The aims of this article is analyze the presence of Spanish college radios in social network. The study is conducted from the web's analyze and social channels of the 23 stations of the Association of College Radios of Spain (ARU). Techniques data collected have been both quantitative and qualitative. Some findings are: high use of social networks by the College Radios shown active and interactive on these platforms; the most used are Facebook , Twitter and iVoox.


The chapter opens with a discussion on the growing impact of chronic disease in populations and the health system pressures to meet demands for ongoing care. In response a focus has shifted to delivery of care through teamwork, advocated because of the burgeoning health human resource shortages. The focus then shifts to how a framework for client-centered collaborative practice can be created in which a partnering relationship develops between clients, their families, and health providers within interprofessional teams. Exploration of this framework begins with a discussion about client engagement and client participation with the role of clients in their self-care being presented as a shift in traditional care provision. A discussion is then presented on the partnering relationships between clients and health providers in which they work together to achieve a common goal through non-hierarchical interactions and combining of their shared resources used through mutual respect for each other's skills and competences as well as shared decisionmaking leading towards set goals. A case study is provided to operationalize the above concepts. Finally, collaborative client-centered care is provided as the outcome of all parties negotiating and adapting individual inputs into options for care to arrive at a shared plan all can support.


Purpose. The work provides research the deflected mode and calculation the relative deformation of vertical and horizontal diameters of corrugated metal structures (CMS), horizontal ellipse type, and cross section in their interaction with soil backfill depending on the thickness of corrugated metal pipe. Such studies are required for optimal design of CMS, establishing the causes of defects timely, appropriate engineering solutions to improve the bearing capacity of the CMS and reasonable use of funds for their construction or rehabilitation of existing transportation facilities using corrugated metal pipes. Methodology. Stresses and stability calculations of CMS form are conducted using the developed mathematical algorithm in program environment Mathcad 14. In these studies different thickness of corrugated metal pipe were assigned, and further calculations were carried out at the design value of backfill soil compaction degree and magnitude of dynamic loading of railway transport. Findings. From the calculations is determined that the most influence the thickness of the corrugated metal pipe has on the strength in the calculation of the normal stresses and value of the vertical pipe strains. Therefore, the calculated parameters in the design of corrugated metal structures with small filling heights (from 1.2 m to 3 m) above its peak is calculation of the strength by the normal stresses and determination of the vertical deformation of the pipe. Originality. For the first time, calculations of the deflected mode and relative deformations of vertical and horizontal cross-sectional diameters of CMS, horizontal ellipse type in the interaction with soil backfill. The factors complex was taken into account the backfill soil compaction degree, the value of dynamic loading of railway transport and different thickness of corrugated metal pipe. Practical value. The results of the deflected mode of corrugated metal structures such as horizontal ellipse of cross sections can be used by engineers in the bridge probation stations of Railways of Ukraine and Ukravtodor, in the project organizations involved in the design of corrugated metal structures.


Central nervous system leukemia (CNSL) is a prominent infiltration reason for therapy failing in acute leukemia. Recurrence rates and the prognosis have alleviated with current prophylactic regimens. However, the accurate stratification of relapse risk and treatment regimens for relapsed or refractory patients remain clinical challenges yet to be solved. Recently, with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and chimeric antigen receptor-T (CAR-T) cellular therapy showing encouraging effects in some CNSL patients, advances in treating CNSL have already been reported. The development of molecular targeted agents as well as antibody-based drugs will provide patients with more personalized treatment. This article summarized recent research developments about risk factors, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment in adults with CNSL.


Japanese Islands are composed of four plates, with two oceanic plates subducting beneath the two continental plates. In 2016 the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience (NIED) Seafloor Observation Network for Earthquakes and Tsunamis along the Japan Trench (S-net) started seismic observation of the offshore Hokkaido to Boso region in the Pacific Ocean, and Dense Oceanfloor Network System for Earthquakes and Tsunamis (DONET) was transferred to NIED. We add the NIED S-net and DONET datasets to NIED highsensitivity seismograph network (Hi-net) and full range seismograph network (F-net) datasets used in the previous study and obtain the three-dimensional seismic velocity structure beneath the Pacific Ocean as well as Japanese Islands. NIED S-net data dramatically improve the resolution beneath the Pacific Ocean at depths of 10–20 km because the seismic stations are located above the earthquakes and on the east side of the Japan Trench. We find a NS high-Vp zone at depths of 20–30 km. The 2018 Eastern Iburi earthquake occurred below the northern part of this high-V zone. The coseismic slip plane of the 2011 Tohokuoki earthquake has low Vp/Vs, but its large slip region has high Vp. The broad low-Vp/Vs region may play a role in large earthquake occurrence.


This study aims at isolating and selecting the lipolytic enzymes-producing microorganisms, and at assessing its effect on different substrates. The enzyme production was performed by solid state fermentation with wheat bran for 120 hours of incubation at 35 °C and 50% moisture. The lipase activity was measured by titration using a reaction system consisted of 4 mL of 50 mM acetate buffer, pH 5.6, 1 g of substrate and 1 mL of crude enzyme extract. One unit of enzyme activity was defined as the amount of enzyme required to liberate 1 μmole of fatty acid. The substrates were dairy cream, soybean oil and coconut fat. Thirty-three fungi strains were isolated, which were separated into four groups (A, B, C and D) according to enzymatic extracts. The group C showed the highest values for lipase activity, which were 10.41 and 9.49 μmole/mL in dairy cream, 8.96 and 7.51 μmole/mL in soybean oil and 8.52 and 8.14 μmole/mL in coconut fat. The assay employed in this study showed to be an effective technique for isolating filamentous fungi with high lipolytic activity. Study on fungi lineages and isolates wiL be crucial for biotechnology purposes.


Measurements are presented which examine the use of gaseous plasma elements as highly-tunable resonators. The resonator considered here is a laser-induced plasma kernel generated by focusing the fundamental output from a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser through a lens and into a gas at constant pressure. The near-ellipsoidal plasma element interacts with incoming microwave radiation through excitation of low-order, electric-dipole resonances similar to those seen in metallic spheres. The tunability of these elements stems from the dispersive nature of plasmas arising from their variable electron density, electron momentum transfer collision frequency, and the concomitant e↵ect of these properties on the excited surface plasmon resonance. Experiments were carried out in the Ku band of the microwave spectrum to characterize the scattering properties of these resonators for di↵erent values of electron density. The experimental results are compared with results from theoretical approximations and finite element method electromagnetic simulations. The described tunable resonators have the potential to be used as the building blocks in a new class of all-plasma metamaterials with fully three-dimensional structural flexibility.


Carbon-isotopic compositions of geoporphyrins have been measured from marine sediments of Mesozoic and Cenozoic age in order to elucidate the timing and extent of depletion of 13C in marine primary producers. These results indicate that the difference in isotopic composition of coeval marine carbonates and marine primary photosynthate was approximately 5 to 7 permil greater during the Mesozoic and early Cenozoic than at present. In contrast to the isotopic record of marine primary producers, isotopic compositions of terrestrial organic materials have remained approximately constant for this same interval of time. This difference in the isotopic records of marine and terrestrial organic matter is considered in terms of the mechanisms controlling the isotopic fractionation associated with photosynthetic fixation of carbon. We show that the decreased isotopic fractionation between marine carbonates and organic matter from the Early to mid-Cenozoic may record variations in the abundance of atmospheric CO2.


Deep reading and writing in a second language (L2) imply understanding multiple layers of meaning as well as evoking resources that enable (re)coding them. In what concerns learning how to read and write in a L2 as an adult learner in higher levels of proficiency, reading comprehension and the consequences of its (re)creative results in written production demand a deep grasp and reuse of meaning. Bearing in mind that reading and writing are two sides of the same coin (Pinto 2014) in their neurologic and cognitive root (Luria 1980) whose collaborative mechanics (Emig 1983; Pinto 2014) depends on several converging areas of the brain, we intend to revisit the neurolinguistic mechanisms underlying concept comprehension and evocation in hopes of shedding light on some of the processes involved in deep reading comprehension and subsequent written production.


Purpose: The article deals with the analysis of the perception of social entrepreneurship in Slovakia by social entrepreneurs. The main aim is to identify how social entrepreneurs perceive individual aspects of social entrepreneurship in Slovakia, including the role of social entrepreneurship in sustainable development. Methodology/Approach: The analysis was based on data obtained from a questionnaire survey conducted among social entrepreneurs in Slovakia. The survey was attended by representatives of 35 social enterprises from Slovakia. A seven-point rating of Likert scale used within the questionnaire. The mode, median and interquartile range of answers were used to evaluate the questionnaire. Findings: Social entrepreneurs pointed out that social entrepreneurship is still in development in Slovakia and several obstacles causing this situation. They also agreed that the most important benefit of social entrepreneurship in Slovakia is the effort to solve social problems. The research results show that the priority of social entrepreneurs in Slovakia is not to support sustainable development. Research Limitation/implication: The research was limited by the number of social entrepreneurs who participated in the survey. More than half of social enterprises, registered in Slovakia were not willing to participate in the survey. Originality/Value of paper: The article brings important findings in the field of social entrepreneurship, which are based on the practical experience of social entrepreneurs in Slovakia.


The Strongylocentrotus purpuratus gatae is orthologous to vertebrate gata4/5/6 genes. gatae is expressed throughout embryogenesis, beginning in the 15 h blastula in presumptive mesoderm cells, and at mesenchyme blastula, in endoderm and mesoderm cells of the veg2 lineage. During gastrulation, gatae is expressed in the midgut, hindgut and mesoderm, while in the pluteus expression it is limited to the midgut and coelomic pouches. Perturbation of gatae expression resulted in the lowered RNA levels for many endomesoderm transcription factors, including foxA, brachyury, and [beta]1/2-otx, highlighting Gatae's role as a regulator of transcription factors. gatae occupies an important node in the endomesoderm gene regulatory network, using its cross-regulatory interactions with otx to stabilize the endomesoderm gene expression program. Cis-regulatory analysis of gatae identified two modules responsible for its embryonic expression. Module 10 drives endomesoderm expression in the blastula, while module 24 activates gut expression in the gastrula and pluteus. Deletion of module 10 from a gatae GFP BAC resulted in a complete loss of blastula stage expression, demonstrating its necessity and sufficiency for early activity. Global cis-regulatory analysis of the gatae locus suggests that module usage is exclusionary; only one module can associate with the basal transcriptional apparatus and affect gene transcription at any given time. The endomesoderm gene regulatory network predicts that gatae is downstream of Otx and Notch signaling. Analysis of the sequence of module 10 identified Otx and Suppressor-of-Hairless (Su(H)) binding sites. Injection of Otx-engrailed RNA repressed the expression of module 10:GFP reporter; the effect is abolished when Otx binding sites were mutated. Gel shifts demonstrated that the Otx protein binds to module 10. Module 10 expression was reduced under perturbation of Notch signaling. Mutations of either Otx or Su(H) binding sites resulted in lowered GFP RNA levels with no effect on spatial expression. Mutations of both Otx and Su(H) binding sites led to a further reduction but not elimination of reporter expression, suggesting that another input is involved. This unknown input was determined to be also downstream of Notch signaling and that gatae regulation functions via OR logic.


Aims: This study aims to assess the knowledge and use of contraceptives and the associated factors among the married reproductive aged women residing in squatters of Kathmandu, Nepal. Methods: This descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in six squatter settlements of Kathmandu in February 2015. A total of 156 married reproductive aged women were included through convenient sampling. Descriptive statistics were summarized and bivariate logistic regression was performed. Results: A total of 80.7% had knowledge and 66.6% of women were currently using at least one modern contraceptives method. Injectable was most commonly used (58%) whereas condom was the least (3%). The women who were less than 35 years of age, having a child less than five years of age and women who were literate were more likely to have knowledge on contraceptives with (OR=2.609, p=0.011), (OR=5.579, p=0.025) and (OR=3.6, p=0.007) respectively. Similarly, women less than 35 years of age and women having last child less than five years of age were less likely to be using contraceptives currently with (OR=0.344, p=0.033) and (OR=0.397, p=0.01) respectively. Conclusions: This study showed the actual use was lower than the knowledge. Among the contraceptives used, condom usage was very low. Younger women and mothers with last child less than five years of age were less likely to use contraceptives. These results highlight the risk related to sexual and reproductive health in this vulnerable population.


In this paper pressure studies of magnetic nanoparticles will be reviewed and, as a particular case, pressure influence on the ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) spectra of Ni/C nanoparticles embedded in the PBT-block-PTMO polymer will be considered. Significant variations of the FMR parameters of Ni/C nanoparticles were observed as a function of an applied external pressure at both studied temperatures (T = 142K, 293K). It has been demonstrated that the pressure dependence of the FMR parameters (the resonance field, linewidth and integrated intensity) correlates well with the temperature dependence of these parameters. Comparison with the previous similar pressure study of two different samples containing � -Fe 2 O 3 agglomerates of different sizes in the PBT-block-PTMO polymer matrix has been carried out.


We relax assumptions on individual risk preference, and set two theoretical rules for portfolio choices: either minimize or maximize risk, for any return. Risk is modeled by four alternative formulas. We empirically test these rules by observing N=690 individuals (Caucasians, bank customers and financial professionals, aged 18-88), while making risky decisions, with measurement of Skin Conductance Response. Two perspectives are assumed to evaluate portfolio efficiency: individuals uniquely consider 'money'; or they experience a 'subjective' perception of money. We find a large dominance of risk-seeking behaviors, if observed through the phenomenology of money, independently from the risk measure used. Conversely, the same individuals appear risk averter, when values include the subjective experiences, and risk is assumed to be mentally projected with standard deviation formula. These results are consistent for sub-groups of individuals, by gender, age, education and profession. Implications are severe, as a sign of unawareness of behavior under risk.


Introduction: Childhood poor nutritional status continues to be a serious public health problem in Ethiopia. Despite the high magnitude of childhood acute malnutrition, previously there is no study conducted to determine risk factors for acute malnutrition in Gedeo Zone. Thus, the main aim of this study was to identify risk factors for acute malnutrition among under-five children in Gedeo Zone, Ethiopia. Methods: The unmatched case-control study was conducted on 451 under-five children (151 cases and 300 controls). Data were collected through interviewer-administered the structured questionnaire and measuring midupper arm circumference. Statistical package for social science version 20 software was used for data entry and analysis. Odds Ratio along with 95% the confidence interval was estimated using the multivariable logistic regression. The level of statistical significance was declared at P<0.05. Result: Determinants identified for acute malnutrition among under five children were; diarrheal diseases (AOR=3.601 CI=(1.36, 9.53)), complimentary feeding started before 6 months or late after 6 months (AOR=4.4, CI=(1.6, 11.84)), household monthly income <750 ET.BRR, (AOR=4.6 CI=(1.1, 21.6)), maternal illiteracy (AOR=4.18, CI=(1.36, 12.8)), merchant mothers (AOR=7.45 CI=(2.6, 21.2)), mothers'/care givers' infrequently hand washing (AOR=5.4 CI (1.15, 25.8)) and family size more than four (AOR=5.9, CI (2.1, 16.7)). Conclusion: In this study, socio-demographic and behavioral factors were identified as determinants of acute malnutrition among under-five children. Therefore; collaborative effort is needed to prevent diarrhea among underfive children, promote hand washing practice, create mass awareness about complementary feeding, make family planning methods available and empower women.


Images are a major source of content on the web. The increase in mobile phones and digital cameras have led to huge amount of nontextual data being generated which is mostly images. Accurate annotation is critical for efficient image search and retrieval. Semantic image annotation refers to adding meaningful meta-data to an image which can be used to infer additional knowledge from an image. It enables users to perform complex queries and retrieve accurate image results. This paper proposes an image annotation technique that uses deep learning and semantic labeling. A convolutional neural network is used to classify images and the predicted class labels are mapped to semantic concepts. The results shows that combining semantic class labeling with image classification can help in polishing the results and finding common concepts and themes.


Two important classes of hydrogen storage materials were considered: metallic alloys and molecular borohydrides. Each of them has advantages and disadvantages. Alloys absorb and release hydrogen reversibly and promptly, but in relatively small amount, whereas borohydrides decompose irreversibly yielding over 10 wt% of H2. Two systems of suitable chemical composition were selected from such classes, and materials belonging to them were synthesized and characterized from the structural and thermal point of view; then detailed and thorough experiments of dehydrogenation were performed on them, in order to determine the thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of the hydrogen release. Within metallic alloys, the Mg-Al-Ni was selected to study the addition of Al to the Mg-Ni system. Samples with MgmAlNin composition (m,n ≤ 3) were synthesized by ball milling; by X-ray diffraction studies, they were found to be a basically single phase with substitutionally disordered CsCl-type cubic structure. Only compositions with m large and n small proved to segregate minor quantities of Mg and Mg2Ni. Hydrogenation experiments on the Mg2AlNi2 sample by the PCI technique (Sievert apparatus) showed a reversible absorption/desorption of 1.4 wt% H2 with formation / decomposition of the MgH2 and Mg2NiH4 hydrides. A particularly favourable dehydrogenation temperature (T ≥ 531 K for p ≥ 1 bar) was observed, by comparison with those of the single phase hydrides. Also the kinetics of the gas release proved to be satisfactory, indicating that addition of Al improves the H-storage performance of the Mg-Ni alloy substantially. The mixed LiBH4–Mg(BH4)2 borohydride system was investigated, to determine its possible better performance as hydrogen storage material with respect to the end-members pure borohydrides. Several composites were synthesized by ball milling, namely xLiBH4–(1-x)Mg(BH4)2 with x = 0, 0.10, 0.25, 0.33, 0.40, 0.50, 0.60, 0.66, 0.75, 0.80, 0.90, 1. The physical mixture was investigated by using Xray powder diffraction and thermal analysis. Interestingly, already a small amount of LiBH4 proved to make the α to β transition of Mg(BH4)2 reversible, which had not been reported before. The eutectic composition was found to exist at 0.50 < x < 0.60, exhibiting a eutectic melting at 180 °C. A phase diagram was built based on the data obtained in this study. Furthermore, the decomposition of the material begins right after the melting; thus the decomposition temperature of the composite is much lower than those of the pure borohydrides. At 270 °C the x = 0.50 composite releases about 7.0 wt% of hydrogen. A full thermodynamic study of the dehydrogenation reaction was performed (Sievert apparatus) on the eutectic mixture, 0.6LiBH4–0.4Mg(BH4)2, and on the end members LiBH4 and Mg(BH4)2. Both the dynamic technique (constant pressure, temperature ramp vs. time) and the equilibrium mode (constant temperature, variable pressure with waiting time for pressure equilibration) were


Background: Reactive attachment disorder (RAD) has been described as one of the least researched and most poorly understood psychiatric disorders (Chaffin et al., 2006). Despite this, given what is known about maltreatment and attachment, it is likely that RAD has profound consequences for child development. Very little is known about the prevalence and stability of RAD symptoms over time. Until recently it has been difficult to investigate the presence of RAD due to limited measures for informing a diagnosis. However this study utilised a new observational tool Method: A cross sectional study design with a one-year follow-up explored RAD symptoms in maltreated infants in Scotland (n=55, age range= 16-62 months) and associated mental health and cognitive functioning. The study utilised the Rating of Inhibited Attachment Behavior Scale (Corval, et al., unpublished 2014) that has recently been developed by experts in the field along side The Disturbances of Attachment Interview (Smyke & Zeanah, 1999). Children were recruited as part of the BeST trial, whereby all infants who came in to the care of the local authority in Glasgow due to child protection concerns were invited to participate. The study sample was representative of the larger pool of data in terms of age, gender, mental health and cognitive functioning. Results: The sample was found to be representative of the population of maltreated children from which it was derived. Prevalence of RAD was found to be 7.3% (n=3, 95% CI [0.43 – 14.17]) at T1, when children are first placed in to foster care. At T2, following one year in improved care conditions, 4.3% (n=2, 95% CI [below 0 – 10.16]) met a borderline RAD diagnosis. Levels of observed RAD symptoms decreased significantly at T2 in comparison to T1 but carer reported symptoms of RAD did not. Children whose RAD symptoms did not improve were found to be significantly older and showed less prosocial behaviour. RAD was associated with some mental health and cognitive difficulties. Lower Verbal IQ and unexpectedly, prosocial behaviour were found to predict RAD symptoms. Conclusions: The preliminary findings have added to the developing understanding of RAD symptoms and associated difficulties however further exploration of RAD in larger samples would be invaluable.


Objective. The objective of this research was to describe and analyze the role of psychological and behavioral factors on perceptions of COVID-19 in France and Quebec at three different times during the pandemic. Design. We conducted three qualitative and quantitative studies (Study 1 N = 255, Study 2 N = 230, Study 3 N = 143). Participants were asked to evaluate psychological and behavioral measures: at the beginning of lockdown (Study 1), during lockdown (Study 2), and during lockdown exit (Study 3). Results. Results of Study 1 show that perceptions of COVID-19 are organized around fear and a sense of threat. During the lockdown, participants mentioned for the first time the health practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (Study 2). Psychological and social impacts constitute a central theme in participants' discourse (Study 2 and 3). Conclusions. The results show that perceptions of risk during a pandemic are socially constructed. Perceptions seem to be influenced by the political and health management of a territory and by the evolution of behavioral and psychological responses.


INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Retrograde urethrograms (RUG) are utilized 2-3 weeks after urethroplasty to help guide management of indwelling urethral catheters. To our knowledge, there is no published data to guide RUG interpretation. Our goal was to classify post-operative RUG findings and determine if they predict recurrence of urethral strictures. METHODS: All available post-urethroplasty RUGs between 4/1/2005 to 6/1/2016 were reviewed by one author (KSM). Results were classified into four categories: normal, contour irregularity (CI), contained extravasation (CE) and frank extravasation (FE) (Figure 1). Stricture recurrence was defined as symptoms with inability to pass a 16 Fr flexible cystoscope or evidence of stricture on subsequent RUG. Statistical analysis was completed using SAS. RESULTS: 172 patients were included. Median follow up was 24 months [range 1-130 months]. Compared to normal, there was an increased odds ratio of developing re stricture for contour irregularity of 3.4, contained extravasation of 1.3 and frank extravasation of 5.2 [cox proportional hazard regression, p = 0.048]. Overall, length of stricture had no association with RUG findings (p=0.30), however, each 1 cm increase in stricture length conferred a 16% increased odds of developing a recurrence [p=0.01]. The groups with the highest re-stricture rates, contour irregularity and frank extravasation, had a higher mean stricture length than the other two groups (6.1 cm & 5.4 cm vs 2.4 cm & 2.6 cm) (Figure 2). There was no association between BMI, age, or smoking status with subsequent urethral stricture recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with an abnormal RUG had a higher odds ratio of stricture recurrence. We suspect the increased odds of developing a re-stricture in the contour irregularity group was related to the longer mean stricture length. Due to the similar stricture rates in the contained extravasation and normal RUG groups, we would not recommend prolonged catheterization except it patients with frank extravasation. Figure. No caption available. Figure. No caption available. Source of Funding: None


The authors present a computerized study of the prognosis of 132 cases of carcinoma of the glottis treated by vertical, partial surgery and seen over a period of 1 to 15 years at the Laennec Hospital. After defining the percentage survival at 3.5 in 10 years, the authors studied the causes of death and showed that, after 5 years, it is still deaths due to malignant recurrence which influenced the vital prognosis. These local, lymphnode and metastatic oncological failures are subsequently analyzed on the basis of clinical, surgical and histological parameters as well as in terms of the course of the disease. Such analysis makes it possible to draw the distinction between local recurrence and a second local tumor localization, and pulmonary metastases from a second pulmonary localization. Finally, the prevention of rare lymphnode recurrences is considered in terms of specific surgery for this purpose.


In tight sandstone and carbonate reservoirs, the hydrocarbon recovery is mainly governed by the matrix- fracture interface mass transfer efficiency. To improve the matrix-fracture interface mass transfer in tight sandstone and carbonate reservoirs, we propose the following protocol to clean up the matrix-fracture interface and improve hydrocarbon production: (1) Inject one of the following – CO2 followed by anionic or non-ionic surfactant, Anionic or non-ionic surfactant followed by CO2, miscible or near miscible CO2 gas, low concentration anionic or non-ionic surfactant. (2) Repeat the process when another cycle of treatment is needed. The same procedure can be applied into injection well to improve injectivity. The proposed cleanup protocol improves production because – wettability alteration, reduction of IFT, swelling of the oil leading to lower viscosity, and molecular diffusion among other thermodynamic effects– all acting at the matrix-fracture interface. To assess the proposed matrix-facture interface clean up protocol, IFT and contact angle measurements that mimic the proposed processes were conducted. Favorable wettability alteration of tight carbonate and sandstone crude-aged cores and oil-brine IFT reduction were observed.


In this paper, the performance of three different fair resource allocation strategies for packet data transmission in wireless networks with link adaptation (LA) is mathematically analyzed. The strategies aim at achieving fair access, fair transmission rate or simultaneous fair access and transmission rate. As a case study, the performance of the considered strategies is evaluated in GSM/EGPRS networks in terms of call blocking probability for voice packet data users and system throughput. However, the analysis is valid for any Radio Transmission Technology that uses LA techniques. For the mathematical analysis, packet data traffic (i.e., IP) is modeled as a process showing pseudo-long range dependence. In particular, to capture their bursty nature, packet data arrivals are considered to follow a Modulated Markov Poisson Process (MMPP) process. Numerical results show that voice calls get lower blocking probability than data packet transmissions when a fair access resource allocation strategy is used. Also, a trade off between (access and/or transmission rate) fairness and system utilization is observed. Finally, it is also shown that high grade of burstiness significantly degrades the system performance.


Ingestion of potassium iodide (KI) offers effective protection against irradiation of the thyroid after accidental exposure to radioactive iodine. This prophylaxis aims at rapidly obtaining maximal thyroid protection without adverse effects. This article reviews studies on iodine kinetics in humans and on the efficacy of KI in protecting the thyroid. In adults with normal thyroid function, ingestion of 100 mg of iodide just before exposure to radioactive iodine blocks at least 95% of the thyroid dose. If exposure persists after iodide ingestion (100 mg), the percentage of averted dose may decrease significantly. Daily ingestion of a dose of 15 mg of KI would then maintain the thyroid blockade at a level above 90%. The efficacy of iodide and the occurrence of antithyroid effects also depend on external and individual factors such as dietary iodine intake, thyroid function, and age. The KI dosage regimen should be adjusted for age at exposure. For the fetus, the newborn, children, and adolescents, the risk of radiation-induced thyroid cancer in case of accidental exposure to radioactive iodine justifies KI prophylaxis, despite the risk of hypothyroidism, especially in newborns. For the elderly, the benefits of KI may be lower than the risk of iodine-induced hyperthyroidism.


We present a digital beamforming scheme for future wireless communication systems based on high altitude platforms. The proposed digital beamforming scheme, which is installed on the platforms in high-altitude-platform (HAP) systems, can reduce significantly the number of antenna elements and the corresponding receiver modules, analog to digital (A/D) converters etc. without loss of performance. As a result, the system complexity and system costs can be reduced, therefore, enhancing feasibility of HAP based systems. Furthermore, in the proposed scheme, we can specify narrow main beamwidth and low sidelobe level simultaneously. Illustrative design examples and beam-pattern comparisons with traditional digital beamforming methods are included.


The spectra of neutrons and gamma rays escaping from unshielded reactors have been calculated for a number of simplified cases. Such spectra are important in connection with reactors operating in space orbit around the earth, which would normally have little or no heavy shielding. Reactors in space, such as the Soviet RORSAT spacecraft. Knowledge of the characteristics of their leakage spectra may be useful in understanding or minimizing such interference. The Monte Carlo Neutron-Photon (MCNP) code developed at Los Alamos has been used in these calculations. In the cases considered here the critical assembly is assumed to have spherically symmetrical geometry, with a central core of fissionable material surrounded by one or more shells of other material. The outer shells considered include beryllium, beryllium oxide, sodium, potassium, lithium, lithium hydride, and iron. The results obtained, presented as graphs, show that a number of materials that may be used in space reactors should lead to distinctive gamma-ray and neutron leakage spectra. Measurements of such spectra might well be useful in characterizing an unknown reactor type. 16 refs., 33 figs.


Today's turbulent financial markets, growing regulatory environments, and increasingly complex financial systems have led risk managers to realize the importance of measuring and managing Operational Risk. According to the Basle Committee on Banking Supervision, Operational Risk is the risk of direct or indirect loss resulting from inadequate or failed internal processes, people, and systems or from external events. Infrastructure failures (e.g., information technology, terrorist attacks), fraud (e.g., rogue trading), legal and regulatory risks (e.g., fines), have become the motivators behind the move to proactively manage Operational Risk in large Financial Services Institutions. In this paper we provide an up to date critical review of the most fundamental issues on Operational Risk Management, e.g., methodology, data collection, analytics, implementation, based on our practical experience.


BACKGROUND
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) across its full spectrum of severity is a psychiatric illness affecting ∼2% to 3% of the general population and results in significant functional impairment. There are few large patient series regarding Gamma ventral capsulotomy (GVC).

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate clinical outcomes of severe medically refractory OCD treated with GVC.

METHODS
This is an international, multicenter, retrospective cohort study. Forty patients with pre-GVC Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) scores ≥ 24 (indicating severe OCD) were included. GVC was performed with 1 or 2 isocenters with a median maximum dose of 135 Gy (range, 120-180 Gy). Patients were deemed "responders" to GVC if there was ≥35% reduction of follow-up Y-BOCS scores, and considered in remission if their Y-BOCS scores were ≤16. The median follow-up was 36 mo (range, 6-96 mo).

RESULTS
The median pre-SRS Y-BOCS score was 35 (range, 24-40). Eighteen patients (45%) were considered "responders," and 16 (40%) of them were in remission at their last follow-up. Nineteen patients (47.5%) remained stable with Y-BOCS of 33 (range, 26-36) following GVC, whereas 3 patients (7.5%) experienced worsening in Y-BOCS scores. Patients treated with 2 isocenters were more likely to have improvement in Y-BOCS score at 3 and 5 yr (P < .0005). Ten patients (25%) experienced post-GVC mood disturbance and neurological complications in 3 patients (7.5%). One patient developed radiation necrosis with edema that improved with steroids.

CONCLUSION
GVC serves as a reasonable treatment strategy for severe medical refractory OCD. Patients treated with 2 isocenters were more likely to have substantial improvement in OCD.


Environmental context Remediation technologies often rely on manipulation of redox conditions or natural redox processes to favour microbial sulfate-reduction and mineral sulfide formation for treatment of inorganic contaminants in groundwater, including nickel. However, few data are available on the structural properties, solubility and mineral transformation processes involving nickel sulfides. These data are needed in order to constrain the long term performance of groundwater remediation efforts. Abstract The formation of nickel sulfides has been examined experimentally over the temperature range from 25 to 60°C. At all conditions studied, hexagonal (α-NiS) was the initial precipitate from solution containing Ni2+ and dissolved sulfide. Freshly precipitated nickel sulfide possesses significant residual Ni–O coordination as revealed by X-ray absorption spectroscopy. With progressive aging, residual Ni–O coordination is replaced by Ni–S coordination. The formation of millerite (β-NiS, rhombohedral) was not detected in any of the synthesis experiments. In the presence of elemental sulfur, hexagonal NiS converted to polydymite (Ni3S4) and vaesite (NiS2). Thus, conversion of nickel monosulfide to thiospinel and disulfide structures appears to be redox dependent, analogous to aging and transformation processes of iron sulfides. In the absence of elemental sulfur or with only hydrogen sulfide or bisulfide present, transformation of hexagonal NiS was not observed after 1680 h at 60°C. Low-pH solubility experiments yielded a solubility product for hexagonal NiS of log Ks0 = –2.69 ± 0.26. Solubility data at pH > 3 suggest that Ni–bisulfide complexation is important in controlling the solubility of Ni in sulfidic solutions.


Background. Human Pegivirus (HPgV), previously called Hepatitis G virus or GB virus C, is an RNA virus. It can be transmitted vertically (mother to infant), parenterally and sexually. HPgV share common routes of transmission to other viruses such as Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis C virus and Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) thus co-infection is usually observed. Risk groups of HPgV include injection drug users, HIV-positive individuals, multi-transfused patients, hemodialysis patients, hemophiliacs, chronic liver disease patients and organ transplant recipients. The clinical significance of HPgV is not yet established and warrants further studies. Research on HPgV in the Philippines is scarce and has not been updated for over 10 years. There is no published data on HPgV prevalence in Filipino pediatric population specifically among risk groups like multi-transfused children with decompensated liver disease secondary to biliary cirrhosis and liver transplant pediatric patients. The lack of local data warrants conduct of this study.Objective. To determine the presence of HPgV RNA, HPgV E2 antibody (anti-E2) and HBsAg among Filipino children with decompensated liver disease secondary to biliary cirrhosis (DBC) and liver transplant pediatric patients (LTP).Methods. Included were 15 children with DBC and 15 LTP recruited from the Section of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition of the UP PGH. All patients' sera were tested for HPgV RNA by Real Time RT-PCR, HPgV anti-E2 by Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by immunochromatographic test. Twenty age and sex matched children with no history of liver disease and blood transfusion served as controls.Results. All patient and control samples were negative for HPgV RNA. HPgV anti-E2 was detected in 6 of 15 LTP, 5 of 15 DBC and 1 of 20 controls. HBsAg was detected in 2 of 15 LTP, 5 of 15 DBC and 0 of 20 controls. Four patients (two LTP, two DBC) were positive for both HPgV anti-E2 and HBsAg.Conclusion. This study showed that a proportion of liver transplant patients and those with decompensated biliary cirrhosis are positive for HPgV anti-E2, which indicates that these individuals previously had HPgV infection but is now resolved. Possible source of infection is infected blood from the blood transfusions, infected transplant organ or infected mother. Since routine HPgV screening is not yet recommended for the general population, blood donors and organ donors, the confirmation of exact source of infection may be difficult. Co-infection with HBsAg was also observed in both risk groups which suggests that at some point in time, these children were infected by both HPgV and HBV and also the possibility of simultaneous infection by the two viruses. This study provides preliminary data on the proportion of HPgV infection in Filipino children belonging to two of the HPgV risk groups. Studies with a larger and more significant sample size to determine HPgV prevalence as well as studies regarding the pathogenicity of HPgV are warranted. As this may provide basis for routine HPgV screening among risk groups and blood donations in the future.


properly evaluated and the posed questions be correctly answered if no detailed study of questionnaire construction, sample design, consumer research and motivation research has gone on before. References to books on these and other research methods and techniques are essential since the author refrains £ro~ stating whether the cases are good, mediocre, or poor examples of marketing research. In the opinion of your reviewer, all three categories are included. Moreover, the student is not told of the misuse to which Case "71, "Impact Method for Evaluation Advertising" and Case 72, "Use of Recognition and Recall Technique in Ad~ertising R;esearc?" have been widely subjeered. Neither IS he told of the serious limitations of these advertising research tech-


The new economic order is demanding greater competitiveness of enterprises, which is only achieved with a higher level of automation of their processes. This means a greater demand in several areas of knowledge such as mechanical engineering, electro-electronics, control and computing systems, this is known as Mechatronics. Mechatronics engineering courses, as well as vocational training courses are rapidly increasing across the world. This paper defines mechatronics from a disciplinary identity towards thematic, and reviews some aspects of education training for mechatronics. To further illustrate this definition process, examples from various projects are presented. It proposes a list of features that a specialization program in mechatronics engineering should contain, increasing the need in the future for discipline based mechatronics engineers.


In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, many patients have suffered from Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) around the world. In the medical field, it is known that the so-called artificial ventilation device, which has become the mainstay of treatment of such syndrome, decreases mortality in critically ill COVID-19 patients. Due to the high reliability of this device, there is an emergency need to follow up the progress made on designing a robust controller for improving its performance. From this perspective, this work introduces different control design schemes for obtaining an optimal Fractional-order PID controller (or simply $ PI^\rho D^\mu $-controller) of the Artificial Ventilation (AV) system through two optimization algorithms: the Bacteria Foraging Optimization (BFO) and the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithms. The realization of the controller is accomplished using four approximations: Oustaloup's approximation, the Continued Fractional Expansion (CFE) approximation and the $ 1^{st} $- and $ 2^{nd} $-order El-Khazali approximations. The validation of the controller design and the AV system behavior are verified via numerical simulation in order to demonstrate the effectiveness and the potency of all proposed schemes.


Although estimated tuberculosis (TB) incidence is now falling globally, we are unlikely to achieve the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) TB targets without changing the emphasis of the global TB response in high human immunodeficiency virus prevalence settings. Two independent modelling exercises using South African data with different structures and assumptions conclude that, until new drugs, diagnostics and vaccines are available, a fully funded and accessible combination approach to anti-tuberculosis treatment and prevention, based on knowledge of local TB epidemiology and evidence-informed policy, is essential to accelerate progress towards zero new tuberculous infections, zero TB deaths and zero suffering from TB.


In this paper, we report on the implementation of SECSI, an expert system for database design written in Prolog. Starting from an application description given with either a subset of the natural language, or a formal language, or a graphical interface, the system generates a specific semantic network portraying the application. Then, using a set of design rules, it completes and simplifies the semantic network up to reach flat normalized relations. All the design is interactively done with the end-user. The system is evolutive in the sense that it also offers an interactive interface which allows the database design expert to modify or add design rules.


The present study was performed to identify stress-induced putative virulence proteins of Streptococcus suis . For this, protein expression patterns of streptococci grown at 32, 37, and 42°C were compared by one- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Temperature shifts from 32 and 37 to 42°C induced expression of two cell wall-associated proteins with apparent molecular masses of approximately 47 and 53 kDa. Amino-terminal sequence analysis of the two proteins indicated homologies of the 47-kDa protein with an ornithine carbamoyltransferase (OCT) from Streptococcus pyogenes and of the 53-kDa protein with the streptococcal acid glycoprotein (SAGP) from S. pyogenes , an arginine deiminase (AD) recently proposed as a putative virulence factor. Cloning and sequencing the genes encoding the putative OCT and AD of S. suis , octS and adiS , respectively, revealed that they had 81.2 ( octS ) and 80.2% ( adiS ) identity with the respective genes of S. pyogenes . Both genes belong to the AD system, also found in other bacteria. Southern hybridization analysis demonstrated the presence of the adiS gene in all 42 serotype 2 and 9 S. suis strains tested. In 9 of these 42 strains, selected randomly, we confirmed expression of the AdiS protein, homologous to SAGP, by immunoblot analysis using a specific antiserum against the SAGP of S. pyogenes . In all strains AD activity was detected. Furthermore, by immunoelectron microscopy using the anti- S. pyogenes SAGP antiserum we were able to demonstrate that the AdiS protein is expressed on the streptococcal surface in association with the capsular polysaccharides but is not coexpressed with them.


Home foreclosure rates have risen in the United States to the highest levels since the Great Depression. With house prices falling, lending standards tightening, unemployment rising, and interest rate resets in the pipeline, foreclosures are projected to go even higher. While most of the time a foreclosure is a suboptimal resolution of a distressed mortgage, a number of features of the mortgage finance system often prevent loan modifications. This paper reviews the impediments to successful mortgage restructuring and proposes a number of ways to improve the situation. The proposals build on the recognition that the key problem is a combination of negative housing equity and unaffordable debt service, and a successful loan modification scheme should address both issues. Given the key role foreclosures play in the adverse housing market dynamics, and several market failures that the paper identifies, the burden of mortgage debt restructuring should be shared by the taxpayer.


The article highlights the lack of uniformity in the scientific approach to the definitions of motive and purpose of crime as elements of a subjective aspect of crime, their procedural and substantive significance in the law doctrine and the law enforcement practice. A clear legal definition and significance of motive and purpose or forming a clear position on these issues in the court of the highest resort are to eliminate the contradictions that currently considerably affect certain criminal proceedings. It is specified that definition of the motive and purpose of the crime charged as a mandatory element of proof on the stage of arraignment and trial can take place only if the disposition of those crimes contain these elements or they clearly result from the nature of the act. Also this definition of motive and purpose of crime may, at a will of prosecution, be taken into account in sentencing. It is noted that the motive of crime may occur only in premeditated crimes, whereas motivation is found in all acts, including socially dangerous. It is specified that absence of motive or purpose of crime in the indictment cannot result in returning one to the prosecutor, and should be considered by the court as proof or lack of proof of constituent element of crime in the act of the accused or taken into account in sentencing.


In this chapter, I isolate for study the genre of the 'tragical tale', tracing its origins in Boccaccio, Ovid, Livy and Seneca and describing in detail the key influence on early Elizabethan examples of the genre of Bandello's novelle and of Bandello's French translators, Boiastuau and Belleforest. As well as unpicking the complex relationship between history, fiction and morality in the genre as a whole, I analyse in detail four English texts: William Painter's Palace of Pleasure (1566), Geoffrey Fenton's Certain Tragical Discourses (1567), Arthur Brooke's Romeus and Juliet (1562) and Bernard Garter's The Tragical and True History (1565). I also consider the later development of the genre, including its absorption into other genres of prose fiction and partial replacement with the providentialist crime pamphlet.


The pre-hospital care of patients with suspected spinal injuries involves early immobilisation of the whole spine and the institution of measures to prevent secondary injury from hypoxia, hypoperfusion or further mechanical disruption. Early ventilation and differentiation of haemorrhagic from neurogenic shock are the key elements of pre-hospital resuscitation specific to spinal injuries. Falls from a significant height, high-impact speed road accidents, blast injuries, direct blunt or penetrating injuries near the spine and other high energy injuries should all be regarded as high risk for spinal injury but clinical examination should determine whether the patient requires full, limited or no spinal immobilisation. Although there is little conclusive evidence in the literature that supports pre-hospital clinical clearance of the spine, the similarities between pre-hospital immobilisation decisions and in-hospital radiography decisions are such that it is likely that clinical clearance will be effective for selected patients. This decision can be made at the scene provided the patient has no evidence of: Altered level of consciousness or mental status Intoxication Neurological symptoms or signs A distracting painful injury (e.g. chest injuries, long bone fracture) Midline spinal pain or tenderness. Where there is evidence to support spinal immobilisation, then the full range of devices and techniques should be considered. In the remote or operational environment where pre-hospital times are prolonged, full immobilisation, analgesia and re-assessment may allow localisation of the injury and a reduction in the degree of immobilisation. Common reasons for missing significant spinal injuries include failing to consider the possibility of spinal injuries in patients who are either unconscious, intoxicated or uncooperative (54,55). The application of the decision rule discussed here will ensure that no clinically significant spinal injuries are missed in pre-hospital care.


Most animals can bite or sting. In narrowing the kingdom down to those that harm humans, the field still is vast. It would be interesting to explore the rich variety of pathology produced in us by moray eels, lionfish, sea urchins, jellyfish, sting rays, fire ants, kissing bugs, flies, lice, mosquitoes, ticks, mites, fleas, puss caterpillars, centipedes, snakes, dogs and cats, camels, and myriad other creatures including homo sapiens (not a trivial biter)--but for this grand rounds, the topic will simply be spiders (Part 1), bees and vespid (Part 2). Vespids are the wasps, yellow jackets and hornets.


diarrhea is one of the important cause of disease and mortality in newborn and young calves and is the considered as cause of economical loss depression, decrease of exploitation and production, increase of mortality and incidence of disease. E. coli is one of the most common factor of diarrhea in newborn and young calves. Among the strains associated with diarrhea, STEC and ETEC can more important. Stx1 and stx2 are main virulence factors of STEC and K99 is a acuity factor of ETEC strain. The aim of this study was to collect data about bovine E. coli infections leading effective and efficient control in dysentery syndrome of calves and its damages in Sistan province of Iran. 50 stool samples of healthy calves and 50 stool samples of calves with diarrhea were collected in a 6 months period, from September 2015 to February 2016. The samples were randomly collected from cow farms of Sistan of Iran. After culturing of stool samples and isolation of E. coli, the presence and frequency of mentioned genes was evaluated by using specific primers. The incidences of stx1 were 24% and 8% in diarrheal and healthy calves, respectively, and the difference was significant. The incidences of stx2 were 16% and 14% in diarrheal and healthy calves, respectively, and the difference was not significant. The ferquency of K99 gene in healthy and diarrheal calves was observed zero. The ferquency of stx1 gene was higher in diarrheal calves compared to healthy ones that might be due to the presence of higher numbers of bacteria in diarrheal calves because of their immune system weakness and proliferation of bacteria. Also, the incidence of stx2 gene was higher in diarrheal calves since they usually have higher percentages of risk factors because of infective factors and also acuity factors comparing with healthy calves. The ferquency of STEC is also higher in diarrheal calves. The reason of negative ferqueny of K99 gene might be due to antibiotic therapy. The frequency of this gene was not consistent with other regions. The incidence is usually different in different areas.With regards to predisposing factors of dysentery in calves, it is possible that using Precautionary management in farms is effective in decreasing diarrhea between newborns.


At first we used the VaDis partial parser for recognition of
the complex nominal constructions in a legal text -- the
current version of the Penal Code of the Czech Republic.
Headwords of the recognized structures are usually relevant
legal terms. Then we employed the Sketch Engine to find Word
Sketches of these relevant terms in a large corpus of the
standard Czech Czes, because corpora of legal Czech texts are
not available yet. In spite of the fact that we used common
texts we obtained very good candidates for legal terms as a
result. We also discuss relations between VerbaLex frames of
the selected group of Czech verbs with financial meaning that
occur in legal texts and Word Sketches found for some of these
verbs. It appears that the combination of the valency frames
and Word Sketches provides good candidates for the legal terms
as well. The paper is conceived as a case study in which we
describe collocational behaviour of the selected Czech noun
phrases and also some verbs belonging to the financial domain.


Summary Integrated pest management (IPM) in rice has been mainly applied to irrigated, lowland paddy rice ecosystems which generally use more inputs and have higher yields ha−1 than rainfed ecosystems. Large scale implementation of IPM was stimulated in the 1970s in several Asian countries by pest resurgences resulting from indiscriminate insecticide use. Legislation has been enacted in at least five countries to support IPM and by 1992, approximately 0.05% of Asian farmers had received training in IPM. In at least two countries, adoption of IPM as national policy has resulted in large savings from reduced importation of pesticides with no reduction in total rice output or productivity. The inter-country programme on rice IPM of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations, the International Rice Research Institute and national programmes have all contributed to promoting rice IPM. Host plant resistance, deployed with location-specific cultural practices that conserve natural enemies, remains the basis for sustainable, low-cost rice IPM. Thresholds, monitoring and forecasting systems have little or no impact on farmer practice in the tropics; farmer group learning appears to be the most effective way towards IPM adoption. Manejo integrado de plagas en el arroz


Objective. Fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT) is an optical imaging modality that provides high sensitivity and low cost, which can offer the three-dimensional distribution of biomarkers by detecting the fluorescently labeled probe noninvasively. In the field of preclinical cancer diagnosis and treatment, FMT has gained significant traction. Nonetheless, the current FMT reconstruction results suffer from unsatisfactory morphology and location accuracy of the fluorescence distribution, primarily due to the light scattering effect and the ill-posed nature of the inverse problem. Approach. To address these challenges, a regularized reconstruction method based on joint smoothly clipped absolute deviation regularization and graph manifold learning (SCAD-GML) for FMT is presented in this paper. The SCAD-GML approach combines the sparsity of the fluorescent sources with the latent manifold structure of fluorescent source distribution to achieve more accurate and sparse reconstruction results. To obtain the reconstruction results efficiently, the non-convex gradient descent iterative method is employed to solve the established objective function. To assess the performance of the proposed SCAD-GML method, a comprehensive evaluation is conducted through numerical simulation experiments as well as in vivo experiments. Main results. The results demonstrate that the SCAD-GML method outperforms other methods in terms of both location and shape recovery of fluorescence biomarkers distribution. Siginificance. These findings indicate that the SCAD-GML method has the potential to advance the application of FMT in in vivo biological research.


The growing popularity of herbal products in the Philippines makes it imperative to monitor and ensure safety of consumers from metal contaminants. In this study, trace concentrations of Cr, Cd, Sn, and Pb in herbal products were simultaneously measured using a microwaveassisted digestion as sample pre-treatment and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for elemental detection. Using the optimized method, recoveries of ERM CD281, the primary cer t i f ied reference material (CRM) used, were found to be between 80-89%, and the method detection limits (MDL) for Cr, Cd, Sn, and Pb were 0.15, 0.07, 0.3, and 0.14 μg/L, respectively. The linear ranges for Cr and other elements (Cd, Sn, and Pb) were 0.01-500 and 0.01-50 μg/L, respectively. All correlation coeff icients were 0.9999 or better. Most of the products tested had measurable trace metal concentrations, which were below the suggested maximum limits in herbal products. However, one product derived from mangosteen exceeded the limit for Cd (0.42 mg/kg). Subsequent analysis of metal content in tea infusions showed that only a small fraction of metals may leach out, suggesting that consumption of tea infusions pose lesser risks. The order of abundance of metals found in herbal products was Cr>Pb>Cd>Sn. The variability of metal concentrations in herbal products underlines the fact that many plant ingredients are susceptible to contamination, and quality control during processing must be improved to minimize the possibility of contamination. The results of this study suggest that vigilant monitoring of herbal products is imperative to avoid exposure to trace metal contamination. Keywords: Trace metal, ICP-MS, microwave digestion, herbal product contamination, herbal product safey


Prevalence of pollen allergies in the rural population of Telangana is under-studied. The objective of this work was to estimate the prevalence of pollen allergy in the rural town of Bhongir, Telangana and to evaluate the need for further investigation of environmental effects on the onset of pollen allergies. A pilot survey was conducted among fifty randomly selected individuals of Kisan nagar area in Bhongir, Telangana (India) and its nearby localities using a questionnaire. Patients with known allergies were further asked to provide information about their allergic conditions and treatment. Six out of the fifty participants (CI: 1.5-10.5) were found to be allergic to pollen. The allergic participants did not have symptoms from birth but rather developed them during the later stages of life. The study also identified the potential pollen allergens in the locality which might be the cause of the allergies in the affected individuals. Furthermore, the study revealed that the commonly recommended medications were neither the preventive measures nor the permanent cure against the symptoms of pollen allergy. The results suggest a trend of rural youth with no genetic predisposition, developing pollen allergies due to environmental sensitization. The study highlights the need for the establishment of regional monitoring stations, and future studies with larger samples to understand the sensitization pathways to help the locals take preventative measures.


The objective of this paper was rapid assessment of major health problem for disease mapping on integrated water shad management system and the study was undertaken in farmers dissection group formed in the water shade delineated site ojojie model water shade. As to livestock production constraint disease challenge was most important next to feed and indigenous breed genetic performance in the management system. In the area as to the major livestock production constraint season play great role in association with rainfall pattern. Overstocking in the pasture and traditional husbandry practice provoke livestock disease challenge and outbreak in the management system. For the herd entry and exit rout birth, market, family gift, outbreak mortality (natural death lose) and government and NGO program was identified as the main source for disease and infection challenge in the management system. Seasonal disease distributions and livestock production variation is manly associate with the disease enzootic stability, feed gap, and environmental condition variability. The study was first report to the area can be used as bench mark for disease laboratory diagnosis and conformation.


Triboelectric charging occurs in granular materials composed of insulating particles even when all particles are composed of the identical material. Large scale particle dynamics simulations are used here to address triboelectric charging in such systems. The model used in the simulations is based on the presence of electrons trapped in high energy states, which can be released during collisions with another particle and transferred to the other particle. The simulations show that triboelectric charging in these systems can be attributed to a distribution of particle sizes, such that smaller particles tend to charge negatively and larger particles tend to charge positively. This polarity of charging has been observed in field studies and laboratory experiments involving granular systems.


This research delves into the impact of World Trade Organization (WTO) membership on trade dynamics in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region, focusing on the potential augmentation or diversion of trade resulting from CIS countries' WTO accession. The study context is grounded in the interplay between regionalism, represented by regional trade agreements and historical connections, and global integration facilitated by WTO membership. The study also scrutinizes the potentially complicating role of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) regional bloc, referencing the 'Spaghetti Bowl' phenomenon of overlapping trade agreements. The gravity model of trade serves as a conceptual foundation to understand the effects of WTO membership and regional trade agreements on trade costs. Empirical results suggest that WTO membership has not enhanced trade for the CIS. Instances of trade within the CIS region where there is only one WTO member have resulted in a positive trend, even though there is no robust evidence that it is due to WTO membership. The EAEU enhances trade and serves as a trading bloc within the region. This study highlights that while the WTO strives to foster trade liberalization and growth, its effects can be region-specific and complex, as demonstrated by the CIS region's experience. The research also hints at the importance of intra-regional trade and unique regional factors as critical determinants of trade patterns, which can enhance broader trade expansion and economic development.


Why have the major post 9/11 U.S. military interventions turned into quagmires? Despite huge power imbalances, major capacity-building efforts, and repeated tactical victories, the wars in Afghanistan (2001-present) and Iraq (2003-2011; 2014-present) turned bloody and intractable. The inability to design and manage war termination is an important part of the explanation why successful military operations to overthrow two third-world regimes failed to achieve favorable and durable outcomes. This thesis uses the abductive research method to develop three hypotheses to investigate these problems. Hypothesis #1: The failure to consider war termination heightens the risk of selecting a myopic strategy that has a low probability of success. Hypothesis #2: Cognitive obstacles, political frictions, and patron-client problems can impede the ability to recognize and abandon an ineffective or losing strategy. Hypothesis #3. When the United States tires of the war and decides to withdraw, bargaining asymmetries can undermine the prospects of a favorable outcome. These hypotheses are examined in the case studies and used to draw conclusions. Three main findings emerge. First, the United States government has no organized way to consider war termination and thus selected strategies that overestimated the prospects of decisive military victory. Second, the United States was slow to recognize and modify or abandon losing strategies. In both cases, U.S. officials believed their strategies were working even as the situations deteriorated. Third, once the United States decided to withdraw, bargaining asymmetries and disconnects in strategy undermined the prospects for a successful transition or negotiated outcome.


[1] The southern big bend of the San Andreas fault has been interpreted to have successively abandoned two strands, the Mission Creek and Mill Creek strands of the San Andreas fault, during the past 1 Ma before taking up activity along its present-day configuration. This evolution is simulated within three-dimensional models to explore the hypothesis that fault systems evolve to increase mechanical efficiency. The three-dimensional boundary element method models are validated by comparison of modeled fault slip rates and uplift rates with geologic data. The model results match well the geologic strike-slip rates and uplift patterns. Overestimation of reverse slip rates along the northern San Bernardino Mountains may reflect model assumptions of fault geometry. The partitioning of slip among active faults changes between the three phases of southern San Andreas fault evolution revealing (1) a trade-off in strike-slip rates between the San Jacinto and San Andreas faults, (2) a trade-off between strike-slip rates on the San Andreas fault and reverse slip along faults associated with uplifting the San Bernardino Mountains, and (3) a trade-off in strike-slip rates along the San Andreas and strike-slip rates along the Eastern California Shear Zone. Mechanical efficiency of the entire model increases from the Mission Creek to Mill Creek fault configuration and decreases from the Mill Creek configuration to the present-day configuration. The decrease in mechanical efficiency with the transition to the present-day fault geometry may reflect gaps in our understanding of tectonic loading and/or fault geometry.


Under the assumption of a single-step transfer process, sum rules are derived which relate relative cross sections to states of a given final spin to the matrix elements of two-nucleon multipole operators. For the transfer of pairs of identical nucleons of the type even in the target nucleus, the expected relative sizes of these matrix elements imply simplified sum rules, a prediction checked by calculations for two-neutron pick-up on 45Sc.


To address increasing societal concerns regarding privacy and climate, the EU adopted the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and committed to the Green Deal. Considerable research studied the energy efficiency of software and the accuracy of machine learning models trained on anonymised data sets. Recent work began exploring the impact of privacy-enhancing techniques (PET) on both the energy consumption and accuracy of the machine learning models, focusing on k-anonymity. As synthetic data is becoming an increasingly popular PET, this paper analyses the energy consumption and accuracy of two phases: a) applying privacy-enhancing techniques to the concerned data set, b) training the models on the concerned privacy-enhanced data set. We use two privacy-enhancing techniques: k-anonymisation (using generalisation and suppression) and synthetic data, and three machine-learning models. Each model is trained on each privacy-enhanced data set. Our results show that models trained on k-anonymised data consume less energy than models trained on the original data, with a similar performance regarding accuracy. Models trained on synthetic data have a similar energy consumption and a similar to lower accuracy compared to models trained on the original data.


Two new species of anomuran crustaceans, Gastroptychus chacei (family Chirostylidae) and Munida sentai (family Galatheidae), are described from specimens taken in the Andaman Sea off southern Thailand. Three galatheids collected from the Andaman Sea off southern Thailand in 267283 m by the TV Nagasaki-maru were made available by Dr. Tetsushi Senta of Nagasaki University. They proved to represent two new species. Gastroptychus chacei, a chirostylid, is unique among the previously known members of the genus, in some respects indicating an affinity with Uroptychus. Munida sentai is one of the rare galatheids having few spines on the branchial margin of the carapace. The type material will be deposited in the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.


AlxGa1−xN-based ultra-violet (UV) light emitting diodes (LEDs) are seen as the best solution for the replacement of traditional mercury lamp technology. By adjusting the Al concentration, a large emission spectrum range from 360 nm (GaN) down to 200 nm (AlN) can be covered. Owing to the large density of defects typically present in AlxGa1−xN materials usually grown on sapphire substrates, LED efficiencies still need to be improved. Taking advantage of the 3D carrier confinement, quantum dots (QDs) are among the solutions currently under investigation to improve the performances of UV LEDs. The objectives of this work are to present and discuss the morphological and optical properties of GaN nanostructures grown by molecular beam epitaxy on the (0 0 0 1) and the (11–22) orientations of Al0.5Ga0.5N. In particular, the dependence of the morphological properties of the nanostructures on the growth conditions and the surface orientation will be presented. The optical characteristics as a function of the nanostructure design (size, shape and dimensionality) will also be shown and discussed. The electroluminescence characteristics of a first series of QD-based GaN/Al0.5Ga0.5N LEDs grown on the polar (0 0 0 1) plane will be investigated.


A neck injury that extends deep into the platysma is called a penetrating injury of the neck. It is a diagnostic and a therapeutic challenge to the treating surgeon, because a number of important structures are densely packed in a small area, and the injury to any of these structures may immediately cause a life threatening situation. We are describing an interesting case, where a 40year old woman presented with a penetrating neck injury which was caused by a heavy knife, which ran transversely from the left to the right side of the neck at zone-I. On presentation, she was found to have stable vitals and no active bleeding from the wounds; but, right ulnar nerve monoplagiea was found on examination. Bilateral exploration of the neck was done. The knife passed between the trachea and the oesophagus from the left side to reach up to the right supraclavicular fossa and it rested over the brachial plexus. The weapon was retrieved under direct vision. Surprisingly, there were no injuries to any vital structures of the neck. The patient made an uneventful recovery.


Lowe syndrome, also known as Oculo-Cerebro-Renal syndrome of Lowe, is a rare X-linked condition that primarily affects the eye, the nervous system and the kidney.

OCRL, the gene mutated in Lowe syndrome, encodes an homonymous protein called OCRL which is an inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase acting preferentially on PtdIns(4,5)P2. OCRL is known to exert several relevant functions in both non-neuronal and neuronal cells. In neurons, PtdIns(4,5)P2, by binding its effectors, acts as an important regulator of processes indispensable for synaptic transmission such as exocytosis, endocytosis and recycling of synaptic vesicles. Whereas the roles of OCRL in non-neuronal cells have been widely explored over the last years, studies focused on its roles in neuronal cells are still missing. Hence, the pivotal role of PtdIns(4,5)P2 in neurons together with the main neurological features of Lowe syndrome (intellectual disability and epilepsy) prompted us to investigate the role of OCRL in the brain. Here I show that in the absence of OCRL neurons exhibit impaired recycling of synaptic vesicles accompanied by an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory functions in OCRL-depleted hippocampi. Moreover, under neuronal stimulation an increase in the levels of PtdIns(4,5)P2 at OCRL-depleted synapses is observed. These defects, which can be attributed to dysfunctional PtdIns(4,5)P2 metabolism due to the absence of OCRL, result in an increased number and size of endocytic structures with a decrease in the number of synaptic vesicles available for neuronal functions.

These findings shed light on the role of OCRL in neurons, which, by co-operating with other lipid phosphatases such as synaptojanin 1, ensures a correct balance between PtdIns(4,5)P2 synthesis and degradation at synapses, thus controlling crucial mechanisms in neurotransmission.


A set $A$ is said to \emph{split} a finite set $B$ if exactly half the elements of $B$ (up to rounding) are contained in $A$. We study the dual notions: (1) a \emph{splitting family}, a collection of sets such that any subset of $\{1,\ldots,k\}$ is split by a set in the family, and (2) a \emph{splittable family}, a collection of sets such that there is a single set $A$ that splits each set in the family.
We study the minimum size of a splitting family on $\{1,\ldots,k\}$, as well as the structure of splitting families of minimum size. We use a mixture of computational and theoretical techniques. We additionally study the related notions of $\mathord{\leq}4$-splitting families and $4$-splitting families, and we provide lower bounds on the minimum size of such families.
Next we investigate splittable families that are just on the edge of unsplittability in several senses. First, we study splittable families that have the fewest number of splitters. We give a complete characterization in the case of two sets, and computational results in the case of three sets. Second, we define the \emph{splitting game}, and study splittable families for which a splitter cannot be found under adversarial conditions.


The paper presents a work in progress that will develop a tool for mapping and reflection upon human values within the context of the 'smart' city. As the rise in 'smart' city initiatives and implementation of technologies within the urban environment become more evident, citizens face irrevocable changes to their environment and their lives within the city. Such a reliance upon technological strategies to fix cities' ills and a drive for constant innovation within the 'smart' city is largely being driven by technology companies and city leaders. Citizens must live with the consequences of such strategies which have the potential to change their environments in momentous ways. In order to develop new technologies within the urban environment Living Labs are becoming increasingly prevalent, enabling designers of technologies to engage with multiple stakeholders, including citizens, in the design and implementation of new products. We present a work in progress that develops a tool for the mapping of and reflection upon, human values in order to avoid unnecessary technologies being imposed upon citizens. Furthermore, we seek to engage those currently driving the 'smart' city agenda in envisioning an alternative future where consideration of citizen's values and the effectiveness of the city takes priority over technology implementation for the sake of efficiencies. We present the need for this new tool as it goes further than existing methods in its potential for enabling citizens to develop clear understanding of the values present in the 'smart' city environment.


Background: Use of acellular dermal matrix in breast reconstruction has been associated with increased complications. However, existing studies are generally small, from single centers, and underpowered to control for confounding using regression techniques. Here, the Tracking Outcomes and Operations in Plastic Surgery database was used to examine the effect of acellular dermal matrix on expander/implant loss when controlling for other confounders. Methods: Analysis was limited to patients having tissue expander or implant-based breast reconstruction. Surgeon-reported data, International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Edition codes, and Current Procedural Terminology codes were used to identify independent variables. The dependent variable of interest was 30-day rates of tissue expander or implant loss. Bivariate statistics were performed. Multivariable logistic regression identified independent predictors of expander/implant loss when controlling for other confounders. Results: Data were available for 14,249 patients. The overall rate of expander/implant loss was 2.05 percent. Bivariate analysis demonstrated acellular dermal matrix was associated with an absolute increase in expander/implant loss of 0.7 percent (1.88 percent versus 2.58 percent, p = 0.012). The regression model demonstrated that rising body mass index, current smoking, and presence of diabetes were each independent predictors of expander/implant loss. When controlling for all other identified confounders, use of acellular dermal matrix was associated with a significant increase in expander/implant loss (odds ratio, 1.42; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.04 to 1.94; p = 0.026). Conclusions: Thirty-day risk for expander/implant loss after tissue expander or implant-based breast reconstruction was 2.05 percent. Use of acellular dermal matrix was associated with a 0.7 percent absolute risk increase for expander/implant loss. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Risk, III.


Orbital robotics is receiving growing attention worldwide for applications in servicing and repositioning of partially or fully defective satellites. In this paper, we present the scope and main results of a four-year research project, which aimed at developing necessary robotic technologies for such applications. The scope is two-fold, since we address both the human-operated robotic operational mode, referred to in robotics as force-feedback teleoperation, as well as the alternative autonomous mode, for the specific task of approaching and grasping a free-tumbling target satellite. We present methodological developments and experimental as well as numerical validations in the fields of tele-communications, computer vision, robot and spacecraft control and system identification. The results of this work constitute important advances in the fundamental building blocks necessary for the orbital applications of interest.


It has been valued the effects of different nutrients (glucose, phospholipids and ethanol) on the growth and morphology of chicken embryo cells, cultured in vitro by "pendent drop". Considering that the basal nourishing substratum used in these studies is the best medium that may be supplied to the cultures for the growth of this kind of tissues, the entity of damage induced by different nutrients has been shown. It may be said that the less negative effect is induced by 2.5% ethanol and by the association: "glucose + 2.5% ethanol", that the damage induced by only glucose seems to improve in presence of 2.5% ethanol, that in presence of phospholipids the cells appear all full of big lipid drops (especially in the condition: "phospholipid + ethanol") and that 5% ethanol deeply appears to impair and alter the cultures, as it was been observed in our previous experiences.


We examined the reproductive parameters of the introduced non-migratory flock of whooping cranes in Florida. Of 289 cranes introduced, 67 males and 65 females survived at least 3 years. The first behavioral pairs appeared in 1995, and eggs were first laid in 1999. In total, eggs were laid in 47 nests, 17 chicks hatched, and 4 young fledged by 2005. Severe drought conditions through 2001 were thought to be the reason for low reproductive nest success. In 2003 nesting conditions improved and 71% of nests with eggs, hatched chicks. During the next 2 years, with continued wet conditions, the proportion of pairs that laid eggs increased, but only 17% of those nests hatched. Embryos could not be seen in most of the decomposed eggs that were examined. In an effort to determine the cause for the low reproductive success of the flock, we examined the effects of behavioral pair formation, mortality, gonad size and histology, age, egg laying, hatching success, egg size, fertility, and egg microbial culture results on nesting success. When compared with the natural wild Aransas/Wood Buffalo flock, the productivity of birds reaching 8 years (100% egg laying, hatching, 60% fledging) was very low. When compared with the originating captive flock, however, evidence of fertility was similar. Productivity did however, increase in the captive flock beyond 8 years of age. At the time of this report, the reproductive birds in the Florida resident flock remain relatively young when compared with the captive flock. Therefore there may be improvement of reproductive success as the Florida flock ages. ProcEEDINGS of thE North AmErIcAN crANE WorkShoP 10:154


Aberrant activation of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway has been implicated in a variety of cancers and a small molecule inhibitor of Smoothened (SMO), Vismodegib, has been approved for the treatment of basal cell carcinoma, a disease frequently driven by Hh pathway signaling due to pathway mutations. SMO dependent Hh signaling has also been implicated in models of myeloid leukemia, primarily CML, where genetic loss of SMO or pharmacological inhibition limits disease progression in part through targeting the leukemic stem cell (LSC). Outside of BCR-ABL driven leukemia the role of Hh signaling and impact of SMO inhibition on disease progression and the LSC remains unclear. To explore the role of Hedgehog pathway signaling and interrogate responses to SMO inhibition in AML, a panel of primary AML patient-derived models was utilized to examine responses to PF-04449913, an oral small molecule SMO inhibitor currently in early phase clinical trials targeting myeloid malignancies. AML patient samples were characterized for Hh pathway expression levels and screened for responses to PF-04449913. Ex vivo treatment of AML bone marrow cells showed PF-04449913 was capable of inhibiting Hh pathway activity, reducing expression of key LSC regulators and decreasing populations of cells expressing LSC markers. Use of AML xenotransplant models to assess in vivo responses to PF-04449913 as single agent and in combination with Cytarabine have shown potential for combination efficacy of the two agents in select models suggesting patient selection strategies may be critical for SMO inhibitor-based therapies in AML. Citation Format: Amy Jackson-Fisher, Pamela Whalen, Mark Elliott, Melissa McMahon, Enhong Chen, Xianxian Zheng, Mark Ozeck, Donghui Huang, Paul Lira, Joseph Lee, Cathy Zhang, Justine Lam, Mary Spilker, Shibing Deng, Patrick Lappin, Penny Venne, Cynthia Heinlein, Annelie Schairer, Karen McLachlan, Todd VanArsdale. Interrogating hedgehog pathway and smoothened inhibition by PF-04449913 in patient-derived acute myeloid leukemia models. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1958. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1958


This guide point you towards resources at the library that will be useful throughout the BA program in Hospitality Management.


Low planting densities and use of unimproved varieties contribute to the low yields of pearl millet
(Pennisetum glaucum L.) in Nigeria. Field experiments were conducted during the 2013 and 2014 growing
seasons, to evaluate the response of pearl millet varieties to varying plant hill population in semi-arid
environments of Nigeria. Year, variety and plant hill population had significant (p ≤ 0.05) effect on days to
50% flowering, grain and stalk yields. With exception of Sosat-C88 at 8,889 hills ha-1, the grain and stalk
yields of pearl millet varieties were found to be significantly higher at higher hill populations than lower hill
populations in both locations. Plant chlorophyll content (SPAD) at 21 DAS (days after sowing) was higher
and significantly correlated with grain yields in Minjibir than value at 42 DAS. Similarly, leaf area index (LAI)
at 42 DAS was significantly correlated with grains than at 63 DAS. Increasing hill population to 13,333,
26,667 and 53,333 hills ha-1 increased grain yield by 5.8, 5.3 and 4.5% in Minjibir and by 14.3, 18.7 and
10.1% in Gambawa respectively compared to 8,889 hills ha-1. Similarly, stalk yields increased with increased
plant hill population, which ranged from 6 to 23% at Minjibir and 11 to 15% at Gambawa over 8,889 hills ha-
1. Sosat-C88 was found to produce higher yield across the different hills population than the other varieties
tested with mean yield gained by 17% in Minjibir and 19.3% in Gambawa over local variety. Results suggest
no blanket recommendation for the hill population across the varieties; GB8765 attained an optimal yield at
a population of 13,333 hills ha-1 in both locations beyond which grain yield decline. Sosat-C88 produced an
optimum yield at lower population of 8,889 hills ha-1 at Minjibir and higher population of 26,667 hills ha-1 at
Gambawa while local variety an optimal yield was stable at 26,667 hills ha-1 in both locations.


Sports, especially badminton, require participants to perform dynamic and skillful motions. Previous robots have had difficulty in performing like a human because of their severe limitations of low operating speed, heavy bodies, and simplistic mechanisms. In this letter, we propose a new robot design that consists of a structure integrated with pneumatic actuators and noninterfering many-degree-of-freedom joints, for the realization of a high-speed and lightweight humanoid robot. We made a four-degree-of-freedom robot arm for badminton, which is an especially dynamic sport, aiming for maximum speed while meeting geometric requirements. The robot swung with a racket-head speed of 21 m/s, which is a value higher than speeds achieved by previous robotic arms. The robot also realized a skillful shot, namely the spin net shot, which cannot be performed by previous badminton robots having simple mechanisms. A pneumatic robot is considered difficult to control, especially in terms of feedback control. We found that the reproducibility of the robot was as fine as 10–40 mm at the racket head for four kinds of strong swings. Using feedforward control, we also conducted an experiment in which the robot hits a flying shuttle, and achieved a high hitting rate of 69.7% for powerful swings. We believe that this research expands the possibilities of the pneumatic robot and is the first step toward developing a skillful humanoid badminton robot.


Parabens are alkyl ester compounds of p-hydroxy benzoic acid and are widely used as preservatives in many pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCP), foodstuffs etc. Four parabens methyparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben and butylparaben are found to be most widely used parabens in products of daily human use. Butylparaben is found to show stronger estrogenic response compared to rest of the widely used parabens. Many in vivo and in vitro studies have shown that parabens are weak estrogenic chemicals including butylparaben. Butylparaben is found to be 10,000 fold times less potent than 17β estradiol. In this experiment, adult C3H albino mice of 8 weeks of age were exposed to both high and low dose of butylparaben and the effect of butylparaben on uterine weight was studied through uterotrophic assay. For the experiment five different doses of butylparaben mg/Kg body weight of 10 mg/Kg body weight/day, 50 mg/Kg body weight/day, 100 /day, 500 mg/Kg body weight/day, 1000 mg/Kg body weight/day was considered. The adult C3H albino mice were grouped as vehicle control (olive oil), positive control (estradiol) and the above five different doses of butylparaben and were administered with the doses for seven consecutive days through subcutaneous route of administration. After the shortterm exposure of 7 consecutive days, butylparaben was found to show a significant increase in uterine weight at doses 50 mg/Kg body weight/day and 500 mg/Kg body weight/day.


Background: The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in many student populations learning online in lockdown. While the mental health consequences of lockdown are increasingly understood, the core features of 'cabin fever' are poorly described. Methods: We conducted a questionnaire survey of 649 undergraduate medicine and health sciences students. Item content was developed based on current literature and input from student representatives. Results: Mokken scaling identified seven questions that together formed a strongly unidimensional scale which comprised two domains : social isolation/cabin fever and demotivation / demoralisation. Scale scores were significantly associated with depression, self-rated mental health, impaired study efficacy and doomscrolling. Conclusions: The adverse effects of lockdown on student wellbeing appear to be driven to an important extent by an experience of isolation and demotivation that correspond to narrative descriptions of cabin fever. In the foreseeable event of future pandemics, these experiences are a promising target for health promotion in students studying in lockdown.


How can fragility be averted in open-end mutual funds? In recent years, markets have observed an innovation that changed the way open-end funds are priced. Alternative pricing rules (known as swing pricing) adjust funds' net asset values to pass on funds' trading costs to transacting shareholders. Using unique data on investor-level transactions in U.K. corporate bond funds, we show that swing pricing eliminates the first-mover advantage arising from the traditional pricing rule and significantly reduces outflows during market stress. Swing pricing also reduces concavity in the flow-performance relationship and dilution in fund performance.


The implementation of BODIPY dyes in electron transfer reactions is an exciting new frontier that expands the toolbox of the dye molecule that has primarily been implemented in biological and chemical sensing applications. BODIPY dyes are capable of reversible reductions at the average reduction potential of −1.53 V vs. ferrocene/ferrocenium, varying about 700 mV from this average value depending on the substitution of the BODIPY core. BODIPY dyes are also capable of reversible oxidations, exhibiting an average oxidation potential of 610 mV with the ability to manipulate the oxidation potential up to 600 mV from the average potential. The respective azaBODIPY dyes are on average about 600 mV easier to reduce (more positive potentials) and are oxidized at almost identical oxidation potentials to the respective BODIPY dyes. The oxidation and reduction potentials of BODIPY dyes are heavily dependent on substitution of the BODIPY core, which allows for a high degree of tunability in the redox potentials. This characteristic makes BODIPY dye molecules good candidates for use as photoredox catalysts, redox flow batteries, redox-active ligands, light harvesting antenna, and many other applications in materials science, biology, and chemical synthesis.


. The concept of retribution as a subject in exegesis is the progeny of the school of historical criticism. The first scholarly texts on the role of retribution in ancient Israel appeared in the first decade of the 20th century. In the early part of the nineteen hundreds there was, by and large, consensus on some key issues: the concept of retribution existed in Old Israel; retribution played an important, and in post exodus time a dominant, role in the daily life of the Israelites; and Jahweh was the judge and executor of retribution. In the middle of the nineteen-fifties the German theological scholar Klaus Koch called the traditional view of retribution executed by Jahweh into question. According to Koch the ancient Hebraic language did not differentiate between either an action and its consequences, or between intended and unintended actions. Consequently, a man's action included the consequences he had to suffer. A lively international debate ensued with many voices taking part. The majority of these oppose the opinion of Koch and conclude that retribution is a part of divine order. For several reasons the present discussion on the concept of retribution in the OT has focused on the Wisdom literature. Retribution has been a touchstone of God's argued presence in the literature of Wisdom. Only a few Swedish theological scholars have focused on the concept of retribution, though both the professor, and later archbishop, Nathan Soderblom and the professor, and later bishop, Einar Billing contributed to the subject already in the first decade of the 20th century. In recent times Lennart Bostrom has penetrated the subject in his dissertation The God of the sages. Oddly enough, the impulse resulted in Koch's calling the concept of retribution into question came from the doctoral thesis written by a virtually unknown Swedish theologian, Karl Fahlgren.


Getting fit - what its all about choosing a healthy lifestyle overcoming behaviours that interfere with health and fitness getting started in your fitness programme developing cardiorespiratory fitness improving muscular strength and endurance stretching to improve flexibility assessing body composition eating healthy preventing injury handling stress choosing fitenss activities buying fitness products.


A global transformation from Industry 4.0 towards Industry 5.0 will soon take place. Such transformations are intrinsic to human and sustainable value creation. An increasing number of companies, recognising this imminent trend, will need to transform their current classical, solely profit-oriented business models into sustainable business models that also target human, social, and environmental aspects. Various frameworks already exist that support the design of sustainable business models. Practical applications of these frameworks and research on the transformation process in the production domain, which places a special focus on small and medium enterprises, is still scarce. This paper presents the first results from a sustainable business model transformation project on a European SME, which produces 3D printers. The research method applies a single case study design. The study was based on publicly available information and qualitative data, obtained through interviews and workshops carried out on an executive management level.