Synthesis towards the preparation of an unsymmetrical binucleating Schiff-base ligand, (H2L) is discussed. It has been synthesized by reacting methyl 6-(hydrazinecarbonyl)picolinate with 2-hydroxy acetophenone. The ligand (H2L) comprises two different asymmetric binding pockets; however, when reacted with Mn(ii), Co(ii), Cu(ii) and Zn(ii) salts, very stable self-assembled [2 × 2] grid complexes form regardless of the employed metal-to-ligand ratio. The obtained complexes [Mn4L4]·(CH3CN) (1), [Co4L4]·(CHCl3) (2), [Cu4L4]·(CHCl3) (3) and [Zn4L4] (4) have been fully characterized by physicochemical methods, including ESI mass spectrometry and X-ray crystallographic analyses, and their EPR, magnetic and redox properties are discussed. All discussed complexes self-assembled in a 'head-to-tail' fashion leading to [2 × 2] grid architectures. Mn, Co and Cu grid complexes show weak to moderate antiferromagnetic coupling among the four metal centers. The high stability of the grid structures is in line with the lack of any observable dissociation or exchange between metal ions in solution. Complexes 1 and 2 show four quasi-reversible to irreversible oxidative responses in cyclic voltammograms at a glassy carbon working electrode in 1,2-dichlorobenzene and at a platinum working electrode in dichloromethane, respectively.


Studying experimental data obtained at ITEP [1] on neutron production in interactions of protons with various nuclei in the energy range from 747 MeV up to 8.1 GeV, we have found that slow neutron spectra have scaling and asymptotic properties [2]. The spectra weakly depend on the collision energy at momenta of projectile protons larger than 5 – 6 GeV/c. These properties are taken into account in the Geant4 Fritiof (FTF) model. The improved FTF model describes as well as the Geant4 Bertini model the experimental data on neutron production by 1.2 GeV and 1.6 GeV protons on targets (Fe, Pb) [3] and by 3.0 GeV protons on various targets (Al, Fe, Pb) [4]. For neutron production in antiproton-nucleus interactions, it is demonstrated that the FTF results are in a satisfactory agreement with experimental data of the LEAR collaboration [5]. The FTF model gives promising results for neutron production in nucleus - nucleus interactions at projectile energy 1 – 2 GeV per nucleon [6]. The observed properties allow one to predict neutron yields in the nucleus-nucleus interactions at high and very high energies. Predictions for the NICA/MPD experiment at JINR are presented.


A new image reconstruction technique for computed tomography is described. Projection data obtained by a smaller angle rotation less than 180 degrees around the object are used to make the image. The main feature of the method is the estimation of missing region in the Fourier transformed domain by extrapolation employing analytic continuity. Numerical simulations were carried out using computer generated pattern data. The results show strong effects of the content of noisy component on the reconstructed image. The method might be, however, practically applied to some real fields for medical diagnosis.


The quasi-delay-insensitive (QDI) model assumes that all the forks are isochronic. The isochronic-fork assumption requires uniform wire delays and uniform switching thresholds of the gates associated with the forking branches. This paper presents a method for determining such forks that do not have to satisfy the isochronic fork requirements, and presents experimental results that show many isochronic forks assumed for existing QDI circuits do not actually have to be "isochronic" or can be even ignored.


The experiment attempted to detect the loss of mineral substances in the crude herb, especially for the Platycodon graucum Nakai after removal of its acrid flavor. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. The quantity of the mineral substance was K Ca P Mg and Na in orders. The above substances were more prevalent in the part of the plant above the ground than the plant below the ground, however Na remained the same in both parts of the plant. 2. As a result of water immersion, in order to clear away the acrid flavor, the one day exudate showed that K was highest in amount and in the others there was no significant difference. There was a slight increase, however, in the amount of Ca K Mg P and Na because of exudation on the 3rd and 5 th days. 3. The amount of the exudate was increased by boiling rather than simple water immersion, but the amount of Ca was decreased.


Calreticulin (CRT) is a highly conserved chaperone-like lectin that regulates Ca2+ homeostasis and participates in protein quality control in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Most of our CRT knowledge came from mammalian studies, but our understanding of plant CRTs is limited. Many plants contain more than two CRTs that form two distinct groups: CRT1/CRT2 and CRT3. Previous studies on plant CRTs were focused on their Ca2+-binding function, but recent studies revealed a crucial role for the Arabidopsis CRT3 in ER retention of a mutant brassinosteroid receptor, brassinosteroid-insensitive 1-9 (bri1-9) and in complete folding of a plant immunity receptor EF-Tu Receptor (EFR). However, little is known about the molecular basis of the functional specification of the CRTs. We have recently shown that the C-terminal domain of CRT3, which is rich in basic residues, is essential for retaining bri1-9 in the ER; however, its role in assisting EFR folding has not been studied. Here, we used an insertional mutant of CRT3, ebs2-8 (EMS mutagenized bri1 suppressor 2-8), in the bri1-9 background as a genetic system to investigate the functional importance of two basic residue clusters in the CRT3′s C-terminal domain. Complementation experiments of ebs2-8 bri1-9 with mutant CRT3M transgenes showed that a highly conserved basic tetrapeptide Arg392Arg393Arg394Lys395 is essential but a less conserved basic tetrapeptide Arg401Arg402Arg403Arg404 is dispensable for the quality control function of CRT3 that retains bri1-9 in the ER and facilitates the complete folding of EFR.


Since there is an increasing demand for sport and exercise in daily life activities and rehabilitation of persons with a spinal cord injury, it is important to gain insight into the circulatory responses during exercise in these individuals. Recently, some studies have addressed this issue. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to review briefly the current knowledge on circulatory responses during submaximal and maximal arm exercise in individuals with paraplegia and the differences in these responses compared to able-bodied persons. Emphasis is placed on the redistribution of blood during arm exercise in persons with paraplegia. Special attention is focused on the so-called "venous blood pooling" below the spinal cord lesion and the available techniques to support the redistribution. In addition, the effect of heat stress on the circulatory adjustment during exercise and the influence the level of the lesion has on the circulatory responses are outlined. Topics for future research are suggested throughout the paper.


Engineer-to-order (ETO) construction companies are characterized by an off-site and on-site production. Often, budget deviations for installation works on-site are identified in a late stage when improvement actions cannot be applied anymore. Consequently, installation tasks are often affected by significant delays and/or reworks. This work proposes a "real-time" capable approach for planning and monitoring in construction and a corresponding information technology (IT) framework. The core is represented by the so-called "pitching" concept known from lean management, which breaks down large job orders into smaller controllable parts. It can be considered as the main enabler for gathering management information in real-time and to identify problems and their causes on time. The most noticeable consequence lies in smaller jobs and a software-aided punctual control that allows a better rescheduling capability and, thus reduced, delays. A case study is provided, showing how the model was applied and validated in an ETO facade supplier company.


In this thesis, I reflect on the ethical and theoretical foundations of researching (and researching) sexualized violence with Indigenous girls in remote communities in northern British Columbia, Canada, through a project called Sisters Rising, an Indigenous-led, communitybased research study focused on centering Indigenous teachings related to sovereignty and gender well-being. Through an emergent methodology drawing from witnessing and borderland feminisms to conduct artsand land-based workshops with girls and community members, I sought to unsettle my relationships as a diasporic frontline worker to the communities and lands I work with. To disrupt traditional hegemonic discourses of settler colonialism, I look to artsbased and collective witnessing, reflecting on how alternative, safer spaces for Indigenous girls can be created for resistance and (re)storying connections to land and relationships.


The interaction of 5,6-dihydroxyindole, a putative cytotoxic intermediate of melanin synthesis, with model lambda phage DNA has been investigated by using type II restriction endonucleases and CsCl buoyant density centrifugation. As evidenced by agarose gel electrophoresis and density gradient profiles, the 5,6-dihydroxyindole or u.v. treated DNAs, restricted or not, are modified. U.v. irradiation enhances 5,6-dihydroxyindole binding to DNA, but no sequence specific binding was observed. The action of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine on the restriction patterns of lambda phage DNA was also investigated and the effect appeared smaller, by qualitative evaluation, than that produced by 5,6-dihydroxyindole.


Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is a causative agent of Johne's disease, a disease with considerable economic impact on dairy buffalo herds. The present study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of MAP infection in buffaloes and its excretory pattern through buffalo milk. A total of 74 milk samples were collected from apparently healthy buffaloes of organized and unorganized sectors located in Tamil Nadu and subjected to Ziehl-Neelsen staining and Polymerase chain reaction (IS900 and F57 genes). Out of 74 samples, 3 (4.1%), 21 (28.4%) and 14 (18.9%) samples shed MAP organism by Ziehl-Neelsen staining, IS900 PCR and F57 PCR respectively. Besides age of the animal, stage of lactation and herd management were associated with excretion of MAP in milk. These results showed the high prevalence of MAP infection in buffaloes and warrants further studies and necessary actions to delineate the MAP infection in buffalo population.


We have studied the diurnal rhythm of pars distalis and pars intermedia-type immunoreactive (IR)-POMC peptides and cortisol in 3 normal dogs and 1 dog with Cushing's syndrome and have documented the responses to a variety of agents in 42 dogs with Cushing's disease, 2 of which were known or presumed to have pars intermedia tumors and another of which had both pars distalis and pars intermedia adenomas, and in 20 dogs with adrenocortical adenomas causing Cushing's syndrome. The normal dogs did not have a diurnal plasma POMC peptide rhythm; the dog with Cushing's disease appeared to have a similar number of secretory episodes of increased amplitude. Plasma POMC peptides and cortisol in animals with Cushing's disease did not suppress normally with low dose dexamethasone. Five animals with Cushing's disease did suppress with high dose dexamethasone, the dog with dual adenomas suppressed only partially, and 1 dog with a pars intermedia adenoma did not suppress at all. The response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia was similar in normal dogs and 4 dogs with Cushing's disease, but 3 animals with adrenal tumors did not respond. The response to metyrapone was normal in 6 dogs with Cushing's disease and, surprisingly, in 1 with adrenal tumor. Arginine vasopressin stimulated POMC peptide secretion in normal and 6 Cushing's dogs, as well as alpha MSH, a pars intermedia-type POMC peptide, in a dog presumed to have a pars intermedia tumor. Ovine CRF stimulated pars distalis-type POMC peptide secretion in normal dogs and 17 dogs with Cushing's disease, but not in 15 dogs with adrenal tumor; IR-alpha MSH was unaffected. TRH appeared to stimulate IR-ACTH in normal animals, but not in those with Cushing's disease. Dopamine had no apparent effect in 2 normal and 1 Cushing's dogs. Initial plasma disappearance t1/2 values of IR-ACTH and lipotropin were 22-27 min. In summary, responses in normal and Cushing's dogs were generally what would be predicted from previous human and animal studies, but some of those in animals with pars intermedia tumors and even in normal dogs were different from what had been anticipated. Canine Cushing's syndrome provides an interesting model for an uncommon human disorder.


Many materials science phenomena require joint structural and chemical characterization at the nanometer scale to be understood. This can be achieved by correlating electron microscopy (EM) and atom probe tomography (APT) subsequently on the same specimen. For this approach, specimen yield during APT is of particular importance, as significantly more instrument time per specimen is invested as compared to conventional APT measurements. However, electron microscopy causes hydrocarbon contamination on the surface of atom probe specimens. Also, oxide layers grow during specimen transport between instruments and storage. Both effects lower the chances for long and smooth runs in the ensuing APT experiment. This represents a crucial bottleneck of the method correlative EM/APT. Here, we present a simple and reliable method based on argon ion polishing that is able to remove hydrocarbon contamination and oxide layers, thereby significantly improving APT specimen yield, particularly after EM.


The secondary growth of garlic depreciates the quality of a bulb and, in the worse cases, makes it difficult to be used as a seed bulb due to many insertions of small cloves in the seed bulb. Therefore, the effect of soil temperature, seedtime, and fertilization rate on the secondary growth of the big bulbils of Namdo garlic has been examined. When we analyzed into the growth characteristics of big bulbils of Namdo garlic under different fertilizer application levels (50% increased fertilization, experimental fertilization and 50% decreased fertilization), the plant height, numbers of leaf, sheathe diameter, leaf length, and leaf width were the best in 50% increase of the test rate of fertilizer. The occurrence rates of secondary growth were 34.2% in 50% decrease of the test rate of fertilizer, 44.3% in the test rate, and 54.1% in 50% increase of the test rate of fertilizer. In other words, the occurrence rate of secondary growth increased by increasing the fertilization rate. While the average harvested bulb weight were 34.1g in 50% decrease of the test rate of fertilizer, 35.1g in the test rate of fertilizer, and 33.9g in 50% increase of the test rate of fertilizer, there were no changes in the number of cloves under different fertilization rates. As the correlation diagram between the soil temperature and occurrence of the secondary growth showed very high relation with 0.892~0.997, the secondary growth in cultivation of Namdo garlic big bulbils had considerably close correlation with the soil temperature. As the earlier the seedtime was, the growth of the above-groundparts including the plant height, numbers of leaf, and sheath diameter were the better. The averages of bulb weight were 36g in the mid September sowed seed bulb, 29.6g in the late September sowed seed bulb, and 27.9g in the early October sowed seed bulb. Overall, our results showed that the bulb size is dependent on the seedtime and the seedtime has no particular effects on the secondary growth.


This paper investigates two specific probabilistic biases which middle graders usually exhibit when reasoning about probability and randomness on assessment items. We discuss how students' reasoning about key probability concepts undergirds statistics literacy related to randomness, independence, and the likelihood of future events based on past results. We examine factors evoking misconceptions and students' (in)consistency in exhibiting them. Findings indicate that misconceptions can be evoked based on three types of factors including (1) students' particular understandings of probability and randomness, (2) general item characteristics, and (3) aspects of probability in items. Moreover, possession of a specific misconception will most likely result in exhibiting the bias again on other occasions including the same evoking factors (consistency).


With the collaborative filtering techniques becoming more and more mature, recommender systems are widely used nowadays, especially in electronic commerce and social networks. However, the utilization of recommender system in academic research itself has not received enough attention. A research paper recommender system would greatly help researchers to find the most desirable papers in their fields of endeavor. Due to the textual nature of papers, content information could be integrated into existed recommendation methods. In this paper, we proposed that by using topic model techniques to make topic analysis on research papers, we could introduce a thematic similarity measurement into a modified version of item-based recommendation approach. This novel recommendation method could considerable alleviate the cold start problem in research paper recommendation. Our experiment result shows that our approach could recommend highly relevant research papers.


BACKGROUND: Financial literacy is a person's capability to manage their own monetary matters. There was no information available on financial literacy status of healthcare professionals (HCPs) of India. So, the current research was formulated to assess the financial literacy status and its correlates among HCPs of India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It was an observational study, cross-sectionally designed, conducted among 524 HCPs of India using a structured Google form during July 2020. For data analysis, SPSS (version 22) was used. RESULTS: Among the study participants, 68.3% were found to be financially literate. Among the various subdomains of the total financial literacy, knowledge regarding general domain was observed to be the best (69.3%) followed by savings (63.7%) and investment (58.0%) domains, respectively. The total financial literacy score was found to be positively correlated with higher age [spearman rho correlation co-efficient (ρ) = 0.25; P =< 0.01], qualification [(medical postgraduate) (ρ= 0.16; P =< 0.01); (medical super speciality) (ρ = 0.14; P =< 0.01)], and annual family income (ρ= 0.29; P =< 0.01). Moreover, males (ρ= 0.23; P =< 0.01)], currently married (ρ= 0.19; P =< 0.01), and surgeons (ρ= 0.12; P =< 0.01) were found to be more financially literate compared with others. Positive financial attitude (ρ= 0.26; P =< 0.01) and regular maintenance of financial record (ρ= 0.21; P =< 0.01) were the other enabling factors of financial literacy observed in the study. CONCLUSIONS: Financial literacy was found to be quite low in the surveyed HCPs as every third study participant were found to be deficient in knowledge regarding one or more financial attributes. Incorporation of finance management in curriculum of the healthcare allied courses and repeated sensitization of the graduated HCPs are warranted to enable them to take effective financial decisions to meet their personal and organizational financial goals.


List of Figures. List of Tables. Preface. 1. The Space and Strategy of Demographic Growth. 1 Humans and Animals. 2 Divide and Multiply. 3 Jacopo Bichi and Domenica Del Buono, Jean Guyon and Mathurine Robin. 4 Reproduction and Survival. 5 The Space of Growth. 6 Environmental Constraints. 7 A Few Figures. 2. Demographic Growth: Between Choice and Constraint. 1 Constraint, Choice, Adaptation. 2 From Hunters to Farmers: The Neolithic Demographic Transition. 3 Black Death and Demographic Decline in Europe. 4 The Tragedy of the American Indios: Old Microbes and New Populations. Africa, America, and the Slave Trade. 6 The French Canadians: A Demographic Success Story. 7 Ireland and Japan: Two Islands, Two Histories. 8 On the Threshold of the Contemporary World: China and Europe. 3. Land, Labor, and Population. 1 Diminishing Returns and Demographic Growth. 2 Historical Confirmations. 3 Demographic Pressure and Economic Development. 4 More on Demographic Pressure and Development: Examples from the Stone Age to the Present Day. 5 Space, Land, and Development. 6 Population Size and Prosperity. 7 Increasing or Decreasing Returns?. 4. Toward Order and Efficiency: The Recent Demography of Europe and the Developed World. 1 From Waste to Economy. 2 From Disorder to Order: The Lengthening of Life. 3 From High to Low Fertility. 4 European Emigration: A Unique Phenomenon. 5 A Summing Up: The Results of the Transition. 6 Theoretical Considerations on the Relationship between Demographic and Economic Growth. 7 More on the Relationship between Demographic and Economic Growth: Empirical Observations. 5. The Populations of Poor Countries. 1 An Extraordinary Phase. 2 The Conditions of Survival. 3 A Brief Geography of Fertility. 4 The Conditions and Prospects for Fertility Decline and Demographic Policy. 5 India and China. 6 Fertilia and Sterilia. 7 Explaining a Paradox. 6. The Future. 1 Population and Self-Regulation. 2 The Numbers of the Future. 3 The North--South Divide and International Migration. 4 On Sustainability of Extended Survival. 5 The Moving Limits. 6 The Emerging Limits: Resources. 7 The Emerging Limits: Environment. 8 Calculations and Values. Notes. Select Bibliography. Index


Background Proximal humeral fractures are the third most common fracture in the body, and their incidence is rising year by year as the population ages. However, the treatment of the proximal humerus in parts 3 and 4 is still debatable, necessitating a network meta-analysis to determine the best treatment for each treatment modality. Methods We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials on proximal humeral fractures up to June 21, 2022. We performed data extraction and literature quality assessment by two independent authors and extracted constant score and reoperation rate as indicators for evaluation. Stata software, Revman software, JAGS software and the R-based BlandAltmanLeh package, gemtc package and riags package were used to perform this Bayesian network meta-analysis. Results Following screening, 11 papers with a total of 648 participants were included in the analysis. The SUCRA values for the constant score were in the following order: RSA, IMN, Conservative, HA, and LP, and the SUCRA values for the reoperation rate were LP, HA, IMN, Conservative, and RSA. Conclusion The elderly with 3- or 4-part proximal humeral fractures should consider RSA because it received the best evaluation ranking in terms of constant score and reoperation rate. Systematic Review Registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022341209, identifier: CRD42022341209.


There are varieties of indices developed for grading the degree of human development. Human Development Index (HDI) is one among them generated by the United Nations. Human Development is a process of expanding human choices and enabling people to enjoy long, healthy and creative lives. The HDI is calculated based on three indicators, longevity, educational attainment and the real standard of living. Longevity is measured by the life expectancy at birth. Educational index is calculated as a combination of adult literacy (two thirds weight) and the combined first, second and third-level gross school enrolment ratio (one third weight). Standard of living, is measured by real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita, converted into international dollars/purchasing power parity (ppp$).


Purpose Prehospital tourniquet application is not a standard trauma team activation (TTA) criterion recommended by the ACS COT. Tourniquet use has seen a resurgence recently with associated risks and benefits of more liberal usage. Our institution added tourniquet application as TTA criterion in January 2019. This study aimed to evaluate the effect this would have on patient care and overtriage. Methods A prospective analysis was conducted for all TTA associated with tourniquets placed during 2019. An overtriage analysis was conducted utilizing a modified Cribari method as described in Resources for the Optimal Care of the Injured Patient, comparing patients that met standard TTA criteria (TTA-S), to those who met criteria due to tourniquet placement (TTA-T). Results During the study, there were 46 TTA with tourniquets. Mean prehospital tourniquet time was 80 minutes. Median ISS was 10, 8 (17%) had an ISS >15. Urgent operative intervention was needed in 74%, with 23% and 21% requiring orthopedic and vascular procedures, respectively. Tourniquets were correctly placed in 80% and clinically appropriate in 57%. Of these subjects, 25 (54%) were TTA-S and 21 TTA-T. Overtriage analysis was performed. Overtriage for TTA-T was 33.3%. Overtriage among TTA-S was 4%. Conclusion Patients with prehospital tourniquets are frequently severely injured. The immediate presence of a trauma surgeon can have significant impacts in these cases. This is particularly important in a rural environment with long tourniquet times. Prehospital tourniquet application as a TTA criteria does not result in excessive overtriage.


December 2017 • Volume 125 • Number 6 www.anesthesia-analgesia.org 2169 and the citation scores are so modest. We cannot reconcile these data with publicly verified databases in the United Kingdom. For example, our own difficult airway-related publication rates for the periods shown are respectively 29 (J.J.P.) and 42 (M.T.P.); our total publications being significantly higher than this. In respect of citations, the RAND Corporation has identified that our Oxford anesthesia department ranks top in the United Kingdom (the major contribution being from our own airway-related research), with citations >50% higher than the next-ranked university, and more than double the third ranked (see http://www. rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR1363.html). Thus, we already know that in the specific field of difficult airway research, Oxford ranks easily highest in the United Kingdom. There are also some unfortunate errors in their Figure 6, putatively displaying national-level institutional links. The "University of Oxford" and "Oxford Radcliffe Hospital" are shown as separate, when in fact for research purposes, they are identical. The "University of Wales" is an old, overarching term for universities now called by their modern names like "Cardiff University." The "University of Wales Hospital" should actually read "University Hospital of Wales"—a center most closely connected with Cardiff University (ie, these 2 being synonymous). These are entirely understandable errors from the distance the authors are writing, but they have the unfortunate effect of greatly diluting the perceived output of the centers concerned. There seem to be 2 possibilities. Either the data of GarcíaAroca et al1 are incorrect or, more likely, they have been overly restrictive in their search terms. They may have confined their searches to difficult airway but excluded relevant terms such as "airway management" or "devices," etc. If so, readers will need to interpret their data with extreme caution. The results will then have little or nothing to do with being prolific in actual difficult airway research, as measured by objective national exercises, but rather only with authors' use of the words "difficult airway." The latter is a trivial measure of performance. We commend the contribution of García-Aroca et al1 to bibliometric analysis, but much more detail is needed for more accurate interpretation of their data, or their paper could be interpreted as misleading.


In the Hydromedusae, many species show a tendency to be less restricted to a special distribution pattern compared to most other planktonic organisms. Latitudinal belt-shaped patterns in Hydromedusae are usually broader than the comparable distributions of molluscs or crustaceans. As a rule, the bathypelagic Hydromedusae are less restricted to specific depth layers than other taxa. Taxa of Hydromedusae showing distributions correlated with water masses are less restricted to water masses than taxa of other groups. Many types of distribution, like Equatorial and Central water patterns, commonly found in most planktonic groups, are absent in Hydromedusae, and many species show a strong tendency for southward dispersal. The present-day patterns of Narcomedusae and Trachymedusae seem to originate from an Antarctic fauna, the other subclasses of Hydromedusae show distribution patterns around the Indo-Malayan Archipelago. It is presumed that the Hydromedusae reflect a postCretaceous dispersal from two faunal centres, Indo-Malaya and Antarctica, that already became separated in Eocene times. The two Eocene faunal centres can be derived from one continuous area in which Hydromedusae survived the period of extinction at the end of the Cretaceous. Splitting of this centre probably forms the vicariant event responsible for the development of the Narcomedusae and Trachymedusae in the Antarctic waters, and of the Anthomedusae, Leptomedusae and Limnomedusae in the Indo-Malayan waters.


The present invention relates to a conductive ink composition for forming transparent electrodes. More particularly, the conductive ink composition for forming transparent electrodes according to the present invention is configured such that a conductive network is made from a metal nanowire, wherein the disconnection of the network is supplemented by metal sol and empty spaces in the network are filled with said metal sol, thus exhibiting excellent electrical conductivity and visible light transmittance. Further, the metal sol serves as a protective layer for protecting against the corrosion and oxidation of the metal nanowire, thus eliminating the necessity of a separate antioxidant or protective layer, and ensuring the environmental resistance of the produced transparent electrode.


In this paper, a temporal probabilistic approach based on the hidden Markov model (HMM), named physically segmented HMM with continuous output, is introduced for continuous tool condition monitoring in machinery systems. The proposed approach has the advantage of providing an explicit relationship between the actual health states and the hidden state values. The provided relationship is further exploited for formulation and parameter estimation in the proposed approach. The introduced approach is tested for continuous tool wear prediction in a computer numerical control milling machine and compared with two well-established neural network (NN) approaches, namely, multilayer perceptron and Elman network. In the experimental study, the prediction results are provided and compared after adopting appropriate hyper-parameter values for all the approaches by cross-validation. Based on the experimental results, physically segmented HMM approach outperforms the NN approaches. Moreover, the prognosis ability of the proposed approach is studied.


Manual accuracy in microsurgery is reduced by tremor and limited access. A surgical approach through the middle ear also puts delicate structures at risk, while the surgeon is often working at an unergonomic position. At this point a micromanipulator could have a positive influence. A system was developed to measure "working accuracy", time and precision during manipulation in the middle ear. 10 ENT-surgeons simulated a perforation of the stapedial footplate on a modified 3D print of a human skull in a mock OR. Each trial was repeated more than 200 times aiming manually and using a micro-manipulator. Data of over 4000 measurements was tested and graphically processed. Work strain was evaluated with a questionnaire. Accuracy for manual and micromanipulator perforation revealed a small difference. Learning curves showed a stronger decrease both in deviation and time when the micromanipulator was used. Also a lower work strain was apparent. The micromanipulator has the potential as an aiding device in ear surgery.


Internal surgical intervention necessitates the intentional wounding of tissue. In certain clinical procedures, the desired wound healing response requires the use of closure techniques, such as suturing or stapling of disjoined tissues. Risk factors associated with these techniques are largely attributed to the discrete nature of the mechanical forces arising in the tissues. Adhesive sealants can mitigate risk by imparting a continuous stress distribution to tissues upon closure, as opposed to destructive stress concentrations. A novel class of dextran:polyethylene glycol hydrogels are a potential alternative to the limited selection of available adhesive sealants. Multiple compositional variations are available for both the dextran and polyethylene glycol components, making a wide range of clinically relevant material properties achievable. Key material properties determining sealant efficacy include hydration and degradation in an aqueous medium, elastic modulus, adhesion strength to tissue, and biocompatibility. Relationships between these pertinent properties and available compositional variations are determined for dextran:polyethylene glycol materials. Gravimetric, mechanical and biological testing reveal the following compositional determinants of material properties in dextran:polyethylene glycol copolymers: constituent molecular complexity dictates material hydration and degradation, solid content dictates elastic modulus, available aldehyde groups dictate adhesion strength, and material solid content and reactive group ratio dictate induced cell proliferation and cytotoxicity. Knowledge of these property determinants facilitates development of an optimal dextran:polyethylene glycol material in a small bowel resection model for adhesive sealants, and furthers the understanding of these complex copolymers for other sealant applications. Generalization of the identified property determinants to other material classes provides a vehicle for advancement of adhesive sealant technologies. Thesis Supervisor: Elazer R. Edelman Title: Thomas D. and Virginia W. Cabot Professor Division of Health Sciences and Technology


An important issue that needs to be addressed when using data mining tools is the validity of the rules outside of the data set from which they are generated. Rules are typically derived from the patterns in a particular data set. When a new situation occurs, the change in the set of rules obtained from the new data set could be significant. In this paper, we provide a novel model for understanding how the differences between two situations affect the changes of the rules, based on the concept of fine partitioned groups that we call caucuses. Using this model, we provide a simple technique called combination data set, to get a good estimate of the set of rules for a new situation. Our approach works independently of the core mining process and it can be easily implemented with all variations of rule mining techniques. Through experiments with real-life and synthetic data sets, we show the effectiveness of our technique in finding the correct set of rules under different situations.


Thyroid gland is vital gland. It produces Thyroxine T3 and Tri-Idothyronine T4 hormones which are needed for the growth and development. Iodine is needed for the formation of T3 and T4 hormones. Iodine is found in different food such as sea food, vegetables produced in Iodine rich soil and table salt. The associated problems of thyroid gland are hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. The objective of this study was to find out the prevalence of thyroid problems attending at Siddharthanagar City Hospital.
It was hospital based retrospective study. Data related to thyroid problems T3,T4 and TSH was collected from hospital laboratory reports . The tests were done using Semi Auto Clia Plate Analyzer of TOSOH India Company.
The total number of lab reports was 299 taken for study. Among them the percentage of male and female was 21.7 and 78.3 respectively. The overall prevalence of thyroid problems was 5.9% among general public. The overall prevalence of hypothyroidism was 9.69% and hyperthyroidism was 2.17% respectively. The prevalence of thyroid problems was seen more in female.
This study showed that thyroid problem including hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism is common. Female population and 21-40 years age group are highly suffered in comparison to male population.


Palm Empty Fruit Bunches (TKKS) was the waste which has a fairly high content of lignocelluloses. Meanwhile, TKKS has not been utilize optimally. With a cellulose content of 45%-50%, TKKS then potentially be used as raw material for bioethanol. In the process of production bioethanol, delignification of lignocellulose the first phase was conducted to dissolve ligament between cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. In this research, delignification process was carried out using NaOH in the ionic liquid system and without ionic liquids. The purpose of this research was to find out the highest content of cellulose which contained in the TKKS and to determine the hydrolysis of delignification results on palm empty fruit bunches and the best hydrolysis conditions was obtained at the hydrolysis process in the choline chloride ionic liquid system. Delignification process were performed using ionic liquids choline chloride (ChCl) in variety of cooking time with amount different ChCl. This research used TKKS powder cooked at a temperature 130 °C with a variety of cooking time 30, 60, and 90 minutes and the variation of ChCl 10%, 15% and 20% weight of TKKS. Delignification research results used ChCl obtained highest content of cellulose was 40,33%, hemicellulose 20,28%, and lignin 3,62% in cooking treatment 90 minutes and 15% ChCl. While delignification without ChCl obtained highest content of cellulose is 24,98%, hemicellulose 8,25%, and lignin 18,99% in cooking treatment 90 minutes. Delignification process using ChCl be able increase the degree of delignification as big as 61,45%. In the hydrolisis process, the main raw material used cellulose of delignification TKKS result, choline chloride, sulfatl acid, and distilled water. The hydrolysis stage in this research was carried out at temperature 105 0 C, catalyst (H2SO4) 10% (w / w) cellulose, ChCl 10%, 15%, and 20% (w / w) cellulose and it was stirred at constant speed 120 rpm with reaction time of 30, 60 and 90 minutes. The result in the hydrolysis stage using ionic liquid obtained glucose. LUFF method analysis showed the maximum result of glucose 37.96% with the best conditions in reaction time 90 minutes and the amount of choline chloride 20%.


Those geologists who have attended to the recent progress in the classification of the palæozoic rocks may well suppose that I was highly gratified by receiving the letter from Professor Naumann of Leipsic, of which I now send a translation. The reasons for the adoption of the term Permian were so thoroughly explained, first in a letter addressed by me to Dr. Fischer of Moscow*, next in communications to the Geological Society of London, and lastly in the work on Russia and the Ural Mountains, that I have now only to refer to those documents. But I would specially call attention to the first pages in the tenth chapter of the last-mentioned work, because they were written after a visit to Thuringia, Saxony and Silesia, which confirmed and extended the view I had adopted from the survey of Russia; viz. that the Zechstein and Kupferschiefer were mere subordinate members of a great red sandstone group, of which the Roth-liegende was the base, and in wich the Zechtein was covered conformably by another red sandstone which had previously been erroneously united with the Trias.


Hypertensive heart disease encompasses anatomical changes and altered physiology of heart muscle, coronary arteries, and great vessels. Left ventricular hypertrophy is not only a target organ response to increased afterload, but is also the most potent cardiovascular risk factor. Regression of hypertrophy reduces morbidity and mortality. Heart failure may be present in the absence of a reduction of myocardial contractility. Ischemic heart disease occurs in the absence of epicardial coronary disease. Left atrial size and atrial fibrillation are associated. Potentially lethal ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death are more common in hypertensive patients. The relationship of aortic root size to blood pressure is weaker than expected; however, the relationship to aortic dissection is stronger. Careful attention and treatment of left ventricular hypertrophy, heart failure, ischemic heart disease, and atrial fibrillation will improve survival.


Abstract Individual seasonal mean maps of temperature at 300 m in the North Pacific Current cast of 180° from 1976 to 1980 were constructed from TRANSPAC XBT data. The long-term annual mean map is relatively smooth, with some weak quasi-stationary meander activity. Most of the total variance was due to large-scale interannual variability (i.e., ∼60%), loss to the mesoscale perturbations (i.e., ∼30%), and least to the annual cycle (i.e., ∼10%). However, individual mesoscale perturbations were significant, clearly wave-like with a wavelength scale of 500–1000 km and a period scale of 1–2 years, and generally coherent in phase over 10° of latitude. These wave-like mesoscale perturbations emanated from the eastern boundary and propagated westward as coherent features at the phase speed of linear, non-dispersive, baroclinic long-waves. The latitudinal reduction in phase speed from 2.7 cm s−1 at 35°N to 1.4 cm s−1 at 45°N was consistent with baroclinic long-wave theory. An increase in time scale of these wave-l...


The relation between nonverbal processing ability and feelings of depression and competence was evaluated in children between the ages of 7 and 11 years (N = 142). They were administered tests to measure their receptive nonverbal ability and feelings of depression and competence. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that nonverbal ability was related to feelings of competence in boys and girls, but to feelings of depression only in boys. It was concluded that specific nonverbal deficits are associated with generalized negative feelings in children. Implications for adjustment are discussed.


This paper examined why Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) do not procure long term funds from the capital market as well as ascertain the conditions under which small and medium enterprises will be enabled to source funds from the capital market. It gives an insight that may help owners of SMEs in Nigeria to know other options of accessing long term funds from the capital market; the unending benefits associated with listing on the capital market as well as the terms and conditions for enlisting on the exchange. The study adopted a descriptive survey. 80 small and medium enterprises in Anambra state were sampled, 40 each from Onitsha and Nnewi. The choice of the two areas was guided by the fact that they have large clusters of small and medium enterprises in the state. Questionnaires were administered on the owners of these SMEs and/or representatives (in cases where the owner was not available at the time of administering the questionnaire). The data generated from the survey were tested using the Chi-Square (X2). Simple tabulation was used to present the survey findings, percentage distribution of the respondents was equally presented. The study reveals that information about the activities of the capital market among SMEs specifically, in respect of its relevance to access long term finance is still very low. The few SMEs that are aware fear losing control of their companies to wealthy shareholders. The study also finds that the listing requirements constitute major constraints to procuring long term finance by SMEs. In the light of this, the Nigerian Stock Exchange should carefully consider the constraints highlighted by the respondents with a view to reviewing them for the benefit of SMEs in line with global best practices. The regulatory authorities should formulate policies that would engender a more investment friendly climate particularly in the areas of infrastructure, interest rate, etc. to make procurement of long term finance more attractive to investors..


ABSTRACT A Gumbel mixture distribution is proposed for modelling extreme events from two different mechanisms: one phenomenon occurring annually and one occurring infrequently. A new Monte Carlo simulation procedure is presented and used to assess the consequence of fitting traditional Gumbel or GEV models to annual maximum series originating from two different populations. The results show that mixture models are preferred to single-population models when the two populations are very different. The Gumbel mixture model was applied to annual maximum 24-hour rainfall data from 64 South Korean raingauges, split into events generated by typhoon and non-typhoon rainfall. The results show that the use of a mixture model provides a more accurate description of the observed data than the Gumbel distribution, but is comparable to the GEV model. The theoretical and practical results highlight the need for more robust methods for identifying the underlying populations before mixture models can be recommended.


There can be no doubt about the enormous strides in legal scholarship incorporating social sciences (and especially economics) over the past twenty years since the seminal article by Ronald Coase on social cost was published in the Journal of Law and Economics. US legal scholars and economists have given the lead in this development, though Britain now is following hard on their heels, in part as a consequence of research support from the Social Science Research Council.' Economists have been appointed to tenured positions in many US law schools, and research centres specialising in law and economics have been established for example at Chicago, Emery and Pennsylvania. Leading textbooks by Posner2 and by Hirsch3 have been published in law and economics and several specialist journals have achieved academic and commercial success whilst conventional law journals (in Britain) such as the Cambridge Law Journal, the Modern Law Review and the Law Quarterly Review now publish articles which contain substantial inputs of economics. With this revolution there has appeared some confusion over the contrasting methodologies of the two disciplines, both concerning the positive analysis of the precise impact of legal rules on resource allocation and concerning alleged ideological biasses in normative analyses of the role of the courts and the efficiency of their rules and judgments. In this paper, I shall centre attention upon such matters.


The present study examined the role of meaning in life (MIL) in predicting positive affect and future-oriented coping, and whether positive affect mediated the relationship between MIL and future-oriented coping. The participants were 68 Chinese university students who were randomly assigned to two conditions: a MIL priming condition and a control condition. Positive affect was measured before and after the manipulation. MIL, positive affect and future-oriented coping were assessed at 1-week follow-up. The results showed that the level of positive affect increased after the manipulation in the MIL priming condition. Fifty-five of the participants completed the follow-up survey, and results showed that the MIL priming condition exhibited higher levels of future-oriented coping at follow-up compared to the control condition. Mediation analyses confirmed that MIL promoted proactive coping via positive affect. This study provides empirical support for the promotional role of MIL in future-oriented coping and clarifies the mechanism via the mediating effect of positive affect.


ESTABLISH A MODEL FOR PLACENTAL DEVELOPMENT by KATHRYN STEWART HODGES (Under the Direction of Steven L. Stice) ABSTRACT A porcine trophoblastic cell line could provide a powerful model for understanding trophoblast cell biology as well as placental gene expression and proteomics in vitro. Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) has been shown to induce differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into trophoblast lineages. In this experiment, elongated embryos were flushed from the hysterectomized uteri of superovulated and bred prepuberal gilts 15 days post insemination. The trophectoderm tissue was manually dissected into cell aggregates and plated on collagen Type IV, Matrigel, human extracellular matrix (laminin, collagen type IV and heparan sulfate proteoglycan derived from human placenta) or mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) feeder layers in a DMEM based culture medium in the presence or absence of BMP4. Cells were passaged and only cells growing on Matrigel or MEF feeder layers could be further cultured. These data suggest that both the cell substrate and BMP4 affect initial trophoblast outgrowths.


EDITOR, - The medical press has widely reported that outreach clinics do not seem to have improved communication between general practitioners and specialists. In the case of fundholding practices this conclusion cannot be drawn from the paper by Jacqueline Bailey and colleagues, who measured only how often general practitioners attended outreach clinics.1 There are many more efficient ways of communicating and learning than attending clinics. In my practice, which has five in house clinics, specialists discuss their cases over a working lunch attended by all partners and the practice's clinic nurse. We think that communications have improved greatly.

Bailey and colleagues state that fundholders had initiated their clinics. Presumably they arranged to communicate with specialists at other times. In the table showing the advantages to fundholders of outreach clinics, communication with specialists was mentioned most commonly and educational value was second. The outreach clinics have probably led to improved communications, but the authors' assessment based solely on general practitioners' attendance failed to show this.

A further weakness of the paper is that it compares the incomparable. The result is meaningless. Outreach clinics set up in health centres during the 1970s largely by psychiatrists are simply collocations of services. They cannot be compared with in house clinics set up recently for other specialties in fundholding practices. In house clinics have resulted in better use of resources by improving the accuracy of referral and reducing unnecessary review. The clinics are popular with patients, who find them convenient and like the familiar setting. In our experience they lead to improved …


Upon encountering pathogens, B cells within lymphoid organs enter specialized micro-environments of germinal centers (GCs). In the dark zones (DZ) of GCs, B cells proliferate and undergo somatic hypermutation, and subsequently migrate to the light zone (LZ) of the GC where selection of B cells that express the highest affinity B cell receptors (BCRs) occurs. Affinity selection is driven by the ability of BCRs to signal and extract antigen from the surfaces of follicular dendritic cells. Here we provide evidence that human tonsil LZ GC B cells are inherently better able to undergo affinity selection as compared to naïve tonsil B cells. LZ GC B cells engaged membranes that contained F(ab')2 anti-light chain as a surrogate antigen through highly dynamic F-actin-containing pod-like structures that concentrated BCRs at their contact points. Using DNA-based mechanical force nano-sensors we observed robust pulling forces localized to the contact sites of the pods with the membrane. In contrast naïve B cells formed flat stable contacts with the membranes and showed only defuse weak pulling forces. Using antikappa antibodies of low (KD=3.9×10−7) versus high (KD=2.4×10−9) affinities as surrogate antigens, we show that LZ GC B cells were able to discriminate between these and responded only to the high affinity antigen. In contrast, naïve B cells responded equally to both antigens. Both LZ GC B cells and naive B cells were able to extract and internalize membrane-bound antigen, however, only in LZ GC B cells was the subsequent trafficking of the antigen to acidic intracellular compartments for processing highly dependent on the amount of antigen internalized. Thus, LZ GC B cells appear to be intrinsically programmed for optimal affinity selection.


We evaluate the tone of optimism in the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) communication using computerised textual analysis and then explore the impacts of optimism shocks on key macroeconomic variables. We show that innovations in optimism impact key macroeconomic variables in the same way that a contractionary monetary policy would. We find that increasing optimism shocks in MPC communication leads to rising inflation, falling output, declining stock market returns and a rise in the Pound value. We further find evidence that optimism shocks reduce credit availability, the money supply, retail sales as well as earnings. Finally, government bond yields also tend to rise in response to optimism shocks.


This study is undertaken to identify the hindrances of Digital financial products and services adoption and usage in Ethiopian banking industry with specific refence to some selected commercial banks in Ethiopia, Jimma town. To achieve the aim of the study the primary data was collected from managers of some selected commercial banks through un-structured interview as well as from customers by using convenience method through standard questionnaires. While, secondary data was collected from documents of banks and Journals to triangulate with response obtained from primary data sources. The collected data was analyzed in descriptive and inferential analysis. The findings depicted as the Economic factors like unemployment, inflation, source of customers income and saving habits affecting the adoption of Digital financial products and services by banks. Further, the obsoletion of technological environment, Inflexibility of government policies, Educational background of the customers and diverse cultures of the societies are the other factors that affecting adoption of Financial products.  In addition, the digital financial products and services are not properly used by the customers as the result of their low level of awareness, the perceived relative advantage, perceived compatibility and perceived complexity of the products and services. Based on the result it is recommended as the banks should properly adopt the digital financial products and services with taking into account of the external factors. Further, the banks should participate on aggressive promotion to aware the customers about their products and services, the government should formulate policies and regulations that minimizing bureaucracy of adopting technology by banks.


In a study to determine the effect of production systems on performance of guinea fowls, birds were raised either on the deep litter or in battery cages. Each group comprised of 200 unsexed keets kept at a stocking density of 0.06m2/bird and were observed from 4 weeks up to 20 weeks of age. The birds were fed ad libitum and necessary vaccinations were given. Data obtained on feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio and mortality were compared using the unpaired t-test. Production system had significant influence (P<0.05) on body weight at week 20, total feed intake, total weight gain and feed conversion ratio. Birds raised in cages had better weight gain (773.5 and 651.0g for cage and deep litter respectively). While feed intake was higher for birds raised on the deep litter (5602.33 and 5118.60g for litter and cage, respectively), feed conversion ratio was better with birds raised in cages (6.62 and 8.61). Mortality was similar for birds raised under both systems. It was concluded that better body weight can be achieved by raising guinea fowls in cages.


We report the observation of external switching of an intrinsic optically bistable device by incoherent illumination. The InSb etalons used in this study were switched by a photographic flashlamp both from off to on resonance and, under different conditions, from on to off resonsance. It has been demonstrated experimentally that switching can be initiated as a result of either an electronic or a thermal effect. The parameters that determine which mechanism dominates in a particular instance are discussed. The results should have general application to a variety of materials of device interest.


Behçet's disease (BD) is a multisystemic disorder of unknown etiology characterized by chronic relapsing oral aphthous lesions, genital ulcers, and uveitis. Immunological dysfunction is the most emphasized etiopathogenetic factor. Microchimerism is existence of an allogeneic DNA in a living creature. There are variable studies investigating the role of microchimerism on etiopathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. To our knowledge, no report has investigated the relationship between microchimerism and BD. We aimed to investigate the possible role of microchimerism on BD as an autoimmune disorder.


Due to unawareness of network conditions, regular transmission control protocol (TCP) is not able to fully control the limited resources and distinguish packet loss from congestion loss and random loss. Because of such characteristics, the performance of TCP will be downgraded severely if it runs on wireless networks, such as multi-hop ad hoc networks. In an ad hoc network, nodes play both roles of end system as well as router. We take this advantage to propose a new TCP congestion control mechanism by router-assisted approach. Based on the information feedbacked from routers, a TCP sender is able to adjust its sending speed dynamically in order to avoid overshooting problem. Our proposed protocol has 5-10% higher throughput than TCP NewReno and much less number of retransmissions. The fairness is also achieved while our proposed protocol coexists with other major TCP variants.


Purpose
Analyzing data collected from the charter school board members and the superintendent in a charter school district in a southeastern state about the quality and usefulness of training, the purpose of this paper is to provide an important foundation for understanding training and development for charter school boards in the USA.

Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a qualitative case study approach to examine a charter school district and the preparedness of charter school board members to serve in that district. The authors sampled one charter school district in the southeast region of the USA and interviewed five charter school board members and the superintendent.

Findings
The first theme is composition and responsibility of charter school board members, which outlines the roles and responsibilities that charter school board members assume when they serve on this charter district board. The second theme is preparedness to serve, which traces the readiness of charter school board members to serve on a board. The final theme is training and documents related to the kind of training charter school board members receive once they are appointed to the board.

Originality/value
This study provides a conceptual framework about the dimensions and standards associated with preparedness to serve as a charter school board member and broadens the authors' understanding of the roles and responsibilities of charter school boards, their preparedness to serve and the training and development they receive.


Pavlovian fear conditioning has been extensively used to study the behavioral and neural basis of defensive systems. In a typical procedure, a cue is paired with foot shock, and subsequent cue presentation elicits freezing, a behavior theoretically linked to predator detection. Studies have since shown a fear conditioned cue can elicit locomotion, a behavior that - in addition to jumping, and rearing - is theoretically linked to imminent or occurring predation. A criticism of studies observing fear conditioned cue-elicited locomotion is that responding is non-associative. We gave 24 rats (12 female) Pavlovian fear discrimination over a baseline of reward seeking. The within-subjects procedure had full controls for associative learning, consisting of three cues predicting unique foot shock probabilities: danger (p=1), uncertainty (p=0.25), and safety (p=0). TTL-triggered cameras captured 5 behavior frames/s prior to and during cue presentation. We scored 86,400 frames for nine discrete behaviors spanning reward, passive fear, and active fear. Temporal ethograms show that a fear conditioned cue elicits locomotion, jumping, and rearing that is maximal towards cue offset, when foot shock is imminent. A fear conditioned cue further suppresses reward-related behavior, and elicits freezing in a sex-specific manner. The differing temporal profiles and independent expression of these behaviors reveal a fear conditioned cue to orchestrate a rich and intricate suite of behaviors.


Snack stick is food in the form of thin slices and long flat-shaped that made of wheat flour, tapioca, fat, eggs, and water and then fried with oil and have a savory flavor and crunchy texture. The addition of fish in snack sticks product intended to increase the nutritional value of the snacks. Mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) was chosen because it has a good nutrient for the body, one of them protein and calcium, it taste good and tasty, and the price are cheap. This study aim to determine the acceptance of panelist on sensory characteristics (color, aroma, flavor, texture and overall) snack stick with materials variation of mackerel and determine the influence of material variation mackerel to the chemical characteristic (moisture, ash, fat, protein, carbohydrate and calcium). The experimental design used was Completely Randomized Design (CDR) consisting of one factor material variation of mackerel. Stick used material variation of meat, bones, and whole mackerel. The results showed that the used of whole mackerel stick sensory (color, taste, and overall) aspect preffered by most panelist. Fish meat stick favored in texture and bones stick frowned upon in the aspects of the aroma. For the chemical characteristic of the fish meat stick has a value of moisture, ash, fat, protein, carbohydrates and calcium are 2.80%; 2.48%; 28.16%; 12.30%; 54.30%; and 0.03%. A fishbone stick in a row of 2.60%; 5.52%; 36.11%; 8.52%; 47.23%; and 0.68%. A whole  fish stick are 2.72%; 3.07%; 31.24%; 9.88%; 53.09%; and 0.15%.


Quantitative and morphological changes of the nucleoli in the lymphocytes were studied in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia treated with cyclophosphamide and vinblastine, and were compared with the lymphocytes of patients treated with leukeran and healthy subjects. The nucleolar index was 1.20 in the lymphocytes of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in stages II, III and IV of the disease, according to Rai's classification, and it showed no significant correlation with the mode and effect of treatment. The index was significantly higher than in the lymphocytes of healthy subjects (p less than 0.05). The activity of nucleoli in the lymphocytes of the patients treated with cyclophosphamide with vinblastine was significantly higher than in the leukeran-treated patients and healthy subjects, and it increased with progression of the disease and with successive passage from stage II to III and IV. In the patients in whom clinical improvement was achieved and the treatment with cytostatics was withdrawn, the proportion of active nucleoli in the lymphocytes was decreased.


Abstract Rural areas in general, and mountain regions in particular, face complex and rapid changes, and are moving up policy agendas. These diverse changes tend to be interlinked, and thus need to be addressed in interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral ways. People living in rural and mountain areas need new approaches to ensure the sustainable development of these areas. Recognising the various potential markets, the UHI Millennium Institute has developed an on-line MSc in Managing Sustainable Mountain/Rural Development. Most of the taught course structure is common to both named degrees; the differences are with regard to initial core courses and assessed work. The first students started in September 2004.


This this paper positions cybersecurity capacity building in the realm of the debate on international norms. It is argued that cybersecurity capacity building on the one side is a necessity to make adherence to discussed norms feasible. On the other side, it can serve as a tool for fostering donor state's interests in recipient states. The latter can lead to cybersecurity capacity building measures being used to foster geopolitical interests. As a result, rather than advancing the effort to agree on international norms and make adherence possible, it might lead to a fragmentation of norms and different understandings of these norm's contents.


On this investigation it is confirmed the main relevance of firm's trade credit duration gap ratio when faced to different stages of firm's income statement represented by gross coverage ratio and net coverage ratio (the higher risk taking probability) and coverage ratio (the lower risk taking probability). It innovatibly ratifies trade credit duration gap ratio as a firm's trade credit risk taking instrument, instead of the days to pay accounts payable or the days sales outstanding alone and also confirms transactions cost theory with financial predictions, both insert in firm's financing motives and pricing motives theory. On this issue, there are a very few investigations to analyse the trade credit duration gap ratio itself and none on the trade credit risk taking which is an innovator and useful approach taking into account prior and most recent findings related to each issue of the mentioned trade credit duration gap ratio. Specifically, our newly findings corroborate that when trade credit duration gap ratio is closer to coverage ratios the low trade credit risk taking probability is. Trade credit risk taking is higher when trade credit duration gap is faced to core business gross and net coverage ratios. In turn, the inclusion in the models the innovative assets structure (instead the simple and traditional tangibility measured by fixed assets) and negative working capital as control variables contribute to increase trade credit risk taking probability. More over, another control risky variables, represented by return of sales and equity volatilities, increase trade credit risk taking probability as well. These results confirm trade credit risk taking as a reliable firm's internal risk variable and ratifies the existence of costs hierarchy, a substitution effect of trade debt mainly by short term financing and an absorption role of negative working capital effects by short term financing. Our newly findings also confirm that pecking order predictions are in the first explanatory line when trade credit duration gap is faced to coverage and gross coverage ratios, that is to say, when it is present to firm's financial and variable costs as much increase as decrease trade credit risk taking probability. Results also ratifies that trade credit duration gap is an important and new source of firm's internal risk taking when faced to financial and core business coverage ratios and that runs well in the short term and obey to both financing and pricing motives. From our point of view, there is a supplementary importance related to their apply on macroeconomic and public budgeting purposes towards a new organizational behaviour, risk approaches to meet firm's risk taking and costs hierarchy. Because of the reasons exposed before, this investigation is very innovative, a complement of prior research on trade credit and useful to future developments on trade credit and risk management policies. But research related to other management concerns like corporate governance, capital structure, financial distress and technology effects among others, for further investigations will be useful, and on each activity sector and different countries or groups of countries will be remarkable as well.


Most young patients with hyperglycemia have type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes but up to 10% of all cases of the disease occur in MODY (Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young). Published abstracts show features of the debut, laboratory and genetic characteristics of MODY in the Russian population. However there is a small amount of data on the clinical course of this nosology in the Russian Federation.Aim: To investigate the characteristics of the 3-year course of GCK-MODY diagnosed after 18 years.Materials and methods: 85 probands and 46 relatives of the first and second degrees of kinship with a clinical diagnosis of GCK-MODY were examined: biochemical and hormonal blood tests, ultrasound, molecular genetic studies. Patients were invited for a follow-up visit 3 years after verification of the pathogenic mutations associated with GCK-MODY. Examination, biochemical and hormonalanalyzes , ultrasound were done in second visit.Results: The diagnosis GCK-MODY was verified by a molecular genetic study in 25 probands (29.4%). In 33 of 46 (71.7%) relatives of patients with GCK-MODY were diagnosed identical mutations. In 31 patients with GCK-MODY diagnosed after 18 years, a dynamic observation was performed for three years. Most patients over 18 years of age did not have clinical manifestations of carbohydrate metabolism disorders when diagnosing GCK-MODY and follow up visit. Skin rashes and allergic reactions prevailed among concomitant pathologies. Patients with GCK-MODY had preserved β-cell secretion, HbA1c targets were achieved. Low fasting hyperglycemia prevailed which persisted even after treatment correction. Among the characteristics of carbohydrate metabolism, biochemical, lipid and hormonal parameters during GCK-MODY verification and after three years of observation no significant differences were obtained, which indicates a stable course of the disease. Half of the patients achieved normoglycemia by rational nutrition, two people with GCK-MODY within three years after determining the diagnosis were transferred from insulin therapy to oral glucose-lowering drugs. Among oral glucose-lowering drugs prior to GCK-MODY verification most patients used metformin, 3 years later — dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors.Conclusion. The results of a three-year follow-up of a group of patients with GCK-MODY demonstrate a non-progressive course of this type of diabetes with stable indicators of carbohydrate metabolism and low fasting hyperglycemia that persists after 3 years of observation. With the verification of GCK-MODY and the achievement of the target values of glycated hemoglobin and postprandial glycaemia by rational nutrition, even if a low level of fasting hyperglycemia is determined, the prescription of oral glucose-lowering drugs is not indicated in most cases.


Robotic exploration of Venus presents many challenges because of the thick atmosphere and the high surface temperatures. The Venus Aerobot Multisonde mission concept addresses these challenges by using a robotic balloon or aerobot to deploy a number of short lifetime probes or sondes to acquire images of the surface. A Venus aerobot is not only a good platform for precision deployment of sondes but is very effective at recovering high rate data. This paper describes the Venus Aerobot Multisonde concept and discusses a proposal to NASA's Discovery program using the concept for a Venus Exploration of Volcanoes and Atmosphere (VEVA). The status of the balloon deployment and inflation, balloon envelope, communications, thermal control and sonde deployment technologies are also reviewed.


Abstract. Over the last glacial cycle, ice sheets and the resultant glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) rearranged river systems. As these riverine threads that tied the ice sheets to the sea were stretched, severed, and restructured, they also shrank and swelled with the pulse of meltwater inputs and time-varying drainage basin areas, and sometimes delivered enough meltwater to the oceans in the right places to influence global climate. Here I present a general method to compute past river flow paths, drainage basin geometries, and river discharges, by combining models of past ice sheets, glacial isostatic adjustment, and climate. The result is a time series of synthetic paleohydrographs and drainage basin maps from the Last Glacial Maximum to present for nine major drainage basins – the Mississippi, Rio Grande, Colorado, Columbia, Mackenzie, Hudson Bay, Saint Lawrence, Hudson, and Susquehanna/Chesapeake Bay. These are based on five published reconstructions of the North American ice sheets. I compare these maps with drainage reconstructions and discharge histories based on a review of observational evidence, including river deposits and terraces, isotopic records, mineral provenance markers, glacial moraine histories, and evidence of ice stream and tunnel valley flow directions. The sharp boundaries of the reconstructed past drainage basins complement the flexurally smoothed GIA signal that is more often used to validate ice-sheet reconstructions, and provide a complementary framework to reduce nonuniqueness in model reconstructions of the North American ice-sheet complex.


The mineral content of the radius and the ulna was measured in 773 persons using 125J photon absorptiometry. Statistical evaluation of the data has provided normal values of mineral content of the forearm bones in men and women between the ages of 15 and 90 years. The course of the mineral content curve is discussed in relation to age and sex.


The advent of MRI has revolutionized the evaluation and management of drug-resistant epilepsy by allowing the detection of the lesion associated with the region that gives rise to seizures. Recent evidence indicates marked chronic alterations in the functional organization of lesional tissue and large-scale cortico-subcortical networks. In this review, we focus on recent methodological developments in functional MRI (fMRI) analysis techniques and their application to the two most common drug-resistant focal epilepsies, i.e., temporal lobe epilepsy related to mesial temporal sclerosis and extra-temporal lobe epilepsy related to focal cortical dysplasia. We put particular emphasis on methodological developments in the analysis of task-free or "resting-state" fMRI to probe the integrity of intrinsic networks on a regional, inter-regional, and connectome-wide level. In temporal lobe epilepsy, these techniques have revealed disrupted connectivity of the ipsilateral mesiotemporal lobe, together with contralateral compensatory reorganization and striking reconfigurations of large-scale networks. In cortical dysplasia, initial observations indicate functional alterations in lesional, peri-lesional, and remote neocortical regions. While future research is needed to critically evaluate the reliability, sensitivity, and specificity, fMRI mapping promises to lend distinct biomarkers for diagnosis, presurgical planning, and outcome prediction.


Environmental sensing is closely related to digital processing of observed signals and images. The paper is devoted to the analysis of mathematical methods allowing for detection of concentration of aerosol particles observed at ground measuring stations and by satellites. The first part of the contribution presents basic methods of two-dimensional interpolation allowing for the estimation of the observed variables over the whole region of interest. The whole paper is focused on satellite images and their processing. Owing to simultaneous observations at different frequencies, it is possible to detect image differences and to compare them to surface measurements. The paper is devoted to the design and verification of algorithms of image denoising including wavelet use and their correlation. General methods studied in the paper allow further image segmentation, feature extraction, classification, detection of the most important sources of pollution, prediction and control of pollution sources.


In this paper it is shown that measurement errors or parameter errors appear on the measurement residual of the weighted least squares state estimation process in a very similar way. Based on this fact this paper proposes an approach to detect, identify and correct series branch parameter errors using a geometrical view. In the paper simulations only parameter errors are assumed, then firstly it is tested if the measurement set have a gross error, that is, if the transmission line parameters have an error, using for that purpose the measurement composed error (CME). The branches of a line i-j are suspicious of having errors if the measurements CMENs, directly related to that branch, are superior to the assumed gross error detection test threshold value (TV). Then among the measurements suspicious of having error, the one with largest CMEN will have more chance of having the parameter error. The correction to be made on the line parameter is the corresponding measurement CNE. In this proposed approach one measurement snap shots only is used. To test the efficiency of the proposed approach the IEEE 14-bus system has been used. Simulations results have demonstrated the reliability of the proposed approach to deal with parameter errors.


This book was produced to mark the retirement of Professor F. L. Milthorpe, and has been written largely by his former students (19 out of 24 contributors). Although there are some major omissions and imbalances, the authors have achieved a remarkably good coverage of the current state of the science of crop physiology. Some contributors chose to write reviews on particular physiological processes, which are collected together in Part I, while others discussed aspects of the physiology of particular crops, which form Part II. Part I includes essays on carbon and water economy (Cowan), stomatal physiology (Thorpe), photochemical capacity (Terry and Farquhar), carbon partitioning (Patrick) and nitrogen uptake (Pearson and Muirhead). Part II covers aspects of the crop physiology of wheat, beans, millet, temperate and tropical pastures, fruit crops, mangroves and a final chapter on modelling crop productivity (Morgan). Each chapter is concise, well-edited and follows uniform rules of symbol notation. The book is printed (not camera-ready) to a high standard and is provided with a short index. In all, a welcome addition to the existing books on the physiological bases of crop yield. M. G. R. Cannell


Objective
               To explore the use of 5-minute heart rate variability (HRV) during inpatient rehabilitation in the acute phase of traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI).
                  Design
               Longitudinal observational study.
                  Setting
               Acute inpatient rehabilitation (AIR).
                  Participants
               10 patients with acute traumatic SCI.
                  Interventions
               5-minute HRV supine recordings twice daily on three different days per patient.
                  Outcomes Measures
               HRV values were evaluated (1) within a single day (Early versus Late); (2) across the inpatient admission (initial, mid, and discharge); (3) by SCI phenotypes and by clinical outcomes (ex. pressure injuries (PI)).
                  Results
               Patients had an average age of 38 years, 80% male, and 40% with tetraplegia. There were no HRV differences between Early and Late recordings, across the inpatient admission, demographics, or SCI phenotype. However, improvement in neurologic exam was accompanied by increased parasympathetic tone (mean RR increased by 172 ms SD 61, P = .005). Patients with PI demonstrated lower sympathetic (SNS) activity (decreased LF by 472 ms2 SD 240, P = .049) and lower PNS activity (decreased RMSSD by 1.2 ms SD 0.5, P = .02), compared to no PI. Comparisons to uninjured reference values and chronic SCI suggest a changing autonomic nervous system (ANS) from uninjured to acute to chronic as measured by HRV. Conclusions This preliminary evidence suggests HRV in acute SCI is stable across time and day during inpatient rehabilitation and may be correlated to clinical sequalae of ANS dysfunction and neurologic recovery. Comparisons to published work suggest that HRV may measure the progression in the ANS from acute to chronic phase after SCI.


This paper describes the OFDM technology and its applications. Analysis the causes of PAPR in OFDM system, then the number of different sub-carrier under the conditions were simulated CCDF. Using clipping and filtering algorithm effectively reduces the PAPR of OFDM system, and the effect of reducing the PAPR and BER performance of the system were both made theoretical analysis and simulation. By analyzing the simulation results, show that the clipping and filtering algorithm than the direct clipping algorithm is more effective to reduce the PAPR of OFDM system.1


A new gas turbine engine using a unique layout patented in Norway has a low emission combustion system under development. The gas generator uses entirely radial rotating components and employs a dual entry LP radial compressor, a radial HP compressor and a radial HP turbine. The power turbine is of a two stage axial design, coupled to an epicyclical gear embedded in the exhaust duct.Several combustor concepts have been tested and evaluated during the development of the engine. The engine is targeted for marine, power generation and train propulsion. For the marine and train application liquid fuel operation is needed, thus the primary focus in the development has been for a lean premixed prevapourised system.An interesting concept utilising two venturi premixers has been studied intensively. By utilising venturi premixers the following advantages can be achieved:• Low overall pressure drop but high injector pressure drop and velocities in the mixing region (throat region)• High shear forces and drag imposed on the droplets enhancing droplet shedding and evaporation• Excellent emission behaviour at designated load conditionsAlthough these advantages can benefit gas turbine low emission combustion the challenges in using venturi premixers are:• Venturis are susceptible to separation and thus flame stabilisation within the venturi which is detrimental• Inlet flow disturbances enhance the tendency for separation in the venturis and must be minimisedStudies were launched to investigate a proposed combustor configuration. These studies included analytical studies, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) calculations of isothermal and combusting flow inside the combustor together with rig tests at atmospheric, medium and full pressure. Finally engine tests within the full operating range were conducted with very favourable emission figures for Lean Premixed Prevapourised (LPP) operation. The system was capable of running at below 20 ppm Nox and CO, at elevated power for liquid fuel. Control of part load performance and emissions is by variable fuel staging of the two venturi stages. The paper highlights the features of the venturi combustor development and discusses the characteristics in terms of flow conditions and droplet motion, heat transfer, ignition delay time and emissions.Copyright © 2000 by ASME


Aiming to overcome the current limits for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) to reach a higher solar energy conversion efficiency, this work set out to investigate the feasibility of combining a variety of preparation techniques that can finely tailor the optical and electrochemical properties of the photoanode material. The obtained tungsten doped mesoporous titania spheres exhibited significant enhancements of photocurrent and open-circuit voltage leading to an over 15% increase in cell efficiency. With a single layer 12 μm film, the W-doped photoanode reached a solar energy conversion efficiency of 8.9% which is far greater than a 5.7% efficiency obtained by the photoanode film prepared from Degussa P25 TiO2 nanoparticles. This was greatly attributed to the superior light scattering effect from the mesostructure and the increased electron injection driving-force from the down-shifted conduction band after doping.


Purpose: To evaluate the totally endovascular techniques for treating complex pararenal aortic aneurysms after open repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm. Methods: This retrospective study involved 34 men (mean age 74 years) with pararenal aortic aneurysms (22 pseudoaneurysms and 12 para-anastomotic aneurysms) that developed a median 11 years (range 4–22) after the primary surgical reconstruction. The median infrarenal neck length was 2 mm (range 0–9). Total endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) included the use of fenestrated (f-EVAR; n=17), branched (b-EVAR; n=11), combined f-EVAR/b-EVAR (n=1), and chimney (ch-EVAR; n=4) grafts and the "sandwich" technique (n=1). The primary outcome was aneurysm shrinkage >5 mm at latest follow-up. Secondary outcomes were target vessel patency, 30-day mortality, late survival, absence of type I and III endoleak, clinical success, and reintervention rate. Results: Technical success was 97% (n=33/34), while clinical success was achieved in 32 (94%) patients. The 30-day mortality was 3% (n=1/34). Mean follow-up was 23.2±16.6 months. One patient was lost to follow-up, and 1 patient underwent late open conversion for endograft infection. Six (18%) of the 33 surviving patients required a reintervention. Primary patency of the target aortic branches was 98% (109/111). Mean aneurysm diameter decreased from 64.1±10.2 to 56.7±16.9 mm (p<0.001) at latest follow-up. Midterm mortality was 12.1% (4/33). Estimated survival rates at 1 and 2 years were 93.9% and 90.9, respectively. Conclusion: Use of f-EVAR, b-EVAR, and ch-EVAR allows effective treatment of postsurgical pararenal aneurysms based on a clear algorithm and patient selection, highlighting the complementary character of these less invasive approaches.


Purpose: to evaluate maternal hemodynamic and cardiac structural changes during the three trimesters of pregnancy and to relate them to the weight/gestational age of the newborn. Methods: twenty-two healthy pregnant women were submitted to echocardiography for the study of cardiac output, mean arterial pressure, left atrium diameter, and peripheral resistance during three periods of pregnancy, i.e., before the 12th week and at the 26th and 36th weeks of pregnancy. Seventeen pregnant women gave birth to infants with adequate weight for gestational age, four gave birth to small for gestational age newborns and one gave birth to a large for gestational age infant. Results: among mothers of low weight newborns, cardiac output and left atrium diameter remained constant, mean arterial pressure showed a tendency to increase and peripheral resistance was significantly increased (28%), during the gestation. Among the mothers of adequate weight newborns there was an increase in cardiac output of 19% in the second trimester and 8% in the third. The left atrial diameter increased approximately 9% during the gestation, with maintenance of mean arterial pressure and a tendency to a decrease in peripheral resistance. Conclusion: the present results support an association between hemodynamic adaptation and weight newborn.


Programming heterogeneous computing systems with Graphics Processing Units (GPU) and multi-core CPUs in them is complex and time-consuming. OpenCL has emerged as an attractive programming framework for heterogeneous systems. But utilizing multiple devices in OpenCL is a challenge because it requires the programmer to explicitly map data and computation to each device. The problem becomes even more complex if the same OpenCL kernel has to be executed synergistically using multiple devices, as the relative execution time of the kernel on different devices can vary significantly, making it difficult to determine the work partitioning across these devices a priori. Also, after each kernel execution, a coherent version of the data needs to be established.
 In this work, we present FluidiCL, an OpenCL runtime that takes a program written for a single device and uses both the CPU and the GPU to execute it. Since we consider a setup with devices having discrete address spaces, our solution ensures that execution of OpenCL work-groups on devices is adjusted by taking into account the overheads for data management. The data transfers and data merging needed to ensure coherence are handled transparently without requiring any effort from the programmer. FluidiCL also does not require prior training or profiling and is completely portable across different machines. Across a set of diverse benchmarks having multiple kernels, our runtime shows a geomean speedup of nearly 64% over a high-end GPU and 88% over a 4-core CPU. In all benchmarks, performance of our runtime comes to within 13% of the best of the two devices.


This article analyzes the controversial issues that erupt when parties to an international arbitration agreement try to avoid either their obligation to arbitrate or the enforcement of an arbitral award. In such cases, one party may seek to enjoin the arbitration process or annul the award. Seeking to prevent the issuance of the injunction or annulment, the opposing party may ask a United States court to grant an antitrust injunction against the foreign litigation. This article examines the policies that a court should consider in deciding whether to issue the injunction. The first is international comity, a doctrine of judicial restraint that requires courts to respect other countries' laws and judicial decisions in order to further international dispute resolution. The second policy concerns the favorable treatment that international arbitration has enjoyed in the United States since this country passed the Federal Arbitration Act and ratified the 1958 United Nations Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards. Since then, the courts have reconsidered the intersection of comity and proarbitration bias in the international arbitration antisuit context. The article's thesis accordingly supports arbitration as a means for resolving international commercial disputes while upholding the integrity of comity in the transnational context.


Discusses the misconceptions about just‐in‐time (JIT) manufacturing which have developed since its inception in the mid‐1960s and with respect to its application to at least four different manufacturing strategies: scale‐based, focused factories, variety‐driven and, now, time‐based. Outlines the core elements of the JIT concept and several of the primary misconceptions. Introduces a production‐distribution model to illustrate JIT practices in the context of industrial dynamics. If the essential paradigm of JIT and industrial dynamics is missed, this will lead many firms to erroneous application and conclusions about JIT′s effectiveness. JIT manufacturing in the EC has that potential. Provides a forecast of the probable effects and conditions within the Common Market.


Synaptic responses of medial and lateral medullary neurons to repetitive stimulation of locomotor points (LPs) of the midbrain and medulla and of an inhibitory pontine point were recorded in mesencephalic decerebellate cats. Excitatory postsynaptic potentials (PSPs) and discharges were observed usually in medial neurons as well as mixed PSPs when an inhibitory point was stimulated. Almost a half of lateral neurons and more than a quarter of medial ones changed the frequency of the background discharge giving no responses time-locked to stimuli. Medial neurons with responses time-locked to stimuli were equally susceptible to stimuli delivered to midbrain and medullary LPs and almost as often to stimuli applied to the inhibitory point. Medial neurons with responses time-unlocked to stimuli and lateral neurons were mostly susceptible to the input from the medullary LP, less affected by stimulation of the midbrain LP and responded rarely to stimulation of the inhibitory point. Convergence of influences from the midbrain and medullary LPs was the same onto neurons of all populations. Role of different neuronal populations for initiation and cessation of locomotion is discussed.


The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of early ischemic heart disease (IHD) in accordance with standardized epidemiological criteria in the 25–44-year age group in Novosibirsk (Russia) and to identify associations with some risk factors and socioeconomic factors.Materials and methods. A cross-sectional populational medical examination was conducted on a random sample of the 25–44-year age group in Novosibirsk. A total of 1457 people were analyzed (653 males and 804 females). Epidemiological IHD diagnosis was made according to validated epidemiological (cardiological Rose questionnaire) and functional criteria (recording of an ECG interpreted via the Minnesota Code). The "definite IHD" diagnosis was made in the presence of the following criteria: a history of large-focal myocardial infarction (ECG), tension angina pectoris (Rose questionnaire), ischemic changes on ECG without left ventricular hypertrophy (ECG). Further, the diagnosis of "definite IHD" was confirmed by conducting an ECG test with physical activity. The evaluated IHD modifiable risk factors were cigarette smoking, elevated body mass index, elevated waist circumference, the presence of arterial hypertension, low physical activity, and elevated blood levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, non–high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides. Socioeconomic factors were assessed too: marital status, occupation type, education, health self-rating, and economic status.Results. The prevalence of definite IHD in the study population was found to be 3.36% (49 subjects): 2.8% (18 subjects) among males and 3.9% (31 subjects) among females. All quantitative data on IHD risk factors were higher in males than in females. The prevalence of IHD risk factors (except for elevated waist circumference) was higher among males than females. The prevalence of IHD risk factors (except for cigarette smoking) was not different between IHD and no-IHD groups in the study population. Smoker prevalence was 1.66-fold higher (p = 0.031) in the no-IHD group than in the IHD group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis uncovered an inverse association of cigarette smoking (independently of age, sex, and other risk factors) with the relative risk of early IHD in the study population. Furthermore, in males, the relative risk of definite IHD (regardless of age) directly correlated with heavy manual labor (odds ratio [OR] = 3.495, confidence interval [CI] 1.306–9.353, р = 0.013) and unfavorable marital status (divorced or widowed; OR = 4.976, CI 0.944–26.228, р = 0.058). Meanwhile, these two factors inversely correlated with cigarette smoking (OR = 0.202, CI 0.060–0.672, р = 0.009).Conclusion. In males aged 25–44 years in Novosibirsk, the relative risk of early IHD is directly associated with heavy manual labor or unfavorable marital status, and these factors are inversely associated with smoking. This correlation needs further research.The medical-examination–based screening was performed within the framework of a government-funded research topic in State Assignment No. АААА-А17-117112850280-2. The biochemical and functional analyses were financially supported by a Russian Federation President grant for leading scientific schools, No. НШ-2595.2020.7.


Monolayer lubricant films applied to head-disk interface of hard disk drives consist of bonded and mobile molecules. We measured the diffusion coefficient of mobile molecules that spread through the spaces not covered with bonded molecules and revealed its dependence on the coverage fraction. The diffusion coefficient gradually decreased with increasing coverage from 0.2 to 0.8, and its trend was well represented by reptation theory. However, the diffusion coefficient significantly decreased at a coverage higher than 0.8, in contrast to the prediction of reptation theory. The reason for this decrease is thought to be the disappearance of minimum spaces required for mobile molecules to spread through.


How does transnational terrorism affect the stability of parliamentary governments? Does terrorism cause some governments to fail prematurely and/or does it enhance the probability that some governments will stay in office longer than they otherwise would? Using a duration model on a sample of 18 advanced parliamentary democracies between the late-1960s and 2003, we find that terrorism exacerbates the likelihood of government failure for some governments but not others. Our principal finding is that right-oriented governments are able to keep their hold on power more than left-wing governments when confronted with transnational terrorism.


Energetic particle effects in magnetic confinement fusion devices are commonly studied by hybrid kinetic-fluid simulation codes whose underlying continuum evolution equations often lack the correct energy balance. While two different kinetic-fluid coupling options are available (current coupling and pressure coupling), this paper applies the Euler–Poincaré variational approach to formulate a new conservative hybrid model in the pressure-coupling scheme. In our case the kinetics of the energetic particles are described by guiding center theory. The interplay between the Lagrangian fluid paths and phase space particle trajectories reflects an intricate variational structure which can be approached by letting the four-dimensional guiding center trajectories evolve in the full six-dimensional phase space. Then, the redundant perpendicular velocity is integrated out to recover a four-dimensional description. A second equivalent variational approach is also reported, which involves the use of phase space Lagrangians. Not only do these variational structures confer on the new model a correct energy balance, but also they produce a cross-helicity invariant which is lost in the other pressure-coupling schemes reported in the literature.