CC-BY-SA License Abstract Open defecation free health behavior problems in Indonesia are still prevalent, one of which is in Bumiharjo Village in 2016 ODF behavior is still carried out by 561 families. In 2018 the village of Bumiharjo will start carrying out Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) counseling and triggering activities. The combination of counseling and triggering methods for changing attitudes related to ODF has not yet been the basis of this research. This type of quantitative research with a quasi-experimental design. Has been carried out in March November 2019, research subject of the head of the family who is still doing open defecation. A sample of 60 respondents divided into two groups, the sample taken by purposive sampling. Retrieval of data using a questionnaire with the results found the value of p = 0.001 so that it can conclude there is a change in attitude about stopping Open Defecation Free before and after triggering and counseling to the Head of the Family in Purwosari Village, Natar District, South Lampung Regency. It recommended that counseling and triggering activities carried out on an ongoing basis and the availability of facilities for open defecation free, funds, and collaboration across programs


His breathing was laboured, but his face, gnarled with great age, was regal in repose. She stood beside his stretcher acting as his advocate, telling everyone who he was, as if to save him the embarrassment of having to do it himself.

"He had several seasons as the leading winner, you know, Doctor," she said to me.

"Oh?" I said. I glanced at him and noticed limbs thin as dry twigs.

"Yes, he's a Hall of Famer, too. But the world long ago forgot him."

Now he is nearly 90 years old, with nothing but his memories. She is middle-aged, raising a couple of almost-grown kids on her own. He had her to thank, she knew that, even if he hadn't acknowledged her help. She had rescued him from his taste for liquor, the key that unlocked his normally reticent tongue. He would tell anyone who cared to buy him a drink about his life. Such was the vigor of his alcohol-fueled oratory that he never wanted for a wet whistle.

"I grew up with nothin' on a farm in Ontario," he would tell them. "Came a time when school was no longer of use to me; couldn't see a future in plowin' fields, either. All around me, people still looked to Mother England. They hadn't yet figured which way the future pointed, God save their king. Not me, though. Swore if I listened carefully to the breeze, I could hear the States calling out to me, whispering my name. I put away those fool schoolbooks and left home a lad whose head was filled with fancy ideas. I made my way south and crossed the border. I fell into the embrace of her stars and stripes as if into the arms of a tarted-up woman. Need I say it? I was smitten. America, you see, had a dream she wanted to share with me."

Look, here's the thing: The kid was a natural athlete. And so he learned fast and started winning when he was still a teenager. He grew emboldened, dare one say cocky, so he packed his kit and moved to New York. The Big Apple, see? His ability attracted a lot of attention among those in the know and he rose rapidly up the ranks. His reign as leader coincided with a time of great interest in the sport and he became well known: his picture in the papers, his name on the radio, people seeking his autograph and the like. He lived in the Waldorf-Astoria for weeks on end, golfed with famous actors and received backstage passes to greet singers who wanted to meet him. Rags to riches, get it?

In the manner of all athletes, his career slipped away from him and he retired. Some say he stopped too soon, being still in his early thirties. But he knew it was time to quit. He kicked around a spell, but soon understood he was yesterday's news. America, that vulgar dame, had cast him out and tossed back the engagement ring. He limped north, home to Canada, carrying with him a bloated appetite with no means to feed it. He drifted from place to place and job to job, settling finally when his peripatetic ways were halted by the Pacific Ocean.

Decades later he was sober and in her kitchen. Sitting there with skin baked to leather and slim angular features, he seemed an anachronism, a throwback to an earlier era. Despite its colour and majesty, the event at which he excelled barely registered on the sports pages anymore. Replaced, instead, by men puffed up on steroids and too much money.

Filling his belly with strong, black coffee and home cooking, she slowly coaxed his stories from him. As he talked she felt transported from the dullness of her daily life; vicarious celebrity wrapped around her shoulders like a mink coat. She would close her eyes and an old black-and-white movie would roll. She could see him, a dandy in a silk shirt, mud splashed on his face. Then after, men with pencils and paper would gather around — journalists love a winner — their hats angled just so, cigarettes dangling from their envious lips, while the women, their hair pulled back, lips painted red, calves taut from impossibly high-heeled shoes, would sneak glances at him. He would smile and if insouciant that day, wink. The cameras would flash and flash.

I flashed the ophthalmoscope into his pupils, refocusing my concentration at his bedside. He was propped up on a gurney in the emergency department, a former athlete of note, someone of whom I was previously unaware. I stood over him in my white coat. He was breathing more comfortably as the oxygen whistled through nasal prongs. I moved my stethoscope to his frail chest. His lungs crackled and whined as his heart, galloping hard to the finish line, failed him, like his nerve and skill so many decades ago.

I tucked my stetho into my pocket and stepped back to observe him. He was indeed slight. But something else about his stature bothered me. And then in a rush of insight I understood everything.

His story had an engaging poetic arc, like a meteor shower against a cloudless night sky. I had felt an eagerness to bask in the twinkle of his distant star much as, I supposed, his female rescuer and intoxicated drink-buyers must have experienced. The narrative, though, was simply too good to be true.

It was his height, calling out like a nail to the head of a hammer, which made his celebrity implausible. Perhaps he was not a has-been, but a fib-making never-was.

He was or he wasn't. What did it matter? I had briefly ridden the crest of this story, indeed, filled in the blanks myself. No one made me glide along his biography like a surfer over the ocean's surging waves. And yet, the truth is, I enjoyed the ride: Masterpiece Theatre for the emergency department.

I shook off the day-dreamy thoughts. He was ill old man. I scribbled a few orders; I had my job to do.

Brian Deady MD New Westminster, BC

Figure

Image by: Fred Sebastian


Abstract President Carlos Menem received thousands of letters from citizens during his two consecutive administrations (1989–1999). Most often Peronist and working class, they wrote to him to seek financial or material aid, praise, criticize, advise, communicate political opinions and invite correspondence. They injected their letters with intimate details of everyday life, their understandings of democracy, and their sense of the successes and failures of the state at meeting those criteria and forging a democratic identity for the Republic. This article provides contextualized readings of a sample of those letters in an effort to elucidate why their writers looked beyond the public sphere to express themselves, and chose the letter to the president as method. It argues that discursive participation in the public sphere remained elite-dominated, and mass mobilization did not provide the individualized results or political bonds that the letter writers sought. Furthermore, as an activity that Juan Perón had actively encouraged, writing to the president appeared an object lesson in good Peronist citizenship. The "mythical basis of the legitimacy" of Perón and his version of Justicialism had been his "direct contact with the people" (Plotkin). The letters reveal how citizens in the 1990s sought to reconstitute this imagined proximity with a Peronist president in a newly democratic context.


The lasing behaviours of semiconductor micro/nanostructures were studied in different gaseous surroundings, and the lasing threshold of the nanowire was reduced from 10.5 MW/cm2 in air to 9.82 MW/cm2, 8.25 MW/cm2 and 7.22 MW/cm2 in Ar, N2 and He environment, respectively. It is attributed to the transient polarization of molecular gas. Moreover, the narrow-bandwidth lasing from the junction of a comb-like microstructure is hard to realize compared to that in nanowire and nanobelt due to the absence of good resonance cavities, and the only amplified spontaneous emission was observed by the ICCD dynamic images of the photoluminescence. The PL spectra and ICCD dynamic images, as well as lifetime measurement, prove the occurrence of lasing in nanowires and nanobelts with the pumping power increase, which should originate from the exciton-electron scattering and the formation of EHP, respectively. The whispering-gallery-mode lasing in nanowire and Fabry-Perot-Mode lasing in nanobelt were intuitively demonstrated by the ICCD images. The results provide one route to reduce the lasing threshold by the gas protection.


A low molecular weight, synthetic heparin. As an anticoagulant/antithrombotic agent, enoxaprin's mechanism of action is similar to that of heparin, although it exhibits a higher ratio of anti-Factor Xa to anti-Factor IIa activity. T his agent also has anti-inflammatory properties, inhibiting monocyte adhesion to tumor necrosis factor alphaor lipopolysaccharide-activated endothelial cells. Compared to unfractionated heparins, the use of enoxaparin is associated with lower incidences of osteoporosis and heparininduced thrombocytopenia. (NCI04) Qeios · Definition, February 2, 2020


Fiber-optic interferometric sensors (FOISs) are widely used in seismometers, hydrophones, and gyroscopes. The arctangent approach of phase-generated carrier (PGC-Arctan) demodulation algorithm is one of the key demodulation techniques in FOISs. The conventional PGC-Arctan demodulation algorithm requires the specific value of the phase modulation depth C to work properly. However, C will variate with laser wavelength, temperature, and humidity in the actual working environment, which leads to harmonic distortion and even demodulation failure. In this paper, a novel PGC demodulation algorithm called self-calibration PGC-Arctan (PGC-Arctan-SC) demodulation algorithm is presented. The proposed algorithm can jointly estimate the accurate C value by the elliptical parameters and C-related components while suppressing nonlinear distortion by ellipse fitting algorithm (EFA). Then C can be calibrated to the specific predefined optimal value by the closed-loop proportion integration differentiation (PID) module. The simulation results are consistent with theoretical analysis, and the all-digital PGC-Arctan-SC demodulation system is implemented on the embedded SoC. The experimental results show that C can be estimated and calibrated accurately in real time. The signal-to-noise and distortion ratio (SINAD) of the PGC-Arctan-SC demodulation output achieves 61.57 dB.


The radiation-induced reactions of onium salts in some kinds of solutions and model compound solutions of chemically amplified electron beam (EB) and X-ray resists have been studied by means of picosecond and nanosecond pulse radiolysis. The following reaction mechanisms of the chemically amplified EB and X-ray resists have been elucidated. The radiation-induced reaction mechanisms are complicated due to the presence of several proton donors. The onium salts directly produce small amounts of Brønsted acids by EB and X-ray exposure and most of the Brønsted acids are formed from proton adducts of the base polymer. The onium salts are strong electron scavengers and promote the generation of the proton adducts in the chemically amplified resists.


Before optical detection of supernova SN 1987a, two events, separated in time by 4.72 hours, have been detected in underground laboratories: the first in the Mont Blanc Underground Neutrino Observatory (UNO), the second in Kamiokande II. In this letter we wish to emphasize that these results are not contradictory from the experimental point of view, and can be explained within reasonable theoretical expectations.


There is a widely shared view that the contemporary Left in Latin America can be divided into radical populist and social democratic forces. The paper questions the nature of this division. It argues that populism and social democracy cannot be seen as opposite sides of the same continuum but as different dimension of politics, which are relationally defined and redefined by the political context in which these forces operate. The paper will look at current forms of populist and social democratic representation in Latin America and compare with past experiences of the same modes of representation. It argues that the social, political, economic and ideological changes associated with phenomena such as globalisation and the emergence of more complex identities have altered relations of representation and affected the nature of both populism and social democracy in the region. The paper will illustrate the arguments with references to the various left of centre and radical populist governments of the region.


Agriculture in the Arkansas Delta region is dependent upon the accessibility of irrigation water. The most common irrigation water source is groundwater. This practice has led to the depletion of groundwater which is having a damaging influence on the natural resources of the state and the productions costs of agriculture in the region. The adoption of reservoirs and tail-water recovery systems are being promoted as a way of minimizing groundwater depletion and promoting surface water irrigation. Despite the long term benefits of surface water use, many producers are reluctant to adopt the water saving practices. To better understand the barriers of adoption, this project uses the responses from producers who took part in the Arkansas Irrigation Survey in 2016. The responses from this survey are used to find which factors are correlated with the adoption of water storage facilities. The research finds that peer networks are positively correlated with the adoption of surface water irrigation. Producers who know someone who has already adopted surface water irrigation practices, are more likely to have adopted. The results of this research can be used to help extension agencies promote surface water irrigation.


The desire to direct the outcome of chemical, physical and biological processes is pervasive in many areas of science. A set of protocols, rules and procedures is often followed in each domain frequently resulting in very favorable outcomes. These operations can be expressed in a control framework analogous to common practice in the engineering disciplines. As a foundation for assessing the value of taking a control perspective in the sciences, the paper first presents a summary of observations found when optimally manipulating quantum dynamics phenomena, maximizing the yield of chemical and material syntheses and properties, and enhancing the outcome of directed evolution. In addition, findings from natural evolution are considered where optimization is for the fitness of a species' population; in this case a control perspective provides a mathematical framework for assessing the behavior of naturally occurring evolutionary processes. Collectively the control of phenomena in these and other areas of science involve dynamics with distinctive characteristics spanning vast length and time scales. Notwithstanding the disparate dynamical behavior in each domain, the searches for optimal controls are strikingly efficient, especially considering that the available control resources are generally very extensive. The achieved high efficiency defies intuition, as the systems subjected to control are often quite complex by any reasonable measure. The basis for the surprising degree of efficiency in finding optimal solutions can be understood by considering the topology of the underlying control landscape defined as the objective in each case as a function of the controls. The general conclusion, upon satisfaction of some key physical assumptions, is that control landscapes are expected to be devoid of traps, which could hinder the search for the best outcome. In order to bolster this conclusion additional specific details are presented regarding control behavior found (i) while manipulating quantum dynamics and (ii) in the optimization of synthesis yields and properties in chemical and material science. The observed common Optimal control behavior over vast length and time scales in the Sciences and its foundations are referred to as OptiSci. Further research is needed to fully understand the basis of OptiSci and its implications. However, the current findings suggest that the principles of OptiSci may have wide ranging significance including for (i) enhancing the efficiency of searches for optimal controls, (ii) manipulating phenomena that transcend traditional domains in science, (iii) the early identification of flawed experimental designs and (iv) providing the basis to automate the discovery of systematic rules for finding effective controls.


Educational attainment is an important but often overlooked contributor to health outcomes in patients with kidney disease. Those with lower levels of education have an increased risk of ESRD, complications of peritoneal dialysis, worse transplant outcomes, and mortality. Mediators of these associations are poorly understood but involve a complex interplay between health knowledge, behaviors, and socioeconomic and psychosocial factors. Interventions targeting these aspects of care have the potential to reduce disparities related to educational attainment; however, few programs have been described that specifically address this issue. Future research efforts should not only systematically assess level of educational attainment but also report the differential impact of interventions across educational strata. In addition, routine measurement of health literacy may be useful to identify high-risk patients independent of years of schooling. A better understanding of the influence of educational attainment on kidney health provides an opportunity to improve the care and outcomes of vulnerable patients with kidney disease.


This year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of American cartoonist and writer, Will Eisner. Important exhibitions have been organised to commemorate his artistic legacy – including one in Angouleme, France at the Musee de la Bande Dessinee and another in New York at the Museum of Illustration.
In the course of his long career, Eisner (1917–2005) had a lasting influence on comics, not only through his works – from The Spirit in the 1940s to A Contract with God in 1978 – but also by initiating new ways of thinking and talking about comics. Championing and teaching "sequential art", he also contributed to popularisation of the term "graphic novel".
Poster for the Will Eisner exhibition in Angouleme (France). Angouleme Museum of Comics
This catch-all label now refers primarily to the format, but also a literary genre, the most celebrated examples of which are marked by a sense of seriousness and ambition – Art Spiegelman's Maus, for example. As the term has spread since the 1980s, however, its outlines have become blurry. The ambition of the expression "graphic novel" was initially one of distinction – its promoters wanted to break with a mainstream comics production they saw as childish.


It has been investigated computationally Young's modulus of some metals: nickel, copper, silver, gold, and aluminum. The offset method can graphically determine Young's modulus property by determining the elastic region based on the straight line intersection formed at a 0.2% strain against the stress-strain curve. In this simulation work, Young's modulus calculation was performed by using the LAMMPS molecular dynamics software. The interatomic potential used to represent the interactions among atoms of materials in this simulation is the Morse potential. The metals under-investigated in this work are nickel, copper, silver, gold, and aluminum, and we got the results are 209.2 GPa, 110.8 GPa, 83.8 GPa, 79.2 GPa, and 70.3 GPa, respectively. The Young's modulus of the materials was also computed as temperature variations from 300K to the melting point to determine the effect of temperature on Young's modulus, and it is tensile strength. From our work we can found that the higher the temperature, the lower Young's modulus value. In addition, it can be seen that nickel metal has good temperature resistance. This is evidenced by the change in the nickel-metal phase near its melting point.


The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)- angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang (1-7)]-MAS receptor (MAS) axis might act as a counter-regulatory system against the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)- angiotensin II (Ang II)-AT1 receptor (AT1) axis. We studied renal ACE/ACE2-Ang 1-7-MAS expression in human diabetic nephropathy. The subjects were 17 diabetic nephropathy (DN) patients, 17 healthy kidney donors, and 11 minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) patients as disease controls. Double immunofluorescent staining of kidney sections for ACE and ACE2, Ang 1-7 and ACE2, or MAS and ACE2 was performed, and the results were observed by confocal microscopy. For MAS, immunostaining, in situ hybridization, and RT-PCR were also performed. The percentage area that was positively immunostained for MAS and the intensity of the staining were evaluated by computerized imaging analysis. The median serum creatinine values of the DN patients, MCNS patients, and controls were 1.1 mg/dl, 0.8 mg/dl, and 0.8 mg/dl, respectively, and the median proteinuria values of the DN and MCNS patients were 3.7 g/day and 6.8 g/day, respectively. ACE2 was mainly detected in the proximal tubules, but was also found in the glomeruli in all subjects. ACE2 co-localized with ACE, Ang 1-7, and MAS in the proximal tubules. Compared with the other specimens, the diabetic patients' proximal tubules displayed increased ACE and decreased ACE2 expression. Tubular Ang 1-7expression was downregulated in the DN patients compared with the controls and MCNS patients. Tubular MAS expression (density/pixel) was significantly (P<0.001) downregulated in the DN patients [7.33 (6.26-9.68)] compared with the controls [24.51 (18.06-34.56)] and MCNS patients [23.75 (20.11-25.52)].
Conclusions: The tubular ACE2-Ang 1-7-MAS axis is downregulated in human diabetic nephropathy patients compared with healthy controls and MCNS patients


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of accessory tendon graft (ATG) augmentation as an adjunct to a core locking-loop (LL) and epitendinous suture (ES) repair in a gastrocnemius tendon (GT) model.

STUDY DESIGN
Randomized, ex vivo, biomechanical.

POPULATION
Twenty-two canine GT musculotendinous constructs.

METHODS
GT repair constructs were randomly divided into two groups (n = 10/group). After transection, paired GT were repaired with LL + ES alone or with concurrent ATG augmentation. Yield, peak and failure loads, tensile loads required to create 1 and 3 mm gapping, and failure modes were evaluated. Four GT were used as intact controls for validation of testing methodology. ATG constructs were compared to LL + ES and control specimens.

RESULTS
Yield (p < .0001), peak (p = .0001) and failure loads (p = .0003) were greater when ATG was used for repair. Greater force was required to cause 1 mm (p = .0001) and 3 mm (p = .0002) gap formation in the ATG group, however, the frequency of gap formation did not differ between groups. All repaired constructs failed exclusively by suture pull-through.

CONCLUSION
Autologous ATG augmentation as an adjunct to primary GT repair increased yield, peak and failure forces by approximately 1.6×, 1.9×, 1.8× respectively and required 2.1× greater force to cause 1 and 3 mm formation respectively compared to LL + ES repairs alone.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
ATG augmentation should be considered as an autologous method to support and strengthen the primary GT repair. These results justify studies to determine the effect of ATG on clinical function following graft harvest in dogs.


We describe a technique, called reverse transcriptase (RT) in situ PCR, whereby RNA may be nonisotopically detected in fixed cells when amplified by PCR after cDNA synthesis by RT. RT in situ PCR using primers specific for the measles virus generated an intense signal in most measles-infected HeLa cells, as compared to the weak signal generated in few cells using standard in situ hybridization analysis. The viral RNA that localized to the nucleus spared the nucleoli, was most evident when the RT step used the primer complementary to the negative genomic strand, and was demonstrated in all multinucleated cells and the majority of uninucleate cells. A hybridization signal was evident with standard RNA in situ hybridization using the human megakaryocyte cell line Dami and a probe for glycoprotein IIB (GIIB) mRNA but not a probe for amyloid precursor protein (APP) or gelsolin (GEL) mRNA. After RT in situ PCR, signals were evident for each target localizing to the nucleolus for APP and to perinucleolar and cytoplasmic locations for GEL and GIIB. The latter findings suggest that mRNAs may follow different geographic pathways as they progress from premessage to transcriptionally active message.


When your distinguished President of last year conveyed to me a cordial invitation to be present at this meeting of the American Medical Association, I accepted at once, thinking of the opportunity which I should have of seeing for myself and profiting from the work of the many in your country whose fame has spread across the sea. When I came to seek for a subject on which to address you, however, I realized the rashness of my ready compliance. So much work has been done here on that branch of surgery in which I am especially interested that I felt that, were I to dwell on any purely surgical aspect of gastric disease, I should be going over ground already familiar to you, and so should be trespassing too far on that indulgence and leniency which I have heard you so invariably extend to those who are your guests.


Airborne laser scanning (ALS) of urban regions is commonly used as a basis for 3D city modeling. In this process, data acquisition relies highly on the quality of GPS/INS positioning techniques. Typically, the use of differential GPS and high-precision GPS/INS postprocessing methods are essential to achieve the required accuracy that leads to a consistent database. Co ntrary to that approach, we aim at using an existing georeferenced city model to correct errors of the assumed sensor position, which is measured under nondifferential GPS and/or INS drift conditions. Our approach accounts for guidance of helicopters or UAVs over known urban terrain even at night and during frequent loss of GPS signals. We discuss several possible sources of errors in airborne laser scanner systems and their influence on the measured data. A workflow of real-time capable methods for the segmentation of planar surfaces within ALS data is described. Matching planar objects, identified in both the on-line segmentation results and the existing city model, are used to correct absolute errors of the sensor position.


The use of hedonic price indices is quite common in the wine economics literature, yet they mainly include scores of organoleptic tests and some dummy variables representing varieties and quality signs as geographical indications. This study focuses on the relation between the composition and the price of wines on the example of Hungarian wines. In Hungary, the wine law renders chemical analysis compulsory for all wines released to the market. The study includes five main compounds: actual alcoholic strength, total sugars, total acidity, sugar free extract and pH value and is based on hedonic price indices calculated on a sample of 2,453 wines. Results of several regressions – using different model specifications – consistently show that actual alcoholic strength, sugar content, sugar free extract and pH value are related with the price. Some characteristics have an optimal level, while in other cases the relation is linear.


Although the universal presence of KRAS mutations and their critical role in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) designates it as an ideal therapeutic target, oncogenic KRAS (KRAS*) is still regarded as 'undruggable' to date. Therefore, to identify therapeutic points of intervention, it is critical to understand the impact of KRAS*-mediated pathways on in vivo tumor pathogenesis. We have recently generated an inducible Kras G12D -driven (iKRAS*) mouse PDAC model and established a critical role for sustained KRAS* activity in tumor maintenance, providing a model to characterize pathways required for KRAS*-dependent tumorigenicity. Cell surface proteins are relatively accessible and can provide candidates for biomarker discovery, as well as be utilized as therapeutic targets. To characterize the KRAS*-specific organization of cell surface proteins toward the development of possible diagnostic or therapeutic tools, we conducted an unbiased surfaceome analysis of tumor cells in the presence and absence of KRAS* signaling using the iKRAS* mouse PDAC model. Syndecans (SDC), a family of heparin sulfate proteoglycans, were identified as candidates whose membrane expression is correlated with KRAS* activity. Specifically, Syndecan-1 (SDC1) expression was upregulated in response to KRAS* induction in acinar-ductal metaplasia (ADM) and early pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN), but not in cerulein-induced chronic pancreatitis. Moreover, SDC1 membrane expression was abolished upon KRAS* extinction, and our data indicated that the MAPK pathway, but not the PI3K pathway, drives KRAS*-mediated SDC1 surface localization. Supportive of our findings, it has been shown that SDC1 expression is increased in premalignant and malignant pancreatic lesions of primary human PDAC, as well as in various other KRAS*-driven pancreatic cancer mouse models. To further study the role of SDC1 in KRAS*-driven pancreatic cancers, we generated an SDC1-knockout mouse model and crossed with LSL-Kras G12D -PDAC models. Our preliminary data indicate that genetic ablation of SDC1 expression effectively suppressed KRAS*-driven PDAC initiation and progression. The mechanisms of KRAS*-mediated SDC1 membrane localization and its impact on PDAC initiation and progression will be further explored. Citation Format: Wantong Yao, Wei Wang, Ayumu Taguchi, Avnish Kapoor, Amin Momin, Hong Jiang, Johnathon Rose, Muge Celiktas, Angela Deem, Samir Hanash, Ronald DePinho, Haoqiang Ying, Giulio Draetta. Syndecan-1 is required for oncogenic Kras-driven PDAC tumorigenesis and maintenance. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer: Innovations in Research and Treatment; May 18-21, 2014; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(13 Suppl):Abstract nr A18.


The statistical method for extended forecast is considered to have the two aspects of the climatological, statistical study and the verification of the various theories for the general circulation. In the following the relationship between the accumulation of angular momentum and the tendency of the zonal wind change for 5-day mean chart is statistically verified. Its relationship is statistically significant in high and middle latitudes. The study suggests that the momentum flow may be a useful quantity for forecasting the zonal wind-speed for the 5-day mean chart. As a preliminary report on the climatological, statistical study for the general circulation, the spectral distributions of the wave number of the height along the latitudes are discussed.


A 25-year-old man presented to the emergency department with a history of corrosive (turpentine) ingestion. Clinically, the patient had metabolic acidosis and his total white cell count was 28600/mm. Computed tomography (CT) scan of the thorax and abdomen revealed diffuse thickening of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum. Minimal free fluid was present in the abdomen. The patient was first stabilised and step wise reconstruction of the gastro-intestinal tract was performed after esophagectomy, gastrectomy, pancreaticoduodenectomy, cholecystectomy, choledocho-jejenostomy and creation of a feeding jejenostomy. During the post-op period (around two months after the initial presentation), the patient had leakage of pancreatic secretions through the drain. CT of the abdomen was performed and dilute nonionic iodinated contrast was injected through the surgical drain tube, which revealed opacification of the pancreatic


Objective: • To compare the two different techniques of mass closure of abdomen namely, continuous and interrupted methods by various means  • Formulating guidelines for proper selection of closure method in given patient • Comparing two techniques for post-operative pain and patient acceptability • To demonstrate the prevalence of post-operative complications;  • Wound sepsis  • Persistent wound pain • Wound dehiscence • Incisional hernia Method: • Study area The PROSPECTIVE study was conducted at NEW CIVIL HOSPITAL, B.J. MEDICAL COLLEGE, SURGERY department. Hospital receives patients mainly from the municipal hospitals and from other referral hospitals across the Gujarat and neighbouring states namely Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Other patients are self-referable.  • Inclusion criteria: Patients undergoing midline laparotomy for emergency or planned surgeries in general surgery during the study period consenting to participate in the study were included. Results: Out of 50 patients undergone midline laparotomy 78% were male and 22% were female. Majority patient were from middle age group 31-45 (%). Most common cause for midline laparotomy being perforation peritonitis (48%). Rate of wound infection was greater (52%) in continuous closure than in interrupted closure (20%). Incidence of post-operative wound dehiscence is also more in continuous closure (32%) than in interrupted closure (12%). Occurrence of post-operative incisional hernia is far more in continuous closure (36%) than in interrupted closure (8%). Conclusion: With this study we have found that interrupted method in midline laparotomy closure in emergency or planned surgeries is more beneficial in terms of complications like wound sepsis, wound dehiscence and incisional hernia.


The WMAP haze is an excess in the 22 to 93 GHz frequency bands of WMAP extending about 10 degrees from the galactic center. We show that synchrotron emission from electron-positron pairs injected into the interstellar medium by the galactic population of pulsars with energies in the 1 to 100 GeV range can explain the frequency spectrum of the WMAP haze and the drop in the average haze power with latitude. The same spectrum of high energy electron-positron pairs from pulsars, which gives rise to the haze, may also generate the observed excesses in AMS, HEAT and PAMELA. We discuss the spatial morphology of the pulsar synchrotron signal and its deviation from spherical symmetry, which may provide an avenue to determine the pulsar contribution to the haze.


The aim of the research. Estimation of daily dynamics of the indicators variability for temporal analysis of heart rate (HRV) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) in the preoperative and early postoperative period of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Materials and methods. Were examined 38 patients with coronary heart disease aged from 42 to 71 years old. HRV was assessed by 24-hour ECG monitoring conducted before CABG in the 1st and the 8th day after CABG. The Results. In the preoperative period in patients with ischemic heart disease was observed ratio of the temporal analysis of HRV during wakefulness and sleep, which is characteristic for healthy individuals. In the 1st and the 8th day after CABG was observed decrease in parasympathetic effects on the myocardium at night, more pronounced in patients with left ventricular aneurysm. Conclusion. The revealed changes of autonomic balance in patients with coronary artery disease may be relevant to the treatment of patients in early period after CABG.


1.) By extracellular and intracellular recordings of the red nucleus (RN) cell activity, we investigated enhancement of signaling effectiveness at the cortico-rubral synapses underlying the establishment of classical conditioning mediated by RN in the cat. The classical conditioning of forelimb flexion was produced by pairing the conditioned stimulus (CS) to the cerebral peduncle (CP) with the unconditioned stimulus (US) to the forelimb skin at an interval of 100 msec for about a week. 2.) The increased responsiveness of RN cells to the CS was correlated with acquisition of the conditioned forelimb flexion, i.e. RN cells responded to the CS with higher firing probability in the animals which received the paired conditioning than those in the animals which received the CS alone or pairing of the CS and the US at random intervals or those in the naive animals which did not receive any training. 3.) Monosynaptic excitation of RN cells in response to the single pulse to CP was most enhanced in the animals which received the paired conditioning. By contrast, response of RN cells, as well as the behavioral response, induced by stimulation of the cerebellar interpositus nucleus (IP) was not enhanced after the paired conditioning. The difference between the responses to the stimulation of CP and IP suggested that the primary site of neuronal change is the cortico-rubral synapses. 4.) In the animals that received the paired conditioning, the excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) induced by stimulation of CP had fast-rising components superimposed on the normal slow-rising EPSPs. On the other hand, most of the CP-EPSPs recorded in the naive animals showed a slow time course. The slow time course of the CP-EPSPs has been attributed to the peripheral localization of the cortico-rubral synapses on the dendrites of RN cells. 5.) The electrotonic length of RN cells in the animals which received the paired conditioning was not shorter than that in the naive animals. Therefore, it was suggested that the appearance of the fast-rising component in the CP-EPSPs is cause by formation of the new cortico-rubral synapses on proximal portions of the soma-dendritic membrane of RN cells. 6.) Since it has been established that new synapses formed by collateral sprouting are retained for more than several months, the formation of new synaptic connections could underlie long-lasting behavioral modification.


Domiciliary oxygen therapy has been used during the last five decades to alleviate hypoxemia and its consequences. It is considered to be one of the most expensive therapeutic methods currently available, but it is also the only therapeutic approach that can prolong survival in patients with chronic hypoxemia. Domiciliary oxygen therapy is also aimed at relieving dyspnea and improving exercise capacity and sleep quality. Portable cylinders, concentrators and portable liquid systems are the main delivery systems currently available and oxygen-conserving devices attached are aimed at improving their effectiveness. In order to minimize the associated costs, appropriate patient selection and reassessment are required. Domiciliary oxygen therapy is mostly prescribed in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – a disease caused predominantly by smoking and in which airway obstruction results in reduced arterial oxygenation (hypoxemia). Domiciliary oxygen therapy effectiveness is best evaluated and documented in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which also accounts for most of its prescriptions. Therefore, this review focuses predominantly on this disease-related oxygen therapy.


This article presents an overview of future truly personal communications, ranging from networking inside the human body to the exchange of data with external wireless devices in the surrounding environment. At the nano- and micro-scales, communications can be realized with the aid of molecular mechanisms, Förster resonance energy transfer phenomenon, electromagnetic or ultrasound waves. At a larger scale, in the domain of Body Area Networks, a wide range of communication mechanisms is available, including smart-textiles, inductive- and body-couplings, ultrasounds, optical and wireless radio transmissions, a number of mature technologies existing already. The main goal of this article is to identify the potential mechanisms that can be exploited to provide interfaces in between nano- and micro-scale systems and Body Area Networks. These interfaces have to bridge the existing gap between the two worlds, in order to allow for truly personal communication systems to become a reality. The extraordinary applications of such systems are also discussed, as they are strong drivers of the research in this area.


Introduction . In Primary Care, COPD and asthma are the most common chronic respiratory diseases. Treatment of these conditions requires patients to acquire skills in inhaler devices. Numerous studies claim that health professionals do not know the correct use of inhalation systems. Objectives. To assess and improve skill levels in inhalation techniques among health professionals. Methods: Training workshops were designed and taught by primary care and hospital nurses. Before training, participants were asked to use different inhalation systems to check their knowledge on the technique. In addition, before, after and six months from the training workshop, a 24-question multiple choice test on inhalation technique was administered. Results : the number of professionals trained was 106 and the number of workshops 6, during 2 years. A 69.4% of the professionals initially stated that they knew the inhalation technique however previous knowledge test was not exceeded by any professional. Multiple choice test was exceeded by 32.2%, 100% and 95.1% of participants before, after and 6 months from the training workshop respectively. We found a significant relation between knowing the inhalation technique and postgraduate training or learning while developing their professional activity. Conclusion : The professional assistants did not know the correct use of inhaler devices. After training, there is an improvement in the level of knowledge and skills in inhalation techniques that is held up 6 months later. Training workshop evaluation helps us to detect which aspects should be strengthened in this subject.


Philippine maritime industry is considered as a vital component in achieving inclusive growth and socio-economic progress. Philippines has been known as one of the susceptible to the impact of climate change countries, and generally the changing climate hampers its economic development. The government committed to reduce carbon emissions to 70% by 2030 during the 2015 Paris climate conference. This study aims to map the potential sites and vessels for electric ferry operation for transitioning to green maritime transportation in Philippines. At present there are 83 ports and 110 ferries in the country with 33670 registered vessels as of December 2017. It was identified that the 9201 vessels with 10≥GRT≥3 will be used for electrification as a kickoff in implementing electric ferry since these vessels are feasible for retrofitting the electric system. Implementing green energy sources in the country's marine transportation will reduce CO2 emission by 22.09% in the transport sector.


We report growth by molecular beam epitaxy and structural characterization of gallium-nucleated GaAs nanowires on silicon. The influences of growth temperature and V/III ratio are investigated and compared in the case of oxide-covered and oxide-free substrates. We demonstrate a precise positioning process for Ga-nucleated GaAs nanowires using a hole array in a dielectric layer thermally grown on silicon. Crystal quality is analyzed by high resolution transmission electron microscopy. Crystal structure evolves from pure zinc blende to pure wurtzite along a single nanowire, with a transition region.


The consumption of diet products has increased greatly in recent years. The objectives of the study were to develop a bittersweet chocolate added inulin and stevias with different rebaudioside A contents (60%, 80%, and 97%). Five chocolate samples were formulated with different sucrose concentrations to determine the ideal sucrose concentration for bittersweet chocolate. The use of just-about-right scale identified an ideal sucrose concentration of 47.5% (w/w). The sweetness equivalence in sugar-free bittersweet chocolates was determined by the time-intensity method by 14 selected and trained judges. The data collected during each session of sensory evaluation furnished the following parameters in relation to the sweet stimulus: Imax (maximum intensity recorded), Timax (time at which the maximum intensity was recorded), Area (area of time × intensity curve), and Ttot (total duration time of the stimulus). The time-intensity analysis indicated that the percentages of rebaudioside A did not interfere with the sweetness intensity of the sweetener stevia in bittersweet chocolate and there was no significant difference in the concentrations tested (0.16%, 0.22%, 0.27%) of each stevia, in relation to the parameters evaluated. In addition, the reduction in fat content did not alter the perception of the sweetness intensity of the samples. These results showed important information to research and development of chocolate products. Therefore, the use of the lowest stevia concentration tested (0.16%) is the most indicated for use, since this quantity was sufficient to reach the ideal sweetness of the product, so there was no point in adding more.


The measurement of nucleic acids in fetal tissues as well as plasma growth hormone and amino acids was used in conjunction with fractional protein synthetic rates to investigate the mechanism of reduced fetal protein synthesis following acute maternal starvation. The nucleic acid analysis of fetal tissues from fed and 48 h starved ewes (120-130 days gestation) demonstrated a significant reduction in kidney RNA and heart DNA concentration in the starved fetuses. The RNA synthetic capacity (RNA/protein) was also seen to decrease in the starved fetuses both for liver and kidney tissue as was the protein/DNA in the lung tissue. Most revealing, however, were the measurements of RNA and DNA activity or the extent to which the protein synthesizing capacity was realized (g protein/g RNA or DNA/day). Significant reductions were observed in liver and brain RNA activity as well as the DNA activity of liver, lung, kidney and muscle. Plasma aminograms demonstrated reductions in maternal histidine, methionine and isoleucine as well as reductions in fetal glutamate and phenylalanine following starvation. Conversely, the fetal growth hormone levels were seen to rise under the influence of maternal starvation. The impact of maternal nutrient deprivation during gestation on fetal metabolism appears to depend on the ontogenic stage of development of specific tissues at the time the deprivation occurs.


This book is a collection of scholarly chapters written by different ODL practitioners in Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region. Below is a brief synopsis of each chapter:

Chapter 1 by Modesto, Stanslaus Tichapondwa is preoccupied with theoretical foundations, which distinguish distance education from traditional education. Reflections on philosophical foundations enable practitioners to develop a clearer understanding of what makes ODL a discipline in its own right.

Chapter 2 by Tau, Daniel R. draws the attention of practitioners to what is involved in setting up a new ODL institution. This is crucial for a better understanding of the task in the new ODL environments in Southern Africa.

Chapter 3 by Nyaruwata, Leonorah T. discusses the issue of staff development in ODL. As an emerging discipline, DE does not have trained professionals in place compared to conventional education, which is serviced by colleges of education and universities that train teachers.

Chapter 4 by Modesto, Stanslaus Tichapondwa focuses on the issue of project management skills that a distance education practitioner should develop. ODL practice is essentially project oriented, and acquiring the principles and procedures of project management will enhance informed practice.

Chapter 5 by Chakuchichi, David and Gatsha, Godson is concerned with learner support issues. In DE a clearly defined and well-managed learner support system is critical for purposes of delivery, and for that reason the practitioner needs exposure to principles and procedures for more effective practice.

Chapter 6 by Modesto, Stanslaus Tichapondwa and Galegane, Golebamang discusses important issues of concern to both practitioners and the learners under them. These are language skills and how best to study as a distance learner. Recognition is given to the fact that distance education learners tend to be isolated compared to their counterparts in the conventional classroom. The latter can access immediate assistance from their teacher, while the former is unable to do that.

Chapter 7 by Chakuchichi, David; Moses, Boingotlo and Masendu, Matlhoatsie shares with practitioners, especially writers of study materials, ways of coming up with up-to-standard materials. In order for qualifications obtained through distance education methodology to be credible, editing is crucial.

Chapter 8 by Chitura, Miriam; Seeletso, Mmabaledi and Nyaruwata, Leonorah T. brings into focus a theme that is often taken for granted, namely, gender in education. By drawing on experiences from different countries in the region, the writers draw the attention of the practitioners to issues that ought to be considered for purposes of democratizing ODL provision.

Chapter 9 by Modesto, Stanslaus Tichapondwa and Chitura, Miriam takes up an aspect of educational provision that is considered to be the legitimate aspect of conventional education, namely, the provision of technical and vocational training. It creates practitioner awareness of what DE can achieve by providing such education via the distance education mode.

Chapter 10 by Nhundu, Tichatonga Josphat refocuses the DE practitioner on the aspect of how best to write journal articles. The contributor provides practical guidance on how to go about the scholarly activity, thereby equipping DE academics with practical skills applicable to the discipline.

Chapter 11 by Modesto, Stanslaus Tichapondwa utilises research findings to draw the attention of DE practitioners to the trends of research and scholarship in Southern Africa. Supported with statistical evidence, the chapter shares wisdom regarding how best to elevate research effort from ordinariness to higher levels.

Chapter 12 by Mhlanga, Ephraim is about quality assurance in open and distance learning. Both from literature, and from experience, distance education is looked down upon as second rate education, or as education meant for failures in conventional institutions. One of the many reasons for that mindset is the poor approach to quality assurance provision in DE. The chapter, therefore, discusses procedures on how to quality assure teaching and learning in ODL.

Chapter 13 by Nhundu, Tichatonga Josphat deals with a critical aspect of ODL provision, namely, costing. Governments and administrators erroneously think ODL can be provided
anyhow without taking into account the economics of education. The chapter provides
guidance on what should be considered when embarking on a distance education
project.

Chapter 14 by Gatsha, Godson examines the critical aspect of Open and Distance Learning Management and the Law. The ideas articulated are meant to give managers of distance education some insight into legal issues, using the situation in Botswana as an example.


Blazars represent a subset of AGN with relativistic jets, where the direction of the jet lies very close to our line of sight. The highly Doppler boosted emission from the blazar's jet results in high apparent luminosities, and blazars display variability on periods from less than one day up to years. At optical wavelengths, the observed emission of the blazar is a superposition of the polarised non-thermal synchrotron emission, arising from the jet, and the unpolarised thermal emission, arising from the accretion disc, broad line region, torus and host galaxy. Polarimetry observations can serve as an important tool for diagnosing the emission from blazars. The RSS spectrograph, on SALT, can operate in spectropolarimetry mode and is currently being used to undertake spectropolarimetric observations of transient blazar sources. We present additional tools developed to work in conjunction with the current SALT spectropolarimetry reduction pipeline, polsalt, that aims to streamline the reduction of the SALT polarisation data, including the testing of the wavelength calibration of the individual O and E beams. This was applied to observations of 3C 279 during 2017.


CONTEXT
The range of shoulder rotation is associated with shoulder pain in young male and female swimmers. However, the association between shoulder pain and shoulder complex mobility of the scapulothoracic and acromioclavicular joints has not yet been examined. Moreover, shoulder pain occurs more frequently in females than in males, but only a few studies have examined the relationship between shoulder pain and sex as a risk factor. This study aims to determine the association between shoulder complex mobility and shoulder pain in young male and female swimmers.

DESIGN
Prospective cohort design.

METHODS
The participants were competitive swimmers (n = 76; 37 males and 39 females) with a mean age of 14 years in Japan. The shoulder rotation width, which was the index of shoulder complex mobility, shoulder internal and external rotation range, and middle finger distance of the back-scratch test were measured. An examiner regularly visited the swimming clubs to evaluate the development of shoulder pain and swimming distance. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the physical characteristics related to the overall development of shoulder pain in both female and male swimmers. The cutoff value was calculated using receiver operating characteristic curves.

RESULTS
Sixteen participants, composed of 8 males and 8 females, developed shoulder pain. The overall swimming distance of the male (odds ratio [OR]: 1.0007, P = .01) and female (OR: 1.0018, P = .02) swimmers and the shoulder rotation width of the male (OR: 1.0952, P = .04) and female (OR: 0.888, P = .03) swimmers were identified as risk factors for shoulder pain. The cutoff value for swimming distance was 6000 m. Shoulder rotation width was more than 88 cm in males and <54 cm in females.

CONCLUSIONS
Hypomobility and hypermobility of the shoulder complex were identified as risk factors for shoulder pain in male and female swimmers, respectively.


Objective: To compare two methods of induction of labour. Amniotomy with intravenous oxytocin infusion versus single use of prostaglandin E2 vaginal tablet. Design Perspective randomized clinical trial . Setting: The department of Gynae & Obs Nishtar Hospital Multan & Ganga Ram hospital lahore 100 patients were recruited .50 were randomized for amniotomy followed by oxytocin infusion. Second group underwent labour induction with PGE2 which was repeated after 6 hours, if n o change in bishop score is observed. Period: 17 .2 .2004 to 17 .2.2005 Results: In the study the results regarding mean Bishop score change, duration of labour and apgar score at 5 minutes were comparable in both groups. In the group 2 mean induction to delivery time was 9 hours.(6-12 hrs).The mean cervical change score was 8.5 Duration of labour in group 2 was in the mean of 7hrs. In group 1 mean cervical change was 7.5 (range5-7), induction to delivery time was 10.5 hrs. The duration of labour was 7.5 hrs. Analgesic requirements varied in both groups. No patient with PGE2 required pain relief before membrane rupture. In the oxytocin group narcotic analgesia was given from the start of uterine contractions. Conclusion: PGE2 vaginal tablet for induction of labour in case of unfavourable cervix is superior to use of amniotomy and oxytocin. It was found to be safe and effective with minimum of patient interference.


The British university system is in a deep crisis, born of a two-pronged assault. The crisis is born firstly from decades of neoliberal marketisation and the rise of a remote and authoritarian executive elite presiding over a downwardly mobile and culturally deprivileged academic profession.
 We call this process neoliberal managerialism. It is born secondly from the ideological and political assault on universities, currently led by the Tories, reflecting the resurgence of anti-intellectualism since the millennium. The paper argues that although these currents embody ostensibly
 conflicting values, they combine and reinforce each other. We illustrate this argument by discussing lacunae in the decolonisation of British universities, notably the colonial ideologies and practices inscribed in neoliberal university governance and management. The final section reflects
 on how to resist and overcome the crises engulfing UK higher education. Framed by reflections on the positionalities of the authors, it argues that no consolations can be found in old-style academic professionalism, which historically was no less regressive than neoliberal managerialism and
 often complicit in its rollout. We conclude that academics could instead embrace the ineluctable dynamics of de-professionalisation and work towards an authentic and solidaristic public intellectuality.


Research consistently demonstrates the benefits associated with the provision of education in correctional facilities. These examinations typically focus on prison-based education, enhanced employment opportunities, and recidivism reduction. There is considerably less attention afforded to jail-based education and other benefits associated with institutional education opportunities. This study focuses on a criminal justice college course based on the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Model taught at the Washoe County (Nevada) Detention Center in the spring 2016 semester. This course brought together outside students (i.e., college students) and inside students (i.e., incarcerated men) for a semester-long course held once per week in the jail. The results highlight the transformative aspects of a single course that may generate the foundation for functional changes among people who are incarcerated and the value of experiential education for college students.


Over the course of the twentieth century the popular perception of America's giant corporations has undergone an astonishing change. Condemned as dangerous leviathans in the century's first decades, by 1945 major corporations had become respected, even revered, institutions. Roland Marchand's lavishly illustrated and carefully researched book tells how large companies such as AT&T and U.S. Steel created their own 'souls' in order to reassure consumers and politicians that bigness posed no threat to democracy or American values. Marchand traces this important transformation in the culture of capitalism by offering a series of case studies of such corporate giants as General Motors, General Electric, Metropolitan Life Insurance, and Du Pont Chemicals. Marchand examines the rhetorical and visual imagery developed by corporate leaders to win public approval and build their own internal corporate culture. In the 'golden era' of the 1920s, companies boasted of their business statesmanship, but in the Depression years many of them turned in desperation to forms of public relations that strongly defended the capitalist system. During World War II public relations gained new prominence within corporate management as major companies linked themselves with Main-Street, small-town America. By the war's end, the corporation's image as a 'good neighbor' had largely replaced that of the 'soulless giant'. American big business had succeeded in wrapping increasingly complex economic relationships in the comforting aura of familiarity. Marchand, author of the widely acclaimed Advertising the American Dream (1985), provides an elegant and convincing account of the origins and effects of the corporate imagery so ubiquitous in our world today.


An expansion method is described which provides a simple and rapid means of calculating for any atom the expectation values of sums of one-electron operators. All the equations which arise can be solved analytically and the results are obtained as functions of the nuclear charge. For inner shells the accuracy is comparable with that of the Hartree—Fock approximation. The method gives a quantitative description of the effects of direct and exchange interactions between electron shells. Results are given for all members of the helium and beryllium iso-electronic sequences.


Practically all hydrometallurgical processes involve leaching of solids to dissolve valuable constituents. This usually is followed by a liquid-solids separation before producing the final product. The liquid-solids separation step requires careful investigation because:

1.
Soluble values must be recovered to a very high degree for economic purposes.

2.
Final liquor volume must be minimized to reduce capital and operating costs of later steps.

3.
Usually large amounts of gangue solids are associated with the digested pulp requiring care in minimizing wash volumes.

4.
The colloidal solids are strongly dispersed by retention times and pH conditions in leaching. This necessitates flocculation investigations to achieve desired results.

5.
Operation must be dependable under severe conditions of pH, abrasion, fast settling solids, temperature, etc. Equipment must have flexibility to allow efficient operation under even abnormal fluctuations.

6.
An appreciable percentage of initial investment is required for this portion of the plant.

The two common liquid-solids separation methods —countercurrent decantation and filtration with cake washing, are discussed. Investigation and correlation procedures for prediction of full scale results and design requirements are stressed. Emphasis is given to the influence of particle size distribution, temperature, pH, flocculation, repulping, solids concentration, and filter cake permeability.


In this paper, a BLDC(Brushless DC) motor control system for driving fins to control the flight attitude of the guided artillery munition is developed. This system adopts a sensorless control scheme without any position sensor such as a Hall sensor fragile at high altitudes. The sensorless control of the BLDC motor is achieved by using commutation signals obtained from the measured pole voltages. The position control of the fin is also performed by using of the estimated speed from the commutation signals. The experimental results on the actual fin drive system demonstrated that the developed sensorless control algorithm can give an excellent position control performance.


The asymmetric [4+1] annulation of activated α,β-unsaturated ketones with MBH carbonates catalyzed by bifunctional thiourea-phosphine catalysts derived from an axially chiral binaphthyl scaffold has been developed, giving spirooxindoles with two adjacent quaternary stereocenters in good yields with high enantioselectivities and moderate diastereoselectivities under mild conditions.


OBJECTIVE
To assess color properties of white spot lesions (WSLs) following resin infiltration treatment in vitro.

MATERIALS AND METHOD
WSLs were artificially created on 30 extracted human teeth. Two groups were formed: (a) control, and (b) resin infiltrant group (n = 15, each). Instrumental color measurements were performed using a spectrophotometer and visual color evaluation was performed by three independent evaluators. Color assessment was determined at three time points: baseline (T0), after WSL formation (T1), and after resin infiltrant or control treatment (T2). CIELAB color coordinates were determined and the resultant color difference (ΔE*) was calculated between the time points. Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and One-way ANOVA analyses were used to evaluate the color changes. Pearson chi-square analysis was performed to evaluate the visual ratings between treatment and control groups. Level of significance was set p <0.05.

RESULTS
After treatment of WSLs there was a significant color change (ΔE*) between treatment and control groups (p <0.05). Resin infiltration group showed a regression of all values toward the pretreatment levels. There was a significant difference in visual evaluation ratings between groups after treatment; treatment group had all surfaces receive a rating of being clinically acceptable, with 73% of these surfaces having no perceptible color difference to adjacent sound enamel. Meanwhile, control group received ratings of all surfaces having a visual color difference that was deemed as unacceptable (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION
In-vitro resin infiltration for the treatment of enamel WSLs produced a significant improvement in color, reverting L*, a*, and b* values back toward baseline values.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Resin infiltration of enamel white spot lesions on teeth is capable of managing the esthetic problem by reverting the L*, a*, and b* color coordinates back to their baseline values. (J Esthet Restor Dent 28:339-346, 2016).


INTRODUCTION: In the kinematic analysis of most human joints continuous motion can be simulated by a sequence of finite motion steps of one part of the joint relative to the other part. In previous studies different experimental setups were used in vitro to determine the subtalar joint axis (talo- alcaneo-navicularaxis), and great variability could be shown for both orientation and position. The orientation of the axis can be described as a projection to anatomical planes in terms of deviation – that is, the projection to the transversal plane and as an inclination that is the projection to the sagittal plane. The study objective was to verify the application of the helical axis method to the ankle and subtalar joint in vitro and to transform the method for in vivo investigations.

METHODS: In vitro: one fresh frozen ankle specimen was thawed preexperimentally and then fixed in a laboratory frame. The lower leg was fixed about 15 cm proximal to the ankle joint. In the first series we used stereo photogrammetry to determine optimal marker positions. In a second series with ankle, 2 specimen's stress x-rays were used to compare talar tilt and the helical axis. In vivo: the marker system was fixed to the tibia using adhesive double- sided tape and with a special shoe construction to fix it to the calcaneus. 3D calculation of marker coordinates in finite positions were performed from a four-camera setup using the Peak Performance® system. Twelve subjects were tested in sitting position without foot-ground contact. They moved their feet from a neutral position into dorsiflexion and (while maintaining dorsiflexion) to eversion and inversion position.
RESULTS: The in vitro investigation revealed a mean deviation from repeated measurements of 10.6 degrees (± 4.6) and an inclination of 45.7 (± 5.6). The correlation of x-ray talar tilt with the helical axis method was r = 0.86 for the intact joint and 0.9 with ankle joint ligaments cut. From 12 subjects a mean deviation of 23 (± 13) and an inclination of 46 (± 10) were calculated. The correlation of deviation and inclination was r = 0.8.

DISCUSSION: This method is applicable to determine subtalar joint axis in vivo. However, the parameters are highly susceptible to measurement errors and noise. The mean results were in accord with previous studies, but the differences among subjects were remarkable. From the correlation of the angles and the relationship of the axis to the other ankle joint stabilizing structures (muscles, tendons) one could conclude that this complex may play an important role with respect to sudden inversion injuries

CONCLUSION:. If the axis of the subtalar joint could be identified as risk factor to ankle sprains then in vivo determination of the axis could be used for prevention.


Literature records for Florida ground beetles are given for 380 species. From these records, the Florida ground beetle fauna is concluded to consist mainly of Nearctic elements, but there is a small Neotropical representation in south Florida.


In the context of x-ray lensless imaging, we present a recent approach for Fourier transform holography based on the use of extended references. Major advances shown here rely on a high signal efficiency and on the direct image reconstruction of the object performed by a simple linear derivative. Moreover, the extended holographic reference is easy to manufacture and can be applied to a variety of imaging experiments. Here we demonstrate single-shot imaging with a table-top, laser-based coherent soft x-ray source. A spatial resolution of 110 nm was obtained with an integration time of 20 fs.


Noninvasive biomarkers are urgently needed for detecting breast cancer as early as possible since the risk of recurrence, morbidity, and mortality is closely related to disease stage at the time of primary surgery. There are currently no such biomarkers in clinical use as a diagnostic tool. Proteomic analysis of protein expression patterns in body fluids has potential for use in identifying biomarkers of breast cancer. The aim of this study was to compare protein expression levels in the sera of primary breast cancer patients and healthy controls. An antibody microarray tool with 23 antibodies immobilized on nitrocellulose slides was used to determine the levels of acute phase proteins, interleukins, and complement factors in the sera of 101 study participants (49 women with primary breast cancer and 52 healthy age-matched controls). Statistical analysis of reaction intensities identified 6 proteins that showed significantly (p < 0.05) different levels in breast cancer patients vs. healthy subjects. The neural network distinguished cancer patients from controls with a sensitivity of 69% and a specificity of 76%. Thus, antibody microarray analysis could be used as a tool for the development of improved diagnostics and biomarker discovery for breast cancer patients. Further validation of the results and de novo screening of new biomarkers could facilitate the early diagnosis of breast cancer.


Abstract

In this paper, we examined the relationship between tourism and service
consumption in Taiwan. The service consumption in Taiwan is nowcasted with the
real-time tourism data in Google Trends database. We used the high-frequency
internet-searching tourism data to predict the low-frequency service consumption
data, for the real-time data with rich information could enhance prediction accuracy.
Applying the Principal Components Analysis (PCA), we used the internet-searching
tourism keywords in Google Trends database to construct the diffusion indices.
Following the classification of the tourism keywords in Matsumoto et al. (2013),
we classified those keywords into five groups and twenty-nine classifications. We
focused on the reciprocal reactions between those diffusion indices with service
consumption to conclude which component has higher influence on service
consumption in Taiwan. Our empirical results indicated that the keywords in
"Recreational areas, and Travel-related" group have significant effects on service
consumption in Taiwan via nowcasting. Among the components of those diffusion
indices, "Farm, Travel insurance, and Visitor center" are important variables with
higher weights in common.

JEL classification numbers: C60, C80, E01, E2, E60.
Keywords: Nowcasting, the Principal Components Analysis (PCA), Service
Consumption, Tourism.


Converter-grid interaction is of great interest in a weak-grid condition. This paper presents a single-input–single-output (SISO) open-loop transfer function for the stability analysis of grid-connected voltage-source converters. Differing from the conventional input impedance method and the eigenvalue analysis, an alternative multi-input–multi-output closed-loop system is developed in the paper and it eventually yields an SISO open-loop transfer function. This enables the application of a single Nyquist curve for analyzing the overall system stability. The model is validated against time-domain simulations as well as experimental results showing excellent accuracy for predicting the system stability.


Objectives The aim of our study is to investigate the changes of peripheral blood lymphocytes in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) and their possible mechanism. Methods 1. EAE animal models were established by injecting MOG33-35 (Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein) with CFA (Complete Freunds' Adjuvant) subcutaneously into C57BL/6 female mice's axillae and boosting with PT (Pertussis Toxin) injection into the tail on day 0 and the second day. 2. Collecting the peripheral blood from the orbital sinus or plexus of the mouse dealt with heparin sodium on the fifth, eighth, eleventh, thirteenth, twenty-firth day after immunisation respectively. 3. Culturing and stimulating the lymphocytes for 6 hours with MOG, anti-mouse IL-2 and DMEM. 4. Using flow cytometry to determine the distribution of lymphocyte subtypes. 5. Using immunofluorescence cytometry to monitor the expression of tissue lymphocytes of the fiozen section of spinal. Results 1. EAE animal models were successfully established. 2 Mean clinic scores between CFA and EAE models had significant difference Since the twenty-first day after immunisation (***P < 0.05). 3. On the fifth, eighth, eleventh, thirteenth and twenty-first day after immunisation, the result of peripheral blood lymphocytes flow cytometry showed: compared with CFA, CD45R+ B cells quantity had no statistically significant difference, however, at the initial stage, the fifth day after immunisation, and twenty-first day after immunisation, CD45R+ B cells in EAE group expressed higher. EAE group expressed CD4+CD44+T cells higher on the fifth day after immunisation. Since then EAE group began to decline. Compared with CFA group, CD4+TCD44+T cells quantity had statistically significant difference (***p <0.001) on the eleventh day after immunisation. CD8+CD44+Tcells of EAE group expressed higher than the CFA group at the initial stage, the fifth day after immunisation, the rest days were lower. The quantity of γδT cells had statistically significant difference (***p <0.001) on the twenty-first day after immunisation. 4. The result of immunofluorescence showed that: 14 days, 18 days and 21 days after immunisation, compared with CFA group, EAE group had significantly higher CD4+T cell and CD45R+ B cell expression during these periods. Conclusions 1. In experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, B, γδT cells CD8+CD44+T cells, CD4+CD44+T cells all have an effect on the in the pathogenesis of the mice. And CD4+CD44+T plays an important pathogenic role.


Bupropion HCl, a new nontricyclic antidepressant, produced marked improvement in 49 hospitalized patients with primary depression at doses of 300-600 mg/day. Bupropion resulted in statistically significant differences from placebo as early as day 5, and by the end of the 4-week study 79% (N = 27) of the bupropion patients and 13% (N = 2) of the placebo patients showed much to very much improvement. Bupropion and placebo had similar side effect profiles. Tremor and sweating were reported more often with bupropion and headache, nausea, and tiredness with placebo.


Cancer patients receive treatments while being subjected to various distresses such as matters regarding their job, household, and purpose in life, as well as therapeutic problems. Each of these is a marked stress factor, which sometimes leads to the onset of mental disorders. About half of cancer patients undergo a psychiatric diagnosis during treatment. Anxiety and/or depression for which therapeutic intervention is needed is observed in 20 to 40% of them. Mental disorders need to be managed promptly because they cause not only distress owing to mental manifestations, but also reduce patients' motivation for treatment, impair their decision-making, and increase the incidence of suicide.


Abstract Objective: To examine the impact of self-efficacy and expectations for hearing aids, and readiness to improve hearing, on hearing aid outcome measures in first-time adult hearing aid users Design: A prospective, single centre design. Predictor variables measured at the hearing assessment included measures of self-efficacy, expectations and readiness to improve hearing. Outcome measures obtained at six-week follow-up were the Glasgow Hearing Aid Benefit Profile and Satisfaction with Amplification in Daily Life. Study sample: A sample of 30 first-time adult hearing aid users were recruited through a public-sector funded audiology clinic. Results: When measured prior to hearing aid fitting, self-efficacy for hearing aids predicted satisfaction with hearing aids but was not related to other hearing aid outcomes. Expectations of hearing aids, in particular positive expectations, and readiness to improve hearing predicted outcomes for hearing aid satisfaction and benefit, although not hearing aid use. Hearing sensitivity was not correlated with hearing aid outcomes. Conclusions: These results suggest that assessment of expectations of hearing aids, and readiness to improve hearing, may be useful to help identify individuals attending audiology clinics who would most likely benefit from hearing aid provision.


Acromegaly as a clinical entity has been recognized since ancient times, it is considered a disease of low incidence but with great impact in terms of morbidity, mortality and associated diseases. Today its diagnosis remains a challenge because pathognomonic symptoms and signs are of slow onset and subtle, so it requires a high index of suspicion and clinical expertise from the health personnel who faces the patient with acromegaly, particularly at an early stage of the disease. This article will go through the steps to establish the diagnosis of acromegaly in a suspect patient, with special emphasis on the required hormonal measurements.


The study examines the relationship between electricity consumption and economic development using an extended neoclassical model for the period 1970-2013. The study incorporates the uniqueness of the Nigerian economy by controlling for the role of institutions, technology, emissions, and economic structure in the electricity consumption-development argument. The study adopted a cointegration analysis based on the Johansen and Juselius (1981) maximum Likelihood approach and a vector error correction model. In order to ensure robustness, the study adopted the wald block endogeneity causality test to ascertain the direction of causal relationship between electricity consumption and economic development. The study found an existence of long-run cointegration equation with electricity consumption inversely related to economic development. Likewise, the vector error correction model failed to reject the null hypothesis of non-convergence in the long-run. Finally, the study found evidence supporting unidirectional causal relationship running from economic development to electricity consumption


Good communication between dentists and their patients benefits the patient, the dentist and the dental team. In this paper a model is described to help our understanding of the processes of communication between dentist and patient. This model, together with evidence from empirical research, is used to advise general dental practitioners on how to improve their communication skills.


We consider one dimensional shock waves in materials which do not conduct heat. We show that most of the classical theory of Hugoniot curves can be broadly generalized to substances having long range, non-linear, viscoelastic memory. For example, the presence of memory does not destroy the conclusion that the jump in entropy across a shock wave of small intensity is of order three or higher in the jump in the strain. The theorems of Bethe and Weyl on shocks of arbitrary intensity also can be generalized to materials with memory.


In this study, impacts of phase shift keying modulation technique on charging times of Radio Frequency (RF) energy harvesting circuit were measured and evaluated in detail. A measurement system was established for receiving and recording measurement packets. The measurement system was performed by utilizing a signal generator, an RF energy harvesting circuit, patch antennas and the other auxiliary devices. Output power level of the signal generator was adjusted to 14 dBm. The modulated signals were harvested wirelessly at distances from 20 cm to 50 cm at the interval of 5 cm by the RF energy harvesting circuit. For each distance, 100 consecutive measurement packets were obtained and hence, totally 700 measurement packets were analyzed for charging times. According to the measurement results, the shortest charging time was calculated as 7.97 s at a distance of 20 cm. In addition to that, the longest charging time was evaluated as 48.88 s at a distance of 50 cm for the phase shift keying modulated signals.


Pork occupies an important place in the diet of the Vietnamese population. Most people buy and sell meat in informal markets (called wet markets) where there is little safety and quality regulation. As part of a larger project on competitiveness of smallholder pig production in Viet Nam, we carried out a comparative risk assessment to identify and characterise hazards present in representative pork meat chains. The study addressed all levels ("from stable to table") of food supply chains in the districts of Ha Noi (urban environment) and Ha Tay (transition from urban to rural environment) in northern Viet Nam. We used Participatory Risk Analysis, allowing rapid and participatory assessment of hazards in resource-constrained environments. Different tools were used in this pathway approach to identify practices and hazards at production, slaughter, transport, sale and consumption, including: Observational check lists and questionnaires ; Participatory rural appraisal; Rapid diagnostic tests for several pathogens in pork meat, including several bacteria, different parasites and antibiotic residues. The collected data were evaluated to assess hazards as well as risk amplifying or mitigating practices. The farms scored moderately well on measures of biosecurity, good hygienic practice and reduction of zoonoses transmission. Farmers reported the occurrence of disease outbreaks in their pigs, but also an adequate coverage with veterinary services and drugs. Slaughterhouses scored low on hygienic practices, suggesting this may be a critical step because of a high likelihood of carcass contamination with faecal bacteria. Applying diagnostic tests on slaughtered pigs and pork meat at selling points, we found six hazards present in pork at concerning levels. We also report on the prevalence of consumer practices around purchase, keeping and preparation of food which are likely to influence risk. Finally, we integrate the findings from the different levels of the chain to assess the risk to consumers and conclude that although there is strong evidence for high levels of hazards in pork, there is less evidence of high levels of risk to consumers of pork meat.


Patient: Female, 62 Final Diagnosis: Hepatic artery thrombosis Symptoms: Abdominal pain • Nausea • Vomiting Medication: — Clinical Procedure: — Specialty: Surgery Objective: Rare disease Background: Isolated hepatic artery thrombosis is an extremely rare condition with only a few cases reported in the literature. Case Report: A 62-year-old woman presented with a 5-day history of right upper quadrant abdominal pain associated with nausea and vomiting. Physical examination revealed right upper quadrant tenderness. Her initial laboratory work was significant for elevated aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels (745 and 431 U/L, respectively). A computed tomography of her abdomen showed a thrombus within the hepatic artery, with multiple hepatic infarcts but no evidence of portal vein thrombosis. Hypercoagulability workup was unremarkable; she did not have any evidence of atrial fibrillation on ECG or telemetry. She was treated with subcutaneous low molecular weight heparin. Over the course of her hospitalization, her AST and ALT levels peaked to 2065 and 1217 U/L respectively, and trended down thereafter. Conclusions: We believe that our case is unique for 2 reasons: 1) Our patient did not undergo any procedure that may have precipitated hepatic artery thrombosis and 2) Despite the absence of concurrent portal vein thrombosis, she had biochemical and imaging findings of hepatic ischemia.


In this paper, a general framework which enables to compare previously proposed block decoding approaches for the fast correlation attack is developed. All attacks are based on decoding using a set of parity check sums of an underlying linear code. The purpose of this paper is twofold: 1) to provide a simple close form estimate about the number of check sums of a particular structure necessary for the corresponding attack to succeed; 2) to illustrate how such estimates are useful in minimizing the computational complexity of each attack considered, and consequently, in establishing a unified framework for comparison.


Inculturation is a rare dictionary word that gained popularity after the Second Vatican Council. It is the incarnation of the Christian message in particular cultural context, in such a way that this experience not only finds expression through elements proper to the culture in question, but becomes a principle that animates, directs and unifies the Church and remaking it so as to bring a new creation. In this paper, the researchers argue that evangelization in post-missionary Africa, to be intensive and not just extensive, must imbibe the principles of inculturation. It further argues that inculturation provides the fertile ground for incorporating the culture of particular peoples into the life of the Church. This disconnects evangelization with the missionary concept of evangelization as a one-way traffic and connects to a process that is interactive and complementary. It is through inculturation that the church would reappraise her evangelizing mission so as to maintain and exceed the present successes and redefine its orientations and goals.


Introduction Genetic factors play a crucial role in the predisposition to Barrett's epithelium (BE) and progression to oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OA). Using next generation sequencing (NGS) methods on frozen tissue, TP53 mutations have been identified in a stage specific manor in BE (1). The standard method of preserving BE is formalin fixing and paraffin embedding (FFPE). NGS on tiny FFPE specimens is challenging. We examined the prevalence of TP53 genomic aberrations and p53 expression in tiny FFPE BE biopsies using an adapted NGS platform. Method 37 cases including non-dysplastic BE (NDBE; n = 7), low grade dysplasia (LGD; n = 7), high grade dysplasia (HGD; n = 9), intramucosal cancer (IMC; n = 6) and invasive OA (IOA; n = 8) were sequenced and immunostained. We used an inhouse, high throughput multiplexing method for targeted mutational screening using NGS on DNA extracted from FFPE tissue and analysed the files with our unique hidden Markov analytical method. Automated p53 IHC using clone D07 was used to correlate detected TP53 mutations with tissue expression. Results DNA extracted varied from 2–50 ng, including some highly degraded DNA material. TP53 was mutated in 40.5% (15/37) of cases; 28.6% of NDBE (2/7), 71.4% of LGD (5/7), 44.4% of HGD (4/9), 33.3% of IMC (2/6) and 25% of IOA (2/8). Interestingly, only 40% (6/15) of cases showed both TP53 mutations and p53 aberrations (over- or absence of expression), 60% (9/15) had mutations but no protein aberration, and 45% (5/11) had p53 aberration but no mutational abnormality. The data quality was excellent with all cases having a depth of coverage of at least x800 (mean coverage x1200 (Figure 1A). The level of p53 staining did not however correlate with mutation data (Figure 1B).Abstract PTH-171 Figure 1 Conclusion These results show discordance between detection of TP53 using mutation analysis and current p53 IHC methods. Furthermore, we identified patients with TP53 mutations in NDBE, which may pre-empt progression to OA. Identifying early genomic aberrations driving the development of OA from BE holds the key to accurately risk stratifying BE patients into more aggressive treatment strategies or frequent surveillance regimes. Disclosure of interest None Declared. Reference Weaver et al. Nat Genet. 2014;46(8):837-43


We have implemented a parallel version of the Barnes-Hut 3-D N-body tree algorithm under PVM 3.2.5, adopting an SPMD paradigm. We parallelize the problem by decomposing the physical domain by means of the Orthogonal Recursive Bisection octtree scheme suggested by Salmon (1991), but we modify the original hypercube communication pattern into an incomplete hypercube, which is more suitable for a generic inhomogenous cluster architecture. We address dynamical load balancing by assigning different "weights" to the spawned tasks according to the dynamically changing workloads of each task. The weights are determined by monitoring the local platforms where the tasks are running and estimating the performance of each task. The monitoring scheme is flexible and allows us to address at the same time cluster and intrinsic sources of load imbalance. We then show measurements of the performance of our code on a test case of astrophysical interest in order to test the performance of our load-balancing scheme.


Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an RNA virus causing an acute generally self-limited disease in humans. An increasing number of autochthonous cases linked to zoonotic transmission of HEV genotype 3 have been reported over the last 10 years in Europe. Pigs and wild boars are considered the main reservoirs. The principal route of transmission in Europe is food-borne, linked by direct or indirect evidence to the consumption of raw or undercooked pork products and wild boar meat. In this study, we sampled 92 wild boar (Sus scrofa) livers during active surveillance in five municipalities in Central Italy throughout the hunting season 2016-2017. HEV RNA was detected in 52.2% of liver sampled with prevalence ranging from 0.0% to 65.7%. HEV-positive wild boars were detected in all but one area of hunting. Phylogenetic analysis showed that strains clustered within the two subtypes HEV-3c and HEV-3f and displayed a wide range of phylogenetic diversity. Several strains were circulating in the areas investigated; animals possibly belonging to the same family group hunted by the same team were infected with a unique strain (100% nucleotide identity). As wild animals are a proven source of HEV transmission to humans and pigs, the high prevalence observed (mean 52.2%) poses a question on the risk of consuming raw or undercooked wild boar meat, and thus, this subject deserves further investigations.


Here we present data on the identity and geographic distribution of lizard species in the Purus-Madeira interfluve, along the road BR-319 in Brazilian Amazonia. We sampled a transect composed by 10 modules located at least 40 kilometres from each other. Data collection was performed through active search on vegetation and leaf-litter along 250 m-long transects, and by occasional encounters. Twenty-four species from 16 genera and eight families were recorded. The present assessment reinforces the importance of this area to the conservation of Amazonian lizard species and can be considered as basis for studies of ecology and environmental impact regarding lizard communities in this threatened region. Keywords. Amazonas, Brazil, Inambari, Reptiles, Species richness


A new method, based on the original theory of conservation of sum of kinetic and potential energy defined for prices is proposed and applied on Dow Jones Industrials Average (DJIA). The general trends averaged over months or years gave a roughly conserved total energy, with three different potential energies, i.e. positive definite quadratic, negative definite quadratic and linear potential energy for exponential rises (and falls), sinusoidal oscillations and parabolic trajectories, respectively. Corresponding expressions for force (impact) are also given. Keywords:


While the evolving nature and proliferation of UN peacekeeping operations in the post-Cold War period is well documented, we know less about how personnel are recruited for these missions. Furthermore, recent developments have rendered existing supply-side explanations for troop contributions less convincing. The increasing demand for personnel, along with stagnant UN reimbursement rates and the rising costs of participation that began during the 1990s, mean that it is less attractive than ever for developing countries to offer their own troops to what have become increasingly ambitious operations. Yet, we see a large pool of developing countries continuing to do so. To address this puzzle, we argue that UN member states with strong preferences for establishing peacekeeping missions have begun using foreign aid as an inducement to help potential contributors overcome the collective action problem inherent in multilateral peacekeeping operations. We uncover strong empirical evidence that these 'pivotal states' strategically allocate foreign aid to persuade contributing states to boost their contributions, and also to ensure that these missions continue to be staffed and maintained as costs rise, particularly during the post-1999 period. We also find that states are responsive to these financial inducements: foreign aid increases both the likelihood of contributing personnel and the size of a state's contribution. Theoretically, this article advances the scholarly understanding of international organizations and cooperation by illuminating an informal, extra-organizational strategy by which IOs can facilitate cooperation.


This paper presents an analytical method for accurate estimation of delay distributions for circuits under (within-die) process variations. The technique is applied for the circuit delay calculation when considering the effect of channel length variation. In the proposed model, instead of obtaining the exact delay distribution profile, statistically important parameters including mean and variance are computed. The proposed model estimates the mean and variance of the delay distribution of the circuit using the technology parameters. It is shown that the proposed statistical model has extremely small error (less than 10%) compared to those of the Monte-Carlo method. The accuracy of the proposed model increases as the technology shrinks. The proposed model can be applied in the delay estimation of logic circuits considering spatial correlations between process parameters.


In this study, it was aimed to examine the anxiety levels of 48-72 months old children in terms of demographic variables of fathers and children. The sample of the research consists of 300 fathers with 48-72 months old children who were randomly selected living in Istanbul in 2022.
The data of the study were collected with "Personal Information Form" and "Renewed Preschool Anxiety Scale". Survey model was used in the study to examine the effect of independent variables on the dependent variable. As a result of the research, it was found that the variables of fathers' profession, fathers' education level, fathers' job and institution satisfaction, fathers' employment status, fathers' evaluation of their marriage, duration of marriage, average time spent with their children per day, and the gender of the child did not cause any difference in children's anxiety levels; it was seen that the marital status of the fathers, their assessment of their own stress and their perception of their relations with their children caused a significant difference in the anxiety levels of the children.


The design of concentric ring arrays for isoflux radiation is reported in this paper. This design considers the reduction of the side lobe level and the isoflux radiation requirements for Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellites. The optimization problem considers the spacing between rings and the levels of amplitude excitations. The well-known method of Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is utilized for the optimization. The obtained results could lead the satellite hardware to be reduced significantly even more that results presented previously in the literature.


This paper presents a feedback controller that allows MABEL, a kneed, planar bipedal robot, with 1 m-long legs, to accommodate an abrupt 20 cm decrease in ground height. The robot is provided information on neither where the step down occurs, nor by how much. After the robot has stepped off a raised platform, however, the height of the platform can be estimated from the lengths of the legs and the angles of the robot's joints. A real-time control strategy is implemented that uses this on-line estimate of step-down height to switch from a baseline controller, that is designed for flat-ground walking, to a second controller, that is designed to attenuate torso oscillation resulting from the step-down disturbance. After one step, the baseline controller is re-applied. The control strategy is developed on a simplified-design model of the robot and then verified on a more realistic model before being evaluated experimentally. The paper concludes with experimental results showing MABEL (blindly) stepping off a 20 cm high platform.