The absent southern offensive – Rundstedt's intractable overextension On 28 August Mussolini joined Hitler on a flight to Uman' in the Ukraine for an inspection of the newly arrived CSIR ( Corpo di Sedizione Italiano in Russia ; Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia). The Italian dictator had been Hitler's guest since 25 August, but little of real substance had been decided by their summit. The visit was far more important for its highly symbolic nature. The recent meeting between Churchill and Roosevelt and the subsequent publication of the Atlantic Charter necessitated a spirited show of Axis unity. There was also the current joint action by Soviet and British forces in occupying Iran, which made the entry of Italian troops on the eastern front an opportunity for convenient riposte. Upon their arrival in Uman' the dictators were given an outline of military operations in Army Group South, where Italian troops would now be employed. Rundstedt, Kleist and Lohr all gave reports. Hitler and Mussolini then set out to observe a previously arranged march-past by Italian troops. The divergent impressions of this event could not have been more contrasting. According to one witness, Mussolini took the salute and cheers of his troops 'like Caesar in person' and on the return journey he made extravagant promises to Hitler that more divisions would be sent to the eastern front 'and naturally only the best ones'. While Mussolini extolled in the martial glory that he so fervently coveted, German impressions were adversely influenced by the perceived lack of professionalism and motorization within the CSIR. The OKH had initially protested against the deployment of Italian divisions owing to the additional demands they would place on the overstretched railways. Now that the Italian troops had arrived, Keitel, who accompanied Hitler on the visit to Army Group South, described what he saw as a 'boundless disappointment'. Elaborating further, Keitel wrote, 'Their officers were far too old and made a sorry sight, and could only have had a bad effect on the value of such dubious auxiliaries. How were half-solders like these supposed to stand up to the Russians'? Hitler expressed a similar sentiment when he remarked to his officers that the Italians could offer very little on the eastern front. Indeed, according to his Luftwaffe adjutant, Hitler claimed they possessed no fighting strength and that their contribution was really only important for the purposes of morale. Even more ominously, the former diplomat Ulrich von Hassell noted in his diary three weeks after Mussolini's visit that there was now 'great concern about Italy'. Hassell was one of the few men inside Hitler's Germany who saw matters clearly. Informed by a variety of outside sources, Hassell was hostile to the Nazi party and an active figure in the resistance movement. His unclouded perspective allowed him to draw grave, if realistic, conclusions about the future. On 20 September Hassell wrote, 'Enough information about the Mussolini visit has filtered through to show clearly how vulnerable our situation is, and how every chance for a reasonable peace goes to the devil as soon as the other side sees victory ahead.'


Spatial Database Systems are very large databases requiring storage in disk devices. The join process between two relations that is based on spatial nature of the attributes needs repeated and redundant disk accesses. This necessitates the implementation of join index which accelerates the join processing between two relations and it incurs high over head. This work studies the heuristics that are being in use for join processing from the context of optimal page access of disk I/O and that of spatial join processing with join index. The study presents a summary of heuristics that are implemented for join processing of spatial relations. Spatial-Queries modeled with spatial statistical measures provide an indication of spatial clusters. This model with an appropriate clustering algorithm identifies clusters that would require page re-accesses. An Optimal Page Access Sequence can reduce the page re-accesses and thus bring down the I/O cost of the join process. The work evaluates the performance of the statistical measure Moran's I to model spatial queries and identified to have a better performance than the existing measure Ripley's K function.


As the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for delivering instruction materials increases, the term of e-learning has become widespread. Many educational institutes and universities in Indonesia have tried to adopt the e-learning system as parts of their efforts to foster teaching and learning processes. The quality of student activities can be enhanced through the effective use of e-learning. The Yogyakarta State University (YSU) Indonesia has been implementing the e-learning system called BESMART since 2006. It was developed using the Learning Management Systems of Moodle. The implementation of the e-learning system in some schools and universities in Indonesia has several obstacles such as low bandwidth of internet connection, lacks of teacher's computer skills, limited numbers of accessing terminals, no supporting policy for implementing e-learning methods and other administrative stuff. The problems could be solved by the implementation of a blended learning.

This paper will discuss about the integration of ICT into teaching and learning process by the implementation of blended learning in order to increase the quality of student learning activities at the YSU Indonesia. The blended learning is a combination of e-learning and traditional classrooms. It can be the accommodation of the best elements of e-learning contents consisting of items like simulations, virtual laboratory, and online discussions into a face-to-face learning. The student activities that can be enhanced by the effective use of blended learning include online collaboration and discussion, online quizzes and assignments, online inquiry and explorations, as well as any individual activities such as e-reflections, e-journal, blogs, e-portfolios. Other conventional face-to-face activities can still be incorporated in the blended learning such as tutorials, practicum, project work and laboratory work.


Studies of Australian perceptions of Muslims and Islam tend to be based on research into media representations of these themes. Additionally, most research on attitudes pertaining to social cohesion and security in the post-9/11 environment concentrates on the opinions of minority groups on these matters. The following study is drawn from materials extracted from focus group discussions relating to Islam, multiculturalism and security that took place with 119 Australians from so-called ethnic and religious majority groups (European descended, and identifying with Judaeo-Christian traditions or having no religious affiliation) in selected metropolitan and rural/regional centres of the state of Victoria in 2007–2008. This article is guided by the following research questions: How can 'mainstream' Australian attitudes towards Muslims be categorized? What concerns 'mainstream' Australians most about Muslims? Can these attitudes be considered to be Islamophobic? If not, how else may we classify these attitudes? Although some participants voiced very strong, critical and at times unflattering and potentially antagonistic opinions of Muslims, most contributors were guardedly optimistic that current tensions with and controversies surrounding Australia's Muslims would subside, and that Muslims would soon become well established within Australian society, as previous generations of migrants have since World War II.


This paper first reviews a recent report[1], showing that the volume and stress ensembles, often used separately in the statistical mechanics of stable granular systems, are interdependent and must both be used to compute expectation values. A reformulation of the combined partition function in 2D allows us to calculate exactly a number of structural and stressrelated expectation values. It is shown that structural measureables may depend on the angoricity and stress-based quantities on the compactivity, demonstrating that the compactivity and angoricity are not conjugate variables of volume and force moment, as commonly believed. We review a derivation of an equipartition principle, which makes it possible to determine the compactivity experimentally. We conclude by deriving an equation of state.


who are determined to use this language creatively, i.e., among other things, honestly.' Most of Lutze's interviewees chose a Hindi medium, and a particularly interesting by-product of the English versions given here is the way they illustrate the use of code-switching, the use of English words and phrases in an otherwise Hindi context being indicated typographically. Some of the responses could, perhaps, have been presented in an abridged form without prejudice to their argument: but an editor who maintains transliterations such as ' Nesnal Pablisimg Hdus ', faithful to a fault, is unlikely to take liberties with anything as sacrosanct as the recorded word! The field-work on which this book is based took place in 1972-73. The writers chosen for inclusion represent three groups: those born before 1921 (who had reached maturity before independence), a transitional group born 192135, and a group born after 1935, who came to maturity in an already independent India. Four writers—Yaspal, Bharatbhusan Agraval, Renu, and Sarvesvar Dayal Saksena—are alas no longer available for interview, and to them the book is dedicated; the fact of their passing underlines the worth of a book such as this in which their views are recorded, and which must surely be one of the most instructive studies yet to appear in the field of modern Hindi literature.


Three years ago, John Cowley, on behalf of Dawson's, agreed to provide funding for an annual one‐day research seminar to be held in the Department of Library and Information Studies at Loughborough University. When, in 1989, we began to plan for the third seminar in the series, I suggested we should devote it to workstations. It seemed timely, since they were becoming increasingly a topic of discussion within the information profession. It was, however, immediately pointed out to me by my better‐informed colleagues that 'workstation' was a very ill‐defined term. It would really be necessary to specify more precisely what 'workstation' meant in this context. For this reason, the seminar, held on 26 June 1990, was Finally entitled, 'Integrated software workstations in library and information work'. Even given this limitation, the papers presented in this issue demonstrate just how wide a range of activities can be brought under the 'workstation' umbrella.


The hyperfine interaction constants of the triplet (3d2)8P states of Sell are calculated using Rayieigh-Schrodinger perturbation method. The core polarizations are included to all orders using a recurrence formula and the correlations to low orders. The results are compared with experimental data and MCDF calculations of Young et al. It is found that the core polarization (especially the spin polarization) has drastic effects on the magnetic dipole interaction constant. Our results for constant A (MHz) are-116.667 and -12.442 for 3P1 and 3P2 states respectively, that of the experiments are-107.3(6) and -27.7(8), whereas the MCDF calculations of Young et al. obtained-1.8 and 85.9.


In a small electron storage ring, such as the Hefei Light Source (HLS) ring, the newly generated ions, which can not escape from the beam potential and then are trapped from turn to turn, will lead to the beam instability. The ions created by the leading bunches can perturb the trailing bunches and also themselves during their subsequent passage, which will make the amplitude of beam oscillation be damped and anti-damped periodically. A computer simulation based on the strong-weak model shows a good agreement with our analytical model using the linear theory.


Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) with index modulation (IM), OFDM-IM, is considered as a potential enabling technology for 5G and beyond wireless networks due to its advantages compared to OFDM. This paper firstly examines and compares the error performance of uncoded OFDM-IM and OFDM under barrage jamming (BJ) and partial band jamming (PBJ) attacks. In addition, we propose a novel arbitrary jamming (AJ) model and extend our analysis to this attack. We demonstrate that uncoded OFDM-IM is more resistant against jamming attacks when compared to uncoded OFDM. In the OFDM-IM system, we derive an upper bound for the average bit error probability under AJ attack to verify our simulation results. The achievable rate of OFDM-IM under jamming attack is also investigated. We then apply low-density parity-check (LDPC) coding to further enhance the strength of the system under a heavy jamming attack. The optimum log-likelihood ratios for the OFDM-IM system in the case of jamming attack are calculated. We compare and analyze the bit error rate (BER) performances of LDPC coded OFDM and OFDM-IM for different jamming types, code rates, code block lengths, and code decoding algorithms through extensive computer simulations. At high code rates under jamming attack, we prove that the coded OFDM-IM has BER performance superiority. Moreover, we demonstrate that coded OFDM-IM is more resistant against imperfect channel state information than coded OFDM under BJ. We also compare the performances of LDPC coded OFDM-IM and the higher-order OFDM-IM (HO-OFDM-IM), an enhanced version of OFDM-IM.


In recent years, the low power technology has brought up a great impact on portable electronic devices. As for the mobile device, the low-power circuit design becomes the primary issue. At present, TFT LCD has been widely used in handheld mobile devices. In terms of the overall system power consumption, TFT LCD power consumes 20% ∼ 45% of the total system power depletion due to different applications. However, the most power consumption of TFT LCD is backlight dimming. Therefore, controlling the backlight current can reduce the overall power consumption. However, the drawback is that the reduction of brightness and contrast may cause significantly changes in visual experience. In order to reduce the power consumption and eliminate the changes of visions; how to reduce current, adjust brightness and contrast in accordance with the current image is worthy to investigate it.


Nizatidine is a gastroprotective drug with a short biological half-life and narrow absorption window. This study aimed at developing floating tablets of nizatidine using various HPMC viscosity grades, namely K4M, K15M, Carbopol 934P, Sodium alginate and sodium carboxy methyl cellulose. Directly compressed tablets revealed an excellent uniformity in hardness, thickness and weight and nizatidine was evenly distributed within the matrix floating tablets. Buoyancy study revealed the tablets remain buoyant for more than 12 h. Among all the formulations, F12 formulation containing 3:1 ratio of HPMC K15M and Carbopol 934P was found to be promising, which showed a floating lag time less than 5min and floating duration of more than 12 hours. It showed constant drug release up to 12 hours and good bio adhesion strength. All the designed formulations displayed zero order release kinetics and drug release follows non-Fickian diffusion mechanism.


: Perovskite CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 is an ionic crystal with suitable band gap and conductivity for optoelectronic applications. The sensitivity of the CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 crystal and its derivatives to chemical composition, film-forming process, and even moisture lead to difficulties in evaluating its electronic structure and redox behavior using electrochemical techniques. Nevertheless, full understanding of the electrochemical behavior of the perovskite crystal is certainly beneficial for tuning its redox properties and chemical stability, especially for device fabrication. We show that the band structure of CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 can be successfully evaluated based on electrochemical square wave voltammetry. The energy level of the bottom of the conduction band of the perovskite crystal was determined directly from the onset reduction potential with reference to the onset oxidation potential of ferrocene, and estimated to be − 3.56 eV; the top of the valence band, at –5.07 eV, was determined indirectly after taking into consideration the bandgap, because the oxidation current of the iodide ions shields that corresponding to the valence band of the CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 crystal. The overlap of the oxidation currents from the iodide ions and the valence band of the crystal suggests that there are excess iodide ions in CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 not involved in the development of the valence band. In addition, the alternating current (AC) impedance spectra of CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 indicate that the iodide ions are not completely immobilized. These imply that the defects in the crystal are related to the iodide ions to a large extent. The electrochemistry of CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 in an organic electrolyte reveals its coupling degradation during the redox processes in square wave and cyclic voltammetry. The degradation reactions result from the reduction of lead ions and oxidation of iodide ions in the perovskite crystal. In electrochemical reduction, along with the reduction that occurs in the conduction band, the lead ions in the crystal are reduced to metallic lead, which introduces a phase change in the crystal, as revealed in cyclic voltammetry; the metallic lead can be re-oxidized electrochemically. In the case of electrochemical oxidation, the iodide ions, as well as the valence band of CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 , lose electrons. The electrochemically generated iodine diffuses into the organic electrolyte gradually, which results in the loss of iodide ions in the crystal. Such loss of iodide ions continues during the cyclic redox reaction. Apparently, the electrochemical investigations on perovskite CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 show that the crystal is extremely reactive during the redox process; attention should be paid on controlling the excess iodide ions and the irreversible phase change resulting from the oxidation of lead ions.


It has been largely acknowledged that pulmonary vascular disease (PVD) and congenital heart disease (CHD) are closely related. This link has been established for more than a century now, and is based on careful observations and hard scienti ic work of many outstanding investigators. Much of the current knowledge on the pathobiology of pulmonary hypertension (the clinical and hemodynamic expression of PVD) is based on detailed analysis of lung biopsy specimens collected over decades during surgical repair of congenital cardiac anomalies (or lung tissue obtained at autopsy).[1-4] From isolated medial hypertrophy of pulmonary arteries to complex dilated lesions, necrotizing arteritis, and pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis, all types of vascular abnormalities known to be present in pulmonary arterial hypertension in general (PAH) and idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) have been extensively described in PAH-CHD.


The judge plays an important role in the judiciary because the judge has the authority to examine, hear and decide on a case so that he is obliged to look for values of justice in the application of progressive and responsive laws, so the judge in issuing decisions must pay attention to various considerations. Article 183 of the Criminal Procedure Code contains several elements of judges' considerations when making decisions. In the case of an acquittal, the judge needs carefulness and carefulness to consider so that a matter must be truly convincing. This research is a doctrinal research method that is taking the opinions of experts regarding free decisions and through legal products in the form of legislation and judges' decisions. The conclusion of this paper is First, the basic consideration of the judge in passing a free verdict (vrijspraak) is not fulfilling the minimum limit of evidence by the public prosecutor so that the judge will release the defendant because the evidence that can blame the defendant is insufficient and based on the elaboration of the writer above, the Supreme Court allows legal efforts to overturn an acquittal (vrijspraak) namely an appeal on an acquittal, but not all verdicts requested for appeal are always accepted by the Supreme Court.


Objective: To determine the prevalence of headache 3 and 12 months after pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods: This is a prospective cohort study of children ages 5 to 17 years in which we analyzed the prevalence of headache 3 and 12 months after mild TBI (mTBI; n = 402) and moderate/severe TBI (n = 60) compared with controls with arm injury (AI; n = 122). Results: The prevalence of headache 3 months after injury was significantly higher after mTBI than after AI overall (43% vs 26%, relative risk [RR]: 1.7 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2–2.3]), in adolescents (13–17 years; 46% vs 25%, RR: 1.8 [95% CI: 1.1–3.1]), and in girls (59% vs 24%, RR: 2.4 [95% CI: 1.4–4.2]). The prevalence of headache at 3 months was also higher after moderate/severe TBI than AI in younger children (5–12 years; 60% vs 27%; RR: 2.0 [95% CI: 1.2–3.4]). Twelve months after injury, TBI was not associated with a significantly increased frequency of headache. However, girls with mTBI reported serious headache (≥ 5 of 10 pain scale rating) more often than controls (27% vs 10%, RR: 2.2 [95% CI: 0.9–5.6]). Conclusions: Pediatric TBI is associated with headache. A substantial number of children suffer from headaches months after their head injury. The prevalence of headache during the year after injury is related to injury severity, time after injury, age, and gender. Girls and adolescents appear to be at highest risk of headache in the months after TBI.


Summary
1Classic evolutionary models interpret ageing as a cost of reproduction, but evolutionary research has thus far largely neglected the conceptual links between the evolution of ageing and a key mode of selection on male and female reproductive strategies – sexual selection and sexual conflict.
2We synthesize ideas and evidence linking sex and ageing, and make the case that a focus on this fascinating problem will ultimately lead to a more complete understanding of both the evolution of ageing and the evolution of sexual strategies.
3The primary and secondary differentiation of male and female reproductive strategies is expected to produce sex-specific optima for traits that affect longevity and ageing rate, often favouring a 'live fast, die young' strategy in males, relative to females, although numerous exceptions to this pattern are observed and sex-differences in ageing rate, in particular, remain poorly understood.
4Conversely, environmental factors that influence life expectancy or ageing rate can thereby determine the magnitude or even sign of sexual selection.
5Sexual conflict is expected to displace the sexes from their sex-specific life-history optima through sexually antagonistic interactions, as well as sex-specific selection on loci expressed in both sexes.
6Despite the availability of interesting and testable hypotheses linking sexual selection and ageing, relevant empirical studies are remarkably sparse, and the complex relation between sex, mortality rate and ageing remains poorly understood.


Abstract Objective: Diabetes is a so-called ambulatory care sensitive condition. It is assumed that by appropriate and timely primary care, hospital admissions for complications of such conditions can be avoided. This study examines whether differences between countries in diabetes-related hospitalization rates can be attributed to differences in the organization of primary care in these countries. Design: Data on characteristics of primary care systems were obtained from the QUALICOPC study that includes surveys held among general practitioners and their patients in 34 countries. Data on avoidable hospitalizations were obtained from the OECD Health Care Quality Indicator project. Negative binomial regressions were carried out to investigate the association between characteristics of primary care and diabetes-related hospitalizations. Setting: A total of 23 countries. Subjects: General practitioners and patients. Main outcome measures: Diabetes-related avoidable hospitalizations. Results: Continuity of care was associated with lower rates of diabetes-related hospitalization. Broader task profiles for general practitioners and more medical equipment in general practice were associated with higher rates of admissions for uncontrolled diabetes. Countries where patients perceive better access to care had higher rates of hospital admissions for long-term diabetes complications. There was no association between disease management programmes and rates of diabetes-related hospitalization. Hospital bed supply was strongly associated with admission rates for uncontrolled diabetes and long-term complications. Conclusions: Countries with elements of strong primary care do not necessarily have lower rates of diabetes-related hospitalizations. Hospital bed supply appeared to be a very important factor in this relationship. Apparently, it takes more than strong primary care to avoid hospitalizations. Key points Countries with elements of strong primary care do not necessarily have lower rates of diabetes-related avoidable hospitalization. Hospital bed supply is strongly associated with admission rates for uncontrolled diabetes and long-term complications. Continuity of care was associated with lower rates of diabetes-related hospitalization. Better access to care, broader task profiles for general practitioners, and more medical equipment in general practice was associated with higher rates of admissions for diabetes.


Shore SA. Obesity, airway hyperresponsiveness, and inflammation. J Appl Physiol 108: 735–743, 2010. First published October 29, 2009; doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00749.2009.— Epidemiological data indicate that obesity is a risk factor for asthma, but the mechanistic basis for this relationship is not established. Here we review data from human subjects and animal models investigating the relationship between obesity and airway hyperresponsiveness, a characteristic feature of asthma. We discuss obesity as a state of chronic systemic inflammation resulting from interactions between adipocytes and adipose tissue macrophages that are recruited to obese adipose tissue. Finally, we focus on the possibility that aspects of this inflammation, particularly obesity-related changes in TNF, leptin, and adiponectin, may contribute to airway hyperresponsiveness in obesity. Determining how obesity promotes asthma may uncover novel therapeutic strategies that are effective in the obese asthmatic subject.


Let $M$ be complex projective manifold and $A$ a positive line bundle on it. Assume that a compact and connected Lie group $G$ acts on $M$ in a Hamiltonian and holomorphic manner and that this action linearizes to $A$. Then, there is an associated unitary representation of $G$ on the associated algebro-geometric Hardy space $H(X)$. The standard circle action on $H(X)$ commutes with the action of $G$ and thus one has a decompositions labeled by $(k\,\boldsymbol{\nu},\,k)$, where $k\in\mathbb{Z}$ and $\boldsymbol{ \nu }\in \hat{G}$. We consider the local and global asymptotic properties of the corresponding equivariant projector as $k$ goes to infinity. More generally, for a compact connected Lie group, we compute the asymptotics of the dimensions of the corresponding isotypes.


Objective: In this study we will identify predictive risk factors for hypertension in among Indonesian women. This study investigates factors associated with conversion to hypertension among women in ten years period spanning from 1997 to 2007. Design and Method: We used panel data from three rounds of longitudinal Indonesia Family Life Survey (IFLS 1997, IFLS 2000 and IFLS 2007) where tracked blood pressure of 6,138 women who in 1997 had normal blood pressure. Using blood pressure measurements and self-reports in 1997 and two subsequent survey rounds, we categorized each woman as either having converted or not converted to having hypertension by 2007. We ran logistic regression using individual and community characteristics from IFLS 1997 to determine which characteristics, observable prior to conversion to hypertension, were predictive of that conversion. Results: Twenty-nine percent of our sample converted to hypertensive status in that ten years period. Among other results, we found that age and BMI were the most powerful predictors of Indonesian women's ten-year risk of becoming hypertensive. Conclusions: The longitudinal nature of this analysis provides a strong predictive basis for development of public health interventions especially toward women population.


Ibn Abi Sadiq Neishaboori  was the Iranian philosopher and medical scientist in the fifth century AH. In addition to writing a number of books in traditional medicine, he wrote commentary explanations on important books of famous Greek and Roman physicians, Hippocrates and Galen. Because of this, he was called Hippocrates the Second.Ibn Abi Sadiqwas the student of Avicennaand the teacher of Jorjani, connecting these two great Persian physicians together, one writing in Arabic and the other in Persian. Hence, he had an important role in the history of Persian and Islamic medicine. Despite the fame of his teacher and student, this scientist was left rather unknown and was not well introduced to the world. This article has attempted to explain his character and introduce his books.


We investigate the electrical and magneto-transport properties of Pt–C granular metals prepared by focused electron beam induced deposition. In particular, we consider samples close to the metal–insulator transition obtained from as-grown deposits by means of a low-energy electron irradiation treatment. The temperature dependence of the conductivity shows a σ ∼lnT behavior, with a transition to σ∼T?> at low temperature, as expected for systems in the strong coupling tunneling regime. The magnetoresistance is positive and is described within the wavefunction shrinkage model, normally used for disordered systems in the weak coupling regime. In order to fit the experimental data, spin-dependent tunneling has to be taken into account. In the discussion we attribute the origin of the spin-dependency to the confinement effects of Pt nano-grains embedded in the carbon matrix.


To audit the appropriateness of phimosis management and adherence to paediatric surgical referral guidelines at the primary care level against the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) recommendations.

 A search of paediatric patients with diagnoses of phimosis, paraphimosis and Balanitis Xerotica Obliterans from January 2016 to October 2021 was performed at one General Practice (GP) surgery with a population size of 14,315 patients. Data on the frequency of urological symptoms reported, the medical treatment initiated, the number of paediatric surgical referrals and waiting times, and outcomes were recorded.

 A total of 35 patients with ages ranging from 1-17 years old were included. The most common symptom reported was dysuria (n = 21, 60%). Twenty-five (71.4%) paediatric patients with phimosis were referred. The paediatric surgical referral waiting times ranged from 3–232 days (mean = 111.4). Fourteen of the referred patients (73.7%) who had been reviewed by the surgical team were diagnosed with physiological phimosis and discharged back to the GP. Thirty-two per cent of the referrals (n = 8) were done without trialling on topical steroids. In terms of potency, 53.5% of the steroids (n = 15) prescribed by the GP were weaker than is recommended by the RCS.

 Variation in practice was seen in phimosis management, including the types of steroids initiated and decisions on surgical referrals. Only pathological phimosis generally requires a referral. Therefore, a clear management and referral pathway and additional training on phimosis management within primary care providers can help optimise the patient management and appropriateness of secondary care referrals.


DaIang is a dialect of the Palaung language which belongs to Palaungic branch of Mon-Khmer of Austro-Asiatic language family. This paper aims to examine central vowel length contrast in Da-ang dialect of Palaung from acoustic perspective. The vowel duration measurement shows that the duration of long vowels were twice as long as short vowels. For the mid central vowels, the short vowel has higher F1 and F2 values than the long counterpart. For the low central vowels, on the other hand, the first two formants (F1, F2) are lower in the short vowels. The results of the experiment confirm the phonological analysis of this study. Da-ang vowel length is contrastive for nonIhigh central vowels. Although the differing in duration is accompanied by vowel quality differences, the vowel duration is the main cue for distinguishing between short and long vowels in Da-ang.


With the increasing availability of storage and computing power, Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA) has gained more and more significance in practice over the last decade. This diploma thesis aims to develop a reference architecture which can be utilised to provide LSA based applications in a distributed system. It outlines the underlying problems of generation, processing and storage of large data objects resulting from LSA operations, the problems arising from bringing LSA into a distributed context, suggests an architecture for the software components necessary to perform the tasks, and evaluates the applicability to real world scenarios, including the implementation of a classroom scenario as a proof-of-concept. (author's abstract)


Luminescence characteristics of quartz and feldspar allow to discriminate sediments from different source areas. Particularly, sensitivity of optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and thermoluminescence (TL) signals of quartz and infrared‐stimulated luminescence (IRSL) of feldspar from Quaternary sediments has been used for provenance analysis. These properties change due to source area denudation rates and sediment reworking, which drive the number of burial irradiation‐solar exposure cycles of sediment grains in surface systems. Here, we use for the first time a similar approach to interpret the geomorphic conditions of source areas of Silurian to Triassic siliciclastic sedimentary units of the intracratonic Parnaíba Basin in northeast Brazil. Luminescence measurements were performed on sand grains, and statistical tests were applied to evaluate differences in luminescence properties within and across stratigraphic units. We explored the position of well‐known "110°C" (TL110) and "325°C" (TL325) TL peaks of quartz as proxies to discriminate stratigraphic units with similar lithological assemblages. OSL and TL sensitivities as well as the dominance of the so‐called fast OSL component increase from Silurian to Triassic sedimentary units, while the IRSL sensitivity decreases towards younger stratigraphic units. These patterns point to source areas with decreasing denudation rate and higher sediment recycling over basin filling time, leading to decreasing feldspar concentration and quartz luminescence sensitisation. Major changes in luminescence properties coincide with regional unconformities. This is attributed to physical landscape changes leading to shifts in the relief of source areas and basin sediment recycling. The TL110 peak position is similar across stratigraphic units, but the TL325 peak position has significant variation, with values between 324°C and 334°C, allowing its use for stratigraphic discrimination. Changes in OSL and TL characteristics of quartz sediment grains are preserved during long‐term burial (108 Ma), representing a new tool for interpreting basin evolution and to perform stratigraphic analysis of ancient siliciclastic successions.


This study examined the compatibility of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) recommended fungicide use rate with profit maximization objective of Nigerian cocoa farmers. To achieve this research objective, a cross-sectional survey of cocoa farmers in four local government areas (LGAs) each in Osun and Ondo states was carried out. A three stage sampling procedure was adopted in selecting the respondents. A decision theoretic approach and regression method were used to analyze the data collected. The results indicated that (i) expected crop loss should be taken into account when deciding on the amount of fungicides to apply in the study area and (ii) the use rate recommended by CRIN could not be used in all situations – it is better used when the probability of large expected crop loss is extremely high (80%). Key words: Profitability; fungicide use rate; decision theoretic model; coco Moor Journal of Agricultural Research Vol.4(2) 2003: 288-295


The application of microwave / millimeter-wave optical links for future mobile broadband services is limited by the dispersion of the fibre. We present an approach to reduce the chromatic dispersion-induced distortions in optical links carrying combined baseband and microwave signals. This new method is based on the interplay of intensity dependent phase modulation in semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) and fibre nonlinearities. Theoretical and experimental results are demonstrated for different long optical links. The results show that the frequency notches caused by the dispersion-induced carrier suppression effect may be sharply alleviated and the transmitted digital signal performance can be improved. Investigations on a 400 km long fibre link proved the previous statement.


Research and development on the survivability of networks has largely focused on public switched telecommunications networks and high-speed data networks with little attention on the survivability of wireless access networks supporting cellular and PCS communications. This paper presents the effects of failures and survivability issues in PCS networks with emphasis on the unique difficulties presented by user mobility and the wireless channel environment. A simulation model to study a variety of failure scenarios on a PCS network is described. The discreteevent simulation results show that user mobility significantly worsens network performance after even small failures, as disconnected users move among adjacent cells and attempt to reconnect to the network. Thus survivability strategies must be designed to contend with spatial as well as temporal network behavior. A multi-layer framework for the study of PCS network survivability is presented. Metrics for quantifying network survivability are identified at each layer. Possible survivability strategies and restoration techniques for each layer in the framework are also discussed.


Background Hands-on training, whether it is in Bioinformatics or other scientific domains, requires significant resources and knowledge to setup and run. Trainers must have access to infrastructure that can support the sudden spike in usage, with classes of 30 or more trainees simultaneously running resource intensive tools. For efficient classes, the jobs must run quickly, without queuing delays, lest they disrupt the timetable set out for the class. Often times this is achieved via running on a private server where there is no contention for the queue, and therefore no or minimal waiting time. However, this requires the teacher or trainer to have the technical knowledge to manage compute infrastructure, in addition to their didactic responsibilities. This presents significant burdens to potential training events, in terms of infrastructure cost, person-hours of preparation, technical knowledge, and available staff to manage such events. Findings Galaxy Europe has developed Training Infrastructure as a Service (TIaaS) which we provide to the scientific commnuity as a service built on top of the Galaxy Platform. Training event organisers request a training and Galaxy administrators can allocate private queues specifically for the training. Trainees are transparently placed in a private queue where their jobs run without delay. Trainers access the dashboard of the TIaaS Service and can remotely follow the progress of their trainees without in-person interactions. Conclusions TIaaS on Galaxy Europe provides reusable and fast infrastructure for Galaxy training. The instructor dashboard provides visibility into class progress, making in-person trainings more efficient and remote training possible. In the past 24 months, > 110 trainings with over 3000 trainees have used this infrastructure for training, across scientific domains, all enjoying the accessibility and reproducibility of Galaxy for training the next generation of bioinformaticians. TIaaS itself is an extension to Galaxy which can be deployed by any Galaxy administrator to provide similar benefits for their users. https://galaxyproject.eu/tiaas


Objective With the advancement of minimally invasive spine surgery, endoscopic discectomy (ED) has become a common technique for degenerative disease of the spine. The present study aimed to explore the knowledge structure, emerging trends, and future research hotspots in this field. Methods All relevant publications on ED from 2002 to 2021 were extracted from the Web of Science databases. Key bibliometric indicators, including countries/regions, institutions, authors, journals, references, and keywords were calculated and evaluated using VOSviewer and CiteSpace software. Results A total of 1,196 articles and reviews were included for analysis. The number of publications regarding ED increased yearly. From the quality and quantity viewpoint, China, South Korea, and the United States were the major contributors in this field. The most influential institution in the field of ED was Wooridul Spine Hospital. We identified 3,488 authors, among which Lee SH had the most significant number of papers, and Ruetten S was cocited most often. World Neurosurgery was the journal with the most papers, and Spine was the most commonly cocited journal. Keywords were stratified into 4 clusters by VOSviewer software: cluster 1 (clinical outcomes of ED in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation); cluster 2 (surgical technique of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy); cluster 3 (clinical outcomes of ED in the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis); and cluster 4 (clinical outcomes of percutaneous endoscopic cervical discectomy). Several topics including lateral recess stenosis, spinal stenosis, and reoperation were considered as the next hotspot in ED research. Conclusion ED research has gained considerable attention over the last 2 decades. Our bibliometric findings illuminate the publication trends and research hotspots of the ED field, which may provide useful references for scholars and decision-makers interested in this field.


The sequence and structure of the large (20s) mitochondrial (mt) rRNA gene and flanking regions from Paramecium primaurelia have been determined. The gene contains two regions of strong homology with other large mt rRNAs: one 44-base region near the 5' end and a 321-base region near the 3' end. Another region of strong homology to both ends of E. coli 23s RNA exists at loci consistent with these regions. The Paramecium gene appears to be 2204 bases in length and contains slightly more homology to E. coli rRNA than its mammalian or fungal counterparts. The gene, located about 1200 bp from the replicative terminal end of the linear mt DNA, is transcribed in the same polarity as replication. Previous R-looping studies detected no large introns within the gene. Here we describe sequences resembling degenerate rRNAs, one of which could represent a small intron. A tRNA tyr gene was found on the same DNA strand, 127 bp downstream from the large rRNA presumptive 3' end. The tRNA is flanked on both sides by short DNA regions of approximately 90% A + T content.


The slipper limpet Crepidula fornicata Linnaeus, 1758 is a major exotic invader of East North Atlantic coasts. Individuals live on top of each other and form stacks with the youngest on the top. Earlier studies reported that one individual typically settles per year. If true, it is a simplified means to provide a "shell length-age" relationship for population dynamics studies, especially Production/Biomass ratio (P/B) assessment. However, estimated P/B ranges between 0.15 and 0.45 yr1 seem low compared to those of closely-related marine invertebrates and considering the invasiveness of C. fornicata in coastal habitats. In this study, we placed artificial substrates ("tiles") for one year in the middle of a C. fornicata colony and measured settlement. We sometimes observed more than one individual settling per stack in a year: 4% of stacks were composed by 3 individuals, 27% by 2 individuals and 69% were single specimen. On this basis, we formulated a model to better link the position of each C. fornicata within a stack to its age. In addition, the C. fornicata population was annually sampled for 5 years. Then, population dynamics parameters, density at recruitment, mortality rate, growth performance, production and P/B were estimated. We compared two cases: (i) individual age was defined by its position in stacks; (ii) individual age was corrected by the model. Recalculation moderately increased growth performance expectation (+2 to 8% per year) but greatly enhanced production and P/B (ca. 1.2 to 2.6-fold per year). Recalculated P/B values ranged from 0.55 to 0.72 yr. While still low, they were more consistent with published values for similar large marine invertebrates, in particular for invasive species.


The ISOPHOT C200 stressed Ge:Ga array aboard the Infrared Space Observatory was used to carry out scientific observations while the telescope was moved from one target to the next. These strip scanning measurements of the sky in the far-infrared (FIR) at 170 μm comprise the ISOPHOT Serendipity Survey, the first slew survey designed as an integral part of a space observatory mission. The ISOPHOT Serendipity Survey is the only large scale sky survey in the unexplored wavelength region beyond the IRAS 100 μm limit to date. Within nearly 550 hours more than 12000 slew measurements with a total slew length of more than 150000 degrees were collected, corresponding to a sky coverage of about 15%. The slew data analysis has been focused on the detection of compact sources, which required the development of special algorithms. A severe problem at 170 μm is the confusion of genuine compact sources with foreground galactic cirrus knots and ridges. The selection and identification of objects therefore necessarily requires a multi-wavelengths approach, which makes use of a broad variety of additional data from databases and other surveys. Known galaxies were identified by cross-correlating the Serendipity Survey source positions with galaxy entries in the NED and Simbad databases and a subsequent cross-check of optical images from the Digital Sky Survey. A large catalogue with 170 μm fluxes for ≈2000 galaxies is being complied. The particularly interesting rare galaxies with very cold dust and very large dust masses further require additional FIR data from the IRAS survey as well as measured redshifts. A large fraction of the compact galactic structures are prestellar cores inside cold star forming regions. Early stages of medium and high mass star forming regions are identified by combining compact bright and cold Serendipity Survey sources with the near-infrared 2MASS and MSX surveys, the combination of which indicates large dust masses in conjunction with embedded young stars of early spectral types. In all the studied samples of different object classes the 170 μm flux provides the crucial data point for a complete characterization of the FIR spectral energy distributions and the derivation of total dust masses. Follow-up observations are underway to study selected objects in more detail.


Multiple primary lung cancers are now being recognized more frequently. Out of 1004 patients with a resected lung cancer, 32 (3.2%) presented a second primary and two of them a third primary lung cancer. A synchronous (S) primary was present in 7 and a metachronous (M) primary was present in 25. The histology was different in 1/7 with a S. and in 6/25 with a M. cancer. In all cases the cancer was located in another segment, lobe or lung. Out of the 7 with a S. cancer, 3 had a one stage and 4 a staged resection; out of the 25 with a M. cancer, 3 were treated by chemotherapy, 22 had a 2nd and 1 a 3rd operation to remove a new cancer. The mean time interval in M. cancer was 4 years, 8 months and was longer for adeno- (8 years) than for squamous cell carcinomas (4 years), longer for a contralateral cancer (6 years, 7 months) and longer for mild smokers (5 years, 1 month). The early mortality (10.3%) was 0/7 for S. and 3/22 for M. cancers. The three and five years actuarial survival of operated patients was 67% and 25% for S. and 43% and 31% for M. cancers. Survival is positively affected by a resection interval of more than 3 years and by 3 instead of 2 remaining lobes after the second resection. In conclusion a close follow-up of operated lung cancer patients is necessary and aggressive surgical approach is indicated for a new primary cancer.


We describe the habitat ofspecies within .the Fagaceae subgenus Lepidobalanus (genus Quercus) and identify environmental variables relatedto their distribution in the Meseta Central of Chiapas, Southern Mexico. In 258 plots adortunance index was used, combining tree density arid crown cover, for Quercus peduncularis, Q. polymorpha,Q. rugosa, Q. sebifera and Q.segoviensis. The following variables were measmed:. altitude, pre' cipitatioh from November through April (PPNA), exposure, slope, fuelcwoodharvesting and grazing. Detrended Carmonical correspondence Analysis was used for the statistical evaluation of data. Negative relationships among the donimance index of Q. peducularis and Q .. segoviensis, and altitude and PPNAvalues were found. The' dominance index oiQ. rugusa and Q. segoviensis was correlated with exposure .and intusity of fuel-wood harvesting. Altitude, and to a les ser extent PPNA;. determinedthe distribution of the evaluated species. The results sUggest thatQuercus peduncularis, Q. polymorpha, Q. rugosa, Q. segoviensis and Q.sibijefa display different ecological patterus


This study compares diagnosis, staging, and treatment of newly diagnosed breast cancer cases over a several-year period. The study design was a retrospective, multiyear comparison between new breast cancer cases diagnosed in 1995 (n = 827) and 1997 (n = 815). Cases were identified through claims data, and medical record abstraction was used to verify each case and to identify clinical staging and type of treatment. All medical records were reviewed by one physician to maximize internal reliability. Both cohorts were predominantly 40 and older, white, married, and postmenopausal. The latter cohort (1997) had a higher proportion of women aged 70 to 79 and a lower proportion of women aged 40 to 49. In both cohorts, women age 40 and older were likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer at the time of mammographic screening, while women younger than 40 were more likely to be diagnosed by clinical breast examination. In logistic regression analyses, controlling for confounding factors such as age, undergoing mammographic screening increased the likelihood of having a low cancer stage at diagnosis by more than three and a half times. Mammographic screening was statistically significantly positively associated with having eligibility for breast-conserving treatment (BCT); however, although an increase in BCT eligibility was observed, actual use of BCT did not change. Mammography leads to a lower clinical stage as well as a greater likelihood of BCT eligibility at time of breast cancer diagnosis, but may not have a substantial effect on treatment choice (lumpectomy vs. mastectomy). Between 1995 and 1997, a trend was observed toward downstaging of disease at diagnosis; further research is warranted to observe whether this trend continues over time.


Our estimates of the pay-performance relation (including pay, options, stockholdings, and dismissal) for chief executive officers indicate that CEO wealth changes $3.25 for every $1,000 change in shareholder wealth. Although the incentives generated by stock ownership are large relative to pay and dismissal incentives, most CEOs hold trivial fractions of their firm's stock, and ownership levels have declined over the past 50 years. We hypothesize that public and private political forces impose constraints that reduce the pay-performance sensitivity. Declines in both the pay-performance relation and the level of CEO pay since the 1930s are consistent with this hypothesis.


The static dipole, quadrupole, and octupole polarizabilities of helium are calculated for the n 1L and n 3L states with n up to 10 and L up to 9, using variational wavefunctions in Hylleraas coordinates.


Morphology is related with correspondence between the form and term meaning of words. One of various morphological mechanisms such as compounding is word formation deals with the creation of new words. Compounding is a joining of two separate words to produce a single form. Related with statements of problem there are two research questions: 1) How are the stuctures of compound English words used in hotel terms 2) What kinds of compound words meaning are found in the hotel terms. The research used theory of McCArthy (2002) to analyze the structures of compound word and theory of Plag (2002) to analyze the kinds of compound word meaning. Other theories as well as other research related to this reserach. This reserach is purposed to describe and analyze the structures of English compound words and also to find out the kinds of compound words meaning in Hotel terms.The reseracher uses the qualitative descriptive research method in analyzing this research while the data collected is in the form of words rather than numbers and it is more corcerned with process. The method contains observation, identification, classification, and description of data. The data used in this reserch are the compound words in Hotel term in Asia Busindo Hotel. The researcher then analyzed and describing the data from hotel terms in Asia Busindo hotel. In this research, the result showed that there are 25 data of hotel terms in Asia Busindo hotel. There are eighthteen (18) compound nouns, five (5) compound verbs, and two (2) compound adjectives. The kinds of compound word meanings in Hotel terms are thirteen (13) endocentric compound and twelve (12) exocentric compounds. Based on the findings above, it can be concluded that the categories of compound word mostly found is compound noun (18 data). Mostly, the kinds of compound word meanings were dominated by endocentric compound (13data). In additon in hotel terms were rarely found the copulative compounds meanings.


Eye tracking can be used to record individual search processes on the Internet and the eye movements of subjects searching for information. These search processes combined with the gaze data can be examined by means of standardized content analysis.
Field of application/theoretical foundation:
Reception, perception, and selection behavior on the Internet; selective exposure and framing effects studies; role of news factors in selection on the Internet
References/combination with other methods of data collection:
Zillich and Kessler (2019) evaluate and compare the method combination with the advantages and disadvantages of established methods for measuring selective exposure processes with regard to online information. Kessler and Guenther (2017), Kessler and Langmann (2020), and Kessler and Zillich (2019) combined the content analysis of eye tracking data with an online pre- and post-survey. Kessler and Engelmann (2019) compare findings on the role of news factors in online news selection from three different methods: standardized content analysis of eye tracking data, qualitative open survey, and standardized closed survey.
Example studies:
Kessler & Langmann (2020); Kessler & Engelmann (2019); Kessler & Zillich (2019); Kessler & Guenther (2017); Zillich & Kessler (2019)

Information on Kessler and Guenther (2017)
Authors: Sabrina Heike Kessler & Lars Guenther
Research question: Does individual online behavior (i.e., searching for and reading information) conform to previously presented media frames? How much impact do presented media frames have on different levels of individuals' online searching for and on reading information?
Object of analysis: In an experiment combining eye tracking and content analysis, participants (N = 72) were exposed to one of three TV clips with different media frames that focused on Alzheimer's disease. After exposure, participants informed themselves about the issue online. The researchers examined the online search behavior via eye tracking while the participants searched for information, followed by a standardized content analysis of the eye tracking data.
Timeframe of analysis: 2014
Codebook: in the appendix (in German)
Info about variables
Construct: online behavior, the way people search for and read information on the Internet
Level of analysis: levels of online behavior: input words participants used for their online searches; search results from the online search engines that were both viewed and selected; search results that were viewed but not selected; and the content of viewed websites.
Variables: Duration of the search behavior; duration of the reception behavior; words typed into the search engine; website visited; categorization of the website; number of search results received and selected or received and not selected; main topic, problem, cause, evaluation, opportunities and risks, forecasts, proposed solution and demands of the individual search results; number and type of actors of the individual selected and unselected search results; number of contributions received; main topic, problem, cause, evaluation, opportunities and risks, forecasts, proposed solution and demands of the individual websites received; depicted controversy, images, explicit and implicit certainty and uncertainty at the individual websites received
Reliability: "Nine trained coders helped conduct the content analysis. In total, 12 clips of participants' online behavior (17 percent of the total sample) were randomly selected for reliability testing. For intercoder reliability, Cohen's ? for the formal variables was ?=0.98 (CR=0.99). Intercoder reliability for the variables of the frame elements had the following values: selected search results ?=0.77 (CR=0.97), search results that were viewed but not selected ?=0.81 (CR=0.97), and contents of the websites that were viewed ?=0.71 (CR=0.93)." (p. 316)

Information on Kessler and Langmann (2020)
Authors: Sabrina Heike Kessler & Klara Langmann
Research question: How does biological sex influence search behavior for political information on the Internet? Hypothesis: Prior political knowledge, political interest, and Internet skills mediate the influence of biological and social sex on search behavior for political information on the Internet.
Object of analysis: This study aimed to investigate how people (N = 44 students) search online for political information (N = 220 search tasks) and if gendered online search exist. We examined the online search behavior via eye tracking while the participants searched for information about political party positions on the Internet. A content analysis of the eye tracking data followed and was evaluated with a special focus on the role of biological sex and social gender and the relationship of both factors with other variables, such as self-reported prior political knowledge, political interest, and Internet skills (via online survey).
Timeframe of analysis: April 2017
Codebook: in the appendix (in German)
Info about variables
Construct: online search behavior, the way people search for and read information on the Internet
Level of analysis: levels of online behavior: input words participants used for their online searches; search results on search engine result pages (SERPs) that were both viewed and selected, search results that were viewed but not selected; and the content of viewed websites.
Variables and reliability: Four coders conducted the content analysis by satisfying reliability values (based on 11.4% of the total sample, randomly selected).

Variables

Measures

Reliability coefficient (Krippendorff's ?); n=25

Search task

5 values

1

Length of online search behavior

seconds

1

Number of search queries on SERPs

0 to x

1

Time on SERPs

seconds

.81 (10% tolerance)

Scanpath on SERPs

4 values

.78

Length of search queries

3 values

.96

Number of clicked search results

0 to x

.96

Number of viewed and unselected search results

0 to x

.67 (10% tolerance)

Number of selected search results position 1

0 to x

.98

Number of selected search results position 2–3

0 to x

.98

Number of perceived websites

0 to x

.93

Type of website accessed

19 values

.88

Website scanpaths

4 values

.81

Reception scope on website

3 values

.84

Time on websites

seconds

.81 (10% tolerance)

References
Kessler, S. H. & Langmann, K. (2020). The role of sex and gender on search behavior for political informationon the Internet. Communications: The European Journal of Communication Research. DOI: 10.1515/commun-2019-0137
Kessler, S. H. & Engelmann, I. (2019). Why do we click? Investigating reasons for user selection on a news aggregator website. Communications, 44(2), 225-247. DOI: 10.1515/commun-2018-2003
Kessler, S. H. & Zillich, A. F. (2019). Searching online for information about vaccination: Assessing the influence of user-specific cognitive factors using eye-tracking. Health Communication, 34(10), 1150-1158. DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2018.1465793
Kessler, S. H. & Guenther, L. (2017). Eyes on the frame: Explaining people's online searching behavior in response to TV consumption. Internet Research, 27(2), 303-320. DOI: 10.1108/IntR-01-2016-0015
Zillich, A. F., & Kessler, S. H. (2019). Measuring selective exposure to online information. Combining eye-tracking and content analysis of users' actual search behavior. In C. Peter, T. Naab, & R. Kühne (eds.), Measuring media use and exposure: Recent developments and challenges (pp. 196-220). Köln, GER: Halem.


The optical properties of nanostructures prepared by colloidal lithography are studied. Colloidal lithography is a fabrication approach based on a self-assembling pattern definition. An electrostatically self-assembled array of nanoparticles is used as a mask and combined with etching or deposition processes. The experimental conditions and procedures required to obtain well controlled particle films with short-range order are discussed. Technical issues addressed are related to either the particle adsorption from solution or drying of the resultant particle film to produce a mask. Specific parameters studied include the influence of salt concentration in the particle solution, the particle size, the particle polydispersity and the use of a binder layer. Colloidal lithography is a new, fast and relatively simple approach for fabrication of nanostructures, with potential for large area (cm 2 ) coverage. Nanostructures can be produced with variable and well defined size, shape and interparticle distance. Optical extinction spectra for the disks, holes and rings, are measured. The spectra for disks and holes show similar peaks with positions, which is interpreted as excitation of localized surface plasmons on the disks and around the holes. The similarities in resonance energy are in agreement with electrostatic cylinder theory for complementary structures (solid cylinder / cylindrical void). The peak positions for rings are red-shifted. This can be explained as symmetric coupling between superimposed disk and hole plasmon modes, lowering the resonance energy. In the short-range ordered arrays (lacking long-range order), we find no evidence for plasmon coupling for particles, while coupling through the gold film gives a blue-shift for hole arrays. The colloidal lithography fabrication approach and the optical results have relevance for, for example, the development of miniaturized biosensors.


We show that copper-formate surface species can be synthesized from CO2(g) + H2(g) on a well defined single Cu(100) crystal. The presence of the surface formate is confirmed and studied by XPS, HREELS and TPD. With the use of a high-pressure cell incorporated into the UHV system, the formate formation was studied over a pressure range 0.5-5.0 bar and a temperature range 313-363 K. The rate of formate formation was found to have a strong dependence on gas composition (CO2:H2) and a weak dependence on total pressure. At 363 K, the initial rate of formate formation on the Cu(100) surface in a 70:30 (CO2:H2) gas mixture at 2.3 bar was found to be approximately 3.3 × 10-4 formate molecules per copper atom per second. The activation energy for the formate formation was found to be 53 kJ mol-1. A gas-solid equilibrium model for the formation of surface formate suggests that the rate-limiting step in the synthesis is the reaction of surface atomic hydrogen with CO2 forming the surface formate.


Abstract The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) are not necessarily two contending trade liberalising models, but their import and arrival have posed stiff political challenges for many countries, including China and India, Asia's two heavyweights. With these two initiatives, the regional trade of Asia is entering an interesting phase of liberalisation and integration. In fact, it is gradually becoming clear that the facets and nuances attached to these two trade liberalisation models will impact regional power politics massively in times to come. While the success of TPP hinges on the global economic authority of the US and how the negotiation process unfolds, the future dynamism of RCEP will depend heavily on how China and the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) conduct their negotiation process and accommodate the interests of other regional powers, including India. Hitherto, it has been no secret that both RCEP and TPP will greatly affect and influence ASEAN and the role of its free trade agreement (FTA) partner countries, including China and India. In this regional stratagem, China–India relations may witness new dynamics and power politics in East Asia or in the broader Asia-Pacific region. It may also open a new window of opportunity for India's greater integration with the East Asia region. India needs to analyse carefully the efficacy and implications of both RCEP and TPP to see how far they serve New Delhi's own regional interests. RCEP may eventually facilitate India's 'Look East' policy more effectively than TPP. The former allows New Delhi to coordinate with ASEAN+6 countries more effectively, to which China has so far been fundamentally opposed.


Abduction-Based speculative computation is a process which uses default hypothesis as tentative answer and continues computation when resources information cannot be obtained in time. In a computing process, if response is not consistent with belief, master Agent will revise its belief. To achieve goals, get the more accurate result of computation and reduce risks of decision under time constraints, the master Agent in speculative computation should make efforts to obtain more information via negotiation, so the negotiation is a key measure in reducing risks of decision. In this paper, basic theories of abduction and speculative computation are introduced. Based on these theories, a framework extended from the speculative computation with belief revision based on time constraints is presented, and the further negotiation framework based on time constraints and negotiation algorithm with belief revision are presented. The algorithm is embedded in speculative computation to make the master Agent revise its belief during negotiation. Finally, three experiments on goods transportation are given. The experimental results indicate that the algorithm can improve the accuracy of result of the speculative computation and reduce the risk of the result.


Manufacturing firms have begun to add services to their product portfolios for interacting with customers and accessing their value creation processes.Through the technological possibilities of delivering services, e-services have emerged as a new research field. So far, little is known to what extent e-services are applicable in driving servitisation and building relationships. Thus, the purpose is to identify and describe the enabling factors that link servitisation, value co-creation and e-services to facilitate the building of manufacturercustomer relationships. The answer to this purpose is found using a qualitative single case study approach. Data is collected through semi-structured interviews with employees and customers of a Swedish electronic manufacturing service(EMS) company.Results show that value co-creation interfaces occur in most of the studied departments in the manufacturer and customer organisation, yet the specific constellation of actors changes dependent on the maturity of the manufacturer-customer relationship. Employees and customers interact regarding the value co-creation activities 'diagnosing needs'. 'designing and producing services','organising resources and processes' and 'managing value conflicts'. Generally, information technology (IT) is used to facilitate the sharing of documentation and to deliver e-services, which expands the value co-creation interface. Yet, to build manufacturer-customer relationships personal interaction and dialogue areessential. Therefore, e-services should be implemented to trigger, support andcomplement personal service delivery. With these findings, this thesis contributes to theory and practice by developinga conceptual model, which can enable the identification of value co-creation interfaces and activities. These insights may be used to develop e-services that support the building of relationships between manufacturers and their customers.


In the present study, the effects of forging or ring-mill processing on the tensile properties of B7B4 were investigated. Tensile specimens were fabricated including centrifugal casting (Case 1), centrifugal casting + forging (Case 2), and centrifugal casting + ring-mill (Case 3). Tensile tests were performed at room temperature. An optical microscope and a scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used to examine the changes in the microstructures of the specimens prepared by the three processes. The results showed that the moduli of elasticity and yield stresses of B7B4 prepared by the three processes had no much difference. The elongations of Case 2 and Case 3 were 30% higher than that of Case 1. SEM images revealed that the orientation and fine structure were affected by the forging and ring-mill processes.


Background and Aims: Vitamin D counteracts the reduction in the peripheral conversion of tiroxine (T4) into triiodothyronine (T3), which is the mechanism of low T3 syndrome (LT3) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between LT3 and hypovitaminosis D in AMI patients. Methods and Results: One hundred and twenty-four AMI patients were enrolled. Blood samples were taken at admission, and at 3, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after admission. LT3 was defined as a value of fT3 ≤ 2.2 pg/mL, occurring within 3 days of hospital admission. Levels were defined as follows: sufficiency as a value of ±30 ng/mL, vitamin D insufficiency as 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) between 21 and 29 ng/mL, deficiency in 25(OH)D as below 20 ng/mL, and severe deficiency as values under 10 ng/mL. The percentage of subjects with severe 25(OH)D deficiency was significantly higher in the LT3 group (33% vs. 13%, p < 0.01). When LT3S was evaluated as a dependent variable, severe 25(OH)D deficiency (OR 2.6: 95%CI 1–6.7, p < 0.05) remained as an independent determinant after logistic multivariate adjustment together with age (>69 yrs, 50th percentile; OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.3–8.3, p < 0.01), but not female gender (OR 1.7, 95% CI 0.7–4.2, p = ns). Conclusions: This pilot study shows a relationship between hypovitaminosis D and LT3 in AMI patients. This association opens potential therapeutic challenges concerning the restoration of euthyroidism through vitamin D administration, together with the normalization of hypovitaminosis.


Abstract. Meltwater from the Greenland Ice Sheet contributed 1.7–6.12 mm to global
sea level between 1993 and 2010 and is expected to contribute 20–110 mm to
future sea level rise by 2100. These estimates were produced by regional
climate models (RCMs) which are known to be robust at the ice sheet scale but
occasionally miss regional- and local-scale climate variability (e.g. Leeson
et al., 2017; Medley et al., 2013). To date, the fidelity of these models in
the context of short-period variability in time (i.e. intra-seasonal) has not
been fully assessed, for example their ability to simulate extreme
temperature events. We use an event identification algorithm commonly used in
extreme value analysis, together with observations from the Greenland Climate
Network (GC-Net), to assess the ability of the MAR (Modele
Atmospherique Regional) RCM to reproduce observed extreme
positive-temperature events at 14 sites around Greenland. We find that MAR is
able to accurately simulate the frequency and duration of these events but
underestimates their magnitude by more than half a degree Celsius/kelvin,
although this bias is much smaller than that exhibited by coarse-scale
Era-Interim reanalysis data. As a result, melt energy in MAR output is
underestimated by between 16 and 41 % depending on global forcing applied.
Further work is needed to precisely determine the drivers of extreme
temperature events, and why the model underperforms in this area, but our
findings suggest that biases are passed into MAR from boundary forcing data.
This is important because these forcings are common between RCMs and their
range of predictions of past and future ice sheet melting. We propose that
examining extreme events should become a routine part of global and regional
climate model evaluation and that addressing shortcomings in this area should
be a priority for model development.


Predicting the residual life of plant equipment that has been in service for 20 to 30 years or more is a major concern of many industries. This paper reviews the reasons for increased concern for residual-life assessment and the general procedures used in performing such assessments. Some examples and case histories illustrating procedures for assessing remaining service life are discussed. Areas where developments are needed to improve the technology for remaining-life estimation are pointed out. Then, some of the critical issues involved in residual-life assessment are identified. Finally, the future role of residual-life prediction is addressed.


Anthropogenic environmental degradation has led to an increase in the frequency and prevalence of aquatic hypoxia (low dissolved-oxygen concentration, DO), which may affect habitat quality for water-breathing fishes. The weakly electric black ghost knifefish, Apteronotus albifrons, is typically found in well-oxygenated freshwater habitats in South America. Using a shuttle-box design, we exposed juvenile A. albifrons to a stepwise decline in DO from normoxia (>95% air saturation) to extreme hypoxia (10% air saturation) in one compartment and chronic normoxia in the other. Below 22% air saturation, A. albifrons actively avoided the hypoxic compartment. Hypoxia avoidance was correlated with upregulated swimming activity. Following avoidance, fish regularly ventured back briefly into deep hypoxia. Hypoxia did not affect the frequency of their electric organ discharges. Our results show that A. albifrons is able to sense hypoxia at non-lethal levels and uses active avoidance to mitigate its adverse effects. Summary The weakly electric knifefish, Apteronotus albifrons, avoids hypoxia below 22% air saturation. Avoidance correlates with increased swimming activity, but not with a change in electric organ discharge frequency.


This paper narrates the experiences of a private sector commercial company and that of a private developer (nonprofit organization) in their efforts to promote solar PV technology in a developing country. The country chosen is Sri Lanka, in which a considerable PV power effort has already been witnessed. However, substantial political, economic and social barriers exist which have hindered PV power promotion in that country. The authors point that similar constraints may impede promotional efforts in many developing countries and recommend that a global paradigm to promote PV power system technology must assign an important role to the issue of obstacles.


Tight gas is a highly potential source of energy that can meet the energy deficit in Pakistan. The production of gas from conventional gas reserves are continuously declining in a massive manner and increasing demand of hydrocarbons as an energy source is soaring at huge levels. Therefore, the energy deficit can only be met through tight gas unconventional sources of energy. Tight gas is a natural gas having very low permeability and marginable matrix porosity which extends diversely into the geological formations of Pakistan. That is the major reason of huge level of uncertainty for development of tight gas reservoirs. However, the production mechanism of tight gas reservoirs is too much difficult and complex as compared to conventional resources of hydrocarbons. Hence, the tight gas resources are equivocal and debatable regarding the sustainability and utilization. This paper provides a systematic study on the tight gas reservoirs through petro-physical evaluation of outcrop samples of tight rocks. In this regard, an experimental study is carried out on outcrops of tight gas near Chilton formation Indus basin trough and different techniques namely SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy), AFM (Atomic Force Microscopy) have been employed to evaluate the permeability, porosity and fluid saturation. Furthermore, simulation studies on the core flooding in the close packed outcrop samples have been performed in order to estimate the permeability reduction caused by different phases.


How should we understand and explain individual acts of racism? Despite extensive debate about the broader place and importance of racism in America, there is surprisingly little theoretical or empirical analysis of what leads individuals to commit racist acts. In contrast to most political scientists who understand racism as an individual psychological attitude—an irrational prejudice—I argue that individual manifestations of racism are the result of a complex set of factors, and that latent psychology is less helpful to understanding them than are the maneuverings and behavior of strategic actors following rules and incentives provided by institutions. We need to examine the ways in which institutions encourage racist acts by motivating people to behave in a racist manner or behave in a manner that motivates others to do so. To further explore and compare institutional and individual-psychological approaches to understanding racism, I examine manifestations of racism in labor union elections. I analyze and contrast more than 150 cases in which the National Labor Relations Board and U.S. federal appellate courts formally responded to reported violations of racism in a union election. The principles of this approach can easily be applied to other contexts and suggests that racism in society is less intractable and innate than malleable and politically determined.


We describe four cases of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia with monosomy 20 as the sole cytogenetic abnormality. These cases represent 3.4% of cytogenetically abnormal childhood ALL studied in our institute at diagnosis. The patients presented at similar age, ranging from 31 to 36 months. All four patients remain in first remission with survival time being at least 20 months from the time of diagnosis.


This article focuses on how health & medical sociology, under the influence of American sociology, was introduced, took root and developed in Japan mainly after WWII, in the general stream of sociology and set against the social background.


Cyclic AMP is a ubiquitous second messenger produced in cells in response to extracellular stimulants. The aim of this study was to examine its role in the regulation of amiloride-sensitive electrogenic Na(+) absorption in the rat distal colon by measuring the short-circuit current (I(sc)) and (22)Na(+) fluxes in a chamber-mounted mucosal sheet. Forskolin stimulated the amiloride-inhibitable I(sc) and amiloride-inhibitable (22)Na(+) absorption. 8Br-cAMP also stimulated the amiloride-inhibitable I(sc). Furthermore, isoproterenol, acting via beta-adrenergic activation, stimulated the amiloride-inhibitable I(sc). The isoproterenol-induced increase in the amiloride-sensitive I(sc) was largely suppressed by H89, a protein kinase A inhibitor. In conclusion, cAMP can upregulate amiloride-sensitive electrogenic Na(+) absorption in the rat distal colon.


We present highly sensitive ultrasound detection by use of a single mode fiber grating laser with a diameter of 66 μm, by measuring the variation of beat frequency between the two orthogonal polarization lasing modes. Based on the phase-locked loop demodulation, a noise-equivalent pressure (NEP) as low as 138 Pa over 100 MHz has been achieved.


Summary Integrating cover crops (CCs) in dryland crop production in the semiarid central Great Plains (CGP) can provide several ecosystem benefits. However, CC adoption has been slow in the CGP because CCs utilize water that otherwise would be available for the subsequent cash crop. Grazing CCs can provide economic benefits to offset revenue loss associated with decreased crop yields when CCs are grown ahead of a cash crop. Field experiments were conducted from 2015 through 2022 to quantify effects of grazing CCs on soil bulk density, aggregate stability, and chemical properties across western Kansas. At the Kansas State University HB Ranch near Brownell, KS, grazed CCs were compared to non-grazed CCs and fallow in a wheat-sorghum-fallow rotation. The on-farm study evaluated CCs grazed with yearlings or cow-calf pairs compared to non-grazed CCs across seven site-years on producer fields in western Kansas (Alexander and Hays) and central Kansas (Marquette). Averaged across 8 years, hayed and grazed CCs removed 71% and 40%, respectively, of available CC biomass at Brownell. Across on-farm sites, CC residue after grazing averaged 2210 lb/a compared to 3475 lb/a for the non-grazed CCs, representing a 36% decrease in CC biomass with grazing. Grazing days across farms ranged from 25 to 54 days with average daily gain of 1.2 to 3.11 lb/d. Soil characteristics including bulk density, penetration resistance, aggregate size distribution, and mean weight diameter (MWD) of water stable aggregates were not different between grazed and non-grazed CCs. Cover crops tended to increase soil organic carbon (SOC) concentration compared to fallow or initial SOC levels in some site-years. For example, SOC measured at the surface 0-to 2-inch depth near Hays, KS, in spring 2019 was 1.4%, which was significantly less than the 2.1% SOC measured in 2021 after two cycles of grazing CCs at this location. Penetration resistance measured after grazing in 2021 averaged 52.2 and 49.3 psi for the grazed and non-grazed CCs at Marquette, KS. Similarly, penetration resistance averaged 75.4 psi with grazed and non-grazed CCs at Alexander, KS. The penetration resistance measured across locations and CC management strategies was below the threshold of 300 psi that will limit root growth. Based on findings of this study, integrating CCs with livestock can be a strategy for producers to balance profitability and soil health in dryland crop production in western Kansas.


Sovereign credit default swap (CDS) spreads exhibit strong co-movements across Asian countries and regions, including both emerging and developed economies. After controlling for global impacts, we examine the regional lead-lag relationships among changes in ten Asian sovereign CDS spreads. We use the pairwise Granger causality test to find that lagged changes in Kazakhstan's sovereign CDS spreads significantly predict changes in other Asian sovereign CDS spreads. By estimating the news-diffusion model, we find evidence that this predictive relationship may be explained by information diffusion. Furthermore, we find that lagged changes in Kazakhstan's CDS spreads have significant out-of-sample predictive power for other Asian economies, providing practical implications for sustainable investments and risk management.


OBJECTIVES
To determine the prevalence of prostate cancer and to assess potential associations between race and prostate adenocarcinoma according to age in patients followed in an outpatient service of general urology in an university hospital.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Retrospective study of men aged from 40 to 79 years, followed during the period from 1999 to 2001. Patients were classified according to race in White, Mulatto and Black. Those with abnormal digital rectal examination and/or serum level of prostate specific antigen (PSA) > 4.0 ng/ml, underwent a transrectal prostate biopsy.

RESULTS
580 patients with mean age of 60.7 +/- 10.0 years were studied, with 116 Whites (20.0%), 276 Mulattos (47.6%) and 188 Blacks (32.4%). There was no significant difference regarding the mean age (p = 0.62), serum level of PSA (p = 0.65) and prevalence of prostate adenocarcinoma between Whites, Mulattos and Blacks (p = 0.36). While studying the association between race classified in 2 groups (Whites versus Mulattos and Blacks) and prostate adenocarcinoma according to age, no association was found when the total group was assessed, neither among those with age above 60 years old. In the group between 40 and 60 years, even though without statistical significance, the estimate of prevalence ratio was 2.2 (CI 95%: 0.52 to 9.0; p = 0.38).

CONCLUSION
Prostate adenocarcinoma was found in 16.6% of the patients aged between 40 and 79 years. We did not find a racial influence in our population.


Abstract: This paper develops a simple two-region endogenous growth model in which individuals must choose where to reside and the government decides the amount of productive public investments for each area. In such a framework, we analyze the implications of a change in government's regional policy on individuals' residential choice, growth, inequality and welfare. In doing so, we put in evidence the key role played by the strength of congestion effects in production. When they are strong, we show that an increase in the amount of public infrastructure in the poor region not only increases growth and welfare but also reduces economywide inequalities. Therefore, there is no trade-off between growth, welfare and inequality. Interestingly, we also show that inequality can always be dampened if the development gap across regions is initially high.


Z-103 (a novel anti-ulcer agent), given p.o. at doses of 30 and 100 mg/kg, significantly prevented gastric lesions induced by compound 48/80 in rats. Z-103 inhibited the histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells stimulated by compound 48/80 in a dose-dependent manner. Z-103 inhibited the increase in thiobarbituric acid (TBA) reactants induced by a single or repeated administration of compound 48/80 in the gastric mucosa. These observations suggested that the protective effect of Z-103 against compound 48/80-induced gastric lesions may be due to its stabilizing activity toward mast cells and/or an antioxidative effect on the gastric mucosa.


These day lifestyle become personal identity that many have to choose. Sporty lifestyle that is a positive lifestyle with the purpose of maintaining our health condition with smoking which is a lifestyle that gives adverse effect to the human body due to bad subtances in it. Thus, the researchers looked at the adverse effect of smoking and sport in the form of V02 Max points which is the maximum lung capacity that is affected by the frequency factor of sport exercises, the number of cigarettes per day with smoking duration. The study was conducted using Beep Test method to obtain V02 Max points which will be compared and analyzed to see the influence of both lifestyle directly. The respondents were 18-25 years old man with normal Body Mass Index (BMI). Of the 48 datas that are already divided 50:50 for smokers and non-smokers. The result showed that sport exercise frequency and number of cigarettes per day had significant effect on V02 Max points either independently or combined but for sport exercise frequency and duration of smoking only independently had a significat relationship. Sport exercise frequency has a positive effect to V02 Max Points while smoking has a negative effect for V02 Max points. So Smoking has a negative effect on respiration even though we have been exercising regularly.


Several lines of defense maintain the surface integrity of the delicate airway epithelium which is regularly subjected to severe trauma. These defense mechanisms include protection by the mucus layer, rapid repair by restitution (cell migration) and regeneration via proliferation and differentiation. Luminal surveillance peptides such as epidermal growth factor (EGF) and trefoil factor family (TFF) peptides support synergistically these processes. TFFs are well known particularly for their key role in mucosal restitution and there is an increasing body of evidence that TFFs also support mucosal differentiation processes. Mucus overproduction during inflammatory and obstructive airway diseases is a partial consequence of an increase in the number of goblet cells due to cell division (goblet cell hyperplasia) or differentiation (goblet cell metaplasia). Particularly the latter process reflects the plasticity of the airway epithelium and causes intense airway remodeling. Goblet cells are derived, at least in part, from Clara cells, which trans-differentiate from a serous into a mucous phenotype. This process is critically dependent upon IL-13. In a recent report (Kouznetsova et al. AJRCMB 36:286-297, 2007) using a murine asthma model it was shown that trans-differentiating Clara cells specifically express Tff1 which is stored in a specific subset of secretory granules. This points to a role for Tff1 as an autocrine factor for the trans-differentiation of Clara cells toward goblet cells. Such a role of TFFs for differentiation processes of the airways is supported by another recent study (LeSimple et al. AJRCMB 36:296-303, 2007) where induction of TFF3 synthesis was shown with differentiation in in vivo humanized tracheal xenograft and in vitro air-liquid interface culture models. Furthermore, exogenous TFF3 promoted differentiation of ciliated cells in an EGF receptor-dependent manner. Taken together, both studies imply that TFFs may play key roles for various differentiation processes of the airways and they could be promising novel targets in order to treat severe chronic and acute airway diseases.