The hexosamine biosynthesis pathway (HBP) is a relatively minor branch of glycolysis. Fructose 6-phosphate is converted to glucosamine 6-phosphate, catalyzed by the first and rate-limiting enzyme glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase (GFAT). The major end product is UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc). Along with other amino sugars generated by HBP, it provides essential building blocks for glycosyl side chains, of proteins and lipids. UDP-GlcNAc regulates flux through HBP by regulating GFAT activity and is the obligatory substrate of O-GlcNAc transferase. The latter is a cytosolic and nuclear enzyme that catalyzes a reversible, posttranslational protein modification, transferring GlcNAc in O-linkage (O-GlcNAc) to specific serine/threonine residues of proteins. The metabolic effects of increased flux through HBP are thought to be mediated by increasing O-GlcNAcylation. Several investigators proposed that HBP functions as a cellular nutrient sensor and plays a role in the development of insulin resistance and the vascular complications of diabetes. Increased flux through HBP is required and sufficient for some of the metabolic effects of sustained, increased glucose flux, which promotes the complications of diabetes, e.g., diminished expression of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase in cardiomyocytes and induction of TGF-beta and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in vascular smooth muscle cells, mesangial cells, and aortic endothelial cells. The mechanism was consistent with enhanced O-GlcNAcylation of certain transcription factors. The role of HBP in the development of insulin resistance has been controversial. There are numerous papers showing a correlation between increased flux through HBP and insulin resistance; however, the causal relationship has not been established. More recent experiments in mice overexpressing GFAT in muscle and adipose tissue or exclusively in fat cells suggest that the latter develop in vivo insulin resistance via cross talk between fat cells and muscle. Although the relationship between HBP and insulin resistance may be quite complex, it clearly deserves further study in concert with its role in the complications of diabetes.


Traditional neural network approaches for traffic flow forecasting are usually single task learning (STL) models, which do not take advantage of the information provided by related tasks. In contrast to STL, multitask learning (MTL) has the potential to improve generalization by transferring information in training signals of extra tasks. In this paper, MTL based neural networks are used for traffic flow forecasting. For neural network MTL, a backpropagation (BP) network is constructed by incorporating traffic flows at several contiguous time instants into an output layer. Nodes in the output layer can be seen as outputs of different but closely related STL tasks. Comprehensive experiments on urban vehicular traffic flow data and comparisons with STL show that MTL in BP neural networks is a promising and effective approach for traffic flow forecasting.


We present a self-learning approach that combines deep reinforcement learning and Monte Carlo tree search to solve the traveling salesman problem. The proposed approach has two advantages. First, it adopts deep reinforcement learning to compute the value functions for decision, which removes the need of hand-crafted features and labelled data. Second, it uses Monte Carlo tree search to select the best policy by comparing different value functions, which increases its generalization ability. Experimental results show that the proposed method performs favorably against other methods in small-to-medium problem settings. And it shows comparable performance as state-of-the-art in large problem setting.


This research assesses the effects of resources and capabilities related to Information Technology (IT), and of shared knowledge among IT and business managers, on the level of operational alignment between these areas, and, thereby, on the performance of business processes. Data was collected from IT and back office managers of 39 companies from Rio de Janeiro that operate in the service sector. Results of structural equations analysis suggest that operational alignment positively affects the performance of back office processes, which, by its turn, influences the satisfaction of process customers. Although IT resources and capabilities, as well as shared knowledge, do not seem to have a direct effect on the level of operational alignment, it was observed that, as IT and business areas share more knowledge, the flexibility of a company's IT infrastructure tends to have stronger, positive effects on operational alignment. The results are discussed with their implications for theory and practice.


Growths of mechanization service supply have been considered generally frictionless outside Africa South of Sahara (SSA). However, the dominance of large tractors that are sparsely populated in SSA countries like Nigeria today suggests significant imperfections in tractor hiring service market due to technology indivisibility and low spatial mobility. Empirically testing market imperfections for scale-biased technologies like tractors has been challenging, partly due to the difficulty of separating the effect of marginal technology adoptions from intensive technology adoptions that potentially generate scale effects. We fill this knowledge gap by applying covariate matching, ordinary propensity score matching, as well as generalized propensity score matching methods to Nigerian household data. Tractor hiring service market in Nigeria is found imperfect, potentially due to the supply-side constraints. The effect of this imperfection is also sizeable; in the case of Nigeria, overcoming this imperfection can potentially increase farm households' income by as much as 30%. This effect is from the marginal adoption of tractors alone, even without the potential scale effects from intensive tractor use upon adoption.


X-ray scatter data have been calculated by Monte Carlo methods for diagnostic radiology applications. The scatter intensities relative to the primary intensities are given for different detectors for various values of object thickness, field size, object-to-detector distance, and primary energy. The results are compared with those from previous investigations. The calculations made it possible to resolve contradictions in published measurements regarding the dependence of scatter intensities on primary X-ray energy and detector response.


New Zealand law has not dealt with interpreting and translation in court as a general language policy issue, but it has recognized limited rights to such services in pursuit of other rights, and these rights to interpreting and translation have expanded since 1987. The law to be applied in a particular circumstance is a combination of legislation, case law, and human rights law based on international conventions, and depends on whether the proceedings are criminal or civil, or are focused on specific categories of persons, including Maori. Individuals' rights depend on what language they use; on whether (written) translation or (oral) interpreting is involved; and on what role they have in the proceedings. Recent developments represent a move towards recognizing more general language rights of Maori and of non-English speakers in court proceedings, and include a legal definition of 'interpreter' which can include 'translator'.


In the present study, volume values of the cervical segments in the spinal cords of adult ducks weighing 3-4 kg were investigated. Volume values of the grey matter and white matter in the cervical segment of the spinal cord of the ducks were examined stereologically. Ten ducks (genus Anas) without regarding the sex of the animals. All animals were perfused using 10% formaldehyde. The animals were kept in 10% formaldehyde for 1 week to ensure fixation. The ducks were then dissected. The cervical segments were uncovered by removing the cervical vertebrae. Tissue samples were obtained from each of the cervical spinal segments, and 5-μm-thick cross-sections were obtained from these samples. Sampling was performed at a ratio of 1/250 to obtain 12 cross-sections from each cervical segment of the animals. These sections were stained using the hematoxylin and eosin staining technique. Photos were taken under a microscope. Volume values of whole tissue, grey matter, and white matter were calculated for each cervical segment of the spinal cord of the ducks. Cavalieri's principle was employed for the calculation. As a result, the vertebral column was used as a guide to identify the cervical segments of the spinal cord. The cervical segments were also obtained by dissection without using a decalcification process. It was determined that the number of segments was 15. When mean volume values of the whole cervical segment of the spinal cord in the ducks were evaluated, the highest mean volume was determined as 4.224 mm 3 " role="presentation"> 3 3 ^{3} in segment C15. The cervical spinal segment with the lowest value of white matter was C7 (0.915 mm 3 " role="presentation"> 3 3 ^{3} ). When the volume values of the grey matter of the cervical segments of the ducks were examined, it was determined that segments C14 and C15 had the highest values, calculated as 0.511 mm 3 " role="presentation"> 3 3 ^{3} and 0.513 mm 3 " role="presentation"> 3 3 ^{3} , respectively. It was determined that segments C12, C13, C14, and C15 were involved in the cervical enlargement.


Since the introduction of targeted therapy, treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has undergone dramatic changes. Responses to targeted therapy within the primary tumor and metastatic lesions are novel findings not seen with immunotherapeutic-based strategies. We report here a case of T4 RCC in which cytoreductive nephrectomy became possible after a neoadjuvant targeted therapy using sunitinib. Our experience with the present case suggests that targeted therapy in the neoadjuvant setting may have a variety of potential applications. Further investigations should be encouraged.


This article outlines a proposal to see schools as the natural portal of entry into community violence and to conceptualize bullying as a universal dysfunctional social process, in which the bully and the victim are symptoms, not causes of that dysfunction. Ten truths that we have found are crosscultural, and deserve consideration if such an approach is to become a practical reality in our struggles against community violence. These are: (1) Children need clear, consistent signals from home and school; (2) biology transcends culture; (3) schools mirror their communities; (4) bullying is a process, not a person; (5) when adults deny problems, children become targets; (6) children are developmentally similar across cultures; (7) all schools have a climate; (8) children need to feel safe to learn; (9) when children feel securely attached and valued, they grow; and (10) natural leaders and altruism are necessary for school and community change.


This report presents a proposed formal approach towards reduction of sequences in PEPA components. By per- forming the described amalgamation procedure we may remove, from the Markov chain underlying an initial PEPA model, those states for which detailed local balance equations cannot be formulated. This transformation may lead to a simpler model with product form solution. Some classes of reduced models preserve those performance measures which we are interested in and, moreover, the steady state solution vector is much easier to find from the computational point of view.


There is a tendency for indigenous tourism destinations to focus their marketing on the international markets. In Australia, in addition to the many high profile indigenous sites there are a number of smaller sites which present indigenous culture and heritage for tourists. This study examines the level of market awareness of and satisfaction with the offerings at the Brambuk Cultural Centre located at the Grampians National Park, in the west of Victoria. The Grampians is a premier tourism destination for international and domestic tourists. The study, which included a satisfaction survey of visitors to the indigenous cultural centre, found that the centre is perceived as not well promoted and in need of repositioning as a tourist destination. Visitors were often surprised at the historical and heritage value of the site and its educational potential. This paper suggests that the difference between the expected time and actual time spent on the visit should be an indicator for managers on the packaging of offerings, and reports on the degree to which satisfactory performance was achieved. The findings suggest that greater attention be placed on the dissatisfaction expressed as signals about offerings that may need improvement.


Educational outreach visits entail the use of a trained person from outside the practice setting to meet with healthcare professionals in their practice. They provide information that may include feedback about professional performance with the intent of improving practice. This type of face-to-face visit is also called academic detailing and educational visiting. The intervention may be tailored based upon previously identified barriers to change or combined with other interventions, including reminders or interventions targeted directly at patients, such as recall clinics.


Regarding numerous threats connected with sending and storing confidential data, there is a problem of assuring the efficiency. As an answer to those needs, we discuss the SUN's Java Virtual Machine mechanism provided to assure security to a single object. Thanks to the mechanism of serialization in Java, it is possible to provide secure solution. In this paper, we compare the efficiency of algorithms such as DES, Blowfish, AES, RSA and ECC as means of securing serialization of an object.


Our objective in this special issue on the general internist will be to define the general internist's role in the academic and community environment and to place his function in perspective relative to other health care professionals. The relevance of this issue is reflected in the current ferment being generated to offer the general internist as a potential solution for the inadequacies of our existing health care system. If he is to have an important role, we must review those factors that are responsible for creating the existing health care dilemma. An analysis of our present system demonstrates a frustratingly painful disparity between the capabilities of medical care and its availability. We have experienced an exponential growth in our medical knowledge over the past four decades but have allowed the organizational structure that is responsible for translating these advances into deliverable services to remain in a "horse-and-buggy" stage. The primary


This paper describes the first application of ultrafast scanning calorimetry to the process of gelation in concentrated (40 wt%) aqueous gelatin solutions. It demonstrates that the regular gelation that occurs on cooling can be outrun at sufficiently fast cooling rates (≥500 K s−1) so that the solution reaches a metastable supercooled liquid state. Successive heating of the supercooled solution reveals an atypical process of gelation that takes place while continuously raising the temperature. Isoconversional kinetic analysis is applied to treat the atypical gelation process and to compare it with regular gelation on cooling. Although atypical and regular gelation occur on significantly different time scales they appear to have common dynamics.


Objective: The immune makers including CD4+CD25+ T cells, natural killer cells, and T cells subgroup were retrospectively analyzed to find the relationship between apatinib and the immune system in the patients treated with apatinib. Method: Forty-two patients with advanced malignant tumors orally took apatinib as treatment and 16 patients with the same situation did not take apatinib as a control group. These patients were all included in the study, and they orally received apatinib 500 mg daily as monotherapy or combination. The treatment was continued until disease progression or intolerable toxicity. CD4+CD25+ T cells, natural killer cells, and T cells subgroup were detected before and 1 month after therapy for all the patients. The relationship between the changing number of immune cells and progression-free survival was analyzed in this study. Result: For the apatinib group, the rate of CD4+CD25+ T cells significantly increased (P = .048). The median progression-free survival was 3.25 months for the 42 patients. The median progression-free survival in the patients with the rate of CD4+CD25+ T cells increased and decreased was 5.8 months and 2.9 months, respectively (P = .012). Multivariate analysis found the increased rate of CD4+CD25+ T cells was an independent prognostic factor for a longer progression-free survival. The rate of natural killer cells and T cells subgroup did not change much after apatinib therapy, and they were not independent prognostic factors for progression-free survival. Conclusion: The rate of CD4+CD25+ T cells is very important in patients with apatinib treatment. The changing number of CD4+CD25+ T cells may be a good indicator for apatinib prognosis. Natural killer cells and T cells subgroup did not change much after apatinib, and they were not independent prognostic factors for progression-free survival.


As a generative model for building end-to-end dialogue systems, Hierarchical Recurrent Encoder-Decoder (HRED) consists of three layers of Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU), which from bottom to top are separately used as the word-level encoder, the sentence-level encoder, and the decoder. Despite performing well on dialogue corpora, HRED is computationally expensive to train due to its complexity. To improve the training efficiency of HRED, we propose a new model, which is named as Simplified HRED (SHRED), by making each layer of HRED except the top one simpler than its upper layer. On the one hand, we propose Scalar Gated Unit (SGU), which is a simplified variant of GRU, and use it as the sentence-level encoder. On the other hand, we use Fixed-size Ordinally-Forgetting Encoding (FOFE), which has no trainable parameter at all, as the word-level encoder. The experimental results show that compared with HRED under the same word embedding size and the same hidden state size for each layer, SHRED reduces the number of trainable parameters by 25\%--35\%, and the training time by more than 50\%, but still achieves slightly better performance.


Physical activity recognition in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PwPD) is challenging due to the lack of large-enough and good quality motion data for PwPD. A common approach to this obstacle involves the use of models trained on better quality data from healthy patients. Models can struggle to generalize across these domains due to motor complications affecting the movement patterns in PwPD and differences in sensor axes orientations between data. In this paper, we investigated the generalizability of a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) model trained on a young, healthy population to PD, and the role of data augmentation on alleviating sensor position variability. We used two publicly available healthy datasets - PAMAP2 and MHEALTH. Both datasets had sensor placements on the chest, wrist, and ankle with 9 and 10 subjects, respectively. A private PD dataset was utilized as well. The proposed CNN model was trained on PAMAP2 in k-fold cross-validation based on the number of subjects, with and without data augmentation, and tested directly on MHEALTH and PD data. Without data augmentation, the trained model resulted in 48.16% accuracy on MHEALTH and 0% on the PD data when directly applied with no model adaptation techniques. With data augmentation, the accuracies improved to 87.43% and 44.78%, respectively, indicating that the method compensated for the potential sensor placement variations between data. Clinical Relevance— Wearable sensors and machine learning can provide important information about the activity level of PwPD. This information can be used by the treating physician to make appropriate clinical interventions such as rehabilitation to improve quality of life.


Abstract In recent years, interest has increased in late-winter sowing of corn in northern Italy because of many agronomic advantages. However, cold and rainy weather slows initial crop growth, which can favor weed infestation. There is, therefore, a need for appropriate timing of weed control tactics based on an understanding of the competitive relationship and dynamics between crop and weeds. Five experiments were conducted over 4 yr, with a series of treatments increasing either duration of interference or length of weed-free period. Yield data were fitted with sigmoidal equations to find the critical point (CP) and critical period of weed control (CPWC). Although the CP is determined only by the competition between weed and crop, the CPWC is also market dependent. To quantify the effect of weed flora on the CP, a multiple regression model was tested, taking into account weed density, inflection point, and slope parameter of the Gompertz model of the cumulated infestation. The results confirmed that the late-winter sowing date increases the importance of late winter– and early spring–emerging weeds. In general, the precompetitive period was longer in the late winter–sown corn than in traditional midspring-sown corn. The delayed start of the CPWC makes control more difficult with a preemergence herbicide, which raises questions on the utility of this agronomic technique. Multiple regression analysis showed that the position of CP can be estimated with the density, earliness, and competitiveness of the infestation. Furthermore, the slope/inflection point ratio of the Gompertz model appears to be independent of sowing date. Results suggest that the weed–crop competition mechanism can be represented with simply the weed flora dynamic parameters and that a combination of crop–weed competition studies and emergence prediction models can predict the position of CP and give useful information about the CPWC and weed management. Nomenclature: Corn, Zea mays L. cv. 'PR33 J24'


Aim To identify barriers and facilitators that influenced the implementation of paediatric clinical pharmacy service (CPS) in Hong Kong's public hospitals from clinical pharmacists' perspective. Methods A qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews (SSIs) of clinical pharmacists who practiced in paediatrics in four public hospitals situated in east and central Kowloon of Hong Kong. The questions in the interview schedules were based on previously determined themes identified in paediatric CPSs and were developed through consultations with all researchers.1 2 4 Pilot testing was performed with three study participants to confirm the coverage and relevance. Participants were given the choice to select either telephone or video conferencing for their SSIs. The interviews were conducted by the principal investigator (PI) in spoken Cantonese. The transcripts were translated into English by the PI, and a sample of the translated transcripts was subsequently checked by the research team for accuracy and to minimise transcriptional error. The transcripts were entered in QSR NVivo v.12 to support data analysis. Two researchers were responsible for the coding process. The resulting topics were organised by thematic analysis. Consensus was reached amongst the researchers for the identification of themes that emerged during the interviews. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) guidelines were used.3 Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the research ethics committees of the relevant institutions. Results Of the 32 clinical pharmacists from across the study sites, 12 were interviewed by telephone that allowed for theoretical data saturation to be reached. Five barriers and three facilitators were identified as main themes. The barriers that were identified which hindered service implementation include the service penetration into the healthcare system, practice environment constraints, lack of affirmation from the administrative stakeholders, governance of the profession, and partnership with universities. The facilitators that were identified which enabled service implementation include other healthcare professionals' trust and confidence in the service, the support from the pharmacy management team, and clinical pharmacists' self-efficacy. Conclusion The clinical pharmacists interviewed in this study reported that the successful implementation of paediatric CPS in public hospitals in Hong Kong is an area of continued development with several key barriers. The major implementation barriers identified include the availability and coverage of clinical pharmacists for service provision. Nevertheless, clinical pharmacists and healthcare professionals were found to have not only positive attitudes towards CPS but also support from clinical and pharmacy management teams. An enhanced internal and external governance infrastructure within the pharmacy profession would allow for the standardisation of practice and training, which would ultimately help drive the implementation of CPS forward as a whole. References Brazinha I, Fernandex-Llimos F. Barriers to the implementation of advanced clinical pharmacy services at Portuguese hospitals. International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy 2014;36:1031–1038. Damschroder LJ, Aron DC, Keith RE, et al. Fostering implementation of health services research findings into practice: a consolidated framework for advancing implementation science. Implementation Science 2009;4:50 https://doi.org/10.1186/1748-5908-4-50 Tong A, Sainsbuty P, Craig J. Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ): a 32-item checklist for interviews and focus groups. International Journal for Quality in Health Care 2007;9:349–57. Onatade R, Appiah S, Stephens M, et al. Evidence for the outcomes and impact of clinical pharmacy: context of UK hospital pharmacy practice. European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy 2018;25:e21–28.


By designing an ultrathin metasurface, which consists of spatially variant plasmonic structures with engineered geometric Berry phase, it is shown that spin-orbit coupling of light can be utilized to manipulate the SAM dependent focusing of light or the optical vortex beam and rotate the orbital angular momentum of light. More recently, we also demonstrated that the spin dependent metasurface can be applied to design highly efficient optical holograms The metasurface hologram offers the unique opportunity of creating high quality holographic optical patterns with high spatial resolution and broad angle of view, which have important impact in the areas including holographic displays, beam shaping, data storage, optical trapping, optical tweezers and so on.
In nonlinear optical regime, we also provided proof for the first time of the existence of nonlinear geometrical Berry phase in a third harmonic generation process by using a plasmonic nanocross with spatially variant orientation angle. The nonlinear geometric Berry phase is 4θ, where θ is the orientation angle of the nanocross with respect to the x-axis. This nonlinear phase can be continuously tuned by from zero to 2π by simply rotating the in plane orientation angle of the meta-atom.


Purpose: Postdural puncture headache is one well-known complications of spinal anesthesia. The development of postdurals puncture headaches is related to needle size, the direction of the needle bevel, the number of dural punctures and the age of the patient. However, the effect of the sitting position after spinal anesthesia (saddle block) on the incidence of postdural puncture headaches is not yet known. This study was performed to compare the incidence rates of headaches between a saddle block group (sitting position group) and a low spinal anesthesia group (supine position group). In addition, this study was performed to identify the predisposing factors influencing postdural puncture headaches (age, sex, seasonal variation, onset of headache, location of headache). Methods: The authors analyzed 960 anal-surgery patients who were operated on using a saddle block or low spinal anesthesia at Hang Cinic from Jan. 2000 through Dec. 2000. The authors compared the incidence rates of headaches between the saddle block group (480 cases) and the low spinal anesthesia group (480 cases). Results: 1) The incidence of postdural puncture headaches was not significantly different between the two groups (2.5% in the saddle block group, and 2.3% in the low spinal anesthesia group) (P>0.05). 2) The postdural puncture headache incidence rate was higher for younger patients (2030 years) and for females. (M:F=7:16) (P<0.05). 3) The onest of postdural puncture headaches was at the postoperative 2nd day in 16 cases (70%) and at the postoperative 3rd day in 6 cases (26%). 4) The incidence rate of postdural puncture headache was higher in the summer (5 cases in June, and 3 cases in July, 4 cases in August). 5) The headache were located in the frontal region in 16 cases (70%) and in the occipital region in 3 cases (13%). Conclusions: There is no significant difference in the incidence rates of postdural puncture headaches between the saddle block group and the low spinal anesthesia group. Postdural puncture headaches had a tendency to occur more frequently in young female patients and during the summer season. In addition, a more intensive study of the use of saddle block anesthesia for ambulatory anal surgery is required.


This article presents a ongoing study value evaluation model for activation of international culture and tourism information system. New method of measuring an evaluation of user based on fuzzy numbers and fuzzy relation model is proposed in this study. Fuzzy arithmetic model has been applied to economics, sociology, management studies, psychology, and linguistics for decision-making under vague situations and specification of vague objects. Fuzzy set and fuzzy relation method were used for our study to establish the validity of decision-making in each Permanent Event Place attribute. Especially getting out of the quantitative analysis by applying fuzzy numbers, and we can have final decision based on reasonable scientific method by evaluating on the field of mentalities in the tourists and guests as a liguistic measure. In terms of methodology this study disclosed that fuzzy model approach is greatly useful to decision making processes in evaluation of international culture and tourism information system. Therefore, I believe that this study has a meaning to present a standard for establishing a proper standard about value evaluation and construction of model for activation of culture and tourism information system in Korea.


Effects of 2-nicotinamidoethyl nitrate (2-NN) on smooth muscle cells of porcine and guinea-pig coronary arteries were investigated by the microelectrode and double sucrose-gap methods and from isometric contractions. In the dose over 2 X 10(-6) M in the guinea-pig coronary artery and over 5 X 10(-6) M in the large and small porcine coronary arteries, the membrane was hyperpolarized and the ionic conductance of the membrane was increased. This hyperpolarization appeared more dominantly in low [K]0. The action was estimated to be due to increase in the K-conductance of the membrane in both species. The spike with an overshoot evoked by electrical stimulation in the presence of tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA) was suppressed by 2-NN, mainly due to hyperpolarization of the membrane and not to suppression of Ca-carriers at the membrane. The contraction evoked by electrical depolarization, acetylcholine (ACh), excess [K]0 or repetitive short pulse stimulation was suppressed in the presence of 2-NN with a concentration similar to that which hyperpolarized the membrane. The suppression of the mechanical response is postulated to be mainly due to hyperpolarization of the membrane and in part to suppression of the Ca-mobilization from the storage sites in the cell. The former seems to be the main action of 2-NN on the coronary arteries in both species. Definite differences on 2-NN actions between the large and small porcine coronary arteries were not observed, but the contraction evoked in the large coronary artery was suppressed slightly more by 2-NN. Vasodilation which occurs with application of 2-NN is discussed in relation to that induced by nitroprusside or nitroglycerin.


Complex chemical reaction networks, which underlie many industrial and biological processes, often exhibit non-monotonic changes in chemical species concentrations, typically described using nonlinear models. Such non-monotonic dynamics are in principle possible even in linear models if the matrices defining the models are non-normal, as characterized by a necessarily non-orthogonal set of eigenvectors. However, the extent to which non-normality is responsible for non-monotonic behavior remains an open question. Here, using a master equation to model the reaction dynamics, we derive a general condition for observing non-monotonic dynamics of individual species, establishing that non-normality promotes non-monotonicity but is not a requirement for it. In contrast, we show that non-normality is a requirement for non-monotonic dynamics to be observed in the Renyi entropy. Using hydrogen combustion as an example application, we demonstrate that non-monotonic dynamics under experimental conditions are supported by a linear chain of connected components, in contrast with the dominance of a single giant component observed in typical random reaction networks. The exact linearity of the master equation enables development of rigorous theory and simulations for dynamical networks of unprecedented size (approaching $10^5$ dynamical variables, even for a network of only 20 reactions and involving less than 100 atoms). Our conclusions are expected to hold for other combustion processes, and the general theory we develop is applicable to all chemical reaction networks, including biological ones.


This article analyzes a collection of photographs that belonged to Douglas Crozier, Hong Kong Director of Education from 1951 to 1961. These include 879 professional photographs produced in print form for publicity purposes and 1167 slide photos. I demonstrate how photographic prints were part of the official record. These were circulated to reinforce Sino-British exchanges in pursuit of diplomatic aims, and are thus valuable sources on behavioral protocols in British and élite Chinese social networks. The slides, which were taken by Crozier and his family, are by contrast vernacular images, revealing the functioning of the imperial gaze in domestic space. Photography in both forms was intrinsic to capitalist lifestyles in late colonial Hong Kong. However, images from the period have been under-researched. Reasons for their neglect include the degree to which they now implicate those who own them in colonialism, and the fact that the apparent mundanity of vernacular shots conceals their value as sources for the study of colonial photography as a genre. Through close examination of the apparent indifference to Douglas Crozier's photographs of those who inherited them, this article tackles this imbalance. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT


Interventions for homelessness in developing countries are frequently negative and unhelpful. They tend to exist in an environment of hostility, suspicion and apathy towards homeless people. This environment is cultivated and enhanced by negative and derogatory language and images used by politicians, the public and the media in their portrayal of homeless people as unemployed, beggars, drunks and criminals. Findings from a recently completed study of homelessness in nine developing countries suggest that this perception is largely false. This article argues that, until the popular misconception of homeless people is corrected, even the most well-intentioned interventions will have little long-term effect. Copyright (c) 2006 The Authors. Journal Compilation (c) 2006 Joint Editors and Blackwell Publishing Ltd.


We study random embeddings produced by untrained neural set functions, and show that they are powerful representations which well capture the input features for downstream tasks such as classification, and are often linearly separable. We obtain surprising results that show that random set functions can often obtain close to or even better accuracy than fully trained models. We investigate factors that affect the representative power of such embeddings quantitatively and qualitatively.


Objective. To report our institutional seizure and neuropsychological outcomes for a series of patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE) undergoing anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL) or selective amygdalohippocampectomy (SelAH) between 2004 and 2011. Methods. A retrospective study of patients with mTLE was conducted. Seizure outcome was reported using time-to-event analysis. Cognitive outcome was reported using the change principal in component factor scores, one each, for intellectual abilities, visuospatial memory, and verbal memory. The Boston Naming Test was used for naming assessment. Language dominant and nondominant resections were compared separately. Student's t-test was used to assess statistical significance. Results. Ninety-six patients (75 ATL, 21 SelAH) were included; fifty-four had complete neuropsychological follow-up. Median follow-up was 40.5 months. There was no statistically significant difference in seizure freedom or any of the neuropsychological outcomes, although there was a trend toward greater postoperative decline in naming in the dominant hemisphere group following ATL. Conclusion. Seizure and neuropsychological outcomes did not differ for the two surgical approaches which is similar to most prior studies. Given the theoretical possibility of SelAH sparing language function in patients with epilepsy secondary to mesial temporal sclerosis and the limited high-quality evidence creating equipoise, a multicenter randomized clinical trial is warranted.


The present study is inserted in the field of regional development and makes an analysis of the environmental management performed by the tobacco industries located in the region of Vale do Rio Pardo in the State of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), which has the particularity of being the main tobacco producer in Brazil. It has been realized that the tobacco industry is recognizing the importance of the environmental aspect in its decisions and, in this way, besides the recognition in the economic context, it is showing concern about the environmental managing, through initiatives that aim the preservation of the environment and the improvement of quality of life of its employees as well as of the worker in the field, the farmer. As work methodology it was decided to do initially a theoretical essay involving the systemic approach and the regional development, followed by a case study with a description of the environmental management practices of the industries that cause impact in the tobacco farmer's activities.


Background : Immunological and biochemical parameters are gaining more and more importance in the prognosis of diabetes and its complications. Here we assessed the predictive power of immunological parameters correlated with biochemical ones in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Material and Methods : 217 pregnant women were screened for GDM between the 2 nd and the 3 rd trimester of gestation, based on IAGDP methods in this cross-sectional descriptive study. Immunological and biochemical parameters were determined using appropriate methods. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analyses were conducted to assess the optimal cutoff and value of immunological to biochemical parameter ratios for predicting GDM. Results : 11.90% of pregnant women were diagnosed GDM positive. Serum glucose levels, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and total proteins were significantly increased while HDL-cholesterol decreased in women with GDM compared to controls. The levels of glycosylated hemoglobin and creatinine, as well as transaminase (AST and ALT) activities did not significantly differ between GDM and pregnant controls. Total leucocytes (white blood cell), lymphocyte and platelet numbers were significantly higher in women with GDM than in pregnant controls. We also found that the lymphocyte:HDL-C, monocyte:HDL-C and granulocyte:HDL-C ratios were significantly higher in women with GDM than in pregnant controls ( p = 0.001; p = 0.009 and p = 0.004 respectively). Women with a lymphocyte:HDL-C ratio greater than 3.66 had a 4-fold increased risk of developing GDM than those with lower ratios (odds ratio 4.00; 95% CI: 1.094 – 14.630; p =0.041). Conclusion : The lymphocyte:HDL-C, monocyte:HDL-C and granulocyte:HDL-C ratios may represent valuable makers, and the lymphocyte:HDL-C ratio in particular may have strong predictive power for GDM. This ratio can be easily assessed in patients.


This study investigates the effects of neutron radiation on - characteristics (current dependance on voltage) of commercial optoelectronic devices (silicon photodiodes, phototransistors, and solar panels). Current-voltage characteristics of the samples were measured at room temperature before and after irradiation. The diodes were irradiated using Am-Be neutron source with neutron emission of n/s. The results showed a decrease in photocurrent for all samples which could be due to the existence of neutron-induced displacement defects introduced into the semiconductor lattice. The process of annealing has also been observed. A comparative analysis of measurement results has been performed in order to determine the reliability of optoelectronic devices in radiation environments.


Objective
To evaluate the incidence of cardiovascular abnormalities in newly identified hyperthyroid patients and their outcome with anti-thyroid therapy.

Methods
A total of 96 patients who were newly diagnosed to have hyperthyroid disease were screened and out of them, 40 patients who presented with cardiovascular symptoms and sign were included in study (30 females, 10 males). Hyperthyroid patients were re-evaluated after antithyroid therapy. Findings in patients were compared at presentation, and after 3 month of treatment. All had undergone a structured cardiovascular history and examination, including measurements of blood pressure (BP) and pulse rate. All had resting 12-lead electrocardiogram and 2D ECHO.

Results
Cardiovascular symptoms and signs, as well as abnormal hemodynamic and dysrhythmias, especially supraventricular, were frequent among patients with hyperthyroidism. Palpitation and atrial fibrillation (AF) were more recurrent in overt hyperthyroid subjects than those with subclinical hyperthyroidism and remained more prevalent after 3 month of antithyroid treatment in that subject who had persistently high serum T3 and T4 level.

Conclusion
Cardiovascular abnormalities are one of the most common presentations in patients with hyperthyroidism and they respond very well to treatment before the structural changes occur in the cardiovascular system.


We report a study of CsK2Sb photocathode in Hiroshima University. High brightness electron source is one of the key components in advanced electron accelerators. For example, a future light source based on Energy Recovery Linac (ERL) requires high average current electron beam in a range of 10 100mA with an extremely low emittance down to 0.1mm.mrad [1]. A photocathode electron injector is expected to fill these requirements because of their superior performances over other technologies. However, there are trade-offs between operational lifetime (robustness), wavelength for drive laser, and Quantum Efficiency (QE) of photo-emission. A photo-cathode material with high robustness, high QE, and driven by visible or IR light is strongly desirable. CsK2Sb multi-alkali photocathode is one of the candidates to satisfy these requirements. A new system to study CsK2Sb was developed and the cathode was successfully produced by this system. QE was 3.8% after the activation and the 1/e lifetime was more than 3000 hours without beam emission. With a beam emission, 1/e lifetime regarding to amount of charge was more than 300C. In this article, the cathode evaporation system is explained and result of the initial experiment is presented.


Background: Despite receipt of dual antiplatelet therapy, patients after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remain at significant risk for thrombotic events. The role of orally activated Xa antagonist (anti-Xa) and direct thrombin inhibitors is debated in this setting. Our study objective was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of new-generation oral anticoagulant agents compared with placebo in patients receiving antiplatelet therapy after an ACS.


Background: The therapeutic approach to PAH is evolving, multiple classes of agents are available and physicians from expert centres and the community treat PAH. Objectives: To compare therapeutic management of PAH between countries and explore physicians9 attitudes towards PAH-specific therapies. Methods: Quantitative online survey conducted in 5 European countries, the US, and Canada during 2010. Physicians involved in PAH treatment decisions with experience in managing PAH for ≥2 years completed a perceptual questionnaire. Retrospective clinical records from last 5 patients (pts) seen by each physician were analysed. Results: 472 physicians (43% cardiologists, 29% pulmonologists, 20% rheumatologists, and 8% internists), 62% based in pulmonary hypertension centres, entered data for 2360 pts. Among those, 51% had idiopathic PAH and 42% had PAH associated with other conditions; 38% had significant physical limitation (NYHA functional class III/IV) at diagnosis. US pts were more likely to be diagnosed in the community (40%) than pts in Europe (6%) and Canada (28%). Globally, 73% were on PAH-specific therapy, with PDE-5 inhibitors, endothelin receptor antagonists, and prostacyclins used in 57%, 54%, and 26%, respectively. Of pts treated, 29% were on combination therapies; highest usage was in the US (36%) and lowest in Italy (17%). For 95% of pts, their physicians were satisfied to some degree with the current treatment regimen. Main reasons for satisfaction included symptom control or improvement and stable disease condition. Conclusions: This multinational survey highlights significant differences in PAH management between countries and illustrates physicians9 perceptions of treating this condition.


Prevalence of advanced technology necessitates a change in the way people do businesses where technology.  Techno-entrepreneurs are those who have technopreneurship skills where they operate businesses by optimising the use of technology to innovate new products and services. Technopreneurship is a process of merging technology prowess with entrepreneurial talent and skills. Thus, developing technopreneurship skills (to increase technopreneurs) is becoming an important goal of TVET in Malaysia.  Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), being a statutory agency and the largest in the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development, plays a dual role in education and entrepreneurship development.   In line with its tagline "Entrepreneurship and Global Education", MARA has been successfully implementing its education transformation in TVET in line with the country's economic direction.  MARA synergizes entrepreneurship and vocational training with the aim to create 'glocal' technopreneurs.    The aim of this study was to identify the factors that contribute to the success of MARA in transforming into an effective agency in providing Technopreneurship Development initiatives and programs. Literature study was the main method used to gather information.  The findings indicate that the success of the agency in increasing the number of technopreneurs was made possible through a well formulated and implemented strategic plan. Among the strateges adapted is the establishment of  an Incubator, MARA Technopreneur Program, Tech-Entrepreneur Program (PUTEK),  Innovation and Research Unit (UNI), International Relation Unit, and MARA Cooperation Alumni graduate TVE institutions  (KALAM). Through their implementations, MARA has supported Malaysian demand for technopreneurs.


The purpose of this research is to compare residents' movement and activities in SH apartment in Yangcheon-Gu, Seoul (SH apartment) and PHA apartment in St. Paul, Minnesota (PHA apartment) in order to improve the quality of rental housing environment. This study had surveyed 418 residents of SH apartments in Korea and used the secondary data gathered from 1,462 residents of PHA apartments in the United States. The results of this study are as follows: The criteria of Korean residents in SH apartments when choosing their residences are lower rent payment and shorter waiting time. They seemed to have no other options than public rental housing. On the contrary, American residents in PHA apartment had more option to choose from. Therefore, Korea needs to offer more variety types of residents that can be lead to better satisfaction of low income classes. Most of the SH apartments residents has lived for long-term, in the average of more than 6 years, and wanted to live continually at their current dwelling. PHA residents showed similar tendency. However, long term residency may lead to permanent occupation of the public rental apartment by the same family. Hence, a system which can provide equal residency opportunities to all low-income classes need to be developed. Residents of SH apartment were satisfied with the personal activities but were not satisfied with group activities among residents or regarding resident meetings. However, residents of PHA apartments were more satisfied with their management because there is more in-housing-complex activity programs. Therefore, more activity program for a resident should be developed after analysing programs of different apartments and current conditions in Korea. There were some noticeable divergences among residents, based on their age, term of residence and physical, emotional and mental problem, when evaluating in-housing-complex's programs. Thus, these factors are also need to be considered when planning and examining evaluation about the management of rental apartments.


Utilizing the power maximization model of short-term peak-load regulation, this paper analyzes the hydro-thermal joint peak-load regulation of power system based on multiple constraints such as the ramp-rate of thermal power units and water inflow of hydropower system. Then it presents several daily load segmentation methods with respect to different constraint conditions, and adopts engineering practical measures to prevent power volatility of thermal power units during the process of peak-load regulation. Finally, the effectiveness of this method has been tested and analyzed for hydro-thermal joint peak-load regulation of power system with multiple constraints through some examples.


I look here at the allegations against Sami al-Arian's alleged terrorist affiliations in order to question the limitations to liberal defenses of academia. The paper criticizes the "freedom of speech" arguments for academic freedom for reproducing class and race hierarchies and for being unable to disassociate the category of "speech" from the category of "violence." Al-Arian's alleged connections to terrorism made him into a poster-child for a post-September-11 right wing version of what the so-called "liberal academy" has become. For this reason, I think it important to ask here: 1) in what ways, to what extent, and why, has the defense of civil liberties, and therefore of democratic culture, become unworkable as a formative goal and function of the university; and 2) if there are other ways of formulating the role of higher education that do not depend on reiterative evocations of equal citizenship defined as a First Amendment practice. As Judith Butler puts it, "It is crucial to ask under what conditions some human lives cease to become eligible for basic, if not human rights."


We propose a deep learning approach to simultaneous super resolution and segmentation. We experiment our framework on the challenging task of generating 3D high-resolution axial shoulder MRI from 2D clinical MRI sequences, and demonstrate the ability to produce precise 3D scapula bone models. With an extensive experimental study, we show that with super-resolution, it is possible to produce high resolution bone models, which are invaluable for surgeons in the pre-operative planning of patients with various shoulder conditions. This method has the potential to reduce patients' need for undergoing CT scans, hence preventing exposure to radiation.


Currently, there are several computational methods for stiffness during a hopping task, but they do not necessarily yield the same values. Therefore, it is essential that the simplicity of the equipment used does not affect the measurement validity. The aim of this study is to compare the stiffness values during a hopping task recorded in a laboratory environment and those acquired using the Myotest accelerometer. The measurements were performed on a group of 30 untrained female students (age: 23.0 ± 1.7 years, body height: 1.72 ± 0.07 m, and body mass: 64.8 ± 10.0 kg). According to the manual for the Myotest accelerometric system, each study participant performed three sets of 5 hops. Vertical stiffness was determined based on two measurement methods, one using the Myotest accelerometer and the other using Kistler force plates. The mean value (±SD) of vertical stiffness was 19.0 ± 9.3 kN/m in the countermovement phase and 15.1 ± 5.9 kN/m in the take-off phase. Furthermore, the stiffness determined using the Myotest was 30.7 ± 13.3 kN/m. However, significant relationships between the vertical stiffness in the countermovement phase and the Myotest stiffness (r = 0.79) and between the vertical stiffness in the take-off phase and the Myotest stiffness (r = 0.89) were found. The relationships between the vertical stiffness (in the countermovement and take-off phases) and the stiffness estimated using the Myotest allow us to conclude that despite the significantly overestimated stiffness value, the Myotest accelerometer can still be used for determination of the stiffness trends, e.g., following training. The overestimated stiffness values can result both from inaccuracy in the determination of ground contact time and flight time by the Myotest accelerometer and from the use of an equation that assumes that the movement of the center of mass has a harmonic profile.


Abstract. The Peru Chile Current ecosystem is characterized by high biological productivity and important fisheries. Although this system is likely to be severely affected by climate change, its response to current global warming is still uncertain. In this paper, we analyze 10–166 year-old sediments in two cores collected from Mejillones Bay, an anoxic sedimentary setting favorable for the preservation of proxies. Based on a 166-year chronology, we used proxies of bottom-water oxygenation (Mo, V, S, and the (lycopane + n−C35)/n−C31 ratio) and surface water productivity (biogenic opal, counts of diatom valves, biogenic Ba, organic carbon, and chlorins) to reconstruct environmental variations in Mejillones Bay. During the last two centuries, a shift took place in the coastal marine ecosystem of Bahia Mejillones at decadal scales. This shift was characterized by intense ENSO-like activity, large-scale fluctuations in biological export productivity and bottom water oxygenation, and increased eolian activity (inferred from Ti/Al and Zr/Al). This short-term variability was accompanied by a gradual increase of sulfidic conditions that has intensified since the early 1960s.


The potential for liquefaction and slope stability of a thickened tailings slope, within a storage facility located on the shore of a natural glacial lake in Tehran, is evaluated based on field and laboratory testing. The tailings slope has the particularities of being located in a high seismicity area and founded on conventional slurry tailings from the previous operation of the facility. The in-situ state of the thickened tailings was investigated through field tests, including Standard Penetration Tests (SPT) and Cone Penetration Tests with pore pressure measurement (CPTu). Samples collected during the field investigation were used in an extensive geotechnical laboratory program to determine index properties and strength parameters for the thickened tailings. Testing included a series of isotropically consolidated undrained and drained (CIU and CID) triaxial tests, as well as a simulation of the consolidation process within the tailings through oedometer tests. The liquefaction potential was evaluated using the data from the CPTu testing, while slope stability was assessed using the limit equilibrium approach for an infinite slope, considering the variation of shear strength with the degree of consolidation (void ratio) of the tailings from a critical state approach. Based on the results of the liquefaction potential and the slope stability assessment, a design approach is suggested for facilities under similar conditions.


Large epidemiologic studies of osteoarthritis (OA) performed over the past 30 years have confirmed that OA is a ubiquitous condition, that it is linked to age, that it is more frequent and more widespread in women older than 45 years of age, and that mechanical overuse of the joints is probably instrumental in the occurrence or the location of certain cases of OA. Epidemiologic evidence points to the existence of an entity of "generalized OA" composed of three or more locations with involvement of the interphalangeals. Heredity in cases associated with distal interphalangeal OA and inflammation in cases with proximal interphalangeal OA are the factors found to be most closely correlated to generalized OA. Surveys of several series of OA of the hip have pointed to the existence of several clinicoradiologic subsets that could have different clinical correlates and various pathophysiologic mechanisms. Because several conditions, such as crystal arthropathy, diffuse skeletal hyperostosis, and subsets of OA, have been described in recent years, a reappraisal of an epidemiologic approach of OA is advisable.


We study magnetic artificial flagella whose swimming speed and direction can be controlled using light and magnetic field as external triggers. The dependence of the swimming velocity on the system parameters (e.g., length, stiffness, fluid viscosity, and magnetic field) is explored using a computational framework in which the magnetostatic, fluid dynamic, and solid mechanics equations are solved simultaneously. A dimensionless analysis is carried out to obtain an optimal combination of system parameters for which the swimming velocity is maximal. The swimming direction reversal is addressed by incorporating photoresponsive materials, which in the photoactuated state can mimic natural mastigonemes.


We modeled hunting demand among resident hunters in the Southeastern United States. Our model revealed that future hunting demand will likely decline in this region. Population growth in the region will increase demand, but structural change in the region's demography (e.g., "browning" and "aging"), along with declining forestland access will decrease hunting demand. The results suggested that programs encouraging younger and non-white populations to participate in hunting could mitigate a forecast hunting decline in the region. Increasing license fees, while politically risky, should increase agency revenues due to price-inelastic demand. The model developed here can be applied to understand and project hunting demand in the Southeast and adapted to other regions.


Given the increasing digitization of information, even a casual observer can see the diminishing role that standard paper-based libraries will (and already do) play in education. More students and professionals than ever before access and process information digitally over networks and the Internet. How then should colleges and universities accommodate students whose academic needs not only fluctuate with technology but differ dramatically from those of even their most recent predecessors? At the University of Michigan, faculty and staff members addressed this conundrum by planning, designing, and building the Media Union. A unique integration of high tech and education, this facility gives students and teachers access to the latest digital information and technology within a variety of disciplines, including art, design, psychology, architecture, engineering, and the natural sciences.


Background Understanding how people perceive the risk of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak and its impact on undertaking protective behavior can guide the public health policymakers in taking the required measures to limit the magnitude of this outbreak. This study aimed to understand the risk perception and the behavioral response of the university academics and students towards the COVID-19. Methods A self-administered online survey was conducted among the academic staff and university students in Iraqi Kurdistan Region. The survey questionnaire included eight main questions about the main aspects of personal risk perception and behavioral response to COVID-19 based on a five or nine-point ordinal scale. The eight questions included the number of contacts, the perceived threat level of COVID-19, personal risk perception, ability to avoid infection, frequency of undertaking the protective measures, adherence to the curfew, the negative impact of COVID-19 on life, and sources of obtaining information. Results A total of 976 individuals participated in the study with a mean age ± SD of 25.8±9.7 years. The respondents had the highest perceived threat level towards COVID-19 (mean score = 2.79) in comparison to other medical threats. Around 62% of respondents had no contacts outside their homes. A high percentage of the respondents perceived their risk of getting infection, serious illness, and death as highly unlikely (26.9%, 29.7%, and 41.7%, respectively). The percentage of the respondents who applied these measures frequently or always was high for most of the behaviors, except for wearing masks, wearing gloves, and avoiding touching face. There was a significant ( P <0.001) weak positive correlation between risk perception with protective behaviors; overall risk (beta = 0.080, r=0.189), risk of getting infection (beta=0.066, r=0.179), risk of getting serious illness (beta=0.070, r=0.176) and risk of death (beta=0.058, r=0.154). Conclusion The perceived risk of getting infection with COVID-19 is relatively low. The respondents follow protective behavior measures reasonably. However, the frequency of undertaking some important protective behaviors is relatively low. The risk perception of COVID-19 has a weakly positive impact on following protective behavior. Changing behavior remains a challenge even for the well educated and well aware people.


Background: Primary immunodeficiency disorders (PIDD) comprise a group of life-threatening congenital diseases characterized by absent or impaired immune responses. Despite the fact that effective, curative treatments are available with optimal clinical outcomes when diagnosed early, newborn screening does not exist for the majority of these diseases due to the lack of detectable, specific biomarkers or validated methods for population-based screening. Peptide immunoaffinity enrichment coupled with selected reaction monitoring mass spectrometry (immuno-SRM) is a sensitive proteomic assay, involving antibody-mediated peptide capture, that allows for concurrent quantification of multiple analytes. This assay has promise for use in potential newborn screening of PIDDs that lead to diminished or absent target proteins in the majority of cases. Objective: To determine and evaluate if a multiplex assay based on immuno-SRM is able to reliably and precisely distinguish affected patients with X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA), Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome (WAS), and CD3ϵ-associated severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) from one another and from unaffected normal control dried blood spot (DBS) samples. Methods: We performed a blinded, multiplexed analysis of proteolytically-generated peptides from WASp, BTK, and CD3ϵ (for WAS, XLA, and SCID, respectively) in DBS samples from 42 PIDD patients, 40 normal adult controls, and 62 normal newborns. The peptide ATPase copper transporting protein (ATP7B) 1056 was simultaneously monitored for quality assurance purposes. Results: The immuno-SRM assays reliably quantified the target peptides in DBS and accurately distinguished affected patients from normal controls. Analysis of signature peptides found statistically significant reduction or absence of peptide levels in affected patients compared to control groups in each case (WASp and BTK: p = 0.0001, SCID: p = 0.05). Intra and inter-assay precision ranged from 11 to 22% and 11 to 43% respectively; linearity (1.39–2000 fmol peptide), and stability (≤ 0.09% difference in 72 h) showed high precision for the multiplexed assay. Inter-laboratory assay comparison showed high concordance for measured peptide concentrations, with R2 linearity ≥ 0.97 for the WASp 274, CD3ϵ 197, BTK 407, and ATP7B 1056 peptides. Conclusion: Immuno-SRM-based quantification of proteotypic peptides from WASp, BTK, and CD3ϵ in DBS distinguishes relevant PIDD cases from one another and from controls, raising the possibility of employing this approach for large-scale multiplexed newborn screening of selective PIDDs.


The duality in multiobjective optimization holds now a major position in the theory of multiobjective programming not only due to its mathematical elegance but also its economic implications. For weak efficiency instead of efficiency, this paper gives the definition and some fundamental properties of the weak supremum and infimum sets. Based on the weak supremum, the concepts, some properties and their relationships of w-(H,Ω) conjugate maps, w-(H,Ω)-subgradients, w- H p Γ (Ω)-regularitions of vector-valued point-to-set maps are provided, and a new duality theory in multiobjective nonlinear optimization------w-(H,Ω) Conjugate Duality Theory is established by means of the w-(H,Ω) conjugate maps. The concepts and their relations to the weak efficient solutions to the primal and dual problems of the w-(H,Ω)-Lagrangian map and weak saddle-point are developed. Finally, several special cases for H and Ω are discussed. Key words: Conjugate duality theory, Multiobjective optimization, Weak efficiency


Lead halide perovskite (LHP) nanocrystals (NCs) have recently garnered enhanced development efforts from research disciplines owing to their superior optical and optoelectronic properties. These materials, however, are unlike conventional quantum dots, because they possess strong ionic character, labile ligand coverage, and overall stability issues. As a result, the system as a whole is highly dynamic and can be affected by slight changes of particle surface environment. Specifically, the surface ligand shell of LHP NCs has proven to play imperative roles throughout the lifetime of a LHP NC. Recent advances in engineering and understanding the roles of surface ligand shells from initial synthesis, through postsynthetic processing and device integration, finally to application performances of colloidal LHP NCs are covered here.


For those of you familiar with the adventures of my dear friend and colleague Sherlock Holmes, there is no introduction needed. Being late in my 80s and under pressure from his many admirers, I have tried to chronicle some of his lesser-known efforts. The following is a brief vignette, which I have previously hesitated to tell, in part because it reflects poorly on my clinical judgment. For posterity's sake, I bring it forth to you now. In 1909, just a few years before the world would see the greatest and most destructive war of all time, I was back at Baker Street. It was a reunion of sorts. My dear wife Mary was deceased, and again I was at loose ends. Sherlock had abandoned his retirement as a bee keeper and was back in the city. Only too gladly did I join him, and before I knew it, we were on a boat crossing the Atlantic. The game was afoot. I had plenty of time to observe my old friend on that voyage, and I did not like what I saw. He appeared emaciated, tense and agitated. I wondered whether he had slipped into cocaine addiction again. Our adventure led us to the so-called windy city of Chicago, where, with a masterful bit of detection, Holmes solved the mystery behind the disappearance of over 1000 cattle and the death of two businessmen (see my description in The Adventure of Unyielding Ungulate). That mystery solved, and Holmes appeared even more nervous and agitated. And when he suggested we continue our travels west across the great continent, I rapidly acquiesced. We left Chicago by train, on the Santa Fe line. Holmes was becoming increasingly restless, and sitting in the semiprivate car became more difficult. He would open and close the windows despite the cold. He would get up and leave the car constantly; using cocaine, I could only surmise. It was a relief when the door opened, and a well-dressed man entered. Holmes stared at him. The man smiled, ''Do you mind if I join you?'' Holmes leapt up. ''Dr Watson, I believe you will have much to discuss with your colleague, who if I am not mistaken is the esteemed Dr William Mayo.'', and with that he fled from the compartment. Dr Mayo grinned, running his hand through his hair. ''How could he have known my identity?'' he asked. I could not answer, surprised completely by the deduction. We spent the next few minutes pleasantly discussing matters both medical and political, and I told him of my concerns for my good friend's health and wondered whether he had had any experience with cocaine addiction. Sherlock returned, shaking the doctor's hand.. ''Now tell me how you knew my name'', Mayo insisted. ''Elementary'', he replied. ''You entered the room, with authority. Your hands are clean and your nails well trimmed, your clothing spotless despite travel, suggesting a fastidious nature. Despite this, there is a drop of dried blood on your left shoe. Under your arm, there is a copy of the Norwestern Lancet. Together this would suggest you are a surgeon. Your sense of authority and demeanour suggest a successful career. Your bag is stamped CM, but it is not your bag. The handle is worn smooth by someone who carries it tightly gripped, but you handle it loosely. A man rarely carries another's bag unless it belongs to a close associate. And finally we are heading west towards Minnesota. The initials I believe are those of your brother, Charles Mayo.'' William Mayo sat silently; quite astounded. Then, he began a little deduction of his own. Mayo stared at the great detective intensely for a few minutes. ''I think I can operate on you next week'', he said and picked up his magazine. We both sat stunned. I stared at this strange man, aghast. But, Sherlock was smiling. ''Tell me how and what you know please'', he asked the surgeon. ''Your clothes are loose, you have lost weight. You have trouble standing from a sitting position, suggesting muscle weakness. You are agitated, and I detect a slight tremor in your hands. Your hair is thinning in an unusual pattern. You open windows despite the cold, you cannot tolerate the heat. And finally you are constantly going to the bathroom, a fact I surmise by your freshly washed hands, and the small piece of toilet paper stuck to the bottom of your right shoe. When I look at your neck, even from here I can see the signs of a markedly enlarged thyroid gland''. He picked up his journal and began to read again. We spend a pleasant month in the small but thriving town of Rochester before continuing on our adventures westward. I was glad it was not cocaine, but to this day, I regret that I failed to make the diagnosis. Sometimes it is impossible to recognize the true nature of disease in those closest to us, and always, the best diagnostician is a true detective – Dr John Watson 1937, as told to Dr Jamie Newman.


This article examines recent archaeological excavations with respect to two Parthian reliefs and an examination of Parthian blade weapons (swords, daggers). The first archaeological site examined is the late Parthian or early Sassanian cavalry motif in the town of Koohdasht in western Iran's Lorestan province. The Koohdasht motif is comparable to late Parthian and early Sassanian cavalry reliefs such as the Parthian relief of Gōdarz II in Bīstūn and Sassanian reliefs such as those of Ardašīr I in Fīrūzābād and the Sassanian cavalry relief panels in Naqš-e Rostam. The second site pertains to the recent discovery of the Parthian relief at Andika in Khuzestan depicting a Parthian nobleman lying sideways, leaning on his left elbow, as he holds a branch with his left hand. The theme of the Andika relief has parallels with Tang-e Sarvak (Block II) and the Tina mountain reliefin Khuzestan. The third domain, which pertains to Parthian militaria is an examination of late Parthian swords and daggers housed in the Iran Bastan Museum in Tehran.


Agencies that provide HIV prevention programs (including agencies using science-based interventions) need to conduct evaluation to facilitate the transfer of effective interventions, provide ongoing assistance to intervention providers, document services provided, demonstrate effectiveness, and improve programs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) assists health departments, community-based organizations, and other CDC grantees with evaluation by providing direct, customized technical assistance and written guidance. Together, these activities assist grantees in conducting evaluations that provide the information that grantees need as their programs develop.


Tourism is currently developing rapidly in Indonesia, especially in the Special Regions of Yogyakarta Province. The objective of this study was to examine the theoretical and empirical evidence of the relationships among destination image, motivation, satisfaction, and visit intention. A research model was achieved using the survey method with a questionnaire, and the proposed model examined three hypotheses. The empirical data was collected from young generations (students). A total of 200 questionnaires were returned and the data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results supported the proposed destination loyalty model: destination image and motivation directly influenced satisfaction; and tourist satisfaction had direct and positive impact on tourist's visit intention.


The objective of this paper is to elucidate problems concerning job-seeking activities and the relationships between the family, universities and employment that form the background to them, focusing on the university graduates who are Japan's new recruits, and to explore the future direction of university policy. The first half of this paper introduces the current situation, in which educational reforms and job-seeking activities are giving rise to confusion on university campuses, and points out the fact that behind this lies the relationship between companies and universities, which has been structuralized on an economically rational basis (the Japanese-style employment system). Based on the awareness of this current situation, the latter half of the paper asks "what is it about Japanese universities that makes them characteristically Japanese?" The characteristic attributes of Japanese universities that are unusual from the perspective of the rest of the world are "the requirement to be 18," "the emphasis on graduation" and "the expectation that parents bear the financial burden"; these three attributes are strongly affected by the distinctive nature of the typical Japanese family (the Japanese-style family) and go hand-in-hand with each other. In other words, Japanese universities and new recruits are shackled by the Japanese-style family and Japanese-style employment, and are completely trapped by them. Finally, this paper considers the future direction of university policy, in light of the structural relationship between the family, universities and employment.


This paper presents the results of experimental characterization of an automotive LiFePO4 battery cell for the purpose of building of a control-oriented battery equivalent electrical circuit model suitable for designing a combined state-of-charge (SoC) and state-of-health (SoH) estimator. The SoC/SoH estimator design has been based on the time-series representation of the battery model utilized within the extended Kalman filter (EKF) parameter estimator, with SoC reconstruction based on the known open-circuit voltage vs. discharged charge curve. In order to provide a consistent SoC estimate during low-excitation intervals, EKF-based estimation has been combined with a Coulomb (charge) counting approach. The effectiveness of the proposed SoC/SoH estimator has been verified by means of computer simulations on the developed battery model for different battery operating regimes.


Currently, the substances orlistat and sibutramine are approved drugs for the pharmacotherapy of obesity. Used in combination with increased exercise and dietary measures, both are capable of significantly reducing weight. In the USA and Europe, official approval for the selective cannabinoid receptor antagonist, rimonabant has been applied for.


Software upgrades are unreliable, often causing downtime or data loss. I propose Imago, an approach for removing the leading causes of upgrade failures (broken dependencies) and of planned downtime (data migrations). While imposing a higher resource overhead than previous techniques, Imago is more dependable and easier to use correctly.


The decade of the 1980s was catastrophic for the countries of Latin America because of profound transformations in the world economy which started in the 1970s the wilting of the state development programs that were imposed after World War II and the collapse of socialism with the incipient transition to market economies. The crisis started because of the erosion of the world economic system as constituted under the Bretton Woods agreement; the drastic drop in the economic growth of market economies; the increased costs of living and the deterioration of the environment; the decrease in industrial capacity; and the emergence of transnationalization of production. In Latin America the economic models that had been in place without solving underdevelopment became even more obsolete (import substitution internal trade and the role of the state). The crisis of socialism and the rapprochement of eastern European countries to western Europe also affected Latin America (e.g. Germany cancelled 30 mine exploration projects in Bolivia due to investments in East Germany). The structural readjustment policies of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank resulted in currency devaluations redistribution of government funds elimination of various subsidies reduction of public debt and social expenditures reduction of public employment and payment of external debt. The result was more inflation (in Bolivia Brazil Peru and Argentina inflation rates were 683.7% 157.1% 100.1% and 326.2% respectively between 1980 and 1986) unemployment and poverty in the lost decade of the 1980s. After 1982 state expenditures on roads education hospitals and nutrition declined by 40% in Mexico. Even though most countries returned to democracy in the region this was at the cost of the increased role of the military and the transnationals. The grand parties collapsed and in Venezuela Mexico and Colombia authoritarian tendencies survived into the 1970s degrading democracy. The states socioeconomic regulatory role has to be redefined.


This report assesses the impact of the High Value Agriculture Project in Hill and Mountain Areas (HVAP) of Nepal co-financed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Government of Nepal (GoN), and the SNV Netherlands Development Organization. The project was implemented between February 2011 and September 2018, and aimed at reducing rural poverty and improving food security in the remote hill and mountainous areas of the landlocked state. Nepal's geographical landscape presents numerous challenges to local economic growth and rural development. The livelihood of the people living in Nepal's rugged landscape is often characterized by low agricultural productivity, and limited access to markets and services. HVAP is a unique project both in terms of its geographical coverage and its type of interventions provided to the target groups. Its unique feature is the inclusive value chain development component which links different actors in the agricultural value chain including producers, retailers, wholesalers, input suppliers, technical service providers, credit and commerce groups, and government line ministries and agencies. In addition, the project helps strengthen the agricultural service delivery by facilitating the linkages among producers, crop and livestock extension speacialists, and technical service providers such as agrovets, para-vets, and plant protectionists through the service market strengthening component. The project covers seven hill and mountaneous districts in Karnali Province (formerly the Mid-Western Development Region)1 and identifies seven agricultural commodities as high value commodities in this area: apple, ginger, vegetable seeds, off-season vegetables turmeric, timur (Sichuan pepper), and goat. To ensure gender representativeness and promite social cohesiveness, all support services are delivered through producer organizations (PO) which are local producer groups or co-operatives that are representative of women and ethinc minorities in the area. The project supported smallholder farmers in 456 POs by strengthening their access to input markets, output markets, and service markets as well as their skills and capacity to produce market-oriented high value agricultural commodities. As part of the awareness and skill development training, the project provided a 30-day business literacy curriculum to both female and male farmers. The project also offered technical support to service markets through providing technical training activities and market information to service providers.


Passive UHF RFID tags are well matched to robots' needs. Unlike lowfrequency (LF) and high-frequency (HF) RFID tags, passive UHF RFID tags are readable from across a room, enabling a mobile robot to efficiently discover and locate them. Using tags' unique IDs, a semantic database, and RF perception via actuated antennas, this paper shows how a robot can reliably interact with people and manipulate labeled objects.


Background Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) constitute a frequent and important complication in modern medicine and represent a relevant problem in the matter of the management of hospitalised and immunocompromised patients. The most common fungal infections, candidiasis and aspergillosis, are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in critically ill and immunocompromised patients: therefore, in spite of pharmacological development, they are still difficult to treat and to eradicate. Purpose Because the pharmacist, as a member of the multidisciplinary team, can contribute by checking the treatment prescribed, to reduce medication related problems, we conducted an observational study of IFIs in two hospitals, one in Italy (Turin) and the other in France (Paris), to give a picture of the differences in their distribution and therapeutic approach in two hospital realities. Material and methods The study was conducted using a clinical database of patients between 2012 and 2013; patients were stratified according to infection, sex, age, wards and therapy. Results Candida or aspergillus related IFIs were detected in 213 men and 107 women. Candidiasis was higher in the critical care unit (Turin 40% vs Paris 48%), prevalent in men Turin 78%; Paris 65%) and older patients (61–90 years old), with a prevalence of 67% in Turin and 49% in Paris. In France, aspergillosis was highly distributed in the critical care unit (42%) and in the haematology ward (38%), was prevalent in men (68%) and, unlike candidiasis, in younger patients (47%; 31–60 years old). A comparable study was not possible for Turin where only one systemic aspergillosis was diagnosed. The most widely used drug in both hospitals was caspofungin, followed by fluconazole in Turin and voriconazole in Paris. Conclusion A similar trend in candidiasis related IFIs, with no significant differences between the two hospitals, was detected. Conversely, there were differences in the use of drugs. To reduce the incidence and mortality rate of IFI, the therapeutic approach should take account of the epidemiological picture but the hospital pharmacist's role is also important. In fact, the hospital pharmacist together with the hospital infections committee, can monitor and analyse consumption, perform epidemiological statistics and choose the best therapy for patients in terms of cost and efficacy. No conflict of interest.


Originals in MS-Word copied from 3.5" floppies RCM 001-013 (aka Disk 1-13) to CD-R at time of accession. Converted from MS-Word to PDF for digital collection.


A new efficient step-by-step decoding algorithm for t error -correcting binary Bose-Chaudhuri- Hocquenghem (BCH) codes is presented, Based on logical analysis, we obtain a simple rule, which can directly determine whether any bit in received word is correct or not without finding the error-location polynomiaL The new method omits one largest-scale matrix calculation and the operations of multiplication are reduced significantly, compared with the conventional step-by-step decoding alg ori thm,


OBJECTIVE
To review research progress of adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (ADSCs).

METHODS
The recent articles on ADSCs were extensively reviewed, and the culture and differentiation ability of ADSCs were investigated.

RESULTS
A population of stem cells could be isolated from adult adipose tissue, they were processed to obtain a fibroblast-like population of cells and could be maintained in vitro for extended periods with stable population doubling. The majority of the isolated cells were mesenchymal origin, with a few pericytes, endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells. ADSCs could be induced to differentiate into multiple mesenchymal cell types, including osteogenic, chondrogenic, myogenic and adipogenic cells, they could also differentiate into nerve cells.

CONCLUSION
ADSCs can substitute mesenchymal stem cells and become an alternative stem cells source for tissue engineering.


Objectives To heterologously express peanut ( Arachis ipaensis ) Bowman-Birk inhibitor (BBI) and characterize its properties. Results A putative BBI gene from peanut was overexpressed in Pichia pastoris with the maximal yield of 11.1 mg/L in a 250-mL shaking flask fermentation. The recombinant peanut BBI (rPBBI) was purified and its molecular weight was estimated to be 9 kDa. Purified rPBBI showed 5223.6 TIA/mg inhibitory activity toward trypsin. It retained more than 95% of its inhibitory activity over wide range of temperatures (40 to 90 o C) and pH (2.0 to 10.0) after incubation for 60 min. When presence of 100 mM dithiothreitol, rPBBI lost more than 80% inhibitory activity in 30 min. Conclusion The current investigation expressed a peanut BBI with stable inhibitory activity against trypsin and exposed the potential of heterologous overexpression approach in large scale production of BBI.


In this work, we intended to assess the reliability of guided endodontic technique to remove a bonded fibre-post when there are artefacts in the cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images caused by composite dental materials. We mounted natural posterior teeth on ten simulated models. Forty fibre-post and composite-core restorations were inserted in the teeth. We merged a pre-operative CBCT and optical surface scan on the BlueskyplanTM software to digitally design and subsequently 3D-printed the guides. Two operators initiated endodontic access into the fibre-post restorations using the template to guide the drill. Post-operative CBCT was taken and merged onto the pre-operative plan to measure the deviations at the coronal and apical segments. The mean deviation between the planned and actual drill paths were, respectively, of 0.39 ± 0.14 mm coronally and 0.40 ± 0.19 mm apically. Microguided endodontics is a predictable and accurate method to remove fibre-post restorations efficiently.


This paper discusses a neural network-based strategy for reducing the existing errors of fiber-optic gyroscope (FOG). A series-single-layer neural network, which is composed of two single-layer networks in series, is presented for eliminating random noises. This network has simpler architecture, faster learning speed, and better performance compared to conventional backpropagation (BP) networks. Accordingly after considering the characteristics of the power law noise in FOG, an advanced learning algorithm is proposed by using the increments of errors in energy function. Furthermore, a radial basis function (RBF) neural network-based method is also posed to evaluate and compensate the temperature drift of FOG. The orthogonal least squares (OLS) algorithm is applied due to its simplicity, high accuracy, and fast learning speed. The simulation results show that the series-single-layer network (SSLN) with the advanced learning algorithm provides a fast and effective way for eliminating different random noises including stable and unstable noises existing in FOG, and the RBF network-based method offers a powerful and successful procedure for evaluating and compensating the temperature drift.


The effect of molecular architecture of a surfactant, particularly the attachment position of benzene sulfonate on the hexadecane backbone, at the decane−water interface was investigated using atomistic MD simulations. We consider a series of surfactant isomers in the family of alkyl benzene sulfonates, denoted by m-C16, indicating a benzene sulfonate group attached to the mth carbon in a hexadecane backbone. The equilibrated model systems showed a well-defined interface between the decane and water phases. We find that surfactant 4-C16 has a more compact packing, in terms of the interfacial area and molecular alignment at the interface, than other surfactants simulated in this study. Furthermore, surfactant 4-C16 leads to the most stable interface by having the lowest interface formation energy. The interfacial thickness is the largest in the case of surfactant 4-C16, with the thickness decreasing when the benzene sulfonate is located farther from the attachment position of 4-C16 (the 4th carbon). The interfacial tension profile was calculated along the direction perpendicular to the interface using the Kirkwood−Buff theory. From the comparison of the interfacial tension obtained from the interfacial tension profile, we found that surfactant 4-C16 induces the lowest interfacial tension and that the interfacial tension increases with decreasing interfacial thickness as a function of the attachment position of benzene sulfonate. Such a relationship between the interfacial thickness and interfacial tension is rationalized in terms of the miscibility of the alkyl tail of surfactant m-C16 with decane by comparing the "effective" length of the alkyl tail with the average end-to-end length of decane. Among the surfactants, the effective length of the 4-C16 alkyl tail (9.53 ± 1.36 A) was found to be closest to that of decane (9.97 ± 1.03 A), which is consistent with the results from the density profile and the interfacial tension profile.


Forming fluid supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) on a gold surface can enable various lipid-membrane-associated biomolecular interactions to be investigated by several surface sensing techniques, such as surface plasmon resonance and scanning tunneling microscopy. However, forming fluid SLBs on a gold surface through lipid vesicle deposition continues to pose a challenge. In this study, we constructed nanograting structures on a gold surface to induce lipid vesicle rupture for forming a mobile layer of SLBs. Observations based on fluorescence recovery after photobleaching showed that SLBs on the prepared grating supports had some fluidity, while SLBs on the planar support had no fluidity. The anisotropic fluorescence intensity recovery shape changes observed in the SLBs on the grating support suggested that a second layer of SLBs partially formed on top of the first layer in contact with the gold surface and extended along the grating structure. Comparisons of the relative amounts of second bilayer and the fluorescence recovery fractions on supports with various grating edge densities suggested that the second layer formed at the edge regions and that the coverage ratio was directly proportional to the grating edge density. All of these results showed that the grating edges could serve as vesicle-rupture-inducing sites for the formation of a mobile second SLB on a gold surface. The formation of the second layer of SLBs at the edge regions but not in the flat regions enabled us to determine the second layer locations and provided us with an opportunity to pattern mobile lipid bilayers on gold surfaces by controlling the edge locations.


Through a reading of Augustine's Confessions, Paul Monette's Borrowed Time: An AIDS Memoir and Mary Daly's Outercourse: The Bedazzling Voyage, this article explores the ways in which autobiographers negotiate the relationships between their private spiritual selves, public Christianity, and the reader as they chronicle their lives. I argue that, although all three of these writers use the same textual strategies, how these strategies are employed reveals distinct differences in the ways that reconciled and alienated selves can tell their stories.


SUMMARY The number of kernels per m2 (K) in well managed and watered wheat crops was studied using results of experiments in Mexico and Australia in which short spring wheat cultivars were subjected to independent variation in radiation, largely via artificial shading, and in temperature. Also crops subjected to differences in weather (year), sowing date and location within Mexico, revealed responses to the natural and simultaneous variation which occurs in radiation and temperature. Responses in K were interpreted in terms of spike dry weight at anthesis (g/m2) and number of kernels per unit of spike weight. K was linearly and most closely related to incident solar radiation in the 30 days or so preceding anthesis, herein termed the spike growth period; for the cultivar Yecora 70 with full ground cover the slope was 19 kernels/MJ. This response seemed largely due to a linear response of crop growth rate to intercepted solar radiation. The proportion of dry weight increase partitioned to the spike increased somewhat with reduced radiation. Also increasing temperature in the range 14–22 °C during this period reduced K (slope approximately 4% per CC at 15 °C). The cause appeared to be lower spike dry weight due to accelerated development. The number of kernels per unit spike weight at anthesis was little affected by radiation or temperature, and averaged 78±2/g for the cultivar Yecora 70. With natural variation in radiation and temperature, K was closely and linearly correlated with the ratio of mean daily incident or intercepted radiation to mean temperature above 4·5 °C in the 30 days preceding anthesis. As this ratio, termed the photothermal quotient, increased from 0·5 to 2·0 MJ/m2/day/degree, K increased from 70 to 196 × 102/m2. These responses of K to weather, sowing date and location were closely associated with variation in spike dry weight. It was concluded that the ratio of solar radiation to temperature could be very useful for estimating K in wheat crop models. Also the analysis of K determination in terms of spike dry weight appeared promising, and suggests that wheat physiologists should place greater emphasis on the growth period immediately before anthesis.


A rapid, precise, accurate and specific ultra performance liquid chromatography method was developed for the estimation of levetiracetam in tablet dosage form. Bridged Ethyl Hybrid (BEH), C 18, 100*2.1 mm, 1.7 μ/CLC 253 column, with mobile phase consisting of 0.3% w/v orthophosphoric acid and methanol in the ratio of 80:20 v/v was used. The flow rate was 1 ml/min and the effluents were monitored at 210 nm. The retention time was 1.55 min and the detector response was linear in the concentration range of 50–150 μg/ml with the linear regression equation being Y=12327x+7411. The limit of detection and limit of quantification was 0.00675 and 0.0225 μg/ml respectively. The percentage assay of Levetiracetam was 99.57 ± 0.831%. The method was validated in terms of accuracy and precision. The results of the study showed that the proposed ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) method is useful for the routine determination of levetiracetam in its pharmaceutical tablet dosage form.


Online education platforms enable teachers to share a large number of educational resources such as questions to form exercises and quizzes for students. With large volumes of available questions, it is important to have an automated way to quantify their properties and intelligently select them for students, enabling effective and personalized learning experiences. In this work, we propose a framework for mining insights from educational questions at scale. We utilize the state-of-the-art Bayesian deep learning method, in particular partial variational auto-encoders (p-VAE), to analyze real students' answers to a large collection of questions. Based on p-VAE, we propose two novel metrics that quantify question quality and difficulty, respectively, and a personalized strategy to adaptively select questions for students. We apply our proposed framework to a real-world dataset with tens of thousands of questions and tens of millions of answers from an online education platform. Our framework not only demonstrates promising results in terms of statistical metrics but also obtains highly consistent results with domain experts' evaluation.