This paper reports on the performance of a silicon-on-insulator photodiode suspended on a dielectric membrane. The micro-hotplate platform consists of a micro-heater and a thin-film lateral P+/P-/N+ (PIN) photodiode. Without optimizing the multilayer stack on top of the PIN diode, experimental responsivities of the suspended photodiodes at room temperature (RT) are 0.02-0.06/W within the visible and near the IR light range, under a reverse bias of -2 V. Up to 2.5×, responsivity improvement has been achieved with regard to the diodes on the substrate thanks to reflection from the gold finish layer of the device package acting as a bottom mirror. Optimizing the layer stack above the diode, the responsivity of the on-membrane device can be theoretically improved up to 0.09-0.11 A/W within 450-520-nm wavelength range. Measured from RT up to 200 °C, the photodiodes on membrane continuously show an improved optical response under high-power LED illumination. Assisted by the micro-heater as heat source, the suspended photodiode can work stably up to 200 °C with in situ temperature sensing and control, which makes it highly suitable and attractive for high-temperature application. Full 2-D ATLAS device simulations have been comprehensively performed to investigate the optical and electrical characteristics. Very good agreement has been achieved between the numerical simulations and the experimental data.


The factor structure of an initial item pool of 207 positive parenting items was investigated (Manila; n = 520, 538) to develop the Positive Parenting Schema Inventory. Single group and multigroup confirmatory factor analyses of the Positive Parenting Schema Inventory showed invariance of the factor structure in six out of the seven levels on two other independent samples (Eastern, Indonesia; n = 366, 383; Western, the United States; n = 204, 214). Good values for reliability were obtained for its seven subscales (50 items) using coefficient omegas (.71 to .95). Evidence of validity based on test content, response processes (item responses to desired inferences), internal structure (exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses), relations to other variables (correlations with other instruments), and consequences of testing (correlations with positive schemas) were demonstrated. A core tenet of schema therapy theory was supported in that recall of past positive parenting patterns were associated with current levels of positive schemas.


# Background
The District Health Information Software (DHIS2), adopted as national health information system by the ministry of public health in Cameroon, did not integrate neglected tropical diseases (NTD) program data. Integrating NTD program data into the national DHIS2 might require more than technical skills. Our study aimed to explore the factors that affect acceptability and use of DHIS2 by NTD stakeholders for successful integration of NTD program data into the national DHIS2.

# Methods
For purposes of this mixed-methods study, the data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire targeting NTD stakeholders at different levels of the health pyramid from all the ten Regions in Cameroon. The questionnaire was based on a modified Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model, supplemented by a qualitative analysis to assess the acceptability, and use of the DHIS2 as a platform for NTD program data in Cameroon.

# Results
We found 81.9% (95% confidence interval, CI=0.784-0.859; standard error=0.019) of intention to use DHIS2 for NTDs program data and 18.4% (95% CI=0.130-0.289; standard error=0.041) of actual use among survey participants. Social influence (β=0.269, *P*=0.000), voluntariness of use (β=0.243, *P*=0.000), performance expectancy (β=0.186, *P*=0.010), and training adequacy (β=0.199, *P*=0.000) would positively influence intention to use DHIS2. Computer anxiety (β=-0.230, *P*=0.000) and technology experience (β=0.374, *P*=0.000) would have a significant negative and positive effect on actual use, respectively. The most critical challenges in using DHIS2 referred to facilitating conditions (conditions of the work environment), specifically electricity and internet connection, impeding actual use of DHIS2.

# Conclusions
Our study revealed that NTD stakeholders in Cameroon are ready to accept DHIS2 for NTD program in Cameroon. However, to ensure its successful implementation. For example, we recommend that NTD program managers plan adequate support in providing proper training, non-vendor specific 2G-3G-4G internet modems with data bundle and smartphones/laptops to ease the use of DHIS2 by NTD stakeholders. We showed that acceptability of DHIS2 studied through UTAUT model should be complemented with a qualitative analysis for richer insights.


On March 28, 2018, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California rejected an attempt by the NCAA and 11 conferences to dismiss claims brought by current and former…


Outbreaks of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) with unknown aetiology are reported every year in Gorakhpur district, Uttar Pradesh, India, and Orientia tsutsugamushi, the rickettsial pathogen, responsible for scrub typhus has been attributed as the primary cause of AES problem. However, information on the prevalence of other rickettsial infections is lacking. Hence, this study was carried out to assess any occurrence of tick- and flea-borne rickettsial agents in villages reporting AES cases in this district. In total, 825 peridomestic small mammals were trapped, by setting 9254 Sherman traps in four villages with a trap success rate of 8.9%. The Asian house shrew, Suncus murinus, constituted the predominant animal species (56.2%) and contributed to the maximum number (87.37%) of ectoparasites. In total, 1552 ectoparasites comprising two species of ticks and one species each of flea and louse were retrieved from the trapped rodents/shrews. Rhipicephalus sanguineus, the brown dog tick, was the predominant species retrieved from the trapped rodents/shrews, and the overall infestation rate was 1.75 per animal. In total, 4428 ectoparasites comprising five tick species, three louse species and one flea species were collected from 1798 domestic animals screened. Rhipicephalus microplus was the predominant tick species collected from the domestic animals. The cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, constituted 1.5% of the total ectoparasites. Of all the ectoparasite samples (5980) from domestic animals and rodents, tested as 1211 pools through real-time PCR assays, 64 pools were positive for 23S rRNA gene of rickettsial agents. The PCR-positive samples were subjected to multi-locus sequence typing (MLST). In BLAST and phylogenetic analysis, the ectoparasites were found to harbour Rickettsia asembonensis (n = 9), Rickettsia conorii (n = 3), Rickettsia massiliae (n = 29) and Candidatus Rickettsia senegalensis (n = 1). A total of 22 pools were detected to have multiple rickettsial agents. The prevalence of fleas and high abundance of tick vectors with natural infections of rickettsial agents indicates the risk of transmission of tick- and flea-borne rickettsial diseases in rural villages of Gorakhpur. Further epidemiological studies are required to confirm the transmission of these agents to humans.


We propose an optically pumped nonpolar GaN/AlGaN quantum well (QW) active region design for terahertz (THz) lasing in the wavelength range of 30 μm ~ 40 μm and operating at room temperature. The fast longitudinal optical (LO) phonon scattering in GaN/AlGaN QWs is used to depopulate the lower laser state, and more importantly, the large LO phonon energy is utilized to reduce the thermal population of the lasing states at high temperatures. The influences of temperature and pump intensity on gain and electron densities are investigated. Based on our simulations, we predict that with a sufficiently high pump intensity, a room temperature operated THz laser using a nonpolar GaN/AlGaN structure is realizable.


Abstract The analytic element method (AEM) has been successfully used in practice worldwide for many years. This method provides the possibility of fast preliminary quantitative analysis of the hydrogeological systems or boundary conditions of the numerical models, as it is shown in the case study of groundwater source of the city of Vrbas. The AEM is also applicable for the initial analysis of a hydrogeological system, which is of particular importance in case of excess pollution that cannot be predicted where it could happen. One example of the application of the AEM is presented in this article. The analytical model is calibrated based on the measured data from several drilled monitoring wells, and this was the base for the numerical model of the contaminant transport. In this case, the AEM enabled the quick access to information on the hydrogeological system and effective response to excess pollution.


Tremor is the most common type of movement disorders. In practice this differential diagnosis of hyperkinesis is diagnosed clinically and the use of additional methods of objective assessment of tremor increases the accuracy of diagnosis. The use of paraclinical methods of objective assessment of tremor improves the accuracy of diagnosis. Comparison of the neurophysiological parameters of tremor with clinical characteristics has a high diagnostic value, which justifies its use in the routine practice of neurologists. The purpose of the review is to analysis basic electrophysiological characteristics of pathological tremor, as well as the presentation of the material of its own observation.


Risk factors for mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) via breast-feeding were evaluated in a randomized trial. HIV-infected women and their infants received zidovudine as well as single-dose nevirapine or placebo. Infants were randomized to formula-feed (FF) or breast-feed (BF) in combination with zidovudine prophylaxis. Of 1116 at-risk infants, 6 (1.1%) in the FF group and 7 (1.3%) in the BF group were infected between birth and 1 month (P=.99). Maternal receipt of nevirapine did not predict early MTCT in the BF group (P=.45). Of 547 infants in the BF group at risk for late MTCT, 24 (4.4%) were infected. Maternal HIV-1 RNA levels in plasma (P<.001) and breast milk (P<.001) predicted late MTCT. These findings support the safety of 1 month of breast-feeding in combination with maternal and infant antiretroviral prophylaxis. Trial registration. ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers: NCT00197691 and NCT00197652.


Background The objective of this study was to analyze the efficacy of the LigaSureTM vessel sealing system for lung cancer resection with node dissection, as this has not been sufficiently evaluated. Methods From 2004 to 2018, 948 patients underwent anatomical pulmonary resection with node dissection for non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) via the video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) approach. Medical records of these patients were reviewed retrospectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine the risk factors for chylothorax and blood loss. Results Of the 948 patients, 318 (33.5%) who underwent anatomical lung resection with node dissection by conventional methods without vessel sealing system and 630 (66.5%) who underwent lung resection with node dissection with the vessel sealing system were included. The median intraoperative blood loss was 100 mL. Postoperative chylothorax occurred in 9 (2.8%) patients in the conventional method group with 2 (0.3%) patients in the vessel sealing system group (P=0.001). Patients in the vessel sealing group who developed chylothorax were cured by conservative treatment. Univariate and multivariate analyses identified male sex [odds ratio (OR) 2.053; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.494–2.820; P<0.001] and the use of vessel sealing system (OR 0.342; 95% CI: 0.256–0.457; P<0.001) as independent predictors of intraoperative blood loss. The univariate and multivariate analyses identified the use of the vessel sealing system (OR 0.108; 95% CI: 0.023–0.504; P=0.005) as an independent predictor of chylothorax incidence. Conclusions Vessel sealing system for lung cancer resection could decrease chest tube duration, amount of intraoperative bleeding, and incidence of chylothorax in patients who undergo lung resection with node dissection.


Investigations of the nerves of the rabbit lung, by light and electron microscopy, showed a dense acetylcholinesterase-positive innervation of the bronchi through the bronchiolar level. Large nerve bundles were found to decrease in size as they progressed from extrachondral to subchondral connective tissue, forming complex networks of mostly terminal fibres in the muscle layer. In several instances single fibres penetrated the submucosal layer and approached the mucosa. Gangliocytes, which also reacted positively for cholinesterase, were visible in the vicinity of the large peribronchial bundles. Gangliocytes rarely were seen in association with the vasculature. Blood vessels received a much less dense cholinesterase-positive nerve supply than the bronchi. Single, non-terminal fibres were noted at the adventitiomedial junction of the pulmonary artery and vein. In addition, segments of nerve fibres (networks) were observed in the arterial and venous smooth muscle layers. Cholinesterase-positive innervation was even less extensive in the veins than in the arteries.


The last supereruption from the Yellowstone Plateau formed Yellowstone caldera and ejected the >1000 km3 of rhyolite that composes the Lava Creek Tuff. Tephra from the Lava Creek eruption is a key Quaternary chronostratigraphic marker, in particular for dating the deposition of mid Pleistocene glacial and pluvial deposits in western North America. To resolve the timing of eruption and crystallization history for the Lava Creek magma, we performed (1) 40Ar/39Ar dating of single sanidine crystals to delimit eruption age and (2) ion microprobe U‐Pb and trace‐element analyses of the crystal faces and interiors of single zircons to date the interval of zircon crystallization and characterize magmatic evolution. Sanidines from the two informal members composing Lava Creek Tuff yield a preferred 40Ar/39Ar isochron date of 631.3 ± 4.3 ka. Crystal faces on zircons from both members yield a weighted mean 206Pb/238U date of 626.5 ± 5.8 ka, and have trace element concentrations that vary with the eruptive stratigraphy. Zircon interiors yield a mean 206Pb/238U date of 659.8 ± 5.5 ka, and reveal reverse and/or oscillatory zoning of trace element concentrations, with many crystals containing high U concentration cores that likely grew from highly evolved melt. The occurrence of distal Lava Creek tephra in stratigraphic sequences marking the Marine Isotope Stage 16–15 transition supports the apparent eruption age of ∼631 ka. The combined results reveal that Lava Creek zircons record episodic heating, renewed crystallization, and an overall up‐temperature evolution for Yellowstone's subvolcanic reservoir in the 103−104 year interval before eruption.


Hand and wrist radiographs of 202 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were graded with the classical Steinbrocker Staging System, and were also assigned quantitative scores for joint space narrowing, erosion, and malalignment according to a detailed scoring method. Steinbrocker Stage scores were correlated significantly with total detailed scores (r = 0.60 to 0.66, P less than 0.001). However, the ranges of detailed total and subtotal scores among the various Steinbrocker Stage scores were broad, with considerable overlap. Practical problems in applying the Steinbrocker staging method were identified in 26.5% of the hands graded with the Steinbrocker method. Additionally, analysis of scoring data showed discrepancies between the scoring methods in 25.2% of the hands examined; one-half of these discrepancies were felt to result from the global or overall approach of the Steinbrocker method in contrast to individual joint analysis. Asymmetry in assigned stages between right and left hands was found in 15.8% of patients. The detailed scoring method, although more time-consuming, appears superior to the Steinbrocker Stage for quantitative assessment of patient radiographic status in rheumatoid arthritis.


OBJECTIVE
To analyze the distribution of manifestations in a pediatric cohort and define guidelines for follow-up of incontinentia pigmenti (IP).

DESIGN
Retrospective study of 47 children referred to the Department of Pediatric Dermatology with a diagnosis of IP between 1986 and 1999.

SETTING
The private or institutional practice of participating dermatologists and pediatricians.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Evaluation of IP clinical diagnosis using the Landy and Donnai criteria.

RESULTS
Because hyperpigmentation following the Blaschko lines may be observed in several pigmented disorders, 7 patients were found misdiagnosed. During the neonatal period, erythema, vesicles, and hyperkeratotic le sions were rarely absent in the patients with IP. Ocular and neurological abnormalities were frequent (20% and 30%, respectively) but rarely severe (8% and 7.5%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS
Clinical diagnosis is the first main step for a correct phenotype/genotype correlation, which remains indispensable to better understand the pathological mechanisms of IP and develop new therapies. In doubtful cases, molecular analysis is helpful but characteristic histological features must be added as major criteria for IP diagnosis. Multidisciplinary follow-up is needed, particularly during the first year of life, to detect possible ophthalmologic and neurological complications. Neuroimaging ought to be performed in the case of abnormal neurological examination results or when vascular retinopathy is detected.


stillborn children was eight times as great as that among mothers of live-born children, and in regard to haemorrhage it was twenty-one times as great. In Aberdeen it is the practice to have the bodies of all stillborn childreni who are attenided by midwives and in the Maternity Hospital examined for spirochaetes, and the result showed that 12.1 per cent. of the stillbirths were due to syphilis. In respect of the danger of different confinements the second was found to be the safest, for the mortality of second confiiieneents was about one-third that of the first confinement, while after the second the fatality again gradually increased. It was found that in the practice of midwives the death rate was 2.8 per 1,000, in the practice of doctors 6.9, anid in institutions 14.9. On the other hand, the evidence showed that instrumental delivery was not associated with any increase in sepsis. Emphasis is laid upon the importance of restricting the number of patients and their spacing in maternity wards if contagion is to be reduced. The suggestion is made that infectioni miiay be brought by droplet infection of streptococci from the throats of carriels. Bacter iological examinations were made in a series of 88 cases of puerperal fever. Examiniation of uterine cultures, blood cultures, and pus from secondary suppurative processes showed that in all cases the organism most frequently found was a Streptococeus 1haenwlyticits. In connexion with the prevention of maternal mortality the report concludes that ani important reduction would be secured by the expansion and improvement of ante-natal services. It is also suggested that such organization should be made that midwives should conduct niormal deliveries, and that doctors should provide the ante-natal services and deal with obstetrical complications. For the destruction of organisms that have invaded the maternal tissues it is suggested that the production of a type (serological) specific antibacterial serum is necessary.


Financing through crowdfunding is growing rapidly, especially for start-ups. Investment financing via crowdfunding is integrated with the real side of the firm as future consumers may potentially provide all or part of the required resources. We derive the optimal pre-sale crowdfunding contract of a financially constrained monopolist and analyze its implications for production, investment and welfare. Crowdfunding contracts may serve as a price-discrimination mechanism, forcing pivotal consumers to pay a premium above the future spot price, thus increasing profits. When raising funds is costly, entrepreneurs balance the benefits from price discrimination against the costs of external financing, and respond to tighter financing constraints by decreasing the degree of price discrimination and increasing production. When crowdfunding is available, reducing the cost of capital, a common policy instrument used for spurring innovation, may unintentionally reduce production and welfare. JEL classification: L1,G23,G32


A series of failures of a radial inflow hot gas expander driving a centrifugal compressor in a nitric acid plant plagued the second author's former company over a 24 year period. The 19,000 hp single-stage radial inflow expander inlet and discharge blade tips would fail in service, destroying the inlet nozzle vanes and expander wheel, and causing extensive damage to the rotor, bearings, seals, and shrouds. To finally resolve this severe reliability problem, an engineering team consisting of both authors' company's personnel was formed to pinpoint the root cause of failure and develop a corrective action plan. A parametric solid model of the expander wheel was created, and forced response stress and modal analyses were conducted on various design configurations using finite element techniques. Impact resonance testing of several expander wheels was performed to validate the results of the finite element modal analyses. Design changes were implemented based on the analyses and a new expander wheel was manufactured. The startup procedures of the machine were also modified and heat treatments on the expander material were optimized. The new expander wheel has operated successfully with the geometric and operational startup procedure changes without a failure, resulting in record service life to date. This paper chronicles the history of these failures, expander design optimization studies and changes, operating procedure changes, and heat treatment changes for the A286 wheel material. The paper also documents the operational reliability attained in current operations, providing a validation of the engineering. Though the application of the engineering is unique for this case, the methods used in this investigation and problem resolution can be readily applied to numerous root cause failure analyses of rotating machinery.


Recent studies have suggested that the epithelial expression of two leukocyte-related proteins, human class II HLA-DR antigen and myelomonocytic L1 antigen, depends on a certain state of cellular maturation and differentiation. We have studied HLA-DR and L1 expression in oral squamous cell carcinomas. The epithelial distribution of these proteins was evaluated in relation to differentiation alterations by two-color immunofluorescence staining with cytokeratins (K14 and K13) as a baseline. HLA-DR was infrequently expressed in oral carcinomas, apparently being unrelated to the degree of differentiation and the subepithelial leukocyte infiltration. L1 was generally present in oral epithelium but disappeared in the most invasive cells of carcinomas. These cells were also K14 and K13 negative suggesting an abnormal state of differentiation. L1 has been suggested to have an inhibitory effect on casein kinases I and II, enzymes possibly associated with cell proliferation; it might therefore exert an inhibitory effect on tumor growth. Its absence could be an interesting aspect of the invasiveness of oral carcinoma cells.


We report results of comparative noise measurements on AlGaAs semiconductor laser amplifiers of the Fabry-Perot and travelling-wave types. We show that, for the same net gain, the electrical baseband signal/noise ratio of a photodetector placed at the amplifier output (after an optical filter) is higher for a travelling-wave-type amplifier, especially at high-gain values where the Fabry-Perot amplifier is operated at oscillation threshold. For a net gain of 20.5 dB, the signal/noise ratio of the travelling-wave-type amplifier is 4?5 dB better.


Local search algorithms, such as simulated annealing, tabu search, and local hill climbers attempt to optimize a solution to a problem by making locally improving modifications to a candidate solution. They rely on a neighborhood operator to restrict the search to a typically small set of possible successor states. The genetic algorithm mutation operator, likewise, enables the exploration of the local neighborhood of candidate solutions within the genetic algorithm's population. In this paper, we profile window-limited variations of several commonly employed neighborhood operators for problems in which candidate solutions are represented as permutations. Window-limited neighborhood operators enable tuning the size of the local neighborhood--e.g., to balance cost of search step against likelihood of getting stuck in a local optima. Window limits potentially can even be adjusted dynamically during search--e.g., to give a stagnated search a "kick." We provide profiles of the distance characteristics of window-limited variations of several of the more common permutation neighborhood operators.


The use of lithium-ion (Li{sup +}) drifting to study the properties of point defects in p-type Floating-Zone (FZ) silicon crystals is reported. The Li{sup +} drift technique is used to detect the presence of vacancy-related defects (D defects) in certain p-type FZ silicon crystals. SUPREM-IV modeling suggests that the silicon point defect diffusivities are considerably higher than those commonly accepted, but are in reasonable agreement with values recently proposed. These results demonstrate the utility of Li{sup +} drifting in the study of silicon point defect properties in p-type FZ crystals. Finally, a straightforward measurement of the Li{sup +} compensation depth is shown to yield estimates of the vacancy-related defect concentration in p-type FZ crystals.


The characteristics of WC (Wolfram-Carbide) are high hardness and good electric and thermal conductivity. There is however a weakness: the brittleness of these ceramics limit the possibility of use in highly stressed structures. This has led to the developing of cermets – ceramic metals. In this case cobalt is introduced, to produce WC-Co (Wolfram-Carbide -Cobalt alloy) coating. Developing the production process to decrease the grain size in the material structure to the nano domain and minimizing non-WC-Co phases in the material can give increased hardness, toughness and wearresistance. In this report we will give an overview of methodology in the production of nano grain sized WC-Co powder. Furthermore we describe the microstructure of WC-Co composite and the difficulties with decomposition in the structure. In addition we look at influences of processing parameters for the nanostructured WC-Co coatings. Finally we look into the mechanical properties of nanostructured coatings and methods to study its' microstructure. We show that it is possible to strengthen WC-Co coatings by minimising grain size and maximizing homogeneity with a combination of chemical and physical techniques and that nanostructured WC-Co is becoming available on the market as an industrial product.


hen I was 8 years of age my older sister who was 8 years my senior was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. As a result, my family spent quite a few years visiting hospitals and mental health facilities on a daily basis. It is painful to reflect on that period, as our whole world was rocked by this illness. My once vibrant, skilful, dynamic, energetic, extremely kind, and topof-her-class sister was plagued by a disease process of schizophrenia that would have her attempting to take her own life on several occasions, battle with hearing voices, go into a state of catatonia for long periods of time, and suffer severe bouts of anxiety and depression. The onset of my sister's schizophrenia was spontaneous, during what should have been the most carefree years of her life. We will never know what triggered her illness but for whatever reason that this "thing" landed in our household, we learned to come to terms with its impact. I grew up with an understanding that, in life, there are some things we can fix, and some things we cannot. There are some things we can explain, and some things we cannot. Sometimes medical science has the answers, and sometimes it does not. It does not mean I give up on the potential for a cure or therapy for various forms of mental illness, but I am more wary than most about silver bullet solutions. In the 30 years my sister has lived with schizophrenia there have been numerous incremental innovations that have been beneficial to some sufferers. First, there have been advancements in pharmacology and in the composition of antidepressants so that they are more effective. But pharmaceutical treatments have not helped everyone, especially those sufferers who do not take their medication on a regular basis. Many persons living with depression who come on and off antidepressants without seeking medical advice are at an increased risk of suicide. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), an empirically-based psychotherapy, has also aided increasing numbers of patients to better cope with their condition. Yet CBT is not given the same media attention as the new range of dynamic neural stimulators, commonly dubbed "brain implants," now on the market [1]. For sufferers who are diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD), and for whom antidepressants and CBT simply do not work, doctors have turned to the prospect of somatic therapies. These include: electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), and deep brain stimulation (DBS). If an individual does not respond to ECT (and only fifty per cent do), they are said to have treatment-resistant depression (TRD) [2]. In plain language, ECT is when electricity is applied to the scalp generally over a treatment period of between 2-4 weeks, several sessions per week. rMTS treatment goes for 4-6 weeks, of 5 sessions per week and uses a fluctuating magnetic field from electromagnetic coil placed outside the skull sending an electrical current to the brain. VNS and DBS are more intrusive procedures targeting specific parts of the brain [3]. In VNS, an electrode is wrapped around the left vagus nerve in the neck and stimulation occurs about every 5 minutes for about 30 seconds. The battery packs sit under the skin of Mental Health, Implantables, and Side Effects W


Between 1966 and 1982, a triple DPT vaccine was studied in France in 1,871 infants between the ages of 3 and 5 months. The study covered tolerance and serological efficacy of two immunization schedules using 2 or 3 initial injections. Computerized analysis of the 877 complete files showed satisfactory tolerance of this association and the serological efficacy of 2 initial doses of tetanus and diphtheria vaccines. Pertussis immunization is only effective after 3 injections. The presence of maternal antibodies when the first injection is given only decreases the immune response of diphtheria vaccine.


Contents: Preface Translator's note. Part I The Recorder and Flute in Italy in Vivaldi's Time: The emancipation of the recorder and flute Straight and cross flutes The recorder and flute in Venice: the rA'le of amateur players The recorder and flute in Venice: the first professional players Other players of the recorder and flute associated with Vivaldi Missing workshops and instruments. Part II Vivaldi's Music for Recorder and Flute: Vivaldi's sonatas for recorder and flute Vivaldi's chamber concertos with recorder or flute Vivaldi's flute concertos Vivaldi's recorder concertos Vivaldi's concertos for flautino The concerto for two flutes The concertos with multiple soloists and orchestra The recorder and flute in Vivaldi's vocal music Remarks on instrumental technique Conclusions Postscript: a late discovery Inventory of the works for recorder and flute by Antonio Vivaldi Bibliography Indexes.


The paper studies risk aversion and prudence of an agent in the face of a risk situation with two parameters, one described by a fuzzy number, the other described by a fuzzy variable. The first contribution of the paper is the characterization of risk aversion and prudence in mixed models by conditions on the concavity and the convexity of the agent's utility function and its partial derivatives. The second contribution is the building of mixed models of optimal saving and their connection with the concept of prudence and downside risk aversion.


BACKGROUND
To study the effect of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) BARF1 gene alone and synergistic effect of the gene and TPA in carcinogenesis.

METHODS
PT1 and PT7 cell line which were immortalized monkey kidney epithelial cells induced by the BARF1 gene of EB virus.PT1 and PT7 cell were cultured with 5 ng/ml TPA for two weeks. Then the nude mice and scid mice were injected with PT1, PT7, PT1+TPA, PT7+TPA cells, respectively.

RESULTS
The immortalized PT1 and PT7 cells could not develop the tumor in nude mice, but could develop the tumor in scid mice (severe combined immune deficiency mice). It took about 45-60 days for development of tumor. After adding the tumor promoter TPA, the PT1 and PT7 cells developed the tumor either in nude mice or scid mice. It needed about 20-22 days in nude mice and 5-7 days in scid mice for development of tumor. PCR amplification revealed EBV-BARF1 gene in tumor tissues.

CONCLUSIONS
EB virus BARF1 gene is another oncogene. Malignant transformation of the primary monkey kidney epithelial cell can be induced with BARF1 gene,even without tumor promoter.


Infectious mononucleosis, caused by primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, is usually a benign, self-limited lymphoproliferative disorder. We report a case of a 21-year-old woman who presented with fever, sore throat, severe neutropenia, and absolute lymphocytosis with atypical lymphocytes. In situ hybridization for EBV-encoded small RNA performed on the marrow aspirate clot specimen demonstrated scattered positive cells. EBV serology was compatible with primary infection. Flow cytometry immunophenotypic studies performed on aspirate material revealed a profoundly expanded population of CD8+ T-cell receptor (TCR)-alphabeta T cells with uniform expression of CD94. No evidence of a monoclonal T-cell population was found as assessed by V(beta) use with flow cytometry and by TCR gamma-chain gene rearrangement using a polymerase chain reaction method. Uniform expression of CD94 in an exuberant reactive proliferation of CD8+ TCR-alphabeta T cells in infectious mononucleosis has not been reported previously, and combined with atypical morphology might be misinterpreted as a malignant neoplasm.


The application of renewable distributed generation (DG) could be considered as an alternative approach for distribution system expansion planning not only to reduce power loss and carbon emission, but also to improve system voltage profile. This paper investigates technical aspects related to voltage support and loss reduction in distribution systems with distributed wind and solar generation. The probabilistic wind, solar, and load models have been developed in order to address uncertain nature of wind speed, solar radiation, and load demand. Investigations have been carried out using Monte Carlo based probabilistic load flow analysis to estimate the probability distributions of system state variables such as lowest nodal voltage and overall real power loss. The proposed approach is tested on a remote 11kV radial distribution feeder derived from an Integral Energy Electricity Network in New South Wales, Australia.


Current approaches to compiling aspect-oriented programs are inefficient. This inefficiency has negative effects on the productivity of the development process and is especially prohibitive for dynamic aspect deployment. In this work, we present how well-known virtual machine techniques can be used with only slight modifications to support fast aspect deployment while retaining runtime performance. Our implementation accelerates dynamic aspect deployment by several orders of magnitude relative to mainstream aspect-oriented environments. We also provide a detailed comparison of alternative implementations of execution environments with support for dynamic aspect deployment.


Histopathologists, with their obsessional penchant for prolonged storage of fixed or stained tissues and associated mountants, should take more interest in slow chemical reactions (chronochemistry; a possible neologism for which we offer no apology). A recent foray to rescue 4000 specimens of breast tissue, stored in 10% aqueous formaldehyde for the past 20 years in a notoriously cool mortuary, showed many examples of a dramatic internal candlewax-like ooze of the rubber rings of storage jars (figure). Despite extensive domestic experience from similar commendable patience in storing bottles and demijohns of jellies and home-made wines, also sealed by rubber sealers, this is a new phenomenon to us. Rubber is an organic polymer of isoprene and its homologues. Formaldehyde is a polymerising agent for proteins. How has this accidental collision of agents led to the dribble which we illustrate? A chemical explanation is needed to prevent future loss of the aesthetic appeal or the forensic value of tissue stored over a long period. Are proper chronochemists out there ready with advice and explanation?


Abstract Introduction The Radiofrequency Vapor Ablation (RFVA) System (AquaMedical, Inc., Santa Ana, CA) is a novel ablation system for eradication of Barrett's esophagus, that generates vapor at 100 °C using an RF electrode located in the catheter tip. We performed in-vitro dosimetry studies and the first in-human feasibility study. Methods The system includes an RFVA generator with syringe pump and a through-the-scope-catheter. The RFVA system was tested in-vitro (lean-beef and porcine study) and ablation depth was compared to focal RFA. Two doses were selected for further in-vivo testing in dysplatic BE patients. Repeat endoscopy with histology was performed after 8 weeks to assess squamous conversion. Results In porcine, RFVA 3-seconds was comparable to RFA, whereas RFVA 5-seconds produced slightly deeper ablation. We selected a conservative 1-second and 3-seconds for human study. Fifty-three ablations were successfully applied in 15 patients with no adverse events. Follow-up endoscopy showed a median squamous conversion of 55 % (IQR 33 – 74) and 98 % (56 – 99) for 1 and 3-seconds, respectively. Conclusions In this 3-phase study with lean-beef, porcine and the first in-human application, the RFVA system was feasible for esophageal ablation and successfully and safely converted targeted BE areas into squamous epithelium.


Devolution in the United Kingdom is deeply connected to United Kingdom membership of the European Union, which provides an external support system for the internal settlement. Exit from the European Union destabilizes the internal settlement and raises a series of major constitutional issues.


THE ARTICLE APPRAISES AN INFORMATION RESOURCE PUBLISHED IN INTERNET USING AS REFERENT THE CONCEPT OF AUDIT. THE RESOURCE IS SCIELO (SCIENTIFIC ELECTRONIC LIBRARY ON LINE) A MODEL FOR ELECTRONIC PUBLICATION IN LATINAMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES. SCIELO WAS CHOSEN BE CAUSE IT WAS THOUGHT VALUABLE AS AN INSTRUMENT THAT CAN HELP TO ACHIEVE A MORE VISIBLE AND ACCESSIBLE SCIENTIFIC NATIONAL PRODUCTION BY MEANS OF ELECTRONIC MEDIA. IT ALSO DEVELOPS A DATA BASE WITH WHICH THE SCIENTIFIC PRODUCTION OF A COUNTRY MAY BE AS SESSED AND WHOSE INTERNATIONAL VISIBILITY CAN BE IN CREASED.THE SCANNING METHOD IN CLUDES A DIGITAL RESOURCES AS SESSMENT. CONCLUSIONS MANIFEST THE IMPORTANCE OF IN SPECTING INFORMATION RESOURCES AS AMEANS OF HIGH LIGHT ING WEAK AND STRONG POINTS IN THE SELECTED CASE WHICH CENTERS ITS ATTENTION IN THE ASSESSMENT OF THE SCIENTIFIC PRODUC TION OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, ESPECIALLY IN LATINAMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN. THE PROJECT INTENDS TO DIMINISH THE PHENOME NON OF LOST SCIENTIFIC PRODUCTION WHICH IS NOT IN ENGLISH DUETO THE LACK OF PROPER SCIENTIFIC DIFFUSION.


Background: Environmental sources have been implicated as a potential source for exogenous acquisition of Candida species, particularly the emerging multidrug-resistant Candida auris. However, limited information is available on environmental reservoirs of Candida species in healthcare facilities. Methods: During a 6-month period, cultures for Candida species were collected from high-touch surfaces in patient rooms and from portable equipment in 6 US acute care hospitals in 4 states. Additional cultures were collected from sink drains and floors in one of the hospitals and from high-touch surfaces, portable equipment, and sink drains in a hospital experiencing an outbreak due to C. auris. Candida species were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectometry. Results: Candida species were recovered from patient rooms in 4 of the 6 hospitals. Seven of 147 patient room cultures (4.8%) and 1 of 57 (1.8%) portable equipment cultures were positive, with the most common species being C. parapsilosis. For the hospital where additional sites were sampled, Candida species were recovered from 8 of 22 (36.4%) hospital room floors and 4 of 17 (23.5%) sink drains. In the facility with a C. auris outbreak, Candida species were frequently recovered from sink drains (20.7%) and high-touch surfaces (15.4%), but recovery of C. auris was uncommon (3.8% of high-touch surfaces, 3.4% of sink drains, and 0% of portable equipment) and only present in rooms that currently or recently housed a patient with C. auris. Conclusion: Candida species often contaminate surfaces in hospitals and may be particularly common on floors and in sink drains. However, C. auris contamination was uncommon in a facility experiencing an outbreak, suggesting that current cleaning and disinfection practices can be effective in minimizing environmental contamination.


Objective:In peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from HIV-1-positive patients, we sought to identify CD8+ T-cell populations and the corresponding T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoires that react to an immunogenic cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitope with or without an escape mutation. Methods:PBMCs from HLA-A*2402(A24)-positive patients were stimulated with peptides representing a wild-type CTL epitope in the HIV-1 Nef protein [Nef138-10(wt)] or an escape mutant with a Y to F (Y139F) substitution at the second position [Nef138-10(2F)]. Cultured PBMCs were stained with peptide-major histocompatibility complex tetramers containing Nef138-10(wt) or Nef138-10(2F) sequences. After in-vitro stimulation of PBMCs with cognate peptides, the CD8+ T-cell population was sorted into different fractions: positive only to the wild-type tetramer (wt-positive), positive only to the mutant tetramer (2F-positive), and positive to both wt-tetramers and mutant-tetramers (dual-positive). TCR repertoires of sorted epitope-specific CD8+ T-cell populations were determined by sequencing. Results:A 2F-positive population was rarely observed under our culture and staining conditions. The wt-positive CD8+ T-cell populations had a diverse TCR repertoire, but the TCR repertoires in dual-positive CD8+ populations were highly restricted. In the dual-positive CD8+ T-cell populations, most clonotypes used the TRBV4-1 and TRBJ2-7 gene segments for the TCR β-chain and the TRAV8-3 and TRAJ40-1 for the TCR α-chain. The CDR3 region of the TCR β-chain showed little variation. Conclusion:These results provide an example of restricted TCR repertoire in a specific CTL response against the escaping epitope. We speculate that impairment of antigen presentation in escaping viruses may underlie the restricted repertoire.


Hfq, RNA binding protein, is widely found in most of the prokaryotes. It plays a key role in gene regulation by binding with small RNA and facilitates mRNA pairing there by suppress or boost translation according to RNA structures. Interaction between sRNAs and HfQ in Salmonella SL1344 were screened using Co-Immuno Precipitation (HfQ-CoIP) studies earlier. We have formulated an In silico approach, to model the 3D structures of 155 sRNA and studied their interactions with HfQ proteins. We have reported the key interacting PHE42, LEU7, VAL27, PHE39 and PRO21 residues of HfQ binds with many small RNAs. Further mutation of PHE42 in to ALA42 in HfQ leads to loss of sRNA binding efficiency. We have differentiated the interactions in to HfQ binding and non-binding sRNAs, based on Atomic Contact Energy and area. This methodology may be applied generically for functional grouping of small RNAs in any organism.


Objective To explore the prenatal ultrasonographic characteristics and pregnancy outcomes of fetal meconium peritonitis (FMP). Methods Nine patients diagnosed with FMP by routine prenatal examination between January 2015 and December 2020 were identified. Both prenatal ultrasonographic characteristics and pregnancy outcomes associated with these patients were retrospectively analyzed. Results The mean gestational age at the time of FMP diagnosis was 31.3 ± 4.8 weeks, and the mean gestational age of delivery was 35.1 ± 5.1 weeks. Prenatal ultrasonographic findings at the time of diagnosis in these patients included intestinal dilatation (9/9, 100%), intraperitoneal calcification (8/9, 88.9%), fetal ascites (5/9, 55.6%), intraperitoneal pseudocyst (5/9, 55.6%), and polyhydramnios (6/9, 66.7%). Analyses of the etiological basis for meconium peritonitis in 5 of the 8 live births that underwent surgical treatment revealed 4 cases of congenital volvulus and 1 case of jejunal atresia. Conclusion The prenatal ultrasound manifestations of fetal meconium peritonitis are diverse, and the different grades of prenatal ultrasound manifestations can provide important information for the treatment of perinatal infants.


Objectives: The purpose of this study was to verify the veracity and reliability of the INCNS score for prediction of neurological ICU (NICU) mortality and 3-month functional outcome and mortality in comatose patients. Methods: In this prospective study, data of the patients admitted to NICU from January 2013 to January 2019 were collected for validation. The 3-month functional outcomes were evaluated using modified Rankin Scale (mRS). By using the receiver operating characteristics curve (ROC) analysis, we compared the INCNS score with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Full Outline of Un-Responsiveness Score (FOUR) and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) for assessment of the predictive performance of these scales for 3-month functional outcome and mortality and NICU mortality performed at 24- and 72-h after admission to the NICU. Results: Totally 271 patients were used for evaluation; the INCNS score achieved an AUC (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve) of 0.766 (95% CI: 0.711–0.815) and 0.824 (95% CI: 0.774–0.868) for unfavorable functional outcomes, an AUC of 0.848 (95% CI: 0.800–0.889) and 0.892 (95% CI: 0.848–0.926) for NICU mortality, and an AUC of 0.811 (95% CI: 0.760–0.856) and 0.832 (95% CI: 0.782–0.874) for the 3-month mortality after discharge from the NICU at 24- and 72-h. The INCNS score exhibited a significantly better predictive performance of mortality and 3-month functional outcomes than FOUR and GCS. There was no significant difference in predicting NICU mortality and 3-month functional outcomes between INCNS and APACHE II, but INCNS had better predictive performance of 3-month mortality than APACHE II. Conclusions: The INCNS score could be used for predicting the functional outcomes and mortality rate of comatose patients.


The development of a system for interweaving virtual reality tools with live video scenes to direct robots using video graphic gestures is described. This virtual point-and-direct (V-PAD) concept is applied to workpiece inspection. a normalized coding method is employed for surface flaw identification using a neural network based skeleton transform. The method is scale, location, and orientation invariant so that robotic placement of workpieces for inspection requires no exact precision from special fixturing.<<ETX>>


Background: The use of nasal packing after functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is often associated with pain and a feeling of pressure for patients. The aim of the present work was to investigate a modern wound dressing made of polyurethane (Nasopore®) that makes removal of the nasal packing unnecessary and is focussed on patient comfort. Methodology: Following bilateral FESS, after randomisation, one side was packed with Nasopore® while the other side was without packing as a control. The following parameters from 47 patients were determined daily in two centres from post-operative day 1 for the duration of the inpatient stay in a double-blinded setting: side-specific post-operative bleeding, nasal breathing and feeling of pressure as well as the general parameters sleep disturbance, headaches and general well-being. Which side patients considered subjectively the better was also recorded. Results: No significant differences were determined between the two sides in terms of the rates of post-operative bleeding and nasal breathing. The feeling of pressure was slightly less on the side packed with Nasopore® on post-operative days 2 and 3. No trend could be observed regarding which side patients described as being subjectively better. Conclusion: There were only slight differences in patient comfort between the Nasopore® side and the control. Because the feeling of pressure in the midface was significantly less and there were no complications, this suggests there is greater patient comfort when using Nasopore® compared to using no nasal packing.


Reintroduction programs are a high‐risk conservation strategy for restoring populations of endangered species. The success of these programs often depends on the ability to identify suitable habitat within the species' former range. Bioclimatic analysis offers an empirical, explicit, robust, and repeatable method to analyze large areas rapidly using a small number of locality records, and in turn predicting (and/or reconstructing) its potential distribution limits. This approach therefore can estimate the broad limits of the distribution of a taxon, using data that may be inadequate for standard forms of statistical analysis. We illustrate the potential value of bioclimatic modeling for reintroduction biology using a case study of the highly endangered Helmeted Honeyeater (Lichenostomus melanops cassidix) from Victoria, southeastern Australia. The results of our analyses assisted us to both predict the former range limits of the Helmeted Honeyeater and determine the broad limits of those areas that may contain potentially suitable sites for future reintroduction programs for the subspecies. The analysis predicted that the range of the Helmeted Honeyeater extends from the Yarra River district east of Melbourne, south to the Western Port Bay and east as far as the Morwell area of Victoria. The climatic characteristics of habitat occupied by the extant population of the Helmeted Honeyeater were found to be unique within its predicted range. We recommend that reintroduction efforts therefore be concentrated within this small area, as has occurred to date.


The "quality" of poly(glycolic acid) as an absorbable suture material was investigated in comparison with catgut. Tissue reactions to poly(glycolic acid) and plain catgut were examined histomorphologically at different time intervals after implantation in rats, and compared. Four mechanical properties were also examined as relevant quality factors: elastic stiffness, tensile strength, toughness, and percent elongation at rupture of the suture material per se (unknotted). The variation of these properties in poly(glycolic acid) implants was followed since their insertion in the tissues. Histological behavior and mechanical properties appear to be more closely correlated in the case of poly(glycolic acid) than in the case of catgut, as a consequence of a greater regularity of tissue reaction towards the synthetic material. Both tissue reaction and tensile properties variation are independent of size in the case of the braided poly(glycolic acid) sutures examined. Elastic stiffness and tensile strength decrease steadily in time; toughness and ultimate elongation display an increase up to a maximum within one day since implantation, and then decrease.


In these last years the authors have devoted themselves to chronic alcoholism rehabilitation. They have studied 99 over 65 years old subjects. In these subjects gastrointestinal pathology alcohol correlated incidence has been studied. An abdominal echography and an esophagogastroduodenoscopy have been performed in all these subjects. In some subjects, on the guide line of these tests, the authors have put through more tests: hepatosplenic scintigraphy, hepatic biopsy, laparoscopy, colonoscopy. Statistic elaboration was performed by chi-square test. The conclusions of this study are: 1) the diagnostic importance of association between echography and scintigraphy; 2) the low prevalence of severe hepatic alcohol related lesions in the elderly; 3) the importance of alcohol in hepatocarcinoma etiopathogenesis; 4) the incidence and the importance of phlogistic and ulcerous gastroduodenal lesions in elderly alcoholics.


In this study, new system of microring resonator for quantum cryptography in network communication is proposed. optical potential well can be generated and propagate via a nonlinear modified add/drop interferometer system incorporated with a beam splitter and a time division multiple access (TDMA) system wherein the quantum binary codes can be generated, propagated and transmitted. A system known as optical multiplexer can be used to increase the channel capacity and security of the signals, where the beam splitters generate high capacity of binary codes within the proposed system. Therefore, ring resonator system is used to form the optical potential wells. The multiplexed potential wells are formed and transmit via an available link, where the logic codes can be sent out with different time, used for high capacity transmission of the secured data. In this work narrow pulses with FHHM of 9.57 nm and 8 nm could be obtained from the drop and through ports of the add/drop interferometer system respectively. The outputs of different center wavelengths are combined and used to generate multiple potential well signals, where the multiple signals with FWHM and FSR of 0.8 nm and 5 nm could be obtained respectively. Digital codes can be generated and transmitted via communication networks systems such as time division multiple access (TDMA) using dark and bright soliton pulses with FHHM and FSR of 0.54 nm and 4.71 nm.


To the Editor: Leptospirosis is an important endemic infection in many developing tropical countries. Weil's disease is the most severe form of leptospiral infection with high mortality and morbidity and supportive treatment alone cannot reduce the severity of the disease. 1 Extreme hyperbilirubinaemiainduced acute renal failure (ARF) is the hallmark of this disease. The role of blood exchange in the treatment of leptospirosis has not been defined, although favourable clinical outcome has been reported. 2,3 However, there is no report that can prove that blood exchange is the reason for improved outcome. Here, the author performs this mini-study in order to summarize the outcomes of blood exchange compared to standard peritoneal dialysis (PD) treatment among reported Thai ARF cases due to Weil's disease. A literature review on the papers concerning Thai ARF patients due to Weil's disease was performed from the database of published works cited in Index Medicus and Science Citation Index and also the published works in all 256 local Thai journals, which are not included in the international citation index. The reports that contained no complete data were excluded from further analysis. The clinical outcome of blood exchange was compared to standard treatment. According to this review, there was a significantly lower duration for full recovery in the group treated with blood exchange without PD (Table 1). In addition, a non-significant lower fatality rate was detected in the group treated with blood exchange. These observations suggest that blood exchange is more beneficial in treating ARF associated with Weil's disease than PD. For blood exchange, a minor nonstatistical, significant decrease of bilirubin (0.28 ± 0.13– 0.26 ± 0.07 mmol/L) was observed, whereas data on the change of bilirubin with classical treatment are not available. The decrease of bilirubin could be the therapeutic mechanism of blood exchange. Tse et al . noted that the beneficial effects of plasma exchange could be attributed to amelioration of the toxic effects of hyperbilirubinaemia on hepatocyte and renal tubular cell function. 3


Two sampling flights were made to determine the latitudinal distribution of tritium gas in the troposphere between California and Antarctica. These data, confirmed by shipborne and land station samples, were used to parameterize the interhemispheric air exchange and the atmospheric residence time of hydrogen gas. When tritium gas is assumed to be in steady state with its sources in the northern hemisphere and when a two-box model with a 0.6-year exchange time is used, an estimate of 6–10 years hydrogen residence time is obtained. Vertical sampling flights over the central United States show the tritium gas to be well mixed up to 14-km altitude, thus corroborating the long residence time estimate.


This paper focuses specifically on seat belt restraint system markings. Markings or observable anomalies on the webbing and restraint system hardware can be classified into two categories: (1) those caused by collision forces, or "loading marks"; and (2) those created by noncollision situations, or "normal usage marks". Some normal usage marks can appear visually similar to loading marks. The purpose of the paper is to help the investigator distinguish between occupant loading marks and normal usage marks by presenting examples of marks found on belt restraint systems that have never experienced occupant loading in a collision. A survey of the driver's belt system in 307 vehicles was conducted in the American state of Utah. Forty examples of a variety of normal usage marks are illustrated. The most commonly observed types of normal usage marks were: grooves, buffing, abrasions and grime buildup on the D-ring and latch plate; scratches on the latch plate tongue; fiber disruptions, staining, transfers or discolorations, cupping, folding and fraying on the webbing; latch plate tongue insertion marks, and contact marks on the buckle from the console, seat or occupant; and transfers or abrasions on other interior surfaces from interaction with restraint system components. For the covering abstract of the conference see IRRD E201455.


Study Design. Case report and clinical discussion. Objective. To describe a unique etiology for a patient presenting with exercise-induced lower extremity numbness found to have agenesis of the infrarenal inferior vena cava (IVC) and a large vein draining the confluence of the iliac veins through the L4 foramen into the epidural plexus. Summary of Background Data. Epidural venous abnormalities are infrequently determined to be the etiology of nerve root compression syndromes. Such cases have been described in patients with absent IVC with thrombosis. We are unaware of any previously described cases of absent IVC with a primary route of venous return through the epidural venous plexus, resulting in symptoms in the absence of thrombosis. Methods. We describe a case of a 34-year-old man who presented complaining of numbness of legs as well as cauda equina symptoms occurring during exercise. He was found to have infrarenal absence of the IVC with the confluence of the iliac veins forming a large draining vein which entered the L4 foramen into the epidural venous plexus. Pre- and postexercise magnetic resonance imaging scans were performed to compare change in the size of the plexus. Results. Postexercise magnetic resonance imaging showed notable increase in the volume of the epidural venous plexus of the lower lumbar spine. The patient was referred to neurosurgery and vascular surgery, which did not intervene. On follow-up 2 years later, the patient developed significant right deep venous thrombosis and was found to be heterozygous for factor V Leiden mutation. Conclusion. This case demonstrates the breadth of anatomic and physiologic understanding a clinician must draw on when approaching patients with nerve root compression symptoms. It is also pertinent to consider performing a hypercoagulable work-up in patients with vascular deformations, as this may prevent future thrombosis.


Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease. Seven genotypes and more than 80 subtypes have been identified for HCV so far. To date, 10 subtypes (3a to 3i; and 3k) of HCV genotype 3 have been identified. In 2006, two HCV isolates were reported from Iran that belonged to a new subtype of genotype 3. However, considering the consensus proposal for HCV genotype nomenclature, the available sequences of the new subtype did not correspond to the regions that are required to be analyzed prior to subtype assignment. During a study on the molecular epidemiology of HCV in Iran, an HCV isolate (FSM165) which seemed to belong to a new subtype of genotype 3 was obtained from a patient residing in Tehran, Iran. Objectives The aim of this study was to assess the relatedness of isolate FM165 together with several sequences retrieved from the database to the new HCV-3 subtype reported from Iran in 2006. Materials and Methods Various parts of the genome including the core/E1 region and two segments of the NS5B region were amplified and sequenced for isolate FSM165. Furthermore, using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST), the HCV database was searched for sequences that had a high level of similarity with sequences of FSM165 isolate and such sequences were retrieved from the database. To investigate the relatedness of isolate FSM165 and also the retrieved sequences to a new HCV-3 subtype reported previously, phylogenetic analyses were performed using the Kimura two-parameter model and the neighbor joining method. Results Phylogenetic analysis of the partial NS5B region demonstrated the relatedness of isolate FSM165 to the new subtype reported from Iran in 2006. Moreover, some core/E1 and NS5B sequences that had a high level of similarity with FSM165 isolate were found through searching the HCV database. These sequences were previously either misclassified or could not be accurately classified. Phylogenetic analyses showed that all of the described sequences belonged to the new subtype of HCV genotype 3. Conclusions Data suggests that the new subtype has a vast geographical distribution in Iran. The core/E1 and the NS5B sequences described in this paper can be used as references for the new HCV-3 subtype in future studies.


Microbes commonly infect the female reproductive tract of cattle, causing infertility, abortion and post partum uterine diseases. When organisms reach the uterus, the resistance to disease depends on the balance between the classic triad of the virulence of the microbes, the host defence systems and the environment. The present review considers each aspect of this triad, using postpartum uterine disease as an exemplar for understanding disease resistance. The bacteria that cause postpartum uterine disease are adapted to the endometrium, and their microbial toxins cause tissue damage and inflammation. However, non-specific defence systems counter ascending infections of the female reproductive tract, and inflammatory responses in the endometrium are driven by innate immunity. Disease resistance to bacterial infection involves many genes involved in the maintenance or restoration of tissue homeostasis in the endometrium, including antimicrobial peptides, complement, cytokines, chemokines and Toll-like receptors. The most important environmental factors facilitating the development of postpartum uterine disease are related to trauma of the reproductive tract and to the metabolic stress of lactation in dairy cows. Long-term solutions for uterine disease will include genetic selection for disease resistance and optimising the care of the animal before, during and after parturition.


The iron complex [Fp][OTf] {Fp+ = [Fe(CO)2(Cp)]+, OTf– = SO3CF3–} is an efficient catalyst for the direct substitution of the OH group in ferrocenylmethanol [Fc–CH2OH] by thiols, aromatic amines, diphenylphosphane, and carbon nucleophiles (furan, pyrrole, and indole). This approach offers a convenient route to ferrocenes containing side chains with different functional groups. The advantages of the method are associated with the use of a catalyst based on iron, which is a nontoxic and readily available transition metal, and in the direct OH substitution, which produces water as the only byproduct.


Abstract Merrigan, JJ, Jones, MT, Malecek, J, Padecky, J, Omcirk, D, Xu, N, Peñailillo, L, and Tufano, JJ. Comparison of traditional and rest-redistribution sets on indirect markers of muscle damage following eccentric exercise. J Strength Cond Res 36(7): 1810–1818, 2022—The purpose was to investigate the effect of rest-redistribution (RR) on muscle damage after eccentric knee extensions. After 2 weeks of eccentric familiarization, 11 resistance-trained men performed 2 work-matched isokinetic unilateral eccentric knee extension protocols at 60°·s−1 using a crossover design, separated by 7 days. Subjects performed 40 repetitions with 285 seconds of rest using traditional sets (TS; 4 sets of 10 with 95 seconds of interset rest) and RR (RR; 20 sets of 2 with 15 seconds of interset rest). Muscle morphology, tensiomyography, range of motion, perceived soreness, and strength were measured before and 0, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hour after RR and TS. There were no protocol × time interactions (p < 0.05). When collapsed across protocol and compared to baseline, echo intensity of the proximal vastus lateralis was 7 ± 9% greater at 0 hour (p = 0.042), echo intensity of the distal vastus lateralis was 6 ± 7% and 9 ± 7% greater at 0 hour (p = 0.048) and 24 hour (p < 0.001), respectively, and passive ROM was 2 ± 1% lower at 48 hour (p = 0.043) after exercise. No other differences existed over time for any other variable. Thus, contrary to concentric performance where RR likely plays a large role in maintaining performance, RR during eccentric isokinetic resistance training does not strongly influence exercise performance and indications of subsequent muscle damage.


For an over-damped linear system subjected to both parametric excitation of colored noise and external excitation of periodically modulated noise, and in the case that the cross-correlation intensity between noises is a time-periodic function, we study the stochastic resonance (SR) in this paper. Using the Shapiro—Loginov formula, we acquire the exact expressions of the first-order and the second-order moments. By the stochastic averaging method, we obtain the analytical expression of the output signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Meanwhile, we discuss the evolutions of the SNR with the signal frequency, noise intensity, correlation rate of noise, time period, and modulation frequency. We find a new bona fide SR. The evolution of the SNR with the signal frequency presents periodic oscillation, which is not observed in a conventional linear system. We obtain the conventional SR of the SNR with the noise intensity and the correlation rate of noise. We also obtain the SR in a wide sense, in which the evolution of the SNR with time period modulation frequency presents periodic oscillation. We find that the time-periodic modulation of the cross-correlation intensity between noises diversifies the stochastic resonance phenomena and makes this system possess richer dynamic behaviors.


While John Adams' position as one of the prominent founding fathers has never been disputed, his presidency is predominantly assessed as mediocre. Many scholars argued that Adams was not only deprived of leadership and executive skills, but that he also lacked a coherent policy vision. The present paper argues that Adams' failure as a chief-executive resulted not from the lack of a set agenda but rather from his outdated visions of politics and presidency. Both his leadership style and specific policies pursued by him constitute an example of the politics of disjunction. His desire to follow Washington's Farewell Address was doomed to failure because of the quick transformation of American politics at the beginning of the nineteenth century. At the same time, his attachment to the classical ideal of the "aristocratic republic" was indefensible in the era of progressing democratization of popular moods. Combined, those two elements resulted in Adams failing to provide strong leadership to the Federalist party and to his inability to secure presidential re-election. Keywords: United States, John Adams, presidency, politics of disjunction DOI: 10.14712/23363231.2016.2


Introduction Cancer of the upper gastrointestinal tract accounts for approximately 4% of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) related admissions. The treatment of malignancy related bleeding is challenging due to the diffuse and widespread nature of bleeding. Hemospray (Cook Medical, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA), an inorganic haemostatic powder that allows a wide area of therapeutic coverage. To date little is known of its use in tumour related UGIB. The aim of this study was to assess feasibility and effectiveness of Hemospray in the treatment and palliation of malignancy related upper GI bleeding. Method Retrospective analysis of all malignancy related UGIB treated with Hemospray at Russells Hall Hospital. Patients were identified from the endoscopy database. Patient demographics, Hemospray use and the use of other therapeutic modalities were collected. Outcomes including primary haemostasis, rebleeding and mortality were obtained. Results Hemospray use was identified in 15 patients, on 19 occasions (range 1–3 per patient), with malignancy related UGIB. Mean patient age was 71 years, range 43–96 years; male gender 66.6% (n = 10). Mean haemoglobin on presentation was 72 ± 17 g/L and mean urea 10.9 ± 6.6 mmol/L. The bleeding was diffuse and widespread ooze in all cases. The tumour site was oesophageal 40% (n = 6), gastric 26.7% (n = 4) and duodenal 33.3% (n = 5). Hemospray was used as the primary haemostatic treatment on 89.5% of occasions (n = 17). On 2 occasions adrenaline was used first line. Primary haemostasis was achieved in 95% of cases (n = 18). In 1 patient the Hemospray delivery system failed; in this case Endoclot was used successfully. The median procedure duration was 18 min (range 9–50 min). The 7 day and 30 day rebleeding rate was 10.5% (n = 2) and 15.8% (n = 3) respectively. None of the patients required surgery or radiological intervention to arrest the bleeding. There were no documented complications of Hemospray therapy. Mortality was 5% (n = 1) and 16% (n = 3) at 7 and 30 days respectively. There were no bleeding related deaths; death was due to the underlying condition in all patients. Average length of stay was 19 days (range 3–101 days); excluding the outlier of 101 days the average length of stay was 9 days (range 3–27). One patient with gastric cancer had Hemospray applied on 3 occasions which palliated bleeding for approximately 2 months duration each time. Conclusion Overall Hemospray appears to be an effective haemostatic therapy for malignancy related UGIB and should be considered as a primary therapeutic modality in this setting. It may be used as a bridge to more definitive therapies such as radiotherapy or drug therapy (e.g. thalidomide, chemotherapy). Disclosure of interest None Declared.


An aquous hot , cold and hot ethanolic extracts fraction for Lycium species have been prepared. Qualitative tests have been carried out for detection of their general chemical composition ,and UV-Visible spectra were also obtained .The antibacterial activity of the extracts was tested by the well diffusion method .Human blood cells were used to determine cytotoxicity for the extracts in concentration 500 mg/ml . No cytotoxic effects were observed by this concentration,and this is considered the first step in the work positively and in the continuity of testing the extracts on human by pharmacy and medicine colleges.


Abstract The fisher (Pekania pennanti) is a forest-dwelling mesocarnivore native to northern North America. The species had been extirpated from many southern parts of its historic range, but several states have implemented fisher re-introduction programs over the past 40 y. While many studies have previously examined fisher diet, most occurred in northern and western portions of the species' range where mixed and coniferous forests are the dominate cover types. We examined fisher diet, in a re-introduced population in the central Appalachian Mountains where deciduous forests were the dominate cover type. We collected 91 fisher carcasses from 2002–2014 and examined their stomach contents. We detected mammalian and avian prey in 82.6% and 10.9% of stomachs, respectively. Fishers we sampled consumed a variety of plant materials (n = 11) and prey items (n = 30 spp.). Diet composition of males and females overlapped considerably (O = 0.87). Our most noteworthy and novel finding was the presence of fisher remains in 11 (12%) stomachs. We suggest here that rapid population growth of Pennsylvania fishers may have resulted in aggressive behaviors underlying our observations of interspecific consumption. Future research that examines the cause for intraspecific consumption in this central Appalachian fisher population would be a worthy endeavor.


This dense and rich book, made up of four parts, twelve chapters, a comprehensive bibliography and index, echoes that of Oral Literature in Africa (1970) and responds to it across time, with the two books standing side by side and summarising a lifetime of fieldwork and Finnegan's passion for orality. As she writes in the preface, "this book grew from my experience of reflecting on how the study of oral forms in Africa has changed since nearly half a century ago" (xi). The chapters, compiled ...


Deep learning has become the standard methodology to approach computer vision tasks when large amounts of labeled data are available. One area where traditional deep learning approaches fail to perform is one-shot learning tasks where a model must correctly classify a new category after seeing only one example. One such domain is animal re-identification, an application of computer vision which can be used globally as a method to automate species population estimates from camera trap images. Our work demonstrates both the application of similarity comparison networks to animal re-identification, as well as the capabilities of deep convolutional neural networks to generalize across domains. Few studies have considered animal re-identification methods across species. Here, we compare two similarity comparison methodologies: Siamese and Triplet-Loss, based on the AlexNet, VGG-19, DenseNet201, MobileNetV2, and InceptionV3 architectures considering mean average precision (mAP)@1 and mAP@5. We consider five data sets corresponding to five different species: humans, chimpanzees, humpback whales, fruit flies, and Siberian tigers, each with their own unique set of challenges. We demonstrate that Triplet Loss outperformed its Siamese counterpart for all species. Without any species-specific modifications, our results demonstrate that similarity comparison networks can reach a performance level beyond that of humans for the task of animal re-identification. The ability for researchers to re-identify an animal individual upon re-encounter is fundamental for addressing a broad range of questions in the study of population dynamics and community/behavioural ecology. Our expectation is that similarity comparison networks are the beginning of a major trend that could stand to revolutionize animal re-identification from camera trap data.


This paper summarizes the results of an investigation into the environmental factors that have an indirect impact on parts quality, as well as those process variables and modeling information that have a direct impact. The effects of strength, surface hardness, roughness, and accuracy of shape, that is, qualities that users generally need to know, were evaluated with laminating direction experimentally. The 3D printing methods used in this experiment were fused deposition modeling (FDM), stereolithography apparatus (SLA), selective laser sintering (SLS), 3D printing (3DP) and laminated object manufacturing (LOM). The goal was to achieve a high standard of quality control and product quality by optimizing the fabrication process.


The proposed upgrade of the CERN Large Hadron Collider to ten times brighter luminosity poses severe challenges to semiconductor detectors within the CERN experiments. We investigate a silicon "3-D" detector design for these conditions and semiconductors alternative to silicon, namely silicon carbide and gallium nitride. Charge collection measurements suggest some degree of additional radiation tolerance over conventional detector geometry and materials.


Throughout its lifetime, the Internet was always associated with overlay networks; from the World Wide Web to weblogs and peer-to-peer networks, overlays built on the Internet infrastructure gave it additional value and made it more
engaging to everyday users. Common thread to all these developments is an ever increasing need for users to connect and collaborate in a more natural way, one that reflects their existing social relations and enables them to form new ones. In this thesis we provide tools and solutions that enable users and network designers to build, connect and collaborate over such overlay networks.
We chose to use the unstructured overlay paradigm since it imposes a minimal set of restrictions on the proposed solutions and is ideal for the scenarios under consideration. We focus our efforts towards both network designers and users. On the one hand, we propose a framework to facilitate reasoning about unstructured overlays that combines widely used randomized techniques such as random walks with elementary electric circuit theory and overlay network techniques. We also present detailed examples of the framework's usage and trace its possible use in other settings such as the construction phase of these networks. On the other hand, we present a simple, yet powerful distributed algorithm that enables users with preferences to collaborate in an overlay network,
while at the same time achieving a guaranteed level of quality for their requested connections. This consists an important first step into enabling users to collaborate despite having different goals and interests and opens the road to further study, from a game-theoretic point of view, the strategic decisions and coalition forming behavior of the users. Finally, it is possible to combine the
two approaches, framework and algorithm, to gain insights on the mechanisms of topology creation when network users have autonomy to decide on their own connections based on individual preferences.


The commenter argues the question of whether it is possible to normalize currents and voltages simultaneously, as implied by a relationship used in the above-titled paper (see ibid., vol.37, no.1, p.215-222, 1989). In their reply, the authors identify two main issues raised in the comments, one dealing with the definition and meaning of characteristic impedance for general multiconductor systems and the other dealing with the computation of the elements of the line mode impedance matrices. They attempt to clarify both issues. >


Abstract Local enhancement of electromagnetic (EM) fields near dielectric and metallic surfaces is usually associated with the existence of a confined EM wave at least in one direction. This phenomenon finds applications in enhancing optical spectroscopic signals, optical emission, nonlinear optical processes, biosensing, imaging contrast and superresolution, photovoltaics response, local heating, photocatalysis, and enhanced efficiency of optoelectronic devices. A well-known example is when the surface electromagnetic wave (SEW) is excited at the interface of two media, the field gets enhanced normally to that interface. This article reviews the different configurations revealing enhanced EM fields, particularly those giving ultrahigh enhancement, such as when a localized SEW is excited not from free space but via an extended SEW. Of particular interest are surface plasmon waves (SPWs) excited at the surface of metal-dielectric and particularly when exciting localized SPWs using extended ones. The latter case so far gave the highest local field enhancement; however, configurations involving Bloch SEWs, guided mode resonances, and cavity resonances have also been shown to give significant enhancement when used to excite localized surface plasmons. With this strategy, field enhancement by more than an order of magnitude can be attained. Using this ultrahigh enhancement, the strong coupling experiments between molecules and the intense optical field will be possible and new devices may emerge from those new methodologies for ultrahigh sensitive sensing for environmental and medical applications, as well as for improved optoelectronic devices.


By using a semi-classical two-dimensional Monte Carlo simulation, simple devices (T-branch junctions (TBJs) and rectifying diodes) based on AlInAs/InGaAs ballistic channels are analysed. Initially, the model is validated by means of Hall-effect measurements of mobility and electron concentration in long (diffusive) channels. Then, quasi-ballistic transport at room temperature is confirmed in a 100 nm channel. Our simulations qualitatively reproduce the experimental results of electric potential measured in a TBJ appearing as a result of electron ballistic transport, and in close relation with the presence of space charge inside the structure. As examples of devices exploiting the ballistic transport of electrons, preliminary simulations of a multiplexor/demultiplexor and a rectifying diode are presented, demonstrating their capability for terahertz operation.


We investigate how the scaling relations between central black hole mass (Mbh) and host galaxy properties (velocity dispersion, bulge stellar mass and bulge luminosity) depend on the large scale environment. For each of a sample of 69 galaxies with dynamical black hole measurements we compile four environmental measures (nearest neighbor distance, fixed aperture number density, total halo mass, and central/satellite). We find that central and satellite galaxies follow distinctly separate scalings in each of the three relations we have examined. The Mbh - sigma relation of central galaxies is significantly steeper (6.38 +/- 0.49) than that of satellite galaxies (4.91 +/- 0.49), but has a similar intercept. This behavior remains even after restricting to a sample of only early type galaxies or after removing the 8 brightest cluster galaxies. The Mbh - sigma relation shows more modest differences when splitting the sample based on the other environmental indicators, suggesting that they are driven by the underlying satellite/central fractions. Separate relations for centrals and satellites are also seen in the power law scaling between black hole mass and bulge stellar mass or bulge luminosity. We suggest that gas rich, low mass galaxies undergo a period of rapid black hole growth in the process of becoming satellites. If central galaxies on the current Mbh - sigma relation are representative progenitors of the satellite population, the observations imply that a sigma = 120 km/s galaxy must nearly triple its central black hole mass. The elevated black hole masses of massive central galaxies are then a natural consequence of the accretion of satellites.


Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN), along with the cosmic background radiation and the Hubble expansion, is one of the pillars of the standard, hot, big bang cosmology since the primordial synthesis of the light nuclides (D, 3 He, 4 He, 7 Li) must have occurred during the early evolution of a universe described by this model. The overall consistency between the predicted and observed abundances of the light nuclides, each of which spans a range of some nine orders of magnitude, provides impressive support for the standard models of cosmology and particle physics. Here, the results of recent, statistically consistent tests of BBN are described. This new confrontation between theory and data challenges the standard model. The crises confronting BBN are identified and several possible resolutions are outlined.


In this essay I first provide a brief explanation of the principle of double effect (PDE) and the propositions that it entails regarding the distinction between intention and foresight (I/F distinction) and the distinction's relevance to ethical evaluation. Then I address several recent critiques of PDE and the I/F distinction by influential ethicists including Judith Jarvis Thomson, Tom Beauchamp and James Childress, and Jonathan Bennett. I argue that none of these critiques is successful. In the process of refuting the critiques, I also give prima facie reason to believe that the I/F distinction is relevant to evaluation of agents and their actions and that PDE is a defensible ethical principle.


OBJECTIVE
To provide evidence for intervention on secondary prevention of burns through studying the factors influencing the length of hospitalization on inpatients of burns.

METHODS
Seven hundred and ninety burnt patients with cluster sampling, combined analyzing with Cox regression and factor analysis.

RESULTS
The influential factors on the length of hospitalization in inpatients with burns included a) how did the patients come to the hospital (X3), b) total body surface area involved (X4), c) depth of burns (X5), and d) the time before hospitalization after burnt (X6). The Cox proportional hazard model used was h(t)/h0(t) = e(-0.193 3F1 -0.617 6F2 -0.118 0F3), and the conversion model between factors Fi and original variates were F1 = -0.132X3 - 0.009X4 + 0.655X5 + 0.583X6, F2 = 0.019X3 + 0.875X4 + 0.257X5 - 0.294X6, F3 = 1.010X3 + 0.025X4 - 0.176X5 + 0.030X6. Data showed that the burnt patients had longer hospitalization time when the burns were deep, larger body surface area involved, and with longer delay before getting to the hospitals, where as the patients got cured faster when taken to the hospital by ambulances.

CONCLUSION
One of the major prognostic factors of burns was to treat the patients in time. Secondary prevention of burns must be reinforced.


Increasing adoption of modern inputs remains one of the best hopes for greater agricultural production in developing countries. Based on unique data from northwestern Ethiopia, this study examines the "last mile(s)"—from the input distribution center to the farmer—in the chemical fertilizer and improved seed distribution system. We find that increasing transaction and transportation costs over a 35 km distance, along a route mainly accessible to only foot traffic, lead to a 50% increase of the price of chemical fertilizer and to a 75% reduction in its use. Farmers who live about 10 km from the distribution center face per unit transaction and transportation costs as high as the costs needed to bring the fertilizer from the international port to the input distribution center (about 1,000 km). Tackling the "last mile(s)" costs should thus be a priority to improve modern input adoption and use in these settings.


Profit maximization and increasing shareholder's wealth have been one of the most crucial concepts for the organization. The corporate manager and shareholders rely upon the traditional accounting measures like net income, Earnings per share (EPS), Return on Equity (ROE), Return on Net worth (RONW), Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) to measure the value created by the firm. But this study utilizes economic measures like Economic Value Added (EVA) and Market Value Added (MVA) combined with the accounting measures to perform a comparative study in order to conclude the most appropriate measures for the creation of shareholder's wealth. The EVA of 28 construction companies from the total 43 construction companies listed in Bursa Malaysia were selected for the study and analyzed during the period of 2003 to 2012. Overall the result for the study found that very few of the construction companies were having positive EVA for the creation of Shareholder's wealth. It was also found that there is a strong relationship between created shareholder's value and economic value added. Thus it is very important to know that whether in the long run the shareholders wealth would be maximized through the usage of EVA as a performance measurement tool. Furthermore, depending on the statement of EVA concept rather than accounting measures would help the shareholder's for future investment decisions and managing their investment portfolios.


Osteoporotic fractures in men are an increasing public health problem. Male osteoporosis is often a low-prioritized issue, however. To examine men's experiences with osteoporosis and how they handle osteoporosis in their everyday lives, the authors collected data from four focus groups with a total of 16 men aged 51 to 82 years diagnosed with osteoporosis. Critical psychology was used as a theoretical framework for the data analysis, which aimed to elicit information about the men's daily lives. The men handled osteoporosis in different ways using different strategies. The authors found patterns that resonated with the social construction of hegemonic masculinity as displayed through the men's fear of weakness and endurance through physical activity, as well as identity construction through active decision making in relation to health. Understanding and implementation of these issues is necessary in the development of preventive, screening, and monitoring strategies, as well as in the clinical care of men with osteoporosis.


This paper aims to the talent cultivation problem in higher education, analyzes the five categories of customer satisfaction according to Kano's model, assesses the student satisfactory computer curriculum according to Kano's evaluation table, and then provides the computer teaching system model and computer courses setting. The model includes three dimensions: Subject program (x-axis), Teaching level (y-axis), and Experiment type (z-axis), which enhances student quality and satisfactory. The subject program includes Arts, and Science. The teaching level includes Introduction, Elementary, Professional, and Innovation. The experiment type includes Basic, Synthetic, Design, and Innovation. Computer courses are arranged in corresponding hierarchy for talent cultivation. Experiment type also is integrated into aforementioned layers. The presented model is effective for student quality cultivation.


Abstract The unanticipated global outbreak of Zika virus infection is the most current but certainly not the last emerging infectious disease challenge to confront the US public heath system. Despite a number of such threats in recent years, significant gaps remain in core areas of public health system readiness. Stable, sustained investments are required to establish a solid foundation for achieving necessary national public health emergency preparedness and response capacity. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:298–299)


ABSTRACT
 Realistic species-specific information about larval life history is necessary for effective management of shellfish and parameterization of larval connectivity models. The patchiness of dispersing larvae, and the resources needed for sorting and identifying them, has limited many studies of larval distribution in the field, especially for species that are less common. In particular, little is known about in situ larval distribution of Pacific geoduck clams (Panopea generosa Gould 1850), a commercially important species found in Puget Sound, WA. A novel approach—time-integrating larval tube traps paired with molecular identification and sorting (FISH-CS)—was used to determine the distribution of geoduck larvae over 4 mo at 3 stations in Quartermaster Harbor. Larvae were found consistently at the surface and thermocline rather than at the bottom. More and larger larvae were captured in the inside and middle of the harbor than the outer harbor, indicating at least some larval retention. Two pulses of larvae were captured, in March and late May to early June. Size—frequency distributions of larvae indicate that these were 2 separate cohorts of larvae, with the possibility of a pulse of larvae from elsewhere toward the end of the season. The only physical parameter associated with relative larval abundance was degree of stratification, although the association was weak. These data represent the first reported study of geoduck larval distribution in the field and the first use of the FISH-CS technique for field collections. In the future, this approach can be used to answer many relevant management questions locally and more broadly, including quantifying larval export from shellfish farms, placement of restoration sites and marine protected areas, and spread of invasive species.


This research looked at the attitudes of Community Health Service (CHS) staff regarding the integration of a lawyer into their CHS both before and after the integration occurred. It assessed their confidence in identifying and addressing elder abuse at each point. A written survey was distributed to staff before the lawyer commenced (n = 126), and approximately 12 months afterwards (n = 54). The preliminary survey demonstrated widespread agreement that legal issues can affect older people and supported having a lawyer in a CHS. Respondents were not confident about their capacity to identify abuse and provide referrals to a lawyer, but this improved in the follow‐up survey. These CHS staff were aware of the potential impacts of elder abuse and supported embedding a lawyer in the health service. Information and training as part of this service model should focus on the skills needed for CHS staff to play their role in such a partnership.


Relevance: Interleukin-2 (IL-2) alone has been shown to induce tumor regression and approved to treat metastatic renal cancer and melanoma. Checkpoint inhibitors realize their therapeutic
effect through stimulation of immune system effectors; one of such
mechanisms is the enhancement of IL-2 production by T-helpers.
The purpose of the study was to determine the effectiveness
of IL-2 administration as a component of combined immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors and to suggest the mechanisms by which IL-2 can reduce the frequency and severity of side
effects during checkpoint inhibitor therapy without reducing their
effectiveness.
Methods: The literature search was performed in the PubMed,
SCOPUS, and Web of Science databases by the keywords in article titles: "immunotherapy," "checkpoint inhibitors," "interleukin-2," and
"combination therapy" for the period 2011-2021. A total of 248 relevant articles were found. The review's inclusion criteria were: clinical
cases; data of clinical research methods; data on humans/body fluids from humans; literature reviews and meta-analyses. The selected
24 articles met the search criteria and were included in the review.
Results: The combined action of IL-2 and сheckpoint inhibitors increases the proliferative and killer activity of the antitumor
immunity effectors compared to the action of the same drugs in
mono-mode at a level exceeding the summation effect.
Conclusion: The combination of IL-2 and сheckpoint inhibitors can increase the effectiveness of anticancer treatment and is
a promising area of immunotherapy


Since an accurate dose assessment is essential in industrial radiography accidents to make the best decision and correct action for preventing serious radiobiological harms, Monte Carlo simulations could be a trustful way in this regard. In this study Monte Carlo code has been used to simulate one of the main and prominent radiography accident happened in Iran. On 24 July 1996 a serious accident occurred at the Gilan combined cycle fossil fuel power plant in the Islamic Republic of Iran, when a 33 years old worker who was moving thermal insulation materials around the plant noticed a shiny, pencil sized metal object lying in a trench and put it in his pocket. He was unaware that the metal object was a 192Ir source used for industrial radiography. Based on IAEA report No: STI/PUB/1123 in 2002, he received an average whole body dose by 2 Gy. According to the mentioned story and data a simulation was done for this accident by MCNP, Finally, more likely scenarios were simulated for 2 Gy average whole body dose. Keyword: Moravian Church Northern Province (MCNP), Industrial Radiography, Accident, Whole body Dose, Tissue Weighting Factor, ICRP.