This secondary data analysis used a cross sectional survey of 1771 Yukon First Nations, Dene/Metis, and Inuit women. The aims were to evaluate access to traditional food and market food, identify advantages of traditional and market foods, and explore understudied characteristics of food security in Arctic Canada. Results indicate considerable regional variation in affordability of food. Similarly, regional variation was reflected in the percentage of women who had access to hunting or fishing equipment. Participants described many culturally relevant food security indicators: food needed to be fresh, natural, tasty, varied, healthy, safe, convenient, and accessible. Between 10 and 38% of participants noticed recent changes in the quality or health of traditional foods. Caribou, moose, and seal were popular and considered particularly healthy. This study emphasizes the importance of traditional food for Arctic indigenous women's food security and the dynamic nature of food security in this population.


The paper focuses on the understanding of the basic hydrodynamic conditions along the braided gravel-bed river. The  measuring cross-section was located in the Ochotnica River, where its braided channel development was observed. Investigations take place from 2003 up to 2014. Measurements were performed for selected characteristic points. The study focused mostly on the measurements of water velocities under different flow conditions, and next on  finding  basic hydraulic  parameters  of flow: shear velocity, shear stresses, Reynolds number, Froude number. In addition, the gravel material from the river bed was examined, in order to find sedimentological characteristics of it.


In this work we focus on the problem of image caption generation. We propose an extension of the long short term memory (LSTM) model, which we coin gLSTM for short. In particular, we add semantic information extracted from the image as extra input to each unit of the LSTM block, with the aim of guiding the model towards solutions that are more tightly coupled to the image content. Additionally, we explore different length normalization strategies for beam search to avoid bias towards short sentences. On various benchmark datasets such as Flickr8K, Flickr30K and MS COCO, we obtain results that are on par with or better than the current state-of-the-art.


This article examines the work of Max Linz and Julian Radlmaier, two German directors born in the mid-1980s. It traces their academic and practical training in film studies and film directing and highlights their aesthetic and political approach as an attempt to counter the cinema of the Berlin School. Amalgamating various German and international influences, from Christoph Schlingensief, Alexander Kluge, and Rainer Werner Fassbinder (Linz) to Roberto Rossellini, Pier Paolo Pasolini, and the classical avant-gardes of the 1920s (Radlmaier), their student shorts and feature films combine a playful eclecticism with an acute sense of contemporary political issues like precarious working conditions, gentrification, and the commodification of art and culture.


Past research suggests that semantic and numerical medical risk descriptors may lead to miscommunication and misinterpretation of risk. However, little research has been conducted on systematic features of this bias, and the resulting potential risks to people contemplating or receiving treatment. Three studies explore the influence of verbal versus numerical medical risk descriptions. In Study 1a, San Francisco Bay area residents (N = 59) were presented with semantic descriptors for low-likelihood events and reported their perceived quantitative risk for the events. In Study 1b, undergraduates (N = 29) were presented with semantic versus numerical information about side effects for a prescribed medication and reported their perceived risk and adherence intentions. In Study 1c, San Francisco Bay area residents (N = 125) were presented with semantic versus numerical information about their risk for a disease and reported their perceived risk and intention to adhere to a prescribed treatment. The results of the first study suggest that people systematically overestimate the likelihood of low probability events described in semantic terms such as "low risk" or "people may occasionally experience." The results of the second and third experiment suggest that presenting semantic information about the risks of engaging in a new behavior makes people less likely to engage in that behavior, whereas presenting semantic information about the risks of not engaging in a new behavior makes people more likely to engage in the behavior. The decision to present semantic versus probabilistic information is tantamount to a decision about whether to encourage risk acceptance versus risk avoidance.


Precise localization is crucial to many computer vision tasks. Optical flow can help by providing motion boundaries which can serve as proxy for object boundaries. This paper investigates how useful these motion boundaries are in improving semantic segmentation. As there is no dataset readily available for this task, we compute the motion boundary maps with a pre-trained model from [17] on the CamVid dataset [3]. With these motion boundary maps and the corresponding RGB images, we train a convolutional neural network end-to-end, for the task of semantic segmentation. The experimental results show that the network has learned to incorporate the motion boundaries and that these improve the object localization.


The bit-error rate (BER) performance of a pulse position modulation (PPM) scheme for non-line-of-sight indoor optical links employing channel equalisation based on the artificial neural network (ANN) is reported. Channel equalisation is achieved by training a multilayer perceptrons ANN. A comparative study of the unequalised dasiasoftdasia decision decoding and the dasiaharddasia decision decoding along with the neural equalised dasiasoftdasia decision decoding is presented for different bit resolutions for optical channels with different delay spread. We show that the unequalised dasiaharddasia decision decoding performs the worst for all values of normalised delayed spread, becoming impractical beyond a normalised delayed spread of 0.6. However, dasiasoftdasia decision decoding with/without equalisation displays relatively improved performance for all values of the delay spread. The study shows that for a highly diffuse channel, the signal-to-noise ratio requirement to achieve a BER of 10 -5 for the ANN-based equaliser is ~10~dB lower compared with the unequalised-soft-decoding for 16-PPM at a data rate of 155 Mbps. Our results indicate that for all range of delay spread, neural network equalisation is an effective tool of mitigating the inter-symbol interference.


Laser metal deposition (LMD) connected with milling processes offers the opportunity for an efficient, resource conserving manufacturing for large structural components made from Ti-6Al-4 V. Conventional manufacturing routes for example in the aerospace industry come along with up to 95% of the waste material that has to be machined from the bulk material. LMD is an additive manufacturing process building parts based on nozzle-fed powder by laser solidification. This technology offers unique advantages for the production of near net-shape parts. In contrast to the powder bed-based technologies, it also provides a higher productivity rate. Today, LMD lacks reproducible process strategies manufacturing large parts in narrow tolerances and predictable microstructural properties. The building height of a single layer and the geometrical shape of a three-dimensional shaped part alter progressively with increasing part dimensions, consecutively leading to a higher effort in the manufacturing-process development for such parts. To reduce this effort, in this paper, first the actual state of the anisotropic properties is investigated for LMD-manufactured parts to obtain thorough knowledge of the process and shape-related dependencies with the quality aims. A preliminary experimental investigation of the shape and process-dependent properties such as the microstructure (chemistry changes and grain sizes), mechanical properties (hardness), and geometry (tolerances) is conducted. Based on these results, an in-depth study with optimized parameter sets is carried out to identify the linkage between geometry, process parameters, and the quality criteria of the part, using methods such as light microscopy, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, Vickers hardness, coordinate measuring, and laser scanning microscopy. For this purpose, representative shaped specimens are manufactured with the LMD-process through different optimized process strategies. The results give the opportunity to evaluate the impact of process parameter changes and the shape on the part quality such as mechanical properties, surface quality, and element loss. This is achieved through identifying the relationship between the input and the output factors from the experimental study, and their importance for part quality is assessed. It is shown that the complex correlation between the process parameters, the part geometry, and the resulting quality can be controlled with suitable process design in LMD-manufacturing of Ti-6Al-4 V parts. Finally, based on the summarized results, an outlook is given on tolerances for different quality aims.Laser metal deposition (LMD) connected with milling processes offers the opportunity for an efficient, resource conserving manufacturing for large structural components made from Ti-6Al-4 V. Conventional manufacturing routes for example in the aerospace industry come along with up to 95% of the waste material that has to be machined from the bulk material. LMD is an additive manufacturing process building parts based on nozzle-fed powder by laser solidification. This technology offers unique advantages for the production of near net-shape parts. In contrast to the powder bed-based technologies, it also provides a higher productivity rate. Today, LMD lacks reproducible process strategies manufacturing large parts in narrow tolerances and predictable microstructural properties. The building height of a single layer and the geometrical shape of a three-dimensional shaped part alter progressively with increasing part dimensions, consecutively leading to a higher effort in the manufacturing-process development...


Players in a game are assumed to be totally rational and absolutely smart. However, in reality all players may act in non-rational ways and may fail to understand and find their best actions. In particular, participants in social interactions, such as lotteries and auctions, cannot be expected to always find by themselves the "best-reply" to any situation. Indeed, agents may consult with others about the possible outcome of their actions. It is then up to the counselee to assure the rationality of the consultant's advice. We present a distributed computer system infrastructure, named rationality authority, that allows safe consultation among (possibly biased) parties. The parties' advices are adapted only after verifying their feasibility and optimality by standard formal proof checkers. The rationality authority design considers computational constraints, as well as privacy and security issues, such as verification methods that do not reveal private preferences. Some of the techniques resembles zero-knowledge proofs. A non-cooperative game is presented by the game inventor along with its (possibly intractable) equilibrium. The game inventor advises playing by this equilibrium and offers a checkable proof for the equilibrium feasibility and optimality. Standard verification procedures, provided by trusted (according to their reputation) verification procedures, are used to verify the proof. Thus, the proposed rationality authority infrastructure facilitates the applications of game theory in several important real-life scenarios by the use of computing systems.


Static frequency dividers have been fabricated in a selective epitaxial bipolar technology using 0.8 mu m lithography. The measured maximum frequency of 25 GHz is the highest value reported for static silicon dividers. Moreover, a 16 GHz low-power version is presented which consumes only 8 mW in the first stage.


Objective To construct a prediction model based on metabolic profiling for predicting the response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Methods Peripheral venous (PV) and coronary sinus (CS) blood samples were collected from 25 patients with heart failure (HF) at the time of CRT implantation, and PV blood samples were obtained from ten healthy controls. The serum samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). As per the clinical and echocardiographic assessment at the 6-month follow-up, the HF patients were categorized as CRT responders and non-responders. Results HF patients had altered serum metabolomic profiles that were significantly different from those of the healthy controls. Differential metabolites were also observed between CRT responders and non-responders. A prediction model for CRT response (CRT-Re) was constructed using the concentration levels of the differential metabolites, L-arginine and taurine. The optimal cutoff value of the CRT-Re model was found to be 0.343 by ROC analysis (sensitivity, 88.2%; specificity, 87.5%; Area under curve (AUC) = 0.897, P = 0.002). The concentration levels of the differential metabolites, L-arginine and lysyl-gamma-glutamate, in PV serum were significantly correlated with that in CS serum (r = 0.945 and 0.680, respectively, all P < 0.001). Conclusions Our results suggest that serum-based metabolic profiling may be a potential complementary screening tool for predicting the outcome of CRT.


SIZE MATTERS Not every speciality in medicine can demonstrate a clear relationship between the size or throughput of a service, and the quality of the outcome. But in neonatal medicine there has been increasing evidence from around the world that larger neonatal services have better outcomes. So what about England—is there any reason to think that we might be different? Marlow and colleagues, reporting their analysis of the EPIcure2 data, now give us a definitive answer: England is not different. In fact there is a consistent gradient in favour of lower gestational age specific mortality between smaller units (with the highest), small regional centres, and large regional centres (with the lowest). Importantly, EPIcure2 examined the whole maternity pathway, so the findings relate to the outcomes of fetuses alive at the onset of labour, not just those liveborn babies who made it into intensive care. Maternity networks, specialist commissioners, and neonatal networks all need to ponder the implications of these findings, which are clear: optimisation of the place of care of those mothers threatening to deliver the most immature babies, and caring for the babies themselves in large units, is potentially the fastest and most certain way to drive down perinatal and infant mortality in England, and in the UK. See page F181 and our ADC podcast. In this podcast I interview the first author of the paper, Professor Neil Marlow.


We investigate a class of exponentially weakly ergodic inhomogeneous birth and death processes. We consider special transformations of the reduced intensity matrix of the process and obtain uniform (in time) error bounds of truncations. Our approach also guarantees that we can find limiting characteristics approximately with an arbitrarily fixed error. As an example, we obtain the respective bounds of the truncation error for an Mt/Mt/S queue for any number of servers S. Arbitrary intensity functions instead of periodic ones can be considered in the same manner.


Two cases of mainly interstitial myositis with epitheloid and giant cells are reported. In the first case, the late amyotrophic-type paralysis of the two girdles, of the clinical myositis type, was associated with severe myocardial damage, the atrioventricular conduction disorder requiring a pace-maker. This observation would appear to be a true polymyositis of the collagen diseases, in view of the associated skin affection, death occurring within a year, a large increase in serum muscle enzymes and urine creatine, the existence of a rheumatoid factor and striated muscle antibodies, and a large increase in M and G immunoglobulins. In the 2nd case, the amyotrophic affection of the pelvic girdle was associated with progressive blindness, diabetes insipidus, and anterior pituitary insufficiency. Death occurred after two years and autopsy showed a suprasellar dysgerminoma (ectopic pinealoma) without any visceral localization of sarcoidosis. The authors discuss the concept of granulomatous polymyositis, autonomous with respect to the sarcoidosis, and sometimes symptomatic of an inflammatory connective tissue condition or a malignant tumor.


Summary
From January, 1952, through April, 1953, a series of dissections of wild-caught anthropophilic mosquitoes for larval worms resembling Wuchereria bancrofti was performed in Marshall Territory, Liberia. Advanced-stage infections were found in Anopheles gambiae, A. melas, and A. hancocki. In addition, natural infections have been found in A. funestus in a nearby locality in Liberia. No advanced-stage infections were found naturally in any culicine mosquito.
Five species of laboratory-reared indigenous mosquitoes were fed on a human donor with microfilariae of W. bancrofti. A. gambiae, A. melas, and Culex thallasius were readily infected and carried the infection to maturity within thirteen to fourteen days. Culex fatigans and Aedes aegypti became infected in a much lower percentage, and development of the worms tended to be slower. In all three culicine species, many young nondeveloping larvae were noted in the thoracic muscles.
In the small series reported here, Anopheles melas was more heavily infected with the intermediate stages of W. bancrofti in nature than Anopheles gambiae.


We have developed embedded boundary methods to handle arbitrarily shaped topography to accurately simulate acoustic seismic wave propagation in the Laplace-Fourier domain. The purpose is to use this method to enhance accurate wave simulation near the surface. Unlike most existing methods such as the ones using curvilinear grids to fit irregular surface topography, we use a regular Cartesian grid system without suffering from the staircasing error that occurs in conventional implementations. In this improved embedded-boundary method, we use the method of images, by imposing ghost nodes above the surface and approximating their acoustic pressures using linear extrapolation, quadratic interpolation, or cubic interpolation, to account for an arbitrarily curved surface. Implementing this method instead of using curvilinear grids near the boundaries greatly reduces the complexity of preprocessing procedures and the computational cost. Furthermore, using numerical examples, we found the accuracy gain and performance of our embedded-boundary methods in comparison with conventional finite-difference implementation of the problem.


The incidence of thromboembolic diseases is increasing, and they are a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Mediterranean diet is known for its high content of olive products, especially olive oil, which has known cardiovascular health benefits, including those on blood pressure, cholesterol level, and thrombogenesis. All previous animal and clinical studies investigating the beneficial antithrombotic effects of olives have focused on olive oil and a few on olive leaves (OLEs). In this study, the ethanolic extract of OLE was evaluated for its antithrombotic activity in the rabbit model of thrombosis induced by ligature of the vena cava and intravenous administration of tissue thromboplastin. Pre-treatment with 100 or 200 mg/kg per day of the ethanolic extract for 8 weeks significantly prolonged the prothrombin time (PT) in comparison to the control group (12.10±0.35 sec and 14.38±0.29 sec vs. 10.8±0.32 sec, p<0.05 and 0.001, respectively). In comparison to the control group, the same doses had no statistically significant effect on thrombus weight (16.85±0.67 mg, 16.32±0.35 mg, and 17.81±0.75 mg; p=0.18 and 0.06) or on activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) (19.17±0.33 sec, 19.12±0.73 sec, and 18.97±0.41 sec; p=0.36 and 0.43, respectively). One important finding in this study concerns thrombus morphology. In the extract treatment groups, the thrombus was filament-like and did not adhere to blood vessel walls, whereas in the control group the thrombus was thick and almost completely occluded the vein. Therefore, these results suggest that OLE ethanolic extract can modify the extrinsic coagulation pathway as evidenced by the prolongation of PT and changes in thrombus morphology, enough to justify further research to evaluate its possible antithrombotic effects.


The postmedia era forces us to rethink the status of a new generation of images and new postdigital imaging. Referring, inter alia, to the proposals of Ingrid Hoelzl and Remi Marie, the article sketches a proposal for a theoretical approach to postimages as hybrid visual representations that arise as a result of the application of algorithmic procedures during their production. Postimages can be treated as a manifestation of a new paradigm of image culture in postantropocentric times, in which nonrepresentationalist approaches to digital image theory point to its ontogenetic methods of producing by "digital machines of vision." Postimages become important reference points for the formation of a posthumanist order in which the symbiosis of man and machine becomes the foundation for the creation of a new pictorial paradigm based on algorithmic procedures that follows the photographic paradigm


Novel Hg(II) complexes of d 10 configuration have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV-VIS spectra and thermal analysis. The analytical and spectral  data reveal that the ligands (H 2 L 1 - HL 3 ) behave as neutral or mono basic bidentate in nature, coordinating via C=O or C-O and NH or  C=N. The harmful effect of Hg-polluted drinking water on male sex hormones, kidney function as well as oxidative status biomarkers of male rats was investigated.  Meanwhile, the potential protective effects of synthesized complexes and their ligands were studied. Results showed that orally administration of HgCl 2 for 30 days caused a significant disruption of male sex hormones and kidney function. Further, the level of lipid peroxidation was elevated and activities of antioxidant enzymes were markedly declined in kidney and testes homogenates. The co-administration of HgCl 2 with antipyrine and thiosemicarbazone as well as their complexes for four weeks led to amelioration in the kidney and testes functions as the levels of male sex hormones and kidney function tests were recovered. Meanwhile, these compounds showed ameliorative effects on the oxidative status of rats. It can be concluded that drinking of Hg-polluted water induces oxidative stress pathways that may lead to deterioration in kidney and testes function. The findings also suggest the curative action of antipyrine and thiosemicarbazone as well as their complexes since they exhibited the ability to resist the harmful action of mercury and to protect the organs from the action of free radicals.


In contrast to the conventional static view of the brain, recent experimental data show that an alternative view is necessary for an appropriate interpretation of its function. Some selected problems concerning the cortical transitory dynamics are discussed. For the first time, we propose five scenarios for the appearance of chaotic itinerancy, which provides typical transitory dynamics. Second, we describe the transitory behaviors that have been observed in human and animal brains. Finally, we propose nine hypotheses on the functional roles of such dynamics, focusing on the dynamics embedded in data and the dynamical interpretation of brain activity within the framework of cerebral hermeneutics.


Safety properties of critical software are consequences of the application safety properties (i.e. the front collision of two trains must not occur), and of the system design choices. The paper presents the first results of a SNCF and CESIR joint research project whose purpose is to design a constructive and formal method to derive, at each design level, the safety properties of subsystems from the System Preliminary Hazard Analysis. One of the goals of this method is to obtain, at the lowest level, properties of the safety software which can be checked either by formal proof or by testing. The method relies on two concepts: the safety kernel, proposed by J. Rushby (1989), and a generalization and formalization of the notion of "restrictivity", used in classical safe hardware design. An application to the Maggaly (Lyon Subway) automatic pilot is presented.


Using a unique dataset, we examine empirically which factors explain output per contributor in open source projects. We find that the output per contributor of open source programmes is much higher when licenses are less restrictive. Further examination suggests that the difference in output per contributor is in large part due to many more contributors for projects that employ restrictive licenses. The results suggest a status/signaling or ideological motivation for participation in open source projects with restrictive licenses.


Medical images edge detection is one of the most important pre-processing steps in medical image segmentation and 3D reconstruction. In this paper, an edge detection algorithm using an uninorm-based fuzzy morphology is proposed. It is shown that this algorithm is robust when it is applied to different types of noisy images. It improves the results of other well-known algorithms including classical algorithms of edge detection, as well as fuzzy-morphology based ones using the Łukasiewicz t-norm and umbra approach. It detects detailed edge features and thin edges of medical images corrupted by impulse or gaussian noise. Moreover, some different objective measures have been used to evaluate the filtered results obtaining for our approach better values than for other approaches. Keywords-Mathematical morphology, edge detection, noise reduction, representable uninorms, idempotent uninorm.


BACKGROUND
The focus on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in medical research is becoming more and more intensive, with attention being paid to the patient's subjective feelings and assessment of one's health status. Smell disorders can significantly impact human life. The Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders (QOD) is a self-monitoring questionnaire that provides subjective information about olfactory disorders.

OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to check the reliability and validation of the Polish version of QOD (QOD-PL) for use in patients with olfactory impairment in Poland.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
A total of 158 patients (76 females, mean age (Mage) 45.97 ±16.37 years), suffering from chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), whose olfactory function was measured using the Sniffin' Sticks test (SST), were studied. All patients completed 3 validated questionnaires: Importance of Olfaction (IO), Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22) and QOD-PL.

RESULTS
Internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the entire QOD-PL scale were good (Cronbach's α = 0.88). The convergent validity of the QOD-PL and its subscales correlated with IO and SNOT-22. The life quality statements in the QOD-PL (QOD-PL-LQ) score, its negative statements, and the mean score for VAS scales were significantly and positively correlated with all symptoms measured with SNOT-22 and none of the IO scales.

CONCLUSIONS
The QOD-PL is a reliable, valid and important tool for assessing HRQOL in patients with olfactory disorders. However, it is important to note that not all of its subscales can be considered and interpreted separately.


Hypoxic stress is a common concern in medicine and biology, which can induce the cellular injury and death by excess production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Hypochlorous acid (HOCl), one of the ROS, plays a crucial role in the oxidative damage to tissue proteins in the pathogenesis of various diseases. Therefore, excess production of HOCl might be an important factor for the damage caused by hypoxic stress. However, most of the present methods cannot meet the demand of real-time detection on account of the labile and reactive chemical properties of HOCl. Herein, we designed a near-infrared fluorescent probe, Cy-HOCl, for the selective imaging of HOCl in cells and in vivo. Cy-HOCl includes two moieties: a 4-amino-3-nitrophenol group as the response unit and a near-infrared heptamethine cyanine fluorophore as the fluorescent modulator. Cy-HOCl exhibits excellent selectivity and sensitivity towards the detection of HOCl. The hypoxic response behavior of Cy-HOCl is evaluated in cells to clarify the relationship between HOCl and hypoxia. The probe is also applied to measure HOCl in ex vivo-dissected organs of an acute ischemia mouse model as well as for real-time monitoring the changes of HOCl in the hypoxic zebrafish model.


Provided is a conductive particle whereby, when electrically connecting electrodes with the conductive particle, connection resistance is lowered, and it is possible to increase connection reliability. A conductive particle according to the present invention comprises a resin particle (2), and a conductive layer (3) which is positioned upon the surface of the resin particle (2). A compressive elasticity modulus when the conductive particle (1) is compressed by 10% is 1500-5000N/mm 2 . A ratio of the compressive elasticity modulus when the conductive particle (1) is compressed by 10% to a compressive elasticity modulus when the conductive particle (1) is compressed by 50% is 2-10.


Inhibitory effects of beta-amyrin palmitate in locomotor activity of mice were studied by combining this compound with alpha-adrenergic agonists or antagonists and a dopaminergic agonist. beta-Amyrin palmitate (2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mg kg-1, i.p.) decreased locomotor activity of mice in a dose-dependent manner. It enhanced hypoactivity of mice treated with clonidine (0.025 mg kg-1, i.p.) and antagonized hyperactivity produced by phenylephrine (40 micrograms, i.c.v.). The inhibitory action of beta-amyrin palmitate was not affected by yohimbine (1.5 mg kg-1, i.p.), but was potentiated by prazosin (0.75 mg kg-1, i.p.). When combined with a dopaminergic agonist, apomorphine (2.0 mg kg-1, i.p.), beta-amyrin palmitate (5.0 and 10.0 mg kg-1, i.p.) did not affect locomotor stimulation produced by apomorphine. These results suggest that beta-amyrin palmitate might inhibit alpha 1-adrenoceptors.


Cultural ecosystem service has been a raising field since  2010. While interdisciplinary research teams investigate cultural ecosystem services via humanity lenses, most CES studies focus on mono-cultural settings. The study compares the Taiwanese Han-culture waterfront recreational patterns to the Ames tribal aqua-cultural habitat patterns. It suggests the community participatory mechanisms for re-vision the Danshui River ecosystems. It argues that the river ecosystem could support cross-cultural lifestyles for Ames tribes if the government officials and design-planning professions could alter their approaches of waterfront planning, design, and governance. The research sheds the light on multi-cultural environments in our global world.
Keywords: cultural ecosystem service (CES); cross-cultural landscape; Amis urban tribe; Danshui River
eISSN 2514-7528 © 2018. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open-access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/jabs.v3i10.302


Decades of studies on ion channels have vastly demonstrated the critical functions of these proteins in many physiologic and pathologic conditions. Also, studies on ion channels have provided for an extraordinary pharmacopeia of useful compounds, often with selective actions and minimal side effects. Nevertheless, the function of ion channels in controlling cancer biology is still unknown and underexplored. Our research demonstrates that the Kir6.2/SUR2 potassium ion channel can be a prognostic factor in gynecologic cancers. Here we present data showing that the Kir6.2/SUR2 channel activity control biochemical pathways underlying proliferation and metabolism in gynecologic cancers, including endometrioid and high-grade serous ovarian cancer. Use of activators of the Kir6.2/SUR2 produced an arrest of the cell cycle, a significant mitochondrial dysfunction that is associated with alteration of the oxidative cellular state and DNA damage in cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer. Also, our in vivo experiments show the antigrowth effects of pharmacologically targeting Kir6.2/SUR2 on ovarian cancer with FDA-approved molecules. This study offers the opportunity to consider the therapeutic benefits of repurposing drugs targeting the Kir6.2/SUR2 channel for a treatment of gynecologic cancers that is efficient and safe. Citation Format: Daniela Fukushiro Lopes, Alexandra Hegel, Vitaly Senyuk, Angela Russo, Margaret Liotta, Ronald Potkul, Craig Beeson, Joanna Brurgette, Saverio Gentile. Potassium channel activity unveils ovarian cancer vulnerability: From signaling to precision medicine [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Ovarian Cancer Research; 2019 Sep 13-16, 2019; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2020;26(13_Suppl):Abstract nr A42.


The problem of $12$ spheres is to understand, as a function of $r \in (0,r_{max}(12)]$, the configuration space of $12$ non-overlapping equal spheres of radius $r$ touching a central unit sphere. It considers to what extent, and in what fashion, touching spheres can be moved around on the unit sphere, subject to the constraint of always touching the central sphere. Such constrained motion problems are of interest in physics and materials science, and the problem involves topology and geometry. This paper reviews the history of work on this problem, presents some new results, and formulates some conjectures. It also addresses results on configuration spaces of $N$ spheres of radius $r$ touching a central unit sphere, for $3 \le N\le 14$. The problem of determining the maximal radius $r_{max}(N)$ is equivalent to the Tammes problem, to which L\'{a}szl\'{o} Fejes T\'{o}th made significant contributions.


Hepatitis B virus (HBV) poses a threat to global public health mainly because of complications of HBV‐related chronic liver disease. HBV exhibits a narrow host range, replicating primarily in hepatocytes by a still poorly understood mechanism. For the generation of progeny virions, HBV depends on interactions with specific host factors through its life cycle. Revealing and characterizing these interactions are keys to identifying novel antiviral targets, and to developing specific treatment strategies for HBV patients. In this review, recent insights into the HBV–host interactions, especially on virus entry, intracellular trafficking, genome transcription and replication, budding and release, and even cellular restriction factors were reviewed. J. Med. Virol. 86:925–932, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


Multimodal emotion recognition in conversations (mERC) is an active research topic in natural language processing (NLP), which aims to predict human's emotional states in communications of multiple modalities, e,g., natural language and facial gestures. Innumerable implicit prejudices and preconceptions fill human language and conversations, leading to the question of whether the current data-driven mERC approaches produce a biased error. For example, such approaches may offer higher emotional scores on the utterances by females than males. In addition, the existing debias models mainly focus on gender or race, where multibias mitigation is still an unexplored task in mERC. In this work, we take the first step to solve these issues by proposing a series of approaches to mitigate five typical kinds of bias in textual utterances (i.e., gender, age, race, religion and LGBTQ+) and visual representations (i.e, gender and age), followed by a Multibias-Mitigated and sentiment Knowledge Enriched bi-modal Transformer (MMKET). Comprehensive experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed model and prove that the debias operation has a great impact on the classification performance for mERC. We hope our study will benefit the development of bias mitigation in mERC and related emotion studies.


Since the development of mass spectrometric techniques for U-series dating some 20 years ago, fundamental breakthroughs have been made in Quaternary climatic and archaeological studies. In this presentation I will summarise research highlights in U-series dating of palaeoclimatic and archaeological indicators achieved at the University of Queensland over the past five years. These include speleothem records from Australia and China covering the Last Interglacial, the Last Deglaciation and the Holocene periods, coral records in the South China Sea and other sites and Homo erectus and Homo sapiens sites in China.


Real-world clinical time series data sets exhibit a high prevalence of missing values. Hence, there is an increasing interest in missing data imputation. Traditional statistical approaches impose constraints on the data-generating process and decouple imputation from prediction. Recent works propose recurrent neural network based approaches for missing data imputation and prediction with time series data. However, they generate deterministic outputs and neglect the inherent uncertainty. In this work, we introduce a unified Bayesian recurrent framework for simultaneous imputation and prediction on time series data sets. We evaluate our approach on two real-world mortality prediction tasks using the MIMIC-III and PhysioNet benchmark datasets. We demonstrate strong performance gains over state-of-the-art (SOTA) methods, and provide strategies to use the resulting probability distributions to better assess reliability of the imputations and predictions.


Purpose of review We aim to highlight the emerging evidence for the role of the Wnt signalling pathways in vascular disease and indicate how our current understanding is supported by observations of Wnt signalling in vascular development. Recent findings There is mounting direct and indirect evidence for an involvement of the Wnt pathways in multiple processes involved in atherogenesis. Although a systematic analysis of Wnt pathway in atherosclerosis has not been performed, it is apparent that altered expression of a handful of Wnt pathway proteins occurs in or regulates atherogenesis. Wnt pathways regulate endothelial dysfunction and vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and migration and thereby intimal thickening. Furthermore, the Wnt pathways have the capacity to regulate inflammation and foam cell formation, pathological angiogenesis and calcification, which are crucial processes in plaque formation and stability. Summary A wealth of evidence has been presented for the involvement of the Wnt pathways in vascular development. Although less evidence exists for the regulation of vascular disease by the Wnt pathways, sufficient evidence exists to propose these pathways act as an important regulator of vascular disease. A greater understanding of Wnt pathways may reveal new therapeutic targets for vascular disease.


In order to satisfy the industrial requirements of processing dynamic knowledge from possibly heterogeneous sources, various query languages have been proposed which aim at lifting the relational stream query languages to the ontological/semantic layer. Most of the languages adapt important relational stream operators such as sliding window operators to this layer. But the adaptation and the semantic specification of the stream operators is not trivial due to the additional entailments and constraints w.r.t. ontologies. In this paper, we discuss the semantics of the new query-language framework STARQL (Streaming and Temporal ontology Access with a Reasoning-Based Query Language) in comparison to other stream-temporal query languages and provide results stating its connections to the semantics for temporal logics over ontologies.


In view of the importance of neck strength training and the lack of adequate training equipment, this study designed a new oscillating hydraulic trainer (OHT) of neck based on oscillating hydraulic damper. We used surface electromyography (sEMG) and subjective ratings to evaluate the neck OHT and compared the results with a simple hat trainer (HATT) and traditional weight trainer (TWT) to verify the feasibility and validity of the OHT. Under similar exercise conditions, 12 subjects performed a set of neck flexion and extension exercise with these 3 trainers. The sEMG signals of targeted muscles were collected in real time, and subjects were asked to complete subjective evaluations of product usability after exercise. The results showed that the root mean square (RMS%) of sEMG indicated that the OHT could provide two-way resistance and train the flexors and extensors simultaneously. The overall degree of muscle activation with OHT was higher than that with the other two trainers in one movement cycle. In terms of resistance characteristics exhibited by the sEMG waveform, duration (D) with OHT was significantly longer than HATT and TWT when exercising at a high speed, while Peak Timing (PT) was later. The ratings of product usability and performing usability of OHT were remarkably higher than that of HATT and TWT. Based on the above results, the OHT was proved to be more suitable for strength training, such as neck muscles, which were getting more attention gradually, but lacked mature and special training equipment.


The objective of this investigation was to examine the relationship between levels of ribonucleotide reductase activity and transformation of two human cell strains. Enzyme activity levels were elevated by 3.2- to 3.5-fold in transformed cells compared directly to the normal human fibroblast strains from which they were derived. There did not appear to be a general correlation between elevated ribonucleotide reductase and increased proliferation abilities as has been previously observed with some rodent tumor cell lines. In keeping with the rise in reductase activity, human transformed cells were relatively more resistant to the cytotoxic effects of hydroxyurea, an antitumor agent whose site of action is ribonucleotide reductase. This indicates that an important point to be considered during drug therapy aimed at the reductase, is the greater sensitivity of normal compared to transformed cells due to differences in enzyme activity. The results of this investigation support the view that an increased ability to reduce ribonucleotides is an important step towards the development of a neoplastic program in human cells.


In this work, SF6 as a Raman-active medium is investigated to generate a multispectral Raman laser by the combination of cascade stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) and four wave mixing. The Raman frequency comb from the 10th-order anti-Stokes to the 9th-order Stokes was generated, and its spectral range covered 377–846 nm. The photon conversion efficiency of 16.4% for the first Stokes was achieved, and the Raman gain coefficient at 1.5 MPa of SF6 under the 532 nm pump laser was calculated to be 0.83 cm/GW by the SRS threshold comparison with H2. Using helium as the carrier gas, the thermal effect of the SF6 Raman laser was improved dramatically under a repetition rate of 10 Hz.


BACKGROUND
Coronary artery dissection is a rare complication of blunt thoracic trauma which can become rapidly lethal necessitating prompt diagnosis and treatment. Most reported cases of coronary artery injury, including dissection, involve the left anterior descending coronary artery, given its anatomical location in relation to the impact.

DESCRIPTION OF CASE
A 72-year-old male, who was involved in a vehicular accident, sustained blunt thoracic trauma which resulted in isolated right coronary artery dissection and acute myocardial infarction. The culprit lesion was found in coronary angiography in the proximal right coronary artery and was successfully repaired with percutaneous coronary intervention and one drug-eluting stent placement.

CONCLUSION
Traumatic dissection of coronary arteries must be suspected in blunt thoracic trauma. It can be treated with interventional management and results in a fairly good prognosis. Hippokratia 2015; 19 (3): 278-280.


PurposeColorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most fatal cancers in the world. Determining if the risk of polymorphism alleles for CRC could contribute to clinical situations suggestive of an increased genetic risk for CRC is of significant importance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of genetic polymorphisms in two genes, APC and MUTYH, with CRC susceptibility in Iranian society. MethodsIn this experimental study, DNA was extracted from 200 blood samples (100 control and 100 patients with CRC). After identifying point mutations in APC and MUTYH genes and designing primers, they were examined by Tetra-arms PCR technique. Chi-square test was used to calculate and analyze the statistical and frequency of SNP in patients and control groups. ResultsSNPs: rs121913333, rs77542170, rs1801166 and rs869312753 showed significant association with CRC. rs121913333 on 5q22 appeared to have the highest degree of correlation with CRC (P=0.0001). ConclusionOur findings indicate that APC and MUTYH mutations are related to the incidence of colorectal cancer. Not only mutant but also heterozygous genotype has a significant role in CRC development.


1. Histomonas meleagridis was isolated in culture from the liver lesions of a hen suffering from "blackhead" (enterohepatitis). It has been cultivated at 36·5–37°C. for over a year. 2. Chicks, which had been reared free from protozoa, were inoculated per os or per anum, with cultures of the above strain of H. meleagridis. Eleven out of twelve birds became infected. Caecal lesions only were produced. This strain, although isolated from the liver lesions of a hen suffering from acute blackhead, showed no abnormal virulence in chicks. 3. Individuals of this strain of H. meleagridis showed amoeboid movement but were also flagellate. Normally the protozoon was uninucleate, but binucleate forms were common, and tri- and quadrinucleate forms occurred more rarely. One flagellum arose from each nucleus. 4. During division the flagellum disappears. The method of nuclear division was similar to that of Trichomonas. 5. A resistant phase was never seen in the cultures.


This study involved an investigation of patterns of arousal in a driver's sympathetic nervous system toward a system that can detect high cognitive workload, high emotional load, and acute stress (surprise or panic) experiences in drivers. Humans are exposed to cognitive and physical stressors in the driving environment that can be exacerbated when drivers are operating under the cognitive effects of incidental emotions or secondary task loads. Each type of stressor can negatively affect the control of complex operational systems, such as a vehicle, in different ways. The body's sympathetic autonomous nervous system (the "fight or flight" system) triggers several physiological changes in the body, such as perspiratory and cardiac dynamics, in order to prepare the human to defend themselves or run away. Physiological sensor systems can therefore be used to collect data on these physiological changes (such as heart rate variability (HRV; Taelman, Vandeput, Spaopon, & Van Huffel, 2009) and skin conductance response (SCR; Boucsein, 2012; Shi, Ruiz, Taib, Choi, & Chen, 2007; Villarejo, Zapirain, & Zorrilla, 2012). Data processing techniques can be applied to identify patterns in physiological response across multiple variables and time windows that are characteristics of potentially problematic driver mental states. As a first step toward developing an online system for detecting potentially-problematic driver mental states, this study sought to identify patterns in HRV and SCR data associated with each of these states, and to investigate the predictive power of such an algorithm for explaining aspects of driving behavior. Eighty-eight people (with equal representation from each sex and each of two age groups) participated in a driving simulator study. The simulation scenarios consisted of a simulated rural highway with multiple predetermined segments where secondary task loads were applied. After a physiological baselining procedure and adequate practice with the driving and secondary tasks, participants completed scenarios under each of the six driving conditions: a "Normal" drive with a simple roadway and no secondary tasks, four "Loaded" drives that included driving-related loads (e.g., construction zones) and some additional secondary tasks designed to impose analytical cognitive, emotional, and motoric (e.g., texting task) loads. A final scenario included varied combinations of these loads and a unique surprising "Failure" event (triggered acceleration in the vehicle that mimicked unintended acceleration problems). HRV and SCR were measured throughout the experiment using Zephyr Bioharness3 and Shimmer3 sensor systems, respectively, and numerous third-party software packages were used to process the data and identify noteworthy patterns. This presentation will report the analytical results of three dependent variables: HRV, SCR-amplitude (i.e., the magnitude of characteristic increases in arousal during sympathetic response), and SCR-frequency (i.e., the frequency of skin conductance responses identified within a predetermined time window). HRV (measured over time windows of a few seconds, as well as of several minutes) and SCR-Frequency were significantly sensitive to changes in loading, and some patterns in dynamics among multiple measures can be used to differentiate the designed mental states, although further testing is underway to refine and validate these findings. In particular, SCR- amplitude may be an effective way to distinguish acute stress events, as this measure shows a significant and substantial change within 2.5 seconds after realization of the unintended acceleration event. In addition to discussing these results, the current and future efforts in the development of an online driver "stressor detector" and mitigation system will be introduced in the presentation as well.


This study investigated the quality characteristics of sea salt coated with coffee oil (SCO). Three-year-old salt was used after drying in an oven at 105°C for 2 hours. Product A was composed of 100 g of sea salt and 8 g of coffee oil, product B was 100 g of sea salt and 16 g of coffee oil, and product C was 100 g of sea salt, 8 g of coffee oil, and 0.3 g of shell powder. The moisture content, ash content, color, peroxide value, acid value, and sensory evaluation of sea salt coated with coffee oil were determined monthly during 5 months of storage at room temperature. The contents of moisture and ash of SCO were 2~3% and 81~83%, respectively, but not significantly different during the storage period. Calcium content of product C was higher than that of product A or B. Coffee flavor in all SCO products was retained for 3 months. Hunter L, a, and b color values in SCO decreased with increasing storage period. However, redness and yellowness of product B were higher than those of other products. The peroxide and acid values of products A and C were lower than those of product B during storage period. Sensory evaluation during the storage period showed that quality of product A and C was maintained for 4 months, whereas product B was preserved for 3 months.


In [5] I. P. Goulden, D. M. Jackson, and R. Vakil formulated a conjecture relating certain Hurwitz numbers (enumerating ramified coverings of the sphere) to the intersection theory on a conjectural Picard variety Picg,n. This variety, of complex dimension 4g− 3+n, is supposedly endowed with a natural morphism to the moduli space of stable curves Mg,n. The fiber over a point x ∈ Mg,n lying in the open part of the moduli space is equal to the jacobian of the corresponding smooth curve Cx. The variety Picg,n is also supposed to carry a universal curve Cg,n with n disjoint sections s1, . . . , sn. Denote by Li the pull-back under si of the cotangent line bundle to the fiber of Cg,n. Then we obtain n tautological 2-cohomology classes ψi = c1(Li) on Picg,n. We are going to use Goulden, Jackson, and Vakil's formula to study the intersection numbers of the classes ψi on Picg,n (if it is ever to be constructed). In particular, we prove a Witten-Kontsevich-type theorem relating the intersection theory and integrable hierarchies. These equations, together with the string and dilaton equations, allow us to compute all the intersection numbers under consideration.


Peanut agglutinin (PNA) was used to identify rat lymphocyte subpopulations. The binding of PNA on the surface of lymphocytes was assessed by fluorescence microscopy using fluoresceinated PNA. It was shown that most of the thymocytes and bone marrow cells have receptors for PNA; in spleen and lymph nodes the percentages of PNA-positive cells are around 40%. PNA was also used as a potentially mitogenic lectin. It was ascertained that lymphocytes incubated with PNA are stimulated only if they are pretreated with neuraminidase, and that only 'immunocompetent' thymocytes exhibit a very weak response. The fact that PNA slightly inhibits the [3H]uridine uptake of resting thymocytes might explain the weak mitogenicity of PNA.


Worldwide eradication of smallpox by live attenuated virus vaccination seems close at hand. This success has led to some optimism that the common childhood viral infections for which vaccines are available also can be eliminated. Measles immunization has already resulted in a 90% reduction in the number of measles cases and complications. When properly administered, vaccine immunity that has been determined serologically remains stable.1Yet Welliver et al, in the JanuaryArchives(137:39-41, 1977) showed that measles has certainly not been eliminated in the United States. Rand et al2have reported other recent cases in adults and documented that the average age of patients with measles in four counties in northern California has risen from 7 to 11 years since the introduction of the vaccine in 1963. In all likelihood this trend will continue, resulting in a large group of susceptible young adults within the next five to


We constrain the energy at which the transition from Galactic to extragalactic cosmic rays occurs by computing the anisotropy at Earth of cosmic rays emitted by Galactic sources. Since the diffusion approximation starts to loose its validity for E/Z1016−17 eV, we propagate individual cosmic rays using Galactic magnetic field models and taking into account both their regular and turbulent components. The turbulent field is generated on a nested grid which allows spatial resolution down to fractions of a parsec. Assuming sufficiently frequent Galactic CR sources, the dipole amplitude computed for a mostly light or intermediate primary composition exceeds the dipole bounds measured by the Auger collaboration around E ≈ 1018 eV. Therefore, a transition at the ankle or above would require a heavy composition or a rather extreme Galactic magnetic field with strength 10 μG. Moreover, the fast rising proton contribution suggested by KASCADE-Grande data between 1017 eV and 1018 eV should be of extragalactic origin. In case heavy nuclei dominate the flux at E1018 eV, the transition energy can be close to the ankle, if Galactic CRs are produced by sufficiently frequent transients as e.g. magnetars.


Abstract : This report is a compilation of electric energy consumption and cost data for 43 installations in CONUS. The bases were grouped according to command: FORSCOM TRADOC (including West Point), DARCOM, HSC and ACC. The data was broken down by cost and consumption with each being reduced subcategories. Historical unit cost data for regional located bases for each region is displayed pictorially. Projected 1986 cost have been made for each region using historical data as a guide. (Author)


The theoretical aim of the paper is to analyses the main function and concept of production control in operation management. The empirical aim of the paper is to investigate polish production firm opinion about factors affecting production planning and control and also functions of production planning and control. Production control is very important in every factory, and every aspect of operation and production management especially in times of Industry 4.0 conditions. In the paper we present-ed all classical seven task of production management control. Also there is in the paper an analysis of main factors affecting production control in industrial organization. In the paper we analysed the problems connected with production control. Nowadays in the conditions of Industry 4.0 this is very important concept because the increasing level of digitalization of all industrial processes leads to possibility of detailed analysis of all processes and better level of control. Operation managers should have good level of knowledge about production control and especially quality control. They can use in this many new information tools like statistical methods and artificial intelligence. Especially we think that in the future many function of production control would be assisted by artificial intelligence. We also in the paper give results of research conducted on example of 30 polish production organizations located in Silesia region.


This paper studies firm-provided training in the presence of the following labor market institutions: minimum wages, assistance unemployment benefits, firing costs, unions and severance payments. It shows that minimum wages, severance payments and unemployment benefits may either increase or decrease firm-provided training relative to a competitive labor market benchmark where firm-provided training takes place. In contrast, training incidence should be greater when firing costs are higher and there is more unionization.The paper argues that the large observed cross-country heterogeneity in labor market institutions is a plausible candidate to explain the large observed variation in training incidence across different countries, workers and industries. The reason is that the effect of any institution on firm-provided training depends crucially on the other institutions in placed.


The aim of the publication is a summary of the results of all the research work carried out during the period 2011-2014. Rural areas 10 years after the EU accession. Selected determinants of human capital of rural population. Human capital of surveyed farm managers. Employment in Polish agriculture – rationalisation processes and directions of non-agricultural rural development.


It is not by chance that the first Italian biodistrict was developed in Cilento, land of nature, culture, history and food traditions. The long‐term commitment and the remarkable efforts of various private and public stakeholders in support of Cilento Bio‐distretto have produced, over time, a number of interesting results. First, some important progress has been experienced in the development in the Cilento area of the organic sector, both in terms of operator numbers and land area. Second, the establishment of short supply chain outlets like, organic farmers' markets, organic purchase groups and green public procurement and a number of other initiatives specifically targeting tourists have contributed to create stable market outlets for local organic products, thus meeting farmers' need for viable market opportunities which was originally the intention of the creation of the Bio‐distretto initiative. Third, through its continued active presence in the area and its multiple initiatives, the Bio‐distretto project contributed to the protection of local foods and traditions as well as of the Mediterranean Diet heritage. Fourth, the Bio‐distretto Cilento succeeded in creating relatively permanent socio‐economic links between inland and coastland areas as well as between agriculture and other promising economic sectors in the region. Fifth, as a result of the many initiatives, it is claimed that the turnover of local organic farms and enterprises participating to the Bio‐distretto activities has increased by about 20% on average in these years. Sixth, the presence of Bio‐distretto project contributed to spread the "green economy and lifestyle" culture in the area (differentiated waste collection, renewable energies, bioarchitecture). Seventh, many of the activities carried out under the Bio‐distretto umbrella have managed to test and introduce innovative solutions to local problems and to broaden horizons with innovative projects, like care farming.


The curing of a glycidyl azide polymer (GAP) with a triisocyanate, Desmodur N-100, was followed by measuring the hardness and viscosity. The thermal behavior of the cured samples were investigated by a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). Curing causes an increase in the glass transition temperature of GAP. The Tg of gumstocks also increases with an increasing NCO/OH ratio while the decomposition temperature remains practically unchanged. The ultimate hardness of the cured samples increases with an increasing NCO/OH ratio. The binder with a NCO/OH ratio of 0.8 was found to provide the most suitable thermal and physical characteristics for composite propellant applications. The increase in the glass transition temperature of gumstocks upon curing can be compensated by using a 1:1 mixture of bis-2,2-dinitropropyl acetal and formal as the plasticizer. The Tg value of gumstocks can be decreased to −46.7°C by adding 25% b.w. of a plasticizer which does not have any significant effect on the decomposition properties of the gumstocks. Furthermore, a remarkable decrease in the ultimate hardness of the gumstocks is achieved upon addition of a plasticizer, while the curing time remains almost unaffected. The addition of dibuthyltin dilaurate as a catalyst reduces the curing time of the gumstocks from 3 weeks to 5–6 days at 60°C. Use of the curing catalyst also results in the hardening of the gumstocks. The decomposition properties of the gumstocks remain practically unchanged while a noticeable increase is observed in the glass transition temperature with an increasing concentration of the catalyst. This can also be compensated by a reverse effect of the plasticizer. The gel time, an important parameter which determines the pot life of a propellant material, can be measured by monitoring the viscosity of the mixture, which shows a sharp increase when gelation starts. The addition of a curing catalyst shortens the gel time remarkably. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 80: 65–70, 2001


Increasing evidence suggests a possible interaction between vitamin D and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). We aimed to investigate effects of vitamin D supplementation on IGF-1 (primary outcome) and calcitriol (1,25(OH)2D) concentrations (secondary outcome). This is a post-hoc analysis of the Styrian Vitamin D Hypertension Trial—a single-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial (RCT) conducted from 2011 to 2014 at the Medical University of Graz, Austria. Two-hundred subjects with arterial hypertension and 25(OH)D concentrations <30 ng/mL were randomized to either receive 2800 IU of vitamin D daily or placebo for eight weeks. A total of 175 participants (mean ± standard deviation age, 60 ± 11 years; 49% women) with available IGF-1 concentrations were included in the present analysis. At baseline, IGF-1 concentrations were significantly correlated with 1,25(OH)2D (r = 0.21; p = 0.005) but not with 25(OH)D (r = −0.008; p = 0.91). In the RCT, vitamin D had no significant effect on IGF-1 (mean treatment effect 3.1; 95% confidence interval −5.6 to 11.9 ng/mL; p = 0.48), but it increased 1,25(OH)2D concentrations (mean treatment effect 9.2; 95% confidence interval 4.4 to 13.9 pg/mL; p ≤ 0.001). In this RCT, in hypertensive patients with low 25(OH)D concentrations, there was no significant effect of vitamin D supplementation on IGF-1 concentrations. However, we observed a cross-sectional correlation between 1,25(OH)2D and IGF-1 and an increase of 1,25(OH)2D after vitamin D supplementation.


A remarkable increase in life expectancy, a decrease in fertility and delayed first birth as well as increased literacy have all contributed to major changes in women's lifestyles and their social environment. Several factors such as level of education, unemployment and low income have been associated in epidemiological studies with elevations in blood pressure. Social support appears to be an important buffer modulating the cardiovascular effects of a variety of stressors. Studies to date suggest that there may be important gender differences in the way socioenvironmental factors affect blood pressure, thus warranting development of intervention strategies directed uniquely at women.


Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality, with an increasing incidence worldwide. The impact of DM on public health in developing countries has triggered alarm due to the exaggerated costs of the treatment and monitoring of patients with this disease. Considerable efforts have been made to try to prevent the onset and reduce the complications of DM. However, because insulin-producing pancreatic β-cells progressively deteriorate, many people must receive insulin through subcutaneous injection. Additionally, current therapies do not have consistent results regarding the prevention of chronic complications. Leveraging the approval of real-time continuous glucose monitors and sophisticated algorithms that partially automate insulin infusion pumps has improved glycemic control, decreasing the burden of diabetes management. However, these advances are facing physiologic barriers. New findings in molecular and cellular biology have produced an extraordinary advancement in tissue development for the treatment of DM. Obtaining pancreatic β-cells from somatic cells is a great resource that currently exists for patients with DM. Although this therapeutic option has great prospects for patients, some challenges remain for this therapeutic plan to be used clinically. The purpose of this review is to describe the new techniques in cell biology and regenerative medicine as possible treatments for DM. In particular, this review highlights the origin of induced pluripotent cells (iPSCs) and how they have begun to emerge as a regenerative treatment that may mitigate the pathology of this disease.


Thyssen Umformtechnik Turbinenkomponenten (TUT) in Remscheid is a supplier of turbine components for landbase turbines and for aero‐engines. Customers in the aerospace and landbase turbine business strive for reductions in costs and weight as well as for the improvement of operating temperatures in order to increase the efficiency of their engines. Next to short‐term activities like continuous improvement for cost reduction, TUT carries out research work as a long‐term investment. The research activities at TUT are numerous and range from the simulation of forging operations to the qualification of advanced materials. Various examples are presented.


The effect of training in self-retrieval on articulatory recall was examined. Elementary school children practiced the syllables /ciks/ and /colt/ under two conditions: imitation and self-retrieval. In the latter condition subjects were asked to say the test object rather than to imitate its name. Over intervals of one day and five days there was no difference in retention as a function of the type of pretraining. Imitative responses decayed little over time and were, in general, always higher than self-retrieval responses regardless of the type of training during acquisition (self-retrieval or imitation).


This pre-experimental research design used a one-group pre-test-post-test design. Using the purposive sampling technique, the sample in this study was 58 respondents who are residents of Sukakarya Village, Megamendung District, Bogor. The data were analyzed using the paired sample t-test which was previously tested for normality. Univariate analysis of adolescents' knowledge on the prevention of COVID-19 through audiovisuals obtained an average value of 25.57 and an average post-test score of 30.83. Meanwhile, the bivariate analysis showed the effects of providing education on COVID-19 prevention by using audiovisuals on adolescents' knowledge with a significance value of 0.000. Audiovisual media affect adolescents' knowledge on COVID-19 prevention. It is hoped that adolescents can increase their COVID-19 prevention knowledge by using video media so that they can change their behavior in efforts to prevent COVID-19 transmission


Objective. To assess the sonographic detection rate of fetal undescended testes among a low‐risk population during the third trimester. Methods. A sonographic evaluation, which included biometric studies and a detailed examination of the fetal genitalia, was performed prospectively on 332 male fetuses of singleton pregnancies between 34 and 40 weeks' gestation. A qualified neonatologist examined the presence of the testes within the scrotum within 3 days after birth. Results. The scrotum was visible in 294 (89%) of the 332 fetuses who were examined. It was visible in all fetuses evaluated between 34 and 36 weeks' gestation. Nine cases of undescended testes were detected (3%). Of these, the diagnosis of 1 case, examined at 34 weeks' gestation, was revealed after birth to be false‐positive. There were no false‐negative results. Conclusions. Sonographic examination during the late third trimester of pregnancy appears to allow accurate diacknowledgmentagnosis of undescended testes prenatally. This early identification will alert the neonatologist of the possibility of cryptorchidism and will permit early postnatal identification and treatment.


The temporal structure of weak and strong intensity scintillations observed with a geostationary satellite at 249 MHz near the magnetic equator is studied. It is shown that for weak intensity scintillations, the power spectra exhibit an asymptote immediately beyond the Fresnel frequency, which signifies a power law variation of power spectral density with frequency yielding spectral indices ranging between −3 and −3.5. By the use of simultaneous irregularity drift measurements, it is found that the power law portion of the spectrum for weak scintillations is caused by F region irregularities in the scale length range of about 700 m to 100 m. On the other hand, for strong intensity scintillations, the asymptote signifies a somewhat higher spectral index ranging between −3 and −4.5. Considering both weak and strong scintillations, an average spectral index of −3.5 is obtained which is found to be consistent with the average one-dimensional in situ spectral index for irregularities with scale lengths less than 1 km. In addition, it is shown that for strong intensity scintillations, a substantial decrease of the correlation time occurs which is dictated not only by the increased strength of scattering but by the increased irregularity drift as well. At 249 MHz the shortest correlation length transverse to the propagation path is found to be about 70 m near the magnetic equator. This is a factor of 5 larger than the corresponding value obtained away from the equator near the crest of the equatorial anomaly at Ascension Island.


This report describes the Inria contribution to WP2 regarding the use of 4D-Var in the ocean component of the reanalysis system. This task was twofold: 1. To study the relevance of the use of 4D-Var respect to 3D-Var. 2. To propose ways to reduce the computing cost, without altering the results. For the first part it turns out that 4D-Var is not really relevant for the ocean of the CERA reanalysis. Indeed at coarse resolution and with the use of observations of subsurface temperature and salinity only, the 3D-Var approximation is efficient enough. Getting a noticeable impact would require a data assimilation longer than 5 days, which is not feasible in coupled mode. For the CERA-SAT reanalysis however, mostly due to its use of SSH observations, 4D-Var does become a better option. The second part of the study shows that multi-incremental implementation of 4D-Var, even though challenging in the ocean, is a promising solution to significantly reduce the cost of 4D-Var, and could be used in future coupled reanalysis In addition to the scientific study of the above-mentioned points, it has required some significant technical developments. The first one was to include the ocean 4D-Var capabilities in the CERA system and was performed successfully in collaboration with P. Laloyaux at an early stage of the ERACLIM2 project. The second one was to develop the alternatives to full 4D-Var proposed in section 3. This was done in the framework of the NEMOVAR collaborative environment and is therefore available to the partners through, for instance, the ECMWF git repository more details about software transfer are given in appendix.


Purpose To discuss the anatomical and functional results in cases of optic disc pit maculopathy (ODP-M) with a follow-up of at least 11 years after scleral buckling procedure (SBP). Methods We studied 12 eyes with ODP-M treated with SBP, in a long-term follow-up of 12.8 ± 1.5 years after surgery. All patients underwent best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) measurement, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography, B-scan ultrasonography, and optical coherence tomography at baseline and 6-12 months, 2 years and at least 11 years postoperatively. Results Complete macular reattachment was noticed between 6 and 12 months postoperatively. The BCVA improved significantly at the first postoperative examination. Further improvement was noticed at the second examination, while BCVA remained almost stable at the last examination. Foveal restoration of ellipsoid layer (inner segment/outer segment) was noted in 10 out of 12 cases. The existing vitreous strands remained unchanged during the follow-up. Vitreous traction gradually disappeared (4/5 eyes). Circulation in short/long posterior ciliary arteries was unaffected, while neither recurrences nor complications were observed during the follow-up period. Association of the scleral sponge to the scleral sheath of the optic nerve remained unchanged during the follow-up. Conclusions A total of 12.8 ± 1.5 years after treatment, all the studied cases retained the successful anatomical and functional results that they had 2 years postoperatively, without inducing cataract during the follow-up period. The SBP seems to act equally well as a barrier either obstructing the entrance of fluid from the vitreous cavity or blocking the circulation of subarachnoid cerebrospinal fluid into the retina.


The role of radiation pressure in dust migration and the opening of inner cavities in transitional disks is revisited in this paper. Dust dynamics including radiation pressure is often studied in axisymmetric models, but in this work, we show that highly non-axisymmetric features can arise from an instability at the inner disk edge. Dust grains clump into high density features there, allowing radiation to leak around them and penetrate deeper into the disk, changing the course of dust migration. Our proof-of-concept, two-dimensional, vertically averaged simulations show that the combination of radiation pressure, shadowing, and gas drag can produce a net outward migration, or recession, of the dust component of the disk. The recession speed of the inner disk edge is on the order of 10−5 times Keplerian speed in our parameter space, which is faster than the background viscous flow, assuming a Shakura–Sunyaev viscosity α ≲ 10−3. This speed, if sustained over the lifetime of the disk, can result in a dust cavity as large as tens of astronomical units.


The simulation technique is a method for experimental study by computer based on the mathematical model, is a very effective tool for the analysis of complex systems. In a sense, numerical simulation can be comparable with the real system as long as constructing of a sufficiently accurate mathematical model. In the general computer simulation software of control system, Math Works's MATLAB SIMULINK is a very excellent simulation software. Only draw the control system diagram of required analysis and design on the graphics window, the model system can be linearized and simulated by the software itself.


The thiO gene of Bacillus subtilis encodes an FAD-dependent glycine oxidase. This enzyme is a homotetramer with a monomer molecular mass of 42 kDa. In this paper, we demonstrate that ThiO is required for the biosynthesis of the thiazole moiety of thiamin pyrophosphate and describe the structure of the enzyme with N-acetylglycine bound at the active site. The closest structural relatives of ThiO are sarcosine oxidase and d-amino acid oxidase. The ThiO structure, as well as the observation that N-cyclopropylglycine is a good substrate, supports a hydride transfer mechanism for the enzyme. A mechanistic proposal for the role of ThiO in thiazole biosynthesis is also described.


The essay points out some loci in the surviving part of the Coptic translation of De anima et resurrectione, written in Greek by Gregory of Nyssa. It shows how the Coptic text can be useful not only for amending the Greek text but also for understanding better the underlying theology of the Alexandrian Church, which promoted the Coptic translation. In this way, a reading of Gregory's fragment will be read for the first time using the Coptic version on its own terms and not merely as a translation of Ancient Greek.


registry areas. We excluded patients who were diagnosed with any cancer, infl ammatory bowel disease, and those who had incomplete colonoscopy. Using Medicare claims, we identifi ed all individuals who, within 30 days aft er the index procedure, visited emergency departments or were hospitalized with possible gastrointestinal and cardiovascular complications including bleeding, perforation, angina/myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, and death. Th e measured health care costs included Medicare payments for inpatient hospital and skilled nursing facility stays, outpatient hospital services, physician and laboratory services, and home health care associated with the diagnoses listed above. We calculated the mean 30-day pre-colonoscopy medical costs (day 15 to day 45 prior to procedure) to establish baseline and compared it to 30 day post-colonoscopy medical costs (day 1-30) in each study group. Colonoscopy cost was excluded. Medicare reimbursement data was converted to 2007 U.S. dollars. Statistical signifi cance was calculated using t-test. Results: A total of 174,352 persons who had colonoscopy were included. Among 5,668 patients who received a colonoscopy and experienced a complication, costs increased from $1,158 per person in the 30 day period precolonoscopy to $8,725 per person in the 30 day period post-colonoscopy (excluding the cost of the colonoscopy itself), an increase of $7,567 (650%; p<0.001). Th ere was no change in costs in the 30 day preand post-colonoscopy period among patients who did not experience a complication ($289 for pre-colonoscopy costs and $276 for post-colonoscopy costs; p=0.075). Mean 30-day medical costs signifi cantly increased for the total colonoscopy cohort, those with and without complications, from $317 per person for the pre-colonoscopy period to $548 per person for post-colonoscopy period, a 73% increase (p<0.001). Individuals who developed complications had higher baseline medical costs which likely correlate with increased comorbidities. Conclusion: Although rates of colonoscopy complications are low, they are associated with substantial increases in medical costs. Eff orts to reduce complication rates may lead to cost savings.


The Al Qaeda attacks against the United States on September 11th 2001 and the subsequent War on Terror fostered a variety of Hollywood responses from militaristic films that capitalized on pro- American sentiment to socially liberal 'awards fare', critical of the Bush administration. Yet I argue that most salient of the Bush era were a key series of blockbuster films directed by Steven Spielberg and Christopher Nolan which captured the zeitgeist in the form of dystopian narratives and mise en scene, direct references to neo-conservative policy and conflicted central characters. I postulate that this cycle begins with the civil liberties themed futuristic thriller Minority Report in 2002 and climaxes dramatically with 2008's The Dark Knight, a superhero film which encapsulates the previous eight years of Bush rule. These narratives provide a counter narrative against the unilateralist Bush administration with their images of economic and political decline and social disarray. Central here are the works of Douglas Kellner, Stephen Prince and Dan Hassler-Frost who have analysed mainstream Hollywood's cinematic responses to the attacks, particularly in a neo-conservative context. I also consider reviews by critics in generating the cultural and political impact of these films.


Vaccination immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment modalities. Although the immunomodulatory adjuvant generally employs for potentiating vaccine response, systemic administration may drive immune‐related side effects, even immune tolerance. Therefore, tunable immunoadjuvants are highly desirable to simultaneously stimulate the immune response and mitigate systemic toxicity. Self‐immolated nanoadjuvants are herein reported to potentiate vaccination immunotherapy of cancer. The nanoadjuvants are engineered by co‐assembling an intracellular acidity‐ionizable polymeric agonist of toll‐like receptor 7/8 resiquimod (R848) and polymeric photosensitizer pyropheophorbide a (PPa). The resultant nanoadjuvants specifically accumulate at the tumor site via passive targeting and are dissociated in the acidic endosome versicles to activate PPa via protonation of the polymer backbone. Upon 671 nm laser irradiation, PPa performed photodynamic therapy to induce immunogenic cell death of tumor cells and subsequently releases R848 in a customized manner, which synergistically activates dendritic cells (DCs), promotes antigen cross‐presentation, and eventually recruits cytotoxic T lymphocytes for tumor regression. Furthermore, the synergistic in situ vaccination immunotherapy with immune checkpoint blockade induce sustained immunological memory to suppress tumor recurrence in the rechallenged colorectal tumor model.


In addition to standard trade gains, regional trade agreements (RTAs) can promote peaceful relations by increasing the opportunity cost of conflicts. Country pairs with large trade gains from RTAs and a high probability of conflict should be more likely to sign an RTA. Using data from 1950 to 2000, we show that this complementarity between economic and politics determines the geography of RTAs. We disentangle trade gains from political factors by a theory-driven empirical estimation and find that country pairs with higher frequency of past wars are more likely to sign RTAs, the more so the larger the trade gains. (JEL D72, D74, F15, N70)


The formation of polar nanoregions through solid-solution additions is known to enhance significantly the functional properties of ferroelectric materials. Despite considerable progress in characterizing the microscopic behavior of polar nanoregions (PNR), understanding their real-space atomic structure and dynamics of their formation remains a considerable challenge. Here, using the method of dynamic pair distribution function, we provide direct insights into the role of solid-solution additions towards the stabilization of polar nanoregions in the Pb-free ferroelectric of Ba(Zr,Ti)O_{3}. It is shown that for an optimum level of substitution of Ti by larger Zr ions, the dynamics of atomic displacements for ferroelectric polarization are slowed sufficiently below THz frequencies, which leads to increased local correlation among dipoles within PNRs. The dynamic pair distribution function technique demonstrates a unique capability to obtain insights into locally correlated atomic dynamics in disordered materials, including new Pb-free ferroelectrics, which is necessary to understand and control their functional properties.


The aim of the study, determining of grafting could improve the agronomic behaviour of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), an open field experiment was carried out to determine growth, yield and fruit quality of long type pepper hybrid cultivar (ʻEfil'). As a scion plant material was used ʻEfil F1' and rootstock ʻGuclu F1'. ʻEfil/Efil' (ʻScion/Scion'), ʻEfil/Guclu' (ʻScion/Rootstock') and non-grafted ʻEfil' (ʻSicon') were used as the grafted combination. According to experiment, grafted plants were taller than control (non-grafted). Total yield, fruit number, fruit flesh firmness, fruit weight and stem diameter were influenced by rootstock and grafting. Grafted pepper produced 16% more yield than control plants for 'Efil/Guclu'. A similar trend was also observed on 'Efil/Efil'. The lowest yield recorded on ʻEfil' (nongrafted).


Abstract: In contrast to traditional reviews, systematic reviews explore theliterature on a specific topic comprehensively using a well-defined protocol and recruit the findings of eligible studies after the assessment of their qualities, using a clear and reproducible method. Checking the assumptions, we may merge the findings of recruited studies in a systematic review and use metaanalysis techniques not only to estimate the pooled effect but also to assess the possible sources of heterogeneity and the extend of heterogeneity in the findings . Generally, randomized clinical trials are the most common type of studies which are recruiting in systematic reviews and meta-analyses. However, we couldn't ignore the importance of observational studies particularly in sensitivity topics with ethical limitations against interventional studies. Although we are usually faced with wide variations in the methodology of observational studies even in narrow topics, systematic review and meta-analysis of their results can generatevaluable findings. They are particularly useful for explaining the source of heterogeneity in the results of primary observational studies .In this paper, we review the basic concepts of the systematic review and metaanalysis and their main applications in summarizing the findings of observational studies with respect to their advantages and limitations.


This article explores the evolution of French–Spanish military relations during the Franco dictatorship and the first democratic governments in Spain. After examining the origins, implications and limits of the bilateral general rapprochement, we will focus on French transfers of defence technology and arms to Spain. During the Cold War, Spain was part of the western bloc and the United States of America was the main international partner of the Franco regime. Nevertheless, western European countries, led by France, started to compete with the USA in Spain's political, economic and military external relations. After more than two decades of contact amongst French and Spanish armies, governments and arms companies (mainly state-owned), the most significant results in the military field appeared at the beginning of the 1970s, still during the dictatorship, and were consolidated and expanded during the democratic transition after 1975. French offers of co-manufacturing agreements, expert training and aid for...


This paper investigates the problem of the dynamic balance control of multi-arm free-floating space robot during capturing an active object in close proximity. The position and orientation of space base will be affected during the operation of space manipulator because of the dynamics coupling between the manipulator and space base. This dynamics coupling is unique characteristics of space robot system. Such a disturbance will produce a serious impact between the manipulator hand and the object. To ensure reliable and precise operation, we propose to develop a space robot system consisting of two arms, with one arm (mission arm) for accomplishing the capture mission, and the other one (balance arm) compensating for the disturbance of the base. We present the coordinated control concept for balance of the attitude of the base using the balance arm. The mission arm can move along the given trajectory to approach and capture the target with no considering the disturbance from the coupling of the base. We establish a relationship between the motion of two arm that can realize the zeros reaction to the base. The simulation studies verified the validity and efficiency of the proposed control method.


This article addresses the economic and social impacts for women growing cotton through the interrelated dimensions of resource, agency and achievements in women's empowerment. Women's growing cotton is explained by analyzing their characteristics and those of their husbands and of the other women, in the perspective of intra household negotiations and in the specific context and recent history of cotton production. Our study found a noticeable share of 20 percent of farms where women and their husbands simultaneously earned cotton income and where women spent less time in the fields while enjoying better decision-making power. This new status of income generation and role sharing within households is a win-win situation, benefitting from a change in social norms which required an extra-household chock, a period of cotton sector uncertainty in an exacerbated monetization context. As monetization keeps on prevailing in all African countries, it should favor further women's empowerment.


We examine the relationship between hourly extreme precipitation and daily mean temperature across the Contiguous United States (CONUS) during the period 1950–2009. Logarithmically‐transformed hourly extreme precipitation generally increases approximately linearly with the daily mean temperature. At most (about 80%) of the stations, regression slopes between hourly extreme precipitation and daily mean temperature are higher than 7%, the approximate Clausius‐Clapyron rate. Stations located in the western coastal region exhibit the lowest regression slopes, with median regression slopes less than 7%, while stations in the northern tier of the CONUS showed higher regression slopes, with median regression slope of 16%. More stations (75%) exhibit regression slopes higher than 7% in summer than in winter (65%). Stations in the southern U.S. have higher regression slopes in winter than in summer, whereas stations in the northern U.S. have higher slopes in summer. It seems physically implausible that the intensity of extreme rainfall events could be as sensitive to local temperature as reflected by the regression slopes. Hence, these large values at least partially may be a consequence of factors relating to temperature gradients as opposed to temperature in its own right.


A natural equivalence relation can be considered in the generalized flag manifold.
First we give a complete set of invariants of it as well as a canonical matrix description
of the classes. Next we consider parametric flags. We give a miniversal
deformation for the above canonical form and we use it to characterize the stable
flags.


This paper describes how a functional prototype for a dynamic dryer was designed, along with its basic parts: drying tunnel, mechanical transport system for material inside the equipment and selecting and designing a system for supplying hot air. A simple transport mechanism was implemented which allowed combining two flow dispositions: parallel and countercurrent flow. Mango (Mangifera indica L) pulp was dehydrated using three dryer air temperatures (50°C, 60°C and 70°C) and three drying air speeds inside the dryer (1.6, 2.2, 3.4 m s-1) for evaluating the prototype. Propane gas was used as fuel for heating the air. The prototype design led to dehydrating fruit pulp having 4.26 bs smooth initial humidity content up to a 0.11 db final humidity content, with 8-hour drying time (70°C and 3.4 m s-1 air speed), assuming 4.5± 0.5 mm pulp thickness, in 300 x 180 mm and 15 mm height rectangular trays. 1.5 0.5 mm thickness rolled dehydrated pulps were obtained in these conditions The final product had 0.60a (aw) water activity providing for a stable product, having low water content and very similar characteristics to those of the fresh product (shown by Weende analysis).


A preliminary laboratory study was conducted to investigate the impact of different residual types and sediment surface roughness on copper contaminant fluxes to the water column. Sediments from Torch Lake, Michigan served as the test samples. These sediments are mining by-products with elevated Cu levels. Six experiments were run during which the sediments were conditioned to simulate different forms of residuals. During these experiments, the water column above the sediments was circulated via peristaltic pumping or orbital shaking and the total and dissolved Cu levels were monitored periodically for 15 days. Dissolved Cu levels indicated that during the first 48 hr the water column concentrations approached equilibrium for all six cases. Total Cu levels increased with time and did reach equilibrium but were more susceptible to fluctuations in water column suspended solids levels. Analysis of the resulting dissolved Cu data indicated that the resulting water column Cu concentrations differed with sediment surface and residual type. The highest dissolved Cu water column concentrations were observed for a roughened surface with a larger surface area. The lowest water column dissolved Cu levels were observed for the case with sediment slurry placed over clean sand. The dissolved Cu levels in the water column for all six simulated conditions were several orders higher than the USEPA ambient water quality criteria for protection of aquatic life. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.*


In search of a better transparent contact to p-GaN, we analyze various metal/indium-tin-oxide (ITO) (Ag/ITO, AgCu/ITO, Ni/ITO, and NiZn/ITO) contact schemes and compare to Ni/Au, NiZn/Ag, and ITO. The metal layer boosts conductivity while the ITO thickness can be adjusted to constructive transmission interference on GaN that exceeds extraction from bare GaN. We find a best compromise for an Ag/ITO (3 nm/67 nm) ohmic contact with a relative transmittance of 97% of the bare GaN near 530 nm and a specific contact resistance of 0.03 Ω·cm2. The contact proves suitable for green light-emitting diodes in epi-up geometry.


Introduction: Extrapyramidal side effects (EPS) in the treatment of psychotic patients contribute to poor compliance and exacerbation of psychiatric symptoms. The use of trihexyphenidyl is beneficial in preventing and treating neuroleptic-induced EPS. The aim of this research is to find the pattern and characteristic of trihexyphenidyl usage in patients receiving antipsychotic therapy at Adult Psychiatry Clinic in Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital. Method: This research is a descriptive cross sectional study. Samples used were medical records from patients who received trihexyphenidyl. Sample size of 97 subscrets was calculated from the formula for descriptive study. Samples were collected randomly from August 2010 to July 2011. Result: The most widely used pattern of trihexyphenidyl usage in patients receiving antipsychotic therapy was simultaneous use of trihexyphenidyl and antipsychotics since the beginning of treatment or prior to appearance of EPS at approximately 91.8%. Conclusion: This research has shown the pattern of trihexyphenidyl usage in PJD RSCM, which was to give trihexyphenidyl directly to patients without EPS examination and without evaluation every three months. This finding is not in accordance with the 2007 medical care guidelines from the Department of Psychiatry RSCM and WHO consensus on the management of EPS. J Indon Med Assoc. 2013;63:14-20. Keyword: trihexyphenidyl, antipsychotic, extrapyramidal side effects.


The authors describe two cases of epithelioid sarcoma of the vulva and summarize the clinical and pathologic experience with this vulvar neoplasm. Findings indicate that epithelioid sarcoma of the vulva usually occurs in the labia majora of young women, but may occur in later life. Clinically it may mimic a Bartholin's duct cyst, thus leading to inadequate treatment. Pathologic findings are characterized by sheets and nests of acidophilic, polygonal cells. Follow‐up study suggests that vulvar epithelioid sarcoma behaves more aggressively than extragenital epithelioid sarcoma. Four of five patients died of metastatic sarcoma. The courses of three patients were quite rapid, whereas a fourth patient had multiple recurrences over a long period, which is typical of extragenital epithelioid sarcoma. Complete initial excision is important. All patients with local recurrence died with distant metastases. Vascular invasion also indicates a poor outcome.