In high temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTRs), graphite is used as the main structure material. The side reflecter of the reactor core is composed by a pile of graphite bricks. In real operational condition of the reactor, both high temperature and fast neutron irradiation have great effect on the behavior of graphite components. The non-uniform distribution of temperature and neutron dose cause obvious stress accumulation, which greatly affects the security and reliability of the graphite components. In addition, high temperature and neutron irradiation make the properties of graphite change in evidence, and the changes are not linear. Such changes must be considered and simulated in the calculation, in order to predict the stress concentration condition and the reliability of the graphite brick correctly. A FORTRAN code based on user subroutines of MSC.MARC is developed in INET in order to perform three-dimensional finite element analysis of irradiated behavior of the graphite components for the HTRs. In this paper, the stress level and failure probability of graphite components are calculated and obtained under different in-core temperatures and neutron dose levels of the core side of brick. 400°C, 500°C, 600°C and 700°C are selected as the core side temperature, while the range of neutron dose is 0 to 1022n cm-2 (EDN). Different constitutive laws are used in stress analysis procedure. The impact of different temperature and neutron dose levels are discussed.Copyright © 2013 by ASME


High-speed countercurrent chromatography (HSCCC) and preparative liquid chromatography were successively used for separation of epigallocatechin and flavonoids from Hypericum perforatum L. The two-phase solvent system composed of ethyl acetate-methanol -water (10:1:10, v/v) was used for HSCCC. About a 900 mg amount of the crude extract was separated by HSCCC, yielding 7.8 mg of quercetrin at a purity of over 97%, 12.6 mg of quercetin at a purity of over 93%, and 38.9 mg of a mixture of hyperoside, isoquercitrin and miquelianin constituting over 97% of the fraction. A mixture of epigallocatechin and avicularin pooled from three HSCCC runs, a total amount of 54.3 mg, was further separated by Prep-LC yielding 23.4 mg of epigallocatechin and 15.3 mg of avicularin each at a purity of over 97%.


Innovation is an inherently risky and uncertain process. Many of the broader challenges to innovation in general are both mirrored and exaggerated in environmental innovation. The four primary issues are externalities, uncertainty, asymmetric information, market power. Green technology is characterized by two market failures: the public goods nature of knowledge and environmental externalities. In addition, uncertainty regarding the qualities of the innovation, as well as future prices of inputs and substitutes will complicate the development and adoption processes. Ultimately, uncertainty and changing regulations may both encourage and inhibit environmental innovation, providing policymakers with a critical and challenging role in the process. This study centers on the three aspects of environmental innovation: development, dissemination and financing. As such, it also aims to offer some guidance as to the types of enabling factors that can play a role in positive national or (sub)regional systems of innovation, in the developed and developing world. The discussion focuses on recent work on the role of uncertainty, the participation of emerging and developing nations, and the variety of market actors and strategies in place. The paper also considers the policy instruments that are available, the cost, benefits and consequences of their use. As scholars continue to analyze when, where, why and how eco-innovations are developed and adopted, it is essential that government policymakers aim to reduce uncertainty and risk and foster transparency in the market. This continues to be a field of increasing future importance, and a rich area for continued academic study and analysis. Consumers, government policymakers and innovators would all benefit from a greater understanding of the process of technological change that contributes to the development, diffusion and financing of environmental technologies.


Urania Cabral, a New York lawyer, returns to the Dominican Republic after a lifelong self-imposed exile. Urania's own story alternates with the powerful climax of dictator Rafael Trujillo's reign. In 1961, Trujillo's decadent inner circle - which includes Urania's soon-to-be disgraced father - enjoys the luxuries of privilege while the rest of the nation lives in fear and deprivation. But after the murder of its hated dictator is carried out, the Dominican Republic is plunged into the nightmare of a bloody and uncertain aftermath. Now, thirty years later, Urania reveals how her own family was fatally wounded by the forces of history.


first chapter explains that emotional reactions are normal antd have a role in human development. The following chapters look at reactions to diagnosis, how faimily an-d friends may react and the impact of canicer fromn a social perspective. The clinical context is given, with an explanation of the physical and emotional experiences of treatment. The final two chapters fOCuIS specifically on how healtlh care profsessionals commnutnicate with patieints and how they can cope with their own emotional reactions to their work. Each section is set ouLt to ercoLirage uinderstanding of the patieit's expperienice aind gives practical suggestions that health carc professionals can incorporate into their working lives. I highly recommend this book. It is uIseful for all those who care for patients with cancer, specialist anad nonspecialist calike. It is comprehensive in iLs breadth and is well written. It has practical suoggestions for improving practice and has an extensive bibliography for those interested to read further.


Shrinkage of some of the glaciers has direct impacts on the formation and expansion of glacial lakes. Sudden glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) are a major threat to lives and livelihoods downstream as they can cause catastrophic damage. In this study, we present the dynamics of the Lower-Barun glacier and glacial lakes and their GLOF susceptibility. We used multi temporal Landsat and Sentinel satellite imagery and extracted the lake outlines using the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) with manual post-correction while the glacier outline was digitized manually. Multi-criteria decision-based method was used to assess the GLOF susceptibility. For the estimation of peak discharge and failure time, an empirical model developed by Froelich (1995) was used. The surface area of the Lower-Barun glacial lake was increased by 86% in the last 40 yrs (from 1979 to 2018), with a mean increase of 0.0432 km2/yr. The shrinkage in the glacier area is around 0.49 km2/yr and has shrunk by 8% in the last four decades. The retreat of the Lower-Barun glacier was 0.20% per year in the last four decades. The susceptibility index was 0.94, which suggests that the lake is very highly susceptible to the GLOF. The peak discharge of 5768 m3/s is produced when the breach depth is 20 m and the entire water volume is released. Likewise, in the case of 15 m breach depth, the peak discharge of 4038 m3/s is formed. Breach depth scenario of 10 m, peak discharge of 2442 m3/s is produced and in case of breach depth of 5 m produces the peak discharge of 1034 m3/s. If GLOF occurs, it can exert disastrous impacts on the livelihood and infrastructure in the downstream. So, it is necessary to examine such lakes regularly and mitigation measures to lower the GLOF susceptibility should be emphasized.


Triphenylenogermole, triphenylenodigermole, and trigermasumanene were prepared by repetitive lithiation of triphenylene followed by introduction of germanium functionalities. This is the first example of a trigermasumanene. Tin congeners were also synthesized and investigated. X-ray diffraction analysis of trisilasumanene 6, which does not have any substituents on the carbon atoms of the benzene rings, is also demonstrated. The optical properties of trigermasumanene and its derivatives were investigated by UV/Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. Theoretical calculations were carried out to understand the properties of the thus-obtained triphenylenometallole derivatives.


Comparison of oligopeptide maps of several viruses from the tick-borne encephalitis complex revealed considerable similarity between them manifested in the presence of a common oligonucleotide framework. At the same time there are differences between viruses, each of them having its own oligopeptides lacking in other viruses. The viruses under comparison form groups: tick-borne encephalitis viruses proper, Langat and Powassan viruses, Negishi virus, louping-ill virus. Within the group of tick-born encephalitis viruses, neurovirulent strains differ from those with lower neurovirulence. Other variants of the method of oligopeptide mapping should be used to determine the significance of these differences.


Adolescence is the most critical phase of an individual. The highly competitive world of today and the absence of traditional norms and support have heightened the stress among adolescents resulting in multiple issues such as depression, anxiety, loneliness, rejection, diffidence, anger, confliction in interpersonal relationship, alcohol abuse and criminal behaviour. An endeavor was made to understand the effect of life skill training on the behavioral issues and skill development of adolescents. Five adolescent students from Kottayam district were selected as sample for the present case study. Life skill training has been given for a period of 9 months. Life skill scale (Vranda, 2007) and Behavioral Checklist (prepared for the present study) were the tools used. The results of the present study laid its emphasis to explore the effectiveness of life skill training on dealing behavioral issues and developing life skill of adolescents.


The Dynamic Ergodic Divertor (DED) is presently being installed in the TEXTOR tokamak. It consists of 16 helical coils wound helically around the torus at the high fietd side (HFS). The perturbation currents in these coils generate predominantly islands of m=10...14 and n=4leading both to rather closed ergodic and to open laminar structures. In the "laminar mode", the DED forms a helical divertor'. 3D modelling (2D finite element/l D finite volume) of the plasma transport in the laminar zone has started. By the "dynamic" operation of the DED, the heat is deposited to a wide area and forces are transferred from the currents in the DED-coils to the plasma edge.


Background The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) gene G-238A polymorphism and risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) using a meta-analytical approach. Methods The PubMed and Embase databases were searched for relevant publications up to January 13, 2015. Four authors (XPH, XDZ, XTZ, and ZJZ) independently selected the studies, extracted, and analyzed the data using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software. The sensitivity and subgroups analyses were also performed. Either a fixed effects or a random effects model was used to estimate pooled odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results Finally, ten articles including eleven case-control studies involving 4,222 patients and 4,832 controls were yielded. The results indicated no significant association between G-238A polymorphism and CAD risk (A vs G: OR =1.08, 95% CI =0.89–1.30; AA vs GG: OR =1.15, 95% CI =0.59–2.25; GA vs GG: OR =1.14, 95% CI =0.88–1.48; AA vs [GG + GA]: OR =1.09, 95% CI =0.56–2.14; (GA + AA) vs GG: OR =1.11, 95% CI =0.90–1.38). In the subgroup analyses, similar results were obtained with overall populations. The sensitivity analyses showed that the overall results were robust. No publication bias was detected. Conclusion Based on current evidence, we can conclude that TNF-α G-238A polymorphism might not be associated with CAD risk.


We describe experiments in which molecules of a beam are submitted to brief pulses of an electric field (duration comprised between 5 · 10-9 and 100 · 10-9 s). r.f. transitions, induced by the pulses, are observed like in the case of inelastic molecular collisions. In certain definite conditions, we show that the transition probability P is proportional to the square of the duration and to the square of the pulse amplitude. We point out that this probability is also proportional to the square of the concerned transition matrix element, but independent of the transition frequency.


ton formation via exciton collisions'.' or two-photon absorptionP The bleaching decays measured with the pump polarized perpendicular to the polymer chains have similar characteristics. A remarkable difference, however, has been observed in a less oriented sample (dichroic ratio equal to 3) as shown in Fig. 3. The initial decays resemble that of the exciton. A much more pronounced plateau is present with the pump perpendicularly polarized. This may be due to interchain processes activated in a less ordered sample. In conclusion, highly oriented films of polyDCHD show fast exciton relaxation dynamics, presence of a slow time response and high value of the nonlinear optical susceptibility. The influence of sample orientation on bleaching decay has been also investigated. 'Institute di Chimica Industriale, Universitd di Genova, Genova, Italy **lnstitut de Physique et Chemie des MRteriRuX de Strasbourg, Strasbourg Cedex, France


Author(s): Peri, Alexis Jean | Advisor(s): Slezkine, Yuri | Abstract: The Blockade of Leningrad during the Second World War was one of the longest and most devastating sieges in modern history, which claimed the lives of about one million of the city's residents. Rather than invade Leningrad, Hitler vowed to simply "let the city devour itself." For those trapped inside the city, the war became first and foremost an internal struggle against the demands of their own bodies, which, under conditions of severe starvation, literally fed upon themselves. Over the course of almost 900 days spent under siege, Leningraders turned their attention inward and closely monitored the deterioration of their city, their community, and their lives. During the Blockade, Leningraders were confronted with the transformation of virtually every aspect of daily life, the defamiliarization of all that was known to them. Leningraders grew estranged from their physical bodies as well as from the identities, communities, attitudes, and beliefs that characterized their prewar lives. The Blockade thrust many established narratives--personal, historical, scientific, and ideological--into crisis. This dissertation examines how Leningraders struggled to make sense of the Blockade, and it draws on diaries that were kept during the siege as its main source base. I have uncovered a large corpus of blockade diaries from state, private, and family archives across Russia. These intimate accounts, which have largely been unknown to and untapped by scholarly research, are replete with insights about the how individuals endure extreme deprivation and the effects of prolonged trauma and starvation on the mind. Although the diaries do not provide direct access to Leningraders' innermost thoughts, they do give us insight into the various interpretive and narrative strategies that the diarists used as they struggled to find meaning in such horrific, almost unthinkable suffering. This study traces how the diarists studied their new surroundings and attempted to formulate new, meaningful narratives of the body, self, society, and history in their journals. I demonstrate how the diarists placed their society under a critical microscope and, from their unique vantage point "inside the ring," reconsidered certain fundamental aspects of Soviet life and of human existence more generally. Although they were aware of the particularity of their situation "inside the ring," the diarists viewed their discoveries in universal terms, suggesting that the Blockade led them to new insights about human nature, laid bare by the siege. The Soviet regime may have attempted to radically restructure human nature through socialism, but, according to the siege diarists, the Blockade actually was succeeding in doing so.


Interest in understanding the effects of multimorbidity on outcomes has increased in recent years. This paper presents the most common obesity‐related groupings of multimorbidity in the United States. Using Cerner HealthFacts data, we applied the frequent pattern growth algorithm to identify prevalent multimorbidity groupings of 3 or more diseases (one being obesity) by race using a dataset of 574 172 patients with obesity from all over the United States. We set the minimum prevalence to 10% and identified groupings of ICD10‐CM diagnoses that occur in our dataset at or above the minimum prevalence level. We provide binomial proportion confidence interval estimates to demonstrate the validity of the proportions. We performed g‐test for independence to validate differences in prevalence by race. We found 18 multimorbidity combinations with prevalence higher than or equal to 10%. Our results indicate that there are multiple common multimorbidities groupings for patients with obesity. Each multimorbidity combination is composed of diseases from the following clinical categories: endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases; diseases of the circulatory system; diseases of the digestive system; diseases of the nervous system; and diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue. For each multimorbidity pattern, the prevalence was found to be significantly different by race according to the g‐test with P‐value < .001. Most frequent patterns include essential hypertension or disorder of lipid metabolism. This study identifies common groupings of multimorbidity. We believe our data can be useful for those developing integrated care plans, particularly for those serving diverse communities.


Audio segmentation is one of the stages in audio processing chain whose accuracy plays a primary role in the final performance of the audio recognition and processing tasks. This paper presents an analysis of auditory features for audio segmentation. A set of features is derived from a time-frequency representation of an input signal and has been calculated based on properties of human auditory system. An analysis of several sets of audio features efficiency for BIC-based audio segmentation has been performed. The obtained results show that auditory features derived from different frequency scales are competitive to the widely used MFCC feature in terms of accuracy and the number of detected points.


Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of mortality worldwide and a major healthcare burden in most societies. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) play a pivotal role in the medical care of patients with or at risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). When stringent imaging criteria are fulfilled, CT and MRI allow for diagnosis, staging, and assessment of response to treatment, without the need for invasive workup, and can inform clinical decision making. Owing to the central role of these imaging modalities in HCC management, standardization is essential to facilitate proper imaging technique, accurate interpretation, and clear communication among all stakeholders in both the clinical practice and research settings. The Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) is a comprehensive system that provides standardization across the continuum of HCC imaging, including ordinal probabilistic approach for reporting that directs individualized management. This review discusses the up-to-date role of CT and MRI in HCC imaging from the LI-RADS perspective. It also provides a glimpse into the future by discussing how advances in knowledge and technology are likely to enrich the LI-RADS approach.


General adaptability of viscoelastic stress relaxation from laboratory time-dependent deformation (creep) measurement to derive the least principal stress Shmin magnitudes at depths in sedimentary rocks is proposed. It is based upon a simple viscous rheological model and steady-state tectonic strain loading. Creep data reveals different viscoelastic behavior of rocks mostly controlled by the varying mineral composition and the direction of creep measurement (perpendicular/parallel to the bedding plane). First, this approach is applied in a vertical drilled well then verify in another vertical well located in the Canning Basin where the target resources are ultralow permeable unconventional gas shale reservoirs. A continuous Shmin magnitude profile at depth is obtained from wireline logs through the following: (i) combination of laboratory power-law fitting coefficients, (ii) geological horizontal stress accumulation by constant tectonic loading, and (iii) relatively uniform stress variation of principal stress components (∅= (S_2- S_3)/(S_1- S_3 )) along with depth. Eaton's extended model could not capture the stress layering effect precisely and may introduce more uncertainty because of its dependency on several unpredictable parameters while the proposed rheology model relies upon laboratory constituent parameters (B, n) where B is the inverse of static Young's modulus E and n describes time dependency of rock deformation under a given stress.


It is a common belief that the convention called by Congress in response to the application of two-thirds of the State legislatures under Article V of the U.S. Constitution has the job of drafting the amendment(s) to be proposed. This belief has its origins in the contention that conventions inherently have wide-ranging deliberative authority that cannot be constrained to a specific pre-drafted amendment. But the overwhelming weight of the evidence indicates that the Article V convention was ordinarily meant to propose the amendment or amendments specified by two-thirds of the State legislatures in their call-triggering application. This evidence consists of the drafting history of Article V, the meaning and usage of the word "application" and "convention," and the contemporaneous statements of the Founders and Framers at the time the Constitution was ratified and soon thereafter.1


Ulcerative lesions of the cornea in 17–21 % lead to functional and up to 8 % to anatomical death of the eye depending on the severity. The aim of the work was to develop an algorithm of surgical treatment of patients with corneal ulcers. Comprehensive examination, treatment and outcomes in the dynamics of ulcerative lesions was performed in 126 patients, 86 patients of them received surgical intervention (with the threat of corneal perforation or present) for emergency indications and in 40 cases combined treatment was carried out with the use of a crosslinking (CRL) in corneal ulcer and ulcer a corneal transplant. Surgical intervention included autoconjuctival plasty (AUC), the transplantation of amniotic membrane in combination with blepharorrhaphy (TAM + BR), lamellar keratoplasty (PKP), penetrating keratoplasty (PK), reconstructive keratoplasty (RCP). The most favorable outcomes with relief of inflammation were achieved in RCP and PC. In cases of delayed epithelialization of the cornea and graft (herpesvirus infection and trophic disorders), the most resonant ones were TAM and TAM + BR. CRL treatment was carried out in 3 variants: 1-as the main method of treatment, 2 — CRL in combination with TAM + BR, 3 — CRL + keratoplasty ( 5–7 days after surgery). As a treatment result, epithelialization of ulcerative-destructive process and partial increase in visual acuity were observed in all patients. Based on the results of patient's treatment the algorithm of complex surgical care was created. It takes into account the etiology, localization, depth and severity of the inflammatory process, the area of ulcerative lesions of the cornea and of the graft, reduced terms of treatment inflammation and rehabilitation period.


The aim of this paper is to review the principles of ground-borne vibration induced by road traffic. Several researchers have studied the impact of ground-borne vibration on people, structure, and equipment, and developed guidelines or standards in order to indicate the threshold limit of damage and annoyance. Measurement of ground-borne vibration is a crucial aspect in ground-borne vibration studies that needs to be understood well. The reliability of the measurement is dependent on the accuracy of the data collected. Thus, discussion in this review paper proceeds on the types of groundborne vibration modelling that can predict and explain the phenomenon.


The paper examines the issues of the increase in the efficiency of methodologies of investigation ofcrimes, separate kinds and groups. Having generalized the points of view of criminal law experts, theauthor aims to prove that developed within the framework of criminalistics methodology, as division ofcriminalistics scientific positions and practical recommendations, while does not have all necessary forthe real application to protect rights and legal interests of victims from crimes, and personality, fromillegal prosecution, conviction, limitation of her rights and freedoms. It is considered that research positionsand practical recommendations must contain typical arguments for the acceptance of intermediateand final decisions on criminal cases, by submitting constantly executable complex of criminalisticsalgorithms and programs, from that optimal technology of pre-trial and judicial production will be formedin one or another criminal case. With their help, the development of the universal criminalistics recommendationsof new generation, specially intended for a management by inquisitional situations arisingat the investigation of crimes, must come true. They are suggested to be the object of permanentinterest of investigators, public prosecutors, lawyers, judges and obligatory constituent of set of professionalcompetences of lawyer. Along with individual features, their professional activity carries generalpersonal touches. Doing their work, they perform the same tasks practically, accomplish the sameactions, having, as a rule, complex character, and certain likeness. Consequently, based on study ofconformities to law of their practical activity and generalization of advanced experience, it is possible todistinguish the optimal sequence of executions of these subjects in typical inquisitional situations, withthat to expound it for the further use as criminalistics algorithms and programs of investigation.


The purpose of this research was to analyze the criteria employed by Brazilian basketball coaches to select young basketball players. This a descriptive research study with a sample comprising 16 basketball coaches (8 female and 8 male). All were training teams participating in the IV Youth Games – Division A. Data collection was by questionnaire and attitude scales, including topics such as indicators and methodology for selecting young basketball players. Based on the results the main conclusions were: 1)Brazilian coaches have a clear defi nition of the indicators for selecting young basketball players for specifi c positions; 2) Coaches have a process for the selection of young basketball players; 3) Selection is based predominantly on the coach's knowledge and experience.


Objective: To report the first European observations of erythromelalgia due to mushroom poisoning. Methods: Clinical features of erythromelalgia were observed in 7 cases seen over 3 years. All patients had eaten the same mushrooms species, gathered in the same French alpine valley. Erythromelalgia was first described in Japan after Clitocybe acromelalga ingestion. Clitocybe amoenolens was identified as the possible cause of poisoning in our cases.


By the end of the class, students will have the basic knowledge of and skills in searching for life science literature on a topic.


Purpose: To evaluate the incidence, treatment and clinical outcomes of tuberculosis pleuritis at a hospital in the state of Penang, Malaysia. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in Hospital of Penang, Malaysia. Patient records were reviewed retrospectively to identify patients with confirmed diagnosis of tuberculous pleuritis from January 2006 to December 2008. Chest x-ray (CXR) and pleural biopsy were carried out on all patients. Directly observed therapy (DOT) was given to all patients. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16. Results: Of 1548 tuberculosis cases, 80 (5.2 %) patients had tuberculous pleuritis. The mean age of the patients was 35.4 ± 12.87 years, with a male to female ratio of 3.4:1. Ethnically, a plurality (n = 30, 37.7 %) of cases among tuberculosis pleuritis patients were Chinese, followed by Malay (31.2 %). Out of the 80 patients with tuberculous pleuritis, 10 (12.5 %) also had diabetes mellitus, and 8 (10.0 %) HIV/AIDS. Fever, cough, chest pain and shortness of breathing were the most frequently reported symptoms. Treatment success rate was 1.558 times higher among TB group than pleuritis TB group (Odds ratio, 95 % CI, 1.06 – 2.59, p = 0.025). Conclusion: The incidence of TB pleuritis was gender- and race-related, with DM and HIV the most commonly reported risk factors. Treatment success rate was higher among pulmonary TB group than in those with TB pleuritis (extra pulmonary TB).


The article proposes a normative theory of inferential reasoning for criminal fact finding, centred on the concept of 'analogy'. While evidence law scholars have devoted little attention to the topic, the article maintains that analogy deserves more consideration. In particular, it argues that an analogical theory of inferential reasoning has three main advantages. First, the theory makes it possible to incorporate within a single coherent framework the important insights of different approaches to 'reasoning under uncertainty'; indeed, it welcomes both the Pascalian notion of 'relevance' based on the Bayesian likelihood ratio and the Baconian concept of 'weight'. Secondly, it helps advance the conventional understanding of the reference class problem, an evidential conundrum widely discussed in the recent legal scholarship. Finally, the theory allows for a functional taxonomy of reasonable doubts.


The short course, designed to train personnel who have an interest in measuring mercury in combustion flue gases, was held twice at the Drury Inn in Marion, Illinois. The short course helped to provide attendees with the knowledge necessary to avoid the many pitfalls that can and do occur when measuring mercury in combustion flue gases. The first short course, May 5-8, 2008, included both a classroom-type session and hands-on demonstration of mercury-sampling equipment. The hands-on demonstration of equipment was staged at Southern Illinois Power Cooperative. Not including the Illinois Clean Coal Institute and the U.S. Department of Energy project managers, there were 12 attendees. The second short course was conducted September 16-17, 2008, but only included the classroom portion of the course; 14 people attended. In both cases, lectures were provided on the various mercury measurement methods, and interaction between attendees and EERC research personnel to discuss specific mercury measurement problems was promoted. Overall, the response to the course was excellent.


The purpose of our research is to consider graphic design in the aspect of combining the incompatible – complementarity, and to identify ways to organize and develop the professional thinking of a designer. Research methods – analysis of synthesis of scientific, technical and humanitarian cultures in the field of graphic design; an attempt to apply the methods of researching the science of «centauristics» to the study of contemporary design. Scientific novelty. For the first time an attempt is made to apply the «centauristic» method to the study of the state of modern graphic design. Conclusions. Graphic forms of information cause certain feelings and create a positive or negative (in the case of unsuccessful forms) environment, adjust the emotional state of people to callogathy or the degradation of behavioral models. The principle of complementarity should be embedded in the modern education base, especially in the professional education of the design industry. This will help to shape not only a harmoniously developed personality, but also to become a specialist in design, capable of design thinking, generation of ideas and their implementation in the reality.


In the last few years, Kenyan public universities have mounted parallel degree programmes for students who are qualified and are financially able to pay for their university education. Moi University introduced such a programme in 1998. As a result of these developments, there has arisen concern amongst the stakeholders on the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of higher education offered. The paper reports the findings of an investigation carried out in the year 2003 to determine the internal efficiency of the Privately Sponsored Students Programme at Moi University. The target population for the study was all the students enrolled in the Privately Sponsored Students Programme at Moi University in the 2002/2003 academic year. Data for this study was collected by use of a questionnaire from a random sample of 300 respondents. The significant finding was Privately Sponsored Programmes operated below optimal efficiency levels. Different degree programmes demonstrated different levels of efficiency in the way they translated their inputs (students) into outputs (graduands). Also, it was established that many critical performance inputs were lacking or in short supply, such as library books and journals, computers, furniture in lecture rooms and chemicals in laboratories. To reduce these inefficiencies, there is need to enhance provision of critical inputs like books and journals, computers and science equipment as well as various consumables items.

 Key words: Democratization, education, efficiency, indicators, performance, quality.


Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a treatment for severe mental illness in which a brief application of electric stimulus is used to produce a generalized seizure. In the United States in the 1940s and 1950s, the treatment was often administered to the most severely disturbed patients residing in large mental institutions. As often occurs with new therapies, ECT was used for a variety of disorders, frequently in high doses and for long periods. Many of these efforts proved ineffective, and some even harmful. Moreover, its use as a means of managing unruly patients, for whom other treatments were not then available, contributed to the perception of ECT as an abusive instrument of behavioral control for patients in mental institutions for the chronically ill. With the introduction of effective psychopharmacologic medications and the development of judicial and regulatory restrictions, the use of ECT has waned. The treatment is now used primarily in general hospital psychiatric units and in psychiatric hospitals. A National Institute of Mental Health hospital survey estimated that 33,384 patients admitted to hospital psychiatric services during 1980 were treated with ECT, representing approximately 2.4% of all psychiatric admissions. Although ECT has been in use for more than 45 years, there is continuing controversy concerning the mental disorders for which ECT is indicated, its efficacy in their treatment, the optimal methods of administration, possible complications, and the extent of its usage in various settings. These issues have contributed to concerns about the potential for misuse and abuse of ECT and to desires to ensure the protection of patients' rights. At the same time, there is concern that the curtailment of ECT use in response to public opinion and regulation may deprive certain patients of a potentially effective treatment. In recent decades, researchers intensified efforts to establish the effectiveness of ECT and its indications, understand its mechanism of action, clarify the extent of adverse effects, and determine optimum treatment technique. Despite recent research effort yielding substantial information, permitting professional and public evaluation of the safety and efficacy of ECT, the investigation of ECT has not generally been in the mainstream of mental health research. To help resolve questions surrounding these issues, the National Institutes of Health in conjunction with the National Institute of Mental Health convened a Consensus Development Conference on Electroconvulsive Therapy from June 10 to 12, 1985.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a very promising analytical technique for the detection and identification of trace amounts of analytes. Among the many substrates used in SERS of great interest are nanostructures fabricated using physical methods, such as semicontinuous metal films obtained via electron beam physical vapor deposition. In these studies, we investigate the influence of morphology of semicontinuous silver films on their SERS properties. The morphologies studied ranged from isolated particles through percolated films to almost continuous films. We found that films below the percolation threshold (transition from dielectric-like to metal-like) made of isolated silver structures provided the largest SERS enhancement of 4-aminothiophenol (4-ATP) analyte signals. The substrate closest to the percolation threshold has the SERS signal about four times lower than the highest signal sample.


BioRhythm is an interactive bio-feedback installation controlled by the cardiovascular system. Data from a photoplethysmograph (PPG) sensor controls sonication and visualization parameters in real-time. Biological signals are obtained using the techniques of Resonance Theory in Hemodynamics and mapped to audiovisual cues via the Five Element Philosophy. The result is a new media interface utilizing sound synthesis and spatialization with advanced graphics rendering. BioRhythm serves as an artistic exploration of the harmonic spectra of pulse waves.


Objective: Genetic predisposition is very common among the patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), a complex and multifactorial disease. Our objective was to determine the possible association between the most remarkable functional variants in the paraoxonase 1(PON1), cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4), integrin subunit beta 3 (ITGB3) genes and familial CAD.
Materials and Methods: We included 117 patients diagnosed with familial CAD and 99 healthy subjects with no family history of CAD. PON1 Q192R, PON1 L55M, CYP3A4*1G and ITGB3 L33P single nucleotide polymorphisms were genotyped using the Sequenom MassARRAY system.
Results: Comparison of genotype and allele frequencies in inheritance models of polymorphisms between the patient and control groups did not reveal any significant findings related to CAD. Stratified analysis by gender did also not display any association both in females and males. There was no significant difference in the frequencies of the haplotypes of the PON1 Q192R and L55M polymorphisms between the patient and control group.
Conclusion: Our findings confirmed previous studies that did not consider PON1, CYP3A4 and ITGB3 genes as risk loci. The fact that our study was conducted only in patients with familial CAD shows the originality and importance of our results.


A new era of technology and connected living is introduced by the Internet of Things industry. Although it is one of the most promising domains of the future, security issues and privacy concerns have kept it from revolutionizing business sectors of any kind. Since collecting and analyzing data is what the Internet of Things is based on, knowing what makes people share sensitive information is crucial to every company wanting to establish itself in this new industry. Therefore, the goal of this study is to identify factors positively influencing people's willingness to share their data. Derived from driving factors of willingness to share data online, consumer trust and transparency of data were investigated as influencing factors on sharing data for Internet of Things devices. To explore the relationship between consumer trust, transparency of data and willingness to share, empirical research was conducted. A vignette survey was used to avoid bias and ensure respondents apply their answers to an Internet of Things device. Four scenarios were presented to the respondent, to which he had to react to by stating if, given the corresponding scenario, he would share his data. 78 responses were collected over a period of seven days. The results show a significant relationship for both consumer trust and transparency of data with willingness to share. Furthermore transparency of data shows to have a stronger effect on willingness to share than consumer trust. This study provides first insights into the antecedents of people's willingness to share private information for Internet of Things devices and creates a basis for further research of successful data collection methods in this industry.


Recently, many consumers focus is being placed on the safety and high quality foods. First, we have examined the possibility of aquatic food products classification in this study. Based on the above background, the Japanese government aims to develop and expand overseas markets of agricultural, fishery and food products in Japan "Japan revitalization strategy" revised in 2015, and Hokkaido is also developing agriculture and fishery production associations. In this study, focusing on aquatic foods in Hokkaido, it aims to establish simple quality control method that contributes to taste, freshness evaluation, and safety requirement. Therefore, we considered that it is useful to measurement at a low cost using inorganic component value involved in aquatic food products. Additionally, these methods with informatics method (neural network, discriminant analysis and analysis of variance) optimized. As a result, it was possible to identify inorganic components contributing to the classification condition of aquatic food, and classify "Fish" "Fishery paste products" "Shellfish". キーワード:水産食品,分類,化学成分値,多変量解析,ニューラルネットワーク


The objective of this study is to present treatment of fibular hemimelia along with the complications, results, and an algorithm for treatment indications on the basis of authors' experience. A group of 31 patients was studied. In patients fulfilling the criteria for amputation, Syme's amputation should be performed. Elongation should be performed in case of type IA or IB fibular hemimelia, with a functional foot with more than three rays, leg shortening less than 5 cm at birth, and less than 10 cm at 9 years of life. The combination of epiphysiodesis with elongation produces the best outcome and is best accepted by the patients.


Aseptic loosening attributed to cement fracture and subsequent disruption of fixation interfaces remains a major long-term mode of failure of arthroplasties performed with cement1 (Fig. 1). The fracture strength of bone cement, especially in fatigue, is an important indicator of cement integrity and the potential for fixation failure.

In current practice, orthopaedic surgeons may choose to utilize antibiotics in bone cement for prophylaxis or treatment of a known infection. However, the antibiotics, bone cement, and mixing method employed lead to variability in the quality of the end product2-5.

To date, several United States orthopaedic manufacturers have received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance for use of their prepackaged antibiotic-loaded bone cement for the second stage of a two-stage revision after the initial infection has been eradicated. This availability provides a more uniform cement mix with known mechanical and elution characteristics at the level of 0.5 to 1.0 g of antibiotic per 40 g of polymer powder.

In this study, we evaluated the influence of antibiotic inclusion on the porosity, strength, and fatigue life of six contemporary bone cements.

Six surgical quality and commercially available surgical bone cements were evaluated: Endurance and Endurance Gentamicin (DePuy Orthopaedics, Warsaw, Indiana), Surgical Simplex P and Simplex P with Tobramycin (Stryker Orthopaedics, Mahwah, New Jersey), and VersaBond and VersaBond AB with Gentamicin (Smith and Nephew, Memphis, Tennessee).

Ten 1.2-g doses of Tobramycin for Injection USP (United States Pharmacopeia) (Pharma-Tek, Huntington, New York), which is the base quantity supplied to the operating theater when antibiotics are hand-mixed with bone cement, were acquired.

Three vacuum-mixing systems (Figs. 2-A, 2-B, and 2-C)—the Cemvac (DePuy Orthopaedics), the ACM (Advanced Cement Mixing System; Stryker), and the Vortex (Smith and Nephew)—were acquired directly from their manufacturers.

Nine study samples were created: hand-mixed …


Microtubules are an interesting type of microstructure that resemble miniature drinking straws. Such tubular microstructures are found in nature. In addition, we and others have been investigating strategies for making synthetic analogs. We are especially interested in the idea of making metal microtubules. Four procedures for preparing metal microtubules are described in this paper. The general approach, called template-synthesis, entails using the pores in a microporous membrane as templates for forming the tubules. Microporous anodic aluminum oxide membranes and nuclear track-etch membranes are used as the template membranes. Gold and silver microtubules are made with outer diameters as small as 200 nm. These microstructures are characterized by scanning electron microscopy.


Study on the electricity structure along a magnetotelluric (MT) sounding profile on the northeastern margin of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau indicates that four crustal blocks can be determined from southwest to northeast, namely Bayan Har block (BH), Qin-Qi block (QQ), Hai-yuan block (HY) or the North-South seismotectonic belt and Ordos block (OD). The BH, QQ and OD blocks display a similar electricity structure of the crust. The upper crust represents a high-resistivity layer and the upper part of lower crust represents a low-resistivity layer with the resistivity increasing gradually with depth from the lower part of lower crust to the upper mantle. The electricity structure of the crust in these three blocks is similar to that in the complete blocks on the southern and eastern margins of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and belongs to normal electricity layering of the crust in slightly deformed or complete intracontinental blocks. The crust in HY block as a boundary zone has been significantly deformed, hence its electricity layering was destroyed and the structure was complex and the block became a recent tectonically active and great seismo-active region. The contact belts between the blocks on the northeastern margin of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau exhibit both upthrusting outward and strike-slip movement different from those on the southern and eastern margins of the plateau. The genesis of the low-resistivity layer in the crust is analyzed and the thickness of the lithosphere is estimated in the paper.


Why has Chrysler been twice as profitable as GM and Ford during the 1990s even though it is a much smaller company with plants that are less efficient than Ford's? Why does Toyota continue to have substantial productivity and quality advantages long after knowledge of the Toyota Production System has diffused to competitors? The answer, according to Jeff Dyer, is that Toyota and Chrysler have been the first in their industry to recognize that the fundamental unit of competition has changed-from the individual firm to the extended enterprise. In this book Dyer demonstrates the power of collaborative advantage, arguing that, in the future, competitive advantage will increasingly be created by teams of companies, rather than by the single firm. Managers who do not recognize this development-regardless of their industry-are in danger of adopting the wrong strategies for their firms. Dyer draws on eight years of study of the automotive industry, including a wealth of data from interviews with over 200 executives and surveys of over 500 suppliers, as he offers detailed case studies of Toyota and Chrysler to show managers how to create collaborative advantage with their supplier networks. Dyer demonstrates how to build trust in the extended enterprise, how to exploit and manage knowledge (describing how Toyota manages knowledge across organizational boundaries), and how to create advantages through dedicated asset investments. In turn, these processes generate stunning performance advantages and an identity for the extended enterprise. To be successful in future years, executives will have to convert their corporations into fully integrated, extended enterprises. In Collaborative Advantage, Jeff Dyer shows them how.


The objective of this paper is to investigate the effects of physical parameterization on the simulation of a snowfall event over Korea caused by air-mass transformation by using the PSU/NCAR MM5. A heavy snowfall event over Korea during 3-5 January 2003 is selected. In addition to the control experiments employing simple-ice microphysics scheme, MRF PBL scheme, and original surface layer process, three consequent physics sensitivity experiments are performed. Each experiment exchanges microphysics (Reisner Graupel), boundary layer (YSU PBL) schemes, and revised surface layer process with a reduced thermal roughness length for the control run. The control run reproduces an overall pattern of snowfall over Korea, but with a high bias by a factor of about 2. As revealed in the previous studies, the cloud microphysics and PBL parameterizations do not show a significant sensitivity for the case of snowfall. A more sophisticated cloud processes does not reveal a discernible effect on the simulated snowfall. Further, high bias in snowfall is exaggerated when a more realistic PBL scheme is employed. On the other hand, it is found that the revised surface layer process plays a role in improving the prediction of snowfall by reducing it. Thus, it is found that a realistic design of surface layer physics in mesoscale models is an important factor to the reduction of systematic bias of the snowfall over Korea that is caused by air-mass transformation over the Yellow sea.


We examine the dynamic trading strategies implemented by hedge fund managers using a Kalman filter. We investigate the risk drivers of dynamic trades, examining which macroeconomic variables strongly lead the time variation in fund trades. We show that hedge funds control the intensity of their exposures according to economic uncertainty and that differences between up- and down-market regimes can be observed. Commonly, Hedge funds tend to dislike high-dividend paying stocks. Besides, all hedge fund styles are shown to display pro-cyclical exposures towards directional equity factors as well as credit and liquidity risks. Small growth stocks, however, are revealed to be crisis investments whose allocation increases with unemployment, inflation or volatility. As volatility increases, the value of growth options embedded into growth stocks indeed increases. Growth stocks are shown to hedge market reversals and volatility. The outperformance of growth companies in recessions might also relate to their cost flexibility.


The occurrence of colon cancer typically depends on the presence or absence of adenomatous polyps. Hence, performing colonoscopy and polypectomy can aid in cancer prevention. This study aimed to retrospectively investigate demographic, endoscopic, and histopathological data of patients who presented with colorectal polyps and underwent endoscopic resection at our center. In this single-center retrospective study, we collected the data of 1058 colorectal polyps that were excised from 498 cases between September 2019 and September 2020. We reviewed patient's information, including patient age and sex, indications for colonoscopy, polyp characteristics (localization, size, number, and histopathology), endoscopic resection techniques, and presence of related complications. Mean age of the 498 cases included in this study was 62.44 ± 11.77 years (21–90 years); among these patients, 296 (59.4%) were females. The age group of 60–69 years had the highest number of cases (150 cases) presenting with polyps (30.1%). The most common indication for colonoscopy was polyp surveillance in 100 cases (20.1%). The polyps were most commonly localized in the sigmoid colon (26%). Histopathologically, the most common type of polyp was tubular adenoma. Furthermore, 54.3% of the polyps were diminutive. Polyps with dysplasia were significantly different from those without dysplasia in terms of polyp size, polyp localization, and post-polypectomy complications (p < 0.001, p = 0.006, and p < 0.001, respectively). In people aged >50 years, colon polyps were more common in the left colon, especially in the rectosigmoid region. Endoscopic polypectomy is a safe method for resecting precancerous lesions. Polypectomy should be performed immediately after identifying polyps in colonoscopy screenings to determine their histology and prevent progression to malignancy. Additionally, these patients should be included in a polyp surveillance program.


Utilising a general protocol for making surface-imprinted core–shell microparticles via a RAFT-mediated approach, we developed a Cu(II) imprinted polymer with a novel magnetic nanosphere, γ-Fe2O3@meso-SiO2, as support. Attributed to the controlled/living polymerization mechanism of the RAFT polymerization process, the Cu(II) imprinted polymer prepared by RAFT polymerization (IIP-RAFT) presented a more well-defined morphology, more mono-dispersed properties, and much higher magnetic responsiveness, compared to the Cu(II) imprinted polymer prepared by traditional free-radical polymerization (IIP-TP). Moreover, in the static saturation binding experiments, a higher binding capacity of IIP-RAFT (210 mg g−1) than IIP-TP (145 mg g−1) was also found. Afterwards, a series of adsorption experiments were carried out to systematically evaluate the adsorption performance of the as-prepared IIP-RAFT. And the results showed that IIP-RAFT exhibited excellent selectivity, good reusability and desirable dynamic adsorption behavior, and could be an ideal candidate for SPE sorbents for the removal of Cu(II) in real wastewater.


The Internet of Things (IoT) is increasingly empowering people with an interconnected world of physical objects ranging from smart buildings to portable smart devices, such as wearables. With recent advances in mobile sensing, wearables have become a rich collection of portable sensors and are able to provide various types of services, including tracking of health and fitness, making financial transactions, and unlocking smart locks and vehicles. Most of these services are delivered based on users' confidential and personal data, which are stored on these wearables. Existing explicit authentication approaches (i.e., PINs or pattern locks) for wearables suffer from several limitations, including small or no displays, risk of shoulder surfing, and users' recall burden. Oftentimes, users completely disable security features out of convenience. Therefore, there is a need for a burden-free (implicit) authentication mechanism for wearable device users based on easily obtainable biometric data. In this paper, we present an implicit wearable device user authentication mechanism using combinations of three types of coarse-grain minute-level biometrics: behavioral (step counts), physiological (heart rate), and hybrid (calorie burn and metabolic equivalent of task). From our analysis of over 400 Fitbit users from a 17-month long health study, we are able to authenticate subjects with average accuracy values of around .93 (sedentary) and .90 (non-sedentary) with equal error rates of .05 using binary SVM classifiers. Our findings also show that the hybrid biometrics perform better than other biometrics and behavioral biometrics do not have a significant impact, even during non-sedentary periods.


History is about people, and this outstanding book explores the everyday lives of people of all kinds across the centuries: both the ordinary people, who are the life blood of a nation, and the extraordinary rulers, reformers, rebels, thinkers, scientists and artists who have been the pioneers of change. In compelling narrative, this book charts the great moments of social change, of discovery and invention, from the earliest settlers to the present day. A revised final chapter brings the story right up to date.


Purpose Social support is increasingly recognized to be important in care of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH), we firstly translate and validate the disease-targeted social support instrument in Chinese and to explore the correlation with WHOQOL-HIV. Patients and Methods We established content validity for HIV-related social support scale (HSSS) and administered the resultant questionnaire to 310 PLWH. Descriptive statistics were generated for each of the variables of general characteristics; student t-test was used to compare the different groups. Results The HSSS demonstrated a high level of internal consistency, both within each subscale and with the total score; all Cronbach's α values exceeded a priori threshold of ≥0.70. The HSSS cores were positively correlated with WHOQOL-HIV total scores (Pearson correlation: 0.39, P < 0.001). We also found that higher educational level, personal income, CD4 cell count, and shorter duration of antiretroviral therapy are significantly associated with a higher level of social support (P < 0.05). Conclusion Social support may improve quality of life for PLWH, Chinese version of HIV-related social support scale can be used in future clinical practice.


Light sensitivity and adaptation, general characteristics of rod photoreceptor cell vision, allow rods to modulate their response depending on the lighting environment to which they are exposed. In dim light, rods are maximally sensitive, whereas, in bright light, rods are essentially inactive. In the retinas of dark‐adapted mice, arrestin (an inhibitory protein) is located in the rod inner segment (RIS), and transducin (an activating protein) is located in the rod outer segment (ROS). In light‐adapted retinas, the proteins have reciprocal localizations. In this study, our data demonstrate that the temporal and spatial changes in the subcellular localization of arrestin and β‐transducin are correlated with the amount of light to which the animals are exposed. By using the frog Xenopus laevis and immunofluorescence confocal microscopy, our results also show that in the dark‐adapted retina some arrestin remains in the ROS. The data most dramatically demonstrate that this residual arrestin is highly concentrated in the connecting cilium, the axoneme, and the microtubules associated with the disc incisures. These data suggest a structure–function relationship between the light‐dependent positional status of arrestin and the elements of the rod photoreceptor cytoskeleton. The massive, rapid, light‐induced reciprocal changes in the subcellular concentrations of these proteins must directly affect phototransduction and appear to be a general phenomenon by which photoreceptor cells rapidly and transiently regulate the trafficking and subcellular concentration of a variety of signal transduction proteins within the RIS and ROS. Hereditary mutations in the components of the movement mechanism should lead to defects in vision and possibly blindness. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


Abstract : In this paper, the authors considered the problem of estimation of the frequencies and the number of signals under a signal processing model with multiple sinusoids. The frequencies are estimated with eigenvariation linear prediction method. The number of signals is estimated with an information theoretic criterion. The strong consistency of the estimates of the frequencies and the number of signals is also established. Also, a modification of forward backward linear prediction method is suggested to yield consistent estimators of the frequencies.


Autonomic dysreflexia manifested as episodic hypertension after spinal cord injury may occur because of changes in sympathetic preganglionic neurons (SPNs) in response to loss of bulbospinal inputs. We studied dysreflexia in rats one week after midthoracic spinal cord hemisection or complete transection. After cord hemisection at the fifth thoracic segment all rats had hemiparaplegia and after complete transection they were paraplegic and exhibited dysreflexia characterized by pressor responses to distension of the urinary bladder. Changes in morphology of SPNs retrogradely labelled by cholera toxin and Fluoro Gold were examined and changes also were assessed in expression of the synaptic vesicular protein synaptophysin. A comparison of SPNs rostral and caudal to the lesion revealed significant dendritic degeneration and decreased soma size after the loss of supraspinal input. Expression of synaptophysin was normally observed rostral to a cord hemisection but this immunoreactivity was increased caudal to the lesion. In conclusion significant structural changes in SPNs occur within a week after cord injury. The abnormal cardiovascular control and exaggerated reflex reactions may be due to new synapse formation on these SPNs.


INTRODUCTION:
Leprosy is one of the very old diseases to have afflicted man. After a great search for the etiology, it was attributed to a bacterium Mycobacterium leprae by Sir Gerhard Armauer Hansen in 1873 and he remarked wryly: "There is hardly anything on earth, or between it and heaven, which has not been regarded as the cause of leprosy; and this is but natural,since the less one knows, the more actively does his imagination works".
Leprosy is a disease with widely varied clinical manifestations and capable of affecting almost every organ of the body. The disease is considered important mainly because of its potential to cause permanent and progressive physical deformities. After a great struggle over many centuries, the disease has been brought under control. The credit goes to the advent of MDT therapy instituted from 1982. Most countries that were endemic for leprosy have achieved elimination. India achieved elimination in December, 2005. Though there is a drastic decline in the prevalence of leprosy among the endemic countries, the fall in the new case detection rate is still stable or shows increasing trends. The total number of new cases detected during the year 2011-2012 was 1.27 lakhs and children contributed 9.7% (12,305) of the new cases.
Children are susceptible to leprosy as they are to many other diseases. Not all the hypopigmented skin lesions are due to leprosy. Children usually present with single hypopigmented patch especially over the face with intact or impaired sensation. Clinical features of leprosy among children are confusing and testing of sensation in them is difficult. Unless specifically looked for, the diagnosis may be missed and they will manifest in early adulthood with disabilities. The disease in children responds well to treatment if detected in early stages and the deformities can be prevented.
Above all, childhood leprosy is an indicator for assessing the endemicity of the disease. The high child case rate indicates the continuous spread of the disease in the community. It is also a measure of the efficacy of the control programme.
In view of the importance of detecting leprosy early among children, clinical and histopathologic profile of children who were diagnosed with leprosy at Tirunelveli medical college hospital were analysed in this study and the implications are discussed.
AIMS & OBJECTIVES:
This is a prospective study done on childhood leprosy patients below 14 years of age at Tirunelveli medical college hospital with the following objectives:
1. To study the incidence of childhood leprosy in Tirunelveli district.
2. To determine the age and sex distribution of the childhood leprosy cases.
3. To study the various clinical presentations, histopathological features and SSS status among children.
4. To study the incidence and pattern of nerve involvement, systemic involvement, reactions and deformity in the child cases of leprosy.
5. To find out the PB and MB proportion of child cases.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
INCLUSION CRITERIA:
1. Children aged 0 – 14 years,
2. Both sexes,
3. Cases who are newly diagnosed as Hansen's disease during the study period,
4. Both the direct and referred cases from the PHC s, ULC s and other hospitals in Tirunelveli district.
EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
1. Children > 14 years,
2. Children who have taken anti-leprosy treatment in the past in the form of monotherapy or as MDT.
Our study was a hospital based open prospective study conducted at Department of Dermatology in Tirunelveli Medical college hospital on Newly diagnosed childhood cases of Leprosy (includes the cases directly attending the OPD and those who are diagnosed in the field and referred to hospital) aged 0 –14 years to study and analyse the clinical profile and Histopathology in every aspect during the period from September 2010 to October 2012.
CONCLUSION:
Leprosy continues to be an important health problem in children. Though the incidence of childhood leprosy has become low, considerable proportions of children are presenting to health care at a late stage with deformities which indicates reluctance either to come forward or an inadequate detection which may be related to unawareness. Deformities occurring in children are more distressing both socially and psychologically, as they have to live their whole life with this stigma. It is imperative that our goal should be to bring all cases of leprosy in children under treatment at the earliest possible stage. Childhood leprosy reflects the status of disease control in the community and in turn efficacy of the control programme. Awareness should be raised in the society by all means including the media and the health services. Parental education, counselling, screening of household contacts of leprosy patients and school surveys form an integral part of early detection and treatment to achieve the goal of eradication of leprosy.


Abstract: This article introduces the paradigm of empowerment as being more appropriate for evaluation of community participation than the paradigm of efficiency. A variety of critical theories have been proposed as an expression of the empowerment paradigm. These theories, when applied to community evaluation problems, assume that there is conflict and unequal distribution of power between community groups. This unequal power is reflected in groups' different abilities to make independent choices to meet their needs. Evaluation under the empowerment paradigm focuses on determining whether program reforms alter power relations between groups. An evaluation model for community participation in health promotion programs is presented as an illustration of the empowerment paradigm.


[1] We evaluate a three-dimensional, nested-grid nearshore model of Lake Michigan for its ability to describe key aspects of hydrodynamics and solute transport using data from a field study conducted in summer 2008. Velocity comparisons with observations from five bottom-mounted ADCPs at different depths in the coastal boundary layer (CBL) show that the numerical model was able to simulate currents and flow reversals accurately within the inertial boundary layer, however model accuracy reduced close to the shoreline. Power spectra of observed and simulated velocity time series at different locations showed that the hydrodynamic model was able to describe the energy contained in the inertial scales, but over-predicted turbulent dissipation rates. As a result, model-predicted values of energy in the smaller, dissipation scales were lower compared to values calculated from observations in the CBL. Differences between energy contained in the observed and simulated velocity spectra increased as the shoreline is approached. Observations showed that vertical variations in the alongshore and cross-shore velocities were dominated by inertial waves. Inaccuracies in representing energy dissipation rates and processes not explicitly described in the hydrodynamic model (e.g., anisotropy, waves) could potentially contribute to errors in describing transport in the CBL. Measurements from a continuous dye release experiment from a riverine outfall were described using a nearshore model with a mean horizontal dispersion coefficient of 5.6 m2/s. Improved representations of physical processes (such as turbulence, internal waves and wave-current interactions) can be expected to provide better descriptions of solute transport in the CBL.


We discuss the technical challenges and potential for implementing optical transceivers with multiterabit-per-second capacities. We will examine typical approaches, discuss bottlenecks that have developed in the interconnect hierarchy, and identify potential solutions.


Lack of trial data on new antihypertensive agents The present debate concerning the use of new classes of antihypertensive agents in general and calcium antagonists in particular, is due to the fact that for most of the agents, there is a lack of data from major clinical trials with cardiovascular outcomes. Contribution of Chinese clinical trial data The present review summarizes and qualifies the prospective clinical trial data obtained in China which were performed with calcium antagonists and indapamide. These results need to be reviewed critically for their weaknesses as well as strengths, so that the data can be used to improve present knowledge of antihypertensive therapy.


Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) has been studied for ferulic acid derivatives to determine the QSAR model able to predict anticancer. As the subject of this research was a set of experimentally calculated IC50 value data of 6 ferulic acid derivatives against cervical cancer cells (HELA).
 QSAR analysis was based on multilinear regression calculation on fitting subset using log (1/IC50) as the dependent variable, and dipole moment, partition coefficient in the n-octanol/water, and atomic net charges of the aromatic carbons as independent variables. The values of the descriptors were
obtained from semiempirical PM3 quantum mechanic calculation. The relationship between log (1/IC50) and the descriptors was described by the result in the QSAR model. The QSAR model for ferulic acid derivatives against HELA cell lineswas developed with the statistical parameters of R=0.998; R2=0.999; SE=0.00857;  and F=394. The calculated log (1/IC50) using QSAR Hansch Model for ferulic acid derivatives have excellent agreement with experimental data of Log (1/IC50).


: This paper treats various forms of Roman urn, evidence of cremation as a customary manner of burial in what is now Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Antiquities Department of the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina holds the largest collection of Roman urns of various types and dates: 76 complete or fragmentary specimens. The urns may be classified in terms of material into glass, pottery and stone urns. Several different forms are identified within each group. The most diverse are stone urns, which may be square, rectangular box-shaped and sarcophagus-like, or cylindrical.


The idea that a multi-junction solar cell can achieve high efficiency has a long history, dating back to 1957. However the actual realization of efficient multi-junction solar cells that demonstrate the advantages predicted by the early studies, has taken approximately 30 years. Currently there is cause for optimism and considerable efforts are underway to bring highly efficient multi-junction solar cells to terrestrial concentrator systems. This paper will provide an overview of important developments of high efficiency multi junction solar cells over the last decade.


Increasing participation rates in pupil surveys has become an important challenge for empirical educational research. In this paper we investigate whether combining a monetary incentive with a personalised invitation to participate in a survey increases the response rate of secondary school pupils. It is found that pupils who receive a personalised invitation and a monetary incentive are not more likely to participate, nor to participate more quickly following the invitation, than those who received a nonpersonalised invitation and a monetary incentive.


Acquiring accurate three-dimensional depth information conventionally requires expensive multibeam LiDAR devices. Recently, researchers have developed a less expensive option by predicting depth information from two-dimensional color imagery. However, there still exists a substantial gap in accuracy between depth information estimated from two-dimensional images and real LiDAR point-cloud. In this paper, we introduce a fusion-based depth prediction method, called FusionMapping. This is the first method that fuses colored imagery and two-dimensional laser scan to estimate depth in-formation. More specifically, we propose an autoencoder-based depth prediction network and a novel point-cloud refinement network for depth estimation. We analyze the performance of our FusionMapping approach on the KITTI LiDAR odometry dataset and an indoor mobile robot system. The results show that our introduced approach estimates depth with better accuracy when compared to existing methods.


To address the need for new intelligent sensing of systems, this study presents a novel strain sensor based on piezoresistivity of carbon nanotube (CNT) and its nanocomposites. Fabrication and characterization of the carbon nanocomposite material are discussed and an electrical model of the CNT strain sensor was derived based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis and strain testing. The dynamic response of the sensor on a vibrating beam was simulated using numerical analysis and it was compared with experimental test. The simulation showed good agreement with the strain response of the actual sensor.


With the productivity of US agriculture growing faster than domestic food and fiber demand, U.S farmers and agricultural firms rely heavily on export markets, to sustain price revenues. U.S agricultural exports have been larger than imports since 1960, generating a surplus in agricultural trade. The surplus helps counter the persistent deficit in non-agricultural merchandise trade, ERS - USDA (2013). From its modest beginning during the nineteenth century as a niche market, Asia has grown enormously in importance as a trading partner for the United States, (Foreign Trade Statistics, U.S Census Bureau). For example, by mid-2008, China accounted for 11.2% of all U.S trade behind Canada's 17.9% share but ahead of Mexico's 10.7%. This paper econometrically analyzes the export demand of U.S. meat products into these countries using the Export demand model. The model is applied to yearly aggregated data of U.S. meat product exports to some Asian countries from1980 to 2013. Export values were regressed on the per capita GDP of the countries in question, Exchange rates of the currencies of these countries to the U.S. dollar and WTO Membership. Results indicated that, per capita GDP and exchange rates positively affect the quantity of export.


This paper analyses the Australian Values Education Program (VEP) within the framework of late-classical political economy. Using analytical methods from systemic functional linguistics and critical discourse analysis, we demonstrate that the VEP is an unwitting restatement of the principles of ideology as developed by the likes of Destutt de Tracy and the Young Hegelians. We conclude that the sudden shock of globalisation and the post-national cultures this has entailed is in many ways similar to the shock of formal nationalism that emerged in the late-Seventeenth and early-Eighteenth centuries. The overall result of the VEP for the Australian school system is a massive procedural burden that is unlikely to produce the results at which the program is aimed.


Glucose, the primary substrate for ATP synthesis, is catabolized during glycolysis to generate ATP and precursors for the synthesis of other vital biomolecules. Opportunistic viruses and cancer cells often hijack this metabolic machinery to obtain energy and components needed for their replication and proliferation. One way to halt such energy-dependent processes is by interfering with the glycolytic pathway. 2-Deoxy-d-glucose (2-DG) is a synthetic glucose analogue that can inhibit key enzymes in the glycolytic pathway. The efficacy of 2-DG has been reported across an array of diseases and disorders, thereby demonstrating its broad therapeutic potential. Recent approval of 2-DG in India as a therapeutic approach for the management of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought renewed attention to this molecule. The purpose of this perspective is to present updated therapeutic avenues as well as a variety of chemical synthetic strategies for this medically useful sugar derivative, 2-DG.


Background Schistosomiasis (bilharzia) is a parasitic disease of worldwide significance affecting human and animals. As schistosome eggs are responsible for pathogenesis, the understanding of processes controlling gonad development might open new perspectives for intervention. The Src-like tyrosine-kinase SmTK3 of Schistosoma mansoni is expressed in the gonads, and its pharmacological inhibition reduces mitogenic activity and egg production in paired females in vitro. Since Src kinases are important signal transduction proteins it is of interest to unravel the signaling cascades SmTK3 is involved in to understand its cellular role in the gonads. Methodology and Results Towards this end we established and screened a yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) cDNA library of adult S. mansoni with a bait construct encoding the SH3 (src homology) domain and unique site of SmTK3. Among the binding partners found was a diaphanous homolog (SmDia), which was characterized further. SmDia is a single-copy gene transcribed throughout development with a bias towards male transcription. Its deduced amino acid sequence reveals all diaphanous-characteristic functional domains. Binding studies with truncated SmDia clones identified SmTK3 interaction sites demonstrating that maximal binding efficiency depends on the N-terminal part of the FH1 (formin homology) domain and the inter-domain region of SmDia located upstream of FH1 in combination with the unique site and the SH3 domain of SmTK3, respectively. SmDia also directly interacted with the GTPase SmRho1 of S. mansoni. In situ hybridization experiments finally demonstrated that SmDia, SmRho1, and SmTK3 are transcribed in the gonads of both genders. Conclusion These data provide first evidence for the existence of two cooperating pathways involving Rho and Src that bridge at SmDia probably organizing cytoskeletal events in the reproductive organs of a parasite, and beyond that in gonads of eukaryotes. Furthermore, the FH1 and inter domain region of SmDia have been discovered as binding sites for the SH3 and unique site domains of SmTK3, respectively.


Spray characteristics for APU gas turbine engine are investigated. In the test, four flight conditions such as sea level idle, sea level max power, 20,000 feet idle, 20,000 feet max power are used as spray experimental conditions. Spray visualization was performed by using ND-YAG laser bean PDPA(Phase Doppler Particle Analyzer) was used for measuring the particle diameter and velocity from 20 mm to 100 mm from discharge orifice. From the test result, SMD is 90~95 μm 20,000 ft idle condition and SMD is 60~75 μm at sea level idle condition. Also SMD is 55~65 μm at 20,000 ft max power condition and SMD is 30~70 μm at sea level max power condition. In the case of 20,000 ft idle condition, combustion instability could be occurred due to the higher drop diameter. Therefore it is necessary to decrease the droplet diameter in the high altitude condition.


A recently developed precision voltage regulator for use with alternating current is described. It will maintain its output voltage constant to within 0.03 per cent over an input voltage range of 10 per cent and a load range of from zero to full load. This regulation is accomplished by means of a small transformer inserted in one of the lines which boosts or bucks the impressed voltage by the required amount. The transformer is controlled by a vacuum tube circuit acting through an inductance bridge.


Abstract. Following kidney transplantation, urine endotoxin levels were measured among 44 patients and compared to bacterial cultures. Urine samples were collected either via transurethral catheters or – after removal of the catheter on postoperative day 4 – by midstream void. In a control group of ten healthy volunteers, urine endotoxin levels were measured daily for 10 days. Urinary endotoxin concentration was measured by means of a chromogenically modified Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) test. The levels among patients with positive bacteriological findings (n = 21) were always elevated ( > 0.7 EU/ml). Furthermore, there was a marked, statistically significant difference in endotoxin values between samples with bacterial growth and samples with fungal or without any growth (P < 0.001). All 21 of the 44 patients with urinary tract infection (UTI) were endotoxin-positive. Seven more patients who received antibiotics had elevated urinary endotoxin levels, but no bacterial growth in the urine culture. No bacterial infection or significant urinary endotoxin was found in the control group. In summary, the detection of urinary endotoxin in samples obtained by either suprapubic/transurethral catheters or midstream void is an early, sensitive, and specific means of diagnosis that can be carried out even during antibiotic treatment.


ABSTRACT A good adaptability kinetic model for hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of full-range low-temperature coal tar (LCT) is established and applied to an isothermal trickle-bed reactor. The accurate kinetic parameters are obtained by gPROMS. The effects of reaction conditions on catalyst activity and HDO reaction in different positions of the reactor are discussed. Interestingly, the result shows that liquid hourly space velocity has no effect on internal diffusion during HDO of crude oil or diesel oil, but affects the internal diffusion during HDO of LCT, because LCT contains more resins and asphaltenes. The research results can provide a theoretical basis for reactor design and macro-control of hydrogenation process.


The potential-energy surface related to the H2N+NS reaction, which involves 13 intermediates and fragment products, as well as 14 transition structures has been fully characterized using both molecular orbital (MP2) and density functional theory (B3LYP) and the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set. Improved electronic energies have also been obtained using single-point coupled-cluster CCSD(T) calculations. The system is shown to have three different groups of products: N2H+SH, N2S+H2 and N2+H2S and a rather complex reaction mechanism. Starting from H2N+NS, several low-lying [H2N2S] isomers participate in the elimination of H2 and N2. The N2 elimination appears to be favoured over other reaction channels in the destruction of NS. The standard enthalpies of formation of the most stable isomers have been estimated, ΔfH298° in kJ mol-1: H2N–NS: 250, H2N–S▷N: 262, NHNHS: 264, NHN–SH: 247 and NHSNH: 318.


The effects of resuscitation with crystalloid and colloid solutions in the presence of increased pulmonary capillary permeability were studied. Twenty-four hours after oleic acid administration, dogs were anesthetized and bled to produce hemorrhagic shock. One hour later, resuscitation was performed with saline, 5% albumin, or 6% hydroxyethyl starch solution to restore and then maintain cardiac output at pre-oleic acid values for 6 h. Dogs were recovered and, 24 h later, were reanesthetized for final measurements. Oleic acid administration resulted in increases in pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance, and extravascular lung water (EVLW). Resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock restored pulmonary hemodynamics to pre-hemorrhage levels and did not affect EVLW, Pao2, shunt fraction, dead-space-to-tidal-volume ratio, or pulmonary compliance. There were no differences in these parameters related to the choice of resuscitation fluid. Saline resuscitation markedly reduced plasma oncotic pressure and the plasma oncotic-pulmonary artery occlusion pressure gradient. Values for these two variables were markedly lower with saline than with colloid resuscitation. The authors conclude that the pulmonary effects of crystalloid and colloid solutions are similar in the presence of moderate increases in pulmonary capillary permeability.


Adversarial attacks that generate small Lp norm perturbations to mislead classifiers have limited success in black-box settings and with unseen classifiers. These attacks are also not robust to defenses that use denoising filters and to adversarial training procedures. Instead, adversarial attacks that generate unrestricted perturbations are more robust to defenses, are generally more successful in black-box settings and are more transferable to unseen classifiers. However, unrestricted perturbations may be noticeable to humans. In this paper, we propose a content-based black-box adversarial attack that generates unrestricted perturbations by exploiting image semantics to selectively modify colors within chosen ranges that are perceived as natural by humans. We show that the proposed approach, ColorFool, outperforms in terms of success rate, robustness to defense frameworks and transferability, five state-of-the-art adversarial attacks on two different tasks, scene and object classification, when attacking three state-of-the-art deep neural networks using three standard datasets. The source code is available at https://github.com/smartcameras/ColorFool.


The collaborative research and development project DYCI2, Creative Dynamics of Improvised Interaction, focuses on conceiving, adapting, and bringing into play efficient models of artificial listening, learning, interaction, and generation of musical contents. It aims at developing creative and autonomous digital musical agents able to take part in various human projects in an interactive and artistically credible way; and, in the end, at contributing to the perceptive and communicational skills of embedded artificial intelligence. The concerned areas are live performance, production, pedagogy, and active listening. This paper gives an overview focusing on one of the three main research issues of this project: conceiving multi-agent architectures and models of knowledge and decision in order to explore scenarios of music co-improvisation involving human and digital agents. The objective is to merge the usually exclusive "free" , "reactive", and "scenario-based" paradigms in interactive music generation to adapt to a wide range of musical contexts involving hybrid temporality and multimodal interactions.


A robust downlink power-control approach for mitigating the degradation in the received SINR of a DS-CDMA system due to channel estimates error is proposed. It is shown that designing a robust downlink power-control is equivalent to solving a robust linear-programming power-minimization problem. Simulation results demonstrate the advantage of the proposed method in improving received SINR and reducing outage probability for various data-rate scenarios.


Background
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research is one of the most influential and reputable scientific journals in the field of orthopaedics. Some of the most reputable publications related to orthopaedic research can be attributed to this journal and it continues to have a significant impact on modern research.

Objective
The purpose of this study is to identify the most influential articles, in terms of number of citations, published by Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. The goal of analyzing the most cited articles in is to create a baseline for future researchers to build upon and to uncover any trends in orthopaedic research.

Methods
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews guidelines were used to structure the data collection and analysis of this study. The Scopus database was used to compile the publication data. Data was then exported to an excel sheet to be further analyzed via a multi-author review process.

Results
The most cited article was "A Clinical Method of Functional Assessment of the Shoulder" by Constant et al.. The 50 articles analyzed in this study were cited a total of 32,404 times, averaging 719 citations per year, per publication. The oldest article was published in 1971, and the newest in 2008. The United States was the country with the most attributable publications and The University of Florida was the most contributory institution.

Conclusions
Our study recognizes Clinical Orthopaedics and Related research as having a strong predilection for older articles and a continued strength for modern publications.


Male music artistes have been observed to sexualise women in their songs, especially when commenting on societal problems. Employing van Dijk's Socio-Cognitive Approach of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), this paper examined skin bleaching and women sexualisation in the lyrics of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti (Fela Kuti) and Ayinla Omowura. Both songs: Yellow Fever by the latter and Oro kan je mi logun (a matter concerns me) by the former were purposively selected based on popularity and thematic preoccupation, and analysed using linguistic and argumentative strategies. Findings showed persistent sexualisation of women in the songs that were meant to teach morals in the society. Therefore, this exposes the artistes as incurably prejudiced in spite of their best intention.
Keywords: Skin bleaching, Women sexualisation, Popular music, Fela Kuti, Ayinla Omowura


Hand gestures are a natural means of interaction in Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) applications. Recently, there has been an increased focus on removing the dependence of accurate hand gesture recognition on complex sensor setup found in expensive proprietary devices such as the Microsoft HoloLens, Daqri and Meta Glasses. Most such solutions either rely on multi-modal sensor data or deep neural networks that can benefit greatly from abundance of labelled data. Datasets are an integral part of any deep learning based research. They have been the principal reason for the substantial progress in this field, both, in terms of providing enough data for the training of these models, and, for benchmarking competing algorithms. However, it is becoming increasingly difficult to generate enough labelled data for complex tasks such as hand gesture recognition. The goal of this work is to introduce a framework capable of generating photo-realistic videos that have labelled hand bounding box and fingertip that can help in designing, training, and benchmarking models for hand-gesture recognition in AR/VR applications. We demonstrate the efficacy of our framework in generating videos with diverse backgrounds.


Abstract. Management of marine fisheries and ecosystems is constrained by knowledge based on datasets with limited temporal coverage. Many populations and ecosystems have been perturbed long before scientific investigations have begun. This situation is particularly acute for the largest and commercially most valuable species. We hypothesized that historical trap fishery records for bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus, could contain catch data and information for other, bycatch species, such as swordfish, Xiphias gladius. This species has a long history of exploitation and is presently overexploited, yet indicators of its status (biomass) used in fishery management only start in 1950. Here we examine historical fishery records and logbooks from some of these traps and recovered ca. 110 years of bycatch data (1896–2010). These previously-neglected, but now recovered, data include catch dates and amounts in numbers and/or weights (including individual weights) for the time period before and after major expansion of swordfish fisheries in the Mediterranean Sea. New historical datasets such as these could help understand how human activities and natural variability interact to affect long-term dynamics of this species.


This experimental research was conducted with the view of determining the effectiveness of Hyptis suaveolens and Hyptis spicigera extracts on cowpea seeds in deterring the feeding habit and life span of cowpea weevils. Masses of 400 and 500 grammes of pulverized samples of the two plants, Hyptis suaveolens and Hyptis spicigera were separately extracted by percolation with 2200 millilitres of 95% ethanol respectively. The percolates were evaporated to dryness at room temperature to give crude extracts of both plants which were each subjected to a partition process. Soluble solvent extracts of the two plants were applied on cowpea seeds and subjected to cowpea weevils by two-choice feeding deterrent method. The chloroform soluble extracts were found to be most active extracts of both plants with the least percentage consumption indices and higher percentage mortalities. This was a clear indication that these chloroform soluble extracts contained most of the toxic component(s) of the plants which can be used to protect cowpea seeds to some period of time. The study tasks the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to consider providing funding and further research into the use of the pesticides from these plant extracts to maintain the buoyancy of biodiversity as well as the environment in Ghana.


InGaN/GaN quantum wells (QWs) grown with identical conditions on m-plane and c-plane GaN substrates were studied by cathodoluminescence spectroscopy. At a low current of 10 nA, the emission intensity and wavelength of the m-plane aligned QWs were found to be about two times stronger and 19.5 nm blueshifted with respect to that of the c-plane aligned QWs. An increase in the current over three orders of magnitude was found to result in an increase in the emission intensities, with faster saturation in the m-plane aligned QWs. This was explained by the screening of quantum-confined Stark effect in the emission efficiency of the c-plane aligned QWs.


Introduction: Because of the toxic and teratologic side effects that might develop into the fetus, the number of drugs that can be used in the treatment of depression seen in pregnancy is very limited. In this study, we investigated whether the Saint John's wort used during pregnancy has side effects on the liver of fetus. Methods: Thirteen Wistar albino female rats were used in this study. The animals divided into two groups as 8 rats for the experimental group and 5 rats for the control group. The animals detected for pregnancy in the experimental group were fed with the Saint John's wort extract as 100 mg/kg/day through orogastric probe from the first day of the pregnancy. The animals in the control group were fed with 2 ml distiled water through an orogastric probe every day begining from the first day of the pregnancy. The newborn pups were taken. Their liver tissues were harvested and investigated after the tissue processing and staining procedure. Results: Microvesicular lipidosis and hydropic degeneration were observed in histopathological evaluation of the harvested tissues of experimental group. Conclusion: As a result, there is not enough data in the literature in order to claim that Saint John's worth is reliable for the pregnant women or fetus. It is important for the physician to evaluate the complaints related to the use of pregnancy and to raise the awareness of the physicians in the first stage of the pregnancy follow-up. For the usage of this herb as an alternative or addition to antidepressive drugs more preclinical (basic) and clinical studies need to be performed.


Several studies have used the temperature dependence of gas solubilities in water to derive paleotemperatures from noble gases in groundwaters. We present a general method to infer environmental parameters from concentrations of dissolved atmospheric noble gases in water. Our approach incorporates statistical methods to quantify uncertainties of the deduced parameter values. The equilibration temperatures of water equilibrated with the atmosphere under controlled conditions could be inferred with a precision and accuracy of ±0.2°C. The equilibration temperatures of lake and river samples were determined with a similar precision. Most of these samples were in agreement with atmospheric equilibrium at the water temperature. In groundwaters either recharge temperature or altitude could be determined with high precision (±0.3°C and ±60 m, respectively) despite the presence of excess air. However, typical errors increase to ±3°C and ±700 m if both temperature and altitude are determined at the same time, because the two parameters are correlated. In some groundwater samples the composition of the excess air deviated significantly from atmospheric air, which was modeled by partial reequilibration. In this case the achievable precision of noble gas temperatures was significantly diminished (typical errors of ±1°C).


While fanfiction ostensibly provides a safe space to explore and challenge ideologies about any belief media texts reify, a review of fan studies literature shows little attention to disability from scholars in the field. This erasure seems odd, since Archive of Our Own, the fanfiction archive associated with the Organization for Transformative Works, lists "disability" in its list of "most popular" tags, and most fandoms include a significant body of texts that disable its characters ("Tags"). Blindness, deafness, injuries leading to mobility impairments, and other visible and invisible disabilities feature strongly as tropes in fanfictions themselves. Clearly fandom has something to do with disability of all kinds: physical, cognitive, and emotional.


It is not possible to diagnose accurately, on clinical grounds alone, the nature of every breast lump. There is a deficit between clinical and pathological diagnosis of 20% even in most experienced centres (Haagensen 1956). Biopsy, followed a few days later by definitive surgery, is to be deprecated and mastectomy for benign conditions should be accepted as wholly unnecessary mutilation, although this still occurs with regrettable frequency in some hospitals where co-operation between surgeon and pathologist is inadequate. Frozen section examination of excised lumps, with definitive surgery following immediately, carries no detectable risk of enhanced spread should the lesion be malignant.