Objective: To explore the time series characteristics of 5 types of viral hepatitis in China and predict their incidence through effective models. Methods: The monthly incidence data of 5 types of viral hepatitis (A, B, C, D and unspecified) in China from 2009 to 2018 were collected for descriptive and time series analyses, decomposition methods were used to explore the seasonality in the form of seasonal indices and the long-term trend in the form of a linear regression model. Autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models were established for each type of viral hepatitis. Results: From 2009 to 2018, a total of 14 856 990 cases of viral hepatitis were reported, the seasonal index range of 5 types of viral hepatitis were all lower than 1, the seasonality of hepatitis E was significant, and its incidence was unimodal, but no obvious seasonality characteristics were observed for other four types of viral hepatitis. The incidences of hepatitis A, hepatitis E and unspecified hepatitis remained at lower levels, showing slow declines. Although the cases of hepatitis B accounted for the highest proportion (79.59%, 11 824 262/14 856 990) among 5 types of viral hepatitis, the decline was fastest (-0.01/100 000). The incidence of hepatitis C was on rise, and the rate of increase remained stable (0.005/100 000). The predicted incidences of 5 types of viral hepatitis in China from January 2009 to December 2018 fitted by ARIMA model were consistent with the actual incidences, and the mean absolute error percentage (MAPE) ranged from 3.756 8 to 8.068 3. Conclusions: Time series analysis on surveillance data is useful for better understanding the incidence of the viral hepatitis. The ARIMA model has good application value in the short-term prediction of viral hepatitis incidence in China.


ABSTRACT The mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases represent one of the most important classes of signaling cascades that are used by eukaryotic cells to sense extracellular signals. One of the major responses to these cascades is a change in cellular gene expression profiles mediated through the direct targeting of transcriptional regulators, such as the transcription factor Elk-1. Here we have identified human Rev7 (hRev7)/MAD2B/MAD2L2 as an interaction partner for Elk-1 and demonstrate that hRev7 acts to promote Elk-1 phosphorylation by the c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) MAP kinases. As phosphorylation of Elk-1 potentiates the activity of its transcriptional activation domain, hRev7 therefore contributes to the upregulation of Elk-1 target genes, such as egr-1, following exposure of cells to stress conditions caused by DNA-damaging agents. Thus, given its previous roles in permitting DNA damage bypass during replication and regulating cell cycle progression, our data linking hRev7 to gene expression changes suggest that hRev7 has a widespread role in coordinating the cellular response to DNA damage.


A significant portion of the current rehabilitation of the Bronx – Whitestone Bridge includes replacement of the roadway decking on the suspended span with closed-rib, steel orthotropic deck panels. Prior to the final design and production of the replacement panels, a full-scale laboratory fatigue test of a prototype panel was conducted at Lehigh University. The panel incorporated a diaphragm cutout and welded rib-to-diaphragm connection detail that was improved and refined with the aid of finite element models and experience gained from research conducted on orthotropic deck panels in the 1990s. Evaluations were made of the behavior and fatigue resistance of the orthotropic deck system and connections. Static and dynamic tests provided information on the two types of diaphragm plate splices and two types of bolted rib splices, determined the effectiveness of the rib wall stiffeners, and permitted a verification of a finite element model.


Background: Opportunistic infections (OI) still remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality among HIV-infected persons presenting with advanced infection. We examine the proportion of deceased patients who were on antiretroviral therapy (ART) with symptoms of shortness of breath, fever and cough and its effect in determining the likelihood for Pneumocystis Pneumonia (PCP), Cryptococcal Meningitis (CM) and Tuberculosis (TB).
Methods: A retrospective analysis of routinely collected program data was done for assessing factors related to mortality of 987 deceased adult patients who received ART at 6 health facilities between 1st January 2007 and 31st December 2012. Bivariate and multiple regression analyses were conducted using STATA 12.0 to identify the risk of common opportunistic infections.
Results: About fifty two percent of all the deceased patients had experienced at least one symptom. Those who experienced shortness of breath 6 months before death were 10 times (95% CI: 5.9 – 17.6) more likely to have PCP and 4 times (95% CI: 2.8 – 5.6) more likely to have TB compared to those who did not have shortness of breath. ART patients who had experienced fever and cough 6 months before death were more likely to have PCP (OR= 5.8: 95% CI 2.9 – 11.6), likelihood for TB was 4.2 (95% CI: 3.0 – 5.8) and CM (OR = 2.1: 95% CI 1.2 - 3.6; p


Conflict, it is often assumed, is the essence of games. Modern multiplayer games, however, also rely heavily on the cooperation between players. In fact, given the rapidly increasing popularity and complexity of these games, game designers are arguably engaged in one of the most ambitious experiments with social software in recent years. This article argues that multiplayer games raise issues of the construction and maintenance of collective resources. If players do not cooperate on such issues a given game may be visited by social tension and can lose its appeal altogether. This article relates this issue to the larger issue of social order as studied by political science after which solutions to the problem are discussed.


Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) material tends to yield degraded DNA and is thus suboptimal for use in many downstream applications. We describe an integrated analysis of genotype, loss of heterozygosity (LOH), and copy number for DNA derived from FFPE tissues using oligonucleotide microarrays containing over 500K single nucleotide polymorphisms. A prequalifying PCR test predicted the performance of FFPE DNA on the microarrays better than age of FFPE sample. Although genotyping efficiency and reliability were reduced for FFPE DNA when compared with fresh samples, closer examination revealed methods to improve performance at the expense of variable reduction in resolution. Important steps were also identified that enable equivalent copy number and LOH profiles from paired FFPE and fresh frozen tumor samples. In conclusion, we have shown that the Mapping 500K arrays can be used with FFPE-derived samples to produce genotype, copy number, and LOH predictions, and we provide guidelines and suggestions for application of these samples to this integrated system.


Critical interrogation of social work texts reveals ideologies contributing to hegemonic 'taken-for-granted' knowledge that maintains oppressive power relations. In the South African context of ongoing inequality after the 1994 democratic transition, neo-liberal ideologies have structured and constrained social work knowledge and practice constitutive of social change. Similarly, conservative neo-liberal ideologies underpinning social work knowledge and discourse act performatively to shape practice and social realities. This article, based on a section of the author's PhD study, examines one of the thematic ideological trends found in post-1994 social work texts on poverty and social development, which reflect neo-liberal, individualist ideologies of 'blaming-the-poor' and personal culpability for poverty. A selection of three texts is discussed, illustrating processes and modes of operation of these ideologies in the various approaches proposed.


Estimation of temperature and pressure conditions in the subglacial reservoirs is one of the most important tasks of modern subglacial research, since it provides an adequate tool for predicting the process of their accessing. This paper presents the estimation of pressure in the subglacial reservoirs for different baric system statuses. Opening of isolated subglacial reservoirs is attended by disturbance of their thermobaric equilibrium, thus the conditions of phase transition are changed on the entire surface of the ice-water contact. At the same time reducing the pressure in the subglacial reservoirs leads to «lowering» of the phase transition of ice-water boundary and to the growth of additional layer of congelation ice on the entire bottom surface of the ice sheet contact with water. Realized accessing of Lake Vostok and technology re-entry involves water rise into the borehole from the lake as one of the steps to prevent pollution of relict water system. With the use of this technology the reliability of estimate the pressure in Lake Vostok is extremely important and, consequently, the value of the differential pressure when the borehole accesses with lake. The paper presents analysis of the possible consequences of incorrect estimation of the pressure in isolated water system of Lake Vostok, when the borehole accesses in conditions of incomplete compensation of subglacial water pressure by hydrostatic pressure of the drilling fluid column.


Blood flow through aortocoronary venous grafts and its response to a brief period of arterial occlusion--reactive hyperaemia--were studied in relation to the development of postoperative myocardial infarction. In 40 patients with intractable angina due to obstructive coronary artery disease, 72 aortocoronary venous grafts were constructed. In 18% of the grafts there was no response to the flow to temporary occlusion, due to absence of reactive hyperaemia. In the remaining grafts the flow increased from 17% to 26%. In 17-5% of the patients postoperative myocardial infarction was diagnosed. No relation could be established between this control flow through aortocoronary grafts and postoperative myocardial infarction. A significant difference was found in the magnitude of the reactive hyperaemia following occlusion of the graft between patients who developed myocardial infarction (13-0%) and those who did not (26-8%). Some of our observations suggest that the myocardium is in a state of reactive hyperaemia after coronary surgery. With certain technical precautions the flow changes caused by reactive hyperaemia can be used as an indicator of the result to be expected from bypass surgery.


Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) are novel circuit primitives which store secret keys in silicon circuits by exploiting uncontrollable randomness due to manufacturing process variations. Previous work has mainly focused on static challenge-response behaviors. However, it has already been shown that a reconfigurable architecture of PUF will not only enable PUFs to meet practical application needs, but also can improve the reliability and security of PUF-based authentication or identification systems. In this paper, we propose several novel structures for non-FPGA reconfigurable silicon PUFs, which do not need any special fabrication methods and can overcome the limitations and drawbacks of FPGA-based techniques. Their performances are quantified by the inter-chip variation, intra-chip variation and reconfigurability tests.


Currently, composite materials have gained momentum in the field of orthopaedics. Among the composite materials (ceramic/metals, ceramic/polymers and ceramic/ceramics) available, ceramic/polymer possess significant advantages of high mechanical reliability (polymers) and excellent biocompatibility (ceramics) for applications in load bearing areas. The present study is an attempt to develop a ceramic/polymer composite made by grafting PMMA with HAP by using suitable grafting agent. The synthesized composite was characterized using spectral techniques.


No correlation between the sensitivity to induction of liver tumours by ortho-aminoazotoluene and predisposition to spontaneous development of these tumours was found in mice. Under crossing the predisposition to spontaneous tumours was inherited dominantly, while sensitivity to their induction was inherited by the intermediate type. Spontaneous hepatomas were more frequent in males, whereas induced onesin females of the same genotype.


Buchholz NASA Ames Research Center Two tests supporting development of the launch abort system for the Orion MultiPurpose Crew Vehicle were run in the NASA Ames Unitary Plan wind tunnel last year. The first test used a fully metric model to examine the stability and controllability of the Launch Abort Vehicle during potential abort scenarios for Mach numbers ranging from 0.3 to 2.5. The aerodynamic effects of the Abort Motor and Attitude Control Motor plumes were simulated using high-pressure air flowing through independent paths. The aerodynamic effects of the proximity to the launch vehicle during the early moments of an abort were simulated with a remotely actuated Service Module that allowed the position relative to the Crew Module to be varied appropriately. The second test simulated the acoustic environment around the Launch Abort Vehicle caused by the plumes from the 400,000-pound thrust, solid-fueled Abort Motor. To obtain the proper acoustic characteristics of the hot rocket plumes for the flight vehicle, heated Helium was used. A custom Helium supply system was developed for the test consisting of 2 jumbo high-pressure Helium trailers, a twelvetube accumulator, and a 13MW gas-fired heater borrowed from the Propulsion Simulation Laboratory at NASA Glenn Research Center. The test provided fluctuating surface pressure measurements at over 200 points on the vehicle surface that have now been used to define the ground-testing requirements for the Orion Launch Abort Vehicle.


We address security in object-oriented database systems for multilevel secure environments. Such an environment consists of users cleared to various security levels, accessing information labeled with varying classifications. Our purpose is three-fold. First, we show how security can be naturally incorporated into the object model of computing so as to form a foundation for building multilevel secure object-oriented database management systems. Next, we show how such an abstract security model can be realized under a cost-effective, viable, and popular security architecture. Finally, we give security arguments based on trusted subjects and a formal proof to demonstrate the confidentiality of our architecture and approach. A notable feature of our solution is the support for secure synchronous write-up operations. This is useful when low level users want to send information to higher level users. In the object-oriented context, this is naturally modeled and efficiently accomplished through write-up messages sent by low level subjects. However, such write-up messages can pose confidentiality leaks (through timing and signaling channels) if the timing of the receipt and processing of the messages is observable to lower level senders. Such covert channels are a formidable obstacle in building high-assurance secure systems. Further, solutions to problems such as these have been known to involve various tradeoffs between confidentiality, integrity, and performance. We present a concurrent computation model that closes such channels while preserving the conflicting goals of confidentiality, integrity, and performance. Finally, we give a confidentiality proof for a trusted subject architecture and implementation and demonstrate that the trusted subject (process) cannot leak information in violation of multilevel security.


Abstract The aim of this study is to provide a general view of the adductor musculature of the alethinophidian snakes. The aponeurotic system present in anilioid snakes is here described as being also present in colubroid and booid snakes. Although modified in various groups, this aponeurotic system retains the same topographical pattern in the anilioids, booids and colubroids, and is thus hypothesized to be homologous. An analysis of the aponeurotic system and related muscular bundles within the alethinophidian snakes is given. A new terminology is proposed for the jaw adductor muscles where the muscles levator anguli oris and adductor mandibulae externus superficialis (proper) of snakes ( sensu Lakjer, 1926; Haas, 1962) retain these names even if this fails to reflect the presumed homologies with the bundles of the same name in lizards (see Rieppel, 1988b); the fibres originating from the temporal tendon in the Anilioidea, and presumed to form a bundle of composite nature (Rieppel, 1980b), are named the M. adductor mandibulae externus temporalis (lost by the Macrostomata); the M. adductor mandibulae externus medialis is a composite muscle in the Anilioidea (Rieppel, 1980b) which give rise to two different muscles in the 'booids', the M. adductor mandibulae externus medialis, pars anterior and the M. adductor mandibulae externus profundus, the former being secondarily lost by the Caenophidia which retains only fibres homologues of the 3b and 3c heads of the profundus layer of lizards; the so-called M. adductor mandibular externus profundus of snakes ( sensu Lackjer, 1926; Haas, 1962) is also a composite muscle in the Anilioidea (Rieppel, 1980b), in the alethinophidians it is essentially made of fibres homologous with the posterior pinnate part of the medialis layer of lizards, and is here named the M. adductor mandibulae externus medialis, pars posterior. As a result from this analysis it follows that: (1) the Macrostomata are characterized by the downward extension of the fibres forming the M. adductor mandibulae externus medialis, pars anterior and the loss of the M. adductor mandibulae externus temporalis: (2) the Xenopeltidae are set apart from the remaining macrostomatan snakes by the retention of the M. levator anguli oris and of a well developed lateral sheet of the quadrate aponeurosis; (3) the 'booids' form a monophyletic group comprising only the Boidae and Bolyeriidae (with the exclusion of the Xenopeltidae and Tropidophiidae) which is characterized by a differentiated M. adductor mandibulae externus medialis, pars anterior inserting on the lateral surface of the compound bone via its own aponeurosis; (4) the Tropidophiidae are set apart from all other snakes by the peculiar course of their lateral head vein; however, they belong to the Caenophidia as they show a facial carotid artery which passes dorsally to the mandibular and maxillary branches of the trigeminus; (5) a possible additional character in favour of an Acrochordoidea + Colubroidea monophyletic unit may be given by the pattern of innervation of the jaw adductor muscles in these two taxa; (6) a new interpretation of the compressor glandulae muscular complex of Atractaspis resulted in a morphologically similar pattern to that of the viperids; the phylogenetic implications of such similarity are discussed in detail.


PURPOSE
To describe the development and process of consensus used to establish essential genetic and genomic nursing competencies relevant to the entire nursing profession in the United States (US) regardless of academic preparation, role, practice setting, or clinical specialty.

ORGANIZING CONSTRUCT
Rogers' diffusion of innovation theory applied to the adoption of genetics and genomics as the central science for health care.

METHODS
Multiphased national nursing initiative to develop, refine, and establish with consensus essential competencies in genetics and genomics for all nurses.

FINDINGS
Genetics and genomics have emerged as the central science for health care in the 21st century, transforming recommendations for nursing education, practice, regulation and quality control.

CONCLUSION
The Essential Nursing Competencies and Curricula Guidelines for Genetics and Genomics indicate the minimal criteria for competency in genetics and genomics for the entire nursing profession in the US.


EPIDEMIOLOGY OF SPINAL CORD INJURY IN REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA In South Africa, epidemiological data on spinal cord injury (SCI) are scarce, partly owing to the lack of a national registry and a coordinated system of care. A recent study by Joseph et al. provided the first population estimates of the incidence of traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI), reporting a staggering rate of 75.6 per million persons. The main cause of TSCI in South Africa was found to be assault, which accounted for approximately 60% of all cases, followed by transport-related causes (26%) and falls (12%). This recent report provides an optimal platform for prevention because of its population-based design; however, the data only represent the City of Cape Town and not the entire nation of South Africa. The only other epidemiological study of South Africa, conducted 2 decades ago in Johannesburg, found similar mechanisms of injury but a lower incidence rate that is probably due to the hospital-based design. Taken together, the 2 studies show a disproportionately high incidence of violent injuries in South Africa, compared to the rest of the world, which is believed to be precipitated by the sociopolitical climate. With regard to prevalence and mortality of TSCI, and nontraumatic spinal cord injury, (NTSCI) generally, there are no available reliable reports, although the QuadPara Association of South Africa estimated in 2009 that approximately 50,000 people in South Africa are living with an SCI. With the restructuring of the health care system in South Africa, moving toward a universal health insurance, it is essential to firmly establish the epidemiological profile of SCI to redistribute resources for improved service delivery. Many gaps concerning the epidemiology of TSCI and NTSCI remain, especially for mortality and life expectancy after SCI.


Discusses five elements of patient-focused care (PFC). Clarifies issues surrounding the first element--aggregating patients--and debates the strengths and weaknesses of the second element--centralizing services in PFC units. Explores arguments for and against the third element--multiskilling and cross-training--including staff activity in conventional hospitals and PFC units, in depth. Discusses the structure of PFC teams and their management. Describes the main components of the fourth PFC element--integrated carepaths--and explores their role in clinical audit, computerization and seamless care. Examines the costs of PFC by comparing actual with expected costs. Makes managerial, clinical, educational and research implications throughout for staff working in or with PFC units.


Thermal treatment of fresh juice is vital to neutralize harmful bacteria that would pose threat to human health. This work is dedicated to simulate the thermal inactivation of Salmonella enteritidis and e coli and its impact on the degradation of four nutrition compounds: β-carotene, β-cryptozanthin, zeinoxanthin, and ascorbic acid that give fresh fruit juice its benefits. The simulation is conducted in a multiphysics environment that accounts for the fluid motion induced by convection heat transfer and species transport with chemical reaction. In this study, a 6 cm×4 cm×11cm orange juice pouch subjected to121oC saturated steam in a steam retort had been simulated to find the optimum time for pathogen inactivation and nutrients retention. It was seen that 4 minutes would reduce the number of viable populations of salmonella and e coli to 2.82 and 3.46 log CFU/ml respectively, permitted values that pose no threat to human health. And maintain retention values of 92.791, 87.653, 90.048, and 98.984% retention for β-carotene, β-cryptozanthin, zeinoxanthin, and ascorbic acid respectively.


ABSTRACT This map summarizes the relative change in activity at 379 airports during the tumultuous economic period that lasted from 2003 to 2013 in the conterminous USA. Rather than treating airports only as individual nodes, the work identifies relative regional spatial change in airport activity based upon the combination of the percentage changes in three factors: departures, passenger levels, and available seats. The geographic results, calculated by kriging, show that the outcome over the period is not spatially uniform. In particular, the map shows that parts of the Rust Belt, Appalachia, and the Intermountain West fared relatively worse while the plains and coasts did somewhat better. The analysis expresses the fact that while footloose in the short-run, long-term adjustments in the airline industry, like those experienced across 2003–2013, did so in a spatially coherent way.


Direct evidence of Mycobacterium abscessus complex (MABSC) biofilm in the human lung has not previously been demonstrated. Biofilms are microcolonies of bacteria, imbedded in extracellular matrix, providing stability and tolerance to antibiotics and the body's innate and adaptive defences [1]. This mode of growth is an inherent feature of chronic infections and is particularly well studied for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other Gram-negative infections [1], but also some Staphylococcus aureus infections [2]. Mycobacterial infections have also been shown to be capable of biofilm formation, most notably Mycobacterium tuberculosis (tuberculosis), which under the right conditions, can self-assemble into highly organised matrix-encapsulated biofilm [3]. Among the nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and the rapidly growing mycobacteria, including MABSC, have been shown to grow as biofilms either in vitro or in environmental reservoirs [4, 5], but in vivo conditions have not been studied. MABSC is an emerging threat to patients with cystic fibrosis [6], who become infected at an early age and deteriorate clinically [7] as the persistent infection causes inflammation and tissue damage. We wanted to explore how MABSC grows in the antibiotic-rich, end-stage lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis. The aim was to describe the localisation and growth patterns of MABSC in vivo from freshly explanted lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis and a history of MASBC. We simultaneously performed histological and mycobacterial sampling from the same areas, from multiple pulmonary sites. Mycobacterial culture was performed by inoculation on at least one solid (Middlebrooke 7H10 or Löwenstein–Jensen slopes; SSI Diagnostica, Hilleroed, Denmark) and in one liquid culture medium (BACTEC 12B or MGIT; Becton Dickinson Microbiology Systems, Sparks, MD, USA), and a reverse hybridisation DNA assay was performed (InnoLiPA; Fujirebio Europe, Brondby, Denmark), as previously described [7]. Culture morphology was determined by direct visual inspection of colonies and control microscopy used Ziehl–Neelsen staining. Concomitant culture for Gram-negative and -positive bacteria was also performed. Patient files were reviewed to determine the clinical course of their end-stage lung disease and their history of other chronic bacterial infections. The NTM collection and clinical data collection was approved by the Committee on Health Research Ethics in the Capital Region of Denmark (Copenhagen, Denmark) (H-3-2012-098). The explanted lungs were collected by the transplantation team, microbiological samples were sent for NTM culture and histological samples were transferred to 4% formaldehyde before further preparation for microscopic investigation. The biopsy material was embedded in paraffin, cut into 4-μm sections and mounted on glass slides. Prior to microscopy, paraffin was removed and the tissue sections were analysed by means of conventional haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, Ziehl–Neelsen staining (acid-fast stain), auramine dye (fluorescent stain), and fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) with peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probes: a uniBac probe (red) and a NTM-specific probe (green) (AdvanDx, Inc., Woburn, MA, USA). We used 4′,6′-diamidino-2-phenylindole (Vector Laboratories) as a counterstain for DNA. Microscopic observations were performed with Zeiss 710 Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope (Leica Microsystems, Mannheim, Germany). Mycobacterium abscessus complex can establish a biofilm infection in the lung, which has implications for treatment http://ow.ly/RSjGZ


"Morality is relative to culture" is a descriptive claim, but in practice its normative entailment is rarely embraced. It is often claimed that this poses a problem of consistency for relativism as a morally normative theory: either relativists do not act in accordance with their beliefs or they hold different beliefs from what they espouse. This article evaluates a debate between Paul Boghossian and Stanley Fish over relativism, analyzing their arguments on the relationship between theory and practice in ethics and the tenability of moral relativism. I defend two claims: that the truth or falsity of moral relativism has significant bearing on action and that morality is based on a conjunctivity of doxastic and practical discursive commitments. Establishing the conjunctive commitment argument, I make the case that the doxastic and the practical lie at the heart of normative reasoning in general and ethics in particular and discuss the implications of such a view for rhetorical theory and community.


Crystal defects, such as grain boundary, dislocation, stacking disorder, phase boundary and surface of granule were examined by high resolution electron microscope (HREM) in superconducting Tl2Ba2Ca2Cu3Ox. Some possible effects of the defects on the sample's properties viz., Jc and Tc are discussed.


This chapter examines participation spaces in peri-urban Luanda, Angola – a context very different from those that have originated most recent studies in this field and which presents a series of apparently highly adverse conditions for the development of citizen participation. Sometimes labelled a 'fragile' or 'failed' state, Angola could more correctly be described as a state that is failing its people. It has a tradition of centralised and authoritarian rule stretching back through decades of single-party government and civil war to the centuries of Portuguese domination and colonisation. This tradition has remained powerful despite the shift towards economic liberalisation and formal multi-party democracy since 1991. Sub-Saharan Africa's second-largest oil producer, with a GDP per capita 29 percent above the continent's average, Angola's Human Development Index is nevertheless among the worst in the world, with the country rated 166th out of 177 nations (UNDP 2004).2 With the end of the civil war in 2002, attention has begun to shift to the role of governance issues in perpetuating this situation, and in particular the link between limited participation and accountability and lack of social justice.


This paper considers an underwater acoustic sensor network with one mobile surface node to collect data from multiple underwater nodes, where the mobile destination requests retransmission from each underwater node individually employing traditional automatic-repeat-request (ARQ) protocol. We propose a practical node cooperation (NC) protocol to enhance the collection efficiency, utilizing the fact that underwater nodes can overhear the transmission of others. To reduce the source level of underwater nodes, the underwater data collection area is divided into several sub-zones, and in each sub-zone, the mobile surface node adopting the NC protocol could switch adaptively between selective relay cooperation (SRC) and dynamic network coded cooperation (DNC). The difference of SRC and DNC lies in whether or not the selected relay node combines the local data and the data overheard from undecoded node(s) to form network coded packets in the retransmission phase. The NC protocol could also be applied across the sub-zones due to the wiretap property. In addition, we investigate the effects of different mobile collection paths, collection area division and cooperative zone design for energy saving. The numerical results show that the proposed NC protocol can effectively save energy compared with the traditional ARQ scheme.


Neuroblastoma is the most common extra-cranial solid tumor in children. It is a heterogeneous disease, consisting of neural crest-derived tumors with remarkably different clinical behaviors. It can present in a wide variety of ways, including lesions which have the potential to spontaneously regress, or as an extremely aggressive form of metastatic cancer which is resistant to all forms of modern therapy. They can arise anywhere along the sympathetic nervous system. The median age of presentation is approximately 18 months of age. Urinary catecholamines (HVA and VMA) are extremely sensitive and specific tumor markers and are used in diagnosis, treatment response assessment and post-treatment surveillance. The largest national treatment groups from North America, Europe and Japan have formed the International Neuroblastoma Risk Group Task Force (INRG) to identify prognostic factors, to understand the mechanisms of tumorigenesis in this rare disease and to develop multi-modality therapies to improve outcomes and decrease treatment-related toxicities. This international cooperation has resulted in a significant leap in our understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of neuroblastoma. Lower staged disease can be cured if the lesion is resectable. Treatment of unresectable disease (loco-regional and metastatic) is stratified depending on clinical features (age at presentation, staging investigations) and specific tumor biological markers that include histopathological analyses, chromosomal abnormalities and the quantification of expression of an oncogene (MYCN). Modern treatment of high-risk neuroblastoma is the paradigm for the evolution of therapy in pediatric oncology. Outcomes have improved substantially with multi-modality therapy, including chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy, myeloablative therapy with stem cell transplant, immunotherapy and differentiation therapy; these comprise the standard of care worldwide. In addition, newer targeted therapies are being tested in phase I/II trials. If successful these agents will be incorporated into mainstream treatment programs.


Previously, most of the researcher was suffering from simulate any three dimension applications for biometrics application, likewise, various applications of forensics and cosmetology has not been easy to be simulated. Three dimensional figures have approved the fact that, it has been more reliable than two dimensional figures in most of the applications used to be implemented for the purposes above. The reason behind this reliability was the features that extract from the three dimensional applications more close to the reality. The goal of this paper is to study and evaluate how far three-dimensional skull biometric is reliable in term of the accurate measurements, capability and applicability. As it mentions above, it was hard to evaluate or simulate an application use three-dimensional skull in biometric, however, Canfield Imaging Systems provide a new suitable environment to simulate a new three-dimensional skull biometric. The second goal of this paper is to assess how good the new three- dimensional image system is. This paper will also go through the recognition and verification based on a different biometric application. Subsequently this paper will study the reliability and dependability of using skull biometric. The simulation based on the three-dimensional Skull recognition using three- dimensional matching technique. The feature of the simulate system shows the capability of using three-dimensional matching system as an efficient way to identify the person through his or her skull by match it with database, this technique grantee fast processing with optimizing the false positive and negative as well .


Problem-solving research, and formal problem-solving practice as well, begins with the assumption that a problem has been identified or formulated for solving. The problem-solving process then involves a search for a satisfactory or optimal solution to that problem. In contrast, we propose that, in informal problem solving, a need and a solution are often discovered together, and tested for viability as a need-solution pair. For example, one may serendipitously discover a new solution, and assess it to be worth adopting even though the "problem" it would address had not previously been in mind as an object of search -- or even awareness. In such a case, problem identification and formulation if done at all, comes only after the discovery of the need-solution pair. In this article, we propose the identification of need-solution pairs as an approach to problem solving in which problem formulation is not required. We argue that discovery of viable need-solution pairs without problem formulation may have advantages over problem-initiated problem-solving methods under some conditions. First, it removes the often considerable costs associated with problem formulation. Second, it eliminates the constraints on possible solutions that any problem formulation will inevitably apply. We suggest that this approach merits further investigation.


Kinematic error model plays an important role in improving the positioning accuracy of robot manipulators by kinematic calibration. The identifiability of kinematic parameters in the error model directly affects the positioning accuracy of the mechanism. And the number of identifiable kinematic parameters determines how many parameters can be accurately identified by kinematic calibration, which is one of the theoretical basis of kinematic error modeling. For serial mechanisms, a consensus has been reached that the maximum number of identifiable kinematic parameters is 4R + 2P + 6, where R and P represent the numbers of revolute and prismatic joints, respectively. Due to complex topologies of parallel mechanisms, there is still no agreement on the formula of the maximum number of identifiable parameters. In this paper, a comprehensive numerical study on the number of identifiable kinematic parameters of parallel mechanisms is conducted. The number of identifiable parameters of 3802 kinds of limbs with different types or actuation arrangements are analyzed. It can be concluded that the maximum number of identifiable kinematic parameters is Σ i = 1 n 4Ri + 2Pi + 6 − Ci − 2(PP)i/3(PPP1)i/(2Ri + 2Pi)(PPP)i, where Ci represents the number of joints whose motion cannot be measured and n denotes the number of limbs in a parallel mechanism; (PP)i, (PPP1)i, and (PPP)i represent two consecutive unmeasurable P joints, three consecutive P joints in which two of them cannot be measured, and three unmeasurable P joints, respectively.


In this paper, we investigate the impact of uncertainty on portfolio allocation and how incorporating stochasticity in the investment strategy improves performance. We use both stochastic programming and robust optimization to maximize return with constrained risk measured by Conditional Value-at-Risk (CVaR), using scenarios generated via Filtered Historical Simulation (FHS). We compare the results based on return, risk, stability of the weights over time, and a newly introduced dispersion measure. We find that incorporating uncertainty only slightly enhances performance. In an expanding window estimation, the effect of incorporating uncertainty in returns disappears and the inclusion of parameter uncertainty has a negative impact. Also, managerial and legislative restrictions have much influence on the optimization outcomes and induce the stochasticity in the risk constraint to have little impact. When we exclude these supplementary restrictions, incorporating uncertainty becomes more effective.


We would do better ethically and scientifically if throughout the process of writing and publication, we let our patients review our reports of them.


Abstract P-T pseudosections, constructed in MnNCKFMASH and adjusted for chemical compositional changes resulting from zoned garnet growth (chemical fractionation) in a pelitic rock, show negligible changes in the position of the peak metamorphic mineral assemblage field (garnet + biotite + plagioclase + sillimanite + quartz) compared to the position of this field calculated with the bulk-rock composition. Pelitic rock samples with less than 5% modal garnet were modeled using bulk-rock chemical compositions (unfractionated), and compositions adjusted for 1, 2, and 5% garnet growth, in order to model the effects of changes in effective composition on pseudosection topology. Differences in the location of mineral mode zero lines along the garnet growth P-T path and in the peak mineral assemblage field are generally less than 10 °C and/or less than 0.3 kbar. However, at some P-T conditions, significant changes in topology are observed. For example, at pressures above 9 kbar, large temperature shifts in the zoisite mode zero line change the pseudosection topology so that biotite+zoisite stability in the pseudosection with 5% garnet fractionation has a larger temperature range (>120 °C) than in the unfractionated pseudosection (<50 °C). The effects of porphyroblast growth-induced fractionation of bulk-rock chemistry can be determined from mineral chemistry and mineral modes; pseudosections can be constructed with the adjusted chemical compositions to resolve whether fractionation affects the pseudosection topology in the P-T range of interest. In the case of the North Cascades samples discussed here, garnet fractionation is estimated to have minimal effects on P-T paths determined from pseudosections. Therefore, pseudosection modeling based on bulk-rock chemistry can be used to estimate peak metamorphic P-T conditions and constrain parts of metamorphic P-T-t paths once the effects of fractionating minerals are understood.


This report presents a detailed review of the available epidemiological evidence concerning the prevalence of middle ear infections in children in relation to their exposure to smoking by their parents or other household members and is based on English-language papers covering the period 1979–1998. Fifty-eight studies are included in the review, with the most widely used index of exposure being parental smoking. Smoking by all household members, by either parent separately and by the mother during pregnancy were also considered in some of the studies. Only 3 studies attempted to quantify exposure objectively, using measurements of cotinine and nicotine in hair, saliva and pericardial fluid. Tables listing unadjusted and adjusted relative risk estimates were constructed for both postnatal exposure to tobacco smoke and for maternal smoking during pregnancy. The results for postnatal exposure were separated into five disease categories. The overall data suggested some association of postnatal exposure to tobacco smoke with three categories; recurrent otitis media, otitis media with effusion and unspecified middle ear disease, with risk tending to increase with increasing exposure, but no association with acute otitis media or with persistent otitis media with effusion. However, reported associations were generally quite weak, with relative risks typically below 1.5. Problems in interpreting the data arise from the difficulty of distinguishing possible effects of environmental tobacco smoke and of maternal smoking during pregnancy (for which the data also suggest an association), the possibility that the underlying cause of middle ear disease is in fact an infection, and from the various possibilities of bias inherent in epidemiological studies of a weak association, particularly due to inadequate control of confounding. Though it is prudent for parents not to expose their children to high doses of environmental tobacco smoke for long periods, the overall epidemiological evidence does not convincingly demonstrate that exposure to environmental tobacco smoke increases the incidence of middle ear diseases in children.


A wide spectrum of individuals have discussed the importance of promoting research in orthopaedics and of developing clinician-scientists (physicians who also do significant research) in the field. Although orthopaedic research may benefit from recruitment of MD-PhD students as clinician-scientists, it is unclear to what extent MD-PhD students are interested in pursuing research and surgical specialties concurrently. To better understand their professional goals, all MD-PhD students enrolled in our institution's training program were invited to complete an online questionnaire concerning training satisfaction and future career goals. Twenty-four percent of respondents (57.5% response rate of 167 recruits) reported a primary clinical interest in a surgical field (3% interest in orthopaedics); interest was strongest late in training. The majority of surgical MD-PhD students, like nonsurgical students, were planning to make research a significant part of their careers. In addition, students identified the importance of factors such as family issues and faculty role models in determining their clinical interests. The study data indicate that MD-PhD students have strong interests in becoming surgical clinician-scientists. They also suggested that active recruitment (especially early in training) that is responsive to the personal and professional needs of students has the potential to increase the number of clinician-scientists in orthopaedics.


The current Ebolavirus disease (EVD) epidemic in West Africa has now been running for >1 year and has been an international health emergency for >6 months. As the weekly number of new cases falls, the World Health Organization is preparing its response to the final stages of the epidemic. The final totals will exceed 20,000 cases and 8000 deaths. An ability to adapt disease countermeasures including laboratory support to the changing epidemiology of EVD has become a matter of urgency. This article considers the planning, development and modification of a flexible microbiology laboratory response, and describes logistic and operational considerations for clinical and public health microbiologists.


PURPOSE
To determine the diagnostic value of stereotactic core needle biopsy (SCNB) in comparison to stereotactic fine-needle aspiration biopsy (SFNAB) in patients with invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC).

MATERIAL AND METHODS
Twenty-two patients with clinical or mammographic findings suspicious of malignancy underwent surgery where postoperative histopathology showed ILC. Pre-operative attempts of diagnosis were made using SFNAB and SCNB. SFNAB was done with a spinal needle 0.7- or 0.9-mm and SCNB was simultaneously performed with an automated 2.1-mm biopsy gun in all patients.

RESULTS
SFNAB was diagnostic of carcinoma in 9 women, showed "probable carcinoma" in 5 and "atypia" in 3. In the remaining 5 women, SFNAB showed no atypia. SCNB diagnosed ILC in 20 patients and showed ILC as well as invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) in 1. Ductal carcinoma in situ was suggested in the remaining patient.

CONCLUSION
SCNB was superior to SFNAB in diagnosing ILC and did not miss any carcinoma, whereas SFNAB was non-diagnostic in 8 cases. SCNB is thus recommended in patients with suspicion of ILC of the breast.


There is an increasing awareness of the development of hyperkalaemia during anaesthesia in otherwise healthy veterinary patients. In the human literature 63 per cent of in-hospital hyperkalaemic episodes are associated with drug administration. Anecdotal veterinary reports have suggested that a genetic component may also play a role, with greyhounds seemingly more susceptible to the development of hyperkalaemia under anaesthesia. This case report identifies the repeated development of hyperkalaemia, and its treatment, during two separate episodes of general anaesthesia in a nine-year-old, female neutered greyhound. The first episode of hyperkalaemia (7.89 mmol/l) was identified due to bradycardia and second-degree atrioventricular block on electrocardiogram. Treatment was with intravenous calcium gluconate, insulin, glucose and fluid therapy. The second episode (6.60 mmol/l) was associated with spiked T-waves, and treatment was with insulin and glucose infusions to allow completion of the anaesthetic and surgery. Possible causes and treatments are discussed, and the need for reporting of such cases is highlighted.


More than 50% of solar energy comes from the infrared region (as radiant heat) of the solar spectrum. Electrochromic (EC) materials, which can dynamically modulate the transmittance of infrared (IR) radiation, can be effectively applied in smart windows for thermal management in buildings. In this work, a core–shell TiO2–WO3 inverse opal (IO) structure was fabricated through the electrodeposition of WO3 onto TiO2 IO templates. The TiO2 IO templates were synthesized by introducing TiO2 into the voids of a polystyrene (PS) colloidal crystal template, followed by calcination to remove the PS microspheres. It was found that the TiO2–WO3 IO core–shell structure can modulate NIR transmittance at wavelengths from 700 to 1600 nm in the NIR range when potential is applied in LiClO4/PC electrolyte. When −0.3 V is applied, up to 60% of NIR radiation in this range can be blocked. The NIR transmittance can be modulated by tuning the applied potential. This study focuses on comparing the novel TiO2–WO3 IO structure with electrodeposited WO3 thin film to fully elucidate the effect of the inverse opal morphology and the TiO2–WO3 hybrid system on the optical properties. Results show that the NIR blockage can be sustained up to 90% after 1200 reversible cycles for TiO2–WO3 IO structure. The greater surface area of the IO structure increases the number of active sites available for the redox reactions by providing a larger contact area with the electrolyte. The more electroactive area with improved charge transfer enhances the overall NIR transmittance contrast as compared to bulk WO3 thin film. Furthermore, the addition of WO3 to TiO2 to form a composite has been shown to enhance cycling performance and device lifespan.


The effect of bottomhole-pressure (BHP) drawdown schedule on the well performance is generally attributed to the stress sensitivity in propped finite-conductivity fractures. The purpose of this work is to develop a detailed workflow of optimizing BHP drawdown schedule to improve long-term performance by finding a tradeoff between delaying conductivity degradation and maintaining drawdown. First, according to experimental data of propped fracture, an alternative relationship between conductivity and pressure drawdown is developed to mimic the change of fracture conductivity with effective stress. Second, based on the dimension-transformation technique, the coupled fracture-reservoir model is semi-analytically solved and seamlessly generates the time-dependent equation (i.e., transient inflow performance relationship (IPR)) which provides the production rate response to any BHP variation. Next, the value of BHP on the reversal behavior of rate is defined as the optimum BHP on the specified time-dependent IPR, and then the optimum profile of BHP drawdown over time is achieved. Finally, we corroborate the effectiveness of this workflow with a field case from Zhaotong shale in China. Field case substantiates that (1) the well with restricted drawdown has more advantage of improving the performance than that with unrestricted drawdown and (2) after inputting the optimum BHP drawdown into the history-unrestricted case, the long-term cumulative gas production could indeed be increased.


Bovine blood, cell, tissue, and organ are used as raw materials for manufacturing biologics such as biopharmaceuticals, tissue-engineered products, and cell therapy. Manufacturing processes for the biologics have the risk of viral contamination. Therefore viral validation is essential in ensuring the safety of the products. Bovine parainfluenza virus type 3 (BPIV3) is one of the common bovine pathogens and has widely been known as a contaminant of biologics. In order to establish the validation system for the BPIV3 safety of biologics, a real-time RT-PCR method was developed for quantitative detection of BPIV3 contamination in raw materials, manufacturing processes, and final products. Specific primers for amplification of BPIV3 RNA was selected, and BPIV3 RNA was quantified by use of SYBR Green I. The sensitivity of the assay was calculated to be 2.8 . The real-time RT-PCR method was validated to be reproducible and very specific to BPIV3. The established real-time RT-PCR assay was successfully applied to the validation of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell artificially infected with BPIV3. BPIV3 RNA could be quantified in CHO cell as well as culture supernatant. Also the real-time RT-PCR assay could detect 7.8 of BPIV3 artificially contaminated in bovine collagen. The overall results indicated that this rapid, specific, sensitive, and robust assay can be reliably used for quantitative detection of BPIV3 contamination during the manufacture of biologics.


Background: Multiple prenatal factors have been associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) risk. However, current data about the association between antimicrobial use during pregnancy and ASD is limited. Methods: A nested matched case-control study of children with ASD (cases), and children without ASD or other psychiatric or genetic disorders (controls). We compared the use of antimicrobial therapy during the 3 months before conception or during pregnancy between mothers of cases and controls and used multivariate conditional logistic regression models to assess the independent association between maternal use of antimicrobials during pregnancy and the risk of ASD in their offspring. Results: More than half of the mothers in the study (54.1%) used antimicrobial drugs during the 3 months before conception or during pregnancy. Rates of antimicrobial use were lower for mothers of children with ASD compared to mothers of controls (49.0 vs. 55.1%, respectively; p = 0.02), especially during the third trimester of pregnancy (18.8 vs. 22.9%, respectively; p = 0.03), and for the use of penicillins (15.7 vs. 19.7%, respectively; p = 0.06). These case–control differences suggest that antimicrobial administration during pregnancy was associated with a reduced risk of ASD in the offspring (aOR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.61–0.92). Interestingly, this association was seen only among Jewish but not for the Bedouin mothers (aOR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.48–0.79 and aOR = 1.21, 95% CI = 0.82–1.79). Conclusions: The reduced risk of ASD associated with prenatal antimicrobials use only in the Jewish population suggest the involvement of other ethnic differences in healthcare services utilization in this association.


Civilian review boards have become popular throughout the world as agencies that handle citizens' complaints against the police. In 1991, the Philippines established a body synonymous to a civilian review board known as the People's Law Enforcement Board (PLEB). This study comparatively examines the satisfaction of the complainants and police officers about the boards and their processes in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. Specifically, the study analyzes the relationship between the boards' integrity and clients' satisfaction. In general, the respondents claim that functional rather than structural independence of the board is a significant factor for their satisfaction. Also, experience with civilian review has differential influences on police officers' satisfaction with the board.


This article aims to define what kind of relationship exists between pathological traits and defense mechanisms. Primary data was used in this research, which has been collected from 14th until 30th of March in 2017. Research participants were 57% male and 43% female in the age of early adultness 25-39 years (M = 29.9, SD = 3.33).
Two measures were used "Multidimensional Clinical Personality Inventory" (V. Perepjolkina, J. KoA¼esA†ikova, K. MArtinsone, A. Stepens 2017), "Defense mechanisms questionnaire" (L. Subbotina 2017).
Results showed that many relationships exist between pathological traits and defense mechanisms. Received results may be used for clinical psychologists or any other health services workers who deal with personality disorders.


The multidisciplinary treatment team meeting (MTTM) has been the central forum for treatment planning and clinical decision-making on many psychiatric inpatient units for decades. While the principles underlying MTTMs were described in the distant past, a detailed model for how these meetings are structured and how they function has not been well presented. In an era of very brief hospital lengths of stay, collaborative, thoughtful, comprehensive, and efficient team meetings have become increasingly important. The goal of this article is to describe a highly structured, successful MTTM model that borrows heavily from an invaluable knowledge base and tradition and is well suited for the modern era.


The utilization of community health worker (CHW) programmes to improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes has become widely applied in low- and middle-income countries. While current research has focused on discerning the effect of these interventions, documenting the process of implementing, scaling and sustaining these programmes has been largely ignored. Here, we focused on the implementation of the Safer Deliveries CHW programme in Zanzibar, a programme designed to address high rates of maternal and neonatal mortality by increasing rates of health facility delivery and postnatal care visits. The programme was implemented and brought to scale in 10 of 11 districts in Zanzibar over the course of 3 years by D-tree International and the Zanzibar Ministry of Health. As the programme utilized a mobile app to support CHWs during their visits, a rich data resource comprised of 133 481 pregnancy and postpartum home visits from 41 653 women and 436 CHWs was collected, enabling the evaluation of numerous measures related to intervention fidelity and health outcomes. Utilizing the framework of Steckler et al., we completed a formal process evaluation of the primary intervention, CHW home visits to women during their pregnancy and postpartum period. Our in-depth analysis and discussion will serve as a model for process evaluations of similar CHW programmes and will hopefully encourage future implementers to report analogous measures of programme performance.


Taking advantage of the radiation properties of 99mTc and 186/188Re and the photophysical characteristics of the {M(CO)3}+ moiety (M = Re), we developed a multifunctional silica platform with the theranostic pair 99mTc/Re with high potential for (nano)medical applications. Starting with a general screening to evaluate the most suitable mesoporous silica construct and the development of appropriate chelate systems, multifunctional mesoporous silica microparticles (SBA-15) were synthesized. These particles act as a model towards the synthesis of the corresponding nanoconstructs. The particles can be modified at the external surface with a targeting function and labeled with the {M(CO)3}+ moiety (M = 99mTc, Re) at the pore surface. Thus, a silica platform is realized, whose bioprofile is not altered by the loaded modalities. The described synthetic procedures can be applied to establish a target-specific theranostic nanoplatform, which enables the combination of fluorescence and radio imaging, with the possibility of radio- and chemotherapy.


We introduce FnF-BFT, a parallel-leader byzantine fault-tolerant state-machine replication protocol for the partially synchronous model with theoretical performance bounds during synchrony. By allowing all replicas to act as leaders and propose requests independently, FnF-BFT parallelizes the execution of requests. Leader parallelization distributes the load over the entire network -- increasing throughput by overcoming the single-leader bottleneck. We further use historical data to ensure that well-performing replicas are in command. FnF-BFT's communication complexity is linear in the number of replicas during synchrony and thus competitive with state-of-the-art protocols. Finally, with FnF-BFT, we introduce a BFT protocol with performance guarantees in stable network conditions under truly byzantine attacks.


We consider the use of multiple co-located satellites to improve the spectral efficiency of broadcast transmissions. In particular, we assume that two satellites transmit on overlapping geographical coverage areas, with overlapping frequencies. We first describe the theoretical framework based on network information theory and, in particular, on the theory for multiple access channels. The application to different scenarios will be then considered, including the bandlimited additive white Gaussian noise channel with average power constraint and different models for the nonlinear satellite channel. The comparison with the adoption of frequency division multiplexing and with the Alamouti space-time block coding is also provided. The main conclusion is that a strategy based on overlapped signals is the most convenient in the case of no power unbalance, although it requires the adoption of a multiuser detection strategy at the receiver.


The following case report published in 1805 describes the successful treatment of a markedly protruding tongue in a young boy. The method is so simple that one wonders whether the author has not omitted something in the history.
 On Thursday, May 24, 1804, Ralph Heighington, five years old, was admitted into the Sunderland Dispensary. He had been much distressed with worms, and for this complaint he was put under my charge. He had every appearance of scrofula, such as ophthalmia tarsi, and marks under the chin from scrofulous sores, etc.; but what chiefly attracted my attention was his tongue, which was so much enlarged in length, breadth, and thickness, that it hung out of his mouth considerably below the chin. It had a very disgusting appearance. The upper part of it was rugose, and indented with a few longitudinal fissures. The dentes incisores were gone; and the few remaining molares were much diseased, and ready to drop out. He could not utter a single syllable, but appeared to understand everything I said to him. The tongue began to swell before he was a year old; and increased so rapidly, as to prevent him from learning to speak a word. By the use of a few vermifuge medicines, a large quantity of worms were expelled, and, with them, all the concomitant symptoms disappeared. The tongue remained still much the same, being protruded without the mouth about three inches. The more he endeavoured to pull it within his lips, the further it appeared to be protruded. I thought it expedient to ... push back the tongue, and shut the mouth; but the moment he withdrew his hand, it burst without the mouth, the same as before. I ordered the tongue to be returned into the mouth, and retained there by means of a silk handkerchief, which was passed below the chin, and the ends firmly fastened at the crown of the head. By this means the jaws were kept perfectly close together. At first he appeared very uneasy, but being relieved occasionally, by taking off the handkerchief for a few minutes, and replacing it again, he was enabled to bear it; and, in the course of five weeks, the tongue became of the natural size and appearance, and he could pronounce several short words very distinctly. By these means, a perfect cure was effected.


Durian rind (Durio zibethinus L.) is a part of plant that has antifungal activity. This research purposed for made extract rind of Durio zibethinus L. formula cream and tasted the physical characteristic toward Candida albicans fungi. The formulation of extract rind of Durio zibethinus L. is made with variety of extract concentration: 15%, 20%, and 25%. Cream that is produced by physically tested covers: organoleptis,homogeneity, adhesive power, dispersive power, and protection power. The result of this research showed that extract rind of Durio zibethinus L. formula cream had antifungal activities towards Candida albicans and fulfill the physically tested covers. Keywords: Durio zibethinus L, Candida albicans, cream


We propose a mesh-based multicast routing protocol for wireless ad hoc networks. The protocol retains all of the advantages of the on-demand multicast routing protocol (ODMRP) such as high packet delivery ratio under high mobility, high throughput. Moreover, the protocol significantly reduces control overhead, one of the main weaknesses of ODMRP, under the presence of multiple sources. This feature is a crucial contributing factor to the scalability of multicast routing for mobile ad hoc networks. The results are experimentally verified. It is shown that in the presence of high number of sources, our protocol reduces the control packet load by up to 30 percent, increases the multicast efficiency by 10 to 20 percent and improves the data delivery ratio of ODMRP.


ABSTRACT Infectious molecular clones have been isolated from two maedi-visna virus (MVV) strains, one of which (KV1772kv72/67) is an antigenic escape mutant of the other (LV1-1KS1). To map the type-specific neutralization epitope, we constructed viruses containing chimeric envelope genes by using KV1772kv72/67 as a backbone and replacing various parts of the envelope gene with equivalent sequences from LV1-1KS1. The neutralization phenotype was found to map to a region in the envelope gene containing two deletions and four amino acid changes within 39 amino acids (positions 559 to 597 of Env). Serum obtained from a lamb infected with a chimeric virus, VR1, containing only the 39 amino acids from LV1-1KS1 in the KV1772kv72/67 backbone neutralized LV1-1KS1 but not KV1772kv72/67. The region in the envelope gene that we had thus shown to be involved in escape from neutralization was cloned into pGEX-3X expression vectors, and the resulting fusion peptides from both molecular clones were tested in immunoblots for reactivity with the KV1772kv72/67 and VR1 type-specific antisera. The type-specific KV1772kv72/67 antiserum reacted only with the fusion peptide from KV1772kv72/67 and not with that from LV1-1KS1, and the type-specific VR1 antiserum reacted only with the fusion peptide from LV1-1KS1 and not with that from KV1772kv72/67. Pepscan analysis showed that the region contained two linear epitopes, one of which was specific to each of the molecularly cloned viruses. This linear epitope was not bound by all type-specific neutralizing antisera, however, which indicates that it is not by itself the neutralization epitope but may be a part of it. These findings show that mutations within amino acids 559 to 597 in the envelope gene of MVV virus result in escape from neutralization. Furthermore, the region contains one or more parts of a discontinuous neutralization epitope.


The paper used DEA method to evaluate the efficiency of regional R&D resources allocation in hebei province, on the basis of this, it applied index method to further analyze the economic characteristics of R&D resources allocation. Introduction R&D resource allocation is the configuration of R&D resources in time and space, R&D resources allocation efficiency refers to the total input-output rate of R&D resources in one area. The investigation to the R&D resources allocation efficiency is generally based on the relative efficiency or comprehensive efficiency, the main purpose is to evaluate R&D activities which to use of limited resources rationally, thus R&D resource allocation evaluation is a kind of comprehensive evaluation, the analysis of characteristics of R&D resource allocation in different regional especially has more reference significance to decision makers. The Analysis of R&D Resources Allocation Efficiency Based on DEA The Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method of measuring efficiency is elaborated by Charnes et al. in 1978[1].This approach has been widely used in computing relative performance(efficiency or productivity) of so-called 'decision-making units' (DMUs)which use multiple inputs to produce multiple outputs. As DEA does not require input or output prices in determining efficiency frontiers based on best practice technology and related measures of inefficiency, it has become especially popular in the study of public sector, such as efficiency evaluation[2], resource allocation[3], as well as policy analysis[4]. This paper taken the 11 cities in hebei province as decision making units to examine their R&D resource allocation performance, and selected four input indicators and four output indicators, as shown in table 1. Table 1 System of R&D resources allocation evaluation Input Output R&D/GDP Invention patent applications Intramural expenditure for R&D Number of S&T papers Total R&D personnel Added value of high-tech industry/ industrial added value R&D personnel /S&T personnel Sales Revenue of New Products/sales revenue / Using LINDO tools (Linear, Interactive, and Discrete Optimizer), the calculation results are shown in table 2. As table 2 shown, except DMU2 (Tangshan), DMU5 (Xingtai) and DMU8 (Chende) the three cities, the other DUMs had all achieved scale efficient. Using traditional DEA method, it is difficult to further distinguish those DMUs which all achieved efficient at the same time. Although Per Andersen & Niels Christian Petersen put forward MDEA model in 1993[5], to a certain extent, which 3rd International Conference on Science and Social Research (ICSSR 2014) © 2014. The authors Published by Atlantis Press 330 solved the rank problems of DMUs, we had no good method to analyze the characteristics of resource allocation in each decision-making unit, so we need to bring in other ways. Table 2 Results of R&D resources allocation evaluation base on DEA DMUs Shijiazhuang Tangshan Qinhuangdao Handan Xingtai Baoding DMU1 DMU2 DMU3 DMU4 DMU5 DMU6 Efficiency 1.00 0.87 1.00 1.00 0.67 1.00 DMUs Zhangjiakou Chengde Cangzhou Langfang Hengshui -DMU7 DMU8 DMU9 DMU10 DMU11 -Efficiency 1.00 0.97 1.00 1.00 1.00 -The Analysis of the Economy Characteristics of R&D Resources Allocation For further analysis of the economic characteristics of R&D resource allocation in each DMU, this paper draws lessons from the "Global Competitiveness Report" and "The National Science and Technology Progress Monitoring Report", using the index method, makes the Input and output indicators dimensionless. The results are shown in table 3. Table 3 Total input-output of R&D resource and innovation performance DMU1 DMU2 DMU3 DMU4 DMU5 DMU6 Total input 100 74 45 37 37 82 performance 84 43 54 22 25 100 DMU7 DMU8 DMU9 DMU10 DMU11 -Total input 32 26 30 37 13 -performance 29 14 22 48 19 -Sit reference line at 60 point, we get the scatter diagram of the total input and total output of each DUM, see figure 1. Fig.1 The scatter diagram of the total in-put of R&D resource and innovation performance


We report a neutron scattering study of multilamellar membranes supported on solid substrates. In contrast to previous work, the high degree of orientational alignment allows for a clear distinction between specular and nonspecular reflectivity contributions. In particular, we demonstrate that by using the specific advantages of neutron optics the nonspecular scattering can be mapped over a wide range of reciprocal space. Several orders of magnitude in scattering signal and parallel momentum transfer can easily be recorded in multilamellar stacks of lipid membranes. This opens up the possibility to study fluctuations, and more generally lateral structure parameters of membrane on length scales between a few A up to several μm. The first results obtained for a system of partially hydrated 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) indicate strong deviations from the predictions of the standard Caille model.


Small angle scattering of neutrons (SANS) and x-rays (SAXS) is used to get insight into the shape, the internal structure and the interaction of aqueous solutions of micelles. Alignment of anisometric micelles via shear gradients, electric and magnetic fields facilitates the interpretation of the scattering patterns and are therefore a powerful tool for any kind of investigation. Transient alignment experiments give a rich insight into the dynamic response of micellar solutions, like phase transitions, Brownian motion, growth or decay of micelles and mutual interaction.


: In using the method of dye dilution improved by reflectometry by means of fibrooptic catheters the authors measured the volumes of the right ventricle in patients with hemodynamics close to normal, in patients with a tension load of the right ventricle, with a volumetric load, in decompensation and in pericarditis. The authors noted a constancy of the relative stroke volume in compensated work of the right ventricle (approximately 53%). They regard this index to be the criterion of normal pump function of the right ventricle. In deficiency of this function the relative stroke volume may be reduced by nearly half, to 28%.


Abstract Background During the pandemic, increased numbers of patients requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission required an increase in ICU capacity, including ICU staffing with competence to care for critically ill patients. Consequently, nurses from acute care areas were called in to staff the ICU along with experienced intensive care nurses. Aims and objectives To describe Swedish registered nurses' experiences of caring for patients with COVID‐19 in ICUs during the pandemic. Design Mixed method survey design. Methods An online questionnaire was distributed through social media to registered nurses who had been working in the ICU during the COVID‐19 outbreak. Data were collected for 1 week (May 2020) and analysed using content analysis and descriptive statistics. Results Of the 282 nurses who participated, the majority were ICU nurses (n = 151; 54%). Half of the nurses specialized in ICU reported that they were responsible for the ICU care of three or more patients during the pandemic (n = 75; 50%). Among non‐intensive care nurses, only 19% received introduction to the COVID‐19 ICU (n = 26). The analysis of data regarding nurses' experiences resulted in three categories: tumbling into chaos, diminished nursing care, and transition into pandemic ICU care. Participants described how patient safety and care quality were compromised, and that nursing care was severely deprioritized during the pandemic. The situation of not being able to provide nursing care resulted in ethical stress. Furthermore, an increased workload and worsened work environment affected nurses' health and well‐being. Conclusions The findings from the present study indicate that nurses perceived that patient safety and quality of care were compromised during the pandemic. This resulted in ethical stress among nurses, which may have affected their physical and psychosocial well‐being. Relevance to clinical practice The COVID‐19 pandemic had a severe impact on nurses' work environment, which could result in burnout and staff turnover.


The increasing number of disease‐modifying treatments available for multiple sclerosis has broadened treatment options for patients, but also challenges clinicians to select the best therapy for each individual at the appropriate stage of the disease. Early prediction of treatment response still remains one of the main difficulties in the management of multiple sclerosis patients. The concept of 'no evidence of disease activity' (NEDA) has been proposed as a surrogate for treatment response based on the absence of relapses, disability progression and radiological activity. Although there are several apparently logical arguments for the NEDA approach, there are also some major concerns that have to be considered and that are not sufficiently addressed yet. Amongst others, each parameter's limitations are not eliminated solely by its use within a composite score, and the contribution of each parameter to NEDA is not well balanced, as the detection of, for example, a single new magnetic resonance imaging lesion is considered as significant as the occurrence of a severely disabling relapse. NEDA in its current form also neglects underlying pathophysiology of the disease, has not been shown to fulfil formal criteria of a surrogate marker and its prognostic value has not been sufficiently evidenced yet. From a clinical point of view, 'evidence of disease activity' seems the more relevant surrogate; however, its implications are even less clear than those of NEDA. Here, existing literature on NEDA is critically reviewed and improvements are discussed that value its potential use in clinical trials and, even more importantly, treatment decision making in daily routine.


BACKGROUND
Early child development is a critical stage of life that influences social, educational, and health outcomes worldwide. A few years after Zika epidemic, families of children born with congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) continue to face uncertainties when it comes to the development of their children. The present study sought to analyze the developmental trajectories of a subset of children born with CZS in the first 24 months of life.

METHODS
Thirty-five children with CZS were assessed with the Bayley-III Scales at 12 and 24 months of age from November 2016 to December 2018 in a rehabilitation center in Brazil. Inclusion criteria included children with established diagnosis of CZS. Exclusion criteria included the presence of arthrogryposis, prematurity, irregular follow-up, clinical complications, or other causes of microcephaly. Children born with CZS who evolved with cerebral palsy (CP) were classified according to the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) at two years of age.

RESULTS
At 12 months of age mean composite scores on the Bayley cognitive, communication and motor scores were 57.71 (SD 7.11), 57.94 (SD 14.34) and 49.26 (7.20), respectively. At 24 months of age composite scores were 57.43 (SD 7.11), 53.60 (SD 12.29) and 48.83 (7.76). In addition, 31 (88.57%) out of 34 children diagnosed with CP were classified as GMFCS levels IV and V.

CONCLUSION
Zika virus congenital infection is a risk factor for functional impairments across all developmental domains having a direct and substantial negative impact in early child development.


BACKGROUND
Advance directives (AD) are an important tool for documentation of patients' wishes and are therefore recommended to the elderly as well as patients with chronic diseases. However, there is no standardized procedure in Germany and no guideline for counseling patients who wish to write an AD with or without health care proxy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the care situation concerning the ADs and the role of the primary care physician in drafting the document METHOD: We conducted semi-structured interviews with patients in primary care in North Rhine-Westphalia using a cross-sectional study design.

RESULT
Most of the 154 patients who were interviewed (average age: 58 years; 52% female) suffered from chronic diseases (79%), and about one-third (32%) already had an AD. Fear of "loss of autonomy" was the main reason for preparing an AD. Patients without AD were generally not opposed to the concept and named procrastination (43%) as the main reason for not having prepared one. The chance for preparing an AD increased by the factor 1.08 per life-year (Odds ratio (OR): 1.08; CI: 1.04-1.11). Patients with AD mostly got advice via the internet (22%), their primary care physicians (12%) and relatives (12%). Most patients were satisfied with their AD.

CONCLUSION
The majority of primary care patients do not make use of ADs. The primary care physicians play an important role in counseling and should motivate patients to complete ADs. Here, the establishment of quality standards would be desirable in the future.


Introduction: Rheumatic heart disease (RHD), the sequel of acute rheumatic fever (ARF), is a very common cause of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. RHD results in enormous disease burden translating into huge economic and social losses in India. Classical ARF is still encountered across the country. The diagnosis of RF remains clinical. Echocardiography is a very important diagnostic tool to detect valvular lesions in patients with carditis of acute rheumatic fever. Jones criteria has been modified several times but the role of echocardiography in detecting carditis is not been mentioned in any modifications. Methods and Material: The study was conducted from November 2007 to October 2009, for duration of 2 years in GSVM medical college, Kanpur. Patients with joint pain (arthritis, arthralgia), chest pain, dyspnoea, palpitation, chorea (involuntary movements), subcutaneous nodule, erhythema marginatum, sore throat, skin infection, recurrent upper respiratory tract infection etc, who visited OPD, health camps, or were admitted in Medicine and Pediatrics department were included in the study. Thus selected patients were undergone detailed history taking, clinical examinations particularly they were evaluated to find out whether they were having symptom/signs of carditis and fulfilling Jones criteria to diagnose Acute Rheumatic fever. The same patients were evaluated with Echocardiography to detect carditis. Results: 40 patients were diagnosed as acute rheumatic fever based on revised Jones criteria. Only 24 patients showed carditis clinically, but Echocardiography showed 27 patients with evidence of carditis. Ventricular septal defect was also detected in 3 patients, which was wrongly detected as carditis in clinical examination. 21 patients had carditis clinically, but echocardiography diagnosed carditis in 27 patients. (p value <0.05). Conclusion: Echocardiography plays a very important role in detection of carditis. Echocardiographic confirmation of carditis could be accepted as major criteria.


Wound healing is a complex biological process that is impaired under diabetes conditions. Chronic non-healing wounds in diabetes are some of the most expensive healthcare expenditures worldwide. Early diagnosis and efficacious treatment strategies are needed. microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of 18–25 nucleotide long RNAs, are important regulatory molecules involved in gene expression regulation and in the repression of translation, controlling protein expression in health and disease. Recently, miRNAs have emerged as critical players in impaired wound healing and could be targets for potential therapies for non-healing wounds. Here, we review and discuss the mechanistic background of miRNA actions in chronic wounds that can shed the light on their utilization as specific wound healing biomarkers.


not familiar with the art form. Nicholson provocatively asserts that a music started over one hundred years ago by African-Americans as a radical departure is now heavily populated with European musicians equally fond of pushing the boundaries of jazz and who are some of the most innovative jazz musicians in the world. The examples discussed here are but a few in an extensive collection of arguments presented by respected scholars and musicians. The varied opinions have much to offer educators in evaluating what aspects of jazz are most important for students to learn. The broad scope of The


High-speed rail services have now been operating in China for three years. How are they performing? What has happened to the conventional services they parallel? What has been the impact on the airlines? Little comprehensive information has been published to date but a general picture is emerging in which high-speed rail, as in other countries, is competing strongly on short and medium-distance routes up to 1,000 km while air remains dominant over longer distances. Overall, however, diverted air passengers have not been a major source of high speed rail ridership. A larger source has been 'generated' trips: new trips by passengers who were induced to travel by the greater convenience of high speed service. Based on this evidence and the continuing strong growth in Chinese urban populations and incomes, we are cautiously optimistic about the long-term ridership (and hence economic viability) of the major trunk railways of the high-speed rail network in China. This optimism is tempered by the need to develop a sustainable financing mechanism in the short to medium term and to carefully weigh the costs and benefits of the peripheral extensions of the network.


Introduction: Smoking is a public health problem associated with chronic degenerative diseases. The coexistence of tobacco consumption and anxiety disorders was detected, which represent the most frequent psychiatric illnesses around the world. Objective: Analyze the prevalence of symptoms of anxiety and their severity as a consequence of tobacco dependence in young adults from two communities in the State of Mexico. Material and methods: This is a descriptive, observational, and cross-sectional study. The measurement instrument was a survey consisting of the Fagerström test, the Glover-Nilsson test, and Beck anxiety inventory. Prior informed consent applied to adults aged 18–35 years from the municipalities of Huixquilucan and Atlautla, State of Mexico with a calculated sample of 300 subjects. The analysis was carried out using SPSS Statistics, with a significance level of α = 0.05. Results: 50.2% of the population were active smokers and 15.8% showed high suspicion of anxiety disorders independent of smoking. In smokers, 15.1% had scores for an anxiety disorder while more than 60% showed mild anxiety symptoms and 18.9%, moderate anxiety. A high prevalence of moderate dependence on nicotine was found in those smokers whose age of initiation of consumption was 16–19 years and who also had previous failure to abandon consumption. Conclusion: Anxious symptoms were found in 66% of those surveyed. This is relevant since mental illnesses have shown a significant increase, generating long-term problems in the overall health of adults.


Bacterial resistance to antimicrobial agents is a common problem observed in hospitals. We characterized a clinical isolate of Klebsiella pneumoniae (R-3455) which was resistant to high concentrations of broad spectrum beta-lactams, aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, chloramphenicol and tetracycline. Conjugation experiments showed that the multiresistance could be transferred to Escherichia coli J53-2 receptor strain. The transconjugant X-3455 was resistant to all antibacterials assayed in R-3455, except to fluoroquinolones. We found that both strains R-3455 and X-3455 produced a beta-lactamase which was sensitive to clavulanic acid. Southern hybridization and PCR analysis showed the presence of at least, a TEM type beta-lactamase gene in both strains.


Exercise dependence and evaluations of psychopathological features Objective: Exercise dependence has been described as making excessive physical exercise leading to clinically significant negative consequences. Self report scales were developed for the diagnosis of exercise dependence based on DSM-IV criteria. For the diagnosis, exercise frequency, psychological factors (e.g. pathological commitment), tolerance and withdrawal symptoms should be taken into consideration. However, the diagnosis of exercise dependence has been neglected because its definition is unsatisfactory and exercise dependent subjects do not seek any help. Secondary exercise dependence is defined as compulsive exercise occurring with eating disorders. The aim of this study is to investigate the exercise dependence in subjects practicing sports regularly and to evaluate the psychopathological features and disordered eating behaviors in the exercise dependent subjects. Method: One hundred fifteen voluntary subjects who had exercised regularly at least three times a week throughout the previous year were evaluated by Exercise Dependence Scale-21 (EDS-21), Symptom Check List 90-Revised (SCL-90-R) form and Eating Attitude Test (EAT-40). The subjects were categorized into three groups as exercise dependent, non-dependent symptomatic and non-dependent asymptomatic according to EDS-21 results and the groups were compared with each other. Results: Exercise dependence was present in 14 (12%) of all subjects. Of the exercise dependent subjects, 85% met the physiological dependence criteria. Exercise dependent group did not statistically differ from the other groups in terms of psychopathological symptoms and eating behavior. Conclusions: Our results showed that eating behavior and psychopathological features in exercise dependent subjects were not different from those of the non- dependent symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects. Exercise dependent subjects in the present study were categorized as having primary exercise dependence because they had no psychological and eating disorders symptoms. Psychological features and eating behavior should be evaluated together for the diagnosis of primary exercise dependence in subjects who exercised excessively and differential diagnosis should be made from the eating disorders.


Groundwater calcretes in arid central Western Australia contain a diverse invertebrate groundwater fauna (stygofauna). Surveys have uncovered a diverse oniscidean isopod subterranean fauna above the water table (troglofauna), including species of a recently described genus Paraplatyarthrus. The aim of this study was to investigate the biogeographic history of Paraplatyarthrus and the timing of transitions from surface to subterranean habitats. Phylogenetic relationships among the isopod troglofauna from 11 groundwater calcretes along three palaeodrainage systems were assessed using one mitochondrial gene, cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI), and two nuclear markers, lysyl‐tRNA synthetase (LysRS) and 18S rRNA (18S) genes. Phylogenetic analyses revealed multiple sister lineage relationships between troglophile and troglobite lineages and evidence for divergent mtDNA lineages within species, providing a range of nodes for dating evolutionary transitions from surface to subterranean habitats. Relaxed molecular clock analyses provided evidence that evolutionary transitions from surface to subterranean environments took place between 13.3 and 1.75 million years ago, coinciding with the onset of aridification of Australia from the late Tertiary. In cases where groundwater calcretes contained multiple species, the taxa were not closely related phylogenetically, suggesting that these calcretes were independently colonised by multiple ancestral species. The study further confirmed the role of late/post‐Miocene aridification as a key driver of the evolution of subterranean invertebrates in the calcrete islands of Western Australia, supporting the climatic relict hypothesis. Troglobites most likely evolved from the troglophile ancestors that were capable of dispersal among, and active colonisation of, calcretes.


The n-3 fatty acids advantageously affect human health. Thus, partial substitution of pig backfat with soybean- or flaxseed oils in "Parizsi" (lyoner), with the aim to increase its n-3 fatty acid (FA) content, resulted improved FA profile (n-6/n-3 ratio). Relatively high (9% flaxseed oil) substitution decreased this ratio to the optimum (∼4). This modified FA profile was preserved during 32 storage days. Oil addition influenced fresh surface colour: lightness (L*) increased, redness (a*) decreased in parallel with the increasing oil addition, while only soybean oil increased yellowness (b*). Storage altered the colour slightly. The texture was not systematically altered by oil substitution, while during storage in a vapour permeable casing hardness increased. Considering organoleptic properties, soybean oil improved the extent of spiciness, while the general consumer acceptance was the most favourable (within complemented samples) by 3% flaxseed oil. Increasing vegetable oil levels intensified the taste o...


Background and Objective. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by pulmonary edema and may benefit from conservative fluid management. However, conflicting results exist in the literature. The study aimed to investigate the association between mean fluid balance and mortality outcome in ARDS patients who required invasive mechanical ventilation. Methods. The study was a secondary analysis of a prospectively collected dataset obtained from the NHLBI Biologic Specimen and Data Repository Information Coordinating Center. ARDS patients with invasive mechanical ventilation were eligible. Demographic and laboratory data were extracted from the dataset. Multivariable regression model was built by stepwise selection of covariates. A fractional polynomial approach was used to test the linearity of mean fluid balance in the model. The potential interactions of mean fluid balance with other variables were tested. Main Results. A total of 282 patients were eligible for the analysis, including 61 non-survivors with a mortality rate of 21.6%. After stepwise regression analysis, mean fluid balance remained to be an independent predictor of death (OR: 1.00057; 95% CI [1.00034–1.00080]). The two-term model obtained using fractional polynomial analysis was not superior to the linear model. There was significant interaction between mean fluid balance and serum potassium levels (p = 0.011). While the risk of death increased with increasing mean fluid balance at potassium levels of 1.9, 2.9 , 3.9 and 4.9 mmol/l, the risk decreased at potassium level of 5.9 mmol/l. Conclusion. The present study demonstrates that more positive fluid balance in the first 8 days is significantly associated with increased risk of death. However, the relationship between mean fluid balance and mortality can be modified by serum potassium levels. With hyperkalemia, more positive fluid balance is associated with reduced risk of death.


Objective Baicalin, a kind of flavonoid extracted from the dry root of Scutellaria, possesses potent anticancer bioactivities in various tumor cell lines. Accumulating evidences show that baicalin induces autophagy and apoptosis to suppress the cancer growth. Moreover, the antineoplastic role of baicalin in human glioblastoma cells remains to be uncovered. Methods Both U87 and U251 human glioblastoma cell lines were employed in the present study. Cell viability was tested by Cell Counting Kit-8 and colony-forming assay; Flow cytometry was employed to analyze cell apoptosis, cell cycle, and Ca2+ content. Cell immunofluorescence assays were used for analyzing terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), light chain 3 beta (LC3B), 5,5′,6,6′-Tetrachloro-1,1′,3,3′-tetraethyl-imidacarbocyanineiodide (JC-1), and Ca2+ content. The protein levels were tested by Western blot. The SPSS software was used for statistical analysis. Results Baicalin suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of human glioblastoma cells in a dose-dependent manner. Baicalin induced the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and led to mitochondrial apoptosis. The maturation of microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-LC3B indicated the activation of autophagy potentially through PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, and inhibition of autophagy by 3-methyladenine decreased the apoptotic cell ratio. Besides, baicalin increased the intercellular Ca2+ content; meanwhile, chelation of free Ca2+ by 1,2-bis(o-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid inhibited both apoptotic and autophagy. Finally, baicalin suppressed tumor growth in vivo. Conclusion Our observations suggest that baicalin exerts cytotoxic effects on human glioblastoma cells by the autophagy-related apoptosis through Ca2+ movement to the cytosol. Furthermore, baicalin has the potential as a candidate for the treatment of glioblastoma.


Images of "the other", that can be distinguished within the structure of the social and political identity of Russian society, are considered in the article on the basis of the discourse-analysis of mass-media, performed by the author and supplemented by the author in the text with data of sociological polls. Specific features of images of both external and internal "others" have been analyzed, and dynamics of their formation and transformation in the period from the late 1990s up to 2008 demonstrated.


Mechanical properties and low cycle fatigue are two factors that must be considered in developing new type steel for shock absorption. Process capability and process control are significant factors in achieving the purpose of research and development programs. Often-used evaluation methods failed to measure process yield and process centering; so this paper uses Taguchi loss function as basis to establish an evaluation method and the steps for assessing the quality of mechanical properties and process control of an iron and steel manufacturer. The establishment of this method can serve the research and development and manufacturing industry and lay a foundation in enhancing its process control ability to select better manufacturing processes that are more reliable than decision making by using the other commonly used methods.


Conventionally optimal control theory has been used in the theoretical design of laser pulses through the direct variation in the electric field of the laser pulse as a function of time. This often leads to designed laser pulses which contain a broad and seemingly arbitrary frequency structure that varies in time in a manner which may be difficult to realize experimentally. In contrast, the experimental design of laser pulses has used a genetic algorithm (GA) approach, varying only those laser parameters actually available to the experimentalist. We investigate in this paper the possibility of using GA optimization methods in the theoretical design of laser pulses to bring about quantum state transitions in molecules. This allows us to select only a small limited number of parameters to vary and to choose these parameters so that they correspond to those available to the experimentalist. In the paper we apply our methods to the vibrational-rotational excitation of the HF molecule. We choose a small limited number of frequencies and vary only the associated electric field amplitudes and pulse envelopes. We show that laser pulses designed in this way can lead to very high transition probabilities.


This study describes the implementation of information literacy (IL) skills through the use of the project-based learning (PjBL) method in an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) course. Participants were Arabic speaking students enrolled in the Foundation Program that prepares them for the premedical curriculum in a U.S. medical   college in the State of Qatar. A mixed methods approach consisting of a survey, three focus groups, and instructors' observations was used to gather the needed data. The results showed a significant increase in students' advanced research skills. This study emphasizes the benefit of using the PjBL method to develop students' IL skills. It also reinforces the vital role of faculty-librarian partnership in designing learning activities that engage students, foster their critical thinking, and develop their metacognitive skills.