The aim of this paper is to evaluate the prevalence in the 27 member states of the European Union of a little discussed illicit wage arrangement in which formal employees are paid two wages by their formal employers – an official declared salary and an additional undeclared wage, thus allowing employers to evade their full social insurance and tax liabilities. Reporting the results of a 2007 Eurobarometer survey involving 26,659 face-to-face interviews, the finding is that one in 18 formal employees received such an envelope wage from their formal employer and that envelope wage payments are more prevalent in member states with lower (rather than higher) levels of state intervention. The tentative conclusion is that illicit envelope wage payments are a product of under-regulation, rather than over-regulation, and that further research is now required to test the validity analysis of this thesis in other global regions.


Introduction. During the last twenty-five years the occurrence of obesity in children and teenagers has increased significantly. Materials and methods. 110 adolescents of 12–17 years old, with alimentary-constitutional obesity and involvement of pancreas and without its injury, as compared to the 30 healthy children of control group, were examined. The research provided determination of the sizes and elasticity of pancreas. The detection of the total cholesterol, high density lipoproteins and leptin level was carried out. Intensity of clinical symptoms (spastic pain in epigastrium and left subcostal arc; abdominal pain without localization, vomit without relief, general weakness) have been made accordingly to sum of points (from 0 to 3 points). If sum of points makes from 0 to 2 – intensive character of abdominal pain is low, from 3 to 5 points – it is high, from 5 to 10 points – it is very high. Normal level of amylase in a blood serum (Karavey's method) is 12–32 g/(hour l), аnd diastase in urine – 20–160 g/(hour l). We made a screening test for elastase-I level by ELISA test. Normal activity of this enzyme in feces is 200 мkg/g. We have used sonographic method for detection of pancreatic diseases in obese children due to echo-structure of parotid gland. The analysis and statistical data processing were made by computer program "Statistica 7.0" and MS Excel XP. Research data. Physical inspection of our patients confirms prevalence of І degree over II degree obesity (52.7 % and 47.3 %, respectively; Р < 0.05). We have confirmed valid risk factor of pancreatic lesion in obese children – presence of diabetes mellitus type I in close relatives (80 % and 65 %, χ2 = 2,05; Р < 0.05). The changes of exocrine function of the pancreas in children with the stage II obesity were established. Echographic signs of the pancreas lesion in teenagers with obesity indicate the presence of functional changes: edema of head or entire edema, partial increase of parenchymal echogenicity, insufficient enlargement of the duct of Wirsung.


Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae are the two main microsporidian parasites causing nosematosis in the honey bee Apis mellifera. The aim of the present study is to investigate the presence of Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae in the area of Bulgaria. The 16S (SSU) rDNA gene region was chosen for analysis. A duplex PCR assay was performed on 108 honey bee samples from three different parts of the country (South, North and West Bulgaria). The results showed that the samples from the northern part of the country were with the highest prevalence (77.2%) for Nosema ceranae while those from the mountainous parts (the Rodopa Mountains, South Bulgaria) were with the lowest rate (13.9%). Infection with Nosema apis alone and co-infection N. apis/N. ceranae were not detected in any samples. These findings suggest that Nosema ceranae is the dominant species in the Bulgarian honey bee. It is not known when the introduction of Nosema ceranae in Bulgaria has occurred, but as in the rest of the world, this species has become the dominant one in Bulgarian Apis mellifera. In conclusion, this is the first report for molecular detection of Nosema infection of honey bee in Bulgaria. The results showed that N. ceranae is the main Nosema species in Bulgaria.


Extra-gastrointestinal anisakidosis is rare. We herein report an Anisakis pegreffii infection in a patient with hepatic anisakidosis diagnosed based on its molecular identification. A 71-year-old male patient had a hepatic tumor presenting as a low-density area of 20 mm in diameter in segment 6 of the liver on abdominal ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. The surgically resected pathological specimen revealed a necrotizing eosinophilic granuloma containing nematode larvae, possibly an Anisakis larva. Molecular and phylogenetic analysis demonstrated Anisakis larvae belonging to A. pegreffii. The present results will help identify and characterize unknown Anisakis species in histological sections.


Vector Symbolic Architectures (VSAs) give a way to represent a complex object as a single fixed-length vector, so that similar objects have similar vector representations. These vector representations then become easy to use for machine learning or nearest-neighbor search. We review a previously proposed VSA method, MBAT (Matrix Binding of Additive Terms), which uses multiplication by random matrices for binding related terms. However, multiplying by such matrices introduces instabilities which can harm performance. Making the random matrices be orthogonal matrices provably fixes this problem. With respect to larger scale applications, we see how to apply MBAT vector representations for any data expressed in JSON. JSON is used in numerous programming languages to express complex data, but its native format appears highly unsuited for machine learning. Expressing JSON as a fixed-length vector makes it readily usable for machine learning and nearest-neighbor search. Creating such JSON vectors also shows that a VSA needs to employ binding operations that are non-commutative. VSAs are now ready to try with full-scale practical applications, including healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and genomics. Keywords: MBAT (Matrix Binding of Additive Terms), VSA (Vector Symbolic Architecture), HDC (Hyperdimensional Computing), Distributed Representations, Binding, Orthogonal Matrices, Recurrent Connections, Machine Learning, Search, JSON, VSA Applications


BACKGROUND
A delay in the recognition of first episode psychosis is common and is often associated with psychological distress, social decline, and as recent evidence suggests, lasting brain changes. It is increasingly evident that early intervention potentially alters the course of these serious mental illnesses. General practitioners are ideally placed to identify early changes that may herald an emergent psychotic illness and to bridge the existing gap between patients, their families and specialist mental health services.

OBJECTIVE
This article summarises the rationale and importance of early detection of emerging psychotic illness in young people, and provides practical tips regarding its assessment and detection.

DISCUSSION
Early warning signs of emerging psychotic illnesses include behavioural, emotional and cognitive disturbances. Risk factors include a combination of a family history of a psychotic illness coupled with a decline in functioning, or a history of a brief self limiting psychotic episode (even if triggered by drugs such as cannabis or amphetamines). It is important that those working in primary care recognise these features in order to facilitate a speedy referral to specialist youth friendly mental health services, or if such services are not available, to initiate treatment and provide appropriate ongoing management.


Fine structural studies on the septa of Candida albicans in vitro (when leading a saprophytic existence) and the organism in its invasive form (as a pathogen in oral candidosis) have shown that in the former the septum exhibits a unique central perforation resembling an aggregate of fine canaliculi connecting one cell to the other. In the invasive form the septum is non-perforated and appears as a solid structure. Septal ultrastructure is well characterised in many pathogenic fungi. Our observations on Candida albicans do not resemble any previous studies carried out on other deutromycetous fungi.


Interpolated and warped digital waveguide mesh algorithms have been developed to overcome the problem caused by direction and frequency-dependence of wave travel speed in digital waveguide mesh simulations. This paper reviews the interpolation methods applicable in the two-dimensional case. The bilinear interpolation technique and two other approaches are briefly recapitulated. The use of 2-D quadratic interpolation results in a mesh structure that is efficiently implemented using only additions and binary shifts. The optimized interpolated 2-D mesh is obtained by choosing the free parameters of the interpolation method so that the difference in wave travel speed in the axial and diagonal directions is minimized. The output signal of any digital waveguide mesh can be processed with a warped FIR filter to reduce the dispersion error at all frequencies. The frequency-warping factor must be optimized individually for each mesh structure. We intr oduce an extended method called multiwarping, which can be used to further decrease the dispersion error. The frequency range of digital waveguide mesh simulations is also discussed.


The antimicrobial effect of different concentrations (0.6, 0.4 and 0.2%) of sodium benzoate (SB) on the growth, survival and aflatoxin production potentials of Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus fumigatus in packaged garri (2kg/pack) during storage at ambient temperature (30±2 C) wa s o investigated. A decrease of 4.5, 2.5, 1.9; 4.5, 2.4, 1.8 and 4.6, 2.6 and 2.0 folds were recorded in the viable count of A. niger, A. flavus and A. fumigatus, for 0.6, 0.4 and 0.2% SB treated samples respectively. The effectiveness of SB against the various species of Aspergillius was in the order 0.6% > 0.4% > 0.2% . However 1.2 and 1.7 folds increase in the viable count of A. niger, A. flavus and A. fumigatus were recorded in the non treated samples (controls). No aflatoxin was detected in all the samples treated with different concentration of SB. However, aflatoxin was detected in the samples inoculated with Aspergillus flavus although unspecified and irregular florescence was noticed in other samples (controls).


The Fc receptor for immunoglobulin A (IgA), FcalphaRI, is expressed on several types of myeloid cells, and activates them upon ligand binding. However, binding of IgA to the extracellular domain of the receptor requires previous stimulation of the cell by cytokines, and the cytoplasmic tail of FcalphaRI has been shown to play a role in this. Therefore, polymorphism in this region might affect this process. However, no changes in the amino acid sequence in this region of the FcalphaRI have so far been reported. Here, we describe for the first time a single nucleotide polymorphism in exon 5 of the immunoglobulin A Fc receptor (FCAR) gene leading to a Ser-->Gly substitution at position 248 of the mature FcalphaRI protein. Prediction of structural features suggests some changes that may affect the function of the protein to some extent. However, the Gly248 variant is quite common (4% homozygotes and 38% heterozygotes) in healthy population, suggesting a weak effect, if any, on function, at least in heterozygotes.


A baseline compartmental model (relative to modeling decorporation) of the distribution and retention of plutonium (Pu) in the rat for a systemic intake is derived. The model is derived from data obtained from a study designed to evaluate the behavior of plutonium in the first 28 days after incorporation. The model is based on a recently published model of americium (Am) in rats, which incorporated a pharmacokinetic (PK)-front-end modeling approach, which was used to specify transfer to and from the extracellular fluids (ECF) in the various tissues in terms of vascular flow and volumes of ECF. In the americium model, the approach was "cell-membrane limited," meaning that rapid diffusion of americium occurred throughout all the extracellular fluids (i.e., the blood plasma and interstitial fluids), while back-end rates representing transport into and out of the cells were determined empirically. However, this approach was inconsistent with the plutonium dataset. A good fit to the data is obtained by incorporating aspects of the Durbin et al. model structure, with plutonium in plasma separated into "free" and "bound" components. Free plutonium uses a cell-membrane-limited front end as for americium. Bound plutonium uses a capillary-wall-limited front end, where transfer rates from blood plasma into the interstitial fluids are relatively slow, and must be determined either empirically or from a priori knowledge. As in the Durbin et al. model, both free and bound plutonium are available for deposition in bone. In addition, our model has some bound plutonium associated with uptake to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Uncertainties in transfer rates were investigated using Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC). It is anticipated that this model structure of plutonium will also be useful in interpreting comparable data from decorporation studies done in experimental animals.


The conventional advanced process yield index S pk is widely applied in industry to provide an exact measure of the overall production yield whose quality characteristics are mutually independent and multivariate normally distributed. While one can find numerous studies that consider a crisp estimation of S pk to evaluate and test the overall process yield, the recorded measurements of product quality characteristics are not always reported precisely. This paper presents a new fuzzy-based method to assess the overall process yield in the presence of a specified degree of ambiguity for the sample data. After finding a fuzzy estimator of S pk based on Buckley's approach, a new fuzzy three-decision testing rule is proposed to evaluate process performance based on critical values and fuzzy p-values. Subsequently, this work extends the application of the proposed method to the class of correlated characteristics by adopting the principal component analysis technique. The introduced fuzzy testing procedure includes the existing customary binary-decision testing rule as a spacial case. In addition, comparative studies are conducted to display the benefits of the proposed rule. Finally, two industrial examples are given for independent and correlated characteristics to guide the practitioners.


This article presents a concept that wide expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptors (TrkB) in the nervous tissue, evoked by regular endurance training (ET), can cause numerous motor and metabolic adaptations, which are beneficial for human health. The relationships between the training-evoked increase of endogenous BDNF and molecular and/or physiological adaptations in the nervous structures controlling both motor performance and homeostasis of the whole organism have been presented. Due to a very wide range of plastic changes that ET has exerted on various systems of the body, the improvement of motor skills and counteraction of the development of civilization diseases resulting from the posttraining increase of BDNF/TrkB levels have been discussed, as important for people, who undertake ET. Thus, this report presents the influence of endurance exercises on the (1) transformation of motoneuron properties, which are a final element of the motor pathways, (2) reduction of motor deficits evoked by Parkinson disease, and (3) prevention of the metabolic syndrome (MetS). This review suggests that the increase of posttraining levels of BDNF and its TrkB receptors causes simultaneous changes in the activity of the spinal cord, the substantia nigra, and the hypothalamic nuclei neurons, which are responsible for the alteration of the functional properties of motoneurons innervating the skeletal muscles, for the enhancement of dopamine release in the brain, and for the modulation of hormone levels involved in regulating the metabolic processes, responsively. Finally, training-evoked increase of the BDNF/TrkB leads to a change in a manner of regulation of skeletal muscles, causes a reduction of motor deficits observed in the Parkinson disease, and lowers weight, glucose level, and blood pressure, which accompany the MetS. Therefore, BDNF seems to be the molecular factor of pleiotropic activity, important in the modulation processes, underlying adaptations, which result from ET.


Widespread plant species generally have high intraspecific variation in functional traits, which is reflected in their great variety of phenotypes. This variety can result from both genetic differences due to local adaptation and phenotypic plasticity. With high intraspecific variation and nearly global distribution, the common reed Phragmites australis is a suitable model species for studying the underlying mechanisms of intraspecific trait variation. In this study, 71 genotypes of P. australis from seven phylogeographic groups were transplanted into two replicate common gardens located in very different climates: northern Europe and mid‐east Asia. We measured seven functional traits of all these genotypes over the growing season, including shoot height, maximum biomass per shoot, shoot density, node number per stem, leaf life span, flowering occurrence and flowering date. Our aim was to assess the relative effects of genetic (phylogeographic origin) and environmental (common garden) status, and interactions between them, on intraspecific variation in functional traits of P. australis. We found common garden having the strongest influence on most functional traits studied. All traits except flowering occurrence varied significantly across gardens, revealing the important role of phenotypic plasticity on trait variation in P. australis. We also found significant differences in trait variation among the different phylogeographic groups of P. australis and, thus, evidence for genetically determined intraspecific variation in the morphological and life‐history traits addressed in this study. All functional traits showed significant (p ≤ 0.0054), albeit minor to moderately explained (R2 ≤ 0.57), latitudinal patterns in both gardens. Covariation of multiple traits was similar in the two gardens. Phenotypic plasticity was trait‐ specific, and the plasticity of shoot height and maximum biomass per shoot increased towards higher latitude of genotypic origin. Our results indicate that the latitude of origin affects the evolution of functional traits, as well as their phenotypic plasticity. Since phenotypic plasticity is a crucial mechanism for acclimation and evolution, our findings support the role of gene‐based adaptive phenotypic plasticity in plant evolution. The intraspecific spatial variation in functional traits and their phenotypic plasticity can help predict species distribution, persistence and invasion under global climate change.


The necessity of modification of the known method of average distances for calculating leakage inductance of power transformer windings. The calculated expressions for the leakage inductance of power transformers obtained from the use of solenoidal winding models are given. Theoretical materials of the article tested on the results of the experiment. A calculation expression of leakage inductance with the relative sizes of the windings is proposed. The relevance of this article due to the absence, to date, the recommendations for engineering calculations the leakage inductance of power transformer windings, based on the use pattern of the magnetic field of windings with the saturation of steel of magnetic core. As a result it is shown that multiple attempts to develop a method of average geometric distances with rectangular crosssections of the windings can be successfully replaced the use of solenoidal models. For the first time it is obtained an experimental confirmation of the proposed modification of the method of average geometric distances. On the basis of article materials can be constructed rapid calculation methodology of leakage inductance of power transformer windings for their design, as well as testing.


Variable‐rate selective excitation (VERSE) is a radio frequency (RF) pulse reshaping technique. It is most commonly used to reduce the peak magnitude and specific absorption rate (SAR) of RF pulses by reshaping pulses and gradient waveforms to reduce RF magnitude while preserving excitation profiles. In this work, a general time‐optimal VERSE algorithm for multidimensional and parallel transmit pulses is presented. Time optimality is achieved by translating peak RF limits to gradient upper bounds in excitation k‐space. The limits are fed into a time‐optimal gradient waveform design technique. Effective SAR reduction is achieved by reducing peak RF subject to a fixed pulse length. The presented method is different from other VERSE techniques in that it provides a noniterative time‐optimal multidimensional solution, which drastically simplifies VERSE designs. Examples are given for 1D and 2D single channel and 2D parallel transmit pulses. Magn Reson Med, 61:1471–1479, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


The slope length and steepness (LS) factor is one of the factors in the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) needed to estimate average annual erosion rate. The LS factor is often derived from digital elevation models (DEM). DEM errors and uncertainty could affect LS factor estimation and consequently erosion rate estimation. However, DEM uncertainties are not always accounted for, and the effects are not always evaluated in erosion rate estimation. This study compared the erosion rate estimation of a 62.81 ha agricultural crop area using a 7.5 min USGS DEM and DEMs developed using real-time kinematic differential GPS (RTK-DGPS) and dual-frequency DGPS (DF-DGPS) field surveys. Spatial estimation and uncertainty analysis was carried out using sequential Gaussian simulation (SGS). A total of 50 equiprobable DEM realizations were produced using SGS to assess DEM uncertainty and quantify its effect on erosion rate estimation. DEM uncertainty substantially affected the resulting erosion rate estimation. The uncertainty of the average annual erosion rate estimates across the study field was represented using 95% confidence intervals (CI). For the DF-DGPS and USGS DEMs, the percentages of the field area that have erosion rate CIs greater than 11.21 Mg ha-1 year-1 (5 tons acre-1 year-1) were 81% and 85%, respectively, which were substantially larger than that of the RTK DEM (0.41%). The average annual erosion rate map produced using a USGS DEM contained artifacts and underestimated the erosion rate estimation in many areas of the field. The results suggested that higher-accuracy DEMs generated using RTK-DGPS measurements are more appropriate for erosion rate estimation in an agricultural field. Knowledge of DEM uncertainty and its effect on the erosion rate estimation was useful to better judge the reliability of erosion rate estimates.


Using a lattice Monte Carlo model describing electron tunneling between an electron donor, linked with a β sheet, and an electron acceptor, we show how electron-induced protein reconfiguration may result in non-Markovian features in the long-range electron transfer kinetics.


The pressor effect of series of subcutaneous injections of hog renin was studied in the dog, as well as the modification of the pressor effects of renin by reserpine, hydralazine ( l -hydrazinophthalazine) and hexamethonium. In 22 of 27 experiments, short series of subcutaneous renin injections (1–37 days) in doses of 550–1800 cat units/day were repeatedly followed by moderate elevations of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, whereas control injections of saline, ACTH or extracts of liver were without effect on the blood pressure. In a number of instances, but not in all, a definite increase in plasma renin could be demonstrated during the pressor effect of renin. The pressor effect of subcutaneous renin was still observed during oral administration of reserpine (0.25 mg/day) and hexamethonium (250–500 mg/day) but was often absent during the administration of hydralazine (25 mg/day). The pressor response to intravenous renin was increased in animals receiving reserpine and hexamethonium and decreased after hydralazine. In vitro experiments with these three drugs failed to indicate any significant effect on the formation or destruction of hypertensin.


Studying the drying kinetics allows describing the process by mathematical models and obtaining information that helps to understand the phenomenon in question. Considering that watermelon ( Citrullus lanatus ) seeds have high moisture content and need to be subjected to drying, the objective was to select the model that best represents the drying behavior of watermelon seeds and determine the diffusion coefficient, activation energy and drying rate of these seeds at different temperatures. The seeds were dried in an experimental dryer at temperatures of 40, 45, 50, 55 and 60 °C, with air velocity of 0.8 m s -1 , in four replicates. The models were fitted with non-linear regression analysis using the Gauss-Newton method. It was concluded that the models that best represent the drying kinetics of watermelon seeds are Approximation of Diffusion for temperatures of 40, 50 and 55 °C and Page for 55 and 60 °C. The highest drying rates are observed at the highest temperatures. The diffusion coefficients presented magnitude of 7.69684×10 -10 and 1.27585×10 -9 for the range from 40 to 60 °C, and the activation energy was 12.2641 kJ mol -1 .


Integrin-mediated osteoblast adhesion to adsorbed extracellular ligands on orthopedic implants is crucial for the subsequent osteoblast behaviors and ultimate osseointegration. Considerable research efforts have focused on the development of implant surfaces that promote the adsorption of extracellular ligands, but ignored the fact that integrin binding to ligands requires divalent cations (such as Mn2+). Here, three kinds of Mn-doped nanowire-structured TiO2 coatings with 1.9, 3.9, and 8.8 wt% dopant contents (Mn1-, Mn2-, and Mn3-TiO2) were synthesized on Ti implants to enhance integrin-mediated osteoblastic responses. The Mg-doped and undoped TiO2 nanocoatings served as the control. Mn element was not only successfully incorporated into the TiO2 matrix, but also formed an oxygen-deficient Mn oxide on the nanowire surface. Although the adsorbed fibronectin (Fn) amount on Mn-doped nanocoatings and its unfolded status were slightly attenuated with increasing Mn amount, the interaction between the coating extract and Fn demonstrated a Mn2+-induced unfolding of Fn with the exposure of the RGD motif. Compared to the Mn1-, Mn2- and Mg-doped TiO2 nanocoatings, the Mn3-TiO2 nanocoating significantly upregulated the expression of integrin α5β1 probably through increasing the ligand-binding affinity of the integrin rather than integrin binding sites in Fn. Consistent with the activation trend of integrin α5β1, the Mn3-TiO2 nanocoating enhanced cell adhesion with the long stretched structure of actin fibers and extensive formation of vinculin focal adhesion spots and upregulated the levels of alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin activities. Therefore, Mn supplementation of orthopedic implants may be a promising way to improve osteogenesis at the implant surface.


The aim of this work is to give a perspective about the utility of the strategic alliances
from the view of three theories: The resource-based theory, the industry-based theory
and the institutional-based theory. The raised hypotheses were that the strategic
alliances are useful to enter to the markets, growth and expand a firm. The methodology
used was exploratory data analysis of the insurance sector and the top five insurance
firms in 2011. It is concluded that the strategic alliances are reflected the insurance
market of Mexico having strong implications at the three levels local, industry and
institutional.


INTRODUCTION
International data indicate that arterial, venous and microvascular thrombosis or disseminated intravascular coagulation occur in more than 30% of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. This condition is characterized by high levels of D-dimer and fibrinogen, prolonged prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time.

METHOD
Blood samples from three COVID-19 patients treated in a Hungarian intensive care unit were collected and analyzed with ClotPro® tests. EX-tests, IN-test, FIB-tests, RVV-tests, and TPA-tests were performed. The results were interpreted with respect to the clinical condition of the patients.

RESULTS
Procoagulation, hypercoagulation and either fibrinolysis or a "shut down" phenomenon of the fibrinolytic process were found with ClotPro®. The ClotPro® parameters were consistent with the conventional coagulation tests and corresponded with the criteria of non-overt disseminated intravascular coagulation.

CONCLUSION
These findings encourage further investigations to elucidate the underlying pathophysiology of thromboembolic events in COVID-19 patients and may support the introduction of full dose anticoagulation with or without antiplatelet therapy. Interventional clinical trials may be helpful in defining the appropriate drug(s), for this purpose, the algorithms of administration, and the optimal duration of therapy. At present, the authorization of a clinical trial that attempts to answer these questions is in progress. Orv Hetil. 2020; 161(22): 899-907.


Rainfed agriculture occupies the majority of the world's agricultural surface and is expected to increase in the near future causing serious effects on carbon cycle dynamics in the context of climate change. Carbon cycle across several temporal and spatial scales could be studied through spectral indices because they are related to vegetation structure and functioning and hence with carbon fluxes, among them soil respiration (Rs). The aim of this work was to assess Rs linked to crop phenology of a rainfed barley crop throughout two seasons based on spectral indices calculated from field spectroscopy data. The relationships between Rs, Leaf Area Index (LAI) and spectral indices were assessed by linear regression models with the adjusted coefficient of determination (Radj2). Results showed that most of the spectral indices provided better information than LAI throughout the studied period and that soil moisture and temperature were relevant variables in specific periods. During vegetative stages, indices based on the visible (VIS) region showed the best relationship with Rs. On the other hand, during reproductive stages indices containing the near infrared-shortwave infrared (NIR-SWIR) spectral region and those related to water content showed the highest relationship. The inter-annual variability found in Mediterranean regions was also observed in the estimated ratio of carbon emission to carbon fixation between years. Our results show the potential capability of spectral information to assess soil respiration linked to crop phenology across several temporal and spatial scales. These results can be used as a basis for the utilization of other remote information derived from satellites or airborne sensors to monitor crop carbon balances.


Salinity is one of the main factors that explain the distribution of species in the Baltic Sea. Increased precipitation and consequent increase in freshwater inflow is predicted to decrease salinity in some areas of the Baltic Sea. Clearly such changes may have profound effects on the organisms living there. Here we investigate the response of the commonly occurring cyanobacterium Dolichospermum spp. to three salinities, 0, 3 and 6. For the three strains tested we recorded growth, intracellular toxicity (microcystin) and allelopathic properties. We show that Dolichospermum can grow in all the three salinities tested with highest growth rates in the lowest salinity. All strains showed allelopathic potential and it differed significantly between strains and salinities, but was highest in the intermediate salinity and lowest in freshwater. Intracellular toxin concentration was highest in salinity 6. In addition, based on monitoring data from the northern Baltic Proper and the Gulf of Finland, we show that salinity has decreased, while Dolichospermum spp. biomass has increased between 1979 and 2013. Thus, based on our experimental findings it is evident that salinity plays a large role in Dolichospermum growth, allelopathic properties and toxicity. In combination with our long-term data analyses, we conclude that decreasing salinity is likely to result in a more favourable environment for Dolichospermum spp. in some areas of the Baltic Sea.


Low light detection, down to the single photon, has been possible so far relying on photo-multiplier tubes (PMT). PMT are certainly a reliable, solid rock technology with decades of improvements and refinements. Their architecture is certainly beautiful but irreducibly complex. Biasing electronics can be sophisticated but the operational voltage necessarily exceeds 1000 V. Operation in magnetic fields may be possible but it does not come for free. Last but not least, miniaturisation below a matchbox size is hard to imagine. These figures certainly constrain their integration in apparatus and instruments, with an impact on design and cost. Silicon PhotoMultipliers (SiPM) stand to PMT like transistors stand to thermoionic valves. In essence, SiPM are an array of p-n junctions operated beyond the breakdown voltage, with every cell in the array ready to trigger an avalanche with 106 gain as long as the absorption of a photon generates a charge carrier. With the simplicity and cost of a Silicon sensor, operational voltage not exceeding 80V, magnetic field immunity and miniaturization down to 1 mm2, SiPM are state-of-the-art sensors, featuring an unprecedented photon number resolving capability and introducing the digital revolution in low light detection. In my talk, I will address the fundamentals of SiPM, identifying the key figures of merit, their measurements and presenting the state of the art and future directions. Moreover, I will consider exemplary applications in nuclear particle detection and dosimetry, homeland security, medical imaging and environmental science.


Using the overlapping criteria of (1) current smoking status and (2) homeostatic accommodation of smoking, the categories of nonsmoker, beginning smoker, smoker, and quitting smoker are structured into a cyclic representation of smoking addiction. This cyclic representation reveals that elimination of homeostatic accommodation of smoking is a critical success factor to the process of becoming a nonsmoker, while the act of stopping smoking is necessary yet insufficient to the success of that process. Homeostatic accommodation is described as having two components: metabolic and neuronal. A hypothesis for temporal displacement of metabolic and neuronal accommodation is presented to explain the behavior of "chippers" (occasional smokers) and adolescent smokers. Recommendations are made for research on the rates of development and dissipation of metabolic and neuronal accommodation of smoking, and for the development of a bimodal therapy that addresses both metabolic and neuronal accommodation and reduces relapse for quitting smokers.


The effects of NMDA and quiscalate on proliferation of primary cell cultures of human glioma, rat estrogen induced pituitary tumor and mouse spleen lymphocytes were investigated in vitro. The tritiated thymidine incorporation into DNA was used as an index of cell proliferation. Neither NMDA nor quiscalate affected the tritiated thymidine incorporation in the cell cultures herein studied. This finding contradicts the idea of the involvement of EAA receptors in the control of cell proliferation although does not exclude it.


One of the key unresolved challenges in Adjustable Robust Optimisation is how to deal with large discrete uncertainty sets. In this paper we present a technique for handling such sets based on symmetry breaking ideas from Constraint Programming. In earlier work we applied the technique to a pre-disaster planning problem modelled as a two-stage Stochastic Program, and we were able to solve exactly instances that were previously considered intractable and only had approximate solutions. In this paper we show that the technique can also be applied to an adjustable robust formulation that scales up to larger instances than the stochastic formulation. We also describe a new fast symmetry breaking heuristic that gives improved results.


The scheme proposed in this thesis organizes dynamically clusters at the time of events occurrence and maintains them. The other side, the existing cluster based USN (ubiquitous sensor networks) organize at the network initial time in a lump. So the existing method causes of much energy exhaustion. Therefore the scheme proposed in this thesis can be more efficient than the existing one in the aspect of the energy usage and the gathering and sending data. In order to efficiently process various events, the scheme proposed in this thesis divides a cluster when the other events occurred in the area which the cluster organized in. In another case, it merges clusters when a same event occurs in a different near cluster. Like above, the scheme of this thesis dynamically organizes clusters in the node centeredness. The simulation to evaluating the scheme shows that the scheme of this thesis increase the performance by maximumly 50% compared with the existing study.


If an employee releases her claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), but her assent to the release is not "voluntary and knowing," the release is voidable at her option. But under common law, the power of a party to void a release, or any other contract, could be lost if the party ratifies the release or fails to tender back the consideration received. This raises the issue of whether these common law contract doctrines apply to releases that are voidable under Title VII. Although the United States Supreme Court in Oubre v. Entergy Operations, Inc. held that the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act of 1990 (OWBPA) generally precludes the application of the ratification and tender-back doctrines to a voidable release of claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), the decision in Oubre does not resolve whether ratification and tender back apply to a Title VII release. The Court's rationale in Oubre relied primarily (though not exclusively) on the specific language in the OWBPA for an effective waiver of ADEA claims, and the OWBPA does not apply to Title VII. Lacking binding precedent on the issue from the Supreme Court, lower courts have reached different conclusions. The uncertain state of the law regarding the application of ratification and tender back to Title VII releases adds further unpredictability to the already confusing law regarding the release of Title VII claims. The U.S. courts of appeals are divided on the proper test to apply to determine if a Title VII release was entered into knowingly and voluntarily, and the majority rule — the totality-of-the-circumstances test — is itself confusing and unpredictable. Thus, not only is it often unclear if a Title VII release is voidable, it is often unclear if an employee has lost the power to void the release because of the doctrines of ratification and tender back. This Article seeks to remove this confusion and set forth the proper role (if any) for the common law contract doctrines of ratification and tender back with respect to a release of Title VII claims. It concludes that ratification should apply to Title VII releases, but that the tender-back doctrine should be applied flexibly on a case-by-case basis.


School vouchers are one of the most contested issues in educational policy. Yet, various survey data often yield different results on support for vouchers {Moe 2001}. Voucher opinions are better understood by looking at American people into several demographical and geographical segments. However, by doing this, we encounter a data problem because we do not have enough sample sizes in each segments. To address this issue, we propose the use of a model based simulation method - multilevel regression and poststratification - to estimate the voucher opinions. We find that vouchers are most popular among high-income white Catholics and Evangelicals that in general, among whites, the higher the income, the more popular vouchers are. But the pattern goes the other way among nonwhites. Among them, Vouchers are less popular among mid-income class but are more welcome in lower income groups.


Purpose: To analyze the complications of extramedullary osteosynthesis using bio-inert and bioactive constructs, and to develop their number reduction.
Materials and Methods. The study included the cases of joint contractures, delayed unions and pseudoarthrosis formation, unions of fractures with gross deformities, plate break and shift, suppurations while treating 1265 patients of both genders, at the middle age of 37.1±6.5 years, with closed fractures of femur (n=440), tibia (n=532), and humerus (293). Type C fractures accounted for 44.7%, those of type B – 29.2%, those of type A – 26.1%. Surgery in 672 patients performed using bio-inert plates (BIP), that in 593 patients – using bioactive ones (BAP) with calcium-phosphate (CP) coating.
Results. When extramedullary osteosynthesis used suppuration complications developed in 1.2% of the patients treated, unions with significant displacement observed in 2.1% of them. Persistent contractures of joints observed most often. They accounted for 8.6% of the cases in patients with BAP, and 15.8% in those with BIP.
Conclusion. The use of bioactive implants allowed reducing the level of unsatisfactory results twice. The use of plates with CP coating is advisable for type C fractures, as well as in patients through osteoporosis.


The purpose of this study is to analyze the structure of profitability, liquidity, and Auditor's Reputationthat affect internet financial reporting. The population is a manufacturing company listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange, and 75 of them are used as samples, taken using stratified random sampling technique. Data were analyzed by using logistic regression analysis at 5% and 10% significance level to draw conclusion. The results show that, simultaneously, independent variables have an influence on internet financial reporting. Partially, profitability, and auditor's reputation have a positive and significant influence on internet financial reporting. Meanwhile, the liquidity variable has a positive but not significant influence on internet financial reporting
Keywords:   Profitability, liquidity,andAuditor's Reputation.


Sweden is a forerunner in environmental policy and one of the most ecologically modernized countries in the world. However, as with most other countries, it has not been able to avoid economic recession and high unemployment. Thus it is of great interest to investigate whether Sweden, in confronting this challenge, is still on the right track in terms of redesigning society to become environmentally sustainable. The fundamental question of this article is: how well does Sweden measure up when bold sustainable development goals are confronted with the challenges of financial and economic crisis and the strong pressures exerted on its social welfare system ? According to our analysis, Sweden has achieved a form of understanding in which economic growth, social welfare and environmental policy support each other. However, reconciling these dimensions into an integrated strategy for sustainable development is easier said than done and, as is shown in this paper, the distance between rhetoric, policy and practice is greater than is acknowledge in the policy formulated to date.


This study considers 96 consecutive patients of more than 80 years of age who were referred for surgery for either valve replacement (n = 51) or myocardial revascularization (n = 45) between 1985 and 1992. The patients having valve surgery consisted chiefly or aortic valve replacements (AVR) , with a total of 48 (isolated in 44 and combined with another valve in 4 cases) being performed. Some 70% were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III and IV and 21 .5% had experienced syncope. Bioprosthetic valveswere implanted in all patients with an averageaortic cross-clamping time of 58 min. The 1-month mortality rate was 9.8% (5/51 , one mitral valve replacement and four aortic valve replacements). Death was caused by perioperative haemorrhage (one), low cardiac output (one), cardiopulmonary failure (two) and multiorqan failure (one). The morbidity rate was 64%. The actuarial survival rate was 76, 67 and 46% at 1, 2 and 4 years. respectively. By 4 years 89% were in NYHA stages I and II. Of the 45 patients having coronary artery bypass grafts. 85% were in NYHAclass III or IV and 69% had progressive unstable angina. Some 29% had a stenosis of the left main coronary artery and 51% had multivessel disease. Each patient had a mean of two venous grafts. The in-hospital mortality rate was 11% (5/45) and 13% had a postoperative myocardial infarction. The actuarial survival rate was 80, 77. 60 and 58% at 1. 2, 3 and 5 years, respectively. with 85% in NYHA class I or II. In spite of their chronological age, many octogenarian patients who are in good physical condition can be operated upon for coronary artery bypass grafts or aortic valve replacement with an acceptable operative risk, good surgical outcome with improved quality of life.


The 50% infectious dose of a preparation of herpes simplex virus was measured in eyes of rabbits by a multiple corneal inoculation method. One hour after inoculation of virus, one eye was treated with drops of human leukocyte interferon, and the other was treated with saline or with a different dose of interferon. Results from groups of three to four rabbits were combined for analysis. Treatment reduced the 50% infectious dose of virus in proportion to the concentration of interferon applied (within the range of 6.5 X 10(4)-1.3 X 10(6) units/ml) and not according to the total number of units instilled. Different treatment schedules were tried. Two applications of interferon each day were as effective as eight applications at intervals of 15 min or 1 hr. One application produced near-maximal antiviral effects for 18-24 hr. Thus, in human herpetic keratitis, a single daily application of the most concentrated available preparation of human interferon might be the most efficient schedule of treatment.


To the Editors:

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, with adenocarcinoma being the most common cell type. The majority of patients with lung cancer present at an advanced stage of disease with only 15% being amenable to surgery for cure; treatment is, therefore, palliative. For patients with malignant effusions due to pleural metastasis, chemical pleurodesis is one method by which to prevent recurrence. While there are many intrapleural sclerosing agents, most data pertaining to pleurodesis have been reported with tetracycline derivatives, bleomycin and talc 1.

A number of studies have demonstrated superior efficacy of talc over other sclerosing agents commonly used for the palliation of malignant pleural effusions 2, and talc is the preferred pleurodesis agent according to a survey of chest physicians 3. Despite talc's wide clinical use, the exact mechanisms for its efficacy as well as its apoptotic effects on lung cancer cells in vitro have not been studied. The objectives of our study were to determine if talc caused apoptosis of lung cancer cells, and to compare talc against other commonly administered intrapleural sclerosing agents by extending the experiments to include bleomycin and doxycyline.

The lung adenocarcinoma cell line (LAC, A549) was purchased from American Type Culture Collection (Rockville, MD, USA). Human pleural mesothelial cells (PMC) characterised by classic cobblestone morphology, cytokeratin and without factor VIII antigen were isolated from pleural fluid obtained via thoracentesis from patients with symptomatic transudative pleural effusions secondary to congestive heart failure, and …


MUCH OF THE TRADITIONAL analysis of productivity growth in manufacturing industries has been based explicitly or implicitly on a model in which identical, perfectly competitive plants respond in the same way to forces that strike the industry as a whole. The estimates of growth obtained with this framework are then used as the basis for discussions of policy concerning capital accumulation, research and development, trade, or other issues. This contrasts markedly with the literature of industrial organization in which perfect competition is seen as an unusual market structure and in which the differences among firms are examined in detail. The models of oligopoly that are the staple of the industrial organization literature are then used to examine antitrust policy.


The crystal and magnetic structures of an ordered double perovskite, Ca 2 FeReO 6 , were studied by high-resolution neutron powder diffraction as a function of the temperature from 7 K to 550 K. All of the diffraction data were precisely refined by the Rietveld method, and we confirmed a structural phase transition at around 140 K where the metal–insulator transition occurs from ferrimagnetic metal (FM) to ferrimagnetic insulator (FI) phases. At this temperature, there exists a change in the distortion direction of [ReO 6 ] octahedra together with a spin reorientation, which strongly supports the occurrence of orbital ordering of the t 2 g electrons. FM and FI phases coexist in a narrow temperature range at around 140 K, which is typically seen in the first-order phase transition. A phase separation was not detected in our well-characterized sample.


By the end of the Napoleonic wars, the Royal Navy's shore-based facilities employed nearly 16,000 people in Great Britain and formed the greatest manufacturing complex in the world. This volume recounts the development of the dockyards and their infrastructure, logistics, and operations as the introduction of new technology forged a revolution in ship design and construction. It spans the construction of the first purpose-built workshops for maintenance and repair in 1830 to the symbolic end of the Victorian era in the Royal Navy with the completion of HMS "Dreadnought" in 1906. The book includes chapters on Woolwich and the first steam factory; iron construction; the technological edge; Greene, Scamp and the integrated factory; HMS "Volcano" and the development of mobile logistics; mechanization; building the first iron warships; and coaling the navy. Fully illustrated with plans, drawings, engravings, and maps, this comprehensive history is both an essential reference and fascinating reading.


Minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations of 3 aminoglycosides (dibekacin, gentamicin, tobramycin) have been recorded with 617 hospital strains. 4 mg/l of tobramycin inhibited 82 to 84% of Enterobacteria, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter and S. Aureus; the less sensitive species are Serratia (51%) and Citrobacter (68%). 4 mg/l concentration of gentamicin or dibekacin inhibited 80-83% of Pseudomonas and S. Aureus, 78-79% of Acinetobacter and 74% of Enterobacteria. Dibekacin shows an in vitro activity superior to that of gentamicin and inferior to that of tobramycin on Klebsiella and Proteus mirabilis, but is rather to that of gentamicin and tobramycin on all other bacteria species.


Jember Regency is one of the agro-industrial areas in Indonesia with a variety of activities that can produce noise including milling industry. Exposure to noise that is too strong or too long will damage the auditory nerve. The type of material being grounded determines the amount of noise produced so that the potential for hearing nerve damage also varies. This study aims to determine the level of noise produced by the milling industry and analyze the potential for hearing nerve damage in milling workers in Jember Regency. This type of research is observational analytic with cross-sectional approach. This research was conducted by measuring noise in several grinding locations in Jember that were randomly determined. Types of careful milling is grinding meat, coffee, rice, sticky rice and coconut. In addition to measuring the noise level, a short interview was also conducted with the mill workers regarding how long they worked at the mill every day. The measurement results are then analyzed descriptively and compared with standards set by the government and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). In this study it was found that the grinding of meat raw materials produced an average noise level of 88.5 db, coffee of 88.5 db, rice of 88.9 db, sticky rice of 87.3 db and coconut of 80.7 db. The duration of exposure to noise in milling meat, coffee, rice and sticky rice ranges from 9-12 hours a day. While the duration of noise exposure to coconut milling workers ranged from 6-9 hours. Therefore it can be concluded that milling meat, coffee, rice and sticky rice has the potential to cause hearing loss for workers.


Developing a sustainable and resilient agribusiness sector is fundamental if Australia is to capture the value of the opportunity presented the by the growing food and fibre needs of a global population expected to reach 9.8bn by 2050 and 11bn by 2100. Key threats in the Australian context are an increasingly dynamic climate, changing demographics of regional Australia, economic factors related to currency fluctuations and the reality of being a price taker in a global market. While the current policy environment provides a number of mechanisms to support agribusinesses in mitigating these threats (including research and development investment, infrastructure investment, action to increases access to and competitiveness of markets as well as a suite of agricultural welfare options), it does not contemplate the relative readiness of individuals and businesses to act on the interventions of government. This paper proposes the adoption of the capabilities approach (CA) to refocus the policy framework and environment to prioritise the delivery of outcomes that are valued by individuals and businesses. A conceptual model is proposed to support the development, design and evaluation of future agribusiness policy. Fundamental to the conceptual model is the recognition of the central focus on the achievement of outcomes valued by agribusinesses, when considered within the constraints of the resource base, the capabilities of agribusiness owners to achieve the valued outcomes as well as the external factors required to aid in the conversion of the resources to valued outcomes.


In vitro studies were performed to evaluate susceptibility tests with disks containing 10 micrograms of ampicillin plus 10 micrograms of sulbactam. Interpretive zone standards of less than or equal to 11 mm (resistant), 12 to 13 mm (intermediate), and greater than or equal to 14 mm (susceptible) are proposed. A nine-laboratory coordinated study was performed to establish tentative zone size limits for quality control of ampicillin-sulbactam disks. This included data with a new control strain selected to monitor performance of such combination disks.


Objective To study the multi-slice CT(MSCT) imaging findings of Kimura ˉs disease of the head and neck, so as to improve the diagnosis of it. Materials and Methods The clinical and MSCT imaging findings of 9 cases with Kimura's disease, confirmed by pathology in our hospital,were analyzed retrospectively. Results Of 9 cases, Kimura's disease were located in the parotid gland(6 cases), the submaxillary, check and submental region(respectively 1 case). 3 of them were well-defined, nodular masses, then another 6 were ill-defined plaque-like infiltrative masses which involved the subcutaneous fat. Contrast enhancement was variable of the 9 cases.There were associated lymphadenopathy and blood eosinophilia in all the 9 cases. Conclusion The MSCT imaging findings of Kimura's disease have some characteristic features, the diagnosis can be made combined with the clinical findings and laboratory examination.


We describe a case of primary retroperitoneal seminoma with metastasis to the left kidney, left adrenal gland, and other organs without evidence of testicular involvement. We determined this disease at autopsy.


This paper describes the migratory experiences of Latin American migrant women living in Canada, their perceptions of the risk of HIV, AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and barriers to accessing healthcare services. We conducted 25 in-depth interviews with Latin American migrant women living in Montreal, Canada. The majority of participants were permanent residents and refugee status claimants. Women's experiences in Canada were characterised by uncertainty, deception and fraud, separation from their families and feelings of discrimination. Women's risk perception of HIV/AIDS/STIs involved relations of gender inequalities of power. Women who did not perceive themselves to be at risk were those who had a stable partner who they felt they could trust. The majority of women reported difficulties in accessing sexual and reproductive health services. Women's vulnerability to HIV/AIDS/STIs was determined by: experiences during their lifecourse; their migratory status, which was associated with sexual abuse, abuse at work, language barriers and lack of social support networks; and their ability to access health services. The provision of health services to this population must focus on sexual and reproductive health needs and should do so from a multicultural perspective that takes into account the changes associated with the migration process.


Purpose. To assess the repeatability and measurement error associated with cone density and nearest neighbor distance (NND) estimates in images of the parafoveal cone mosaic obtained with an adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscope (AOSLO). Methods. Twenty-one participants with no known ocular pathology were recruited. Four retinal locations, approximately 0.65° eccentricity from the center of fixation, were imaged 10 times in randomized order with an AOSLO. Cone coordinates in each image were identified using an automated algorithm (with or without manual correction) from which cone density and NND were calculated. Owing to naturally occurring fixational instability, the 10 images recorded from a given location did not overlap entirely. We thus analyzed each image set both before and after alignment. Results. Automated estimates of cone density on the unaligned image sets showed a coefficient of repeatability of 11,769 cones/mm2 (17.1%). The primary reason for this variability appears to be fixational instability, as aligning the 10 images to include the exact same retinal area results in an improved repeatability of 4358 cones/mm2 (6.4%) using completely automated cone identification software. Repeatability improved further by manually identifying cones missed by the automated algorithm, with a coefficient of repeatability of 1967 cones/mm2 (2.7%). NND showed improved repeatability and was generally insensitive to the undersampling by the automated algorithm. Conclusions. As our data were collected in a young, healthy population, this likely represents a best-case estimate for corresponding measurements in patients with retinal disease. Similar studies need to be carried out on other imaging systems (including those using different imaging modalities, wavefront correction technology, and/or image analysis software), as repeatability would be expected to be highly sensitive to initial image quality and the performance of cone identification algorithms. Separate studies addressing intersession repeatability and interobserver reliability are also needed.


When in 1917 the Russian proletariat made the first socialist revolution in human history and then defeated the exploiting classes in the civil war it set out to build a workers' state, or the dictatorship of the proletariat as a vehicle for socialist transition toward a classless society. Today, seventy nine years later, Russian workers remain a distinct social class and may seem to be farther away than ever before from the world that the workers of 1917 dreamed of. They have suffered a defeat of world-historical significance. The bureaucracy-led counterrevolution has triumphed. Its consequences for the Soviet working class have been disastrous. This article can also be found at the Monthly Review website , where most recent articles are published in full. Click here to purchase a PDF version of this article at the Monthly Review website.


Abstract Objective: The increased use of computers in education lead to computerized assessments, especially web-based assessment systems The aim of this study is to evaluate students' acceptance of being evaluated using an online web-based assessment system. Methods: A transversal study was performed where a sample of students that used and were accustomed to an online assessment system were asked to fill in a short questionnaire and evaluate its use. Results: The questionnaire items responses show students' preference for online assessment, as opposed to other assessment forms, like oral examination or classical pen and paper examination. Also it is noticeable the increase in the student number that prefer the online assessment as we move up through one year of study to the next. Conclusions: The study revealed a high level of acceptance for the online multiple choice questions test as an assessment method. Students' opinion is that online tests are better suited for knowledge assessment and are more objective.


Mucus secretion by intestinal goblet cells constitutes an important mechanism in TH2 response following helminth infection mediated by the key cytokine IL-22. This indirect mechanism rather than directly attacking the parasite is important in preventing helminth attachment hence promoting helminth expulsion from the intestinal tract. We hypothesized that natural products having an anthelmintic activity like caprine milk may exert similar response. Using human intestinal LS174T cells treated with IL-22 to simulate helminth infection, we tested whether or not the co-treatment with caprine milk induces MUC1, MUC3, MUC4 and MUC5B genes expression. Optimal concentrations for caprine milk was determined to be 25% and 50% from cell viability assay. IL-22 induced helminth infection model was confirmed. However, the indirect anthelmintic effect of caprine milk was only relative as treatment of caprine milk in LS174T cells and IL-22 in vitro did not significantly induce MUC1, MUC3, MUC4 and MUC5B genes expression when compared to treatment with IL-22 alone. In conclusion, caprine milk was not significantly associated with the mechanism of increased mucus production through upregulation of mucin genes by intestinal cells. Caprine milk may possess direct anthelmintic effect rather than indirect.


A software engineering curriculum must provide the student with: a strong mathematical and theoretical base; problem solving and analysis skills; written and oral communication skills; knowledge of and experience in software engineering principles, processes, and products; knowledge of and experience in measurement, analysis, and control of software processes and products; and an understanding of applicable societal and ethical issues. To effectively address the needs of industry, software engineering education must include experience of applying software engineering principles to nontrivial problems. Here, the author describes how, in an environment of rapidly changing technology and limited educational budgets, delivering a sufficiently robust software engineering educational experience is a challenge.


The aim of the study was to determine the correlation between the complexity of chromosome aberrations in ovarian cancer and its clinical stage and histological grade. 38 primary ovarian cancer tumors were analysed cytogenetically. The chromosomes were obtained from primary cell cultures in vitro and were stained using GTW technique. Advanced clinical stage correlated with complex chromosomal rearrangements. Similarly, histologically poorly differentiated tumors more often displayed complex chromosomal rearrangements (p = 0.004). Simple chromosome aberrations or normal karyotype were more frequently detected in well-differentiated tumors. The analysis of the results revealed that the increase in histological grade and clinical stage correlates with the increase in the number and complexity of chromosomal rearrangements.


Finding appropriate parameter sets for a given equation of state (EoS) to describe different properties of a certain substance is an optimization problem with conflicting objectives. Such problem is commonly addressed by single-criteria optimization in which the different objectives are lumped into a single goal function. We show how multi-criteria optimization (MCO) can be beneficially used for parameterizing equations of state. The Pareto set, which comprises a set of optimal solutions of the MCO problem, is determined. As an example, the perturbed-chain statistical associating fluid theory (PC-SAFT) EoS is used and applied to the description of the thermodynamic properties of water, focusing on saturated liquid density and vapor pressure. Different options to describe the molecular nature of water by the PC-SAFT EoS are studied and for all variants, the Pareto sets are determined, enabling a comprehensive assessment. When compared to literature models, Pareto optimization yields improved models.


ObjectiveMany women have turned to complementary and alternative medicines for relief from their menopausal symptoms. The prevalence of herbal medicinal product use among menopausal women highlights the need for investigation into these interventions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefit of herbal medicinal products for the treatment of menopausal symptoms by performing a systematic review of randomized clinical trials. DesignLiterature searches of four computerized databases were done to identify randomized clinical trials of herbal medicinal products for the treatment of menopausal symptoms. Manufacturers of herbal products were contacted, and our own files were also searched. There were no restrictions on the language of publication. Trials were considered if the outcome measures related to the physical or psychological impact of menopause, whether by compendium scores, questionnaires, or women's symptom diaries, excluding studies describing artificially induced menopause. This review was not concerned with biochemical or pathological data. ResultsEighteen randomized clinical trials that fit our criteria were identified. These studies investigated black cohosh (n = 4), red clover (n = 4), kava (n = 3), dong quai (n = 1), evening primrose oil (n = 1), ginseng (n = 1), and combination products (n = 4). Trial quality was generally good, with 16 of 18 studies scoring 3 or more (maximum 5) on the Jadad Scale. ConclusionsThere is no convincing evidence for any herbal medical product in the treatment of menopausal symptoms. However, the evidence for black cohosh is promising, albeit limited by the poor methodology of the trials. The studies involving red clover suggest it may be of benefit for more severe menopausal symptoms. There is some evidence for the use of kava, but safety concerns mean this herbal product is not a therapeutic option at present. The evidence is inconclusive for the other herbal medicinal products reviewed.


Background and importance The COVID-19 epidemic led to a reduction in travel for fragile patients to the hospital's pharmacy in our teaching hospital. We applied the ministerial procedure which ensured the continuity of patient treatment by delivering drugs to the patient's pharmacy of their choice. Aim and objectives This was enabled in Reims by means of an email address used by pharmacies to send prescriptions to the hospital pharmacy. Based on a questionnaire of satisfaction intended for patients and pharmacies, we evaluated this system, set up from 23 March to 10 July 2020. Material and methods We conducted a prospective satisfaction survey of patients and pharmacies who participated in the hospital–city ministerial procedure. Data collection was carried out by telephone for patients and by an anonymised questionnaire for pharmacies. The criteria evaluated were the quality of the service, speed of delivery, if treatment was interrupted, difficulties in supplying the treatment, need for advice and overall satisfaction (score out of 10). Results 134 patients and 52 pharmacies participated in the study. 186 dispensations were performed (27% of activity). 95% of patients and 96% of pharmacies judged the quality of the information as satisfactory. The speed of the procedure was satisfactory (96% for pharmacies and 90% for patients). 92% of pharmacies did not have any supply problems and there were four treatment breaks during the study period. The average overall satisfaction rating for pharmacies was 8.5/ 10. 89% of pharmacies were in favour of continuing the procedure and 90% considered that it was involved in strengthening the city–hospital link. Conclusion and relevance The results tended towards a high overall satisfaction rate. However, the occurrence of treatment breaks and lower patient satisfaction with the speed of treatment delivery (90%) are areas for improvement. While making the procedure more flexible and improving the delivery of treatment, patients and pharmacies have expressed a desire to continue the procedure, which is deemed more practical and beneficial for strengthening the city–hospital link.


Acoustic parameters depiction of Glyzifer–Water system was carried out using ultra sonication, on different concentrations by molar mass by volume percentage [0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, 0.8% and 1.0%] at definite temperature of 308 K using ultrasonic interferometer. Limitations like sound property, flow property, mass-water ratio, adiabatic compressibility, Acoustic Impedance, maximum distance length, free bound time, Adsorption factor and molar compressibility are accounted and it is supportive for association of molecular interaction of binary mixture glyzifer–water system.


Embedded sensor systems have been successfully implemented in a wide variety of settings, and there have been numerous research efforts that show how these sensor networks can be applied to areas ranging from education to science. These sensing systems are becoming more robust, easier to use, and widely deployed. Due to the various hardware/software platforms that are available, there is little standardization that exists in the realm of application level communication protocols, especially in the transferring or publishing of the data that is generated from sensor systems. For these sensor networks to become truly ubiquitous, there needs to be a standard protocol for the data they generate. We define a radically simple protocol, Sensor Data Stream Protocol (SDSP), to collect, move, and store sensor data. SDSP, which is built on XML as the markup language, contains references to the context of the information that is generated along with the actual values from the sensor systems. Furthermore, the protocol enables such operations as data sharing, republishing via aggregation, and concatenation. Finally, SDSP has a reference section that contains links to other sensor stores which search engines can use for discovery and ranking purposes. Overall, SDSP is a common, interoperable protocol that is designed to be handled by a range of different platforms ranging from 8-bit embedded processors to high-end cluster heads that are connected to sensor networks.


Sore throat represents a significant yet under-recognised battle in the war against antimicrobial resistance (AMR). It is one of the most common reasons people visit a doctor and approximately 60% walk away with a prescription for antibiotics.1 However, studies have indicated that 70–95% of all cases are viral2 and most patients would be better served with symptom relief. A systematic review of global sore throat management guidelines by members of the Global Respiratory Infection Partnership (GRIP) suggested the problem could be rooted in a focus on serious, yet increasingly rare, conditions, such as quinsy and acute rheumatic fever (ARF). While ARF can be a dangerous complication of Group A streptococci (GAS), which are identified in 15–30% of sore throat cases, the incidence of ARF is exceedingly rare in most parts of the world.3 All but one of the 36 identified guideline documents discussed antibiotic therapy and less than two-thirds advocated the use of laboratory tests to confirm GAS. Just 50% gave advice on symptom relief, which evidence suggests is the most appropriate approach in most cases.4 Dr Martin Duerden, lecturer in therapeutics and prescribing at Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK, member of the GRIP, recently retired general practitioner, and co-author of the review, believes countries should re-evaluate their guidelines. In this interview, Dr Duerden talks about the role of fit-for-purpose sore throat guidelines in antimicrobial stewardship, the importance of appropriate symptom relief, and how coronavirus disease (COVID-19) could represent an opportunity for change.


Fundamental solutions which automatically satisfy boundary conditions at the interfaces of an elastic plate perfectly bonded to two elastic halfspaces are implemented in a three-dimensional BEM for crack problems. The BEM features a new integration scheme for highly singular kernels. The capability is achieved through a part analytic and part numerical integration procedure, such that the analytic part of the integration is similar for all slip/opening variations. Part-through elliptic cracks in an elastic plate with traction-free surfaces are analyzed and the SIF values along the crack front are found to compare favorably with the numerical SIF results of Raju and Newman (1979).


Corruption is arguably one of the main hindrances to development. In their effort to combat corruption, governments in developing countries turn to information technology to enhance transparency in decision making. However, implementation of an information system in this context is not straightforward. Premised upon institutional theory, this interpretive case study traces the role of institutional actors in the institutionalization of an eProcurement system in Indonesian local government. It draws on different streams of research on institutional work to develop an interpretive lens to understand what institutional actors do to steer the institutionalization process. It identifies a set of institutional work carried out by them in disrupting the old institution, and, creating and maintaining the new one. The findings give a better understanding of the institutionalization process. It provides a fine-grained conceptualization of forms of institutional work, and its constituent dimensions.


Despite the growing demand for more engineers associated with the profession's relevance in addressing the world's most challenging sustainability problems, more young girls are choosing other career paths with similar relevance such as healthcare, compared to engineering. This scenario has been attributed to their lack of understanding of engineering roles in addressing such issues and thus indicates the relevance of research that not only provides such understanding, but also shows how women engineers' career choice is influenced by sustainability topics. Previous research has only identified such topics that appeal to women's attraction to engineering. However, knowledge about how this decision is reached is currently lacking. Consequently, this paper aims to uncover the process of how sustainability topics influence women's choice of engineering using a grounded theory approach to collect and analyse the data. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 women engineers who were purposively and theoretically sampled. The results show that the link between sustainability topics and women's choice and engagement in engineering is largely manifested through four primary interrelated factors: exposure, awareness, interest and direct involvement (EAID). The study outcome is a novel EAID process model indicating that women's interest and direct involvement in engineering could be influenced through two main routes—either by creating exposure or by awareness of engineering roles that cause or address sustainability challenges. It offers practical implications for engineering institutions, which could inform strategies for recruiting and attracting more women to engineering, and possibly enhance gender diversity and sustainability practices in the profession.


Computational studies on the photochemistry of the open-shell chromium oxalate [Cr(C(2)O(4))(3)](3-) ion, including its non-adiabatic relaxation pathways, have been performed. The presence of the peaked conical intersection of a quasi-Jahn-Teller type, connecting the (4)T state with (4)A(2) ground state, accounts for the observed photoinduced racemization. This involves the rupture of one of the Cr-O bonds and the complex forms an unstable trigonal bipyramid form that connects both ground state stereoisomers with the excited quartet manifold. Intersystem crossing seams have been located between the (4)T and lower lying (2)E state which can quench the quartet reaction and lead to (2)E → (4)A(2) emission.


Stock-rebuilding time isopleths relate constant levels of fishing mortality (F), stock biomass, and management goals to rebuilding times for overfished stocks. We used simulation models with uncertainty about FMSY and variability in annual intrinsic growth rates (ry) to calculate rebuilding time isopleths for Georges Bank yellowtail flounder, Limanda ferruginea, and cowcod rockfish, Sebastes levis, in the Southern California Bight. Stock-rebuilding time distributions from stochastic models were variable and right-skewed, indicating that rebuilding may take less or substantially more time than expected. The probability of long rebuilding times increased with lower biomass, higher F, uncertainty about FMSY, and autocorrelation in ry values. Uncertainty about FMSY had the greatest effect on rebuilding times. Median recovery times from simulations were insensitive to model assumptions about uncertainty and variability, suggesting that median recovery times should be considered in rebuilding plans. Isopleths calculated in previous studies by deterministic models approximate median, rather than mean, rebuilding times. Stochastic models allow managers to specify and evaluate the risk (measured as a probability) of not achieving a rebuilding goal according to schedule. Rebuilding time isopleths can be used for stocks with a range of life histories and can be based on any type of population dynamics model. They are directly applicable with constant F rebuilding plans but are also useful in other cases. We used new algorithms for simulating autocorrelated process errors from a gamma distribution and evaluated sensitivity to statistical distributions assumed for ry. Uncertainty about current biomass and fishing mortality rates can be considered with rebuilding time isopleths in evaluating and designing constant-F rebuilding plans.


High cation-exchange capacity (CEC) muscovite mica with a homoionic surface was prepared by replacing the Li(+) surface ions of partially delaminated Li-mica with K(+). The CEC of this K-mica was determined by exchanging its surface cations with Cs(+), NH(+)(4), methylene blue (MB(+)), and copper triethylenetetramine [Cu(trien)(2+)]. The kinetics of these exchange reactions were studied and showed large differences depending on their relative affinities to mica. The NH(4)(+)/K(+) exchange was slow, while the Cs(+) and Cu(trien)(2+)/K(+) exchange was fast. The MB(+)/K(+) exchange was quite slow and was not completed even after 99 h. Insufficient reaction time is one of the main reasons for the contradictory results reported in the literature for the CEC of aluminosilicates obtained by different methods. The CEC of mica can be photometrically measured by exchanging its surface cations with Cu(trien)(2+). Copyright 2000 Academic Press.


Novel strategies are needed that can stimulate endogenous signaling pathways to protect the heart from myocardial infarction. The present study tested the hypothesis that appropriate regimen of cold acclimation (CA) may provide a promising approach for improving myocardial resistance to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury without negative side effects. We evaluated myocardial I/R injury, mitochondrial swelling and β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR)-adenylyl cyclase-mediated signaling. Male Wistar rats were exposed to CA (8°C, 8h/day for a week, followed by 4 weeks at 8°C for 24h/day), while the recovery group (CAR) was kept at 24°C for an additional 2 weeks. The myocardial infarction induced by coronary occlusion for 20 min followed by 3h reperfusion was reduced from 56% in controls to 30% and 23% after CA and CAR, respectively. In line, the rate of mitochondrial swelling at 200 μM Ca2+ was decreased in both groups. Acute administration of metoprolol decreased infarction in control group and did not affect the CA-elicited cardiprotection. Accordingly, neither β1-AR-Gαs-adenylyl cyclase signaling, stimulated with specific ligands, nor p-PKA/PKA ratios were affected after CA or CAR. Importantly, western blot and immunofluorescence analyses revealed β2- and β3-AR protein enrichment in membranes in both experimental groups. We conclude that gradual cold acclimation results in a persisting increase of myocardial resistance to I/R injury without hypertension and hypertrophy. The cardioprotective phenotype is associated with unaltered adenylyl cyclase signaling and increased mitochondrial resistance to Ca2+-overload. The potential role of upregulated β2/β3-AR pathways remains to be elucidated.


This paper derives a theoretical limit for image registration and presents an iterative estimator that achieves the limit. The variance of any parametric registration is bounded by the Cramer-Rao bound (CRB). This bound is signal-dependent and is proportional to the variance of input noise. Since most available registration techniques are biased, they are not optimal. The bias, however, can be reduced to practically zero by an iterative gradient-based estimator. In the proximity of a solution, this estimator converges to the CRB with a quadratic rate. Images can be brought close to each other, thus speedup the registration process, by a coarse-to-tne multi-scale registration. The performance of iterative registration is finally shown to significantly increase image resolution from multiple low resolution images under translational motions.


Polymer-based nanocomposites have attracted a lot of attention for amperometric biosensor development due to their general physical and chemical properties including biocompatibility, film-forming ability, stability and different functional groups that can be bonded with other biomolecues. In this study, poly-4-vinlyridine homopolymer (P4VP) and polylactic acid-block-poly(2-vinylpyridine) block copolymer (PLA-b-P2VP) were used to hybridize with gold precursors (Au3+) based on the association between the nitrogen of the pyridine group of P4VP or P2VP block with gold precursors. P4VP/Au3+ and PLA-b-P2VP/Au3+ nanocomposites were prepared with ratio of gold to P2VP or P4VP (10:1). The Au3+ in both polymers was reduced to gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) via in-situ approach by using hydrazine. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) were used to characterize the structural, morphological and electrochemical properties of the nanocomposites. The peak currents of P4VP/AuNPs and PLA-b-P2VP/AuNPs nanocomposites modified electrode were 6.685 nA and 69.432 nA, respectively, which are much lower than bare electrode (205.019 nA) due to the non-conductivity of P4VP and PLA-b-P2VP. In order to improve the electron transfer capability of electrode, graphene oxide (GO) was blended and electrochemically reduced to obtain P4VP/AuNPs/rGO and PLA-b-P2VP/AuNPs/rGO nanocomposites. After immobilization of these two nanocomposites on electrode through drop casting method, the peak currents of P4VP/AuNPs/rGO and PLA-b-P2VP/AuNPs/rGO nanocomposites modified electrode were 871.172 nA and 663.947 nA, respectively, which are much higher than bare electrode (205.019 nA) and shown good capability to accelerate electron transfer. Based on these characterizations, P4VP/AuNPs/rGO has potential as the nanocomposite to modify the electrode for enzymatic biosensor development.


Problem. During the operation of the volumetric hydraulic drive of the front loader, as the surfaces of the movable interfaces of the hydraulic drive elements wear out, the gaps increase, and as a result, the leaks of the working fluid (WF) increase, and, therefore, the performance of the machine as a whole decreases. The resource of the hydraulic drive units is largely determined by the physicochemical properties of the WF, and in particular, the ability of the WF to reduce the specific load in the contact of the surfaces of the movable joints. During the operation of the transmission hydraulic drive, the aging of the fluid occurs. As a result, its operational properties deteriorate, including a decrease in the bearing capacity of the WF  lubricant film. This leads to an increase in the wear of the interface surfaces of the volumetric hydraulic drive of the transmission (VHDT) and a decrease in the productivity of the machine. Goal. Experimental studies of the influence of the working fluid production on the rate of change of the volumetric efficiency of the hydraulic motor of the volumetric hydraulic drive of the front loader transmission have been carried out. Methodology.  The tests of the MP-90 hydraulic motor were carried out at the stand. The object of the study was the hydraulic motor of the MP-90 frontal loader. Hydraulic oil MANITOU HUILE HYDRAULIQUE ISO HV46 with different operating time was used as the WF. Samples were taken from the transmission drive system of the PMTS-1200 front loader. The experimental ones were carried out under the following conditions: WF temperature, t = 323 K; rotational speed of the pump drive shaft, n = 25 s ; the operating time of the WF varied within the range of T = 0–720 motor-hours with a step of 200 motor-hours; the purity of RZ is not less than 10 class according to GOST 17216-2001; the test time was taken equal to 40 hours; pressure in the discharge line 26.5 MPa, vibration amplitude 6 MPa, vibration frequency 0.2 s. Results. It is shown that an increase in the operating time of the WF during the operation of the machine determines, other things being equal, an increase in the rate of change in the volumetric efficiency of the VHDT hydraulic motor. Originality. To prevent increased wear of the moving surfaces of the VHDT interfaces during the operation of the front-end loader, it is necessary to use WF the bearing capacity of the lubricating film which is higher than the maximum permissible value. Practical value. The use of the results of the study will increase the VHDT of the hydraulic drive elements of the front loader and reduce the rate of decrease in its productivity during its operation.


Fast-growing flexible and stretchable electronics, such as robots, portable electronics and wearable devices, are regarded as the next-generation electronic devices. Flexible or even stretchable electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials with high performance are needed to avoid the adverse effects of electromagnetic radiation produced by these devices. In this work, highly conductive and stretchable polymer films were prepared by blending a conductive polymer, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT:PSS), with highly stretchable waterborne polyurethane (WPU). The two polymers have good miscibility at a wide range of blending ratios. The conductivity of the composite films increases while the stretchability decreases with the increase of PEDOT:PSS loading. At a 20 wt% PEDOT:PSS loading, the composite films show a conductivity of 77 S cm−1 and an elongation at break of about 32.5%. More interestingly, they exhibit a high EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) of about 62 dB over the X-band frequency range at a film thickness of only 0.15 mm.


The purpose of this study was to investigate if health promoting leadership orientations (Participative leadership, Developmental leadership, Health oriented leadership) were associated with organisational support resources among first-line managers in Gothenburg City. This study was conducted with theoretical basis in Kanter's (1993) organisational theory of structural empowerment and Bakker and Demerouti's (2007) job demands-resources model. Additionally, health promoting leadership, transformational leadership and servant leadership was used as foundation to the leadership variables. To investigate the purpose, a cross sectional quantitative research design was chosen, using a web survey with first-line managers in Gothenburg City as participants (n=763, 56% response rate). Most variables were measured with indexes from Gothenburg Manager Stress Index (GMSI). The data was analysed by doing descriptive analysis, bivariate correlation analysis, multiple regression analysis and a hierarchical multiple regression analysis. Through this analysis, organisational support was associated with Participative leadership and Health oriented leadership. Other forms of organisational support, such as Health promoting self-leadership and Health promoting organisational projects were also important factors affecting Health oriented leadership. In conclusion, well-functioning organisational support resources can give first-line managers more time to practice health promoting leadership orientations and hence increase well-being and health for their employees. The organisational support resources chosen for this study cannot alone explain the variance in the health promoting leadership orientations. Our results reveal that other support resources and structures and to date unknown variables may also play an important role in how to increase the occurrence of health promoting leadership orientations.


Tourism development activities affect the structure and functions of ecosystems directly triggering changes in the thermal environment of tourism destinations and raising a need for sustainable development of the tourism industry. Using the 2005–2015 moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) data on the land surface temperature combined with the land use data, the urban thermal environment contribution index (CI) of prefecture-level cities and ecosystem types corresponding to the study area in Sichuan-Chongqing region were quantitatively calculated under various seasonal and diurnal conditions in terms of the scales of administrative divisions and ecosystem types. The characteristics of the roles played by different cities and ecosystem types to contribute to the thermal environment of the metropolitan region were summarized, and the differences and changes in the corresponding contribution intensity of various ecosystem types were measured. The results indicate the following: (1) Different cities play different roles as the sources and sinks with respect to the thermal environment in the daytime and nighttime. Based on the diurnal differences of the contribution indices, cities can be divided into three types: the day-night heat source type, the day-sink and night-source type, and the day-night heat sink type. (2) The farmland and the grassland ecosystems are the most important source and sink landscapes in the thermal environment of the Sichuan-Chongqing Region, respectively. (3) The region is affected by the spatial arrangement of the internal ecosystems and its own development conditions, and, consequently, there are significant temporal-spatial variations and role transitions between heat source and heat sink regarding the contribution of different ecosystem types to the thermal environment of individual cities. It is important to scientifically regulate the thermal environment effect on tourism destinations and maintain the comfort and sustainable development through identifying the source and sink ecosystems of the thermal environment, controlling the quantity and spatial arrangement of the heat source ecosystems, and fully enabling the cooling effect of the heat sink ecosystems.


The bacterium Mycobacterium immunogenum has been implicated in causing the lung condition hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) in factory workers exposed to colonized metalworking fluids (MWFs). M. immunogenum-specific, real-time quantitative PCR detection technique (MiRT-qPCR) was implemented on a large scale to 363 MWFs of varying types, originating from the United States and Europe, that had been in use for between 30 days and 1 year. In MWFs that contained between 103 and 109 culturable general heterotrophs mL−1 the technique detected between 5 and 2 × 106 mL−1 M. immunogenum cell equivalents (CE) in 12.2% (23 of 189) of U.S. samples and between 8 and 6 × 105 mL−1 CE in 39.1% (68 of 174) of samples from Europe. In contrast, only three cultured presumptive mycobacterial isolates across all samples were confirmed as M. immunogenum. Implementation of the assay demonstrated its practicality and further emphasized the limitations of using cultivation alone. Interestingly, no M. immunogenum were detected in mineral oil-based Bio-Concept MWFs from the United States, while it was more commonly detected in used MWFs based on formaldehyde-releasing biocides than in MWFs free of formaldehyde-depot biocides.


Do false memories last? And do they last as long as true ones? This study investigated whether experimentally created false memories would persist for an extended period (one and a half years). A large number of subjects (N = 342) participated in a standard three-stage misinformation procedure (saw the event slides, read the narrations with misinformation, and then took the memory tests). The initial tests showed that misinformation led to a significant amount of false memory. One and a half years later, the participants were tested again. About half of the misinformation false memory persisted, which was the same rate as for true memory. These results strongly suggest that brief exposure to misinformation can lead to long term false memory and that the strength of memory trace was similar for true and false memories.


Following ab initio 1D and 2D calculations by Sisourat et. al. [1] we here report full three dimensional calculations of the single ionization of an H2-molecule by a highly charged Kr+34 ion at high velocity impact (60 MeV/u). Prior theoretical investigations have all failed to account for any second order interference effects. Final results will be presented at the conference.


This paper will discuss proven methods that can be utilized to develop an optimum well surface facility program, which will reduce the overall program cost, schedule, and labor risk.
 Well surface facilities are currently custom designed and constructed (with each design being slightly different), and as a series of projects rather than a single program. The custom design for each project increases the cost and construction timeline of the well site facilities. Although there may be slight production design differences in the sub-surface design, the surface facilities can be standardized by understanding the sub-surface production design ranges. The key to optimizing well surface facilities is to standardize the equipment and components within the facility and maximize the use of building blocks or modules.
 The following four methodologies can be used to develop an optimal well site: Standard Design Package and Catalog DevelopmentThis method involves developing standard design packages for the building blocks of a well site and generating a standard catalog for the well site program. This standard catalog will reduce the engineering hours on repeatable well sites and reduce the project timeline up to 75%.Implementation of Standardized TaggingDeveloping standardized tagging for the well site program will provide a system for equipment and instrumentation to be purchased without a specific well site location. This method promotes agility in the design, purchasing, fabrication, maintenance, and operations of asset procurement. In addition to procurement, it also allows for an effective asset management program for operations and maintenance, as both the tags and vendor data are standardized.Program Level Contracting and ProcurementDeveloping a standard vendor data library will reduce the overall timeline required for equipment and instrumentation production cycles, eliminate duplicate information, and reduce data handling costs. This will create opportunities for phased delivery and bulk purchase pricing discounts based on the yearly requirements. Another key component of this method is developing subcontractor partner relationships that are aligned for program delivery.Optimized Modularization and ConstructionThe standard design packages can be fabricated and assembled as pre-assemblies or modules. Site labor will be moved offsite, reducing labor risk, and pre-assemblies or modules can be standardized, fabricated, and assembled independent of the well site location. This method will allow for both program flexibility and mentality, as well as provide future flexibility to enable the relocation and reuse of modules from decommissioned sites to new sites.
 Standardization and modularization methods have proven benefits for well surface facility programs that include, but are not limited to the following: Reduced cost, including significantly reduced home office costsReduced schedule, including removing engineering, material, and fabrication from the critical pathIncreased well program flexibilityImproved cost and schedule certaintyStrict Change Management and value improvement system
 An optimal well surface program utilizing the standardization and modularization methods can realize the benefits described and reduce the facility total installed cost from 10% to 30%, depending on the extent of standardization utilized versus traditional project executions.