We present here the method we have used for indexing multilingual text part of the Image Medical CLEF Collection. The result of the textual querying is then mixed with the image matching. We show by our results that a fusion of two media are of a great benefice because the combination of text and image returns clear better results than the two separately. We focus in this paper on the textual indexing part using a medical ontology to filter the document collection. At first, we use the notion of ontology dimensions, which corresponds the split of the ontology into sub ontology. In our experiment we just use the first tree level of the MESH ontology. We have modelled and experimented two different approaches of the use of the ontology: the first one is an ontology filtering that can force some terms of one dimension to be present in the final document. We have noticed a strong improvement using this technique over the classic Vector Space Model. The second technique manages the preference of some terms among other in the same dimension. Our hypothesis is that precise document should emphasis only few terms of a given dimension. To compute this new constraint, we have set up a negative weight query expansion. Finally, the combination of the two methods produces the overall best results. To our opinion, it shows that for a given domain, adding explicit knowledge stored into an ontology tree, enable to classify the importance of terms used in the query and enhance the finale average precision.


During a 10-year period shunt infections occurred in 27% of the 289 hydrocephalic patients who had cerebrospinal fluid shunts inserted at Children's Hospital Medical Center. The rate of infection did not vary with the type of shunt. Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus were responsible for one-half and one-quarter of the infections, respectively. Removal of the infected shunt in conjunction with administration of systemic antibiotics was effective therapy. Use of systemic antibiotics alone was generally ineffective and was associated with an increased mortality rate. Infection itself was a significant risk factor, raising the mortality rate from 17% to 40%. Clustering of infection within two months of surgery and similar rates of infection for ventriculo-atrial and ventriculo-peritoneal shunts indicate that the infecting organisms are usually introduced during the perioperative period. The possibility that prophylactic antibiotics or different shunt materials might reduce the infection rate requires further study.


Circulating CD25hi B cells, a subset of regulatory B cells in humans, are closely related to inflammation and autoimmune diseases. This study is aimed at investigating the alternation of CD25hi Bregs and their correlation with CD4 effector and regulatory T cells in T1D individuals. We included 68 autoantibody-positive T1D and 68 age-matched healthy individuals with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and assessed them with CD25hi Bregs and CD4 effector or regulatory T cells by flow cytometry. Here, we demonstrate that the frequency of CD25hi Bregs was significantly decreased in T1D subjects (P = 0.0016), but they were not affected by disease status (age at T1D diagnosis or duration) or T1D risk loci (rs2104286 or rs12251307) in IL2RA (all P > 0.05). Moreover, higher IgD (P = 0.043) and lower CD27 (P = 0.0003) expression was observed in CD25hi Bregs of T1D individuals, but not the expression of IgM, CD24, or CD38 (all P > 0.05). Although there was no correlation between CD25hi Bregs and CD4 effector T cell subsets in either T1D or healthy individuals (all P > 0.05), we found a positive correlation between CD25hi Bregs and CD4 Tregs in healthy controls (Sp. r = 0.3544, P = 0.0249), which disappeared in T1D subjects (Sp. r = 0.137, P = 0.401). In conclusion, our results suggest that decreased CD25hi Bregs and alternation of their phenotypes are features of T1D regardless of disease duration and T1D genetic risk loci, and an impaired balance between CD25hi Bregs and CD4 Tregs might contribute to the pathogenesis of T1D.


A series of transplantable murine colon tumors have been developed from primary tumors induced by dimethylhydrazine. They are moderately‐ to welldifferentiated adenocarcinomas which retain their histologic appearance and growth characteristics through successive transplant generations. The sensitivity of two tumor lines to 11 standard drugs is reported and some correlation shown with the sensitivity of human colorectal tumors to the same drugs. Therapeutic indices are low and each tumor has an individual pattern of sensitivity. The models have potential as secondary drug screening systems and for investigation of factors affecting drug sensitivity.


SUMMARY The safety analysis of human–robot collisions has recently drawn significant attention, as robots are increasingly used in human environments. In order to understand the potential injury a robot could cause in case of an impact, such incidents should be evaluated before designing a robot arm based on biomechanical safety criteria. In recent literature, such incidents have been investigated mostly by experimental crash-testing. However, experimental methods are expensive, and the design parameters of the robot arm are difficult to change instantly. In order to solve this issue, we propose a novel robot-human collision model consisting of a 6-degree-of-freedom mass-spring-damper system for impact analysis. Since the proposed robot-human consists of a head, neck, chest, and torso, the relative motion among these body parts can be analyzed. In this study, collision analysis of impacts to the head, neck, and chest at various collision speeds are conducted using the proposed collision model. Then, the degree of injury is estimated by using various biomechanical severity indices. The reliability of the proposed collision model is verified by comparing the obtained simulation results with experimental results from literature. Furthermore, the basic requirements for the design of safer robots are determined.


There exists a systematic difference in the ISC body-wave magnitude (mbISC) - seismic moment (M0) relationship between intermediate and deep earthquakes around Japan. For earthquakes with the same M0, the mbISC for intermediate events is larger than that for deep events by 0.2 to 0.3 units. The mbISC discrepancy is attributed to the depth-distance correction in the procedure for determining the mbISC; a larger depth-distance correction (≈ 0.2) is made for the intermediate events than the deep events, irrespective of station distance. The discrepancy disappears if no depth-distance correction is made. I observe no depth-dependent relationship between the M0 and the JMA magnitudes (MJMA), which make a different depth-distance correction. No significant depth-dependent mbISC discrepancy appears in other regions; for example, around Tonga, I observe larger ISC P-wave amplitudes from deep events than intermediate events, which could cancel the effect of the depth-distance correction. The depth-dependent mbISC - M0 relationship around Japan is observed irrespective of whether the magnitudes are determined using the amplitude data at far or near stations, or whether stations are used in the dipping direction of the slab or not. The mbISC discrepancy for the same M0 cannot arise from local structures, radiation patterns, and station coverages. This is not attributable to the dataset of the M0 itself because no significant depth-dependent relationship between M0 and MJMA is observed.


The generation of hollow atoms will reduce the probability of light absorption and provide a high-quality diffraction image in the experiment. In this paper, we calculate the ionization rate of the Kr atom under XFEL using Hartree-Fock-Slater model and simulate the ionization model of Kr atom using Monte Carlo method in order to determine the response of the hollow atom of Kr atom to the XFEL photon energy. By calculating the correlation between the total photoionization cross-section of the ground state of Kr atom and the photon energy, we determined three particular photon energies of 1.75 keV, 1.90 keV, and 14.30 keV. The dynamics simulation under the experimental condition's 17.50 keV photon energy was achieved by implementing the Monte Carlo method and calibrating the photon flux modeling parameters. Consequently, our calculated data are more consistent with experimental phenomena than previous theoretical studies. The saturable absorption of Kr at 1.75 keV, 1.90 keV, 14.30 keV, and 17.50 keV energies was further investigated using the optimized photon flux model theory. We compared the statistics on main ionization paths under those four specific photon energies and calculated the population changes of various Kr hollow atoms with different configurations. The results demonstrate that the population of hollow atoms produced at the critical ionization photon energy is high. Furthermore, the change of population with respect to position is smooth, which shows a significant difference between the generation mode of ions with low and high photon energy. The result is important for the study of medium- and high-Z element hollow atoms, which has substantial implications for the study of hollow atoms with medium and high charge states, as well as for the scaling of photon energy of free electron lasers.


Steroid‐free regimen is increasingly employed in kidney transplant recipients across transplant centers. However, concern remains because of the unknown impact of such an approach on long‐term graft and patient survival. We studied the outcomes of steroid‐free immunosuppression in a population‐based U.S. cohort of kidney transplant recipients. All adult solitary kidney transplant recipients engrafted between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2006 were stratified according to whether they were selected for a steroid‐free or steroid‐containing regimen at discharge. Multivariate Cox regression models were used to estimate graft and patient survival. The impact of the practice pattern on steroid use at individual transplant centers was analyzed. Among 95 755 kidney transplant recipients, 17.2% were steroid‐free at discharge (n = 16 491). Selection for a steroid‐free regimen was associated with reduced risks for graft failure and death at 1 year (HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.72–0.85, and HR 0.73, 95% CI 0.65–0.82, respectively, p < 0.0001) and 4 years (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.78–0.87, and HR 0.76, 95% CI 0.71–0.83, respectively, p < 0.0001). This association was mostly observed at individual centers where less than 65% of recipients were discharged on the steroid‐containing regimen. De novo steroid‐free immunosuppression as currently practiced in the United States appears to carry no increased risk of adverse clinical outcomes in the intermediate term.


The Milan criteria (MC) have historically determined eligibility for transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) Region 4 expanded the criteria for transplantation in HCC to include a single tumor ≤6 cm or up to 3 tumors with the largest diameter ≤5 cm and total additive diameter ≤9 cm (R4C). The aim of this study was to report the 10‐year outcomes of this expanded criteria compared to MC. Transplants performed for HCC in Region 4 between October 2007 and December 2016 were reviewed using the UNOS database. Recipients were categorized based on imaging findings at initial evaluation. A total of 2068 patients were included in the study. There was no significant difference in 10‐year patient survival between the groups (53% MC vs 48% R4C, P = .23). There was also no significant difference in recurrence‐free survival (54% MC vs 47% R4C, P = .15) or allograft survival (53% MC vs 48% R4C, P = .16). Finally, there was no significant difference in outcomes between the MC and R4C groups when stratifying patients by locoregional therapy. This study demonstrates promising data that the criteria for liver transplantation in HCC can be safely expanded to the R4C without compromising outcomes.


• BACKGROUND: Hand‐grip strength is an indicator of overall strength and a predictor of important outcomes. Up‐to‐date, population‐specific reference values for measurements of grip strength are needed to properly interpret strength outcomes. • OBJECTIVES: To provide population‐based grip‐strength reference values and equations for US residents 18 to 85 years of age. • METHODS: Hand‐grip data from 1232 participants 18 to 85 years of age were extracted from the database of the 2011 normative phase of the US National Institutes of Health Toolbox project in this cross‐sectional study. Descriptive reference values and equations were derived from the data. • RESULTS: The authors present grip‐strength reference values using summary statistics (mean, standard deviation, and percentile). The mean grip strength ranged from 49.7 kg for the dominant hand of men 25 to 29 years of age to 18.7 kg for the nondominant hand of women 75 to 79 years of age. The researchers also present reference regression equations for the dominant and nondominant sides of men and women. The explanatory variables in the equations are age, height, and weight. • CONCLUSION: The normative reference values and equations provided in this study may serve as a guide for interpreting grip‐strength measurements obtained from tested individuals. • KEY WORDS: grip, hand, hand strength, NIH Toolbox (health care), norm


FOUR record-communication operating organizations constitute the far-flung system of the International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation which provides telegraphic connections between the continental United States and the outside world. These companies are: All America Cables and Radio, Inc. The Commercial Cable Company The Commercial Pacific Cable Company The Mackay Radio and Telegraph Company and operate as a group under the management of the American Cable and Radio Corporation. A brief historical review of each company follows.


Previous studies show that social networking has tremendous effect on our daily life and consumer behavior. It has been rapidly grown in a few year in Thailand. Many companies have use social network as platform to offer products. Jewelry is an interesting product containing special characteristic. There are increasingly numbers of online stores were selling jewelry products in social networking sites. This study explores the factors which influence purchase decision of jewelry items from social networking by employing value framework theory, which consists of functional values, emotional values, and social values. The study proposes the conceptual framework for purchasing decision of jewelry from social networking sites, which is crucial for jewelry business. Keywords— jewelry, social networking, value framework


BACKGROUND
Few African American men participate in prostate cancer screening, although they have higher prostate cancer incidence and mortality rates.

METHODS
This study documents the benefits of two educational methods; the peer-educator method and the client-navigator method, in increasing their participation.

RESULTS
Sixty-one percent of the 1,211 African American men who received an educational program on prostate cancer participated in the free prostate cancer screening. Men who received the peer-educator method intervention, which included a testimony in support of prostate cancer screening given by an African American man, were more likely to participate, p = 0.04, than were men who received a standard educational program. Also, men who received the client-navigator method intervention, which included 1) a phone call aimed at overcoming screening barriers and 2) reminders for screening, were more likely to participate, p = 0.0001.

CONCLUSIONS
More African American men will participate in prostate cancer screening following the peer-education and client-navigator interventions.


This chapter looks at the ways in which social and cultural theory might provide a set of resources for theorising sonic spatiality. This is worked through the specific example of the spatiality of voice conceptualised through Steven Connor's (2000) conception of 'vocalic space'. Social and cultural theory has had relatively little to say about music and even less to say about the sound itself or the qualities of distinctively sonic experience and its associated sonic realm or sonic spatiality. Drawing on this work in the context of more recent theorising by Dollar, Labelle, Nancy, Born and others this chapter argues that the sonic provides a rich terrain for thinking through spatiality.


Summary The substitution of 2A13+ for Si4+ +M 2+ (M = Mg or Ni) has been studied by infra-red spectroscopy in 7 Å trioctahedral minerals over the composition range from Al = 0.00 to Al = 2.00. Significant differences are observed in the infra-red spectra and these make possible an estimation of the amount of Al in tetrahedral coordination. The most striking effect of the substitution is observed in the stretching vibrations of the outer hydroxyl groups and that of the silicate anion. The aluminous Mg-serpentines can be readily distinguished from their analogues, the aluminous Niserpentines, by the absence of the Mg-OH absorption band between 570 and 615 cm−1 in the latter.


The potential of using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the AgroMetShell (AMS) to forecast and estimate maize yield at Rural Development Project (RDP) level in Malawi was investigated. NDVI is derived from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) series of polar-orbiting satellites. AMS is a soil water balance water balance modeling software that produces a number of output parameters (potential yield predictors) that can be used to develop regression models for yield estimation and or forecasting.

Using climatic, NDVI and yield data for the years 1983 to 2004, NDVI parameters were correlated with rainfall and yield to establish NDVI-rainfall and NDVI-yield relationships. NDVI parameters tested include cumulative, seasonal maximum, seasonal averages, dekadal and monthly increments, and dekadal and monthly values. Overall, most of the NDVI parameters tested gave little or no correlation with maize yield in most RDPs. Dekadal and monthly NDVI values were found to be positively and significantly correlated with maize yield especially towards the end of the growing season (March and April) for a number of RDPs. Regression equations were developed for only eight of the thirty RDPs in which high correlations were observed for consecutive dekads. There was no consistency in the RDPs giving high correlation from one NDVI parameter to the other. Between the hybrid and local maize varieties no variety took precedence over the others in giving higher correlations. For the few regression models developed, the coefficients of determination (r2) ranged from 0.23 to 0.54.

AMS output parameters were correlated then regressed with maize yield at RDP level. Similar combinations of parameters were used for all the RDPs in a particular agroclimatological zone. Soil water deficit and actual evapotranspiration during the reproductive phases were identified to be critical in yield determination for most areas. RDPs with high values of r2 were distributed across the country but the Lakeshore and Shire Valley areas had most of the RDPs giving significant r2 values. The 1983/84 to 2001/02 seasons were used to develop regression models for maize yield estimation and forecasting. Hybrid maize regression models gave higher r2 than the local maize models. r2 values for AMS parameters and maize yield ranged between 0.08 and 0.82. For hybrid maize variety, 19 out of 30 RDPs gave r2>0.40 while for the local variety, 15 out of 30 RDPs realized r2>0.40. The standard errors for the regression models were higher for the hybrid than for the local variety. The models were tested with data from the same seasons used to develop them. In most RDPs the models simulated the yield well. Models were also tested with independent data (for 2002/03 season). In the majority of the RDPs tested, the errors of prediction fell within the standard error bands.

For the eight RDPs where regressions were done for both approaches, generally the AMS-developed yield models gave higher r2 values compared to the NDVI-developed models. The AMS approach can be recommended for yield estimation and prediction in Malawi, while the NDVI approach needs further refinement before it can be implemented on an operation level.


Stina Ericsson. Information Enriched Constituents in Dialogue Ph.D. dissertation at Göteborg University, Sweden, 2005 Department of linguistics, Göteborg University, Box 200, 405 30 Göteborg, Sweden ISBN 91-975752-1-6 Information enriched constituents are a linguistic phenomenon typically studied under headings such as ellipsis, fragments, and short or non-sentential utterances. The term information enriched constituent is introduced in this thesis to emphasise that the default in spontaneous spoken dialogue is to produce only that part of a message that contributes to the context, and that remaining material in the message is not omitted, but rather already part of the context. This thesis takes a generation perspective of information enriched constituents, and investigates how utterances can be characterised and represented with regard to information enrichment, and under what circumstances information enrichment can be relied on to different degrees. While it is recognised that information enriched constituents concern a number of different linguistic levels, the thesis is primarily concerned with pragmatic aspects. Information enriched constituents are analysed using the information structural notion of focus and ground. An extensive corpus study is provided, based on recorded dialogues in six different corpora in English, French, and Swedish. The corpus study shows that for the generation of utterances relying on information enrichment, the pragmatic focus has to be able to be smaller than the syntactic focus phrase, and that ground material that is realised in dialogue is identical, anaphoric, or reformulated in relation to the relevant part of the preceding context. The use of corpus dialogue also provides a context that needs to be modelled, and the study identifies a number of different contextual components that can enrich subsequent utterances, notably questions under discussion (QUD), questions no longer under discussion and answers to such questions, and domain and situational knowledge. The corpus investigation also reveals a number of constraints on the form and content of information enriched constituents, primarily in terms of the determination of information structure and different reasons for the inclusion of ground material in dialogue. Utterances are formalised using Head-driven Phrase Structure Grammar (HPSG), with the inclusion of the representation of information structure. The context is formalised using a QUDbased information state. Constraints on the form and content of the utterance are explored using Optimality Theory (OT), which, in particular, reveals two interesting areas of conflicting constraints: the determination of the ground in relation to different contextual components, and the determination of how much ground material is to be included in the realisation, if indeed any. The OT analysis also shows the need for bidirectionality – taking both hearer and speaker perspectives into account – for the generation of information enriched constituents. The thesis also includes a specification of possibilities for the implementation of information enriched constituents in the generation component of a dialogue system.


Fluorine is a common element that does not occur in the elemental state in nature because of its high reactivity. Fluoride is a key aspect of water quality in rural water supply system, which potentially affects the sustainability of water if it exceeds its prescribed limit. Excess intake of fluoride through drinking water causes fluorosis on human beings in many states of India, including Chhattisgarh .This study aims to identify the hydro geochemical processes influencing the high fluoride concentration in ground water of rural areas of Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh, India). For this purposes ten ground water samples were collected during the post monsoon session of 2010. The fluoride concentration in ground water was determined, where it is the only source of drinking water. our laboratory Fluoride concentration was determined SPANDS method. In this method fluoride concentration was determined spectrophotometrically by using acid Zirconyl and Sodium -2 para sulfophenyl azo -1, 8 dihydroxy -3, 6napthalene disulfonate (SPAND) reagents. The fluoride concentration in the ground water of these villages varied from 0.73 to 3.02 mg/L, causing dental fluorosis among people especially children of these villages. Overall water quality was found unsatisfactory for drinking purposes without any prior treatment except few villages. Most people in these study areas suffer from dental fluorosis and skeletal fluorosis such as mottling of teeth, deformation of ligament, bending of spinal column and ageing problem.


This is a polemical paper which is critical of what is an increasingly common interpretation of the
teaching of technology in schools. "Technology" in this case will be defined as that which is concerned
with the design and production of products or systems associated with the manufacturing industries.
"Mickey Mouse Technology" will be defined as design tasks given to pupils which involve cartoon type
images and in which little attempt is made to use design tools such as mathematical modelling or
scientific principles. It will be argued that the image promoted by such topics is erroneous, that it
trivialises technology and is counter-productive to the stated aims of the subject.
The pathology of this situation will be located in the lack of an adequate paradigm. It will be shown that
attempts to promote paradigms have resulted in polar shifts which have left many teachers confused and
demoralised.
The paper will conclude by arguing that if we are to achieve the aims of teaching technology, one of which
is to ultimately strengthen the manufacturing base of this country and to make it more competitive with
countries in Europe and East Asia, then a clearer paradigm needs to be articulated and clearer guidelines
for interpretation offered. Some examples of 'non-Mickey Mouse' technology will be offered for
illustration and discussion.


Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a severe case of kidney failure that is caused by the build-up of waste products in your blood making it impossible for your kidneys to maintain adequate fluid balance in your body. AKI is caused by reduced blood flow to the kidneys as it is evident that kidneys have the highest blood flow because they are the body's natural filtration system. This reduced blood flow could be caused by low blood volume after bleeding, excessive vomiting or diarrhoea, or severe dehydration ultimately blood coagulation disorders. Coagulopathy is a disorder in which the capacity of blood to clot is diminished. It may cause impulsive internal or external bleeding when left untreated.


An exponential-doping structure is successfully applied to the preparation of AlGaAs/GaAs photocathodes through the metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) technique. The experimental results show that the quantum efficiency in the entire waveband region for the exponential-doping photocathodes grown by MOCVD is remarkably enhanced as compared to those grown by molecular beam epitaxy. As a result of the improved built-in electric fields and cathode performance parameters, the photoemission characteristics for the MOCVD-grown transmission-mode and reflection-mode AlGaAs/GaAs photocathodes are different over the wavelength region of interest.


Rats fed high fat diets have alterations of their intestinal microbiota, gut barrier function, circulating lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels and biomarkers of oxidative stress, inflammation, and glucose/insulin metabolism, resulting in a higher risk of type-2 diabetes. These deleterious effects are prevented by antibiotics or prebiotics. The aim of this study was to determine whether the administration of a synbiotic improves metabolic alterations and low grade inflammation in obese subjects. A randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial (www.ClinicalTrials.gov, Access Number NCT01235026) was carried out in 40 obese patients. Subjects were distributed in two groups to receive 8g oligofructose + 1 g of lyophilized Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12 (1010 CFU/g) or 9g maltodextrin as placebo, twice a day for six weeks. Body composition, blood lipids, antioxidant capacity of plasma, biomarkers of inflammation (usCRP, IL-6) and LPS exposure (LPS-Binding Protein, LBP, and sCD14), areas under curves of glycemia and insulinemia and fecal microbiota (qPCR) were quantified at baseline and after treatment. 38 subjects (34.8 ± 9.2y; BMI: 36.7 ± 5.3 kg.m-2) completed the study. A positive correlation was observed at baseline between usCRP, IL-6, LBP, sCD14 and the percentage of body fat; correlations also existed between usCRP, IL-6 and LBP values while sCD14 only correlated with IL-6. Compared with placebo, the administration of synbiotic increased the fecal levels of Bifidobacterium spp. but did not affect body composition, lipid profile, antioxidant status and areas under curves of glycemia and insulinemia, nor the plasma concentrations of usCRP, IL-6 and LBP. Plasma concentrations of sCD14 were significantly lower after treatment in the symbiotic group compared with the placebo 3 group (5.98 μg/ml (5.01-6.96) vs. 7.26 (6.34-8.09) μg/ml (Means (CI95%), respectively; p=0.043). The synbiotic increased fecal bifidobacteria in obese subjects without improvement the biochemical, inflammatory and metabolic markers; more studies are required to elucidate the role of the symbiotic on plasma sCD14.


Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is the major cause of healthcare-associated bacteremia in most of Hospital and it increased risk of infection, morbidity and mortality especially, when associated vancomycin resistance in same infection. In this study 42 S. aureus were isolated from wound infection patients in Diwaniya hospital and S. aureus was isolated by selective medium out form 50 swab samples. The PCR assay was used for direct detection of methicillin (mecA) and vancomycin (van) antibiotics resistance gene in 42 S. aureus isolates. The results show only 5 isolates (11%) were have single methicillin resistance and there no single vancomycin resistance in all isolates. While the PCR results show there found 3 isolates (7.1%) were have association resistance methicillin and vancomycin resistance. But all methicillin resistance was 12 isolates (19%). In conclusion, we conclude that PCR assay can be used as highly sensitive and specific in detection of methicillin and vancomycin resistance gene, and Vancomycinresistant can be associated with Methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus isolated from wound infection.


Higher education is in dire need of reform in order keep up with the rapidly advancing technology and student needs surrounding it. Unbundling of higher education has been discussed as one of the potential directions of reform. Prior research has suggested that blockchain technology has the potential to play an essential role in facilitating such change in higher education. However, the ways in which blockchain can facilitate unbundling remains missing in literature. We specifically address this gap. This study reports on a qualitative study with 17 respondents in the field of higher education as well as blockchain technology. Our findings indicate three specific areas of unbundling that can be facilitated with blockchain technology, namely new governance model, modular student experience and enhanced faculty roles. We explain how four key characteristics of blockchain (i.e., decentralization, immutability, pseudonymity and self-sovereignty) facilitate those three areas of unbundling in specific. The findings of this study can aid both the universities and the blockchain community in understanding how the concept of blockchain can be embedded effectively in the unbundling of higher education.


: On the basis of experimental researches has been revealed dose-dependent influence of integral UV-irradiation on osteogenic potential of stromal cells--precursors of bone marrow and determined osteogenesis--stimulating dose (300 J/m2). The technique of photomodified bone marrow application for treatment of osseous defects in children has been worked out. Clinical approval (36 observations) has demonstrated high efficiency of the proposed version of osteoplasty: acceleration of reparative processes, reduction of normal osseous structure restoration terms.


This paper introduces a new highly optimized architecture for remote memory access (RMA). RMA, using put and get operations, is a one-sided communication function which amongst others is important in current and upcoming Partitioned Global Address Space (PGAS) systems. In this work, a virtualized hardware unit is described which is resource optimized, exhibits high overlap, processor offload and very good latency characteristics. To start an RMA operation a single HyperTransport packet caused by one CPU instruction is sufficient, thus reducing latency to an absolute minimum. In addition to the basic architecture an implementation in FPGA technology is presented together with an evaluation of the target ASIC-implementation. The current system can sustain more than 4.9 million transactions per second on the FPGA and exhibits an end-to-end latency of 1.2 μs for an 8-byte put operation. Both values are limited by the FPGA technology used for the prototype implementation. An estimation of the performance reachable on ASIC technology suggests that application to application latencies of less than 500 ns are feasible.


During drying of a chemically crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) gel, we observed, by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electronic microscopy, micron-order wrinkling which remains until the end of drying. We show that while at high humidity drying is homogeneous and no surface instability is observed, fast drying at low humidity induces the formation of a glassy skin layer on the soft bulk that wrinkles because the skin is compressed as the bulk contracts. The role of the glass transition is not only to create a mismatch of the elasticity with the bulk but also to remove the in-plane tensile tension which stretches the skin before drying. We proved experimentally the presence of this thin glassy skin on the wet bulk by approach–retract curve measurements in AFM. We also comment on the effect of mechanical restraint and the observation of hierarchical wrinkling over different length scales.


The "Educator" a Smartphone application which helps in gaining knowledge easily and italso helps in being more productive during the time spent in waiting for buses and train.This broken time can be used extensively by making use of the Educator. This educationalapplication brings learning possibilities at peoples fingertips. It provides various optionsto people with a variety of learning skills which include multiple choice questions, puzzles,language cards, and online home exams for students.


It is well known that the maximum-likelihood estimator (MLE) under a misspecified model converges to a well defined limit and it is asymptotically Gaussian as the sample size goes to infinity. In this correspondence, we consider a misspecified model with deterministic signal embedded in Gaussian noise and fully characterize the asymptotic performance of the MLE under this misspecified model with high signal-to-noise (SNR). We see that under some regularity conditions, it converges to a well defined limit and is asymptotically Gaussian with high SNR.


Although surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has proven to be an effective tool for label-free monitoring of catalytic reactions, quantitative characterization of reaction kinetics via this technique remains challenging owing to the difficulty in integrating catalytic and plasmonic activities into a single platform. In this work, we report on an easy access to highly sensitive plasmonic nanoarrays for direct and label-free monitoring of a gold-catalyzed reaction by SERS. The hierarchically structured three-dimensional assemblies, which consist of small gold catalyst nanoparticles distributed on a self-assembled monolayer of larger gold nanoparticles, were formed through a simple and rapid stepwise interfacial self-assembling process (fabrication time <10 min). The well-defined interparticle distances (<1 nm) lead to efficient plasmonic coupling and ensure both catalytic and SERS-active sites exposed to the environment. Such a versatile bifunctional platform thus allows quantitative determination of the rate constant and activation energy of the catalytic reaction with SERS.


During growth (27 to 75 days of age), a total of 384 rabbits were kept in 72 individual cages, 48 bicellular cages (2 rabbits/cage) and 24 collective cages (9 rabbits/cage). To evaluate the effects of the housing system on the fear level and behavioural patterns of rabbits at the two ages (39 to 45 days and 66 to 73 days), a tonic immobility test and an open-field test were conducted and their behaviour was video recorded. In the tonic immobility test, the number of attempts to induce immobility (1.38) was lower, and the duration of immobility (47.8 s) was higher (0.05 < P < 0.01) in the rabbits housed in individual cages than in those kept in bicellular (1.72 attempts and 25.0 s of immobility) and collective cages (1.99 attempts and 25.0 s of immobility). During the open-field test, the rabbits from individual and bicellular cages showed higher latency (38.8 and 40.3 v. 27.0 s), a lower number of total (73.3 and 81.7 v. 91.9) and central displacements (3.6 and 2.8 v. 5.4) and a shorter running time (11.8 and 13.6 s v. 17.7 s) and the time biting the pen (5.5 and 9.1 s v. 28.2 s) compared with the rabbits kept in collective cages (0.05 < P < 0.001). During the 24-h video recording, the rabbits in individual and bicellular cages spent less time allogrooming (0.34% and 0.19% v. 1.44%), moving (0.74% and 0.60% v. 1.32%) and running (0.08% and 0.03% v. 0.21%) than the rabbits in the collective cages (0.01 < P < 0.001). The lowest numbers of alerts and hops were observed in the rabbits kept in bicellular cages. With increasing age, a lower number of rabbits were sensitive to the immobility test and more rabbits entered the pen spontaneously during the open-field test (P < 0.001). In conclusion, the rabbits in individual cages exhibited the highest fear level and incomplete behavioural patterns; the rabbits housed in collective cages showed the lowest fear levels and had the possibility of expressing a wider range of behaviour; and the rabbits in bicellular cages exhibited an inconsistent pattern of fear in the tonic immobility and open-field tests. Probably, these rabbits were in a less stressful condition compared with animals in individual cages because social contacts were allowed, even if freedom of movement was more limited.


Purpose The critical pathway (CP) was introduced as a means to provide quality healthcare service in many fields of surgery. CP may increase the patient's satisfaction rate and lowering hospital stay and medical cost also. We aimed to compare the two kinds of CP applied in laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients by different hospital stay length. Methods From March 2016 to October 2016, 71 patients were enrolled in this analysis among 241 patients who underwent elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Patients were divided into two groups, 38 patients in the 1-day CP group and 33 patients in the 2-day CP group. In a retrospective review, surgical outcomes and related hospital costs were analyzed. Results Preoperative characteristics were not different between two CP groups. In analysis of operative outcome, 2-day CP group showed longer operative time than 1-day CP (73.4 vs 54.1 min, p<0.001); otherwise, there was no significant difference in frequency of postop complications (6.1% vs 2.6%, p=0.474), numerical rating scale (NRS) pain score (1.82 vs 2.16, p=0.052), and count of analgesics injection (0.12 vs 0.16, p=0.754). Total admission cost and actual patient's expenditures were higher in 2-day CP group, but there was no statistically significant difference (347.04 vs 306.69×104 won, p=0.106; 147.85 vs 125.58×104 won, p=0.276). Conclusion The length of hospital stay was shortened in 1-day CP group than in 2-day CP group, while there was no difference in other parameters. Therefore, it is feasible and safe practical policy the use 1-day CP in selected patients who undergo cholecystectomy according to our results.


ABSTRACT Purpose: To outline and detail the importance of conditional probability in clinical decision making and discuss the various diagnostic measures eye care practitioners should be aware of in order to improve the scope of their clinical practice. Methods: We conducted a review of the importance of conditional probability in diagnostic testing for the eye care practitioner. Results: Eye care practitioners use diagnostic tests on a daily basis to assist in clinical decision making and optimizing patient care and management. These tests provide probabilistic information that can enable the clinician to increase (or decrease) their level of certainty about the presence of a particular condition. While an understanding of the characteristics of diagnostic tests are essential to facilitate proper interpretation of test results and disease risk, many practitioners either confuse or misinterpret these measures. Conclusions: In the interests of their patients, practitioners should be aware of the basic concepts associated with diagnostic testing and the simple mathematical rule that underpins them. Importantly, the practitioner needs to recognize that the prevalence of a disease in the population greatly determines the clinical value of a diagnostic test.


Metro Manila, the national capital region of the Philippines, has led all regions in vehicle fleet and a compulsory vehicle scrappage standard has yet to be implemented. This paper aims to develop Metro Manila's vehicle survival rates, using the Weibull Distribution function and the data of vehicles registered in the Land Transport Office (LTO). A novel computation procedure is proposed how to develop the vehicle survival and scrappage rates for a metropolis not implementing the scrappage standard. The vehicles are classified into main three types: car, utility vehicle (UV) and bus. The results highlighted that the current average lifespans for car, UV and bus are 14.225, 13.929 and 11.529 years, respectively. The developed vehicle survival rates were used to calculate the scrappage rates and the cumulative scrappage rates, being very informative for projection of Metro Manila's vehicle fleet and scrappage intensity, and beyond that the computation procedure proposed in this paper is considerably important to develop vehicle survival rates for other countries having no data of vehicle scrappage intensity and distribution of vehicles by age.


Aims and background The presence of nodal metastases in patients with primary cutaneous melanoma adversely affects the biological behavior and is related to a poor prognosis. The role of sentinel lymph node biopsy is still debated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic role of sentinel lymph node biopsy with respect to disease-free period and overall survival. Patients and methods Patients with invasive cutaneous melanoma who underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy in the Santa Chiara Hospital of Trento between October 1997 and December 2002 were evaluated. The lymph nodes were examined with conventional histology, S100 and tyrosinase in immunohistochemistry, and tyrosinase in molecular biology. Results There were 144 patients with 198 sentinel lymph nodes. A significant association was found in conventional histology with Clark level and Breslow thickness. The prognostic role of sentinel lymph node status was independent of the other considered variables. However, no significant association was found with the molecular biology test. A significant excess of positive results at molecular biology was found. Conclusions Sentinel lymph node biopsy is an important independent prognostic factor for invasive cutaneous melanoma, but only when evaluated with conventional histology. As a result of this study, we stopped performing the tyrosinase test in molecular biology.


As key components in the active layer of multi-junction, ternary blend, or non-fullerene polymer solar cells (PSCs), wide bandgap semiconducting polymers have the characteristic of exhibiting strong absorption bands in the short-wavelength region. In multi-junction, ternary blend, or non-fullerene PSCs, wide bandgap polymers can provide complementary absorption profiles with low bandgap counterparts, thereby further increasing power conversion efficiencies. In this review, we summarize the recent advances of wide bandgap semiconducting polymers and their applications in PSCs, and discuss the designs as well as the material structure–property-device performance correlations. Finally, we conclude by highlighting the challenges and future developments of wide bandgap semiconducting polymers.


The success of the sterile insect technique (SIT) relies on the achievement of high levels of sterility and mating success of the factory-reared sterile males and thus their biological quality, which can be enhanced by the reduction of stress factors encountered during rearing, handling, and irradiation procedures. The achievement of consistent sterility levels requires reliable and standard irradiation protocols. Additionally, mosquito adults require immobilization prior to, and during irradiation to increase processing efficiency and to avoid physical damage caused by movement in restricted space. Common methods for immobilization include chilling and anesthetics such as nitrogen. Here we assessed the effects of chilling and exposure to nitrogen on the irradiation dose-response of Aedes mosquitoes, and their downstream effects on some male quality parameters including longevity and flight ability. We found that chilling does not incur damage in the insects in terms of longevity and flight ability when chilling duration and temperature are carefully controlled, and a recovery phase is provided. Irradiation in nitrogen shows high radioprotective effects during irradiation, resulting in reduced induction of sterility. Overall, longevity of males can be improved by irradiating in anoxia, however the exposure to nitrogen itself comes with negative impacts on flight ability. The results reported here will assist in the standardization and optimization of irradiation protocols for the SIT to control mosquito populations of medical relevance.


Primary health care is the bedrock of any country`s health care system. It is aimed to provide the individuals and the communities with protective, preventive, restorative and rehabilitative health services within the available resources. However there is a growing lack of confidence and trust by the public in all health services at this level of care, resulting from the poor state of the facilities and low standards of delivery. This book therefore sought to explore and highlight those barriers affecting the utilization of primary health care services in a low income nation like Nigeria. It also aimed to serve as a basis for understanding and appreciating the complex factors affecting the utilization of these essential services, and how these factors translate into a deterioration of a nation's health indices. It is expected that these findings will enrich academic discussions and guide policy makers in formulating policies and guidelines towards improving primary healthcare services. It will also aid international organizations with interest in implementing primary health services in developing nations


Background Exacerbations of asthma and COPD are triggered by rhinoviruses. Uncontrolled inflammatory pathways, pathogenic bacterial burden and impaired antiviral immunity are thought to be important factors in disease severity and duration. Macrolides including azithromycin are often used to treat the above diseases, but exhibit variable levels of efficacy. Inhaled corticosteroids are also readily used in treatment, but may lack specificity. Ideally, new treatment alternatives should suppress unwanted inflammation, but spare beneficial antiviral immunity. Methods In the present study, we screened 225 novel macrolides and tested them for enhanced antiviral activity against rhinovirus, as well as anti-inflammatory activity and activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Primary bronchial epithelial cells were grown from 10 asthmatic individuals and the effects of macrolides on rhinovirus replication were also examined. Another 30 structurally similar macrolides were also examined. Results The oleandomycin derivative Mac5, compared with azithromycin, showed superior induction (up to 5-fold, EC50 = 5–11 μM) of rhinovirus-induced type I IFNβ, type III IFNλ1 and type III IFNλ2/3 mRNA and the IFN-stimulated genes viperin and MxA, yet had no effect on IL-6 and IL-8 mRNA. Mac5 also suppressed rhinovirus replication at 48 h, proving antiviral activity. Mac5 showed antibacterial activity against Gram-positive Streptococcus pneumoniae; however, it did not have any antibacterial properties compared with azithromycin when used against Gram-negative Escherichia coli (as a model organism) and also the respiratory pathogens Pseudomonas aeruginosa and non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae. Further non-toxic Mac5 derivatives were identified with various anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antibacterial activities. Conclusions The data support the idea that macrolides have antiviral properties through a mechanism that is yet to be ascertained. We also provide evidence that macrolides can be developed with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral activity and show surprising versatility depending on the clinical need.


A collisional radiative model of low-pressure hydrogen plasmas is elaborated and applied in optical emission spectroscopy diagnostics of a single element of a matrix source of negative hydrogen ions. The model accounts for the main processes determining both the population densities of the first ten states of the hydrogen atom and the densities of the positive hydrogen ions H(+), H2 (+), and H3 (+). In the calculations, the electron density and electron temperature are varied whereas the atomic and molecular temperatures are included as experimentally obtained external parameters. The ratio of the Hα to Hβ line intensities is calculated from the numerical results for the excited state population densities, obtained as a solution of the set of the steady-state rate balance equations. The comparison of measured and theoretically obtained ratios of line intensities yields the values of the electron density and temperature as well as of the degree of dissociation, i.e., of the parameters which have a crucial role for the volume production of the negative ions.


Background: Ocular trauma remains an important cause of poor vision and blindness world-wide. Management of ocular trauma with haze media poses a great challenge to ophthalmologist. However the potential role of B scan ultrasonography in the diagnosis and management of a patient with hazy or non-visible posterior segment following ocular trauma has not been fully explored. Objective: To describe the use of B scans ultrasound (US) in the diagnosis and management of posterior segment ocular trauma in patients with media opacities. Methods: This was a 5-year retrospective study of patients with ocular trauma who presented at the Department of Ophthalmology Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, Nigeria and sent for B scan US because of hazy or non-visible fundus. The ultrasound diagnosis was compared with clinical diagnosis. The data were analysed with SPSS 20 Version. Results: A total of 119 patients with ocular trauma had B scan US; 62.2% were male; the mean age was 34.2±20.1years. Patients were either students (27.7%) or full-time housewives (27.7%). Ocular injury was unilateral in 103 (86.6%) participants and bilateral in 13 (13.4%) participants. The right eye, 75 (63%) was most affected by the trauma. Most of the trauma 116 (97.5%) were due to closed eye injury. Ocular B scan was normal in 3 (2.5%) of the patients. The correlation between clinical diagnosis and B scan US diagnosis was 58.9%. Conclusion: B scan ultrasonography enabled diagnosis of 97.5% of ocular injuries not diagnosed at clinical examination due to haze media. Therefore the importance of B scan ultrasonography in the management of ocular trauma with hazy media is underscored. Keywords: B scans ultrasound; ocular trauma, haze media, Nigeria


We report the structural and dc transport studies on LaAl1−xCoxO3 (x = 0.2, 0.5, 0.8, 1.0). LaAl1−xCoxO3 samples have been prepared by solid state reaction synthesis. P-XRD patterns refined using FullProf to get the unit cell dimensions and the Co-O bond lengths. The intermediate samples exhibited mixture of rhombohedral and monoclinic phase indicating the distorted nature. The low temperature DC transport reveals small polaron hopping conduction with increasing activation energies with decrease in Co concentration.


The authors present a case of a giant cell tumor of the mandibular condyle, which is a very rare condition. Problems relating to diagnosis and treatment are examined. Specifically non neoplastic and neoplastic lesions in which giant cells are identified have been evaluated.


Nine species of the genus Gnorimoschema are recorded from China. Five new species are described: G. cinerella sp. nov. (China: Yunnan), G. gilvella sp. nov. (China: Ningxia), G. fuscescens sp. nov. (China: Gansu, Inner Mongolia; Russia: Altai, Zabaikalskiy krai), G. rufomaculata sp. nov. (China: Ningxia and Inner Mongolia; Russia: Zabaikalskiy krai), G. piskunovi sp. nov. (China: Hebei, Shanxi). G. cinctipunctella (Erschoff, 1877) sp. rev. is removed from synonymy. Three new synonyms are established: G. mongolorum Povolný, 1969 syn. nov. of G. cinctipunctella (Erschoff, 1877), G. herbichii mongoliae Povolný, 1973 and G. herbichii kamchaticum Povolný, 1977 syn. nov. of G. herbichii herbichii (Nowicki, 1864). Data on species distribution in the Palaearctic region are supplemented with new records and revised in accordance with new taxonomic data proposed in the present contribution.


Dirithromycin is a new macrolide antibiotic that is effective against group A β‐hemolytic streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis. This prospective, multicenter, randomized study compared the serum and tonsil tissue concentrations of erythromycylamine (to which dirithromycin is rapidly converted by nonenzymatic hydrolysis during absorption) and erythromycin after 5‐ and 10‐day regimens of dirithromycin and erythromycin, respectively. Thirty‐nine patients undergoing elective tonsillectomy but without active tonsillitis were assigned in randomized fashion to receive dirithromycin 500 mg orally once daily (n = 22) or erythromycin base 250 mg orally four times daily (n = 17). Data from 12 patients receiving dirithromycin and 10 receiving erythromycin were eligible for analysis. Mean serum concentrations (± standard deviation) of erythromycylamine and erythromycin were 0.20 ± 0.07 μg/mL and 0.12 ± 0.25 μg/mL, respectively, after the 5‐day regimen and 0.17 ± 0.10 μg/mL and 1.57 ± 3.16 μg/mL, respectively, after the 10‐day regimen. The mean serum concentration of erythromycin after 10 days was skewed by the data for one of the six patients in the group (concentration of >8 μg/mL). Mean concentrations of erythromycylamine in tonsil tissue were 4.62 ± 0.97 μg/g after 5 days and 3.47 ± 2.84 μg/g after 10 days. Concentrations in tonsillar tissue were undetectable in all patients given erythromycin for 5 days and in 4 of the 6 patients given erythromycin for 10 days. The high concentrations of erythromycylamine in tonsillar tissue agree with the clinical efficacy seen in the treatment of group A β‐hemolytic streptococcal tonsillopharyngitis with dirithromycin.


Electricity generation from swine wastewater using microbial fuel cell (MFC) was investigated. Swine wastewater was collected into a dual-chambered (aerobic and anaerobic) fuel cell. The maximum power output using copper and carbon electrodes were 250.54 and 52.33 μW, respectively, while 10.0 and 5.0 cm salt bridge length between the cathode and anode gave maximum power outputs of 279.50 and 355.26 μW, respectively. Cathodic potassium permanganate and distilled water gave maximum power outputs of 1287.8 and 139.18 μW, respectively. MFCs utilized microbial communities to degrade organic materials found within wastewater and converted stored chemical energy to electrical energy in a single step. The initial bacterial and fungal counts were 7.4×106 and 1.1×103 CFU ml-1. Bacterial counts steadily increased with time to 1.40×107 CFU ml-1 while fungal count declined to 4.4×106 CFU ml-1 after day 60. The decline in microbial counts may be attributed to the time necessary for acclimatization of microbes to the anode. The genera identified were Bacillus, Citrobacter, Pseudomonas, Lactobacillus, Escherichia coli, Aspergillus and Rhizopus. These microbes acted as primary and secondary utilizers, utilizing carbon and other organics of the wastewater. Chemical parameters indicated that the biochemical oxygen demand decreased from 91.4–23.2 mg/L, giving 75% while the chemical oxygen demand ranged from 243.1–235.2 mg/L, representing 3.3% reduction. Although, the metabolic activities of microbes were responsible for the observed degradation, leading to electricity, the overall power output depended on the distance between the anode and cathode ompartments, types of electrode materials and mediators and oxygen reaction at the cathode.


Dementia is a severe cognitive impairment that affects the health of older adults and creates a burden on their families and caretakers. This paper analyzes diverse hand-crafted features extracted from spoken languages and selects the most discriminative ones for dementia detection. Recently, the performance of dementia detection has been significantly improved by utilizing Transformer-based models that automatically capture the structural and linguistic properties of spoken languages. We investigate Transformer-based features and propose an end-to-end system for dementia detection. We also explore recent ASR and representation learning frameworks, such as Wav2vec 2.0 and Hubert, for transcribing a Cantonese corpus that contains recordings of older adults describing the rabbit story. We investigate using disfluency patterns (DP) in spontaneous speech to enhance the recognized word sequences for the Transformer-based feature extractor. Results show that fine-tuning the feature extractor using the enhanced word sequences can improve dementia detection performance.


Object for study is multicomponent media with the internal exchanged processes. Intrinsic inhomogeneities give rise to the remarkable/unusual nonlinear behaviors demonstrated by these media at quasistatic and dynamic mechanical loads. The purpose of this book is to describe the dynamic behaviors of there media in terms of physically motivated models. New method of structure diagnostics by means of the nonlinear waves is suggested. The research of nonlinear evolution equations is carried out. The special attention is focused on development of models for describing both stress-strain properties of sandstone under quasistatic loading and vibration resonance in sedimentary rocks. The important result is theoretical prediction of a dynamic effect analogous to the known quasistatic effect of hysteresis with discrete memory. The models describe the experimental results and can be applied for future research. The reader may find some suggestions for future research herein, and open up questions that may be especially useful for young scientists. I hope that the reader will receive a more or less objective picture of the current state of the art of the wave dynamic of the structured media.


Interaction of mothers and their preschool children could benefit as a stimulation of children's letter recognition at home. This research is aimed to explore how mothers interact and used learning media in stimulating children's early literacy skills. Data was collected by observation and interview. There were three dyad mother-children participated in this research, each of them using flash card, story book, and exercise book as learning media to introduce letters.  The children were 2-5 years old and they lived in Surakarta. The result showes that during interaction, mothers gave scaffolding to their children and encouraged children to learn. While learning media supported the stimulating interaction and children early literacy skills. However children were still moody in responding to early literacy stimulation. How the findings are compared to Prophet Muhammad suggestion in children education were discussed. In conclusion, all of participants applied the interaction pattern from the Prophet Guidance and stimulated by their own in different ways.
Keywords: mother- child interaction, the introduction of  literacy, learning media.


A new exponentially convergent algorithm is proposed for an abstract the first order differential equation with unbounded operator coefficient possessing a variable domain. The algorithm is based on a generalization of the Duhamel integral for vector-valued functions. This technique translates the initial problem to a system of integral equations. Then the system is approximated with exponential accuracy. The theoretical results are illustrated by examples associated with the heat transfer boundary value problems. AMS Subject Classification: 65J10, 65M12, 65M15, 46N20, 46N40, 47N20, 47N40


The location and structure of the septal nectaries in the flowers of Allium aflatunense B. Fedtsch. were studied. Light and scanning electron microscopy were used for examination. It has been shown that the septal nectaries are located in the lower part of the ovary and in the gynophore on which the ovary is borne. Nectar is secreted through the single-layered epidermis surrounding three nectary slits and nectar release occurs through three openings located at the base of the gynophore, which are the outlets of the ducts connected to the nectary slits. The expanded and fused bases of the stamen filaments and the tepals participate in secondary nectar presentation. In the flowers of Allium aflatunense , numerous purple elements: tepals, filaments, style and pedicle, perform the role of a colour attractant. On the intensely green ovary, there occur glistening conical outgrowths of epidermal cells, which may also function as signal attractants.


Severe heat stress causes protein denaturation in various cellular compartments. If Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells grown at 24 degrees C are preconditioned at 37 degrees C, proteins denatured by subsequent exposure to 48-50 degrees C can be renatured when the cells are allowed to recover at 24 degrees C. Conformational repair of vital proteins is essential for survival, because gene expression is transiently blocked after the thermal insult. Refolding of cytoplasmic proteins requires the Hsp104 chaperone, and refolding of lumenal endoplasmic reticulum (ER) proteins requires the Hsp70 homologue Lhs1p. We show here that conformational repair of heat-damaged glycoproteins in the ER of living yeast cells required functional Hsp104. A heterologous enzyme and a number of natural yeast proteins, previously translocated and folded in the ER and thereafter denatured by severe heat stress, failed to be refolded to active and secretion-competent structures in the absence of Hsp104 or when an ATP-binding site of Hsp104 was mutated. During recovery at 24 degrees C, the misfolded proteins persisted in the ER, although the secretory apparatus was fully functional. Hsp104 appears to control conformational repair of heat-damaged proteins even beyond the ER membrane.


South-East European countries continue to suffer from wide-spread and deeply rooted corruption. This article is concerned with the social and economic sources of corruption and disrespect for the rule of law in the Republic of Croatia (rc), with particular attention being paid to tax evasion. Although the government of the rc has expressed a determination to undertake measures against corruption and tax evasion, it faces criticism that the fight against these social evils is not being given sufficient political support and respect. While it is clear that in the run up to joining the eu the rc has enacted different laws and institutions targeted towards the reduction of corruption; a serious problem remains in the low level of law enforcement. Croatia's ineffective legal system and a lack of transparency have consequently presented significant challenges to investors. Moreover, the fight against corruption is often hampered by an inefficient public administration and a lack of intra-governmental coordination.


Herbal remedies are more acceptable in the view that they are safe with fewer side effects than the synthetic ones. Herbal formulations have more demanded in the market. Inflammatory diseases including different types of rheumatic diseases are major cause of morbidity of the working force throughout the world. This has been called the 'King of human miseries'. The present work deals with the Development and Eva luation of Poly-Herbal Anti-inflammatory Formulation containing alcoholic extract of Vitex negundo leaves, Boswellia serrata, Berberis aristata & wintergreen oil. The gel was prepared using polymer carbopol 940 (1% w/v), propylene glycol 400, triethanolamine, propyl paraben, methyl paraben and required amount of distilled water. Various conc. of extract were taken for formulations (F1 to F3). Prepared formulations (F1 to F3) were evaluated for various parameters like colour, appearance, consistency, viscocity, pH, spreadability, stability along with anti-inflammatory activity by using model carageenan induce paw edema in rats. F3 formulation was found optimum for all the parameter.


BACKGROUND AND AIMS
Lomatium dissectum (Apiaceae) is a perennial, herbaceous plant of wide distribution in Western North America. At the time of dispersal, L. dissectum seeds are dormant and have under-developed embryos. The aims of this work were to determine the requirements for dormancy break and germination, to characterize the type of seed dormancy, and to determine the effect of dehydration after embryo growth on seed viability and secondary dormancy.

METHODS
The temperature requirements for embryo growth and germination were investigated under growth chamber and field conditions. The effect of GA(3) on embryo growth was also analysed to determine the specific type of seed dormancy. The effect of dehydration on seed viability and induction of secondary dormancy were tested in seeds where embryos had elongated about 4-fold their initial length. Most experiments examining the nature of seed dormancy were conducted with seeds collected at one site in two different years. To characterize the degree of variation in dormancy-breaking requirements among seed populations, the stratification requirements of seeds collected at eight different sites were compared.

KEY RESULTS
Embryo growth prior to and during germination occurred at temperatures between 3 and 6 degrees C and was negligible at stratification temperatures of 0.5 and 9.1 degrees C. Seeds buried in the field and exposed to natural winter conditions showed similar trends. Interruption of the cold stratification period by 8 weeks of dehydration decreased seed viability by about 30 % and induced secondary dormancy in the remaining viable seeds. Comparison of the cold stratification requirements of different seed populations indicates that seeds collected from moist habitats have longer cold stratification requirements that those from semiarid environments.

CONCLUSIONS
Seeds of L. dissectum have deep complex morphophysiological dormancy. The requirements for dormancy break and germination reflect an adaptation to trigger germination in late winter.


The amount of stress a person experiences today in every field of work and life is overwhelming. And during times as these, the individual experiences a need to be understood. He looks up to the leader/the boss/the person in charge of understanding, counseling and wisdom, believing that the leader has the caliber to strengthen and build. Thus, in the present time above all the leadership styles: charismatic leader, servant leader, transformational leader etc. the empathetic leadership style stands out. What is an empathetic leader or rather who is an empathetic leader or Do we need an empathetic leader are the questions which have been tried to be answered. A survey was taken to decipher the leadership style most expected to be in a leader. The characteristics of effective leader, include honesty and integrity, compassion, motivation, self-confidence, thinking skills, expertise, and flexibility were found to be commonly expected to be found in a leader.


This essay examines a highly popular comic series published in Spain between 1969 and 1970 which focused on Felix Rodríguez de la Fuente (1928–1980), a prominent and influential naturalist and media icon, as main character. These comics constitute a remarkably illustrative example of the use of popular media in processes of construction of natural history knowledge. Situated in the complex final years of Franco's regime, they allow us to probe the combined role of science, media, and celebrity in the construction of a visual environmental culture through storytelling strategies designed to engage young audiences in naturalist-like practices.


Nanoporous anorthic-phase Sn3O4 nanosheets are successfully fabricated via a hydrothermal process without any additives. With the pH value of the precursor increasing from 2.0 to 11.8, the valence of the precursor changes from mixed valence (the ratio of Sn2+ to Sn4+ is 2.7:1) to pure bivalent, and the product transformed from Sn3O4 to SnO mesocrystals. When doping SbCl3 to the alkaline precursor, the valence of the precursor shows mixed valence with the ratio of Sn2+ to Sn4+ being 2.6:1 and Sn3O4 is synthesized after the hydrothermal process. The valence state of Sn species in the precursor is the key factor of the formation of Sn3O4. The synthesis mechanism is discussed and proposed. These experimental results expand the knowledge base that can be used to guide technological applications of intermediate tin oxide materials.


monly encountered, and various shapes and sizes have been described. Although many foreign bodies can be extracted safely, some patients require hospitalization and surgery [1–3]. We report the case of a 54-year-old, symptom-free man who was admitted to the emergency department for a retained large rectal vibrator, which had been inserted in a reverse fashion during sexual activity. An abdominal radiograph showed a well-delineated vibrator (length 21 cm; diameter 35mm) in the rectosigmoid junction with no evidence of bowel perforation (●" Fig. 1). After several unsuccessful transanal attempts to remove the foreign body, the patient was referred to the digestive endoscopy unit. Under deep sedation, a 13-mm endoscope (ES-250WE5, Fujinon Inc., Saitama, Japan) was inserted, which showed the blunt distal tip of the vibrator (●" Fig. 2). However, all attempts to ensnare it with a variety of polypectomy snares, and an inflatedwireguided 20-mm balloon dilator (CRE; Microvasive, Boston Scientific, Massachusetts, USA) to gently pull out the foreign body, were ineffective. After substituting the endoscope with another with a diameter of 10mm (EG-201FP; Fujinon, Inc., Saitama, Japan), in order to reach beyond the proximal tip of the vibrator, a guide wire, under endoscopic view, was inserted over the foreign body. Then the scope was removed and a 40-mm balloon dilator (Rigiflex; Microvasive, Boston Scientific, Massachusetts, USA) was inserted over the wire. The balloon was inflated and gently retracted while guiding the distal tip of the vibrator with a finger to successfully retrieve it. A check sigmoidoscopy after extraction showed a large superficial mucosa injury, however, the patient was discharged 48 hours later without clinical evidence of complications. To the best of our knowledge, this report is the first to describe the removal of a large, smooth foreign body from the rectum using a 40-mm, large balloon dilator.


World class sportspersons must travel widely for international competitions and sports camps. As a result, they will suVer from circadian dyschronism, more popularly known as "jet lag" if they fly across several time zones to the east or west. Normally, humans work in the daytime and sleep at night. This pattern is due not only to a behavioural response to the rhythmic environment, but also to a "body clock". The body clock is situated in the base of the brain (the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nuclei) and exerts its eVects throughout the body by producing daily rhythms in core temperature, plasma melatonin and adrenaline, and the sympathetic nervous system. During the daytime, the body clock facilitates physical and mental activity by raising body temperature and plasma adrenaline, so harmonising with our behaviour and environment. In the evening these variables are lowered in preparation for sleep. At the same time, plasma melatonin levels rise and contribute to the increase in fatigue. 3 In the second half of the night, the body clock is responsible for preparing the body for waking by reversing these changes. The synchronisation between the environment and body clock is produced in several ways. Firstly, bright light directly stimulates an individual and suppresses melatonin secretion, so removing its hypnotic eVect. Secondly, bright light and melatonin can independently adjust the phase of the body clock. Light signals falling on the retina between 0500 and 1100 hours, that is just after the temperature trough, advance the body clock, and those falling before the trough (2100–0300 hours) delay it. The size of the shift is related also to the logarithm of light intensity, domestic lighting producing changes of up to two hours. Melatonin ingestion in the morning produces a delay, and in the afternoon and early evening an advance, of the body clock ; however, the detailed times of ingestion of melatonin to produce the largest phase shifts are not as clearly known as for light. The rhythmicity due to the body clock is of direct relevance to athletes. 9 Muscle strength, adrenaline secretion, short term maximal power output, and self chosen work rate are all greatest at about 1800 hours; and at about this time also is the highest speed for mental performance involving reaction time and manual dexterity, and the perceived exertion for a given amount of exercise is least.Most personal best performances are set at this time. Flight across more than three time zones produces a problem because the body clock adjusts its phase only slowly, about one or two hours per day under normal circumstances. Until adjustment has occurred, the normal matching between the body clock and the environment will be lacking. Individuals will initially feel tired during the new daytime (at a time coincident with night on the time zone just left) and yet unable to sleep well during the new night (which will coincide with day in the time zone just left). 10 The loss of sleep will certainly aVect mood and powers of concentration adversely. This, coupled with attempting activities at a time perceived by the body clock as being night, will result in poorer training schedules and even competition results. 11 For competitors at the international level, most results indicate a poorer performance (of activities involving complex mental activity rather than physical strength), a feeling of lethargy, and a general loss of motivation. 13 In practice therefore advice to athletes concentrates on behaviour during travel itself, on training in the days immediately after the flight, and on methods to promote adjustment of the body clock. 11 During the flight, dehydration and stiVness should be avoided (by taking copious amounts of water and fruit juice, and by short walks and stretching exercises), and the times of taking naps and meals should be determined by habits in the new, rather than the old, time zone. Training programmes should be devised with the consideration that some of the new daytime will correspond to night in the time zone just left and that the athlete or games player will also be suVering from the eVects of sleep loss. Restricted training schedules and reduced levels of achievement should be expected by coach and athlete or player. Two obvious countermeasures to jet lag exist. The first is to promote sleep and alertness at the appropriate times; the second is to promote adjustment of the body clock to the new time zone. In both of these, melatonin may have an important role. It is well established that ingestion in the evening in the new time zone reduces the symptoms of jet lag, particularly sleeping diYculties. However, as with other hypnotics, there is the need to ensure also that the quality of sleep is suYcient and that alertness and mental performance after sleep are not impaired by any residual eVects of melatonin. The results of such studies have been contradictory ; a resolution of the position is awaited. The eVectiveness of melatonin after time zone transitions may instead, or in addition, arise from promoting adjustment of the body clock. 8 14 Good field data testing this possibility do not yet exist. Moreover, some recent laboratory studies do not support an important role for melatonin in causing a shift of all rhythms (as would be the case if the body clock itself were shifted), particularly if shifts due to light are present also. 20 The interaction between melatonin and light induced phase shifts requires further work. In brief, the eYcacy of melatonin in alleviating the fatigue associated with jet lag is not in dispute, but to what extent the beneficial eVects of melatonin extend to promoting performance and mood in the new daytime, and an appropriate adjustment of the body clock, is less clear. There are other doubts associated with the use of melatonin. It is not licensed in several areas of the world (including the United Kingdom), and the eVects of those preparations that are commercially available, which contain other substances in addition to melatonin, have not been examined in athletes and games players.Moreover, in some individuals, there are some adverse side eVects. The British Olympic Association has advised caution in the use of melatonin, particularly if individuals have not already established that it has beneficial eVects without adverse side eVects in their particular case. This advice seems the most reasonable at the present time.


ABSTRACT A journal overlap analysis was performed between the academic library databases Meteorological & Geoastrophysical Abstracts (MGA) and Web of Science. This overlap analysis determined that there are 1263 serial titles common to both Web of Science and MGA with a full 87 percent of the 1447 MGA journals/serials indexed in Web of Science. In all, 5.47 percent of Web of Science journals are indexed in MGA. The size of this overlap may have potential implications for library collections.


We report herein a newly developed domino reaction that facilitates the synthesis of new 1,5-dideoxy-1,5-iminoribitol iminosugar C-glycosides 7a-e and 8. The key intermediate in this approach is a six-membered cyclic sugar nitrone that is generated in situ and trapped by an alkene dipolarophile via a [2 + 3] cycloaddition reaction to give the corresponding isooxazolidines 10a-e in a "one-pot" protocol. The iminoribitol C-glycosides 7a-e and 8 were found to be modest β-galactosidase (bGal) inhibitors. However, compounds 7c and 7e showed "pharmacological chaperone" activity for mutant lysosomal bGal activity and facilitated its recovery in GM1 gangliosidosis patient fibroblasts by 2-6-fold.


Green initiatives are gaining importance in every walk of the life.  Libraries and librarians are also taking initiatives in supporting the 'Go Green' concept.  In this paper an attempt has made to know the whole concept of green library, areas to be converted into green zone, standards, initiatives of green movement, role of librarian, challenges, awards of green initiatives etc Keywords: Green Library, Green Librarian, Green initiatives Cite this Article Arati D Kabburi. Greening the Library for the betterment of mankind. Journal of Advancements in Library Sciences . 2019; 6(Special Issue 1): 406s–409s.


Accurate localization of the lesion with respect to functionally significant brain is essential to safe stereotactic radiosurgical dose planning. We report the use of functional MR imaging in 3 patients to identify critical areas of surrounding brain and to provide assistance with dose planning, especially with regard to shaping the peripheral isodose around the lesion. We used a functional MRI system employing a conventional 1.5-tesla MRI unit that can detect decreases in deoxyhemoglobin concentration occurring with performance of specific tasks. Two of the patients had supratentorial arteriovenous malformations and 1 patient had a recurrent parasagittal meningioma. Functional MRI provided information on the location of speech, motor, and sensory cortex in these patients. Radiosurgical dose plans were constructed that kept these cortical areas outside of the 30% isodose curves. We believe that the safety of supratentorial parenchymal radiosurgery will be enhanced by the localization of critical brain regions around the target.


RATIONALE
Respiratory support (non-invasive ventilation or high flow nasal cannula) applied at the time of extubation has been reported to reduce reintubation rates, but concerns regarding effectiveness have limited uptake into practice.

OBJECTIVES
To determine if providing post-extubation respiratory support to all patients undergoing extubation in a medical ICU would decrease the incidence of reintubation.

METHODS
We conducted a pragmatic, two-armed, cluster-crossover trial of adults undergoing extubation from invasive mechanical ventilation between October 1, 2017 and March 31, 2019 in the medical intensive care unit of an academic medical center. Patients were assigned to either protocolized post-extubation respiratory support (a respiratory therapist-driven protocol in which patients with suspected hypercapnia received non-invasive ventilation and patients without suspected hypercapnia received high flow nasal cannula) or usual care (post-extubation management at the discretion of treating clinicians). The primary outcome was reintubation within 96 hours of extubation.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS
A total of 751 patients were enrolled. Of the 359 patients assigned to protocolized support, 331 (92.2%) received post-extubation respiratory support, compared to 66 of 392 patients (16.8%) assigned to usual care, a difference driven by differential use of high flow nasal cannula (74.7% vs. 2.8%). A total of 57 patients (15.9%) in the protocolized support group experienced reintubation, compared to 52 patients (13.3%) in the usual care group (odds ratio, 1.23; 95% confidence interval, 0.82 to 1.84; P-value = 0.32).

CONCLUSIONS
Among a broad population of critically ill adults undergoing extubation from invasive mechanical ventilation at an academic medical center, protocolized post-extubation respiratory support, primarily characterized by an increase in the use of high flow nasal cannula, did not prevent reintubation, compared to usual care. Clinical trial registration available at www.clinicaltrials.gov, ID: NCT03288311.


As a religious belief, cultural imaginary and social world, Islam long remained unknown to many South Pacific societies. In densely populated Melanesian archipelagos like Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, concentrated since their independence on constructing national identities firmly rooted in Christianity, the introduction of Islam should be studied as a specifically postcolonial phenomenon. After several decades of sovereignty, some of these countries have nonetheless felt the need to reassert that hegemony of Christianity could admit of no national competition. However, with an intensification of the cultural consequences of globalization and secularization, they are going through social upheavals which are coupled with a moral crisis among older Christian denominations, confronted by the growing success of neo-Evangelical and Pentecostal churches.
Converting to Islam, in such a context, is a religious innovation of special interest for social sciences specialists, since it became involved, in these countries, in debates on politics of culture and identity. What is at stake in this issue is the ability of Islam to conform or not to past Melanesian experiences in indigenizing foreign cultural influences. The aim of this presentation is to question the reasons for the adherence encountered regionally by this new offer on the faith market in certain urban or rural contexts, when in other respects Islam has also been the object of real mistrust locally. In the light of useful materials from Vanuatu I will comment the role played by Islam in the region and suggest comparative viewpoints on the religious, cultural and political dynamics behind it.


Renal effects of arginine vasopressin and oxytocin were studied in conscious dogs, made water-diuretic by a waterload equivalent to 2% of body weight. Body water and content of sodium were maintained by separate servo-controlled infusions. Peptides were infused for 60 min at rates of 50 pg kg-1 min-1 (arginine vasopressin) or 1 ng kg-1 min-1 (oxytocin), either separately or combined. Infusions increased plasma arginine vasopressin to 1.9 +/- 0.2 (arginine vasopressin alone) and 1.8 +/- 0.3 pg kg-1 (arginine vasopressin plus oxytocin and plasma oxytocin to 72 +/- 5 (oxytocin alone) and 77 +/- 8 pg ml-1 (oxytocin plus arginine vasopressin). Arginine vasopressin or arginine vasopressin plus oxytocin increased urine osmolality similarly by a factor of 13, decreased urine flow to between 5 and 7% of control and decreased free water clearance. Oxytocin reduced urine flow and free water clearance and increased urine osmolality by a factor of 2. Oxytocin and arginine vasopressin separately increased excretion of sodium from 4 +/- 2 to 15 +/- 6 mumol min-1 and from 7 +/- 4 to 25 +/- 13 mumol min-1, respectively. Arginine vasopressin plus oxytocin led to a pronounced natriuresis (13 +/- 4 to 101 +/- 27 mumol min-1). Arginine vasopressin and arginine vasopressin plus oxytocin increased the excretion of potassium by a factor of 2.5. Oxytocin and arginine vasopressin plus oxytocin increased urinary Na+/K+ ratio by a factor of 3.7.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


We are carrying out a Spitzer Cycle 11 (2015-2016) Exploration Science program entitled NEOSurvey in which we are observing 597 known Near Earth Objects (NEOs) in 710 hours of observing time. Each object is observed at 4.5 microns. The primary goal of our program is to use a thermal model to create a catalog of NEO diameters and albedos that can be used for a wide range of science goals. From this catalog we will derive the size distribution of NEOs down to 100 meters and measure the compositional distribution of NEOs as a function of size. We include in our target list only objects that are too faint to be detected by NEOWISE. This catalog is therefore highly complementary to existing and forthcoming samples, and will complete a database of diameters and albedos for nearly 2000 NEOs (including results from our previous Spitzer program, ExploreNEOs, as well as objects observed by NEOWISE). We will present the status of the program and results to date, some nine months into the execution of the program. All observational and model results are published immediately online at nearearthobjects.nau.edu . Support for this work is provided by the Spitzer Science Center.


Investigations of the language behaviour of immigrant communities usually find that the degree of maintenance of the heritage language or shift to the language of the host country differs both between immigrant communities and between individuals. On the one hand, group comparisons between migrants and controls typically show signs of attrition among the experimental populations. On the other, investigations of individual linguistic development within one group of immigrants also show great variation between speakers where the degree of L1 maintenance or deterioration is concerned. Two decades ago, an explanation for such differences in L1 proficiency was proposed which invoked an interaction of two factors: time spent in emigration and amount of contact with the L1. In a study of Dutch migrants in France, De Bot, Gommans & Rossing (1991) established that there was a correlation between attrition effects in free speech and length of residence, but that this effect was only apparent for those speakers who had very little contact with their L1.The present investigation attempts to replicate this finding in a large-scale study of the attrition of L1 German in an L2 English and an L2 Dutch setting. It finds that, while length of residence has no explanatory validity when assessed across the entire population, a differential investigation of subgroups of speakers with different amounts of contact does show an impact of time with respect to performance on formal tasks, perceived foreign accent, and accuracy in free speech. Interestingly, with the exception of accuracy measures, this correlation obtains not only for those migrants who have the least contact with L1, but also for those with the most. It is argued that both very frequent and very infrequent use of the L1 can accelerate attrition, either through contact-induced change within a bilingual migrant community, or through lack of rehearsal.


This paper aims at evaluating the characteristics of the wakes periodically shed by the rotating bars of a spoked-wheel type wake generator installed upstream of a high-speed low Reynolds linear low-pressure turbine blade cascade. Due to the very high bar passing frequency obtained with the rotating wake generator (fbar = 2.4−5.6 kHz), a fast-response pressure probe equipped with a single 350 mbar absolute Kulite sensor has been used. In order to measure the inlet flow angle fluctuations, an angular aerodynamic calibration of the probe allowed the use of the virtual three-hole mode; additionally, yielding yaw corrected periodic total pressure, static pressure and Mach number fluctuations. The results are presented for four bar passing frequencies (fbar = 2.4/3.2/4.6/5.6 kHz), each tested at three isentropic inlet Mach numbers M1,is = 0.26/0.34/0.41 and for Reynolds numbers varying between Re1,is = 40,000 and 58,000, thus covering a wide range of engine representative flow coefficients (ϕ = 0.44−1.60). The measured wake characteristics show fairly good agreement with the theory of fixed cylinders in a cross-flow and the evaluated total pressure losses and flow angle variations generated by the rotating bars show fairly good agreement with theoretical results obtained from a control volume analysis.


As a philosopher and historian of science it strikes me how two mutually opposite kinds of retrospective accounts of the emergence of the Antarctic Treaty have evolved. There is the naive view, according to which the International Geophysical Year (IGY) and the Antarctic Treat (AT) simply succeeded because politics was entirely set to one side. And there is the cynical view, according to which both the IGY and the advent of the AT were a matter of politics all the way. Both of these views are untenable. Instead, I want to argue for a critical realist perspective that focuses on both the science and its geopolitical context.


This paper proposes to model fractional behaviors using Volterra equations. As fractional differentiation-based models that are commonly used to model such behaviors exhibit several drawbacks and are particular cases of Volterra equations (in the kernel definition), it appears legitimate in a modeling approach to work directly with Volterra equations. In this paper, a numerical method is thus developed to identify the kernel associated to a Volterra equation that describes the input–output behavior of a system. This method is used to model a lithium-ion cell using real data. The resulting model is compared to a fractional differentiation-based model with the same number of tunable parameters.


The article examines the problems of protecting information from unwanted access, which have tried to solve throughout the existence of mankind. Nowadays, the widespread use of electronic means of communication, electronic eavesdropping and fraud, a variety of computer viruses and other electronic hazards, electronic systems place high demands on the protection of information. Thus, the study of digital steganography is an urgent task. There are two main areas of hidden data transmission: cryptography and steganography. The purpose of cryptography is to restrict access to information by encrypting it. Unlike cryptography, steganography allows you to hide the very fact of the presence of hidden data. The study examined the main methods of covert data transmission using computer steganography, namely: the method of using system-reserved areas of digital data formats, methods of hiding information by special formatting of text files, which include the use of word, sentence or paragraph shift, selection certain positions of letters in the text or the use of properties of system fields that are not displayed on the screen, the method of using simulation functions, methods of using unused disk sectors, the method of using redundant media files (audio, photo and video). Currently, due to the growth of information and increasing the bandwidth of communication channels, the issue of hiding information in video sequences is becoming increasingly important. The transmission of digital video in recent years is a typical event and does not arouse suspicion. In the course of the research the peculiarities of hiding information in video files are considered, the comparison of existing algorithms of computer video steganography is made. The task is to develop your own algorithm for embedding information in the blue color channel of video files. The object of research is the transfer of hidden data in digital media files. The subject of research is the transmission of hidden data in the video stream. The purpose of research is to review the subject area, to examine the available methods of embedding information in media files in general and specifically in video files, to identify the advantages and disadvantages of existing algorithms, to develop their own algorithm of video steganography based on previously obtained research results. Research methods - methods of information theory, probability theory and mathematical statistics; methods of digital processing of signals, static images and video files; methods of vector analysis. The results of research - an overview of the features of hiding information in video files, compared existing algorithms of computer video steganography.


Article 77 of the Union Customs Code (UCC) sets out the chargeable event giving rise to a customs debt on importation, when it occurs and who is liable. This article discusses in depth the circle of debtors, in particular the persons providing false information of which they knew or should have known that the information was false and based on that information customs declarations have been drawn up due to which import duties have (partially) not been collected.
Article 77 UCC sets out the chargeable event giving rise to a customs debt on importation, when it occurs and who is liable (Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 October 2013 laying down the Union Customs Code). This provision is of utmost importance as it directly impacts the relation between customs authorities and international traders and thereby influences international trade. If the application of this provision is predictable, because the provision is clear, international traders can sufficiently assess their trade risks inherent to importing goods into the European Union (EU). Such legal certainty is beneficial for the economic development of the EU. It is in the interest of both customs authorities and persons dealing in international trade that such a fundamental provision is clearly defined. But that does not seem to be the case as will be argued in this article. Who is liable has required (and perhaps still requires) clarification by the European Court of Justice (ECJ). This contribution attempts to provide an overview of the circle of debtors.


Ivermectin is a new antifilarial drug that can be given in a single oral dose. To compare the efficacy and side effects of ivermectin with those of diethylcarbamazine, the standard antifilarial treatment, we conducted a randomized, double-blind trial in 40 South Indian men with lymphatic filariasis caused by Wuchereria bancrofti. Patients were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: a single low dose of ivermectin (mean [+/- SE], 21.3 +/- 0.7 micrograms per kilogram of body weight; n = 13) followed by placebo for 12 days; a single high dose of ivermectin (mean, 126.2 +/- 3.7 micrograms per kilogram; n = 13) followed by placebo for 12 days; or diethylcarbamazine for 13 days (6 mg per kilogram per day for 12 days preceded by 3 mg per kilogram for 1 day; n = 14). Eleven patients were initially assigned to receive placebo and after five days were reassigned to one of the three treatment groups. At day 12 there was complete clearance of microfilariae from the blood in all 26 men who took ivermectin and in 11 of the 14 men who took diethylcarbamazine. At six months the numbers of detectable microfilariae (as a percentage of the pretreatment values) were 18.3 percent after low-dose ivermectin and 19.5 percent after high-dose ivermectin, as compared with 6.0 percent after diethylcarbamazine (P less than 0.05). The side effects were confined to the first five days and were similar in the three treatment groups. We conclude that in lymphatic filariasis, the clinical response to a single dose of ivermectin compares favorably with that after the standard 12-day course of diethylcarbamazine. Given the practical advantages of single-dose administration, ivermectin should become a useful medication for the control of bancroftian filariasis.