The Controller Area Network (CAN) constitutes a good low level base for distributed real–time control systems. The priority mechanism allows for tailoring by choice of scheduling policy. It is however unfortunate that the error handling policy of CAN is fixed, this limits the solution space for the designer. Clock synchronization should be added to the basic CAN system in order to obtain a global system clock. Designing a distributed system around CAN requires the identification of the appropriate level of system decentralization and a suitable system organization. These design aspects are presented and the use of CAN as a basis for distributed control systems is discussed.


In this study, titanium dioxide (TiO2) colloid was deposited on the fluorine-doped tin oxide substrate by a spin coating method and blade coating method. The characteristics of indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) are uniform porous structure, lower reverse recombination, high optical transparency, and good mobility. Composite of an IGZO/TiO2 film was fabricated by sputtering IGZO on the TiO2 film to form a photoelectrode. The reduced graphene oxide (rGO) has high electrocatalysis activity and excellent electron conduction. Besides, the rGO can be applied to the counter electrode of a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). The IGZO/TiO2 photoelectrode with a platinum (Pt) counter electrode exhibited optimal photovoltaic conversion efficiency (<italic> η</italic>), and <italic>η</italic> increased 21% compared with a pure TiO2 photoelectrode. <italic>η</italic> of the IGZO/TiO2 photoelectrode and rGO/Pt counter electrode exhibited optimal efficiency, which was comparable with a TiO2 photoelectrode with the Pt counter electrode under the same condition. In our research, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to analyze the interface resistance between internal components, which could confirm recombination of electrons and electrical conductivity. The rGO/Pt counter electrode demonstrated low resistance between electrolyte and counter electrode, whose resistance was similar to the pure Pt counter electrode.


This paper was presented at the general meeting for establishment of the society as an invited memorial lecture. The paper involves a review of multiphase flow appearing in civil engineering field.First of all, the phenomena of multiphase flow in civil engineering are classified in Table 1, and especially features of mudflow in mountains and extremely high concentration flow in Yellow River are introduced as peculiar phenomena of one directional two-phase flows with water and sediment. Secondly sediment transport on the beach and beach deformation by waves are discussed as a typical two-phase flow problem in coastal engineering, and in addition, a pneumatic breakwater using air bubble curtain flow is introduced as an application of two-phase flow with air and water.


Periostin, a secreted matricellular protein, has been reported to induce epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT), which increases motility and invasiveness in various epithelial cancer cells. Periostin is also overexpressed in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and suggested to be a biomarker for tumor progression and poor prognosis; however, its functional role in ICC is not fully understood. Here, we investigated whether periostin influences malignant potential through the induction of EMT in ICC. Analyses of surgical resected ICC specimens revealed that the gene expression of periostin was significantly higher in ICC tumors than in adjacent nontumor liver tissues and was closely correlated with the expression of mesenchymal markers, including N‐cadherin, vimentin, and fibronectin. However, the expression level of periostin varied in each case. Consistently, the expression of periostin in HuH28 (an undifferentiated ICC cell) was markedly higher than in HuCCT‐1 (a moderately differentiated ICC cell). In addition, high‐level secretion of periostin into culture media was observed in HuH28 but not in HuCCT‐1. To identify the biological significance of periostin in EMT, gene silencing of periostin by small interfering RNA was performed in HuH28 cells. Periostin knockdown in HuH28 cells significantly down‐regulated mesenchymal markers and up‐regulated epithelial markers, suggesting the reversal of EMT, namely mesenchymal‐epithelial transition. Along with these changes, cell proliferation was significantly suppressed by 52%. In addition, cell migration and invasion were significantly suppressed by 62% and 61%, respectively, with reduced gene expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2. Interestingly, chemosensitivity to gemcitabine was also significantly improved by periostin depletion. Conclusion: Periostin plays an important role in the regulation of malignant potential through EMT and is suggested to be a novel target for the treatment of ICC. (Hepatology Communications 2017;1:1099–1109)


The European Union (EU) Framework Programmes represent the ideal platform for exchanging knowledge potentially leading to innovation outcomes, in addition to providing vital research funds for various types of organisations (firms, universities, agencies, etc.) The present paper aims to assess whether innovativeness ('innovation-driven' participation) or energy demand/vulnerability ('challenge-driven' participation) determine a different degree of participation in the context of the energy programme funded under Horizon 2020 (2014–2020 period). By combining social network analysis and econometrics, our empirical analysis clearly shows that the more innovative EU regions hold a central or key position, while the regions characterised by higher energy demand or vulnerability play a marginal role in the EU energy network. These findings are not dissimilar to what other scholars have observed in relation to different EU programmes and funding schemes. Based on this, we argue that EU policymakers and evaluators should aim at encouraging challenge-driven participation and, more generally, a more balanced participation through appropriate and specific policy actions.


In the appendix to this paper an overview of Michigan economic incentive legislation is presented (MSU Ag Econ Staff paper No. 79-79). This described Michigan's economic incentive program without conducting an analysis of the consequences of the program. The purpose of the following discussion is to analyze the impact of economic incentives, providing some insights into the incidence of benefits and costs resulting from Michigan's economic development program. This discussion is comprised of four parts: 1) The relationship between tax levels, industrial revenue bond financing, and economic growth; 2) A description of industrial revenue bond use on a national level, Michigan's program placed into perspective; 3) Summary and discussion of the results of "The Plant Location Survey" and other Office of Economic Development (OED) publications analyzing the impact of Act 198; and 4) Policy alternative and conclusions.


The tested biocides and latex-bearing plants significantly (p<0.05 and/or 0.01 levels) decreased the number of Meloidogyne incognita juveniles in soil, females and egg-masses on roots, total final nematode population and consequently the rate of nematode build-up and improving the growth and yield of chamomile plants throughout two successive seasons (2016 and 2017) as compared to check plants. The suppression in the previous stages and build-up of the nematode or increase in all plant growth and yield parameters evidently varied according to the type of the tested substances. Thereupon, using of Bacillus thuringiensis karastaki (the major component for Dipel 2x product) seemed to be the most effective biocides in controlling M. incognita followed by using of Bacillus subtilis (the major component for Rhizo-N product) while, using of the active ingredient of Plant-Guard product, Trichoderma harzianum was least effective. Also, chopped shoots of Pedilanthus rithymaloides gave highest reductions in numbers of juveniles, females, egg-masses and consequently the rate of build-up (94%, 62%, 64%, 93% and 93%; respectively) followed by Cryptostegia grandiflora, Calotropis procera and Euphorbia pulcherrima. These compounds also showed significant (p<0.05 and/or 0.01 levels) improvement in growth and yield of chamomile plants as compared to untreated control.


Background: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is one of the forerunners of diabetes and by its merit demands close surveillance so that early lifestyle changes and preventive programs are instituted. Hence targeted management using effective interactive communication system becomes imperative to combat the phenomenal increase of glucose intolerance in gestation. Methods: The study was conducted at Dr. Seshiah Diabetes Specialties Centre, Chennai and gestational follow-up until delivery was carried out for 900 pregnant women. A diabetes protocol was developed to maintain a complete record of their clinical assessment every month. The clinical management of GDM was done in 3 stages namely during gestation, immediate postpartum and after delivery through effective communication techniques like lecture method, computer-aided counselling, power point presentations, brochures, individual and family counselling, postpartum follow-up through postpartum follow-up module and counselling prospective mothers through audio-visual aids. The impact of dietary intervention given to the pregnant women under follow-up was studied in two folds: Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) study and estimation of their glycemic level before and after intervention. The glycemic levels before and after intervention was tested for significance level using t test and effect of risk factors on gestational glycemia was tested using multiple regression analysis. Results:  The targeted management through interactive counselling and education communication proved effective as maternal glucose was well controlled during gestation and encouraged postpartum screening. Nutrition intervention proved effective in bringing down their energy intake and improved their glycemic level. The post counselling scores in KAP showed significant improvement. Conclusion: GDM may well be incurred in future as an open window of opportunity for prevention, rather than a closed door of bleak outcomes. Increasing awareness of GDM, appropriate timing and methodology of screening, ante partum and postpartum precautionary measures employed through efficient communication strategies in a meaningful way would be a "wake-up" call for the increasing burden of the disease.


The contact wire pre-sag in railway overhead catenary has been considered as a innovative idea which improves the current collection quality and is expected to evenly distribute wear along a span. However, long term studies on the effects of pre-sag, especially on the quantitative wear pattern of the contact wire, have not yet been reported. Therefore, in this study, the pre-sag and wear pattern of the contact wire along a span from long term operation of railway in Korea was surveyed. The examination was conducted on 3 lines, the Gyeongbu high-speed line with pre-sag of span/2000, the Gyeongbu existing line without pre-sag, and Gyeongchun line with pre-sag installation on 1/1000 of its span. The wear measurements of 58 sample spans were examined. The wear pattern analysis show no interrelationships between pre-sag and evenly distributed wear, but more wear occurred at the center of a span compared to the ends of the span, especially more noticeable as span length increases.


Nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia, characterized by marked reticulocytosis, hepatosplenomegaly, hemosiderosis of reticuloendothelial organs and bone marrow myelofibrosis, and osteosclerosis, was diagnosed in 5 related Poodles. The unremitting anemia was clinically evident by 1 year of age, and was fatal as early as 3 years of age. Despite intense diagnostic endeavors including RBC fragility studies, RBC enzyme assays, and hemoglobin electrophoresis, the cause of this nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia remains to be determined.


Given an undirected edge-weighted network in which one edge capacity is allowed to vary, we propose in this paper a polynomial algorithm that needs only two 2-cuttrees computations to provide the all pairs maximum 2-route flow values. Moreover, we provide an extension to the case where k edge capacities may vary, and show that 2^k 2-cut-trees computations are necessary in order to determine the all pairs maximum 2-route-flow values. This makes our algorithm polynomial whenever k = O(polylog n).


A 24-year-old Thai woman presented with large for date. Two dimensional (2D) and Doppler ultrasonography revealed a large placental mass with prominent vasculature suggestive of chorioangioma with polyhydramnios. Three-dimensional (3D) ultrasonography was used to demonstrate the better images for parental counseling. Close observation with serial ultrasonography was chosen with spontaneous decreasing of amniotic fluid. On the follow up, six months after birth, the baby had hepatic hemangioma, which responded to corticosteroid and propanoral. Although, there are several invasive therapeutic treatments adopted in the management of chorioangioma. Such procedures can cause serious complications. Expectant management should be another option because large chorioangiomas may have spontaneous infarction that improve fetal hemodynamics and clinical outcomes.


Four sediment cores were collected from the lower Fox River, Wisconsin, USA, to identify possible sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using a chemical mass balance model. The cores, which were obtained in 1995 from areas close to Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA, had total PAH concentrations between 19.3 and 0.34 ppm. To determine historical trends of PAH inputs, 210Pb and 137Cs dating was used, and elemental carbon particle analysis was done to characterize particles from the combustion of coal, wood, and petroleum. Source fingerprints were taken from the literature. Our results indicate that coke oven emissions, highway dust, coal gasification, and wood burning are likely sources of PAHs in the lower Fox River. Coke oven emissions are in the range of 40 to 90% of total PAHs, and this fraction decreases from 1930 to 1990, except in core Fox River–A (FR‐A). The overall highway dust (HWY) contribution is between 10 and 75%, and this fraction increases from 1930 to present, except in core FR‐A. The wood burning (WB) contribution (i.e., wood burning or coal gasification) is less than 7% in cores FR‐B, FR‐C, and FR‐D. In core FR‐A, a maximum (≈23%) is found around 1960. The contribution of wood burning has changed from less than 6% in 1950 to between 3 and 10% in 1995. Evidence of aerobic biodegradation or photolysis in the sediment of phenanthrene, with a half‐life of approximately 0.5 years has been found at the site of core FR‐D, which is the shallowest (1.1 m) of the four core sites.


Background/ objectives; Large tonsillolith is a rare entity although small calcifications in the tonsillar tissue are a common clinical finding in adults. These patients usually present with bad breath odor, pain during swallowing or foreign body sensation in the throat.
Design: K V G Medical College, Department of ENT, Head & Neck Surgery.
 Intervention: Tonsillectomy was done in all the cases & tonsillar specimen sent for histopathological analysis & tonsillolith for mineral & bacterial flora analysis.
Result: Normal tonsillar lymphoid tissue was seen on histopathology in all the 4 cases. Calcium carbonate & phosphate was seen in all with magnesium phosphate in one. Fusobacterium an oral anaerobic commensal were isolated from 2 stones.
Conclusion: Tonsilloliths are sometimes incidental findings in X-ray neck & nasopharynx. Treatment includes surgical removal for superficial stones & tonsillectomy for larger & deeper stones.


Hopanoids and carotenoids are two of the major isoprenoid‐derived lipid classes in prokaryotes that have been proposed to have similar membrane ordering properties as sterols. Methylobacterium extorquens contains hopanoids and carotenoids in their outer membrane, making them an ideal system to investigate the role of isoprenoid lipids in surface membrane function and cellular fitness. By genetically knocking out hpnE and crtB we disrupted the production of squalene and phytoene in M. extorquens PA1, which are the presumed precursors for hopanoids and carotenoids respectively. Deletion of hpnE revealed that carotenoid biosynthesis utilizes squalene as a precursor resulting in pigmentation with a C30 backbone, rather than the previously predicted canonical C40 phytoene‐derived pathway. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that M. extorquens may have acquired the C30 pathway through lateral gene transfer from Planctomycetes. Surprisingly, disruption of carotenoid synthesis did not generate any major growth or membrane biophysical phenotypes, but slightly increased sensitivity to oxidative stress. We further demonstrated that hopanoids but not carotenoids are essential for growth at higher temperatures, membrane permeability and tolerance of low divalent cation concentrations. These observations show that hopanoids and carotenoids serve diverse roles in the outer membrane of M. extorquens PA1.


Continuous innovation is becoming a necessity i f firms want to stay competitive. Different factors influence the rate of innovation in a firm, among which corporate culture has often been recognized among the most important factors. In this paper we argue that the development of corporate culture that will support and foster innovation must be accompanied with an appropriate reward system. A study had been conducted among a small firms in Chennai showed that a statistically significant relationship exists among corporate culture that supports innovations and reward system features.


We developed a method for testing guide wires and catheters that realistically evaluates the forces applied to anatomical structures by these instruments during urological procedures. The placement of guide wires and catheters to gain access to the upper urinary tract can induce undesirable stresses on the tissues. Previous studies have characterized wire/catheter performances base on their physical properties such as stiffness and friction coefficient. However, the results of these studies do not directly quantify their effect on the tissues. Additionally, individual physical properties do not entirely characterize the behavior of the wire/catheter ensemble. Our model utilizes a computer-controlled test stand that simulates the urological environment by including a tortuous path and a stone obstruction. Experimental results indicate that the method shows significant promise in reflecting wire/catheter performance data in congruence with reliable real-life measures of stress upon relevant anatomical structures. Furthermore, due to the modularity of the approach, the model can be easily reconfigured to simulate environments from other medical fields


In 378 women coming for examination with the symptoms of a chronic inflammation of the previously randomly treated endocervix, the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis was found in 17.2%, i.e. in every fifth woman with chronic cervicitis. The diagnosis of the cervical inflammation was made according to the criteria of Harrison and co-workers. The patients' age range from 17 to 58 years.


Abstract In response to Bernard Williams' suspicion that we would inevitably become bored with immortal life, John Martin Fischer has argued that we could continue to enjoy repeatable pleasures such as fine wine, beautiful music, and spiritual experiences. In more recent work on near-death experiences, Fischer has also explored the non-religious meaning of spiritual experiences in more depth. I join this deeper exploration of spiritual experience, and I also join Williams' critics who question his view that character and desire are needed to explain the desirability of life, while providing additional reason for concern that Williams' way of valuing life may itself actually be a cause of boredom with life. With an eye to spiritual experience, I indicate how we can distance ourselves even further from Williams' view, and I suggest how the attitude that life is good but death is not bad emerges from spiritual experience, as expressed in numerous religious and secular spiritual traditions. This lends support to the conclusion that radically extended life is desirable even if not actively desired.


Vegetarians fall into four main subgroups. The distinction is of practical importance in that the more strictly vegetarianism is adhered to, the more difficult it becomes to assure an adequate diet for infants and children. Lactoovovegetarians exclude meat from the diet although some will eat fish. Milk and eggs are eaten with varying frequency but generally on a regular basis. Lactovegetarians refuse to eat eggs but will drink milk. Pure vegetarians reject any food of animal origin, including milk and eggs. One frequently sees pure vegetarians referred to as vegans. This term is probably better reserved for a subset of vegetarians whose philosophy precludes not only the consumption of foods of animal origin but also the use of any product of animal origin if a substitute exists. The proscription of animal products precludes the use of wool sweaters or leather shoes, for example. In addition to these obvious exclusions, things,


PURPOSE
To determine the impact of removable partial dental prostheses on satisfying the daily functioning and quality of life (QoL) of adult patients with different distributions of missing posterior teeth.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
A cross-sectional interventional study was carried out on 80 patients having variously distributed posteriorly shortened and interrupted arches. Treatment comprised provision of partial dentures by senior dental students, supervised by senior clinical teachers who had knowledge of the potential benefits of the shortened dental arch (SDA) concept. The Oral Impacts on Daily Performance Index was completed before and 6 months after prosthetic treatment across groups comprising Kennedy Classes I, II, and III arches. Analysis included descriptive statistics and associations and comparisons between variables.

RESULTS
Mean age of patients was 57.4 years (SD = 13.1), many were retired (72.2%), and a majority were females (60%). Most patients lived in urban areas (95%), and were largely unemployed (63.3%). At pretreatment, only 31.3% of patients reported having good dental health and satisfaction with their current oral state, while 82.5% said they had a great need for treatment. The negative oral impacts that were most frequently experienced were those of eating (67.5%), smiling (50%), and being emotionally disturbed (63.8%). Post-treatment, 76.3% indicated good oral health and satisfaction with no significant differences between the 3 Kennedy groups. Any further negative impacts were reported mostly for Kennedy Classes I and II.

CONCLUSIONS
Overall, significant reductions of negative impacts were observed following treatment with dentures, across the 3 Kennedy groups, with respect to improved function, satisfaction, and oral health-related QoL. The findings confirm the reliance by partially dentate patients in all 3 Kennedy groups on dentures for improved oral health, although the possible benefits of the SDA concept as an alternative treatment option was not specifically explored.


Shigaku zasshi, the leading history journal in Japan, devotes its fifth issue every year to reviews of historical scholarship published in Japan during the previous year. The re-views for Korean history are written by specialists and introduce and direct readers to publications in many fields, including archaeology, economic history, and social history. Information in parentheses was parenthetical in the original Japanese. Information inside square brackets has been supplied by the translators.


Controlling a Parent System Through the Abstraction of a Swarm Acting Upon It This dissertation discusses the control of parent-child systems in which a parent system is acted on by a set of controllable child systems (i.e. a swarm). Using swarms of robots to accomplish complex tasks has several benefits over using a single robot; for example, members of the swarm can each focus on simpler sub-problems, allowing for less complex design, and if a swarm member breaks down, it may be easier to replace than a larger single robot. Many such complex tasks can be broken into this parent-child class of system. Examples of such systems include a swarm of robots pushing an object over a surface or a swarm of aerial vehicles carrying a large load. There are also many not-so-obvious problems that can be framed this way; for example, a multi-legged robot could be viewed as a swarm of legs manipulating a body, or an array of flaps on an aircraft wing could be considered a swarm controlling the flow over the wing. The first part of this dissertation outlines a general approach for decoupling the swarm from the parent system through a low-dimensional abstract state space. The conditions that enable this approach are given along with how constraints on both systems propagate through the abstract state and impact the requirements of their controllers. Next a method using Deep Learning techniques is proposed to learn such an abstract state, rather than design it by hand. This allows for broader applications in which an abstract state may not be obvious. Lastly, a method of estimating the abstract state in a decentralized fashion is presented, allowing the methods discussed previously to be implemented without global state observers. To demonstrate the techniques presented, we consider a representative problem consisting of a tilting plane with a swarm of robots driving on top. Both homogeneous and heterogeneous swarms of varying sizes, properties, and dynamics are used to demonstrate the modularity of these methods. The controllers are shown to be locally asymptotically


Can there be a successful global meeting or convergence of broad corporate governance norms or is it merely the stuff of fantasy? India, over the years, like a few other developing countries in Asia and outside, brought in a spate of corporate governance reforms based on the American model and these have not had the highest success rate. This article analyses the evolution of corporate regulation in India starting from the pre-independence era (prior to 1947) up to 2013. The look at the past helps one understand the Indian business structure, institutions and culture which is essential to understand why a lot of the Anglo-American corporate governance norms imported into the country have failed. A wake up call was sounded when Satyam Computers orchestrated one of the biggest accounting frauds in the country and Indian legislators came to realise that it was not enough to transplant western norms into an environment that probably did not have the corresponding infrastructure. This article therefore studies the Satyam case and illustrates the inadequacies of the reforms effected up until then. Responding to Satyam, India enacted the Companies Act, 2013 which attempts to adapt the international norms specifically to the Indian situation. Does this give convergence a better chance of success? An analysis of the provisions of this new law as well as industry reactions seems to answer this question in the affirmative. However, much of the success depends on its implementation and it remains to be seen if it is indeed a success story.


Successive water addition to the mononuclear species SO3(g) and ClO3(OH)(g) and ArO4(g), as well as the binuclear clusters S2O6(g) and Cl2O7(g), is Studied by means of quantum chemistry. A large basis set effect is observed for the S-O, Cl-O, and Ar-O bond distances, as well as for redox energetics. While the 6-311+G(d,p) basis set is enough for O and H atoms, S, Cl, and Ar require the 6-311 +G(3df) set for an accurate description. Given this combination of basis sets, B3LYP is found to give very good results of equal quality to high-level methods. The dominating chemical feature that is monitored is the instability of the S=O, Cl=O, and Ar=O bonds. This instability causes the acidity displayed by water solutions of SO2(OH)(2) and ClO3(OH) and makes the Cl and Ar systems prone to O-2(g) evolution. The latter system is also reduced directly by water, while the reduction of SO2(OH)(2) to H2S requires a reducing agent of equivalent power to H,. Three water ligands are necessary to produce nanoscale deprotonation f SO2(OH)(2) and ClO3(OH). The hydrolytic cleavage of the S-O-S and Cl-O-Cl bridges is exothermic by 23-30 kJ/mol, which explains the sensitivity to excess of water displayed by these polymers.


INTRODUCTION
We studied the implementation of recommended yearly control visits, quality of care and characteristics and co-morbidities of patients with chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and those with both conditions in a sample of Danish general practices.

METHODS
This was a retrospective audit of patient records from 2017 in 164 general practices in Denmark. Up to 15 patients were randomly selected in each practice for assessment of relevant parameters and quality of care, producing a total of 820 patients with COPD, 823 patients with T2DM and 709 patients with both COPD and T2DM.

RESULTS
Formalised annual control visits were completed in 72% of the patients with T2DM and 48% of the patients with COPD. Approximately 13% of the patients were followed by a specialist. Patients with both diseases had the highest number of healthcare contacts but the lowest fulfilment of annual control visits. The standard of care was fair, although assessment of the disease characteristics of COPD was less complete in patients with both conditions. Cardiovascular diseases including heart failure were significantly more common in patients with both conditions (42%) than in those with COPD only (29%) or T2DM only (27%).

CONCLUSIONS
In 2017, the implementation of annual control visits for COPD was less complete than for T2DM. Patients with both diseases had the highest prevalence of cardiovascular disease and use of health resources, suggesting that this group needs additional attention.

FUNDING
The present study was sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim Denmark.

TRIAL REGISTRATION
not relevant.


Abstract : Since the mid-1960s the Army has integrated automation into almost every aspect of logistics. The Army Logistician's start point for fielding an automated system was little more than a sophisticated accounting machine, the National Cash Register model NCR 500. The NCR 500 did nothing more than automate an existing manual process. In the next thirty years the Army's logistics community has done little more than continue to automate manual processes. Each branch, and branch subset, has independently developed their system, because they felt their functions to be unique. Today we have logistics systems that do not share information with other logistics systems and that have different names for the same thing. Logisticians have a difficult time understanding their own automated systems. The rest of the Army generally does not try. The Army tactical commander does not have direct, easy, access to logistics information regarding his unit's logistical status. Most battalion and brigade commanders, logisticians and non-logisticians alike, feel that logistics systems are developed without a view towards Army needs. This paper will look at where Army logistics automation has been, where it is today, and where current planning will take it in the future. The paper concludes with where the author thinks logistics automation should be going, why and how. This paper is not a technical treatise on logistics automation. There will be no discussions of what goes in card column 39 nor what AOA card does within the system. It is rather a concerned conceptual look at the topic, with a view towards Army logistics for the remainder of this century and into the twenty-first century.


Bivalirudin is a direct thrombin inhibitor that is increasingly used in patients undergoing mechanical circulatory support as it presents many advantages compared with unfractionated heparin. The aim of this study was to describe our experience with bivalirudin as primary anticoagulant in patients undergoing ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation. An observational study was performed on 12 consecutive patients undergoing VAD implantation at our institution. Patients received a continuous infusion of bivalirudin, with a starting dose of 0.025 mg/kg/h; the target activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) was between 45 and 60 s. Patients never received heparin during hospitalization nor had a prior diagnosis of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). All patients received a continuous flow pump except one. Preoperative platelets count was 134 000 ± 64 000 platelets/mm(3) . Mean bivalirudin dose was 0.040 ± 0.026 mg/kg/h over the course of therapy (5-12 days). Lowest platelets count during treatment was 73 000 ± 23 000 platelets/mm(3) . No thromboembolic complications occurred. Two episodes of minor bleeding from chest tubes that subsided after reduction or temporary suspension of bivalirudin infusion were observed. Intensive care unit stay was 8 (7-17) days, and hospital stay was 25 (21-33) days. Bivalirudin is a valuable option for anticoagulation in patients with a VAD and can be easily monitored with aPTT. The use of a bivalirudin-based anticoagulation strategy in the early postoperative period may overcome many limitations of heparin and, above all, the risk of HIT, which is higher in patients undergoing VAD implantation. Bivalirudin should no longer be regarded as a second-line therapy for anticoagulation in patients with VAD. [Correction added on 6 December 2013, after first online publication: The dose of bivalirudin in the Abstract to 0.025 mg/kg/h].


In the present work it was shown that total saponins originated from M. hybrida and M. sativa substantially limited mycelium growth of F. oxysporum f. sp. tulipae and symptoms of fusariosis on tulip bulbs. Out of 15 individual tested saponins originated from M. arabica , M. hybrida and M. sativa , four compounds: 3- O -[β-D-glucopyranosyl (1→2)α-L-arabinopyranosyl] hederagenin, hederagenin 3- O -β-D-glucopyranoside, medicagenic acid, medicagenic acid 3- O -β-D-glucopyranoside had the strongest inhibitory effect on mycelium growth of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. tulipae on PDA medium. The total saponins from M. arabica , M. hybrida and M. sativa inhibited the number of colony forming units of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. tulipae in artificially infested substrate. The use of saponins originated from Medicago as a fungicide is suggested.


The purpose of this paper is to model a real-time embedded system. This system known as the road surface analyzer will perform several tasks regarding road surface conditions based on multiple sensor readings. Many analysis algorithms are performed in real time on the collected data. The tasks to be implemented mainly depend on reconstructing road profile as well as perform texture analysis in real time. The tasks will be implemented in parallel, which leads to the use of a multi-core based embedded system. Real-time UML extensions will be used to model this system for mapping the tasks and analyzing the overall system


We investigate permutations and involutions that avoid a pattern of length three and have a unique longest increasing subsequence (ULIS). We prove an explicit formula for 231-avoiders, we show that the growth rate for 321-avoiding permutations with a ULIS is 4, and prove that their generating function is not rational. We relate the case of 132-avoiders to the existing literature, raising some interesting questions. For involutions, we construct a bijection between 132-avoiding involutions with a ULIS and bidirectional ballot sequences.


In 20 our of 52 cases of mucosal- leshmaniasis vascular lesions of the exudative type were observed. Arteria and vena were equally involved. These lesions are characterized by oedematous imbibition of the vascular wall, formation of fibrinoid and fibrotic proliferation of the intima. In addition fibrin thrombus and inflammatory vascula lesions were also detected. In the development of vascular lesions authors emphasize the role of immunological processes in which immune-complexes and/or membrane-reactive autoantibodies have an importance.


The yield line analysis method is adopted to develop expressions for predicting yield load of bolted I-section web as the connecting face governs the failure of such connection. The proposed expressions are studied by varying the ratio, , of the bolt gauge width to the effective width of the web. By introduction of connecting face deformation limit, the comparison of the yield loads predicted by theoretical expressions and finite element analysis are demonstrated a satisfactory result for practical design. Thus, the yield load predicted by proposed expressions can be used as the basis for design of the bolted connections to I-section webs.


This dissertation research study was conducted to better understand how federal, state, and tribal agencies interact with one another specific to Arizona American Indian students in higher education; to understand the levels of accountability that exist within each agency; and to identify cultural contexts of which agencies should be aware specific to Arizona American Indian students in higher education. A qualitative, case study approach was utilized to gain descriptive data on how agencies interact with one another. Data were generated from interviews with employees from select federal, state, and tribal agencies. To incorporate an American Indian lens, critical theory was applied to an existing framework that describes federal and state interactions specific to higher education. Findings indicate that interactions between federal, state, and tribal agencies participating in this study are shaped by the policy environment including sovereignty and self-determination; through federal delegation of responsibilities to the states; and through how agencies are structured. Fiscal policies are the primary drivers for interactions between agencies. The direction of the financial resources from the giving agency to the receiving agency also contributes to the level of agency interactions. Agency interactions are also driven by individual relationships and through interactions of organizations, councils, and commissions. Levels of accountability that exist within each agency are largely driven by fiscal policies, by greater public demand for accountability, and by accreditation. The existing framework does not have a cultural context component; however, findings suggest that culture plays an important role of which agencies should be aware specific to Arizona American Indian students in higher education. Participants describe the importance of education in American Indian culture, the value of respect as demonstrated through agency actions, and the importance of community. Additional cultural contexts include experiencing culture shock upon initial entry into college, having to bridge two cultural societies, the importance of academic preparation, the need for greater student financial responsibility, issues of persistence in higher education, and the importance of individual relationships.


We present an experimental and numerical study of natural convection with moist air as convecting fluid. By simplifying the system as two-component convection, an experimental method is proposed for indirectly measuring the moisture transfer rates in buoyancy-driven flows. We verify the results using direct numerical simulations. It is found that the non-dimensionalized transfer rates for both sensible heat ( $Nu_{T}$ ) and water vapour ( $Nu_{e}$ ) are essentially determined by a generalized Grashof number $Gr$ (the ratio of combined buoyancy generated by the imposed temperature and vapour pressure gradients to viscous force), and are only weakly dependent on the buoyancy ratio $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6EC}$ (the ratio of buoyancy induced by temperature variation to that due to vapour pressure variation). Moreover, we show that the full set of control parameters $\{Gr,\unicode[STIX]{x1D6EC},Pr,Sc\}$ is more suitable than other choices for characterizing the two-component system under investigation. As a special case, the Schmidt number dependence for passive scalar transport rates in buoyancy-driven flows is also deduced.


Microplastic (MP) pollution has become a health concern subject in recent years. Althoughann increasing number of studies about the ingestion of microplastics by fish, research on the oxidative stress response to MPs in natural environments is quite limited. In this study, the identification and characterization of MPs in gill (G), muscle tissues (M), and gastrointestinal tract (GI) of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) were evaluated. Oxidative damage of MPs on the brain (B), liver (L), gill (G), and muscle (M) tissues as well as their effect on superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), paraoxonase (PON), arylesterase (AR) myeloperoxidase (MPO), and malondialdehyde (MDA) biomarkers were evaluated. The potential transmission of MPs from muscle tissues to humans was examined. Results showed that gills contain the highest amounts of MPs, ethylene propylene is the most dominant polymer type, black and blue are the most common MP color, fiber is the most common shape, and 50-200 µm is the most common MP size. Results showed that MPs cause oxidative stress of tissues with inhibiting effect on enzyme activities and promoting impact on lipid peroxidation. The oxidative damage mostly affected the liver (detoxification organ) followed by gill tissue. The intake of MPS in the European Union was estimated by EFSA as 119 items/year, while in Turkey it is 47.88 items/year. This study shows that more research is needed in terms of ecosystem health and food chain safety. The risk assessment of MPs in living organisms and environmental matrices including food safety and human health should be considered a public health issue.


Thyroglossal duct cyst presents most frequently in the midline of the neck, either at or just below the level of the hyoid bone. They generally manifest as painless neck swelling, and they move on protrusion of tongue and during swallowing. A case of thyroglossal cyst was reported in the left submandibular region in a 14-year-old girl, above the level of hyoid bone; ultrasound examination favored a cystic lesion which moved in a vertical fashion on swallowing whereas fine needle aspiration cytology report was suggestive of simple cystic lesion of thyroglossal cyst. No lymphoid or malignant cells were present. The cyst was excised completely by surgical procedure under general anesthesia. Histopathological analysis revealed thyroglossal cyst showing columnar and flattened epithelium of cyst with focal aggregate of chronic inflammatory cells supported by fibrocollagenous cyst wall. The clinical, ultrasound, and histopathological findings suggested that the lesion was an infected thyroglossal cyst. There was no evidence of recurrence 6 months after surgery.


The problem of noise and baseline drift is a hot topic in infrared spectral harmonic detection system. This paper presents a new algorithm based on wavelet transform Mallet decomposition to solve the problem of eliminating a variety of complex noise and baseline drift in the harmonic detection. In the algorithm, the appropriate wavelet function and decomposition level were selected to decomposed the noise, baseline drift and useful signal in the harmonic curve into different frequency bands. the bands' information was analysed and a detecting band was set, then the information in useful frequency was reserved by zeroing method of treatment and the coefficient of the threshold. We can just use once transform and reconstruction to remove interference noise and baseline from double-harmonic signal by applying the wavelet transform technique to the harmonic detection spectrum pretreatment. Experiments show that the wavelet transform method can be used to different harmonic detection systems and has universal applicability.


An electrometallurgical treatment process has been developed by Argonne National Laboratory to convert various types of spent nuclear fuels into stable storage forms and waste forms for repository disposal. The first application of this process will be to treat spent fuel alloys from the Experimental Breeder Reactor-II. Three distinct product streams emanate from the electrorefining process: (1) refined uranium; (2) fission products and actinides extracted from the electrolyte salt that are processed into a mineral waste form; and (3) metallic wastes left behind at the completion of the electrorefining step. The third product stream (i.e., the metal waste stream) is the subject of this paper. The metal waste stream contains components of the chopped spent fuel that are unaffected by the electrorefining process because of their electrochemically ``noble`` nature; this includes the cladding hulls, noble metal fission products (NMFP), and, in specific cases, zirconium from metal fuel alloys. The selected method for the consolidation and stabilization of the metal waste stream is melting and casting into a uniform, corrosion-resistant alloy. The waste form casting process will be carried out in a controlled-atmosphere furnace at high temperatures with a molten salt flux. Spent fuels with both stainless steel and Zircaloy cladding are being evaluated for treatment; thus, stainless steel-rich and Zircaloy-rich waste forms are being developed. Although the primary disposition option for the actinides is the mineral waste form, the concept of incorporating the TRU-bearing product into the metal waste form has enough potential to warrant investigation.


Roman Catacombs are affected by different kinds of biofilms that were extensively investigated in the last 14 years. In particular, the areas far from the lamps are often covered by white biofilms of different extension, consistency and nature. The aim of this paper is to describe the profile of the microbial community present in two areas of the Ocean's Cubiculum (CSC13), characterized by similar alterations described as white biofilms, by using a multistep approach that included direct microscopy observations, culture-dependent and culture-independent methodologies through the extraction of DNA and RNA directly from the sampled areas. In addition to this, we extracted the DNA directly from the Petri dishes containing R2A and B4 media after incubation and growth of bacteria. Our results evidenced that a complex bacterial community (mainly constituted by filamentous Actinobacteria, as well as Firmicutes and Proteobacteria) colonizes the two different white biofilms, and its detection, quantitative and qualitative, could be revealed only by different approaches, each method giving different information that only partially overlap.


Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid that is abundant in fish oil, and has anti-inflammatory or anti-obesity effects. However, the effects of EPA supplementation on mitochondrial content and dynamics (fusion and fission) in skeletal muscle has not been elucidated. We investigated the effects of EPA intake for 4 weeks on denervation-induced mitochondrial adaptation in mice skeletal muscle. ICR mice (male, 8 weeks old) were daily administrated olive oil (control) or EPA at a dose of 300 mg/kg body weight by gavage for 4 weeks. After 2 weeks of oil intake, mice underwent unilateral sciatic nerve transection surgery. The hindlimb without surgery served as the sham-operated control. Body and skeletal muscle weights did not differ between the control and the EPA groups. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha (PGC-1α) and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) proteins were significantly decreased by denervation surgery. Denervation also induced the reduction of mitochondrial fusion molecules and the increase of mitochondrial fission molecules. Expression levels of PGC-1α and mitochondrial respiration protein MTCO1 were higher in the EPA group than in the control (olive oil) group. In addition, the EPA group contained higher levels of mitochondrial fusion protein OPA1. Our results suggest that EPA intake prevents the reduction of mitochondrial content and fusion proteins in denervated skeletal muscle.


Heat is stored in quanta of kinetic and potential energies in matter. The temperature represents the equilibrium and excited occupation (boson) of these energy conditions. Temporal and spatial temperature variations and heat transfer are associated with the kinetics of these equilibrium excitations. During energy-conversion (between electron and phonon systems), the occupancies deviate from equilibria, while holding atomic-scale, inelastic spectral energy transfer kinetics. Heat transfer physics reaches nonequilibrium energy excitations and kinetics among the principal carriers, phonon, electron (and holes and ions), fluid particle, and photon. This allows atomic-level tailoring of energetic materials and energy-conversion processes and their efficiencies. For example, modern thermal-electric harvesters have transformed broad-spectrum, high-entropy heat into a narrow spectrum of low-entropy emissions to efficiently generate thermal electricity. Phonoelectricity, in contrast, intervenes before a low-entropy population of nonequilibrium optical phonons becomes a high-entropy heat. In particular, the suggested phonovoltaic cell generates phonoelectricity by employing the nonequilibrium, low-entropy, and elevated temperature optical-phonon produced population—for example, by relaxing electrons, excited by an electric field. A phonovoltaic material has an ultranarrow electronic bandgap, such that the hot optical-phonon population can relax by producing electron-hole pairs (and power) instead of multiple acoustic phonons (and entropy). Examples of these quanta and spectral heat transfer are reviewed, contemplating a prospect for education and research in this field.


Despite the fact that children are negatively impacted by family separation and divorce (Amato, 2001; Dreman & Shemi, 2004; Kelly, 2000) there is a paucity of information regarding evidence-based social work practice with children coping with family disruption. In order to address this gap, the authors describe the process and outcomes of a quasi-experimental evaluation (N = 79) designed to reduce the behavioral, emotional, and academic problems that children often face when experiencing divorce or parental separation. Results of data analysis (paired t-tests, independent t-tests, and analysis of variance) suggest (p < .05) that the intervention is effective in helping children cope with family disruption.


Summary In this article we further extend the algebraic theory of polynomial rings in Mizar [1, 2, 3]. We deal with roots and multiple roots of polynomials and show that both the real numbers and finite domains are not algebraically closed [5, 7]. We also prove the identity theorem for polynomials and that the number of multiple roots is bounded by the polynomial's degree [4, 6].


This paper presents the experimental results of online self-tuning pole placement control for active vibration of a flexible beam. The vibration is controlled using a piezoelectric actuator bonded on a flexible beam. An online computer control that runs on a PC-based control and its graphical user interface have been developed in such a way that the user can perform online monitoring and manipulation of control parameters of the active vibration control algorithm for a flexible beam system. The parameters of the pole placement controller have been self-tuned based on autoregression with an exogenous terms model of a bonded piezoelectric actuator beam identified via a recursive least square algorithm. A PC-based control system was implemented using a peripheral component interconnect data acquisition card and LABVIEW software. Results show that the online self-tuning pole placement control offers better transient performance over the fixed controller when tested at different tip loads. The control parameters have converged to a new value as the physical parameter of a flexible beam is changed.


Based on the stability criteria of ZMP (Zero Moment Point), this paper proposes an adjusting algorithm that modifies walking trajectory of a bipedal robot for stable walking by analyzing ZMP trajectory of it. In order to maintain walking balance of the bipedal robot, ZMP should be located within a supporting polygon that is determined by the foot supporting area with stability margin. Initially tilting imposed to the trajectory of the upper body is proposed to transfer ZMP of the given walking trajectory into the stable region for the minimum stability. A neural network method is also proposed for the stable walking trajectory of the biped robot. It uses backpropagation learning with angles and angular velocities of all joints with tilting to get the improved walking trajectory. By applying the optimized walking trajectory that is obtained with the neural network model, the ZMP trajectory of the bipedal robot is certainly located within a stable area of the supporting polygon. Experimental results show that the optimally learned trajectory with neural network gives more stability even though the tilting of the pelvic joint has a great role for walking stability.


SUMMARY: Antisera to nine strains of Mycoplasma gallisepticum were prepared in rabbits, chickens and turkeys, the response of individual rabbits or birds varying widely. Minor antigenic differences between some of the strains were shown in metabolic inhibition (m.i.) tests with rabbit antisera. The strains could be divided into at least three subtypes. In general, antibody diminished so that it was barely detectable 6 months after inoculation.
Antibody titres measured by m.i. were lower in chicken and turkey antisera than in rabbit antisera. The choice of the mycoplasma strain to be used in the m.i. test for the measurement of antibody in the bird sera was of fundamental importance since not all strains were capable of detecting antibody; strain T37 was the most useful.
Antibody measured by m.i. was not destroyed by repeated freezing and thawing of antisera, and the antibody titres were not, in general, increased by the addition of unheated guinea-pig serum to the tests. The titres of antibody which inhibited metabolism of the mycoplasma strains were closely similar to those which inhibited their growth in liquid medium. On solid medium, however, some rabbit antisera with high m.i. antibody titres did not inhibit or inhibited poorly the development of colonies of the homologous strains. Only one of the nine rabbit antisera inhibited the development of colonies of all the strains, a feature of importance in mycoplasma identification.


This article aims to analyze the trajectory of construction of public policies for family farming in Brazil, trying to emphasize the "generation†or public policy referentials strengthened in some key moments, the way these benchmarks were built and the relations between state and civil society. The analysis points to the emergence, in different periods and contexts, of three generations or public policy benchmarks for family farming, the first being guided by strengthening the agricultural and agrarian bias of these social group; the second focusing on social and welfare policies, and the third, by building market devices for food and nutritional security and enviromental sustainability. This analysis also highlights that the relations between state and civil society have changed and become more complex over time. From criticism and claiming positions, civil society actors came to be proactive and, more recently, also a partner in the implementation and management public policies. It is noteworthy that the three generations of public policies and various forms of relationship between civil society and state follow and coexist in public arenas till today.


Interleukin (IL)-1 beta plays an essential role in the induction of T cell-mediated immune responses in skin. Langerhans cells (LC), which constitutively express IL-1 beta mRNA, have been assumed to be the primary source of IL-1 beta in murine epidermis. The purpose of this study was to determine whether LC express mRNA for the IL-1 beta converting enzyme (ICE), a protease that is required for processing pro-IL-1 beta into an active form. Here, we report that both IL-1 beta and ICE mRNA are expressed by the Ia+ population (i.e. LC) in murine epidermis. Moreover, murine epidermal-derived DC lines (XS series) also express both IL-1 beta and ICE mRNA, and they secrete relatively large amounts of IL-1 beta following lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. Finally, LPS-triggered IL-1 beta secretion by XS cells is blocked almost completely by the ICE inhibitor acetyl-Tyr-Val-Ala-Asp-CH2OC(O)-[2,6-(CF3)2]Ph. These results demonstrate that LC are the primary source of IL-1 beta within the epidermis, and suggest that the proinflammatory role of IL-1 beta may be regulated pharmacologically by ICE inhibitors in vivo.


Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a type of clinical pathophysiological syndrome characterized by a progressive increase in pulmonary vascular resistance and subsequent progressive failure of the right heart function, and is a common complication of many diseases. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) autonomously home to sites damaged by disease, repair damaged tissues, and participate in the regulation of systemic inflammation and immune responses, which have good clinical application prospects. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), such as exosomes and microvesicles, participate in various biological activities by regulating intercellular communication. Exosomes secreted into the extracellular environment also affect the host immune system. MSC-derived extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs), as a mediator in the paracrine processes of MSCs, carry biologically active substances such as proteins, lipids, mRNA, and micro-RNA. MSC-EVs therapies, safer than cell-based treatments, have been shown to be effective in modulating macrophages to support anti-inflammatory phenotypes, which are strongly related to histological and functional benefits in preclinical models of pulmonary hypertension. The main effects of active substances and their potential medical value have attracted wide attention from researchers. This article reviews the role and relevant mechanisms of MSC-EVs in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension in recent studies and provides a basis for their future clinical applications.


This is a research Project of the Pos-graduation Program Strictu Senso – Professional Master's Degree – Assistant Nursing – of the Aurora de Afonso Costa Nursing Scholl/UFF, Niterói/Rio de Janeiro. The aim of this study is: to describe and to analyze the working process put into practice by the health care team in a public health care establishment.
It is a qualitative study which has the purpose of presenting proposals for changes in the quality of the hospital's attendance, through specific actions of the health care team.


Mechanical contraction of the dorsal sarco-cocygeus muscle and electrical stimulation of spinal cord elicited tail elevation such as straub tail reaction (STR). When morphine, 0.25 approximately 0.5 microgram, was injected into the lumbothecal space, STR was produced dose-dependently and such was the same as that produced by systemic injection of morphine. STR was not observed, when morphine was injected into the lumbo-thecal space in spinal mice. STR was antagonized by tubocurarine given subcutaneously and by naloxone injected into the lumbothecal space. STR was not antagonized by the right, left or both dorsal spinal lesion at C5 approximately 6 as well as by the right or both dorsal spinal lesion at T11 approximately 12. However, STR was antagonized by the spinal transection at T11 approximately 12. The lesion of spinal serotonergic neurons enhanced STR. These results suggest that morphine acts on both the lumbo-sacral nerve cell bodies and the nerve terminals descending via the spinal ventral horn, by which the morphine-induced contraction of dorsal sarco-coccygeus muscle tendons produce STR.


Agonists of I1 imidazolin receptors are a new drug groups which was registered for the treatment of hypertension. Their antihypertensive action is comparable with current antihypertensives (hydrochlorothiazide, enalapril, atenolol, nifedipine retard) and causes a drop of the systolic BP by cca 15-20 mm Hg and a drop of the diastolic BP by 10-15 mm Hg with a probable normalization of the blood pressure in cca 60% patients with mild to moderate hypertension. Agonists of I1 imidazoline receptors are suitable in particular for the treatment of hypertension associated with metabolic syndrome. Their effect in patients with ischaemic heart disease or after a cerebrovascular attack is not known and despite very promising theoretical prerequisites they are not indicated in patients with chronic heart failure.


Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare neoplasm that can involve brain, eye, leptomeninges, and rarely spinal cord. PCNSL lesions most typically enhance homogeneously on T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and appear T2-hypointense, but high variability in MRI features is commonly encountered. Neurological symptoms and MRI findings may mimic high grade gliomas (HGGs), tumefactive demyelinating lesions (TDLs), or infectious and granulomatous diseases. Advanced MRI techniques (MR diffusion, spectroscopy, and perfusion) and metabolic imaging, such as Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography (FDG-PET) or amino acid PET (usually employing methionine), may be useful in distinguishing these different entities and monitoring the disease course. Moreover, emerging data suggest a role for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) markers in predicting prognosis and response to treatments. In this review, we will address the challenges in PCNSL diagnosis, assessment of response to treatments, and evaluation of potential neurotoxicity related to chemotherapy and radiotherapy.


OBJECTIVE
To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at different time-points after cervical carcinoma surgery on urinary bladder function of uroschesis patients so as to determine the optimum time of acupuncture intervention.

METHODS
Sixty cervical cancer post-operation patients with catheter due to uroschesis were randomly and equally divided into late treatment group (acupuncture intervention was given from the over 15th day on after surgery) and early treatment group (acupuncture was given from the 7th day to the 14th day after surgery). Bilateral Shangliao (BL 31), Ciliao (BL 32), Zhongliao (BL 33), Xialiao (BL 34), Zhibian (BL 54), Yinlingquan (SP 9) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) were punctured with filiform needles combined with electrical stimulation of bilateral BL 31 and BL 34 for 30 min, once daily for 10 sessions. The residual urine volume was measured before treatment and after 5 and 10 sessions of treatment separately.

RESULTS
After 5 and 10 sessions of treatment, the average residual urine volumes of both late treatment and early treatment groups were decreased significantly ( P< 0.05), and the residual urine volume level of the early treatment group was markedly lower than that of the late treatment group (P < 0.05). After 5 sessions of acupuncture treatment, of the two 30 cases in the late treatment and early treatment groups, 8 and 17 had an automatic micturition, 22 and 13 needed catheter retention, and following 10 sessions of treatment, 22 and 27 had an automatic micturition, and 8 and 3 still needed catheter retention, respectively. Regarding the functional recovery state of the urinary bladder, of the two 30 cases in the late treatment and early treatment groups, 6 and 14 were good, 24 and 16 poor respectively following 5 sessions of treatment; 15 and 22 were good, 15 and 8 were poor respectively following 10 sessions of treatment. The therapeutic effects of the early treatment group were apparently superior to those of the late treatment group. The number of the treatment sessions for recovering the bladder function was obviously fewer in the early treatment group than in the late treatment group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION
Early acupuncture intervention is significantly better than late treatment for reducing residual urine volume and promoting bladder function recovery for uroschesis patients undergoing cervical cancer operation.


Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common skin inflammatory disease. Dysregulation of innate and adaptive immune systems plays a major role in the pathophysiology of AD. JAKi (Janus Kinase Inhibitors) reduce the production of pro‐inflammatory cytokines and represent a promising novel treatment for AD. To assess and summarize the overall efficacy and safety of topial JAKi in the treatment of AD in adults and pediatrics, a broad search was performed on Ovid Medline, Ovid Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Sciences, Scopus, CINAHL and Google Scholar until 14 June 2022. After screening, 19 studies remained for the final review. The current systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA, and the protocol was registered in PROSPERO (ID #CRD42022303321). Topical delgocitinib, tofacitinib, ruxolitinib, cerdulatinib and ifidancitinib are effective in treating AD and significantly improve EASI, IGA, pruritus‐NRS score and some other indexes in adults. Moreover, topical delgocitinib was observed to have a great efficacy in the treatment of AD in paediatrics. All topical JAKi showed minimal risk of mild‐to‐moderate adverse effects. Available topical JAKi are effective and safe modalities in treating AD. Nevertheless, further studies with longer duration and head‐to‐head comparative trials are necessary to find the best option with the least adverse effects.


Metastases to the cardiac ventricles are rare and, unfortunately, often follow a rapidly fatal course.1,2 Occasionally, they cause symptomatic ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) for which limited therapeutic options exist, such as antiarrhythmic drugs, whereas the use of catheter ablation, to our knowledge, has never been reported to date.

We present the case of a 27-year-old man with a metastatic tumor in the left ventricle and intractable malignant VAs. In February 2009, the patient had been diagnosed with a gluteal sarcoma and initially treated with combined chemotherapy (including anthracyclines) and radiation. Since December 2009, a mild reduction in left ventricular ejection fraction (45%) was detected, and since January 2010, frequent monomorphic premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) and nonsustained ventricular tachycardias (VTs) were documented. Treatment with amiodarone proved helpful, and no life-threatening VAs could be induced on standard electrophysiological study.3 Since April 2010, however, the patient suffered from multiple drug-refractory episodes of sustained VT and ventricular fibrillation, requiring several direct current shocks (Figure 1). His left ventricular ejection fraction had remained stable. Electrical storm resulted in immediate hemodynamic instability and dramatically affected his quality of life. The patient was referred to our institution, where multiple antiarrhythmic drug combinations were tested, both orally and intravenously, allowing a relative stabilization of cardiac rhythm. Cardiac MRI showed a T2-hyperintense, weakly gadolinium-enhanced area at the basis of the anterior papillary muscle, compatible with metastatic infiltration (Figure 2, online-only Data Supplement Movie 1). An oncology consultation hypothesized a life expectancy of <6 months. After about 2 weeks, the recurrence of multiple episodes of VT and ventricular fibrillation required intensive care treatment with deep sedation and assisted ventilation, but still VAs could not be controlled. Thus, a repeat electrophysiological evaluation and radiofrequency …


The levitated dipole configuration is an innovative concept for fusion research. One of the main advantages of the dipole configuration is the possibility of stably confining high plasma pressure compared to the magnetic pressure, that is, the possibility of achieving high β (where β is the ratio between plasma pressure and magnetic pressure). The present work investigates the limit on equilibrium β existing in the dipole system. It is found that a limit exists, which is considerably modified by the presence of plasma rotation in the toroidal direction (the long way around the torus). Plasma anisotropy instead does not modify the limit in any appreciable way for the moderate anisotropies considered in this work.


In this paper, by measuring the phase voltages and currents of the permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) drive, a neural-network-based rotor position and speed estimation method for PMSM is described. The proposed estimator includes two recurrent neural networks, one is used to estimate rotor speed and rotor position, and the other is used to estimate stator current. Through using an improved recursive prediction error algorithm, on-line adaptative estimation is realized. The simulation results show that the proposed approach gives a good estimation of rotor speed and position. Especially, the proposed approach has low sensitivity to perturbations of the mechanical parameters and torque disturbances.


BackgroundOman is located on the south-eastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula and is characterized by an arid climate with a vast and varied landscape. Sideroxylon mascatense is a fruit-producing species growing in the arid mountainous regions of North Africa, The Middle East, and Asia. To date, there are no studies describing the population distribution of S. mascatense and the plant communities associated with it in Oman. This study fills this gap.ResultsA series of botanical field surveys was carried out between June 2018 and August 2019 to describe the distribution and associated plant communities of S. mascatense in the Western Hajar Mountains. Sample units were surveyed in the months of June, July, and August as this is the optimal fruiting period of S. mascatense in the Western Hajar Mountains of Oman. Throughout the surveys, 54 perennial non-cultivated species from 32 families were observed growing with S. mascatense. Two-way cluster analysis and indicator species analysis found two main plant communities associated with S. mascatense along an altitudinal gradient. These were the Acridocarpus orientalis-Euphorbia larica community and the Olea europaea-Euryops arabicus community. There was species overlap in the transitional area between the communities where the environmental factors allowed for continuation along the altitudinal gradient. There was no recruitment of S. mascatense observed during the surveys.ConclusionsThe lack of recruitment, along with the threats of overgrazing and habitat destruction, point to an uncertain future for the S. mascatense populations in Oman. As S. mascatense is associated with threatened key species in the Western Hajar Mountains, S. mascatense should be protected and included in conservation projects. This could allow for the establishment of natural recruitment of S. mascatense, thereby preserving the fragile ecosystem of the Western Hajar Mountains and ensuring the future survival of S. mascatense and its associated communities.


Most spinal arachnoid cysts are asymptomatic and detected incidentally during magnetic resonance imaging or myelography. The etiology of intraspinal arachnoid cyst is not yet clear. We present two children with three spinal extradural arachnoid cysts and each cyst protruded from a separate dura defect. In both patients, plain radiographs demonstrated widening of the interpedicular distance, which suggested progressive widening of the spinal bony canal. Limited laminectomy was performed to remove the intraspinal cysts. Separate dura defects, the apparent predisposing factors, were also found and repaired. The patients completely recovered neurologically. Radical cyst removal and dura defect closure are the surgical intervention of choice in patients with symptomatic extradural arachnoid cyst.


Goal was to evaluate the effect of mineral and/or energy-protein supplementation on intake, behavior, production response, pH, rumen ammonia and production cost of sheep. Twenty female lambs and five rumen-cannulated lambs were used to test supplementation effects on weight gain and nutritional characteristics, respectively. Treatments evaluated were: mineral mixture, supplement with 20 and 25% of crude protein offered at 0.5 and 1.0% of body weight. Supplementation at 1.0% of body weight reduced forage intake. Average daily gain were: -58.33, -1.07, -9.53, 19.27 and 34.73 g day-1 per animal, for mineral mixture, supplements with 20 and 25% of crude protein supplied at 0.5% of body weight and 20 and 25% crude protein provided at 1.0% of body weight, respectively. Rumen pH for all supplements was maintained above 6.20. Values of rumen ammonia nitrogen were 5.10, 9.48, 11.54, 17.51 and 22.45 mg dL-1 for supplements: mineral mixture, 20 and 25% of crude protein provided at 0.5% of body weight and 20 and 25% of crude protein supplied at 1.0% of body weight, respectively. The best economic return was obtained with the supplement 25% of crude protein provided at 1.0% of body weight.


The mesogloea of Scyphozoa ( Cymrea and Chrysaora ) differs from that of Anthozoa in having higher elastic compliance, in having a broad distribution of retardation times, and in that creep recovery is very slow. In the second of these properties the scyphozoan mesogloea resembles simple polymeric gels.


During Japan's 'Lost Decade', reallocation of credit through the internal capital markets of country-wide banks mitigated the real effects from the bank liqudity shock in prefectures with many bank-dependent SMEs. We document that the regional fragmentation of banking markets in Japan goes back to the institutions set up for silk export finance in the late 19th century. Using silk as an instrument for modern-day regional banking integration, we find even stronger evidence of credit reallocation than in our baseline OLS-specifications. The sign of this OLS-bias is consistent with the underlying heterogeneity in bank-firm matches implied by the theory.


Abstract PM2.5-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been proved to be hazardous to health. Previous studies have focused on the distribution and sources of PAHs, whereas there is little knowledge of the damage to organs. Here we sought to investigate the pollution level and seasonal variation characteristics of PAHs in PM2.5 in Xi'an and assess the health risk, to establish a PAHs exposure model, and investigate the toxicological effects of PAHs on the respiratory and immune functions. A sub-chronic exposure model of PAHs was established by inhalation. The pathological changes of lung tissues were observed with a light microscope. Inflammatory reactions in alveolar lavage fluid were determined using the corresponding kit. The levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) were detected with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit; the proliferation of lymphocytes in spleen was detected with methyl tetrazolium (MTT); DNA immune damage was determined with DNA gel electrophoresis. The results showed that (1) the total concentration of 16 PAHs ranged from 41.1 to 387 ng/m3, with a mean value of 170 ng/m3, and the concentration of PAHs in PM2.5 was higher in winter than in other seasons. (2) The sources of PAHs in the atmosphere of Xi'an urban area were mainly coal combustion, and the equivalent carcinogenic concentration of PAHs in PM2.5 was 3.9 ng/m3. (3) Foreign body granuloma formation and inflammatory cell damage were observed in the lungs of rats infected with toxin; the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mobile device assistant (MDA) increased while nitric oxide synthase (NOS) decreased with the increase of dose; the expression levels of IL-6 and IL-8 elevated with the increase of toxin dose, showing an obvious dose-effect relationship; the level of PAHs damage to cells showed a dose-effect relationship. Sub-chronic exposure to PAHs could cause sustained inflammatory injury to the organism. Measures should be taken to counter the problems of PAHs in PM2.5 in Xi'an and relevant health promotion strategies should be developed.


Abstract: The competition for resources increases size inequality in trees, particularly under low abiotic stress. Because mangrove communities are subject to site-specific salinity (and therefore abiotic stress) gradients, these habitats should differ in height–diameter allometry and size inequality. The size inequality (by the Gini Coefficient, G) and maximum potential height (Hmax from a height–diameter asymptotic model) were determined within the mangrove forest of a coastal lagoon in Veracruz, Mexico in 20 0.25-ha plots, 10 in interdistributary basins (IBs, lower salinity) having Avicennia germinans, Laguncularia racemosa and Rhizophora mangle and 10 in mudflats (MFs, higher salinity) dominated by A. germinans. Size inequality was significantly higher in IBs (G = 0.59 ± 0.02 vs. 0.39 ± 0.03). Due to their significant intercorrelation G, total basal area and density were synthesized in one PCA axis accounting for 67% of total variance and inversely correlated with salinity (R = −0.65, P = 0.003). The height–diameter scaling model reached a stable asymptote (Hmax range: 16–21 m; coefficient of variation CV: 7.7) in IBs, suggesting that trees can still increase their diameter after achieving maximum height. In MFs, no stable asymptote was reached (Hmax range: 11–26 m; CV: 32.5), suggesting a lower growth rate of diameter in the MF trees when compared with IB trees.


The ethical aspects of biobanks and forensic DNA databases are often treated as separate issues. As a reflection of this, public participation, or the involvement of citizens in genetic databases, has been approached differently in the fields of forensics and medicine. This paper aims to cross the boundaries between medicine and forensics by exploring the flows between the ethical issues presented in the two domains and the subsequent conceptualisation of public trust and legitimisation. We propose to introduce the concept of 'solidarity', traditionally applied only to medical and research biobanks, into a consideration of public engagement in medicine and forensics. Inclusion of a solidarity-based framework, in both medical biobanks and forensic DNA databases, raises new questions that should be included in the ethical debate, in relation to both health services/medical research and activities associated with the criminal justice system.


Today's enterprises must meet the rapidly changing market demands while collaborating with much broader range of trading partners to maximize supply chain efficiency and improve services to customers and their profit margin. To accomplish these business goals, their business application systems, such as enterprise ERP, must integrate and adapt rapidly to meet these business demands and collaborate with other business system without major reimplementation effort. Our proposed approach addresses these problems by using model based approach of creating reusable solution template that consists of off-the-shelf artifacts to be quickly assembled as a solution. In this paper, we introduce a solution template tool that simplifies the life cycle for creating an integration solution, through the flexible design and customization of solution templates, and an interactive environment driven by wizards. By providing levels of abstraction, the proposed tool allows users to compose templates of platform independent model without worrying about implementation details. The tool transforms the composed templates into platform specific IT execution model and a deployable solution, thus easing the task of solution integration lifecycle. A solution template of UCCnet illustrates our study.


The ten geological field guides presented in this volume explore key areas of the geologist's Paradise that is Washington State and British Columbia. These trips investigate a wide variety of geologic and geographic terrains, from the dry steppe of the channeled scablands and Columbia River basalt group to the east, across the glaciated and forested Cascade arc and Coast Mountains, to the geologically complex islands in the west. This guidebook may be unique in that four of the trips utilize boats to reach remote field areas and are therefore rarely visited by geologists. Although these trips were guided during the 2007 GSA Cordilleran Section meeting, the guides were written to ensure that people can easily guide their own trips. The result provides an excellent source of exciting, thought-provoking geologic adventures for years to come.


The article examines "task" as research construct as predominantly conceived in terms of task-as-workplan in the task-based learning/second language acquisition literature. It is suggested that "task" has weak construct validity and ontology in an overwhelmingly quantitative paradigm because the construct has a "split personality." Conceptualization is based on the task-as-workplan, but data are gathered from the task-in-process. The article adopts a conversation analysis perspective and demonstrates that the two can be very different. It is proposed that a secure basis for "task" as research construct and for the quantification of discoursal data is attainable only by switching the conceptual and methodological focus to task-in-process.


Introduction and Objectives: Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae are major uropathogenic isolates producing Extended spectrum beta lactamases (ESBL) which confer high resistance to common antibiotics. This study was done to know the antibiogram pattern of ESBL producing isolates from urine samples.
Materials and Methods: Culture and Antibiotic susceptibility tests (AST) were done from midstream urine samples (MSU) collected from patients. AST was done by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method and the isolates resistant to ceftriaxone and cefotaxime were subjected to phenotypic double disc diffusion test as per CLSI guidelines using cefotaxime (30?g) disc alone and cefotaxime plus clavulanic acid (30/10?g) combined disc for confirmation of ESBL production.
Results: Out of 726 urine samples, 172 showed significant growth. Among 172 isolates, klebsiella species(10.4%).Total ESBL producers among these isolates were 68 (39.5%). Of which 63(92.6%) E.coli and 5 (7%) Klebsiella spp. These ESBL producing E.coli showed maximum resistance to Ampicillin and sensitivity to Nitrofurantoin. Similarly Klebsiella spp. showed maximum resistance to Ampicillin and sensitivity to Amikacin. These ESBL producing E.coli & Klebsiella spp. were also minimally resistant to Meropenem, about 14% and 20% respectively.most predominant isolate was Escherichia coli (81%) and then
Conclusion: ESBL producing E.coli was high among uropathogens and most of them were highly resistant. So antibiotic sensitivity testing should be routinely done in order to prevent antibiotic resistance and treatment failure. Treatment should be followed according to the local antibiogram to specific ESBL producing isolates.

Keywords: ESBL, Antibiotic susceptibility, E. coli, cefotaxime, Meropenem, UTI


The term 'sand river' is used in Botswana for a particular type of ephemeral river channel similar to the 'wadi' of North Africa and elsewhere. Figure 1 shows a typically linear stretch of the sand river near Chadibe in Botswana. Up to 100 m across, sedimentological studies show sand rivers to be filled with a complex mixture of clays, silts and sands. The most recent deposits overlie the main water-bearing deposits and were laid down since the last major flood which has been dated as occurring about 100 years ago. At Borolong the river was 50 m wide, the most recent deposits were 0.5 m thick, the full depth was 3.5 m and the high yielding sands were 10 m from the crystalline embankment. There is perennial groundwater flow in the sand rivers even though the riverbed is dry for most of the year. It has been estimated that a total of over 900 km of sand rivers in Botswana could supply as much as one third of the country's domestic water needs from the water stored in them. Collector wells One of the most efficient ways of extracting water from thin shallow aquifers is via collector wells. These are large diameter shafts from the base of which an array of horizontal holes extends into the aquifer. Figure 2 illustrates how a collector well works. Collector wells have been constructed by the BGS in several parts of the world in weathered rock and flood-plain deposits. Sand rivers present special drilling


Cross-modal language and image processing is envisaged as a way to improve language understanding by resorting to visual grounding, but only recently, with the emergence of neural architectures specifically tailored to cope with both modalities, has it attracted increased attention and obtained promising results. In this paper we address a cross-modal task of language-driven image design, in particular the task of altering a given image on the basis of language instructions. We also avoid the need for a specifically tailored architecture and resort instead to a general purpose model in the Transformer family. Experiments with the resulting tool, LX-DRIM, show very encouraging results, confirming the viability of the approach for language-driven image design while keeping it affordable in terms of compute and data.


Radiological imaging plays a crucial role in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as the noninvasive diagnosis of HCC in high-risk patients by typical imaging findings alone is widely adopted in major practice guidelines for HCC. While imaging techniques have markedly improved in detecting small liver lesions, they often detect incidental benign liver lesions and non-hepatocellular malignancy that can be misdiagnosed as HCC. The most common mimicker of HCC in cirrhotic liver is nontumorous arterioportal shunts that are seen as focal hypervascular liver lesions on dynamic contrast-enhanced cross-sectional imaging. Rapidly enhancing hemangiomas can be easily misdiagnosed as HCC especially on MR imaging with liver-specific contrast agent. Focal inflammatory liver lesions mimic HCC by demonstrating arterial-phase hypervascularity and subsequent washout on dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging. It is important to recognize the suggestive imaging findings for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (CC) as the management of CC is largely different from that of HCC. There are other benign mimickers of HCC such as angiomyolipomas and focal nodular hyperplasia-like nodules. Recognition of their typical imaging findings can reduce false-positive HCC diagnosis.


An impression on the posteroinferior aspect of the gastric antrum is often caused by a mass lesion in the pancreas. However, the gallbladder more commonly causes such as indentation. In any case of this "antral pad sign", a gallbladder impression should first be excluded.


Objective The purpose of this study is to investigate the shared and distinct thalamic-cortical circuit between bipolar depression and remission, as well as to investigate the trait and state-related characteristics of the abnormal thalamic-cortical circuit in bipolar disorder. Methods Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging was performed on 38 bipolar depression patients, 40 bipolar remission patients, and 39 gender-matched healthy controls (rsfMRI). The thalamic subregions were used as seed points to draw the functional connectivity of the entire brain, and then the shared and distinct thalamic-cortical circuits between bipolar depression and remission were compared. Results When compared to the healthy group, both groups of patients had significantly lower functional connectivity between the rostral temporal thalamus and the lingual gyrus, the posterior parietal thalamus, the precuneus/cerebellum, and the occipital thalamus and the precuneus; however, functional connectivity between the premotor thalamus and the superior medial frontal was significantly lower in depression. Conclusion This study discovered that both bipolar depression and remission had abnormal sensorimotor-thalamic functional connectivity, implying that it is a trait-related characteristic of bipolar disorder; however, the decline in prefrontal-thalamic connectivity exists specifically in bipolar depression, implying that it is a state-related characteristic of bipolar disorder.


Crop evapotranspiration estimation is critical for sustainable water management under the semiarid and arid climate in New Mexico. While irrigation scheduling is based on daily evapotranspiration through the two step approach, reference evapotranspiration and crop coefficients should be determined with accuracy. The utilization of grass reference evapotranspiration (ETo) or alfalfa reference evapotranspiration (ETr) and the conversion from one to the other calls for an understanding of the relationship between ETr and ETo. The objectives of this study were to develop the ratio of ETr to ETo values (Kr) and to determine the variability of Kr during the year for six locations across the State of New Mexico (USA). The results showed long term annual Kr values to vary from 1.28 to 1.45 and the coefficient of determination varied from 0.96 to 0.98. Kr value decreases from January to July and increases from August to December and was at its lowest Kr value at the peak daily reference evapotranspiration. Annual average Kr values were 1.31, 1.38, 1.43, 1.38, 1.38 and 1.48 at Alcalde, Fabian Garcia, Farmington, Leyendecker, Las Cruces and Tucumcari locations and the growing season average Kr values were 1.24, 1.32, 1.38, 1.31, 1.32 and 1.42 at the respective locations. The strong correlation between ETr and ETo allows the conversion of the grass reference evapotranspiration to alfalfa reference evapotranspiration and vice versa however, caution should be taken when using the crop coefficient values to convert either ETo or ETr to actual crop evapotranspiration for irrigation scheduling and water management.


Bacterial cells continuously sense and respond to their environment using their inherent signalling and gene regulatory networks. Cells are equipped with parallel signalling pathways, which can specifically cope with individual input signals, while interconnectivities between pathways lead to an enhanced complexity of regulatory responses that enable sophisticated adaptation. In principle, any cell signalling pathway may be rewired to respond to non-cognate signals by exchanging and recombining their underlying cognate signalling components. In the present article, we review the engineering strategies and use of chimaeric regulatory proteins in cell signalling pathways, especially the TCS (two-component signalling) system in bacteria, to achieve novel customized signalling or regulatory functions. We envisage that engineered chimaeric regulatory proteins can play an important role to aid both forward and reverse engineering of biological systems for many desired applications.


Composite right/left-handed (CRLH) substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) and half mode substrate integrated waveguide (HMSIW) leaky-wave structures for antenna applications are proposed and investigated. Their propagation properties and radiation characteristics are studied extensively. Their backfire-to-endfire beam-steering capabilities through frequency scanning are demonstrated and discussed. These metamaterial radiating structures are realized by etching interdigital slots on the waveguide surface and the ground. The slot behaves as a series capacitor as well as a radiator leading to a CRLH leaky-wave application. Four antennas are fabricated, measured, and analyzed, including two balanced CRLH SIW designs characterized by single-side or double-side radiation, and two unbalanced HMSIW designs characterized by different boundary conditions. Antenna parameters such as return loss, radiation patterns, gain, and efficiency are all provided. Measured results are consistent with the simulation. All these proposed antennas possess the advantages of low profile, low cost, and low weight, while they are also showing their own unique features, like high directivity, quasi-omnidirectional radiation, miniaturized size, continuous beam-steering capabilities covering both the backward and forward quadrants, etc., providing much design flexibility for the real applications.


. Within the quasi-particle random phase approximation (QRPA), the method of the self-consistent determination of the isovector efiective interaction which restores a broken isotopic symmetry for the nuclear part of the Hamiltonian is given. The efiect of the pairing correlations between nucleons on the following quantities were investigated for the A = 208 nuclei: energies of the isobar analog 0 + states, the isospin admix-tures in the ground state of the even{even nuclei, and the difierential cross-section for the 208 Pb( 3 He, t ) 208 Bi reaction at E ( 3 He) = 450 MeV. Both couplings of the excitation branches with T z = T 0 § 1, and the analog state with isovector monopole resonance (IVMR) in the quasi-particle representation were taken into account in our calculations. As a result of these calculations, it was seen that the pairing correlations between nucleons have no considerable efiect on the T = 23 isospin admixture in the ground state of the 208 Pb nucleus, and they cause partially an increase in the isospin impurity of the isobar analog resonance (IAR). It was also established that these correlations have changed the isospin structure of the IAR states, and shifted the energies of the IVMR states to the higher values


BACKGROUND
Little is known about the degree of utilization of information resources on diabetes by general practitioners (GPs) and its impact on their clinical behavior in developing countries. Such information is vital if GPs' diabetes knowledge is to be improved.

METHODS
This cross-sectional study recruited 319 GPs in the summer of 2008. Questions were about the updates on diabetes knowledge in the previous two years, utilization of information resources (domestic and foreign journals, congresses, the Internet, reference books, mass media, and peers), attitude toward the importance of each resource, and impact of each resource on clinical behavior.

RESULTS
A total of 62% of GPs had used information resources for improving their knowledge on diabetes in the previous two years. Domestic journals accounted for the highest utilization (30%) and the highest importance score (83 points from 100); with the importance score not being affected by sex, years elapsed after graduation, and numbers of diabetic visits. Clinical behavior was not influenced by the information resources listed; whereas knowledge upgrade, irrespective of the sources utilized, had a significantly positive correlation with clinical behavior.

CONCLUSION
Domestic journals constituted the main information resource utilized by the GPs; this resource, however, in tandem with the other information resources on diabetes exerted no significant impact on the GPs' clinical behavior. In contrast to the developed countries, clinical guidelines do not have any place as a source of information and or practice. Indubitably, the improvement of diabetes knowledge transfer requires serious interventions to improve information resources as well as the structure of scientific gatherings and collaborations.


Tuberculosis of the wrist and hand is a rare infectious disease, Because of the rarity of these cases, early diagnosis is often difficult. We report a case of 55-year-old male agriculture worker came to our OPD due to a palpable tumor mass over his right wrist which had progressively enlarged since 2 years ago. He had mild pain and swelling on the volar aspect of the wrist and radial side of hand, he also complains of pain and inability to do movements in the right thumb. The patient had no history of systemic disease, or tuberculosis. Radiography showed a soft-tissue mass shadow, with destruction of wrist joint and osteoporosis, and magnetic resonance imaging was not done because of patient non-affordability with financial constraints. Laboratory test results were normal, except for an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The patient had an ambiguous Mantoux test result but no history of mycobacterial exposure. Investigations for rheumatic disease were negative. Surgical exploration of the lesion revealed rice bodies in the common flexor tendon synovial sheath, extending up to meta-carpo phalangeal joint of thumb. Removal of the rice bodies and thorough excision of the sheath was performed and Joshis external stabilization system (JESS) was applied. The patient regained a painless restricted range of motion in about 6 months. One-year follow-up revealed no underlying disorder.


In the framework of the European research project PHOCAM (http://www.phocam.eu) the involved partners are developing systems and materials for lithography-based additive manufacturing technologies (AMT) which are used for shaping advanced ceramic materials. In this approach a ceramic-filled photosensitive resin is selectively exposed layer by layer. By stacking up the individual layers with a typical layer thickness between 25 and 50μm, a three-dimensional part is built up. After structuring, a solid part consisting of a ceramic filled polymer is obtained. The polymer is afterwards burnt off and in a last step the part is sintered to obtain a fully dense ceramic part. The developed systems are based on selective exposure with DLP projection (Digital Light Processing). A key element of the developed systems is a light engine which uses digital mirror devices (DMD) in combination light emitting diodes (460nm) as light source. In the current setup DMDs with 1920x1080 pixels are used. The use of LEDs in combination with a customized optical projection system ensures a spatial and temporal homogeneity of the intensity at the build platform which is significantly better than with traditionally used light engines. The system has a resolution of 40μm and a build size of 79x43x100mm. It could be shown that this system can fabricate dense ceramic parts with excellent strength. In the case of alumina densities up to 99.6% of the theoretical density were achieved, yielding a biaxial strength of 510MPa. Besides technical ceramics like alumina it is also possible to structure bioceramics, e.g. tricalcium phosphate.