Nacrite and dickite are found in two localities in northern Taiwan. One, containing nacrite and dickite, is associated with a gold-enargite deposit as a vug-filling clay in the Chinkushih (CKS) mine district near the northern coast. The other is the occurrence of dickite in the interstices of a Miocene coarse-grained quartzose sandstone in the Nanshihchiao (NSC) area, near Taipei city. X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential thermal analysis (DTA), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and petrographic examinations were used to characterize the mineralogical features. Nacrite most often takes the unusual form of rhombic platelets, and dickite is commonly elongated in habit with the shapes possibly related to their origin. Based on geological evidence, we believe that both nacrite and dickite are of hydrothermal origin. In the CKS area, the formation of nacrite and dickite is related to the hypogene gold-enargite mineralization. In contrast, the transformation of dickite in the NSC area is due to the influence of the raised temperatures of sandstone formation, resulting from volcanic activity during the Kungkuan stage after the deposition of the sandstone.


Big data has found applications in multiple domains. One of the largest sources of textual big data is scientific documents and papers. Big scholarly data have been used in numerous ways to create innovative applications such as collaborator discovery, expert finding and research management systems. With the advent of advanced machine and deep learning techniques, the accuracy and novelty of such applications have risen manifold. However, the biggest challenge in the development of deep learning models for scholarly applications in cloud based environment is the underutilization of resources because of the excessive time taken by textual preprocessing. This paper presents a preprocessing pipeline that makes use of Spark for data ingestion and Spark ML for pipelining preprocessing tasks. The evaluation of the proposed work is done using a case study, which uses LSTM based text summarization for generating title or summary from abstract of any research. The ingestion, preprocessing and cumulative time for the proposed approach (P3SAPP) is much lower than the conventional approach (CA), which manifests in reduction of costs as well.


Background: Long-term MRD efficacy in OSA pts noncompliant with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is not well documented. Aim: ORCADES is a French prospective multicenter cohort study evaluating the clinical benefits of a custom-made MRD over 5 years in g300 OSA pts who refused or did not tolerate CPAP. Interim results at 3-6 months follow-up (FU) are presented. Methods: Eligible OSA pts fitted with a CAD/CAM MRD (Narval CCt) had gradual mandibular advancement (MA) until the best benefit-risk ratio. Sleep data, symptoms, quality of life, side effects and compliance were evaluated over 5-years9 FU. Treatment success: ≥50% decrease in apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) from baseline. Results: Data on 312 pts treated with the CAD/CAM MRD were available (76% male, age 53±12 years, body mass index 27±4 kg/m2, 42% with AHI g30/h). Mean final MA was 7±2 mm (80% maximum MA). Mean AHI decreased from 29±15 to 10±12. Treatment success rate was 79% (95% CI 74-83%), irrespective of OSA severity. AHI was l10/h in 66% of pts. Of pts with AHIg30, 60% and 40%, respectively, were effectively treated or cured. Mean Epworth Sleepness Scale reduced from 11±5 to 8±4. Loud snoring disappeared in 89% of pts affected. Symptoms and quality of life improved significantly. Mean MRD usage was 6.7 hours/night on a mean of 6.8 days/week. Overall, 25 pts (8%) stopped MRD due to side effects. Independent predictors of success were less abdominal obesity and deeper overbite. Conclusions: These interim results confirm the clinical benefits of custom-made CAD/CAM MRD in mild to severe OSA. This device can be used when CPAP fails, with few side effects and excellent compliance.


We study here the algebraic, geometric, and analytic structure of the set of idempotent elements in a real or complex Banach algebra. A neighborhood of each idempotent in the set of idempotents forms the set of idempotents in a Rees product subsemigroup of the Banach algebra. Each nontrivial connected component of the set of idempotents is shown to be a generalized saddle, a type of analytic manifold. Each component is also shown to be the quotient of a (possibly infinite dimensional) Lie group by a Lie subgroup.


This article aims to find out the process of fostering social behavior of students, how to know the problems experienced by PAI teachers and to find out efforts in overcoming the problems experienced by PAI teachers in Jadid Ar-Rohman Middle School Sendangharjo. While the approach used in this study is a qualitative approach, namely an approach that emphasizes more on the analysis of deductive and inductive inference processes, and on the analysis of the dynamics of the relationship between observed phenomena, using scientific logic. PAI Teacher Problems in improving students' social behavior; Lack of interest and awareness of students in carrying out school discipline, Lack of development of school facilities and infrastructure, poor social environment, so that there are some of the students whose behavior is not good. Efforts to overcome the problems experienced by PAI teachers in Jadid Ar-Rohman Middle School Sendangharjo Brondong Lamongan Indonesia include; Building positive social behavior habits, Complete lack of facilities and infrastructure, Building exemplary, Establishing communication with various parties.


This paper focuses on model design, simulation and control of a five degree of freedom (DoF) robotic arm using servo motors. The robotic arm is controlled by a PIC 16F877A microcontroller and its main function is to generate pulse width modulation (PWM) signals which are applied to the servo motors for achieving the desired rotation angle. A PWM signal could have different effects on various servo motors depending on their specifications. Thus, it is important to apply the exact PWM signals to achieve the rotation angle desired. The main advantage of controlling the servo motors with PWM signals is that they can be programmed to have an initial position and to rotate with an exact degree with respect to the requirements. A general formula is derived for finding the pulse width required to achieve the desired rotation in each servo motor. The main advantage of this formula is that it can be used for any servo motor with different specification. Simulation results presented showed that for PWM signal (P) a difference of 0.45 s to 1.45µs and angle rotation difference of 0.04o to 0.11o were obtained. The result obtained from the derived equation is found to have 98% accuracy compared to the simulation results.


Stereotomography belongs to the slope methods providing a velocity
model by traveltime inversion. It can be applied using the traveltimes picked on prestack
data and post-stack data. In this paper we apply post-stack stereotomography
on a land seismic reflection dataset with the purpose to get an accurate 2D velocity.
Then, the velocity information is used to perform a pre-stack depth migration using
the Kirchhoff method, the same like that one used in the standard processing flow.
The post-stack stereotomography results are different than those of the
standard processing. The Common-Reflection-Surface (CRS) stack shows some areas
where the reflectivity is enhanced, compared to those from the Common-Midpoint
(CMP) stack, obtained from standard processing. The 2D velocity model, obtained
through the inversion of the picked traveltimes on the CRS stack and verified through
the Common-Image-Gathers (CIG) analysis, contains good and reliable velocities
that provide a better depth image of the subsurface.


Members of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) superfamily are soluble factors that regulate a variety of functional responses including proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and cell cycle, among others, depending not only on the cell type and its differentiation state, but also on the milieu of cytokines present. All three members of this superfamily: TGF-betas, bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and Activins, have been shown to be expressed in the thymus suggesting their potential role as regulators of the T lymphocyte differentiation process. Although initial reports described the role of TGF-beta in controlling specific checkpoints during thymocyte development, recent data has provided new evidence on the role of BMPs and Activins in this process. This review provides new insights on the function of members of the TGF-beta superfamily at different stages of thymocyte development.


Background Much remains to be discovered about Lupus. Not just disease mechanisms and new treatments, but also better understanding the day to day issues faced by patients and their relatives, the impact on social and psychological functioning,… To help people living with lupus bring their life experience to the table, LUPUS EUROPE created patient panels, by and for people with lupus. Methods Over the past years, Lupus Europe conducted 3 patient panels. Each panel, from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon brought together 10 to 12 diverse European (semi-)naïve patients around 1 theme, with 8–10 'activities' exploring the subject. The panels were moderated by people living with lupus themselves. Results Our panels have brought insights that we think are relevant for doctors and researchers in lupus. Amongst those: Patients define treatment much broader than doctors. They view treatment as 'any product or activity that aims at improving the person with lupus' quality of life', not just prescription drugs. The patient–doctor relationship impacts adherence, with unmet needs in the area of 'understanding each component of the treatment', 'having concerns raise acknowledged even if not irrelevant to diagnose' and 'feeling ownership for the treatment plan'. Youth acknowledge their top issue is taking pills every day, but preferred to focus on collective issues. Young women's feeling of guilt (imposing limits, having children, 'contaminating' them…) is likely underestimated by doctors and patient organizations. Young people are more positive on their life than average patients. They perceive lupus as being 'all over their lives', but want to make sure they are not ruled by it, and want to have no obligations relating to it… Many additional panel conclusions are available on https://www.lupus-europe.org/patient-panels/ Conclusions Lupus Europe's panels provide an opportunity to gather insights that can feed the patient-doctor relationship and contribute to a better understanding of the disease. Acknowledgements Lupus Europe is mostly financed by contributions of industry – GSK, UCB, Idorsia, Boehringer, Janssen, Leo Pharma


A coding scheme for concatenation space-time codes to achieve the maximum diversity over the time-selective block Rayleigh fading channels via the time-frequency duality is proposed in this paper. Based on the basis expansion model (BEM) for the time-selective fading channels, we firstly inversely convert it into the corresponding virtual frequency-selective fading circulant matrix by pre- and post-multiplying IFFT and FFT matrix in the transmit and receive end respectively. And then with OFDM module, general space-time codes can be directly applied in it. Based on the pairwise error probability (PEP) analysis in case of rapid fading, we derive design and performance criteria for the concatenation space-time block coding. Extending the full diversity space-frequency coding approach proposed previously to our consideration, we construct the space-time-Doppler block codes from the general space-time codes through repetition, which achieve the maximum additional Doppler diversity besides space and time diversity. Simulation results demonstrate the excellent performance of the proposed technique


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the therapeutical effects of visfatin and metformin on insulin resistance and reproductive endocrine disorder in rats with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

METHODS
Forty female Wistar rats were divided into 4 equal groups, and in groups A, B and C, the rats were injected subcutaneously with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) for PCOS modeling, with group D as the blank control injected with soybean oil. Vaginal smears and serological testing were taken to assess the modeling. After the modeling, the rats in group A received 10 µg reorganized visfatin injection and those in group B were treated with metformin (14 mg/100 g) on a daily basis for 15 days. Serum levels of T, LH, FSH, FINS and blood glucose levels during OGTT were measured before and after the treatments, and HOMA-IR and LH to FSH ratio were calculated. The ovaries were then dissected for pathological examination.

RESULTS
In groups A and B, FINS, FPG, T, HOMA-IR and blood glucose levels during OGTT were significantly decreased after the treatments (P<0.05), which resulted in recovery of regular menses in 8 (80%) rats in group A and 7 (77.8%) rats in group B with the development of normal follicles. Visfatin and metformin produced equivalent therapeutic effects in improving the insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism in PCOS rats.

CONCLUSION
Visfatin and metformin have equivalent therapeutic effects in improving insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism and in promoting the recovery of regular menses and development of normal follicles in PCOS rats.


Acceleration of the differential diagnosis of microcytic hypochromic anemia is still an urgent problem. With the development of laboratory technology, new possibilities appear for differentiating iron deficiency and hemoglobinopathies as the main causes of hypochromic microcytic anemia. This study was conducted to assess the information content of the calculated indices of red blood cells M, Si, M-H and M-H-RDW in the primary diagnosis of thalassemia. This study is supported by the Independent Ethics Committee and approved by the Academic Council of the Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Immunology. 110 patients with microcytic hypochromic anemia were examined. The material for research was whole venous blood with the anticoagulant K3 EDTA. Blood samples were studied by flow cytometry using an Sysmex XT 4000i (Sysmex Corporation, Япония) automated hematology analyzer in CBC + DIFF + RET mode. It was found that with a probability of 96.3%, it is possible to assume the presence of thalassemia in the primary diagnosis of microcytic hypochromic anemia using the parameters of an automatic hematological analyzer and calculated indices M, Si, M-H and M-H-RDW. Assessment of the information content of the calculated indices M, Si and M-H, M-H-RDW in the primary diagnosis of thalassemia showed their high predictive value in case of simultaneous changes in all 4 indices. For the correct assessment and exclusion of false negative results, a strict observance of the preanalytical stage and the availability of information on transfusions of erythrocyte-containing media carried out by the patient are necessary.


This paper describes the development of a control strategy for high-torque spindle motor drives used in hard-disk drives (HDDs). It uses the per-phase torque characteristics of the motor, which is termed the motor identity, for the optimization of the input current to achieve high efficiency and optimal torque production. This control strategy is described as 'identity control'. A self-starting technique is also developed to start the spindle motor and to operate the motor without sensors. This paper also discusses the implementation of a zero voltage switching quasi-resonant power converter (ZVS-QRC) to achieve high power efficiency by minimizing switching losses in the power devices. Simulation and experimental results are presented and a comparison is made for the identity controlled spindle drive and a BLDCM controlled spindle drive.<<ETX>>


In videos, detecting text with multifaceted scenarios is perplexing. Texts in those videos have content full data facts that will be applied for various applications. Here, a system is proposed to enrich the text detection process from video. Here, a new method is implemented that detects Tamil text based on Gradient Vector Flow (GVF) and fuzzy c-means. First the video is split into number of frames. To circumvent temporal redundancy in each frame, a key frame is chosen and the frame where the text be located is identified to be the key frame. The dominant edge pixel is identified in that frame by the sobel edge map. Edge components are detected conforming towards the dominant pixel in sobel detector for constructing Text Candidates (TC).Clustering of a pixel is performed to detect text by using fuzzy c means clustering algorithm. Finally text is detected.


BACKGROUND
The authors conducted a study to determine concentrations of fluoride in infant formulas, and to estimate fluoride intake in infants consuming predominantly formula. The authors compared estimated fluoride ingestion with the tolerable upper limit and adequate intake level for fluoride recommended by the Institute of Medicine (IOM).

METHODS
The authors analyzed fluoride concentrations of powdered and liquid formula concentrates and ready-to-feed formulas. They estimated the total fluoride ingested by infants by considering the fluoride content measured in both the infant formula and various concentrations of fluoridated water. They based consumption volumes on published recommendations. The authors compared estimates for fluoride ingestion with the upper tolerable limit and adequate intake level, which they calculated by using published infant growth charts.

RESULTS
Fluoride concentrations of the different formulas were low and, if reconstituted with low-fluoride water, would not result in ingestion of fluoride at levels exceeding the IOM's upper tolerable limit. Some infants aged between birth and 6 months who consume powdered and liquid concentrate formulas reconstituted with water containing 1.0 part per million fluoride likely will exceed the upper tolerable limit of fluoride.

CONCLUSIONS
When powdered or liquid concentrate infant formulas are the primary source of nutrition, some infants are likely to exceed the recommended fluoride upper limit if the formula is reconstituted with water containing 1.0 ppm fluoride. On the other hand, when the fluoride concentration in water used to reconstitute infant formulas is below 0.4 ppm, it is likely that infants between 6 and 12 months of age will be exposed to fluoride at levels below IOM's recommended adequate intake level.


fuses to despair). An essay on federation in French West Africa demonstrates that it is not only Africans but Western Europeans who use the same words differently. What French colonial administrators called federation is more like what is elsewhere called democratic centralism, and yet the author artlessly describes the breakup after de-colonization of what never existed before and which, on a truly voluntary basis, has been tried with little success since, in Frenchspeaking Africa. Altogether a motley lot of essays, but in various ways each provides information and within its stated competence is competent. It is well to know how provincial were Soviet scholars about Africa until after the 1955 Bandung Conference and even better to know how quickly they are now learning the realities. And it makes sense to relate the growth of Marxist parties in French-speaking Africa to the strength of the Communist party in France, in contrast to the situation in the Englishspeaking areas. But would it not be more relevant to consider more deeply why Marxism has become so intensely attractive to so many Africans, Chinese, Indonesians, Malayans, and Indians regardless of language, and whether Islam is in practice any more hostile to Communism in Africa than Christianity proved to be in the Soviet Union?


Recent advances in the field of pulmonary hypertension (PH) have provided clinicians with a range of treatment options, but effective disease management in children presents a unique challenge. The present article will discuss the steps being taken to address unmet needs in paediatric PH. Understanding the epidemiology of paediatric PH is essential to guide management decisions, but such epidemiological data are scarce. The first international paediatric PH registry, Tracking Outcomes in Paediatric Pulmonary Hypertension (TOPP), promises to become a vital resource. Studies of PH therapies are rare in children, and treatment of paediatric PH is generally guided by the adult treatment algorithm, with some adaptations. However, invasive management options, such as continuous prostacyclin infusion, even if effective, are challenging in children, and further research is required to develop appropriate treatment strategies, formulations and doses for paediatric PH. Measures of treatment success must also be defined, and the applicability of end-points from adult clinical studies remains an open question. In summary, further epidemiological and treatment data are needed for paediatric pulmonary hypertension. The international TOPP registry will provide a valuable insight, but this must be complemented by research and development of adapted paediatric therapies. Dedicated childhood pulmonary hypertension services would optimise the diagnosis and management of this life-threatening disease.


This paper deals with a new method of estimating the accumulated damage (D-value), a proposal for design d-value spectrum and their applications to nuclear piping system seismic designing. The earthquake waves employed to calculating d-value spectrum are artifical and world famous earthquakes. Then we can present a design d-value spectrum that is not influenced by input earthquake characters since we take an envelope spectrum of these d-value spectra. Applicational example indicate where D-value is evaluated from the design d-value spectrum. The ratio of the D-value to the critical one corresponding to a safety limit for design, which will be obtained by experiments, shows a good index for safety reliability of nuclear piping systems.


We develop an adaptive decision-feedback equalization algorithm that combines blind adaptation and decision-directed LMS in a dynamic manner according to the amount of equalizer output error. By observing how the mean-square blind equalization error depends on the adaptation step size, we obtain a way of continuously varying the adaptation speed of the overall algorithm with the equalizer output error as well as a way to shift the relative emphasis between blind and decision-directed LMS operation. We also describe the way to estimate the amount of equalizer output error in the algorithm. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can achieve faster convergence at a lower complexity than some recently proposed hybrid adaptation algorithms


In this paper it is shown that spatial network method (SNM) can be formally derived as a finite differencing scheme, which ensures that the necessary stability and convergence conditions are met. For the first time, Mur and Higdon second-order absorbing boundary conditions (ABC's) have been used in conjunction with SNM. It has been found that the Higdon second-order ABC's perform better than the Mur algorithm for guided wave problems with inhomogeneous substrates. Finally, it is shown that SNM can successfully be employed for the analysis of planar and three-dimensional (3-D) microstrip discontinuities in open or shielded environments.


Objective To look for a convenient, specific, sensitive and economic method of detecting extended-spectrum β-lactamases(ESBLs). Methods 68 strains of clinically isolated Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and 10 strains of standard β-lactamases-producing Escherichia coli were collected. Inhibitor potentiated broth dilution tests (IPBDT) were performed. Compare the results of DDT, E-test and Vitek test with those of IPBDT. The strains with different results of IPBDT and DDT were typed by gene cloning and sequencing. Results Comparing with the results of IPBDT, the sensitivity of DDT(96.4%) is higher than that of E-test and Vitek test (70.4% and 75.9%, respectively). Of five strains having different results of IPBDT and DDT, three were identified as TEM-1 producer and the other two were non TEM and SHV producer. Conclusion DDT is an applicable method for detecting ESBLs and can be routinely used in clinical laboratories.


The present thesis is divided into two chapters. Chapter 1 relates to chemical investigation of the medicinal plant Andrachne aspera. This study has resulted in the isolation of three novel piperidine alkaloids from this plant which have been named as andrachcine, andrachamine and AA-3. The structures fro andrachcine and andrachamine have been proposed on the basis of spectroscopic analysis.

The second chapter deals with isolation of steroidal glycoside named as attenuatoside A-1,halityloside D and E. These glycosides are isolated for the first time from starfish porania pulvillus.

The structures for these isolated saponins have been proposed on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical studies.


Digital holography became feasible with the development of charged coupled devices(CCDs). One of advantages of digital holography is no film material involving wet-chemical or other processing is necessary. In addition, in the numerical reconstruction process not only the intensity, but also the phase distribution of the stored wave-field can be computed from the digital hologram. We propose an approach of numerical reconstruction in in-line digital holography based on MATLAB. The proposed experimental setup is based on Mach–Zehnder interferometer. Then the disturbance of the zero - order image and the twin-image were eliminated by frequency domain filtering. Numerical reconstruction of the digital holography was worked out after that. In addition, we propose an approach to solve the phase shift in numerical reconstruction processing. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated by experiment.


Nursery rhymes and children's poetry is an important part of children's literature,here are not only close relation but also two essential differences between them.But nowadays the two are often confused with the name.From the nursery rhymes and the children's poetry's areas such as text,concepts,modes of transmission in comparative analysis to distinguish the difference between the two,and thus to probe the occurrence and development of children's poems reflect the view of children after the May Fourth Movement fundamental change.


A posterior dynamics of an observed quantum particle in a quadratic potential is studied. It is proved that Belavkin's stochastic wave equation for the quantum particle with continuously observed 1) position, 2) momentum, 3) position and momentum is uniquely relaxing to the corresponding Gaussian wave packet for any initial square-integrable wave function. A comparison of the asymptotic position-momentum uncertainties of these measurements is given.


This paper describes the dynamics of the level, slope and curvature of the Brazilian nominal yield curve using only observable macroeconomic indicators. The model is able to explain 94.5% of the variation in the yield curve. We find that the main drivers of the level factor is the Brazil risk premium (5-year CDS spread) and the unemployment rate. In turn, the slope steepens with increases either in the SELIC rate or in the spot exchange rate, and flattens with increases in unemployment rate and commodity returns. Lastly, the curvature increases with the unemployment, inflation and SELIC rates, but decreases with changes in the exchange rate.


Psittacosis pneumonia is easily underdiagnosed and misdiagnosed. In this study, we use mNGS in the diagnosis of psittacosis pneumonia. ABSTRACT Psittacosis is an uncommon disease which mainly presents as community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). We aim to apply metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) as a promising tool in the diagnosis of psittacosis pneumonia and to describe its clinical spectrum to provide physicians with a better understanding and recognition of this disease. Thirteen cases of psittacosis pneumonia were diagnosed by using mNGS. A retrospective analysis of the data on clinical manifestations, laboratory data, computed tomography (CT) images, new diagnosis tools, treatments, and outcomes was summarized. These patients had common symptoms of fever and weakness; some had poor appetite, cough, myalgia, and headache. Ten patients developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), among which six patients were severe pneumonia cases and needed ventilator therapy. Most patients got psittacosis pneumonia during the cold season. Ten cases were sporadic, but three were family clustering. All of the 13 patients were traced to an exposure history to birds, cat, or poultry, among which 2 only touched the innards of killed poultry before cooking, which may be an atypical exposure history not been reported before, to our knowledge. Most patients had various degrees of liver dysfunction. Air-space consolidations, along with ground-glass opacities and reticular shadows, were detected on chest CT scan. mNGS takes 48 to 72 h to provide results and helps to diagnose psittacosis. After being diagnosed by mNGS, with effective medicines, all patients finally had complete recoveries. The use of mNGS can improve the diagnostic rate of psittacosis pneumonia and shorten the course of disease control. IMPORTANCE Psittacosis pneumonia is easily underdiagnosed and misdiagnosed. In this study, we use mNGS in the diagnosis of psittacosis pneumonia. We found this disease is prone in the cold season, and touching the innards of killed poultry during cooking may be an atypical exposure history which has not been reported before to our knowledge. There are sporadic cases and family outbreak cases as well. Except for typical symptoms of fever and weakness, headache may be the main and only symptom in some patients. The rate of severe pneumonia is high among inpatients with psittacosis pneumonia, and the incidence of hepatic involvements is also high. Psittacosis pneumonia can be cured if the diagnosis is accurate and in time, even if it is severe pneumonia on admission. Some problems worthy of our attention about psittacosis pneumonia were put forward, such as its sick season, special exposure history, the rate of severe disease, and the high cure rate. mNGS can quickly and objectively detect more rare pathogenic microorganisms in clinical specimens without the need for specific amplification and has an advantage in the diagnosis of rare pathogenic bacteria in difficult cases such as psittacosis pneumonia. The use of mNGS can improve the accuracy and reduce the delay in the diagnosis of psittacosis, which shortens the course of disease control.


Following the publication of this paper, it was drawn to the Editors' attention by a concerned reader that various panels showing data from flow cytometric experiments in Figs. 2D and 5D were strikingly similar to data appearing in different form in other articles by different authors. Owing to the fact that the contentious data in the above article were already under consideration for publication, or had already been published, elsewhere when it was submitted to Oncology Reports, the Editor has decided that this paper should be retracted from the Journal. The authors were asked for an explanation to account for these concerns, but the Editorial Office did not receive a reply. The Editor apologizes to the readership for any inconvenience caused. [Oncology Reports 38: 3187‑3196, 2017; DOI: 10.3892/or.2017.5997].


We prove some new rigidity results for proper biharmonic immersions in S of the following types: Dupin hypersurfaces; hypersurfaces, both compact and non-compact, with bounded norm of the second fundamental form; hypersurfaces satisfying intrinsic properties; PMC submanifolds; parallel submanifolds.


—Advances in 3D imaging technology in recent years have allowed for increasingly high resolution volumetric images of large specimen. The resulting datasets of hundreds of Gigabytes in size call for new scalable and memory efficient approaches in the field of image processing, where some progress has been made already. At the same time, quantitative evaluation of these new methods is difficult both in terms of the availability of specific data sizes and in the generation of associated ground truth data. In this paper we present an algorithmic framework that can be used to efficiently generate test (and ground truth) volume data, optionally even in a streaming fashion. As the proposed nested sweeps algorithm is fast, it can be used to generate test data on demand. We analyze the asymptotic run time of the presented algorithm and compare it experimentally to alternative approaches as well as a hypothetical best-case baseline method. In a case study, the framework is applied to the popular VascuSynth software for vascular image generation, making it capable of efficiently producing larger-than-main memory volumes which is demonstrated by generating a trillion voxel (1TB) image. Implementations of the presented framework are available online in the form of the modified version of Vascusynth and the code used for the experimental evaluation. In addition, the test data generation procedure has been integrated into the popular volume rendering and processing framework Voreen.


Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) IIIB is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disease with severe progressive neurological manifestation. Detailed mechanisms of neuropathology of MPS IIIB are unclear, though the primary pathology is known to be the lysosomal storage of heparan sulfate. Recently, using a mouse model of MPS IIIB, we showed that MPS IIIB neuropathology is accompanied by a robust neuroinflammatory response of unknown consequence. Here, we show for the first time, that lymphocytes isolated from MPS IIIB mice cause a mild paralytic disease when they are injected systemically into naïve wild-type mice. This disease is characterized by mild tail and lower trunk weakness with delayed weight gain. The MPS IIIB lymphocytes also trigger neuroinflammation within the CNS of recipient mice characterized by up-regulation of IL2, IL4, IL5, IL17, TNFα, IFNα, and Ifi30, glial activation and intraparenchymal lymphocyte infiltration. Together, these data suggest that an autoimmune response, especially T-cell autoimmunity, directed at CNS proteins contributes to MPS IIIB neuropathology independent of lysosomal storage pathology.


The analysis of diagnosis and treatment of myocardial infarction (MI) at a prehospital stage and in critical care units suggested measures how to improve qualification of prehospital and critical care cardiological staff. Realization of the measures promoted a reduction of lethality in MI patients.


In current clinical practice, there are increasing numbers of patients in whom chronic obstructive disease is concurrent with three diseases: diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, and arterial hypertension. The concomitance of these socially significant diseases reflects a new stage of diseases of this century.


Dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) is associated with the occurrence and development of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) through their participation in a number of critical biological processes. Therefore, an in‑depth investigation into miRNAs and their biological roles within ccRCC may provide useful insights and lead to the identification of novel therapeutic methods for patients with ccRCC. miRNA‑599 (miR‑599) serves critical roles in different types of human cancer. However, the expression pattern, biological function and molecular mechanism of miR‑599 in ccRCC remain unknown. The present study aimed to detect the expression level of miR‑599 in ccRCC, examine its effect on ccRCC progression and further explore the possible underlying mechanisms. It was observed that miR‑599 was significantly underexpressed in ccRCC tissues and cell lines compared with the control. Functional assays revealed that restored expression of miR‑599 restricted the proliferation and invasion of ccRCC cells. Bioinformatics analysis, luciferase reporter assay, reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis demonstrated that high‑mobility group AT‑hook 2 (HMGA2) was a direct target of miR‑599 in ccRCC. HMGA2 knockdown simulated the suppressive effects caused by miR‑599 overexpression in ccRCC. Recovered HMGA2 expression partially rescued the miR‑599‑mediated inhibition of ccRCC proliferation and invasion. These results suggest that miR‑599 may serve tumour suppressive roles in ccRCC by directly targeting HMGA2, indicating that miR‑599 may have potential as a treatment for patients with ccRCC.


This paper presents a smoothing method which preserves features for a triangular mesh even when large-scale noise are included because of measurement errors. First, scale-dependent discrete Laplacian is introduced along with boundary Laplacian to deal with an open mesh. Then, a method for feature detection which uses the values by these Laplacians is constructed. Furthermore, anisotropic diffusion is proposed which determines suitable parameters from the values for preserving features. Finally a method is presented which discriminates features from large-scale noise by generating graph of feature lines. Effectiveness of the methods is shown by the experiment results of well-smoothed meshes with their features preserved.


We experimentally demonstrate a simple scheme for generating a four-photon cluster state. We show that the produced state has genuine four-qubit entanglement which is discriminated from a class including GHZ and W types of entanglement.


A case in which bone has been found in the upper urinary tract is reported. Since the physiopathology and morphological characteristics of this tissue do not meet the requirements needed to be defined as a urolith, we believe this is a case of bone metaplasia and not urinary lithiasis.


With the outbreak of the war, VUNC under the United Nations Command broadcasted psychological warfare programs on the radio. The following paper, which is basic research of VUNC, took a look at broadcasting organizations, networks, propaganda policies and themes, program scheduling, cease-fire conference-related policies and broadcasting activities as the example of psychological warfare, and lastly the effectiveness of the psychological operational radio broadcasting. VUNC employed the broadcasting of United Nations Command's Psychological warfare Branch until July, 1951, which succeeded into Psychological Warfare Section Operations Branch Radio Group. Since people with the lack of expert knowledge and experience on radio broadcasting took the task of producing the programs, the quality and stability of the broadcasting were not able to be guaranteed. However, The First Radio Broadcasting and Leaflet Group dispatched from US had some capacities as a special force in psychological warfare and took charge of the producing and output of the programs. VUNC rented a NHK Tokyo studio and it's many local broadcasting stations' output facilities, and structured 7 networks. And it discharged radio waves to the Korean peninsula and parts of China including Manchuria by using about twenty transmitters. KBS became the 7th VUNC network, and thus airing programs received from VUNC. Psychological Warfare Section was notified of policy guidances and top-classed policies of psychological warfare established from the Pentagon, Department of State and other home government institutions. In the Planning and Policy Branch, these were fine-tuned with details again, making them into Weekly Plan and Policy Guidance, and then were given to in-service departments to make the use of them in writing program scripts and other operations. The most highly-emphasized broadcasting theme was to cause the opposition and resistance to communism, internal frictions and struggles which were all under the category of hate propaganda. The themes were newly written or adjusted depending on warfare policies and the war situations. At the latter part of the war, more positive themes such as UN and democracy were used that had more propaganda effects. The time for broadcasting rapidly increased from 30 minutes to as much as 3 hours. On August 1952 by the time after Chinese force intervened to the Korean War, both Beijing and Gaungdong Chinese were used. News and editorials took up more than half of the entire programs, and there were documentaries and dramatized shows. But VUNC programs were criticized that entertaining sources lacked what could increase the effectiveness. At the starting stage of the cease-fire conference, VUNC was used as a medium for the psychological warfare, means for indirect communication and the parley initiative . Psychological warfare-related activities were not to disturb negotiations so extreme provocations and responses were restricted. The effects of the psychological broadcasting seemed high during the first few months after the war, so it was clear to notice the importance of the situation the propaganda is being performed. This was not caused by the high quality of the program or the good radio wave reception, but rather because of the citizens' need for fast and accurate news since most of the South Korean mass communication facilities were destroyed. Also the very few radio sets and extremely poor electricity supply, which were the absolute conditions of radio broadcasting, placed a definite limit on the effects of broadcasting. The fundamental of programs, the quality of the scripts, were not high due to the writers' capabilities.


The present contribution reacts to concerns about the legitimacy of supra- and international public authority by introducing the idea of relative authority. It argues that public authority is relative, first, in the sense that the exercise of authority by one actor always stands in relation to others and, second, that the allocation of authority should be informed by the legitimacy assets that different actors can bring into the governance process. It develops an argument in favor of a specific, articulated allocation of public authority. Like other legal approaches to global governance it is inspired by domestic legal theory and thinking. It distinguishes itself through its focus on questions of institutional choice: Who should do what in European and international law? While ideas of the separation of power face an uphill battle in the variegated institutional settings on the European and even more so international level, the core normative program embedded in this idea provides traction. The contribution offers the idea of relative authority as a core part of an argumentative framework to critique and help justify the exercise of supra- and international public authority.


2-(1'-Pyrenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazole-3-oxide-1-oxyl (PyrNN) was reacted with M(hfac)(2) (M = Mn(II) and Co(II), hfac = hexafluoracetylacetonate) to give two isostructural ML(2) stoichiometry M(hfac)(2)(PyrNN)(2) complexes and a ML stoichiometry one-dimensional (1-D) polymer chain complex [Mn(hfac)(2)(PyrNN)]. The ML(2) complexes have similar crystal structures with monoclinic unit cells, in which one NO unit from each PyrNN ligand is bonded to the transition metal on cis vertices of a distorted octahedron. The major magnetic interactions are intracomplex metal-to-radical exchange (J), and intermolecular exchange across a close contact between the uncoordinated NO units (J'). For M = Mn(II) an approximate chain model fit gives g = 2.0, J = (-)125 cm(-1) and J' = (-)49 cm(-1); for M = Co(II), g = 2.4, J = (-)180 cm(-1), and J' = (-)70 cm(-1). Hybrid density functional theory (DFT) computations modeling the intermolecular exchange by using only the radical units across the close contact are in good accord with the estimated values of J'. The chain type complex structure shows solvent incorporation for overall structure [Mn(hfac)(2)(PyrNN)](n)·0.5(CHCl(3))·0.5(C(7)H(16)). Both NO groups of the PyrNN ligand are complexed to form helical chains, with very strong metal to radical antiferromagnetic exchange that gives overall ferrimagnetic behavior.


A series of modified bis(4-(4,5-diphenyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)phenyl)dimethylsilane (ST), ST-CF3, ST-Me, ST-tBu, and ST-OMe, were designed and prepared by introducing electron-withdrawing groups or electron-donating groups at the 4-position of the end-on phenyl groups on the triazole ring. Systematic investigations of their thermal-, photophysical-, and electron-transporting (ET) properties were successfully carried out. Depending on the electronic characteristics of the substituents at the end-phenyl group on the triazole, their frontier orbital energy levels were controlled while maintaining energy band gaps. Low-temperature photoluminescence spectra indicate that all the prepared ST moieties maintained high triplet energy states up to 2.85 eV owing to the suppression of electron delocalization by the silicon centre. The electron mobilities of all the compounds were investigated by fabricating electron only devices (EODs). The EOD of ST-tBu showed significantly higher current density than the other analogs. Finally, the EL device utilizing ST-tBu as an electron transporting material in phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes with bis[(4,6-di-fluorophenyl)-pyridinate-N,C2]picolinate (FIrpic) as a dopant showed an external quantum efficiency of 15.9%.


OBJECTIVES. The author reviews the clinical, ethical, medicolegal, and economic consequences of the routine versus limited use of low-osmolar contrast media for patients undergoing urographic and other radiologic studies.METHODS. A comprehensive review of the literature since the introduction of low-osmolar contrast media was conducted, focussing on medical decision making and the economic impact of those decisions on radiologic studies requiring the administration of water-soluble contrast agents.RESULTS. Compared with high-osmolar ionic contrast media, routine use of low-osmolar agents for intravascular injection during diagnostic imaging results in fewer idiosyncratic reactions in patients and potentially less renal injury in a subgroup of critically ill patients. The high cost of low-osmolar agents relative to the overall cost of the examination has prevented the universal adoption of this class of agents in the United States.CONCLUSIONS. Economic pressures on private and government-based insurance plans, as well as on managed-care systems responsible for a variety of patient populations, continue to limit the availability of low-osmolar agents to the individual patient.


Multiple linear regression models are widely used in applied statistical techniques and they are most useful devices for extracting and understanding the essential features of datasets. However, in multiple linear regression models, problems arise when multicollinearity or a serious outlier observation present in the data. Multicollinearity is a linear dependency between two or more explanatory variables in the regression models which can seriously affect the least squares estimated regression surface. The other important problem is outlier; they can strongly influence the estimated model, especially when using least squares method. Nevertheless, outlier data are often the special points of interests in many practical situations. The purpose of this study is to performance comparison of Akaike Information Criterion (AIC'), Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC') and Information Complexity Criterion (ICOMP'(IFIM)) for detecting outliers using Genetic Algorithms when multiple regression model having multicollinearity problems.

 Keywords: Akaike Information Criterion; Bayesian Information Criterion; Information Complexity Criterion; Genetic Algorithms; multicollinearity; outlier detection.

 2010 Mathematics Subject Classification: 62J05


Background: The first step to establish a new academicmajor is the need assessment and extraction of professional and specialized
tasks.
Objectives: The current study aimed to identify and describe the duties of diabetes nurse specialists.
Methods: This needs assessment study was performed using modified Delphi technique in Isfahan in 2014 - 2015. The study population
consisted of patients with diabetes and their families, nurses, endocrinologists, diabetologists and nursing faculty members.
The study was conducted in three rounds: first, through qualitative interviews and focus group discussions, the duties and tasks of
diabetes nurse specialists were extracted, then a questionnaire was designed and in two consecutive rounds, the experts expressed
their opinions about the tasks.
Results: The first round of modified Delphi technique resulted in 500 initial codes. According to these codes, 164 duties were classified
into seven categories. In the second round of Delphi approach, the experts reached to 100% consensus in 126 tasks. According
to the participants, 74 of the 126 duties were similar, overlapping and inappropriate, and thus were eliminated. In the last round
of the study according to the opinions of the experts, 15 more tasks were added to the previous list. Finally, job description for diabetes
nurse specialist was developed in six tasks on professional responsibilities, 17 tasks on the area of education, 25 tasks regarding
caring and treatment, 6 tasks on society and 13 tasks on management.
Conclusions: This study led to identification and classification of diabetes nurse specialist duties. The findings can help nursing
faculties and other institutes to develop task based educational programs for nurses in diabetes management.


This research investigated Sudanese agro wastes ashes (SAWAs) and assessed them as pozzolans to replace cements. This study concentrated on both local agricultural waste "sugar cane bagasse ash (SCBA) and cotton stalk ash (COSA). The paradigm for investigations was the scope of testing properties as per ASTM C311-02 and relevant specifications as per ASTM C618-99. The investigated SAWAs specimens included top and bottom furnaces SCBA from Sudanese Sugar factories and COSA from Gezeera Scheme.  Then several tests were carried out on the raw as-received or processed SAWAs as well as on 80%Portland cement (OPC):20%SAWAs mortars as per ASTM C311. The raw SAWAs were assessed for moisture content, specific gravity, fineness and chemical analysis. The mortars containing 80%OPC+20%SAWA binders (by weight percentage) with varying Water/Binder(W/B) ratio and Graded Standard sand/ binder ratio of 2.75 were investigated for mortar flow & water requirement, strength activity indexes' (SAIs) and drying shrinkage of mortar bars.  Their results were compared with a reference mortar containing only OPC.  The results of tests were judged with criteria specified in the ASTM C618. Results of the tests for all SAWAs indicated that SCBAs are effective pozzolanic materials and the performance of the Top furnace SCBAs are superior to the Bottom SCBA. The COSA have shown no pozzolanic reactivity.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the time course of functional health status, and to inventory impairments in body functions, limitations in activities, and restrictions in participation after critical illness.

DESIGN
Prospective observational cohort study.

SETTING
Mixed medical and surgical closed format; intensive care unit of an academic medical hospital.

PATIENTS
Consecutive patients over a period of 3 months who were ventilated in the intensive care unit for more than 48 h (n = 116).

METHODS
Functional health status was assessed 3, 6 and 12 months after discharge from the intensive care unit using the Sickness Impact Profile 68. Impairments in function, limitations in activities, and restrictions in participation, classified according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF), were evaluated after 3 and 12 months.

RESULTS
Due to a high mortality rate (48%) and poor health conditions, data could not be obtained from all participants at all measurement points. Physical functioning and social behaviour improved predominantly within the first 6 months, while impaired psychological functioning remained unchanged within one year after discharge from the intensive care unit. After one year, 69% of patients were still restricted in performing daily activities and only 50% had resumed work.

CONCLUSION
The extent and severity of lasting intensive care unit-related disability necessitates the development of multidisciplinary after-care to improve health status, functional independence and return to work.


The volume of oviductal fluid fluctuates during the estrous cycle, suggesting that water availability is under hormonal control. It has been postulated that sex-steroid hormones may regulate aquaporin (AQP) channels involved in water movement across cell membranes. Using a functional assay (oocytes of Xenopus laevis), we demonstrated that the rat oviductal epithelium contains mRNAs coding for water channels, and we identified by RT-PCR the mRNAs for AQP5, -8, and -9, but not for AQP2 and -3. The immunoreactivity for AQP5, -8, and -9 was localized only in epithelial cells of the oviduct. The distribution of AQP5 and -8 was mainly cytoplasmic, whereas we confirmed, by confocal microscopy, that AQP9 localized to the apical plasma membrane. Staining of AQP5, -8, and -9 was lost after ovariectomy, and only AQP9 immunoreactivity was restored after estradiol and/or progesterone treatments. The recovery of AQP9 reactivity after ovariectomy correlated with increased mRNA and protein levels after treatment with estradiol alone or progesterone administration after estradiol priming. Interestingly, progesterone administration after progesterone priming also induced AQP9 expression but without a change in mRNA levels. Levels of AQP9 varied along the estrous cycle with their highest levels during proestrus and estrus. These results indicate that steroid hormones regulate AQP9 expression at the mRNA and protein level and that other ovarian signals are involved in the expression of AQP5 and -8. Thus hormonal regulation of the type and quantity of water channels in this epithelium might control water transport in the oviductal lumen.


Now a days, structures with planar geometry such as Sheet metals, have attracted special consideration among advanced techno logia, and hence investing vibration behavior of sheet metal is of prim important . In particular regarding dynamical investigations, if the natural frequencies get ignored, the resonance phenomena can exert noun computing damages to the structure and systems. In this research for investigating the plates' vibration behavior, finite difference method with error orders of and is implemented. At first, the classical and analytical solutions are reviewed and then relevant equations, needed for numerical analysis, are extracted for those mentioned error orders. Finally the obtained natural frequencies for both modes are compared non-dimensionally. In this research , finite difference  method using error order , is being applied for the first time, however the results of various references and simulation with ANSYS software are used to verify the outcome and  accuracy of the proposed method.


Businesses commonly seek ways to increase their competitive advantage in the marketplace, and marketing strategies often include differentiation through brands, promotions, label information or placement in popular marketplaces. An increasing number of food companies are creating loyal customers through connecting to concerns buyers may have about the environment, food safety, community issues and other social issues. This fact sheet explores how the dairy industry could frame their company actions to best match the interests, perceptions and values of dairy consumers. CREATING LOYAL CUSTOMERS THROUGH SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: HOW DO DAIRY CONSUMERS VALUE ISSUE-BASED INITIATIVES?


The determination of maximum water discharges of floods and rain floods at small mountain streams is relevant for engineering and construction purposes. However, currently, the accounting of the surface runoff of small watercourses is often neglected when construction works are being carrying out. This fact leads to various problems with the exploitation of constructed objects. The purpose of this work is to assess the impact of the construction of the biathlon complex in the recreational area of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk on the maximum surface runoff from the territory that it occupies. Maps of natural and anthropogenically transformed catchments of the territory were created with the usage of the data, collected during the field work in the summer of 2018. Hydrographical characteristics of both kinds of catchments were determined in accordance with generally accepted recommendations. On the basis of the obtained data, there was carried out the comparative analysis of the current state of the study area and its characteristics before the creation of sports facilities in years 2016–2017. The calculations of the maximum runoff in periods of flood and rain floods according to analytical formulas recommended in the literature were made. The results of the calculations clearly show that water discharges from this area during the period of flood and rain floods increased after the construction of the complex in comparison with discharges observed before construction. Studies have confirmed that the construction of biathlon tracks on the mountainside led to the increase in surface runoff from this area, which is the reason for the overflow of the urban storm sewer of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk during the period of flood and rain floods, stormwater outlets on the day surface and the activation of erosion processes, suffusion on the considered territory.


The present study aims to analyze the accounting professionals' point of view as opposed to the students and master students' one, regarding the creative accounting phenomenon existence and manifestation forms. In order to accomplish this objective, there has been used the poll/investigation, as a research method and the questionnaire, as a research instrument. Within the study, there is suggested the testing of more hypotheses that contribute to the clarifying of the aspects wished to be analyzed through the research. These hypotheses' acceptance or rejection is based on the "chi-square" (Karl Pearson) statistical test and rank ordering method. Trying to elaborate a global conclusion of the questionnaire, there could be noticed the fact that over 50% from the questioned accounting students are not tempted to use the creative accounting practices and techniques in order to optimize the taxation without breaking the actual law regulations. At the opposite side, more than a half from the questioned accounting professionals would use these practices without breaking the law regulations that lead to the taxation's optimization. The creative accounting has a negative connotation if the accurate image of the financial position and of the performance is not targeted because it represents the essential factor for elaborating and grounding the accounting policies. However, the positive side of the creative accounting is not excluded, given that one appeals to the "fair" professional judgment of the accounting professionals and to the good faith of managers.


Introduction: The aim of this study is to determine the current trends of irrigation during root canal therapy by specialists who are members of the Chilean Endodontic Society. Materials and Method: A survey (Survey Monkey®-SurveyMonkey.com) was e-mailed to the 485 members of the Chilean Endodontic Society. The instrument was translated and adapted from the survey "Irrigation trends among American Association of Endodontists members: A web-based survey" applied in the USA in 2012. Participants answered a set of 16 questions that included irrigant selection, irrigant concentration, the adopted protocol, techniques or devices for irrigant activation. Results: 99% of respondents use sodium hypochlorite as the main irrigant. Data indicate that 74% of respondents use hypochlorite at a concentration of 5%. Most respondents (94%) also include EDTA in their usual practice. In addition, 90% of respondents reported that they activate the irrigating agent, and 94% confirmed that they perform a final irrigation protocol. Conclusion: The majority of respondents use sodium hypochlorite as the main irrigant at a concentration of 5%, use ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as a smear removal agent, activate the irrigant, and perform a final irrigation protocol.


Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. With its fatality rate reduced significantly if diagnosed early, developing cost-effective, noninvasive methods of early detection is highly investigated. Currently, mammography with magnetic resonance imaging is considered the optimal method of early detection in women who are at a significantly raised risk of developing breast cancer. Due to environmental effects and life-style changes in recent years, elevation of the risk of cancer incidents in lower risk populations is observed and therefore, the development of a relatively easy-performed and low-cost method for early detection of cancer in general and breast cancer in particular is needed. Serum-based analysis techniques have been quite popular subject of research recently as they can be performed with low technical knowledge, become automated and are cheap. In the present article, we have reviewed the literature related to the use of DNA methylation-detection based techniques for diagnosis of early-stage breast cancer using serum or plasma circulating tumor DNA and their power as a future biomarker. A reference to all genes that is reported to be differentially methylated in breast cancer accompanies the article.


Abstract Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia. The most fearful complication of AF is represented by cardio-embolic stroke and 30% of ischaemic strokes are attributable to AF. The prevention of cardio-embolic risk is therefore based on oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT). Some categories of patients do not benefit from OAT. These are patients at increased bleeding risk and with varying degrees of contraindication to long-term anticoagulant therapy. On the opposite are those patients who develop an embolic event related to AF despite a well-conducted OAT. These types of patients benefit from an interventional approach, percutaneous closure of the left auricle (LAAO), aimed at eliminating what is the primary source of AF-related thrombo-embolism, precisely the left auricle. Percutaneous closure of the left auricle has proven to be an effective and safe procedure, significantly reducing the bleeding risks of patients who, after the procedure, will no longer have to take OAT. Furthermore, it has been shown to be effective in reducing cardio-embolic risk. Uncertainty still remains as to what is the optimal antithrombotic therapy after LAAO. In any case, LAAO represents a valid alternative to OAT for those patients in whom it is contraindicated or ineffective.


Accurately estimating tropical cyclone (TC) intensity is one of the most critical steps in TC forecasting and disaster warning/management. For over 40 years, the Dvorak technique (and several improved versions) has been applied for estimating TC intensity by forecasters worldwide. However, the operational Dvorak techniques primarily used in various agencies have several deficiencies, such as inherent subjectivity leading to inconsistent intensity estimates within various basins. This collaborative study between meteorologists and data scientists has developed a deep-learning model using satellite imagery to estimate TC intensity. The conventional convolutional neural network (CNN), which is a mature technology for object classification, requires several modifications when being used for directly estimating TC intensity (a regression task). Compared to the Dvorak technique, the CNN model proposed here is objective and consistent among various basins; it has been trained with satellite infrared brightness temperature and microwave rain-rate data from 1097 global TCs during 2003–14 and optimized with data from 188 TCs during 2015–16. This paper also introduces an upgraded version that further improves the accuracy by using additional TC information (i.e., basin, day of year, local time, longitude, and latitude) and applying a postsmoothing procedure. An independent testing dataset of 94 global TCs during 2017 has been used to evaluate the model performance. A root-mean-square intensity difference of 8.39 kt (1 kt ≈ 0.51 m s−1) is achieved relative to the best track intensities. For a subset of 482 samples analyzed with reconnaissance observations, a root-mean-square intensity difference of 8.79 kt is achieved.


Polycistronic precursor RNAs from trypanosomes are processed into monocistronic mRNAs by the excision of intergenic sequences and the addition of a 39-nucleotide spliced leader by trans splicing. These mRNAs are also polyadenylated, yet they do not contain the hexamer AAUAAA within their 3' untranslated regions (UTRs). To identify the signals required for the accurate polyadenylation of mRNAs, we tested the effects of deletions in either the procyclin 3' UTR or the downstream intergenic region on the polyadenylation of transcripts from a reporter gene. Deletion of the entire 3' UTR does not affect polyadenylation, but a crucial element is located in the intergenic region and includes a pyrimidine-rich sequence from positions 79 to 112 followed by an AG dinucleotide. Related motifs are also found a similar distance downstream of other genes in both the procyclin and the variant surface glycoprotein expression sites. These sequences bear a strong resemblance to splice acceptor sites, but they are generally several hundred base pairs upstream of the major splice acceptor site of the next gene in the transcription unit. There is evidence, however, that some of them can give rise to alternatively spliced transcripts with unusually long 5' UTRs.


A framework for analyzing drive-access transit at a regional level is developed in this research. This framework is intended primarily for in-house use by regional transit agencies, yet has implications for the regional community at large. This framework serves as a tool for understanding and communicating what drive-access transit is, its significance to the regional transportation system, and the behavior of regional drive-access transit users. This framework emphasizes the utilization of GIS technology for both the analysis and communication of information relating to drive-access transit. It also focuses scholarly attention on drive-access transit in general and on kiss-and-ride in particular. The framework is applied to the Boston Metropolitan Region as a primary case study. Data from a variety of regional sources are utilized. GIS technology is used to visualize drive-access transit's regional significance in terms of total ridership, mode share, and drive-access transit facilities' utilization rates. A sub-mode choice model and a station choice model are developed for both rapid transit and commuter rail drive-access transit users. These models depend on the CTPS Emme/2 network model and the MIT Boston Regional TransCAD network model for the rapid transit and commuter rail models, respectively. The MIT Boston Regional TransCAD network model is intended to support on-going research, beyond the scope of this thesis, as part of the collaborative MBTA/MIT transit research effort. As a result of the application of the analytical framework, key findings and specific recommendations related to drive-access transit are reported for the Boston Metropolitan Region. Key findings include: " approximately 46 percent of the region's population lives beyond normal walking distance of transit services; " drive-access transit accounts for 69 percent of overall commuter rail ridership and 18 percent of overall rapid transit ridership; " drive-access transit accounts for 31 percent of rapid transit ridership in the 50 outermost rapid transit stations; " the MBTA has a significant investment in station parking facilities, parking fees represent an increasingly important part of the MBTA's operating budget, and parking fees in the region evidence no spatial correlation; 0 71 percent of regional parking facilities reached 85 percent of capacity, many of them filling hours prior to the departure of the last morning peak train; " commuter rail station choice is dependent on access distance, parking capacities, and transit fares, with travelers willing to drive an extra mile if it results in savings of more than $0.90 on their transit fare; " rapid transit station choice is dependent on access distance, parking capacities, and transit trip distances, with travelers willing to drive an extra mile if it results in transit trip reduction of more than 3.3 miles; 0 sub-mode choice for both commuter rail and rapid transit users depends on access distance, automobile availability, and the number of vehicles owned per capita. Recommendations included: " Making drive-access transit and particularly kiss-and-ride a regional transportation priority. " Utilizing the developed models temporarily for modeling proposed services and policy implications until better data can be collected for a more complete model estimation process. " Promote drive-access transit, especially kiss-and-ride and carpooling to parking stations, through targeting responsive demographic markets, and through incentives such as reduced transit fares, parking fees, or preferential parking treatment. This research is an important initial step in assessing drive-access transit and its regional transportation role. Thesis Supervisor: Mikel Murga Title: Research Associate, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Thesis Reader: Nigel H. M. Wilson Title: Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering


Recent epidemiological studies estimated that more than 30% of European suffer from allergic rhinitis or conjunctivitis, while up to 20% suffer from asthma and 15% from allergic skin conditions, while for many other regions the prevalence is increasing. Allergen immunotherapy represents the only available treatment that can modify the allergic disease process, and thus is worth considering as a treatment in affected individuals. A beneficial effect of allergen immunotherapy has been shown in both adults and children affected by allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, allergic asthma and hymenoptera venom allergy. The present study represents an overview on allergen immunotherapy, focusing on the principal aspects of the use of immunotherapy in the past, its recent clinical applications and future outlook.


Background: Past studies have indicated a potential racial disparity in Multiple Myeloma (MM) survival between black and white patients (Costa et al., 2017; Marinac et al., 2020), an issue compounded by minority underrepresentation in clinical trials (Ailawadhi et al., 2018). To better understand how racial disparities affect both MM survival and access to treatment, we performed an analysis of pooled clinical trial (CT) and Real-World EMR Data (RWD).
 Methods: Eligible Phase II and III open-label MM clinical trials were identified from the Medidata Enterprise Data Store, which comprises over 22,000 historical clinical trials, for de-identified aggregate analyses. De-identified Oncology RWD was sourced from the Guardian Research Network of integrated delivery systems from 2016 to 2020. Baseline characteristics were analyzed in both cohorts. Race was categorized as black, white, or other. Overall Survival (OS) was assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis. In the RWD, therapy utilization was assessed by race.
 Results: The RWD contained 5871 patients, with 17.5% black, 78.3% white, and 4.2% other race. Median age in years at diagnosis was 69 for blacks, 72 for whites, and 70 for other races. The gender breakdown was 54.2% female in blacks, 46.0% in whites, 45.9% in those of other races respectively. Median number of prior regimens was 2, with no differences between racial groups.
 The CT data contained 851 patients, with 1.4% black, 93.5% white, and 5.1% other race. Median age in years at diagnosis was 62 for blacks, 58 for whites, and 55 for other races. The gender breakdown was 33.3% female in blacks, 43.5% in whites, and 46.7% in those of other races respectively. Median number of prior regimens was 5, with no differences between racial groups.
 There was no statistically significant difference in OS between racial groups in either dataset. In the CT data with median follow-up of 7.8 years, survival from date of diagnosis to last visit or date of death was 25% for blacks and 18% for whites. Currently, in the RWD, 3-year survival comparing blacks to whites is 85% to 83%.
 The proportion of treated RWD patients appears to be similar between black and white patient groups, with 56% of white and 53% of black patients receiving 1st line therapy, and 33% and 31% receiving 2nd line therapy, respectively. Among newer therapy modalities, white patients had a higher utilization of targeted antibody agent daratumumab (8.7% utilization among whites, 5.2% in blacks, p<0.001), and although not statistically different, proteasome inhibitor carfilzomib use was also higher among whites compared to blacks (6.5% versus 5.5%). Mono daratumumab and ixazomib were used as 1st-line therapy in white patients, while these agents were administered in combination with other treatments in black patients. Adjusting for age and novel therapy use, there was also a suggestion that treatment initiation after diagnosis occurred earlier in whites than blacks (median 1.1 years vs. 1.6 years, p=0.3).
 Conclusions: Though there were no demonstrated differences in survival between racial groups in either dataset, the RWD suggested differences in treatment utilization, with underutilization of novel therapies like proteasome inhibitors and targeted antibody therapy and later treatment initiation in blacks. Previous studies (Fiala et al., 2017) have noted similar trends, which suggest that therapeutic advances may not be equitably available to all racial groups. This observation could not be replicated in CT data, but merits further exploration. Despite black patients making up 17.5% of patients in the RWD, a racial distribution consistent with published literature (Rosenberg et al., 2015), black patients made up only 1.3% of patients in the CT data. Furthermore, in the CT data, the median age of black patients was older than that of the white and other race groups (62 years compared to 58 and 55, respectively). This observation is magnified by evidence in both the RWD and other datasets (Fillmore et al., 2019) that shows a younger age of onset in black MM patients. Given the strong correlation between age and poorer outcomes in MM (Ludwig et al.,2008), it is possible that these clinical trials are not capturing a representative black patient population, and results may not be generalizable to other groups. Recruitment of black patients should remain a priority in clinical studies in order to effectively assess racial disparities in MM treatment access and survival.

 Rusli: Acorn AI by Medidata, a Dassault Systemes Company: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Diao:Acorn AI by Medidata, a Dassault Systemes Company: Current Employment. Liu:Acorn AI by Medidata, a Dassault Systemes Company: Current Employment. Kelkar:Acorn AI by Medidata, a Dassault Systemes Company: Current Employment. Ensign:Acorn AI by Medidata, a Dassault Systemes Company: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Watson:Guardian Research Network, Inc.: Current Employment. Galaznik:Acorn AI by Medidata, a Dassault Systemes Company: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company.


A novel technique to reconfigure the frequency range of a planar monopole antenna is presented. By adjusting the degree of spiral tightness, a shift of the well-matched operating frequency range is achieved. The proposed antenna is capable of covering the frequencies in the range from 2.9 to 15 GHz, depending on the degree of spiral tightness. The antenna yields a high-efficiency across the full operating bandwidth. Radiation patterns show good omni-directional features in all primary cuts and remain relatively stable with the change of antenna configuration, so that it is a remarkable candidate for indoor or mobile applications where a large frequency range and omnidirectional radiation are required.


Among the technological developments pushed by the emergence of 3D-ICs, wafer thinning has become a key element in device processing over the past years. As volume increases, defects in the overall thinning process flow will become a major element of focus in the future. Indeed product wafers arriving at this point of process are of maximum value. Fundamental understanding of the potential defects and their impact on devices is therefore needed to minimize their recurrence.


This paper proposes a lot aggregation optimization model for minimizing the traceability effort at a grain elevator. The problem involves blending of bulk grain to meet customer specifications. A mathematical multi-objective mixed integer programming (MIP) model is proposed with two objective functions. The objective functions allow in calculating the minimum levels of lot aggregation and minimum discounts that need to be applied to a shipment when the customer contract specifications are not met. Constraints on the system include customer contract specifications, availability of grain at the elevator and the blending requirements. The solutions include the quantities of grain lots from different bins to be used for blending for a shipment while using the minimum number of storage bins and the total discounts to be applied. The numerical results are presented for two shipment scenarios to demonstrate the application of this model to bulk grain blending. The Pareto optimal solutions were calculated that represent the different optimal solutions for the blending problem. This provides the elevator management with a set of blending options. This model provides an effective method for minimizing the traceability effort by minimizing the food safety risk. Besides minimizing the lot aggregation, this model also allows in using the maximum volume of grain present in a given bin which leads to emptying of the storage bins and the extent of aggregation of old grain lots with the new incoming lots can decrease considerably. Use of fewer bins for blending shipments is also easier logistically and can lead to additional savings in terms of grain handling cost and time.


Author(s): Strobel, Kathryn Lynn | Advisor(s): Clark, Douglas S | Abstract: Lignocellulosic biomass is an abundant, low-cost resource for the renewable production of fuels and chemicals. To unlock the potential of lignocellulosic biomass, the cellulose must be broken down into sugars before fermentation to produce ethanol, butanol, or other bio-based products. Unfortunately, lignocellulose is highly resistant to enzymatic degradation, necessitating high enzyme loadings that increase the cost of biofuels. The recalcitrance of biomass stems in part from the presence of lignin, a major component of lignocellulosic biomass. Lignin impedes enzymatic hydrolysis by non-productively binding cellulases and contributing to cellulase denaturation. Despite numerous studies documenting cellulase adsorption to lignin, the structural basis has not been fully elucidated and few attempts have been made to engineer enzymes for reduced lignin affinity. In this work, we investigate and engineer cellulase adsorption to lignin and the resulting effect on hydrolysis of cellulose. The lignin inhibition of two homologous cellulases, T. reesei Cel7A and T. emersonii Cel7A, was found to differ significantly. In Chapter 2, we propose that differences in surface charge, stability, and glycosylation patterns may be the driving force/s behind the observed differences in lignin inhibition and we suggest engineering strategies for improving lignin tolerance of Cel7A catalytic domains. Chapters 3 and 4 detail our efforts to investigate the mechanisms of cellulase lignin adsorption and engineer an enzyme with reduced lignin affinity using site directed mutagenesis of the T. reesei Cel7A carbohydrate binding module (CBM) and linker. Mutation of aromatic and polar residues on the planar face of the CBM greatly decreased binding to both cellulose and lignin, supporting the hypothesis that the cellulose-binding face is also responsible for the majority of lignin affinity. Cellulose and lignin affinity of the alanine mutants were highly correlated, indicating similar binding mechanisms for cellulose and lignin. CBM mutations that added hydrophobic or positively charged residues decreased the selectivity toward cellulose, while mutations that added negatively charged residues increased the selectivity. Mutating the linker to alter predicted glycosylation patterns greatly impacted lignin affinity but did not affect cellulose affinity. Beneficial mutations were combined to generate a mutant with 2.5 fold less lignin affinity and fully retained cellulose affinity. This mutant was not inhibited by added lignin during hydrolysis of Avicel and generated 40% more glucose than the wild type enzyme from dilute acid-pretreated Miscanthus. The mutations studied here inform engineering efforts of other homologous CBMs and will hopefully contribute to reducing the cost of biofuels. The final chapter details the development of a high-throughput selection platform for engineering protease enzymes with new sequence specificity. Proteases are commonly used in research, industry, and medicine, and there is considerable promise for new proteases that could cleave at a user-specified sequence. Positive selection and counter-selection were combined to select a tobacco etch virus protease mutant with new substrate compatibility.


Objectives: To inform policy through determination of the views of Queensland nurses on career progression.
Design: A quantitative cross-sectional cohort design with mailed survey.
Setting: Financial members of the Queensland Nurses' Union. Main outcome measures: Extent of the relationship between opportunity for career progression in nursing with turnover and retention.
Results: A majority (54.4%) of the 1365 respondents were satisfied with their career progression. Only 11.6% were dissatisfied. Satisfaction was not related to length of time in nursing, but did increase among nurses enrolled in further education programs. Dissatisfaction was related to four themes: lack of support to advance knowledge; lack of opportunities for promotion; number of career options; and costs associated with advancement. A quarter of the nurses were contemplating a move within nursing in the next year and most of these nurses (62%) indicated that the move was for the purpose of career advancement. One in six nurses were contemplating leaving nursing altogether; however only 12.8% of those cited lack of career as the factor for intended departure. Results continued the trend seen in previous surveys over the last decade of a small but significant reduction in the perception that career prospects in nursing were limited.
Conclusion: Although the perception that there are limitations to career advancement in nursing has reduced in the last decade, there is still room for improvement. Lack of career progression remains a concern of nurses; however this is not generally manifested in an intention to leave nursing. Rather, nurses are prepared to consider moves within nursing to further their careers.


AbstractIn-Situ Micromechanical Testing in Extreme EnvironmentsByAmanda Sofia LupinacciDoctor of Philosophy in Engineering - Materials Science and EngineeringUniversity of California, Berkeley Professor Andrew M. Minor, Chair In order to design engineering applications that can withstand extreme environments, we must first understand the underlying deformation mechanisms that can hinder material performance. It is not enough to characterize the mechanical properties alone, we must also characterize the microstructural changes as well so that we can understand the origin of material degradation. This dissertation focuses on two different extreme environments. The first environment is the cryogenic environment, where we focus on the deformation behavior of solder below the ductile to brittle transition temperature (DBTT). The second environment is the irradiated environment, where we focus on the effects that ion beam irradiation has on both the mechanical properties and microstructure of 304 stainless steel. Both classes of materials and testing environments utilize novel in situ micromechanical testing techniques inside a scanning electron microscope which enhances our ability to link the observed deformation behavior with its associated mechanical response.This dissertation presents the development of a novel in situ cryogenic micromechanical testing apparatus in a SEM. This technique makes it possible to directly link the observed deformation behavior of solders with the mechanical response below the DBTT. This dissertation also presents a novel method for linking the observed changes in mechanical properties of ion irradiated steels with changes in the defect density by the use of both nanoindentation, laue microdiffraction and in-situ micromechanical testing.Characterizing plasticity mechanisms below the DBTT is traditionally difficult to accomplish in a systematic fashion. Here, we use a new experimental setup to perform in situ cryogenic mechanical testing of pure Sn micropillars at room temperature and at -142 °C. Subsequent electron microscopy characterization of the micropillars shows a clear difference in the deformation mechanisms at room temperature and at cryogenic temperatures. At room temperature, the Sn micropillars deformed through dislocation plasticity while at -142 °C they exhibited both higher strength and deformation twinning. Two different orientations were tested, a symmetric (100) orientation and a non-symmetric (45h1) orientation. The deformation mechanisms were found to be the same for both orientations. This approach was also extended to a more complex solder alloy that is commonly used in industry, Sn96. In the case of the solder alloy more complex geometries were also utilized to obtain better understanding of the deformation mechanisms in the presence of a preexisting defect, such as a crack. Similar twinning behavior is observed in the Sn96 alloy however, it was also found that grain boundaries and second phase intermetallics can act as sources for dislocation motion and generation.The observations and analysis in this thesis give novel insight into the deformation mechanisms of two materials in extreme environments. In the case of cryogenic testing we have demonstrated the preference for Sn based solders to undergo deformation twinning as a primary deformation mechanism below the DBTT of the alloy. Prior to this study, deformation mechanisms of pure Sn below the DBTT were not well characterized due to a lack of experimental methods for doing so. In this study, we have developed a novel in situ cryogenic apparatus that has made it possible to systematically study plasticity mechanisms down to -142 °C. Through EBSD and TEM characterization of the twinning behavior at cryogenic temperatures, we have gained a greater understanding of the deformation mechanisms that are active below the DBTT. Furthermore, we have extended this technique to a more complex alloy, Sn96 as well as more complex geometries (clamped beam geometry). In the case of ion irradiated stainless steel, which is a surrogate for neutron irradiations, we have correlated the mechanical property response that is associated with various irradiation conditions with the defects induced during irradiation. Due to the fact that ion beam irradaion has a limted penetration depth, nanoindetation and micro compression testing needed to be deployed. Through both nanoindentation and Laue micro diffraction we have shown a direct correlation between the observed radaition induced increase in hardness and the radaition induced increase in FWHM. We found that 10dpa ion beam irradaion is enough to saturate the material in hardening as well as lattice strain which is related to the defects present.. It was found that the 304SS shows no FWHM gradient assocatied with the ion beam irradiation The use of micropillars also enabeld us to characterize the dramatic change in yield strength due to ion beam irradiation while a detaield charactreisation of each micro pillar in regards to the critical resolved shear strenght is conducted. It was found that the radiation envrionment causes not just an increace in critical resolved shear stress but the material also looses its workhardenability completely. It is also shown that post testing TEM investigation of the pillars on 304 stainless steel apears not possible due to the fact that FIB damage induces a stress induced phase transfomration and therefore a detailed crystallogprahic examination using TEM cannot be conducted. In summary this thesis demonstrate novel small scale mechanical testing techniques on engineering applications which opens the gate to utilize basic scientific tools on engineering problems.


ABSTRACT Treatment adherence to disease modifying drugs (DMDs) in multiple sclerosis is sub-optimal. This, in turn, can affect patients' long-term responses to therapy. A key factor that influences treatment adherence is the need for self-injection of DMDs, which can be demanding and disruptive for patients, and difficult for those with cognitive difficulties or reduced manual dexterity. In addition, pain resulting from poor injection technique, and needle anxiety, may both compromise adherence. Changes to the formulation of interferon (IFN) beta-1a for subcutaneous injection that were designed to improve injection local tolerability, and changes in drug-delivery technology, designed to make injections simpler and more convenient for patients, were reviewed by a group of experts on MS in the Middle East. The group also considered the possible effects of these changes in drug delivery technology on patient adherence to IFN beta-1a s.c.


The main purpose of this article consists in giving account of Albert the Great's arguments against an array of materialism explanations of the soul. The point of departure is the question whether the soul can be reduced to a mechanical principle of movement. In order to clarify this issue, a short characterization of the concept «mechanicus» is in order. Following this, Albert's stance regarding materialist, mainly atomist explanations of the soul is presented. It will be shown that his solution to the problem of the relation of soul and body in not derived from the falsity of materialism, but from his basic assumption that the soul has per se an existence independent from the body in which it occurs. Hence, his criticism of materialist theories of the relation of soul and body either is not designed to resolve any soul-body problem or it simply begs the question.


The on-wafer measurement of complex quantities and absolute power levels of active devices is truly significant for nonlinear device characterization and modeling. An original procedure, which allows one to perform both the vector and the power calibrations at the RF wafer probe tips used for on-wafer measurement of two-port devices, is presented. The measurement system is based on an automatic vector network analyzer with coaxial directional couplers and RF coplanar wafer probes. A new error model of the dual directional coupler, which samples the power waves traveling at device output, allows one to take advantage of the coaxial section at the output of the measuring system for calibrating the power level up to the on-wafer probe tips. >


This dissertation investigates the topics of affect and its relationship with cognition, areas of growing interest for management research. Despite the significant scholarly attention on affective and cognitive constructs, processes, and dynamics shaping organizational life, several questions on their interplay remain unanswered. This work employs exploratory analyses and provides original contributions to fill some of these crucial research gaps. Chapter 1 argues the urgency of a review work on the relationship between affect and cognition. By highlighting the existence of a parcelled body of literature, this chapter proposes its systematic integration in key topical areas. Moreover, it defines a novel conceptual model that incorporates interdisciplinary insights into a unifying framework, offering fresh avenues for organizational research. Chapter 2 researches on the dyadic level of analysis and focuses on interpersonal trust, a key organizational construct characterized by affective and cognitive aspects. The study explores how these two forms of trust interplay in hierarchical relationships, a puzzle limiting current knowledge on their roles in workplace dynamics. This qualitative research, conducted among knowledge-intensive workers, explains that varying levels of cognitive and affective trust interact in both concordant and discordant ways, defining four distinct relationship types. These findings offer theory for advancing both the literature on affect and cognition, and that on trust. Chapter 3 holds methodological value and claims that organizational studies can benefit from employing neuroscience techniques. By focusing on insights from affective research, it analyses technical and functional characteristics and limits of neuroscience methods, and argues that their integration in management scholarship could move its theory and practice forward. These chapters altogether develop knowledge on the topics of affect and its relationship with cognition, offer original contributions by challenging and extending current theoretical and methodological frameworks, and pinpoint relevant implications for hierarchical relationships, knowledge-intensive work, and overall management scholarship and practice.


In this paper, we bring together the advances of in vivo optical imaging and modern nano-chemistry to permit optical imaging with molecular specificity. We present optically interrogated contrast agents based on metal nanocrystals attached to probe molecules with a high affinity to a specific biomarker on the surface of epithelial cancer cells. We demonstrated that unique optical properties of metal nanoparticles can be used to develop novel optically-interrogatable contrast agents for confocal reflectance imaging of pre-cancers.


Lignocellulosic materials are important, cheap and abundantly available biomass feedstock which include agricultural waste or residues, micro algae, forestry and urban solid wastes for the production of fuels and platform chemicals. These renewable energy supplies assist in decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, greenhouse gas emissions and thus environmental pollution. The various stages necessary for the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to biofuels and bio products include pre-treatment, hydrolysis, fermentation, and product recovery. However, there are many challenges that need to be overcome for successful conversion into useful commercial products while minimizing the formation of by-products at the same time. Each technology involved in the bioconversion has its own characteristics and limitations. A general overview of the different technologies involved in the conversion of lignocellulosic materials is explored, assessed and analysed in this study. Lignocellulosic biomass is most likely to be an indispensable renewable source for the economic biofuels and bioproducts production because of its availability and sustainability. The biofuels and bioproducts have potentials to decrease the use of imported fossil resources thus providing economic benefits. The development of a clean, green and renewable technologies will pave the way for commercialization.


Distributed learning has gained much interest recently due to its ability to exploit the distributed resources, at end users and network edges, to cooperatively train a global model. However, the performance of such schemes is undermined by practical constraints, such as non-uniformly distributed data across participating users. This challenge is especially prevalent in several practical systems, where the acquired data is collected from diverse locations/users with various conditions. Thus, this paper proposes a novel active federated learning framework that aims at reducing the effects of non-Independent and Identically Distributed (non-IID) data by integrating the idea of Active learning within Federated Learning (FL) framework. Indeed, our proposed solution could significantly improve the performance of FL in terms of the obtained accuracy and convergence time. The proposed solution is tested using two real-world datasets, where it could reduce the convergence time by 61% and increase the classification accuracy by 4% using MNIST dataset, while improving the accuracy by 19.4% for Heartbeat dataset.


Dentists' incorrect behavior with regards to Oral Radiology, as reported in the literature, has been related to inadequate training of undergraduates. Aim: This study assessed dental undergraduates' knowledge of Oral Radiology. Methods: A questionnaire containing 30 questions pertaining to three domains - General Principles, Radiobiology/Radioprotection and Technique/Interpretation - was used as data collection instrument. A total of 195 students answered the questionnaires. Results: No statistically significant differences were found between second-, third- and fourthyear students (p>0.05) when the whole questionnaire and the General Principles domain (p>0.05) were considered. The Technique/Interpretation domain presented a borderline statistical significance level (p=0.051), with more correct answers attributed to second-year students. A statistically significant difference (p<0.05) was seen for the Radiobiology/Radioprotection domain, in which the fourth-year students performed better. Conclusions: Dental undergraduates' knowledge of Oral Radiology did not increase or decrease significantly comparing the undergraduate years. However, with the exception of the Technique/Interpretation domain, students of more advanced undergraduate years answered more correctly the questions. Nevertheless, the Technique/ Interpretation domain should be reinforced throughout the undergraduate course.