotation efforts and allow the application of machine learning to a large number of unlabeled images. We propose a novel distress image classification method using contrastive learning, which is a type of self-supervised learning. Contrastive learning provides image domain-specific representation, constraining such that similar images are embedded nearby in the latent space. We augment the single input distress image into multiple images by image transformations and construct the latent space, in which the augmented images are embedded close to each other. This provides a domain-specific representation of the damage in road infrastructure using a large number of unlabeled distress images. Finally, the representation obtained by contrastive learning is used to improve the distress image classification performance. The obtained contrastive learning model parameters are used for the distress image classification model. We realize the successful distress image representation by utilizing unlabeled distress images, which have been difficult to use in the past. In the experiments, we use the distress images obtained from the real world to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method for various distress types and confirm the performance improvement.


Nanocomposites using EPON 824 as their matrix were exposed to pulse laser at 532 nm for various time intervals. The developed nanomaterials used for this study were manufactured using EPON 824 with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) at a loading rate of 0.15% by weight and nanoclays at a loading rate of 2% by weight as reinforcements. The effect of laser irradiation on polymer composites has been investigated. The degradation mechanism for the epoxy was of a laser induced burning nature. Of all specimens tested, the ultimate strength of the MWCNT-reinforced specimens decreased the most as a function of radiation time; the nanoclay-reinforced epoxy retained the most strength after 2 min of laser radiation. In addition, the threshold fluence for decomposition indicated that less energy was required to initiate decomposition in the MWCNT-reinforced epoxy than in the nanoclay-reinforced epoxy. This can be attributed to the high thermal conductivity of the carbon nanotubes. Measurement of surface damage in the material was observed via electron microscopy. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to investigate changes to the molecular structure as a function of exposure time. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009


A thermostable alpha-amylase from B. licheniformis (BLA) and a mesophilic amylase from B. amyloliquefaciens (BAA) were covalently coupled to oxidized synthetic sucrose polymers (OSP400 and OSP70) and polyglutaraldehyde (PGA) by reductive alkylation to study the effect of neoglycosylation on the activity, kinetic and thermodynamic stability. The catalytic efficiency of the modified enzymes was comparable to that of the native enzyme. Covalent coupling decreased the rate of inactivation at all the temperatures studied, both in the presence and absence of added Ca2+. The stability of the native enzyme was found to increase upon modification as observed from the increase in tl/2 in the absence of Ca2+ ions by about 1.5 - 13.7 times (at 85 degrees C) in the case of BLA and 5.7 - 8.4 times (at 50 degrees C) for BAA. The highest stability was observed for OSP400 modified enzyme with Delta Cm and Delta Tm values of 0.63 M and 7.92 degrees C for BLA and 0.85 M and 5.3 degrees C for BAA, respectively. The order of stability was OSP400 > OSP70 > PGA > Native for both BLA and BAA. The stability of the modified amylases obtained from the present study were superior compared to most of the single and double mutants obtained by site-directed mutagenesis that were constructed so as to enhance the intrinsic stability of these enzymes.


Different concentrations of growth regulators and three types of explants were investigated for their efficiency on callus induction in Telfairia occidentalis with a view of providing baseline information for the development of a callus initiation protocol. Three concentrations of kinetin (KN) (0.1, 3.3 and 5.0 mg/L) in combination with two concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) (2.0 and 5.0 mg/L) and two concentrations of naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) (0.25 and 0.5 mg/L) in combination with 0.25 mg/L benzyl adenine (BA) were tested for their effect on callus induction from stem, leaf and nodal explants collected from field-grown Telfairia plants. Media supplemented with 2,4-D in combination with kinetin gave the highest cumulative percent callus induction. With regards to cumulative percentage callus induction and total callus produced, media supplemented with BA alone was better than media supplemented with kinetin alone.  Irrespective of the growth regulator type, percent callus induction was not significantly different among explant types. The study concluded that, 2,4-D is a better auxin for high callus induction in T. occidentalis explants as compared to NAA. However, there is still a need to test the effect of 2,4-D in combination with BA on callus induction. Keywords: Telfairia occidentalis, callus initiation, 2,4-D, BA, kinetin African Journal of Biotechnology , Vol 13(20), 2015-2021


The physicochemical characteristics and consumer perceptions of two Fuji cultivars (Fuji and Royal Fuji) with six different size groups (3D: 30~39, 4D: 40~49, 5D: 50~59, 6D: 60~69, 7D: 70~79, and 8D: 80~89 apples/15 kg) were investigated to identify the ideal size and the drivers of consumer acceptability of apples. For the physicochemical characteristics, the weight, volume, specific volume, L, a, and b colors, hardness, pH, acidity, and brix of apples were measured. A total of 100 consumers were asked to mark the intensity of the characteristics (size, redness, glossiness, surface roughness, apple odor, apple flavor, sweetness, sourness, hardness, crunchiness, and toughness) to determine the ideal characteristics of apples before they were asked to taste the apple products. The consumers evaluated the apple samples in terms of their appearance, odor, flavor, texture, and overall acceptability; the consumers' intent to purchase such apples and willingness to pay for them; and the intensity of the aforementioned characteristics. Compared to the ideal characteristics of apples, the actual apple samples were rated low in their apple odor, apple flavor, acidity, sweetness, hardness, and crispness. The ideal size of the apples was between 4D and 5D. Their overall acceptability was highly affected by their flavor, followed by their texture, odor, and appearance. The acceptability of the appearance was highly correlated with the glossiness (r = 0.80), volume, weight, redness (r = 0.73), and size (r = 0.72). The consumer acceptability of the apples increased with the decreased pH and the increased Brix, hardness, and color b values of the peeled apples. The apple flavor, sweetness, hardness, crispiness, juiciness, and toughness during mastication were noted as sensory drivers of consumer acceptability.


Innocent I (402-417) addressed Epistula 38 to two Bruttian bishops, Maximus and Severus, in response to a complaint from Maximilianus, an agens in rebus, that these southern Italian bishops had failed to take action against presbyters who fathered children contrary to the requirements of celibacy after ordination and claimed to be ignorant of any policy on this matter. Innocent reminded the two bishops that they needed to attend to their duties. This letter is among the earliest evidence for how the Roman bishop operated in practice as metropolitan of Suburbicarian (and possibly Annonarian) Italy and so this article examines the growth of Rome's metropolitan authority and concludes from an examination of both context and content of the letter that Innocent did not refer to any formal authority, which grew over time but seems to have been limited to presiding over synods, approving the election and ordination of new bishops, and hearing appeals from deposed bishops outside his province, but was exercising a practical authority as the leading bishop of the area, which he expressed in surprised tones, to direct them to do their duty.


Automated planning is a domain of Artificial Intelligence which aims to study the deliberation process used to choose and organize actions by anticipating their expected outcomes. In this paper, we discuss the use of automated planning techniques in crisis management contexts. To begin with, the crisis management planning problem is formalized in light of the conceptual model for automated planning. In addition, we describe the conceptual scheme of an information system generating action plans in order to support decision-makers in crisis management. Finally, a proof of concept implementation of the aforementioned system is presented.


Besides its actions on the regulation of appetite, leptin has also been implicated in regulating reproductive and immune functions. Because leptin-deficient mice are more susceptible to lipopolysaccharide- and tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced shock, which is associated with lower levels of interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), we investigated whether leptin is a direct regulator of IL-1Ra in human monocytes. In human moncytic cells, leptin was capable of inducing a 6- to 10-fold increase in secreted IL-1Ra in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Moreover, leptin induced the messenger RNA for IL-1Ra within 8 h and specifically activated the promoter for this gene. However, leptin had no effect on the expression or secretion of IL-1 in THP-1 cells. This effect of leptin on monocytic cells requires the presence of the functional leptin receptor OB-Rb, which we have shown to be present in human monocytes by RT-PCR and by measuring the activation of the Jak/STAT pathway. In summary, we have demonstrated that leptin is capable of inducing the expression and secretion of IL-1Ra by human monocytes, an effect that is potentially mediated through the presence of functional leptin receptors on these cells. These findings suggest that leptin may have immunomodulatory functions in vivo.


Leiomyomas are benign soft-tissue tumours which take origin from the smooth muscles. Pleura and chest wall are uncommon location for such tumours. Here, we report a case of a 26-year-old female patient presented with 3 months history of chest pain. Chest X-ray and CT showed a calcified mass of 6×12 cm in size in the left lateral of the chest wall. After resection of the mass, pathological examination diagnosed it as atypical deep somatic soft-tissue leiomyoma of extrathoracic chest wall. No pathological finding was detected during follow-up.


In this paper, an algorithm is defined to construct 3n-point quaternary approximating subdivision schemes which are useful to design different geometric objects in the field of geometric modeling. We are going to establish a family of approximating schemes because approximating scheme provide maximum smoothness as compare to the interpolating schemes. It is to be observed that the proposed schemes satisfying the basic sum rules with bell-shaped mask go up to the convergent subdivision schemes which preserve monotonicity. We analyze the shape-preserving properties such that convexity and concavity of proposed schemes. We also show that quaternary schemes associated to the certain refinable functions with dilation 4 have higher order shape preserving properties. We also calculated the polynomial reproduction of proposed quaternary approximating subdivision schemes. The proposed schemes have tension parameter, so by choosing different values of the tension parameter we can get different limit curves of initial control polygon. We show in the table form that the proposed schemes are better than the existing schemes by comparing them on the behalf of their support and continuity. The visual quality of proposed schemes is demonstrated by different snapshots.


It is widely believed that skeletal resistance is the mechanism of impaired calcemic response to parathyroid hormone (PTH) in renal failure. The action of PTH not only involves skeletal mobilization of Ca, it may also stimulate intestinal absorption of Ca and renal conservation of Ca. We have examined each of these factors and studied the calcemic response to PTH in renal failure. PTH, 3 U/hr/100 gm, was infused for 5 hours in rats with renal failure 3 weeks after a five-sixths nephrectomy. In nonfasted animals, the post-PTH increments of total plasma Ca (0.71 +/- 0.06 mg/dl) and ionized Ca (0.37 +/- 0.06 mg/dl) of control sham-operated rats were significantly greater than those of rats with renal failure (plasma Ca 0.37 +/- 0.02 mg/dl and plasma ionized Ca 0.17 +/- 0.01 mg/dl both p less than 0.001). Urinary Ca excretion rate remained unchanged during PTH infusion despite the increase in plasma Ca. Plasma levels of calcitriol after PTH injection were higher in control rats (257 +/- 18 pg/ml) than in rats with renal failure (162 +/- 5 pg/ml, p less than 0.001). Pretreatment of rats with renal failure with 50 ng calcitriol intravenously corrected the abnormal calcemic response to PTH. To exclude the PTH effect on intestinal Ca absorption, PTH infusion was carried out in animals fasted for 18 hours. The post-PTH increments of Ca were no longer different between rats with renal failure (plasma Ca 0.37 +/- 0.04 mg/dl, plasma ionized Ca 0.20 +/- 0.01 mg/dl) and control rats (plasma Ca 0.37 +/- 0.03 mg/dl, plasma ionized Ca 0.19 +/- 0.01), suggesting that skeletal mobilization of Ca was similar between the two groups of animals. We conclude that lack of intestinal response to PTH rather than skeletal resistance was the mechanism of impaired calcemic response to PTH in this model of renal failure.


One of the performances of the electric power system can be seen from the quality of electrical energy. In this study, the measurement of the quality of electrical energy was carried out using a power quality meter to obtain the values of current, voltage, frequency, total current harmonic distortion and total voltage harmonic distortion in the building of the Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Bangka Belitung. From measurements on the 3 existing buildings, it was found that the measured voltage value range was still at + 5% to 10% of the 220 Volt secondary distribution voltage value and the frequency value was still in the range of 49.5 Hz to 50.5 Hz. The total value of voltage harmonic distortion is still below the required value, but the total value of current harmonic distortion is above the required value.


: Most of the dairy cattle in Nandi County are found in smallholder farms, where ticks and tick-borne diseases pose challenges to their productivity and survival. Dipping of the cattle in chemical acaricides, on weekly basis, is used to manage the ticks. Examination of the County's tick control records for the period 2000 – 2012 revealed that 84.11% of the registered cattle were dipped in communally-owned and managed plunge dips, while 15.89% used privately-managed dips. Varying numbers of cattle were dipped annually (266,178.3±30,963), in either chlorfenvinphos, amitraz or synthetic pyrethroid acaricides. The dip-wash tests indicated that 56.36% of the samples were at the standard dipping concentrations while 38.81% were under-strength, and 4.83% over-strength. Anaplasmosis and East Coast Fever were prevalent tick-borne diseases, at 47.74% and 47.08%, respectively. Babesiosis and heart water remained low. In conclusion, the plunge dips were prominent tick control facilities, but their use was not consistent with the recommended operating procedures, leading to persistence of tick-borne diseases.


Chorea-acanthocytosis is a rare cause of chorea. The genetic origin of the disease was proven with the isolation of the gene on chromosome 9q21. We report the case of two sisters who had two different expressions of this disease. The first sister developed secondary epilepsy associated with abnormal movement of the face. The second presented abnormal movements of the face and apathy. Both improved with serotoninergic treatment. Diagnosis was suggested on the basis of clinical findings and confirmed by identification of acanthocyes and integrity of the Kell blood antigen. Search for acanthocytes should be performed in all patients with chorea. Chorea associated with acanthocytosis has a better prognosis than chorea arising from other causes. Other neurological manifestations or complications may be present or mot; long-term follow-up in a specialized center iq needed for prevention.


In this paper, different schemes of joint blind channel tracking and data detection algorithms based on maximum likelihood (ML) algorithm for time-varying flat fading multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) channels are introduced. If the channel model is known in the receiver, ML can present the best performance. The performance and tracking behavior of the proposed algorithms is justified via various simulations for first order time-varying MIMO channels and it is shown that in all cases, the decision-directed ML (DDML) algorithm with separate ML detection and tracking has the best performance.


It is very important to protect the data security in distributed web applications. In this paper, a file content tamper-proofing system is proposed, which can effectively resist file content tampering, and prevents illegal information spreading. To meet the requirement of authentication speed, a fast authentication algorithm combines file length verification and HMAC is used in the file content tamper-proofing system, which improves the computing speed while keeping the system's security. Then the implementation plan of the file content tamper-proofing system is proposed.


The purpose of this study is to develop a system to support early rehabilitation training and homebased training. The subject is the rehabilitation training for hemiplegic upper extremities. During the rehabilitation training, motion training for the hemiplegic parts is carried out. The training also encompasses another hand (non-hemiplegic hand) to replace the function of the hemiplegic hand. Some patients are frustrated with operating small tools during the training. Some also want to carry out voluntary training in the patient room or at home under the guidance of occupational therapist. Thus, we developed a prototype system in which patients can conduct motion training of upper extremity while having fun. Our experience of developing the system is described in this article.


ABSTRACT This article discusses the Idea of Europe as it is developed within the phenomenological tradition by Edmund Husserl, Jacques Derrida and Jan Patočka. It shows how Derrida and Patočka try to preserve the main elements of European culture, mainly rationality and openness – in Patočka's terms 'the care for the soul' – while at the same time avoiding Eurocentrism. According to Patočka, the care for the soul has been lost in modernity and needs to be restored in a revival of the idea of Europe in post-European times. In line with Derrida and Patočka, it is argued that in today's post-European world a dissemination of the ethical idea of Europe is going on that leads beyond the name of 'Europe,' searching for new singular articulations, for which a renewal of the old notion of 'care' is a good candidate.


Coercion and conceptions of legitimate authority intersect with freedom and autonomy at both the individual level and the political level, and are central to two separate discourses in philosophy, namely, to discussions of free will and agency, and to social and political theory. However, with few exceptions, these discussions have gone on independently of one another. Traditionally, theories of agency have analyzed autonomy in terms of responsibility, such that an agent can be regarded as autonomous only if she is responsible for her actions. Social and political theory, on the other hand, is primarily concerned with how we may preserve our autonomy and freedom in the face of economic pressure and political authority, and has typically linked individual freedom to questions of human rights and political entitlements. I use the conception of responsibility that has been crucial to discussions of free will and agency to correct for the current over-emphasis on entitlements in social and political theory. I show how the concept of responsibility, rather than rights and entitlements, may provide a basis for freedom, by linking responsibility to discourse and discourse to freedom.


Recruitment of the short-finned squid Illex illecebrosus to adult feeding grounds on the shelf off eastern Canada constitutes an important transition from warm food-limited Gulf Stream waters to cold and productive slope and coastal waters. The impact of such gradients was addressed by analysing the gladius growth of 1585 juvenile squid collected across the Gulf Stream and shelf/slope fronts during research cruises conducted between 1979 and 1989. Temperature- and size-specific growth potential, as estimated by a bioenergetics model, were compared to measured gladius growth rates and revealed that young Illex were energetically expensive and food-limited in Gulf Stream waters (their hatching environment). Growth condition improved inshore, where metabolic costs decreased and more food became available. Similar patterns were observed when size-specific growth rates of squid caught across the temperature and food gradients were directly compared. In addition, transport processes in the Gulf Stream and slope water played an important role in providing access and retention in favourable areas. Juvenile onshore migration seems to be driven by elevated food requirements and involves physiological adaptations to compensate for decreasing temperatures. The individual "success" in terms of growth and survival may depend, however, on access to concentrated patches of food which, in turn, will be determined by timing and the transport dynamics of the main water masses.


This article aims to study the spatial distribution of soil nutrients of Larix principis-rupprechtii plantations at different altitudes in the northern mountainous regions of Hebei province,China.Using the SPSS statistical software to analysis the spatial distribution,coefficient of variation and the relationship between the soil nutrients.The results showed:(1) The pH value of soil ranged from 4.850 to 6.377;the highest contents of organic matter,available K,total N,alkaline hydrolysis N,total P and available P were all observed at the altitude of 1 800 m larch plantations.In addition,a decreasing trend with the increasing soil depth was found on the whole.(2) The coefficient variation of nutrients were used to reflect the heterogeneity of soil nutrients.And only at the altitude 1 800 m,the coefficient variation of the pH value of topsoil was less than 0.1,as a weak variability,20-40 cm of soil organic matter and total P and the 0-10,10-20 cm of total N showed high variations.(3) Soil nutrients showed correlations.Organic matters had significantly positive correlations with available K,total N,available N,total P,and had highly significant positive correlation with soil pH value.


abstract:Africana scholars often address their texts to a reader who is implicitly white. This tendency, which this article characterizes as the "discursive orientation toward whiteness," has the pernicious effect of limiting the range and rigor of scholars' research questions and proposal. This analysis examines the other discursive "face," following J. Saunders Redding's observation from almost eighty years ago, which remains unnervingly insightful: "Negro [sic] writers have been obliged to have two faces . . . to satisfy two different (and opposed when not entirely opposite) audiences, the [B]lack and the white." Scholars have described this second face in the text in a number of ways—variously as a temperament, a rhythm, or an "aesthetic." Through an analysis of a few exemplary texts, the current study will describe a few of the most salient characteristics, ultimately in the service of equipping the "Black" scholar with a few effective, liberatory rhetorical strategies.


Transitional lumbar vertebrae include lumbarization and sacralization of the lumbosacral region. This study was performed to evaluate the relationship of transitional vertebra to spondylolytic spondylolisthesis such as the incidence and degree of slippage and to ascertain the clinical relevance for treatment. The study included 182 cases with 33 cases (18.1%) of transitional vertebra, 12 cases of lumbarization, and 21 cases of sacralization. The remaining 149 cases constituted the control group. The degree of the anterior slippage of the vertebral body was measured by Meyerding's grading and the percentage of the anterior slippage was measured by Taillard's method. In the patients with lumbarization and the isthmic defects in the fourth lumbar spine, the average slip of L4 was 14.5%. While patients with sacralization and the isthmic defects in L4, the average slip of L4 was 19.3%. The average slip of L4 was 11.4% in the control group. In patients with lumbarization and the isthmic defects in the fifth lumbar vertebra, the average slip of L5 was 12.5%. While in patients with sacralization and the isthmic defects in L5, the average slip of the L5 vertebra was 9.5%. The average slip of L5 was 16.2% in the control group. The patients with sacralization and the isthmic defects in L4 showed more anterior slippage than the patients with the isthmic defect in L4 without transitional vertebrae. The patients with sacralization and the isthmic defects in L5 showed less anterior slippage than the patients with isthmic defects in L5 without transitional vertebrae. From this it can be concluded that more aggressive treatment is recommended in the patients with sacralization and isthmic defects in L4, whereas more conservative treatment is recommended in the patients with sacralization and the isthmic defects in L5.


Dwi Lestari, Agustin. 2009. The Teacher's Use of Basic Questionings in English Classroom Activity (a Study of the English Teachers of the State Senior High School 1 Subah Batang). A final project. English Department, Faculty of Language and Arts, Semarang State University. First advisor: Dr. Dwi Rukmini, M.Pd. Second advisor: Drs. Hartoyo, M.A, PhD.
Key words: Techniques of Basic Questionings, English Teachers
A good teacher is not only a teacher with well mastery in English material but also how he/ she as a teacher can conduct the teaching and learning process well. He /she can transform his/her ideas properly and makes a good communication with the students in order to make the classroom situation alive. One of the ways is by using the techniques of basic questionings offered by Turney.
The writer conducted a research in the first grade of The State Senior High School 1 Subah Batang in academic year 2008/2009 to find out the kind of teacher's techniques of basic questionings during the teaching and learning process and the advantages of using them. To reach those objectives, she used a qualitative approach.
She gathered the data by observing six meetings of two observed English teachers in the classroom activities (three meeting for each). She collected the data by voice recording, field notes, interview and giving questionnaire. Those kinds of instruments enable the researcher to record many teachers' and students' talks happening in the classroom, identify and also classify the teacher's techniques of basic questionings and the advantages of using them.
Based on the observation, the observed teachers employed structuring 10.16%, phrasing and focusing 15.04%, distributing 8.94 %, redirecting 8.94%, pausing 23.58%, teacher reacting 25.20%, prompting 6.91%, changing the level of cognitive demand 2.44%.
Based on the interview and questionnaire, she found out the advantages of using the techniques basic questionings in teaching and learning process, such as: making the classroom activities active, attracting the student's attention, making the students more understand about the lesson, making the students able to think more, building the students' self confidence, encouraging the students to say or do ignoring whether their answers are correct or incorrect, managing the class well, making the students well-prepared.
From the result of this study, the researcher gives suggestions to the English teachers, they should use various techniques of basic questioning during teaching and learning activities in the classroom to encourage the students to be more active in learning process and to have idea of the students achievement in their learning process.


Introduction Basal-cell carcinoma has interested scores of investigators because it is seemingly a biologic enigma. It appears that a tumor derived supposedly from the more primitive epidermal basal cell is biologically less active or malignant than a tumor derived from the maturer "child" of the basal germinative cell, the prickle cell. This situation appears unique in the skin: Tumors of squamous epithelial mucous membranes, such as the cervix of the uterus, gingiva, buccal mucosa, esophagus, and the like, also apparently of basal-cell origin, follow the rules, and are more malignant than tumors presumably of the maturer prickle cell. The purpose of this report is to clarify and enlarge upon our previously expressed attitude (Smith and Swerdlow), namely, that basal-cell tumors arise from hair anlage. It is my feeling now and the thesis of this report that basal-cell carcinoma is less malignant than prickle-cell carcinoma because it represents an abortive


In recent years, research has come to focus on the empirical relationship between trust and voluntary association involvement within social capital literature. Scholars have explored the question of whether trust can be implicated as a cause, or as an effect of voluntary association involvement. In the same way, others have found evidence to support the claim that voluntary association involvement leads to increased levels of trust. The focus of this study is to examine the relationship and causal direction, if any, between trust and voluntary association involvement, using longitudinal data from the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) 1990 through to 2004. Findings indicate that a reciprocal relationship exists between trust and voluntary association involvement. Results show that voluntary association involvement leads to an increased sense of trustworthiness of others. At the same time, causal links from generalized trust to voluntary association involvement were found to be significant. In addition, findings also suggest that type of voluntary association is a significant factor in the relationship between trust and voluntary association involvement.


Highly imbalanced textual datasets continue to pose a challenge for supervised learning models. However, viewing such imbalanced text data as an anomaly detection (AD) problem has advantages for certain tasks such as detecting hate speech, or inappropriate and/or offensive language in large social media feeds. There the unwanted content tends to be both rare and non-uniform with respect to its thematic character, and better fits the definition of an anomaly than a class. Several recent approaches to textual AD use transformer models, achieving good results but with trade-offs in pre-training and inflexibility with respect to new domains. In this paper we compare two linear models within the NMF family, which also have a recent history in textual AD. We introduce a new approach based on an alternative regularization of the NMF objective. Our results surpass other linear AD models and are on par with deep models, performing comparably well even in very small outlier concentrations.


Aims Phenytoin and Carbamazepine, the most common antiepileptic drugs as monotherapy, are associated with cutaneous adverse drug reactions (cADRs). These can range from mild maculopapular exanthema to life threatening conditions, including, Stevens–Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis. However, there is scarce data on incidence of these reactions. Our study aimed to prospectively determine the incidence and nature of cADRs in children on antiepileptic drugs monotherapy. Methods A prospective observational study conducted at outpatient department of tertiary care referral hospital of Northern India from July 2015 to September 2016. All consecutive children (6 months–12 years old) recently initiated (<4 weeks) on AED monotherapy (phenytoin, carbamazepine or valproate) were enrolled and followed up at 1 and 3 months for cADRs. Occurrence of cADRs, if any, was evaluated. Causal relationship assessments of cADRs with antiepileptic drugs were performed by Naranjo's algorithm and World Health Organisation–Uppsala Monitoring Centre scale. Severity assessment of cADRs was done with Hartwig's severity scale. Results Of 295 children enrolled, 118 (40%) were on carbamazepine, 92 (31.2%) were on phenytoin and 85 (28.8%) were on valproate. A total of 11/295 (3.7%) children had cutaneous adverse drug reactions. Of 118 on carbamazepine, 4 (3.4%) had cADRs. Of 92 on phenytoin, 7 (7.6%) had cADRs. No children on valproate therapy had cADRs. The maculopapular rash was the most common 9/11 (81.8%). One child had urticaria and one had Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms. The mean duration interval from drug intake to rash onset was 14.5 (range 6–60) days. Discontinuation of antiepileptic drug was required in 8 (72.7%) cases. Using Naranjo algorithm, 81.8% cADRs were probable and 72.7% were probable on WHO- Uppsala Monitoring Centre scale. Most cADRs (63.6%) were in the level 3 (moderate) on Hartwigs severity scale. Conclusions Incidence of cADRs with phenytoin and carbamazepine were 7.6% and 3.4% respectively. Maculopapular rash was the most common and preponderance of cADR had moderate severity. Awareness and knowledge of cADRs related information would be helpful in counselling while initiation of these antiepileptic drugs.


Background: Natriuretic peptide (NP) increased early in patients with left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction, but early markers of HF development in patients with obesity and hypertension (HT) and LV diastolic dysfunction (DD) are already not very well known. Methods: 118 (56 ± 3 years, 62 men) consecutive HT pts (stage I and II) with obesity using the value of 30 of body mass Index (BMI) as a cut-off was divided into two groups: A with BMI<30 (n = 56) and B with BMI>30 (n = 62). LV function was assessed by natriuretic peptide plasma levels (BNP, NT pro BNP). Relative wall thickness, cardiac mass, LV volumes and ejection fraction, velocity of early and late diastolic LV filling maximal velocity (E, A), E/A ratio, deceleration E time from transmitral Doppler, and pulsed doppler tissue imaging of velocities of mitral annular movements (Sm, Em, Am) were calculated by echo. Results: Pts revealed normal systolic function of the LV and the same degrese of LVH (61,19 versus 63,4 g/m2,7). There was no correlation between standard Doppler mitral inflow as well as with parameters of systolic LV function. with NP. P < 0.001 for all) were found between NT pro BNP and Em (r = - 0.82), Sm (r = - 0.7), E/ Em ratio (r = 0.61) and relationship was less significant as the obesity of pts was rising. NP were significantly higher in group A than in group B. The best discriminative for dg. of DD using NT pro BNP in group A was > 280 pg/ml (sensitivity 82%, specificity 76%) and > 170 pg/ml (sensitivity 78%, specificity 74%) in group B. Conclusions: NP can reveal only more severe DD in asymptomatic pts with HT and obesity. Pts with obesity and HT have lower values of NP and diagnostic tresholdes of NT pro BNP for DD should be lower than in HT pts without obesity.


The metallic nature of the low-temperature conductivity {sigma} of the layered manganite La{sub 1.2}Sr{sub 1.8}Mn{sub 2}O{sub 7} is not obviously consistent with the very low values of {sigma} nor its slightly semiconducting behavior. We report low-temperature data in an applied field H which exhibit a positive sqrt[H] correction to {sigma}, for fields perpendicular to the Mn-O bilayers and also parallel to the layers, as well as for both current directions. This behavior is consistent with weak-localization effects in three-dimensional metals and with the theory of quantum interference, recently extended to highly anisotropic layered metals. In addition, a simple model is presented that adequately describes the positive magnetoconductance due to the suppression of spin waves.


Forest policy in the United Kingdom does not list timber production as a main objective, despite the fact that the country is heavily reliant on imports of timber products. The level of new conifer planting has been much reduced over the last ten years; timber prices are very low due to the high rate of sterling; competition from imports is high; devolution plus the recent impact of foot and mouth disease, cumulatively provide an uncertain future for British forestry. Production from British forest nurseries is directed towards commercial forestry, amenity and landscape, native broadleaf plantings, hedging and Christmas tree markets. Of the handful of larger wholesale nurseries that still remain, Maelor Nurseries Ltd is holding on to its position as one of the dominant nurseries in a much reduced and competitive industry.


Neurodegeneration is a progressive damage of both structure and
function of neurons involving numerous cellular pathways leading to a condition
designated as neurodegenerative disorders (NDD). These affect the normal
functioning of motor activity as well as cognition. Although various pathways
and cascades are demonstrated to be involved in initiation and progression of
NDD, oxidative stress mechanism/s emerges as a chief runner in executing the
severity of NDD. Both, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are
known to play key roles in the pathophysiology of various NDD.
Owing to the incurable status of major CNS disorders which has a huge
socio-economic impact, researchers are constantly attempting to develop
newer and efficient therapeutic approaches, which act on multiple biochemical
targets, without detrimental side reactions. Both epidemiological and
experimental evidence suggest that the propensity of phytomedicines and
polyphenols to attenuate the redox status in vivo can be successfully exploited
to achieve neuroprotection. Accordingly, various plant extracts in Ayurvedic
medicine products are being explored as therapeutic adjuvants. Since
mitochondria play a significant role in oxidative stress and associated
neurodegeneration, various chemical compounds that induce mitochondrial
dysfunctions are used for mimicking neurodegeneration in rodent and other
laboratory models. In recent times, Drosophila melanogaster is employed as an
experimental model in elucidating not only the pathophysiology and molecular
mechanism/s of NDD, but also as a primary screening platform to develop
novel therapeutic approaches.
The primary objective of this thesis was to comprehensively assess the
neuromodulatory propensity of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha, Indian
ginseng) and its flavonoids in Drosophila, and mice models of neurotoxicity. For
this purpose, a standardized extract of Withania somnifera was chosen.
Evidence obtained in the chemical systems in vitro clearly demonstrated the
potential antioxidant activity of WSE. Initially, the hypothesis was tested in a
Drosophila model (adult flies) of neurotoxicity employing the neurotoxin,
Rotenone, a mitochondrial (complex I) inhibitor. Interestingly WSE markedly
diminished the endogenous levels of oxidative markers in adult flies. Further,
Abstract
extracts robustly offset ROT –induced lethality, locomotor phenotype, and
significantly ameliorated oxidative stress in Drosophila with concomitant
restoration of antioxidant enzyme activity. Ferulic acid a well-known polyphenol
offered significant protection in the Rotenone model of neurotoxicity. Further,
significant synergistic protections was evidenced in flies exposed to ferulic acid
(FA) enriched with WSE neurotoxicity and suggested the utility value of the
model.
As a proof of principle, the neuroprotective efficacy of WSE was
validated in animal models of ROT (Parkinson's model). WSE prophylaxis
significantly modulated the endogenous levels of brain oxidative markers in the
mice model. Further, in the Rotenone model of neurotoxicity WSE, markedly
alleviated the locomotor phenotype, motor dysfunctions, and alleviated
oxidative stress, restored antioxidant defenses and mitochondrial function in
cerebellum and striatum. Interestingly, both cholinergic and dopaminergic
functions were restored to varying degree in this model clearly suggesting the
neurorestorative efficacy of WSE under neurotoxicant exposure. The
neuroameliorative effect of WSE was also evaluated in a Streptozotocin
diabetic mice model. Involvement of oxidative stress, mitochondrial
dysfunctions are known to be involved in the development of diabetic
complications such as encephalopathy and neuropathy. In the mice model, the
neuroprotective effects of WSE were evidenced in terms of restoration of
behavioral phenotype, attenuation of brain oxidative stress, and mitochondrial
dysfunctions and neurotransmission.
Collectively, these experimental data clearly demonstrate the
neuromodulatory potential of WSE in experimental models of neurotoxicity in
alleviating NDD–related symptomatic manifestations and striatal oxidative
stress.


unfortunately, funds and trained personnel being not unlimited, there is waste in these directions from duplication and overlapping. All this could be avoided by the creation of a central organization, which could formulate policy, ascertain the extent of available amenities and resources, and make plans to meet the needs in the various fields by pooling the available resources. The results obtained by such unified and well-directed efforts would be worthy of the effort and money expended. The main function of the central organization would be to prepare plans in the light of advances in science and technology, and to give direction to a similar central organization in each country to pursue measures suited to meet local requirements in each project. As the N.A.P.T. has the experienced and trained personnel and the administrative set-up, it seems to me that the N.A.P.T. is best suited for this purpose, not as a tuberculosis association as such, but as one that can readily set itself up as an organization suited to pursue the new objective by changing its name and aims. There is, of course, the World Health Organization, which is rendering excellent service all over the world. However, I feel convinced that the problem of health in the Commonwealth countries can be tackled expeditiously and efficiently and with greater cooperation as these countries have already existed as a unit for a considerable number of years.


Adipose tissue is the source of adipokines (leptine, adiponectine, resistine, interleukin-1, 6, 7, 8, 15, visfatine, PPAR-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, vaspine, chemerine, progranuline, endocannabinoids, lipocaline-2, apleine, omentine, nesfatine-1) - biological active molecules of adipose tissue that have local and systematic effect on body. Changing of their level in the body is associated with insulin resistance, endothelium dysfunction, arterial hypertension, bronchial asthma and obesity progressing. Adipokines are heterogenous group of molecules, one part of them is produced directly by abdominal adipose tissue; another part of them is produced in other tissues but they indirectly affect development and functioning of adipose tissue. The study of adipokines lets us observe the pathogenesis of obesity, associated cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus type 2 with another way. It will give us an opportunity to compose scientific base for recognizing, preventing and treatment of such diseases. It is necessary to realize that obesity with diabetes mellitus type 2 and atherosclerosis are inflammatory diseases, that's why we need to study pro- and anti-inflammatory factors of adipokines. The production of majority of inflammatory mediators is increased in case of obesity and contributes progressing of obesity and metabolic diseases. It is actual to observe adipokines as biomarkers of pathological processes, in future it will be available to prevent pathological processes, to establish prophylaxis of disease and to support positive treatment.


Capillary electrophoresis has been applied to quantitate nucleotide degradation in fish tissues, to provide a basis for determining the K value, an indicator of fish freshness. The three major compounds, inosine monophosphate (IMP), inosine (HxR), and hypoxanthine (Hx) were distinctively separated at 416 V/cm applied potential, 100 mM CAPS buffer, pH 11. There was a good correlation between the peak area and the nucleotide concentration. By using a short distance (22 cm) from the sample entrance to the detector, the identification and determination of these compounds in each sample were completed within 15 min. The results obtained correlated very well with those obtained by enzymatic assays. The capillary was completely regenerated with 1 N NaOH, to dissociate all bound materials from the capillary wall, mainly cations in the fish extract. This provided the same silica surface for repeated runs, resulting in reproducible electropherograms.


Kriging is a regionalization technique that incorporates the autocorrelation between known data values in its estimation of values at unmeasured sites. This technique is reproducible, accepts irregularly spaced data, uses only measured values closely surrounding points at which values are estimated, is an exact interpolator at measured data points, and calculates an error of estimate. Kriging was used to interpolate water-table altitudes for 1978 and an average 1978-80 for the Ogallala aquifer in the Western Kansas Groundwater Management District No. 1. An altitude and an error of estimate were provided at the center of each one-mile section of the district. The data were related to altitudes of the bedrock and the 1950 water table. A digitalcontouring procedure was used to construct maps of the water table for 1978 and for the average 1978-80, the errors of estimate, the saturated thickness of the aquifer for 1978 and for the average 1978-80, and the percentage changes in saturated thickness since 1950. Maps made by kriging compared favorably with maps contoured manually by the point-intersection method.


We report on the design and construction of a laser scanning photothermal microscope and present images of gold nanoparticles of size as small as 5 nm. Laser scanning method allows fast image acquisition at 80 μs pixel dwell time so that a 500 × 500 pixel image is acquired in 20 s. Photothermal imaging at fast time scales can have potential applications in variety of fields including tracking of biomolecular transport processes.


In a sample of 10 professionals interpreting the same source speech in the simultaneous mode, errors and omissions (e/o's) were found to affect different source-speech segments, and a large proportion among them were only made by a small proportion of the subjects. In a repeat performance, there were some new e/o's in the second version when the same interpreters had interpreted the relevant segments correctly in the first version. These findings are in line with the Effort Models' 'Tightrope Hypothesis' that many e/o's are due not to the intrinsic difficulty of the corresponding source-speech segments, but to the interpreters working close to processing capacity saturation, which makes them vulnerable to even small variations in the available processing capacity for each interpreting component.


liams' well-known principle, withdrew civil equality from the Jews after 1728. South Carolina's record, on the other hand, was outstanding, with its treatment of the Jews more uniformly favorable than that of any other colony where they setded in numbers. According to the author there were never more than one thousand Jews living among the three million and more inhabitants of the colonies. "Yet this handful of Jews were not only the measure of the expanding spirit of a nation, they were also important as the forerunners of modern American Israel, the most fortunate and well-placed Jewish group that all the millenia of a people's checkered history have witnessed. Their lot was a portent of the future growth of American Jewry, the promise of equality under the protective banner of the Stars and Stripes."


The purpose of this study was to assist school personnel in planning and organizing the integration of students with special needs. Group interviews and analyses of pedagogical situations have helped implement and document the progressive integration of students with disabilities from special classes into regular classes as well as increase the level of collaboration among all the parties involved. This article will focus on the analysis of the conditions that promote inclusion. It will analyses the best collaboration practices to be put in place and a procedure which entails exchange meetings, listening, and understanding. In addition, it will focus on the creation of a bond of trust among the various members of the personnel including the school management. Results show that the school staff, as a whole, wants to ensure that all students are given the best opportunities to achieve educational success and this goal is kept in mind when they prepare integration. Furthermore, teachers are concerned about generating a positive perception about inclusion among their peers who teach in regular classrooms.


This paper provides a theoretical analysis of the efficiency of prepayment penalties in a dynamic competitive lending model with risky borrowers and costly default. When considering improvements in the borrower's creditworthiness as one of the reasons for refinancing mortgages, we show that refinancing penalties can be welfare improving and that they can be particularly beneficial to riskier borrowers in the form of lower mortgage rates, reduced defaults, and increased availability of credit. Thus, a high concentration of prepayment penalties among the riskiest borrowers can be an outcome of efficient equilibrium in a mortgage market. We also provide empirical evidence that is consistent with the key predictions of our model.


ABSTRACT Candida albicans is an opportunistic human fungal pathogen that causes a variety of diseases, ranging from superficial mucosal to life-threatening systemic infections, the latter particularly in patients with defects in innate immune function. C. albicans cells phagocytosed by macrophages undergo a dramatic change in their metabolism in which amino acids are a key nutrient. We have shown that amino acid catabolism allows the cell to neutralize the phagolysosome and initiate hyphal growth. We show here that members of the 10-gene ATO family, which are induced by phagocytosis or the presence of amino acids in an Stp2-dependent manner and encode putative acetate or ammonia transporters, are important effectors of this pH change in vitro and in macrophages. When grown with amino acids as the sole carbon source, the deletion of ATO5 or the expression of a dominant-negative ATO1 G53D allele results in a delay in alkalinization, a defect in hyphal formation, and a reduction in the amount of ammonia released from the cell. These strains also form fewer hyphae after phagocytosis, have a reduced ability to escape macrophages, and reside in more acidic phagolysosomal compartments than wild-type cells. Furthermore, overexpression of many of the 10 ATO genes accelerates ammonia release, and an ato5Δ ATO1 G53D double mutant strain has additive alkalinization and ammonia release defects. Taken together, these results indicate that the Ato protein family is a key mediator of the metabolic changes that allow C. albicans to overcome the macrophage innate immunity barrier.


Hip arthroscopy is currently being leveraged in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of hip joint problems. In fact, great advancements in hip arthroscopy have resulted in an ever-expanding number of indications to which it is being applied. Minimally invasive hip arthroscopy allows for quicker initiation of rehabilitation and has attracted much attention as the field becomes increasingly focused on surgeries designed to preserve joints. This review aims to summarize the recent advances, applications, and impact of hip arthroscopy.


Thank you for reading lectures of lola montez countess of landsfeld including her autobiography. Maybe you have knowledge that, people have search numerous times for their favorite novels like this lectures of lola montez countess of landsfeld including her autobiography, but end up in infectious downloads. Rather than reading a good book with a cup of coffee in the afternoon, instead they cope with some malicious virus inside their desktop computer.


Gall bladder cancer carries a dismal prognosis especially in advanced cases. Common sites of metastases include liver, lung and unusual sites have also been reported like orbit, cutaneous, adrenal, kidney, breast and thyroid. 66 years female diagnosed case of metastatic carcinoma gall bladder presented with bilateral inguinal lymphadenopathy. Cytology aspirate from inguinal node reported metastatic adenocarcinoma. Inguinal node metastases from gall bladder cancer is very rare and few case reports have been published. We present a case of a woman with advanced cancer of the gall bladder, who presented with bilateral inguinal metastases.


Cerebral blood flow (CBF) is high (mean of 50 ml/100 g. min) to cover metabolic and energy requirements of the brain. Independent from blood pressure in the systemic circulation CBF is kept constant by autoregulation, but it reacts to changes of arterial and tissue pCO2 and to metabolic needs of brain tissue resulting from functional activation. Below defined flow thresholds the function of the nervous tissue is abolished and its morphological integrity destroyed. Due to the regulatory mechanisms only a few drugs are able to affect CBF. The effects depend on the resting blood supply of small regions; this may lead to heterogeneous reaction patterns. The knowledge of drug effects on regional flow may be important in planning a treatment of cerebrovascular disease.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy and efficiency of treatment in adolescents presenting with mild malocclusions, comparing outcomes using clear aligners to fixed appliances.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Patients identified retrospectively and consecutively from one private practice had been treated with either clear aligners (Invisalign, Align Technology, Santa Clara, Calif) or fixed appliances (0.022 Damon, Ormco, Orange, Calif; n = 26/group). Assessments of occlusion were made using the American Board of Orthodontics Discrepancy Index (DI) for initial records and Cast-Radiograph Evaluation (CRE) for final records. Number of appointments, number of emergency visits, and overall treatment time were determined from chart reviews. Data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation, Wilcoxon rank tests, unpaired t-tests, and Chi-square tests, with significance set to P ≤ .05.

RESULTS
Pretreatment, the aligner and fixed groups showed no significant difference in overall severity (DI: 11.9 ± 5.3 vs 11.6 ± 4.8) or in any individual DI category. Posttreatment scores showed finishes for the aligner group had fewer discrepancies from ideal relative to the fixed appliance group (CRE: 30.1 ± 8.3 vs 37.0 ± 9.3; P < .01). Patients treated with aligners had fewer appointments (13.7 ± 4.4 vs 19.3 ± 3.6; P < .0001), fewer emergency visits (0.8 ± 1.0 vs 3.6 ± 2.5; P < .0001), and shorter overall treatment time (16.9 ± 5.7 vs 23.4 ± 4.4 months; P < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS
Outcomes for treatment of mild malocclusions in adolescents showed equivalent effectiveness of clear aligners compared to fixed appliances, with significantly improved results for clear aligner treatment in terms of tooth alignment, occlusal relations, and overjet. Assessment of the number of appointments, number of emergency visits, and overall treatment time showed better outcomes for treatment with clear aligners.


Exploring micro-level evidences is critical to fine tune effective adaptation options to cope with the adverse impact of climate change. In this regard, detailed studies on climate change adaptation options are not available in the study areas. Hence, the objective of this study was to assess farmers' climate change adaptation options and determinant factors that influence their choice. Data were collected from 253 respondents randomly using probability proportional to the sizes (PPS) of the population of each district and peasant association from which sample households to be drawn. Descriptive statistics were employed to assess adaptation options while the multinomial logit model (MNL) was used to identify factors influencing households' choices. The results revealed that farmers use change in crop type /variety, soil and water conservation practices, crop diversification, change in planting date and irrigation practices as climate change adaptation options. Educational level of the household head, age of the household head, sex of the household head, farm income, access to extension service, access to credit, access to climate information and agro-ecological settings were the most important determinant factors that affect significantly the choice of farmers to climate change adaptations. Therefore, an effort that enhances farmers' awareness to climate change and creates the capacity to adopt climate resilient options is an important strategy that should be considered by a variety of societal groups, including policy makers, and farmers support organizations.


The objective of this research is to analyze the factors which explain the evolution of foreign direct investment (FDI) in developing countries. More specifically, it aims at identifying the factors which have a significant impact on the attraction of the foreign direct investment, measuring their relative importance and proposing priority actions to be implemented in order to make developing countries more attractive. We will try to show that the economic, institutional and cultural factors in any country can play an important role in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI). Using dynamic panel data covering the period from 2001 to 2006 from 71 countries, we have found that along with the traditional findings on the traditional determinants of the foreign direct investment (FDI) cultural variables constitute significant factors that determine FDI inflow to transition countries. In particular, the hierarchical distance and individualism are cultural dimensions which press the foreign direct investment (FDI).


Monitoring the levels of combustion gases such as H2, CO and NOx from high temperature (500°C and higher) combustion environments requires materials with high thermal stability and resilience and can withstand harsh oxidizing and reducing environments. Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) have shown potential in plasmonic gas sensing due to their catalytic activity, high oxidation stability, and plasmonics sensitivity to changes in its surrounding environment. Encapsulation of the AuNPs in a variety of metal oxides enables both sensitivity and selectivity within multivariable sensing array studies. Au nanorods (AuNRs) embedded in metal oxides allows for a significant variation in the plasmonic wavelength region that is able to be probed as well as enabling both dipole and multipole plasmon modes to be exploited for sensing applications. Integration challenges will be highlighted and utilization of thermal energy harvesting methods enables the demonstration of spectrometer free detection of combustion gases.


To determine the relationship between stress and the incidence of liver fibrosis, 140 guinea pigs were exposed to various stressors, and their post-mortem livers were assessed. Four stress groups cardiorespiratory (CR), central nervous system (CNS), gastrointestinal (GI), and combined (Cd) were designated in accordance with the stressor(s) experienced and were compared to unstressed control subjects. By blood chemistry analysis, the most pervasive findings were decreased glucose and increased amylase. Stress group blood glucose levels ranged from 22% to 38% below that of nonstressed controls, and serum amylase was increased by 35% to 68% relative to controls. The reduction in glucose was significant in the CR and GI groups, and the elevation in amylase was significant in the CR, GI, and Cd groups. Pathologically, the most frequent finding among the four groups was fatty change, present in 44% of stressed subjects, followed by passive congestion, observed in 40%. The Cd group demonstrated a significantly increased incidence of congestion, while both the Cd and GI groups showed a significantly increased incidence of fatty change. Subjects in whom congestion was detected showed a 1.7-fold greater fibroblast proliferation than subjects in whom fatty change was seen. The most extensive pathological changes were manifested in the Cd group, in the form of congestion, hemorrhage, fatty change, and fibroblast proliferation. Among the three single-stress groups, the greatest degree of fibroblast proliferation and collagen deposition, and hence the greatest potential for fibrosis, was evident in the GI group. The fibroblastosis in the GI group was statistically significant, presenting a direct pathological indication of pre-fibrotic change. These results provide preliminary evidence that stress is capable of inducing pathological processes in the liver that may lead to fibrosis and, ultimately, to cirrhosis.


The organic/inorganic La1-xLnxH(O3PCH3)2 (Ln = Eu, Tb) hybrids have been synthesized by hydrothermal synthesis. The crystal structure of LaH(O3PCH3)2 consists of chains of edge-sharing LaO8 polyhedra linked through PO3C tetrahedra. Photoluminescence of Eu(3+), Tb(3+) and Eu(3+)/Tb(3+) co-doped materials have been investigated. The Eu and Tb hybrids show no concentration quenching versus doping rate suggesting energy migration through a percolation model. The Eu hybrids exhibit a red emission while the Tb ones exhibit, with the Tb rate increasing, a blue to green emission under a 378 nm excitation wavelength and a cyan to green emission under a 262 nm excitation wavelength. The doping rate dependent red shift results from a cross relaxation phenomenon between closed Tb(3+) ions. The blue to cyan shift observed for the slightly doped materials, when excitation wavelength shifts from 378 nm to 262 nm, is due to different relaxation phenomena, from the (5)D3 level for a 378 nm excitation wavelength and from the (5)D4 level via the 4f5d level for a 262 nm excitation wavelength. Under a 378 nm wavelength, the co-doped La0.93Eu0.03Tb0.04H(O3PCH3)2 hybrid exhibits a white/cyan emission with CIE coordinates equal to x = 0.29, y = 0.37.


This paper presents preliminary results on the development of a powered lower limb orthosis intended to provide legged mobility (with the use of a stability aid, such as forearm crutches) to paraplegic individuals. The orthosis contains electric motors at both hip and both knee joints, which in conjunction with ankle-foot orthoses, provides appropriate joint kinematics for legged locomotion. The paper describes the orthosis and the nature of the controller that enables the SCI patient to command the device, and presents data from preliminary trials that indicate the efficacy of the orthosis and controller in providing legged mobility.


RNA-protein contacts in pretranslocated and posttranslocated states of E. coli ribosomes have been determined by means of UV-induced cross-linking. In the two functional states as well as in free 70C ribosome, the same proteins are involved in RNA-protein intersubunit contacts, located in the region of L1 protuberance (left side of 70S ribosome). The transition from pre- to posttranslocated state is accompanied by disappearance of RNA-protein contacts in the region of L7/L12 stalk. This favours the locking-unlocking model of the translating ribosome.


Maternal smoking during pregnancy induces obstetrical and fetal complications but also has an impact on newborns, infants, children and adults. Nicotine replacement therapies are authorized during pregnancy in France, the purpose being to reduce fetal exposure to toxic compounds in tobacco smoke. However, it is not proven that nicotine replacement therapy is harmless to the fetus and to date, no study has demonstrated any beneficial effect in terms of abstinence. It is suggested that benefit and risks of nicotine replacement therapies during pregnancy should be evaluated.


The article presents classification and analysis of the characteristics of bilateral cooperation between the Irkutsk region and the Republic of Korea's regions in the middle of the second decade of the XXI century. The links of bilateral regional projects with intergovernmental level initiatives is shown. Special emphasis is made on the status and prospects of the administrative, economic and humanitarian cooperation. The article reveals bilateral cooperation problems in humanitarian and investment spheres.


Background: Organizational-level recruitment strategies have not been well detailed in the literature. This manuscript compares three methods of organizational level recruitment of beauty salons into a large community based cancer prevention intervention trial called The North Carolina BEAUTY and Health Project. Methods: Three recruitment methods (e.g. phone call prior to visit, drop-in visit or referral plus visit) were applied to a random sample of 100 salons per group to identify the most effective recruitment approach. Salons were considered eligible when they signed a study agreement form. The goal was to recruit at least 60 salons from which 40 would be selected to participate in the trial. Here we report salon recruitment procedures, sub-study results by method, and related recruitment costs. Results: Of the 62 salons which signed study agreement forms, 13/318 (4.1%) were recruited via the phone call prior to visit method; 32/222 (14.4%) via the drop-in visit method; and 17/34 (50%) via the referral method. The costs per salon recruited by each method were determined as well. Conclusions: The referral method, made possible due to the community-based participatory research approach, provided the best recruitment yield overall; yet available time, personnel, resources and costs must also be considered when selecting among future organizational level recruitment methods.


A vehicle stability control logic for 4WD hybrid electric vehicle is proposed using the regenerative braking of the rear motor and electronic brake force distribution module. Performance of the stability control logic is evaluated for J-turn and single lane change. It is found from the simulation results that the regenerative braking at rear motor is able to provide improved stability compared with the vehicle performance without my stability control. Additional improvement can be achieved by applying the regenerative braking plus electronic brake farce distribution control. It is expected that the regenerative braking offers additional improvement of the fuel economy as well as the vehicle stability control.


We investigate resource allocation in OFDMA cooperative networks with Best effort services and real time services. We design a utility framework to satisfy QoS requirements of different applications. We define network utility as functions of data rate, delay, and packet loss. A utility function is assigned to user-relay pairs or only the user over each subcarrier, and the relay and subcarrier dedicated to achieve the optimal utility will be selected for cooperation transmission. The objective of resource allocation is to strike a balance between maximizing the data rate utility while minimizing the delay and packet loss.


The study was aimed to know the prevalence of sebaceous gland tumor in canine and its classification based on histopathology. A total of 569 biopsy samples of canines suspected for neoplastic growth received by Department of Veterinary Pathology from TVCC departments of College of Veterinary Science and A.H. Anand over last 16 years (2001 to 2017) were analyzed. The biopsy samples were subjected to histopathological examinations by using H and E staining. Out of 569 biopsy samples, sebaceous gland growth was observed in 23 (4.04%) cases. The highest incidence (39.13%) was recorded for 9 to 12 years of age. The incidence of sebaceous gland tumor was observed in all the breeds; however, the Labrador retriever was the most affected breed followed by Pomeranian, non-descript and others. The frequent site for sebaceous gland tumor was eyelid. Out of 23 sebaceous gland tumors, one hyperplasia, 19 adenomas, two , and one adenocarcinoma were observed, suggesting that sebaceous gland adenoma was the most common type of sebaceous gland tumors in canine.


Machine learning (ML) has revolutionised data analysis over the past decade. Like innumerous other industries heavily reliant on accurate information, banking supervision stands to benefit greatly from this technological advance. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive walk-through of how the most common ML techniques have been applied to risk assessment in banking, focusing on a supervisory perspective. We searched Google Scholar, Springer Link, and ScienceDirect databases for articles including the search terms "machine learning" and ("bank" or "banking" or "supervision"). No language, date, or Journal filter was applied. Papers were then screened and selected according to their relevance. The final article base consisted of 41 papers and 2 book chapters, 53% of which were published in the top quartile journals in their field. Results are presented in a timeline according to the publication date and categorised by time slots. Credit risk assessment and stress testing are highlighted topics as well as other risk perspectives, with some references to ML application surveys. The most relevant ML techniques encompass k-nearest neighbours (KNN), support vector machines (SVM), tree-based models, ensembles, boosting techniques, and artificial neural networks (ANN). Recent trends include developing early warning systems (EWS) for bankruptcy and refining stress testing. One limitation of this study is the paucity of contributions using supervisory data, which justifies the need for additional investigation in this field. However, there is increasing evidence that ML techniques can enhance data analysis and decision making in the banking industry.


Introduction: Obesity and type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have been associated with adverse prostate cancer (PrCa) outcomes in several studies; however, results have been inconsistent. We examined the independent and combined effects of body mass index (BMI)/obesity and T2DM in relation to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) PrCa risk groups in a large, racially-diverse patient population from an urban medical center. Methods: We abstracted demographic, clinical and pathological data, as well as BMI/obesity and T2DM status at time of PrCa diagnosis from all patients, who underwent radical prostatectomy for their cancer at our academic institution from 2005 through 2019. Patients were classified into three NCCN PCa risk groups: low, intermediate and high risk based on their pathological Gleason score, tumor stage and diagnostic serum PSA. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to examine associations of obesity (BMI>30kg/m2) and T2DM with risks of intermediate and high risk PCa (comparison group were men with low risk disease). We examined both independent and combined effects of obesity and T2DM in multivariate models adjusted for age and race/ethnicity (main effect models were also adjusted for BMI or T2DM). Results: A total 1,366 PrCa patients with an average age of 60±6.9 years old with complete data were included in this analysis. The majority of patients were African-American (37.2%) or Hispanic (31.5%). The prevalence of obesity and T2DM were 29.4% and 28% respectively in this cohort, with African-Americans having the highest prevalence of both obesity (38.1%) and T2DM (43.6%) compared to other races/ethnicities. A large proportion of patients had NCCN intermediate (64%) or high-risk (14%) disease. In multivariate analyses, obesity was associated with 2.23 increased odds of high-risk PCa (95%CI: 1.26-3.93), while T2DM was associated with OR=1.53 (95%CI: 1.08-2.17) of intermediate risk PCa. Interaction analysis showed that obese patients with T2DM had increased risks of both intermediate (OR=1.99; 95%CI 1.16-3.41) and high-risk PCa (OR=2.28; 95%CI 1.14-4.53) when compared to lean men without T2DM. Discussion: In this multiracial population, both obesity and T2DM were independently associated with high risk PrCa. Moreover, there was an additive effect of obesity and T2DM in the odds of developing both intermediate and high risk PrCa. Potential biological pathways of insulin signaling and inflammatory factors arising from adipokines could be involved in promoting more aggressive PrCa phenotypes. Larger cohort studies are needed to better elucidate the mechanisms between T2DM, obesity, and PrCa tumor pathology. Citation Format: Michelle Toker, Denzel Zhu, William Shyr, Ethan Fram, Kara L. Watts, Ilir Agalliu. Association of obesity and diabetes with prostate cancer risk group in a multiethnic population [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr LB087.


In this work, we first modify a converse duality theorem for second-order dual of a scalar variational problem. We then consider its multiobjective analogue and obtain necessary optimality conditions and duality relations. At the end, the static case of our problems has also been discussed.


ABSTRACT Chu, A.; Tai, J.; Chen, Y., and Wang, B., 2020. Sediment budget of the mouth bar in the Yangtze Estuary response to the change of marine input conditions: A process-based model approach. In: Hu, C. and Cai, M. (eds.), Geo-informatics and Oceanography. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 105, pp. 36–41. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. The transition of upstream or open sea conditions eventually leads to the change of sediment budget in estuaries and results in its evolution. In this paper, marine facies change for the Yangtze Estuary has been investigated based on statistics and harmonic analysis on the observed water-level time series at stations. The sea-level rise (SLR) rate and the main tidal constituent change were obtained for the estuary. Scenarios were designed to represent change of input conditions for the process-based model of the estuary. The net sediment budget of the mouth bar area in the estuary was calculated according to the cumulative flux through the predefined controlling cross-sections. The results reveal that (1) the SLR in the coming two decades results in sediment demand increase in the mouth bar area and restrains the seaward export sediment; (2) amplitude of the M2 component increase slightly enhances seaward sediment export; and (3) the combination of SLR and M2 increase responses for sediment demand increase in the mouth bar area, and 1.5% more sediment export to sea.


We present a hiPSC-based 3D in vitro system suitable to test neurotoxicity (NT). Human iPSCs-derived 3D neurospheres grown in 96-well plate format were characterized timewise for 6-weeks. Changes in complexity and homogeneity were followed by immunocytochemistry and transmission electron microscopy. Transcriptional activity of major developmental, structural, and cell-type-specific markers was investigated at weekly intervals to present the differentiation of neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. Neurospheres were exposed to different well-known toxicants with or without neurotoxic effect (e.g., paraquat, acrylamide, or ibuprofen) and examined at various stages of the differentiation with an ATP-based cell viability assay optimized for 3D-tissues. Concentration responses were investigated after acute (72 h) exposure. Moreover, the compound-specific effect of rotenone was investigated by a panel of ER-stress assay, TUNEL assay, immunocytochemistry, electron microscopy, and in 3D-spheroid based neurite outgrowth assay. The acute exposure to different classes of toxicants revealed distinct susceptibility profiles in a differentiation stage-dependent manner, indicating that hiPSC-based 3D in vitro neurosphere models could be used effectively to evaluate NT, and can be developed further to detect developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) and thus replace or complement the use of animal models in various basic research and pharmaceutical applications.


In this paper, we propose a new method for solving large-scale ill-posed problems. This method is based on the Karush–Kuhn–Tucker conditions, Fisher–Burmeister function and the discrepancy principle. The main difference from the majority of existing methods for solving ill-posed problems is that, we do not need to choose a regularization parameter in advance. Experimental results show that the proposed method is effective and promising for many practical problems. 2012 Published by Elsevier Inc.


Abstract Objectives: to compare sociodemographic, anthropometric and psychological factors in pregnant women receiving public and private health care, as well as verify the influence of eating attitudes, depressive symptoms, self-esteem and anxiety on body attitudes in both sectors. Methods: this study included 386 pregnant women aged 18-46 (mean of 29.32 ± 6.04 years). Instruments were applied to evaluate body attitudes, eating attitudes, depressive symptoms, self-esteem and anxiety. Anthropometric and obstetric data were collected. Descriptive, comparative and correlational analyses were performed. Results: troubled sociodemographic characteristics, negative body attitudes, inappropriate eating attitudes, depressive symptoms, low self-esteem, and high levels of trait and state anxiety were significantly higher among participants receiving public health care (p<0.05). Eating attitudes and self-esteem directly influenced the body attitudes of those receiving public health care (R2 adjusted=0.336, p<0.001) and private health care (R2 adjusted=0.324, p<0.001). Conclusions: it was concluded that the sociodemographic, anthropometric, and psychological factors were more worrying in pregnant women receiving care in the public sector when compared to those of the private sector.


In this paper, the separation transformation approach is extended to the (N + 1)-dimensional dispersive double sine-Gordon equation arising in many physical systems such as the spin dynamics in the B phase of 3He superfluid. This equation is first reduced to a set of partial differential equations and a nonlinear ordinary differential equation. Then the general solutions of the set of partial differential equations are obtained and the nonlinear ordinary differential equation is solved by F-expansion method. Finally, many new exact solutions of the (N + 1)-dimensional dispersive double sine-Gordon equation are constructed explicitly via the separation transformation. For the case of N > 2, there is an arbitrary function in the exact solutions, which may reveal more novel nonlinear structures in the high-dimensional dispersive double sine-Gordon equation.


Enhancing stability against photocorrosion and improving photocurrent response are the main challenges toward the development of cupric oxide (CuO) based photocathodes for solar-driven hydrogen production. In this paper, stable and efficient CuO-photocathodes have been developed using in situ materials engineering and through gold-palladium (Au-Pd) nanoparticles deposition on the CuO surface. The CuO photocathode exhibits a photocurrent generation of ∼3 mA/cm2 at 0 V v/s RHE. Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) analysis and X-ray spectroscopy (XPS) confirm the formation of oxygen-rich (O-rich) CuO film which demonstrates a highly stable photocathode with retained photocurrent of ∼90% for 20 min. The influence of chemical composition on the photocathode performance and stability has been discussed in detail. In addition, O-rich CuO photocathodes deposited with Au-Pd nanostructures have shown enhanced photoelectrochemical performance. Linear scan voltammetry characteristic shows ∼25% enhancement in photocurrent after Au-Pd deposition and reaches ∼4 mA/cm2 at "0" V v/s RHE. Hydrogen evolution rate significantly depends on the elemental composition of CuO and metal nanostructure. The present work has demonstrated a stable photocathode with high photocurrent for visible-light-driven water splitting and hydrogen production.


Background/Introduction: At present, human diet is replete with sugar and fat. Abnormal metabolism and hyperglycemia or hyperlipidemia in the body induces the development of an overactive and continuous inflammatory response, resulting in obesity and metabolic syndromes, including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and insulin resistance. Torenia concolor Lindley var. formosana Yamazaki (TC), a perennial creeping herbaceous plant, is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb widely used for the treatment of heat stroke, aching muscles and bones, cold, dysentery, and ambustion. Purpose: This study evaluated the influence of TC on inflammation responses and lipid metabolism. Methods: In this study, ground TC powder was extracted with 95% ethanol. The ethanol was removed by vacuum concentration, and the resulting extract was further extracted with a number of solvents of different polarity to produce four final extracts: an ethanol extract (TCEE), an ethyl acetate extract (TCEAE), an n-butanol extract (TCBUE), and a water extract (TCWE). The anti-inflammatory efficacy of the extracts and their capability for lipid metabolism regulation was then explored. Results: TCEE, TCEAE, and TCBUE exhibited good anti-inflammatory efficacy; TCEAE also simultaneously regulated lipid metabolism. In RAW264.7 cells, these three extracts suppressed the expression of iNOS and IL-6 via the signaling pathway activation of the transcription factor peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and thereby showed anti-inflammatory efficacy. In 3T3-L1 cells, these three extracts promoted lipid metabolism and reduced lipid accumulation through the activation of PPARα and the increased expression of adiponectin, thus demonstrating regulation of lipid metabolism. Conclusion: These results indicate that TC possesses anti-inflammatory efficacy and can regulate lipid metabolism through the activation of transcription factor PPARs. We speculate that these nutraceutical effects are attributable to betulin, an active ingredient in this herbal medicine.


Abstract. With the increasing shortage of water resources, drought has become one of the hot issues in the world. The standardized precipitation index (SPI) is one of the widely used drought assessment indicators because of its simple and effective calculation method, but it can only assess drought events more than one month. We developed a new multi-scale daily SPI dataset to make up for the shortcomings of the commonly used SPI and meet the needs of drought types at different time scales. Taking three typical stations in Henan, Yunnan and Fujian Province as examples, the drought events identified by SPI with different scales were consistent with the historical drought events recorded. Meanwhile, we took the 3-month scale SPI of soil and agricultural drought as an example, and analyzed the characteristics of drought events in 484 stations in Chinese mainland. The results showed that most of the drought events the mainland China did not increase significantly, and some parts of the northwestern Xinjiang and Northeast China showed signs of gradual relief. In short, our daily SPI data set is freely available to the public on the website https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.14135144 , and can effectively capture drought events of different scales. It can also meet the needs of drought research in different fields such as meteorology, hydrology, agriculture, social economy, etc.


Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome--inflammation of the liver capsule associated with genital tract infection--occurs in up to one fourth of patients with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Classically presenting as sharp, pleuritic right upper quadrant pain, usually but not always accompanied by signs of salpingitis, it can mimic many other common disorders such as cholecystitis and pyelonephritis.


Background: Cicatricial lower eyelid ectropion is caused by a shortening of the anterior lamella, with resultant eversion of the eyelid away from the globe. Treatment is typically surgical; however, the author hypothesized that a nonsurgical injection of hyaluronic acid filler could stretch the tethered skin and act as a tissue expander to correct the lid. Methods: Fifteen patients with lower eyelid cicatricial ectropion were injected with a hyaluronic acid filler below the surface of the affected eyelid skin. The patients were followed prospectively for over 1 year for outcomes and complications. Results: All patients achieved immediate and dramatic correction of their ectropion with a single injection. Eleven patients (73 percent) had complete correction lasting more than 1 year and four had partial correction. No major complications were observed; however, temporary bruising and a Tyndall effect was evident in a majority of patients. Conclusions: Hyaluronic acid filler injections can successfully treat cicatricial ectropion by expanding the tethered anterior lamella of the skin. This provides an effective alternative to surgical correction of the lid. The treatment is quick, safe, and easy to learn.


We present a comprehensive study of Z CVn, an RR Lyrae star that shows long-term cyclic variations of its pulsation period. A possible explanation suggested from the shape of the O−C diagram is the light travel-time effect, which we thoroughly examine. We used original photometric and spectroscopic measurements and investigated the period evolution using available maximum times spanning more than one century. If the binary hypothesis is valid, Z CVn orbits around a black hole with minimal mass of 56.5M⊙ on a very wide (Porbit = 78.3 years) and eccentric orbit (e = 0.63). We discuss the probability of a formation of a black hole–RR Lyrae pair and, although we found it possible, there is no observational evidence of the black hole in the direction to Z CVn. However, the main objection against the binary hypothesis is the comparison of the systemic radial velocity curve model and spectroscopic observations that clearly show that Z CVn cannot be bound in such a binary. Therefore, the variations of pulsation period are likely intrinsic to the star. This finding represents a discovery/confirmation of a new type of cyclic period changes in RR Lyrae stars. By the analysis of our photometric data, we found that the Blazhko modulation with period of 22.931d is strongly dominant in amplitude. The strength of the phase modulation varies and is currently almost undetectable. We also estimated photometric physical parameters of Z CVn and investigated their variations during the Blazhko cycle using the Inverse Baade-Wesselink method.


Maritrema formicae sp. nov. is described from the Patagonian coast, Argentina, based on adults obtained from the kelp gull, Larus dominicanus. The new species fits with the "eroliae complex" and can be distinguished from other related species mainly in shape and size of body, shape, size, and pattern of distribution of cirrus spines, uterus extension, number and size of eggs, vitellarium in a complete ring in all specimens, and its Neotropical distribution. The new species is sympatric with another species of the genus, Maritrema madrynense, which was recorded in the same host and locality.


Breast cancer prevalence in many developing nations such as those in Latin America continues to grow at a pace that deserves serious attention, since cancer accounts for high morbidity and mortality rates among relatively young women (LaVecchia & Bosetti, 2005). From a clinical standpoint, breast cancer patients suffer not only from the symptoms of cancer itself but from side-effects of invasive treatments (Burish, Shartner & Lyles, 1981; Donovan, Small, Andrykowski, Munster & Jacobsen, 2007; Falleti, Sanfilippo, Maruff, Weih, & Phillips, 2005). In addition to dealing with distress, the home-care component of breast cancer treatment demands complex routines and behaviors which patients with little or no schooling and other socioeconomic disadvantages have serious difficulty implementing. The purpose of the present study was to field test a behavioral self recording procedure with the first six patients


This paper is concerned with the effects of boundary conditions on the large-amplitude free vibrations of Timoshenko beams. The effects of nonlinear terms on the frequency of Timoshenko beams with simply supported ends (supported-supported, SS), clamped ends (clamped-clamped, CC) and one end simply supported and the other end clamped (clamped-supported, CS) are discussed in detail. Given a specific vibration amplitude, the change of nonlinear frequency according to the effects of boundary conditions is always in the following descending order: SS, CS, and CC. It is found that the slenderness ratio has a significant influence on the nonlinear frequency. For slender beams, the nonlinear effects of bending curvature and shear strain are negligible regardless of the boundary conditions. For short beams and especially for those of large amplitude vibrations, however, the nonlinear effects of bending curvature and shear strain become noticeable in the following ascending order: SS, CS, and CC.


Enamel Micro-abrasion is a technique where an acid is used in combination with an abrasive to remove the superficial layer of enamel which has certain dental colorants within its structure. It is indicated as the treatment of choice for superficial enamel stains and is a technique which every dentist should offer to their patients. It is a simple, conservative, efficient and durable procedure.


Preface. Chapter 1: Newton's Laws for Particles and Rigid bodies. 1.1 Newton's 2nd Law. 1.2 Coordinate Frames, Velocity and Acceleration Diagrams. 1.3 Free Body diagrams and Force Diagrams. 1.4 Transferring Velocity and Acceleration Components. 1.5 Transferring Motion Components of Rigid Bodies and Generating Kinematic Constraints. 1.6 Review of Center of Mass, Linear Momentum, and Angular Momentum for Rigid Bodies. 1.7 Newton's law Applied to Rigid Bodies . 1.8 References. Chapter 2: Equations of Motion in Second and First Order Form. 2.1 Deriving Equations of Motion for Systems of Particles. 2.2 Deriving Equations of Motion When Rigid Bodies are Part of the System. 2.3 Forms of Equations and their Computational Solution. 2.4 Reducing Sets of Second Order Differential Equations to First Order Form. 2.5 Matrix Forms for Linearized Equations. 2.6 Summary. 2.7 References. Chapter 3: Computer Solution of Equations of Motion. 3.1 Time Step Simulation of Nonlinear Equations of Motion. 3.2 Linear System Response. 3.3 References. Chapter 4: Energy and Lagrange Equation Methods. 4.1 Kinetic and Potential Energy. 4.2 Using Conservation of Energy to Derive Equations of Motion. 4.3 Equations of Motion from Lagrange's Equations. 4.4 Interpretation of Lagrange's Equations. 4.5 Nonlinear Kinematics and Lagrange's Equations. 4.6 First Order Forms for Lagrange's Equations. Chapter 5: Newton's Laws in a Body-Fixed Frame: Application to Vehicle Dynamics. 5.1 The Dynamics of a Shopping Cart. 5.2 Analysis of a Simple Car Model. 5.3 Vehicle Stability. 5.4 Stability, Critical Speed, Understeer and Oversteer. 5.5 Steering Transfer Functions. 5.6 Steady Cornering. 5.7 Summary. 5.8 References. Chapter 6: Mechanical systems under Active Control. 6.1 Basic Concepts. 6.2 State Variables and Active Control. 6.3 Steering Control of Banking Vehicles. 6.4 Active Control of Vehicle Dynamics. 6.5 Summary. 6.6 References. Chapter 7: Rigid Body Motion in Three Dimensions. 7.1 The General Equations of Motion. 7.2 Use of a Body-Fixed Coordinate Frame. 7.3 Use of an Inertial Coordinate Frame. 7.4 Summary. 7.5 References. Chapter 8: Vibration of Multiple Degree-Of-Freedom Systems. 8.1 Natural Frequency and Resonance of a One D-O-F Oscillator. 8.2 Two Degree-of-Freedom Systems. 8.3 Tuned Vibration Absorbers. 8.4 Summary. 8.5 References. Chapter 9: Distributed System Vibrations. 9.1 Stress Waves in a Rod. 9.2 Attaching the Distributed System to External Dynamic Components. 9.3 Tightly Stretched Cable. 9.4 Bernoulli-Euler Beam. 9.5 Summary. 9.6 References. Appendix 1: Three-Dimensional Rigid Body in a Rotating Coordinate System. Appendix 2: Moments of Inertia for Some Common Body Shapes. Appendix 3: The Parallel Axis Theorem. Index.


Do democracy and economic growth exerts similar patterns in the long-run? This paper systematically examines the processes of democratization and Real GDP per capita growth and highlights the existence of common patterns, classified into four groups according to an originally developed taxonomy: synergic success, erratic democratization, synergic failure and authoritarian growth. The analysis, accomplished both in a static and in a dynamic framework, shows that synergic success is the strikingly prevailing outcome in the long-run. The results are robust to different data sources and time-spans (1972-2010; 1980-2010; 1960-2010). The present analysis embodies an important advantage, i.e. the possibility of bypassing the challenge of defining democracy according to arbitrary thresholds in quantitative indices: the focus is in fact on the process of political development (along an ideal continuum from autocracy to democracy) rather than on its final output. Finally, the paper offers a tentative exploration of the potential role of conflicts and region-specific characteristics in affecting the outcome of the democracy/growth relationship.


With this paper I intend to show the historical context in which the process of acculturation of the Amazonian indigenous societies took place, specifically the ones that lived by the end of the nineteenth century in the territory that today conforms the Putumayo region. In order to present this concept, I analyze the 19th century legislation in Colombia that refers to the indigenous problem and the relations between the Colombian government and the Catholic institution; with the essential axis of both being the 1886 National Colombian Constitution and the concordat established in 1887 between the Vatican State and the Colombian government. Another element that I use to establish this historical context is the ideological discourse of that time, specifically the prime discourse of the Colombian leading elite, understanding this as the originator, due to its nature, of the acculturation process and the imposition of occidental beliefs and way or life onto the indigenous people.