Vitamin E is the primary lipophilic antioxidant in mammals. Lack of vitamin E may lead to an increase of cytotoxic phospholipidperoxidation products (PL-Ox). However, we could previously show that alimentary vitamin E-depletion in rats did not change the concentrations of dienes, hydroperoxides, and platelet-activating factor-related oxidation products in alveolar type II cells (TII cells). We hypothesized that vitamin E deficiency increases the activity of enzymes involved in the degradation of PL-Ox. Degradation of PL-Ox may be catalyzed by phospholipase A2, PAF-acetylhydrolase, or peroxiredoxins (Prx's). Alimentary vitamin E deficiency in rats increased the expression of Prx-1 at the mRNA and protein levels and the formation of Prx-SO3, but it did not change the expression of Prx-6 or the activity of phospholipase A2 and PAF-acetylhydrolase in TII cells. H2O2-induced oxidative stress in isolated TII cells activated protein kinase Ca (PKCa) and increased the expression of Prx-1 and Prx-6. Inhibition of PKCa in isolated TII cells by long-time incubation with PMA inhibited PKCa and Prx-1 but not Prx-6. We concluded that the expression of Prx-1 and -6 is selectively regulated in TII cells; PKCa regulates the expression of Prx-1 but not Prx-6. Prx-6 expression may be closely linked to lipid peroxidation.


Beef cattle feedlots contain unconsolidated surface material that accumulates within feedlot pens during a feeding cycle. Runoff from feedlot surfaces is diverted into settling basins. The storage capacity of the settling basins will be substantially reduced if large quantities of solid material are transported in runoff from the feedlot surfaces. The objective of this study was to identify the hydraulic conditions that will not move unconsolidated surface material located within feedlots in order to minimize sediment transport. Selected sizes and a composite sample of unconsolidated surface material were placed within 0.75 m wide by 4.0 m long metal frames. Flow was then introduced at the top of the frames in successive increments. The discharge rate and flow velocity necessary to cause movement of unconsolidated surface material was measured. Hydraulic measurements were used to determine the ratio of critical flow depth to particle diameter, critical flow rate, critical flow velocity, critical shear velocity, critical Reynolds number, critical shear stress, critical dimensionless shear stress, and critical boundary Reynolds number. Measurements of these parameters for the composite material were 0.556, 0.499 L s -1 , 0.0787 m s -1 , 0.0643 m s -1 , 695, 4.12 Pa, 0.0436, and 1040, respectively. Darcy-Weisbach roughness coefficients were calculated for each particle size class and the composite sample at varying flow rates. The information presented in this study can be used to identify the hydraulic conditions required to not move unconsolidated surface material located within feedlots in order to minimize sediment transport.


We have developed a quick and effective method to predict the feasible products from a double-feed reactive distillation column. The method relies on the prediction of the pinch point for the middle section, using a cross-flow arrangement of vapor−liquid continuously stirred tank reactors (CSTRs). The cross-flow model substantially simplifies the prediction of the compositions at both ends of the middle section of a two-feed column, which are then used to predict the feasible distillate and bottoms compositions, using existing methods. The cross-flow arrangement can also be used to predict minimum and maximum flows for double-feed reactive distillation columns.


A natural gas (NG) odorization system requires a continuous monitoring system in addition to the proper injection setup. As other sulfur based compounds such as hydrogen sulfide can also co-exist in the environment, one of the challenges associated with monitoring the odorants is the selectivity. In this thesis, first, microfluidic gas sensors are modified to enhance their selectivity. In our first study, the effect of microchannel geometry modification (reduction of width) is studied through a computational parametric approach. The results show an average improvement of 93.44% and 60.1% in selectivity toward polar and nonpolar VOCs, respectively. In the next step, the surface of the microchannel is modified with graphene quantum dots, which has a two-fold effect: (i) increasing the surface area, and (ii) adding functional groups. The experimental results of this step show an average improvement of 98.72% and 86.61% in the sensor's selectivity toward polar and nonpolar VOCs, respectively. In our second study, optimized cylindrical microfeatures are embedded into the microchannel. The microchannel is coated with graphene oxide, to increase the surface to volume ratio by introducing nanofeatures to the surfaces. The changes in the sensor response are compared to a plain microfluidic gas sensor, the results show an average of 64.42% and 120.91% improvement in the selectivity of the sensor with microfeatures and both nano- and microfeatures, respectively (toward VOCs). In the last part of this project, a portable device integrated with an array of five different sensors and a machine learning model are developed for the selective detection and prediction of NG odorant: a mixture of tert-butyl mercaptan and methyl ethyl sulfide for a concentration range of 1 ppm to 10 ppm. The device shows the sensitivity and selectivity indicator of 0.36 ( 1 ⁄ 𝑝𝑝𝑚 ), and 28.59 toward odorant respectively. In the next step, we achieved a 98.75% classification accuracy between NG odorant and hydrogen sulfide. The overall Mean Square Error (MSE) and 𝑅 2 error of the regression model of 0.50 and 95.16% have also been achieved. These results indicate that the developed device and the prediction


The spectral resolution is one of the most important indexes of spectrometer. A new method is put forward for measuring the superhigh spectral resolution based on the Rayleigh criterion and the optical heterodyne, and the uncertainty of this method is analyzed. The spectral resolution of some spectrometer was measured using this method, and the experimental results show that the spectral resolution is higher than 18.9 pm, and the standard uncertainty is 2.3 pm. When showed using wave number, the spectral resolution is higher than 0.078 8 cm(-1), and the standard uncertainty is 0.009 6 cm(-1).


Media and globalization often constitute one unsepararable item. The vast expansion of media owned by big and developed countries has given birth to the new phenomenon of globalized media, which in turn has pushed local media to go global, for example K-pop. K-Pop, as one form of Korean culture is not only disemminated through media but also by educational institution, through exchange programs to Korea. The research question is whether the opportunity to study there, for two months, will change the identity of Indonesian students? The main theory in this research paper is Stuart Hall's Identity theory. The method used is through the participation of observations equipped with in-depth interview. Selection of informants was conducted purposively against students who were also heavy K-pop-ers. The results show that the indonesian identity is formed through the values and norms and past experiences of the informants. The role of parents, and the social environment and self-identity is a powerful factor in determining whether such identity will be challenged to diminish or remain solid.


Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising materials for a wide range of applications given their chemical stability and structural tunability. Most traditional MOF synthesis methods use batch reactors with intrinsic inefficiencies during scale-up that negatively impact process productivity. Here, we report a low-cost and energy-efficient continuous manufacturing process for MOF-808—a Zr-MOF widely studied as a catalyst and adsorbent in industrially important processes—using flow-through reactors that increase process yields and minimize solvent use compared to batch processes. The flow platform allowed us to investigate the influence of several synthesis parameters, including residence time, linker concentration, and volumetric ratio of modulator and solvent on the crystallization process. Under optimal conditions, the N,N-dimethylformamide solvent and formic acid modulator volumetric amounts were decreased by 84% and 67%, respectively, and resulted in an increase in productivity (defined in units of kgMOF m −3 day) by two orders of magnitude with similar yields, compared to established batch synthesis methods. A process engineering assessment based on laboratory-scale synthesis routes was performed to compare energy and cost savings for flow and batch workflows, indicating that solvent use was the largest contributor to the overall cost. The methodology presented in this work opens new pathways for critical assessment and optimization of continuous manufacturing routes on a lab-scale environment, which serve as a preliminary step for the transition to more efficient MOF synthesis routes at the industrial scale.


A continuous technique for lumbar epidural during labour is described, using procaine hydrochloride without adrenaline. An investigation was undertaken to determine the action of procaine in labour, to determine whether this drug could facilitate a normal delivery and to study maternal and fetal blood procaine levels. The technique, although successful, offered no specific advantages.


Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for saliva are simple, non-invasive methods for hormone detection. Allopregnanolone (ALLO) is a neuroactive steroid hormone that plays a crucial role in the aetiology of reproductive mood disorders. To better understand the relationship between ALLO and mood, a validated method to measure peripheral hormone levels is required. Currently, there is no commercially available ELISA with which to measure ALLO in saliva. We validated two ELISAs, developed for use with blood, with the saliva samples of 25 pregnant women, examining the range and sensitivity, intra- and inter-assay precision, parallelism, linearity of dilution, and recovery. The samples were simultaneously analysed using the liquid-chromatography–mass-spectrometry (LC-MS) method. The kits differed in range (31.2–2000 pg/mL vs. 1.6–100 ng/mL) and sensitivity (<9.5 pg/mL vs. 0.9 ng/mL), with the latter showing significant matrix effects and the former fulfilling the acceptance criteria of all the parameters. The concentrations measured with LC–MS were below the lower limit of quantification (<1.0 ng/mL) and no signal was detected. One of the tested ELISAs is a valid method for detecting ALLO in the saliva of pregnant women. It has a suitable measurement range and higher sensitivity than the conventional LC–MS method.


Two cases of autoimmune progesterone dermatitis are reported. The patients developed recurrent pruritic erythematous and edematous eruptions on the extremities, trunk or face, with occasional vesicles on the palms and soles. The eruptions appeared 7 to 10 days prior to their menstruation and persisted for several days. They showed immediately positive skin tests with 0.1 mg/ml and 0.2 mg/ml of aqueous progesterone suspension, respectively. The patients had IgG serum factor which bound rat corpus luteum. Positive indirect basophil degranulation tests against progesterone were demonstrated in both patients. Circulating autoantibodies to patients' own progesterone may cause or modulate the intermittent eruptions of the disease.


Pancreatic cancer has the poorest prognosis of all gastrointestinal cancers, driving the need for new therapeutic approaches. Adjuvant 5-fluorouacil (5-FU) chemotherapy proved effective in increasing the survival of patients with resected tumors. Furthermore, the addition of interferon alpha (IFN-&agr;) immunotherapy to 5-FU has shown encouraging clinical results. The aim of this study was to determine the relevance of different immune cell populations, namely natural killer (NK) cells, CD8 T cells, and dendritic cells, in the anticancer immune response mediated by the combination therapy using an orthotopic mouse model of pancreatic carcinoma and to get more insight into the underlying mechanisms of action. Depleting CD8 T cells, NK cells, or dendritic cells significantly reduced the anticancer effects mediated by the combination therapy. Tumors of mice treated with 5-FU+IFN-&agr; harbored higher numbers of infiltrating NK cells in comparison with control mice. In addition, NK cells isolated from these mice showed enhanced cytotoxicity against Panc02 pancreatic cancer cells. Furthermore, 5-FU+IFN-&agr; treatment increased the expression of major histocompatibility complex class I and NKG2D ligands on Panc02 cells that could be a potential key for enhancing the immunogenicity of tumors. Understanding how this combination therapy enhances the immunogenicity of pancreatic tumors in our model may provide potential predictive biomarkers. This will allow to evaluate the efficacy of this immunochemotherapy more effectively in future clinical trials and to identify patients who will benefit most from it.


This paper reports on the flexural behavior of nine steel fiber reinforced-recycled aggregate concrete (SFRAC) beams through combined experimental and finite element analysis. The test parameters in this study include the steel fiber volume fraction, recycled aggregate replacement ratio, and concrete strength. The failure modes, crack development, load-deflection curves, and flexural bearing capacity of SFRAC beams are investigated in detail. The test results indicated that cracks and concrete crushing are formed in the compression zone of all specimens. The flexural bearing capacity of SFRAC beams increases with the increase of steel fiber volume fraction and concrete strength and the decrease of recycled aggregate replacement ratio. In addition, the results are compared with those of the finite element analysis. Based on the uniaxial compressive constitutive model of SFRAC, a new model for calculating the flexural bearing capacity of SFRAC beams is proposed. The prediction and test results are compared to evaluate the accuracy of the developed formula. The studies may provide a considerable reference for designing this type of structure in engineering practice.


The strong associations of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep with dreaming and memory consolidation imply the existence of REM-specific brain electrical activity, notwithstanding the visual similarity of the electroencephalograms (EEGs) in REM and wake states. Our goal was to detect REM sleep by means of algorithmic analysis of the EEG. We postulated that novel depth and fragmentation variables, defined in relation to temporal changes in the signal (recurrences), could be statistically combined to allow disambiguation of REM epochs. The cohorts studied were consecutive patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) recruited from a sleep medicine clinic, and clinically normal participants selected randomly from a national database (N = 20 in each cohort). Individual discriminant analyses were performed, for each subject based on 4 recurrence biomarkers, and used to classify every 30-second epoch in the subject's overnight polysomnogram as REM or NotREM (wake or any non-REM sleep stage), using standard clinical staging as ground truth. The primary outcome variable was the accuracy of algorithmic REM classification. Average accuracies of 90% and 87% (initial and cross-validation analyses) were achieved in the OSA cohort; corresponding results in the normal cohort were 87% and 85%. Analysis of brain recurrence allowed identification of REM sleep, disambiguated from wake and all other stages, using only a single EEG lead, in subjects with or without OSA.


INTRODUCTION
Recent studies show that psychological status of HD patients has been changed in terms of an increased score of the called neurotic triad: hypochondria, depression and hysteria. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the development of psychopathological tendencies in HD patients and the demographic features such as: gender, age, marital status, education level, employment status and HD duration.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
There were 56 patients on HD. Depending on registered psychopathological tendencies, we compared patients according to the mentioned demographical characteristics. We applied MMPI 201. Previously, all patients were psychologically examined by explorative interview regarding demographical data and the pre-dialysis psychological status. To compare categorical variations, we use 6 multivariant analysis of variance. A p value of <0.5 was considered to be statistically significant.

RESULTS
The overall profile of psychopathological tendencies of HD patients indicates increase of scores on neurotic triad. Female patients showed significantly higher level of psychosteny than male patients (FPt=4.86, p<0.05): singles showed significantly higher scores on some psychotic subscales--paranoia, schizophrenia, mania--in relation to the group of married patients (FPa=7.21, FSc=6.84, FMa=5.35, p<0.05): patients with only primary school have significantly more expressive paranoia in relation to patients with university education (FPa=3.80, p<0.05); unemployed patients have significantly more expressed paranoia and tendencies to emphasize pathology in relation to employed patients (FF=5.13, FPa=5.94, p<0.05).

CONCLUSION
Depression could be taken as a a primary psychiatric complication associated with life on haemodialysis. Gender, marital status, education level and employment status significantly influence the differences in occurrences of psychopathological tendencies in HD patients.


The loss surfaces of deep neural networks have been the subject of several studies, theoretical and experimental, over the last few years. One strand of work considers the complexity, in the sense of local optima, of high dimensional random functions with the aim of informing how local optimisation methods may perform in such complicated settings. Prior work of Choromanska et al (2015) established a direct link between the training loss surfaces of deep multi-layer perceptron networks and spherical multi-spin glass models under some very strong assumptions on the network and its data. In this work, we test the validity of this approach by removing the undesirable restriction to ReLU activation functions. In doing so, we chart a new path through the spin glass complexity calculations using supersymmetric methods in random matrix theory which may prove useful in other contexts. Our results shed new light on both the strengths and the weaknesses of spin glass models in this context.


Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is used for below ground imaging of shallow buried objects. In this paper, a new radio frequency (RF) tomography approach to signal processing is presented. Reconstructed 2D and 3D images of shallowly buried objects are computed via numerical discretization and inversion. Results from simulation analysis and experimentation are used to validate this method.


Influence of fertilizers application on the change of indexes of soil quality is studied. As a result of experiment for a period of 2005–2009 we established that the productivity of agricultural plants is multiplied under applying chemical matter in soil. The mobile forms of microelements are accumulated; indexes stipulating exchange processes in soil diminish. There are tendencies to oxidization and toxicity of land arable layer. Quality of land is appraised according to the 100-grade scale with a correction factor by the salt pH for the forest-steppe – 0.96. As a result the quality is decrease on 9.3 %.


Conventional electron energy-loss spectra and two-dimensional electron scattering spectra are presented with unusual features. These features are accounted for by considering the trapping of the wave-packet due to a quantum mechanical analogue of friction. A detailed analysis of the spectra is given in terms of the vibrational eigenfunctions and eigen-energies of the available decay channels. This analysis supports the suggestion of a frictional mechanism. Such a mechanism could be quite general for polyatomic molecules, giving a new way to study non-Markovian aspects of the Schrodinger equation.


There exists a longstanding association between youth and revolution, partly due to the assumption that the politics of the former are inherently "prefigurative" in nature. Youth politics can often actually be quite conservative, however, as can be observed in contemporary Nicaragua, where rather than attempting to "change the world" in the way that previous militant youth generations were famously associated with, current Sandinista youth activists engage primarily in forms of neo-patrimonial clientelism. At the same time, the evolving experience of everyday political action by university educated youth in Uttar Pradesh, India highlights how economic endeavours can, under certain circumstances, become a form of politics, often of a more transformative variety than classic forms of collective mobilization. The comparison of Nicaragua and India thus highlights the critical importance of considering the wider environment within which youth mobilize and take action in order to understand how and why particular political "ontologics" emerge.


Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Surgery, percutaneous ablation and liver transplantation are the only curative treatment modality for HCC. However, a majority of patients have unresectable disease at diagnosis. Despite radical treatment, high risk of tumor recurrence is the most common problem. Therefore, there is a need for effective treatment options for patients with advanced or recurrent HCC. For patients with advanced stage of HCC according to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer staging system, the multikinase inhibitor sorafenib is the current standard of care. However, hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) have been applied to advanced stage HCC with a view to improve the therapeutic indexes in Asia. HAIC provides direct drug delivery into tumor bed and a greater first-pass effect; also systemic side effects can be potentially minimized. However, the sample size of researches on HAIC was small and large randomized trials are still lacking. In this article, we describe the treatment efficacy of HAIC for advanced stage HCC and discuss future therapeutic possibilities.


The objective of advanced tokamak scenario research is to provide a candidate plasma scenario for continuous operation in a fusion power plant. The optimization of the self-generated non-inductive current by the bootstrap mechanism up to a level of 50% and above using high plasma pressure and improved confinement are the necessary conditions to achieve this goal. The two main candidate scenarios for continuous operation, the steady state scenario and long duration (up to 3000 s) high neutron fluency scenario (the hybrid scenario), both face physics challenges in terms of confinement, stability, power exhaust and plasma control. Resistive wall modes and Alfvénic fast ion driven instabilities are the main limitations for operating the steady state scenario at high pressure and low magnetic shear. In addition, this scenario demands a high degree of control over the plasma current and pressure profile and the steady state heat load on in-vessel plasma facing components. Understanding the confinement properties of hybrid scenario is still an outstanding issue as well as its modelling for ITER in particular with regard to the H-mode pedestal parameters. This scenario will also require active current profile control, although, less demanding than for the steady state scenario. To operate advanced tokamak scenario, broad current and pressure profile control appears as a necessary requirement on ITER actuators, in addition to the tools required for instability control such as error field coils or electron cyclotron current drive.


Adiponectin, derived mainly from white adipose tissue, regulates glucose and fatty acid metabolism and has anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerotic properties. The decrease in plasma adiponectin concentration contributes to the development of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a serine/threonine kinase which plays an important role in regulating many cellular processes, particularly pathways involved in cellular energy status. AMPK is now recognized as a fuel gauge in mammalian cells. Adiponectin activates AMPK phosphorylation and then promotes ATP-generating pathways in heart, including glucose transport, glycolysis, and fatty acid oxidation. The recent evidence has shown that AMPK activation has an important role in the vasculature where it may exert anti-atherosclerotic effects. Phosphorylation of AMPK induced by adiponectin inhibits protein synthesis, and may be an adaptive response to pathological cardiac hypertrophy. AMPK also has a cardioprotective role against myocardial injury and apoptosis in the ischemic heart. This review will discuss the role of AMPK in adiponectin-mediated protective properties of cardiovascular diseases.


The three variables of color vision are hue, saturat ion, and brightness. The characterist ic color differences along the spectrum which the color-normal sees are essentially concerned with hue. In measurements of wavelength discrimination the precise value of the just perceptible difference in wavelength at constant brightness is no doubt influenced by saturat ion differences, bu t the major factor is hue. Wha t determines wavelength discrimination in the colorblind? Since the best X discrimination of protanopes and deuteranopes occurs near 500 m#, which is a region matched with white, saturat ion may be a more impor tan t factor for them than for the color-normal. A simple bu t striking experiment demonstra ted to us tha t saturat ion is indeed the determining factor, x One side of the field in the I tehn-


Context
Associations between genes and diseases manifest as the influence of gene expression on disease development as well as the impact of variations in the disease-related genes themselves. It's important to determine the genetic variations that can lead to compressed fractures of osteoporotic, thoracic lumbar vertebrae to develop personalized clinical methods to prevent or delay the disease's development.

Objective
The study intended to explore the correlations between the gene polymorphisms and gene expressions of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene and the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) gene and osteoporotic, thoracolumbar, vertebral compression fracture.

Design
The research team performed an observational study using data from medical records.

Setting
The study took place at Xuzhou Medical University in Xuzhou, China.

Participants
Participants were 200 patients with an osteoporotic, thoracolumbar, vertebral compression fracture who had been admitted to the hospital at the university between 2019 and 2021 prior to the study and 200 healthy people The research team divided the participants into two groups. The patients became participants in the disease group, and the healthy individuals became participants in the control group.

Outcome Measures
The research team: (1) collected peripheral blood from the two groups, (2) extracted genomic deoxyribonucleic acids (DNAs) from karyocytes, (3) examined the IL-6 and TGF-β gene polymorphisms, and (4) analyzed and correlated participants' clinical data with the gene polymorphisms and expressions. The team used a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to examine the expression levels of IL-6 and TGF-β.

Results
Compared to the control group, the disease group: (1) had allele distributions that were significantly different at the rs2069829 locus of the IL-6 gene (P < .001) and at the rs3087453 of the TGF-β gene (P = .004); (2) had significantly higher frequencies of allele T at the rs2069829 locus of the IL-6 gene and of allele G at the rs3087453 locus of the TGF-β gene; (3) had genotype distributions that were significantly different at the rs2069829 locus (P < .001) and the rs2069857 locus (P = .048) of the IL-6 gene and at the rs3087453 locus (P < .001) of the TGF-β gene; (4) had frequencies that were significantly higher of the TT genotype at the rs2069829 locus, the CC genotype at the rs2069857 locus, and the GC genotype at the rs3087453 locus of the IL-6 gene and the TGF-β gene; (5) had dominant models that were significantly different at the rs2069829 locus of the IL-6 gene (P = .009) and at rs3087453 locus of the TGF-β gene (P = .026) and had a recessive model that was significantly different at the rs2069857 locus of the IL-6 gene (P = .040); (6) had significantly different haplotypes CC (P < .001) and TC (P < .001) at the rs2069829 locus and the rs2069857 locus of the IL-6 gene and a significantly different haplotype AC (P = .011) at the rs1800469 locus and the rs3087453 locus of the TGF-β gene; (7) had an IL-6 gene polymorphism at the rs2069857 locus that was related to the expression of the IL-6 gene (P < .05) and an expression of the IL-6 gene for participants with the AA genotype that was significantly lower than for other genotypes; (8) had a TGF-β gene polymorphism at the rs1800469 locus that was associated with the expression of the TGF-β gene (P < .05), and an expression for participants with the GG genotype that was significantly higher than for other genotypes; (9) had an IL-6 gene polymorphism at the rs2069857 locus with an overt correlation with the genotype of osteoporotic, thoracolumbar, vertebral compression fracture (P < .001). Also, participants in the disease group with the genotype CC mainly had type 2 and 3 fractures, while those with genotype AA primarily had type 0 and 1 fractures.

Conclusions
IL-6 and TGF-β gene polymorphisms and expressions are significantly related to osteoporotic, thoracolumbar, vertebral compression fracture.


Background: Mechanisms for widening participation of local participants in research studies can improve governance of public health research. Research conducted in longitudinal health study areas depends on there being mutual trust and respect over time between the local residents and researchers. Ethics in practice needs consideration alongside procedural ethics. By widening participation of the experimental public—local residents and resident service providers—ethics in practice and accountability are strengthened. Methods: The study was undertaken in a longitudinal health study area in rural South Africa using multiple qualitative methods. The sample included 35 individual and five group interviews with resident local leaders and service providers, 24 individual and eight group interviews with residents of the study area, and ten researchers' reflections on two critical incidents from ethnographic field notes on dilemmas of ethics in practice. The interviews were all audio-recorded (besides one where consent to record was not given) and then transcribed verbatim and translated from Shangaan into English. Thematic analysis was conducted. Results: Residents requested the reporting back of personal screening test results from research studies, and raised informed consent issues. Researchers recognized the importance of mechanisms to increase their accountability to residents throughout the research process, and the complexity of informed consent and fieldwork procedures within research studies. Conclusion: This study elicited the views of residents and researchers in a longitudinal health study area to seek guidance on how to strengthen participation in research governance. Three strategies were identified by participants to widen participation of the experimental public. Firstly, increasing study budgets so that individual screening test results could be personally delivered back to participants. Secondly, more rigorous field staff training in informed consent and study procedures with ongoing monitoring and supervision from researchers. Thirdly, increased earlier involvement of residents in research protocol development through study advisory groups. Additional strategies include deeper involvement of Community Advisory Groups and more focused dissemination of research results to specific audiences. In general, there is a need to identify strategies for increased accountability of researchers and participatory governance through involvement of the experimental public in all aspects of longitudinal public health research as part of the ethics in practice and democratization of science.


The Monviso ophiolite Lago Superiore Unit (LSU;Western Alps) constitutes a well-preserved, largely coherent fragment of eclogitic upper oceanic lithosphere subducted to c. 80 km depth (between 50 and 40 Ma) and exhumed along the subduction interface. Within-slab, 10^100 m thick, eclogite-facies shear zones cut this section; the Intermediate Shear Zone (ISZ) follows the boundary between gabbroic and basaltic eclogites (associated with minor calcschist lenses), and the Lower Shear Zone (LSZ) marks the contact between gabbroic eclogites and the antigorite serpentinite sole. Up to 10 m fragments of mylonitic gabbroic eclogites were transported within serpentinite schists from the LSZ during eclogite-facies deformation. Metasomatic rinds, formed on these fragments during peak to early retrograde lawsonite-eclogite-facies metamorphism ( c. 550 8 C and 2 · 6 GPa), document episodic, prominent rock^fluid interaction along intra-slab, channelized fluid migration pathways associated with deformation. We present new petrological and geochemical data on hydrous eclogites (talc-, chlorite-, lawsonite-and phengite-bearing eclogites) and serpentinite-derived ultrabasic schists from block rinds. Bulk-rock compositions, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry mineral analyses and X-ray Cr and Mg maps of garnet and clinopyroxene demonstrate that these samples underwent significant enrichments in Mg, Cr, Ni, (cid:2) large ion lithophile elements and prominent depletions in Fe and V during eclogite-facies metasomatism. Boron isotope data for phengite ( d 11 B ¼ 0 to þ 7 ø ; 80 5 B 5 130 m g g ^1 ), clinopyroxene and chlorite ( d 11 B ¼ ^7 to þ 4 ø ; B 5 3 m g g ^1 ), and antigorite ( d 11 B ¼ ^4 to 0 ø ; 20 5 B 5 30 m g g ^1 ) suggest that the metasomatic block rinds formed during interaction with serpentinite-derived fluids.These compositional patterns point to focused, fluid-mediated element transfer through the subducted slab. Serpentinite-derived fluids, via antigorite breakdown some 15^20 km deeper than the maximum depth reached by these eclogites, thereby equilibrate with fluids derived from oceanic crust and/or sedimentary material. Although slab components of diverse flavour have long been recognized to be central in triggering island arc magmatism, this example is among the first to document synkinematic, long-range, large-scale, channelized dehydration fluid flow within subducted oceanic slabs.


Abstract The problem of variational data assimilation for a nonlinear evolution model is formulated as an optimal control problem to find some unknown parameters of the model. The equation for the error of the optimal solution is derived through the statistical errors of the input data (background, observation, and model errors). A numerical algorithm is developed to construct an a posteriori covariance operator of the analysis error using the Hessian of an auxiliary optimal control problem based on the tangent linear model constraints.


The purpose of this study was to use an non-invasive method to determine whether strain on the gastrocnemii and hamstrings influences postural balance in spastic cerebral palsy (CP). Changes in alignment during standing posture with subjects positioned on a platform that was gradually inclined were measured in 10 normal children and 11 children with CP. The changes in postural alignment were plotted and geometric models used to determine the lines where the gastrocnemii and hamstrings were maximally stretched. In this way the relationship between postural alignment and the amount of strain on the gastrocnemii and hamstrings was investigated. On the inclined platform, which caused ankle joints to become dorsiflexed as the inclination angle increased, the gastrocnemii began to be strained and the hip joints began to be flexed (trunk bent forward) at the same time. In the children with CP, the gastrocnemii were more strained by smaller degrees of inclination. Furthermore, there was one child with CP whose hamstrings were also strained on the inclined platform. We confirmed that postural balance was affected by strain on the gastrocnemii and hamstrings.


Corbett and colleagues highlight the importance of an effective infection control policy in preventing nosocomial transmission of crusted scabies.' Our experience of five patients with crusted scabies in late HIV disease who were treated with a combination of topical scabicides and oral ivermectin, suggests that treatment failure may still occur unless additional measures are taken to reduce the cutaneous mite burden. Following an outbreak of scabies amongst staff at the HIV in-patient ward at King's College Hospital, in which the index case, a Ugandan male with HIV-associated dementia and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, was unsuccessfully treated with both topical scabicides and oral ivermectin (200 ug/kg), we amended our infection control policy to include the physical removal of scabies crusts. Therefore, in addition to the measures mentioned by Corbett et al, the management policy for crusted scabies at King's includes the following patient regimen: Days 1 to 3: Daily application of 5% permethrin dermal cream to the entire body including to the scalp, neck, face and ears for 18 to 24 hours. Crusts are removed by soaking in a hot bath, which is thoroughly cleaned afterwards. Day 5: If viable mites present; topical 1% lindane or 0.5% malathion for 24 hours (including to the head and neck) combined with single dose oral ivermectin (200 ig per kg).


Abstract. Daytime radiative cooling has attracted extensive research interest due to its potential impact for energy sustainability. To achieve subambient radiative cooling during the daytime, a white surface that strongly scatters incident solar light is normally desired. However, in many practical applications (e.g., roofing materials and car coatings), colored surfaces are more popular. Because of this, there is a strong desire to develop colorful surfaces for radiative cooling. We summarize the general design criteria of radiative cooling materials with different colors and discuss the limitations in cooling performance. Major efforts on this specific topic are reviewed with some suggested topics for future investigation.


This case report aims to assist primary care physicians in managing borderline hypoxemic patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), enabling them to fly safely.

A 63-year-old female smoker (80 pack years) travelled from Athens, Greece to Amsterdam in The Netherlands. She had been diagnosed with hypertension, moderate COPD, mild cardiac failure, and severe osteoarthritis in the left knee. Thirty minutes after take-off she started to experience severe dyspnea, without tachycardia or chest pain, that required immediate medical attention. After administering oxygen at 2L/min, the symptoms slowly improved and she arrived safely in Amsterdam.

The patient had experienced similar symptoms during other flights in the past. Her GP thought that she should be examined by cardiologists and pulmonologists to assess the possible need for in-flight oxygen supplementation. The cardiologist conducted a full clinical examination, as well as an electrocardiogram and heart ultrasound, and decided that, as the cause of the oxygen desaturation during flight was not from her heart, she should be referred to pulmonologists for further assessment.

The pulmonologists conducted spirometry and an arterial saturated oxygen (SaO2) test. The results were: a forced expiratory volume in 1second (FEV1) of 60% predicted; an FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) of 0.65; and a SaO2 of …


This book contains the Proceedings of the Fifth Meeting on CPT and Lorentz Symmetry, held at Indiana University in Bloomington from June 28 to July 2, 2010. The Meeting focused on tests of these fundamental symmetries and on related theoretical issues, including scenarios for possible violations. Topics covered at the meeting include searches for CPT and Lorentz violations involving: birefringence and dispersion from cosmological sources, clock-comparison measurements, CMB polarization, electromagnetic resonant cavities, equivalence principle, gauge and Higgs particles, high-energy astrophysical observations, laboratory and gravimetric tests of gravity, matter interferometry, neutrino oscillations, oscillations and decays of K,D,B mesons, particle-antiparticle comparisons, post-newtonian gravity in the solar system and beyond, second- and third-generation particles, space-based missions, spectroscopy of hydrogen and antihydrogen, and spin polarized matter. Theoretical discussions include physical effects at the level of the Standard Model, General Relativity, and beyond; the possible origins and mechanisms for Lorentz and CPT violations; and related classical and quantum issues in field theory, particle physics, gravity, and string theory.


The data used to calculate the variance components of various production traits was obtained from records of about 4000 hens daughters of about 180 cocks mated to about 1,500 dams and collected over 5 year period. Two strains of Rhode Island Chickens were involved in this study. Within the red strain population sire's contribution to total variation in age at first egg did not exceed 8.6% across the year and 6.9% in the white strain. Except for body weight at 40 weeks of the red strain where the contribution of the sire exceed 14%, the contribution of the sire to the total variation for all the economic traits considered in this study were generally low for both strain of the layer type chickens under consideration. Generally dam component of variance were higher most of the time and in many traits within the red strain population.


Analysis of the literature data on the use of various therapeutic approaches to the treatment of febrile schizophrenia has shown that so far psychiatry does not possess such methods of treatment which could allow the complete prevention of lethal outcomes in this disease. The article describes a new original approach to the treatment of patients with febrile schizophrenia, aimed at the correction of homeostatic disturbances with the complete refusal from neuroleptics in the febrile period of an attack. This therapeutic approach proved highly effective in 24 out of 26 patients and enabled preventing lethal outcomes in all cases. Study of the characteristics of febrile schizophrenia based on the authors' own observations and case reports made it possible to identify three variants of the time-course of the febrile attack. The article also considers the specificities of therapy with respect to the identified variants of the time-course of febrile attacks.


This volume forms part of the product of a multidisciplinary study by the British Geological Survey (BGS), commissioned by the UAE Federal Government, Ministry of Energy, to produce 1:50 000 scale geological maps of the bedrock and superficial geology of the northern part of the UAE. This volume contains information about the findings of the geological mapping and associated specialist research.
The only large areas of exposed rocks in the UAE occur in the Hajar mountains in the northern Emirates. Previous geological maps were made more than 20 years ago and were based largely on air photo interpretation with limited ground-truthing. The rapid economic development in the intervening period has seen a tremendous expansion of the national infrastructure; this has greatly increased the demand for high quality, field-based geological maps. The mountain area was mapped at a scale of 1:25 000 and a series of maps at a scale of 1:50 000 have been produced, along with maps of areas of special interest at 1:25 000. The desert area to the west of the mountains, covered largely by Quaternary deposits, was mapped at a scale of 1:50 000 and maps produced at 1:100,000. All these maps are accompanied by a Sheet Explanation that describes the rock sequences in the area covered by that particular map. This report describes the broader features of the main rock groups on a regional basis and includes the results of the specialist laboratory studies that were used to define and interpret the geology of the project area.
The field mapping was undertaken in the winter months between October 2002 and January 2006. The mapping was carried out by S L B Arkley, J N Carney, R A Ellison, A R Farrant, K M Goodenough, E R Phillips, E A Pickett, D I Schofield, D Stephenson, M T Styles, R J Thomas, D G Tragheim and M Warrak. The laboratory studies were mostly carried out at the BGS. The petrographic study of the ophiolite, metamorphic and Dibba and Hatta zone rocks was carried out by members of the mapping team, and the limestones of the Platform Carbonates were studied by G K Lott. J A McKervey made electron probe microanalysis of minerals, M A Woods made macropalaeontological studies and assisted with the field mapping, and I P Wilkinson made micropalaeontologial determinations. Q W Crowley carried out the geochronological studies. The Earth Science Department at Cardiff University carried out the whole rock geochemical analysis and was also involved in a collaborative geochemical research project. P Lappage drew the majority of the illustrations. This volume was complied and edited K M Goodenough.


Autonomous robotic Ultrasound (US) scanning has been the subject of research for more than 2 decades. However, little work has been done to apply this concept into a minimally invasive setting, in which accurate force sensing is generally not available and robot kinematics are unreliable due to the tendon-driven, compliant robot structure. As a result, the adequate orientation of the probe towards the tissue surface remains unknown and the anatomy reconstructed from scan may become highly inaccurate. In this work we present solutions to both of these challenges: an attitude sensor fusion scheme for improved kinematic sensing and a visual, deep learning based algorithm to establish and maintain contact between the organ surface and the US probe. We further introduce a novel scheme to estimate and orient the probe perpendicular to the center line of a vascular structure. Our approach enables, for the first time, to autonomously scan across a non-planar surface and navigate along an anatomical structure with a robotically guided minimally invasive US probe. Our experiments on a vessel phantom with a convex surface confirm a significant improvement of the reconstructed curved vessel geometry, with our approach strongly reducing the mean positional error and variance. In the future, our approach could help identify vascular structures more effectively and help pave the way towards semi-autonomous assistance during partial hepatectomy and the potential to reduce procedure length and complication rates.


The foundation of the Neohellenic state in the nineteenth century involved an intensive modernization program. The establishment of a new network of settlements and the reconstruction of cities was placed at the heart of modernization policies undertaken for over three-quarters of the century. In this context, city form acquired a crucial importance: it served practical and functional purposes as well as aesthetic and ideological ones. Not only was production and economic activity to be stimulated, a national identity had to be emphasized and ideals of citizenship had to be promoted among Greece's inhabitants. Urban modernization, placing the accent on the formal aspects of the city, seems to have served a threefold purpose for Greece at that time: it ensured a link with the West; it consolidated the transition to an urban society by effacing all traces of an embarrassing past—reminders of foreign rule, ethnic and religious oppression, and social and economic backwardness; and it restored the nation's historical continuity by connecting the modern kingdom with the ancient world. From the ambitious early designs to the utilitarian and unadorned grid plans produced after 1880 for dozens of small and large towns, one can trace an insistent dedication to this aim.


Analyses of second-by-second conditioned responding into a food receptacle by hungry rats (Rattus norvegicus) found that inhibition varies across the duration of a conditioned stimulus (CS) in a manner consistent with initial training. Variations in the arrival time of the unconditioned stimulus (US) supported temporally specific suppression of responding (Experiment 1). Summation and retardation tests (Experiments 2 and 3, respectively) revealed that points of greatest inhibition coincided with US omission at the time normally specified by the excitor. Our data provide a clear demonstration of fine-grained changes in the time course of inhibitory conditioning for the first time.


: In a deregulated electricity market, it is important to dispatch the generation in an economical manner and to ensure security under different operating conditions. In this study evolutionary computation based solution for optimal power flow is attempted. Social welfare optimization is taken as the objective function, which includes generation cost, transmission cost and consumer benefit function. Transmission cost is calculated using Bialek's power flow tracing method. Severity index is applied as a constraint to measure the security. The objective function is calculated for pre and post contingency periods. Real power generations, real power loads and transformer tap settings are selected as control variables. Different bilateral and multilateral conditions are considered for analysis. A Human Group Optimization algorithm is used to find the solution of the problem. The IEEE 30 bus system is taken as a test system.


The terms Afrofuturism and decolonisation may both occupy prominent positions in the contemporary moment but they are not often projected into the same conceptual space. While the task of decolonising the curricula at South Africa's tertiary institutions looms large in the contemporary moment, for the particular disciplines of art history and visual studies, the task of creating new curricula has often taken on a temporal valence as there is a certain anxiety about making references to historical African culture in the present. Afrofuturism, however, seeks to create fissures in the present moment by using references the past to envision futures that counter a negative historical imaginary. Following an analysis of the art historical curricula at tertiary institutions in South Africa, this paper seeks to discuss the notion of both Afrofuturism and decolonisation as temporal dislocations and discursive disruptions. By looking at the film Black Panther and its numerous references to historical African art and visual culture this paper proposes that the concept of Afrofuturism may provide a method for the study of contemporary art forms through the lens of the  historical and as such a potential approach to discursive decolonisation.


Biofilters are a potential treatment option for removing pollutants from feedlot runoff but little research has been done on their use and design. In this study, two mechanism-based models were developed to simulate biofilter processes: a first-order model and a logistic model. The two models were calibrated and evaluated using nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) data collected from rainfall events for an experimental biofilter at Melrose, Minnesota, USA. The first-order model predicted removal efficiencies better than the logistic model. The sensitivity analysis suggested that the predictions of the first-order model are more sensitive to parameter. In addition, the uncertainty analysis suggested that the range in predictive errors could be a consequence of uncertainty of estimating parameter from the limited data set for the first-order model. In contrast, the uncertainty analysis for the logistic model of N suggested that reasons other than the uncertainty in parameter estimation are needed to explain predictive errors. Overall, the study provides a useful tool for assessing biofilter performance that can easily be improved with larger observed data sets. The biofilter model has been implemented in the most recent version of the Minnesota feedlot annualized runoff model (MinnFARM).


The paper is the first step for an investigation regarding load control feasibility in Romanian power system. It analyses operational aspects of load dispatching mechanisms in Romanian market environment. Operational development of the load control and the stresses raised by the forecasting are investigated. Further developments are planed on: financial consequences, stake holder analysis, risks evaluation and contingency plans definition


This paper proposes to study a spline model, called HBsplines, that is in fact a B-spline representation of Hermite splines, combined with some restriction on the derivative constraints. Although this model does not appear able to offer something new to the computer graphics community, we think that HB-splines deserve to be considered for themselves because they embed many interesting features. First, they include all the classical properties required in a geometric modeling environment (convex hull, local control, arbitrary orders of parametric or geometric continuity). Second, they have a nice aptitude for direct manipulation (i.e. manipulation without using control points). For this purpose, we propose a new graphic widget, called control sails, that offers the user an intuitive way to specify local properties (position, tangent, curvature) of a curve or a surface. Finally, they provide an elegant formulation of a biorthogonal wavelet family, that permits multiresolution manipulations of the resulting curves or surfaces, in a very efficient way.


ABSTRACT Business education continues to be very popular among students across the globe, however, business schools have been criticised for not preparing 'work-ready' graduates. This paper investigates how business schools enhance organisational reputation, and in particular, how relatively younger and non-accredited business schools compete with longstanding business schools and those with established reputations. In so doing, the paper investigates the reputation drivers that are perceived to give business schools a competitive advantage. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with academics, experts and students. The results of this paper indicate that engagement with industry and the community is considered the key to achieving quality business programmes and to producing quality business graduates. In addition, we found that the two emerging themes of work placement (WP) and transnational education (TNE) programmes also contributed to quality business programmes but not without some risks.


Previous work examines the relationships between personality traits and intrinsic/extrinsic motivation. We replicate and extend previous work to examine how personality may relate to achievement goals, efficacious beliefs, and mindset about intelligence. Approximately 200 undergraduates responded to the survey with a 150 participants replicating the study two weeks later. When comparing data from the first and second collections, three of the five pathways for personality and achievement goals were replicated: neuroticism, openness, and agreeableness. For personality and efficacy three of the eight pathways remained significant from the first collection to the second. Openness was the only personality factor that significantly predicted participants' mindset about their intelligence. Results suggest certain personality traits may correspond with different motivational self-beliefs, but these results were neither reliable nor consistent.


Background Occupational skin disease (dermatitis) is one of the most widespread causes of discomfort and ill-health at work. Chronic dermatitis can make working impossible and causes workers to lose their jobs. Aim The aim of this paper is to present the findings of a 2 years study conducted in Auckland and Whangarei. Methods Workplaces were assessed using a checklist and, an employee questionnaire. Approximately 400 workplaces were visited and more than 1200 employees completed and returned the questionnaires. The industries/occupations included in the study were; bakers, butchers, boat builders, cleaners, dental technicians, dye manufacturers, florists, gardeners, health care workers, hairdressers, machine operators, metal manufacturers, nurses, panel-beaters, printers, plumbers, process workers, spray-painters, veterinarians, etc. Results Wet work and chemical exposure were found to be significantly associated with dermatitis prevalence. Thirty seven percent of the employed workforce reported symptoms of dermatitis. Twenty two percent of the workforce reported their symptoms as work related. Butchers, hairdressers and printers were found to be the most affected. Gender and skin tone does not appear to make much difference to dermatitis occurrence. About half (49%) of the workers in the age group of 15–30 years emerged as more prone to skin disorders. The hand is the most affected body part to suffer from dermatitis symptoms. Significance Educating workers, targeting high risk occupations, controlling causal agents, provision of good hygiene practices, and availability of engineering controls and personal protective clothing and equipment are some important steps that could be implemented to reduce prevalence of dermatitis in workplaces.


Food security is a complex phenomenon that determines multiple concerns and initiatives worldwide. The research presented in this paper aims to analyze the food security of children in rural areas, following a project funded by the European Union (EU). The main objective of the research is to investigate the opportunity to implement sustainable programs to ensure hot meals for children in schools located in rural areas of Romania. No similar academic studies were conducted in Romania focused on food security from an economic perspective. An exploratory qualitative research methodology was chosen based on in-depth nondirective interviews among experts. The research results highlight the necessity of optimizing the relationship between the needs of children in rural areas and the food resources available to them within families and schools. The results also suggest that serving hot meals in primary schools in needy areas is appropriate, as poor nutrition among children has negative effects on the educational process and on their long-term development. The conclusions of this paper lead to managerial implications for policymakers wishing to assess the impact of projects employed in schools financed by national and EU funds.


The combination of the field of architecture and currently available multi-user technology could be considered as an ideal testbed for designing the vision of shared cyberspaces. A concrete CAAD course is described to demonstrate how architectural knowledge is used to create a virtual exhibition inside an online, three-dimensional, avatar-based environment. Furthermore, the theme 'Recombinant Realities' is proposed by fabric | ch [1] as an imaginative layer that tries to connect and elaborate the various ideas proposed by the different student groups. This concept represents a hybrid and mutated reality, as it suggests that real and virtual environments can be ultimately connected and mixed. Additionally, some issues dealing with the technical implementation and the remote collaboration process involved are explained. As a result, the created electronic world itself proves how both artistic and academic domains can merge their conceptual ideas into a creative and educational course.


Pigs that survive after infection with African swine fever virus are resistant to reinfection with seroimmunotype-homologous virulent isolates, indicating an immune protection development. Nevertheless, the points regarding the protective importance of various immune mechanisms at African swine fever still remain controversial. Peripheral blood leukocyte cultures prepared from both intact or vaccinated pigs were used as models of implemented virus-specific reactions in vivo. The maximum amount of ASF virus was determined in the cultures with adherent cells from intact or immunized gilt, non-adherent white blood cells and the serum of an intact animal. Replacement of non-adherent cells from intact gilt by those from the immunized one led to a significant decrease in ASF virus titres. It was shown that combination of A-cells from intact or immunized gilt, non-adherent cells from the intact animal and the serum from immunized animal limited the viral propagation more strictly, under the replacement of non-adherent cells from the intact gilt by those from the immunized animal at the most. The results determine the role of cellular and humoral immunity in limiting African swine fever virus replication. The protection mechanisms mediated by cytotoxic T lymphocytes and antibody-mediated cellular anti-effectors are found to have an integrated effect, suggesting their targeting against different epitopes.


The amputation surface of toes of adult mice was treated by repeated skin removal and exposure to a saturated solution of NaCl. Histological examination of treated appendages revealed the presence of wound epithelium, numerous irregularly oriented subepithelial cells, many of which were mitotically active as indicated by [3H] thymidine uptake, and a remodeled viable bone adjacent to subepithelial cells. Thus, tissues at the amputation site of mammals can resemble comparable tissues of newt limb stumps at an early stage of regeneration. Complete blastema formation was not achieved, however.


by eventual starvation as a result of decreasing membrane permeability. In addition to surgery, current cancer treatment involves the use of either alkylating or oxidizing agents. However, these have not been proven to be very successful and have many side-effects, such as clotting defects, immunosuppression, an increased metastasis rate, and the induction of cancer in normal cells. There is evidence that these effects are SH-dependent, and are regulated by the A-M system. On the other hand, it is possible that better results could be obtained with fewer side-effects by using reducing agents, such as Vitamin A and SH compounds (for the use of which supporting experimental evidence already exists':"), Krebs cycle intermediaries, ATP or other antioxidants, and magnesium. The results of treatment with reducing agents might be improved by local reduction of tumour size and alterations in its environment (either by chemical or physical methods), and by simultaneous and posttreatment manipulation of the diet, for example, by increasing the intake of foods which contain magnesium and antioxidants, and decreasing the intake of foods with a high oxidant content.


In order to study the pathogenesis of short stature in some of the best known and most frequent dysmorphic syndromes, we have reviewed the most significant studies conducted on somatrotropin secretion and on response to replacement treatment with human growth hormone in pediatric patients. In particular, the study examines the results presented in the literature, and in a few of our cases, those obtained with regard to Noonan, Silver-Russell and Prader-Willi syndrome patients, to achondroplasia and hypochondroplasia patients, and to Down syndrome patients. Finally, we shall present a review of a few, less frequent dysmorphic syndromes with short stature, in which a growth hormone deficiency has been diagnosed and replacement treatment attempted.


Abstract:The first two transports of Hungarian Jews arrived in Auschwitz-Birkenau in May 1944. The extermination camp was located within range of the Allies' bomber aircraft, leading to demands to bomb the site. The fact that the extermination camp was never bombed, along with the dramatic impact of the murder of Hungary's Jews during the final stages of World War II, has turned the failure to bomb Auschwitz-Birkenau into a symbol of the powerlessness of the free world and of Jewish leadership to rescue the Jews of Europe. This essay presents a new approach to this episode, based on documents in the archives of American Jewish activists involved in the issue of the bombing of the camp—above all, Leon Kubowitzki, who headed the World Jewish Congress's Rescue Department. From the documents, we learn that leading figures in the Jewish and Zionist leadership asked that the U.S. administration not bomb Auschwitz, preferring other forms of military action by partisans or paratroopers against the camp. While a number of scholars have noted this position of the WJC, most treat it as peripheral. Contrary to the commonly accepted scholarly belief, the course of action taken by U.S. Jewish leaders was a significant strategic political step designed to damage the capability of the extermination camp by means other than bombing.


Using the fully cavariant form of the Dirac spinors and matrices in the null tetrad formalism, we obtain compact express ion s for the structure cquations and Bianchi idcntitics in Ricmannian spaces. Dirac spin coefficients, connections and curvaturc terms are prcsented in detail. Thc formalism yields a direct separation of the connection coefficicnts and !Uemann tensor betwcen selfdual and antiselfdual parts. The relation with Yang-Mills fields bccomes explicit. rACS: 04.20.Cv 1. INTRODUCTlON Spinor calculus has proved to be an extremely useful mathematical tool in general rclativity. The basic ingredients are the spin coefficients which transform according to the irreducible representations of the SL(2, C) group. These coefficients Can be expres.ed most naturally in terms of the components of tensorial objects related to a null tetrad basis. Several versions of this formalism have appeared in the literature since the original work of Newman and Pemose [1-4J. The most basic spinors in the null tetrad formulation of general relativity are two-component spinors which transform according to the DO,O) or D(O, t) representations of SL(2, C). On the other hand, the Dirac spinors which describe spin 1/2 partides are four-component spinors; strictly speaking, they are pairs of D(t,O) and D(O, t) two-component spinors. It is possible to express the Dirac equation in a generally covariant form [5J, valid in curved space [6-7J. Furthermore, several authors have studied the formuiation of Dirac's equation and "1 matrices directly in the null tetrad formalism, mainly in connection with supergravity [8-IOJ_ A particularly compact version of the null tetrad formalism, based on the formulation of Ref. [3], was developed by Plebanski [4J. The purpose of the present paper is to formulate the basic equations of general rclativity in terms of Dirac spinors and matrices in Plebanski's formalism, and to obtain a new representation of the curvature tensor and its related equations. Previous authors [8-9] have obtained explicit forms for the connection coefficients in terms of the Newman-Penrose coefficients, but, as far as we are a.ware of, the curvaturc tensor has not b('cn givcn


The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has published documents regulating the measures aimed to increase the intensity of flights. It is supposed to introduce qualitatively new principles of air traffic management based on the technical achievements in the field of communication, navigation and surveillance. The existing dispatching service technology is based on the principle of regulating the flow of aircraft through the feedback mechanism. The plan of the airspace utilization is used as the model for the management process. Deviations in the measurand of the aircraft movement from the calculated values can create prerequisites for potentially conflict situations and require the intervention of air traffic controller. The adjustment tool is a new distribution of the aircraft in their place, time and height. Following the instructions of the dispatcher, the pilot either proceeds to the bypass route, or changes either the altitude or speed. Minimal interference in the actions of the pilot is one of the criteria for assessing the controller's work. The essence of ICAO's proposals is in the transition from the "tracking" system which responds to the deviations from the balanced model to the control system which predicts the tendencies to changing the air situation in real time. In order to realize this intention, every ground center and every crew should have consistent information about the real situation in the air and its development, so that each new intention (decision) is modeled, agreed on by the colleagues and fixed in flight plans. To reach the success in co-regulation of the situation it is important to have computer support in the field of aeronautical maintenance of decision-making, as well as high-speed algorithms for assessing the current parameters of the air traffic servicing process, such as handling capacity of aerodromes and terminals related to the changes being prepared. The article discusses the dynamic model of collective formation and flow maintenance using system-wide information. The model is built as a multi-channel system with priorities. Analytical estimates of the throughput are given. Criteria for the assessment are the indicators of the probability of failure and the average waiting time for maintenance by controller (refuses include the direction of the aircraft to the alternate aerodrome, repeated circle of landing, delayed departure, etc.). The proposed formulae are confirmed by the results of simulation computer experiments and statistical modeling.


Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the most common form of cardiomyopathy and one of the most common causes of heart failure. TTN-truncating variants represent the most common cause of DCM. Similarly, among other prevalent DCM-causing genes, truncating variants were also frequently detected in BAG3, DSP, FLNC, and LMNA. For these four genes, the current study aims to determine the prevalence of deep intronic pathogenic variants that could lead to splice defects. A next-generation sequencing (NGS) workflow based on whole gene sequencing of BAG3, DSP, FLNC, and LMNA of a cohort of 95 DCM patients, for whom no putatively causative point mutations were identified after NGS of a panel of 48 cardiomyopathy-causing genes, was thus performed. Our approach did not lead us to reconsider the molecular diagnosis of any patient of the cohort. This study suggests that deep splice mutations do not account for a significant proportion of DCM cases. In contrast with MYBPC3 in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy cases, NGS of BAG3, DSP, FLNC, and LMNA whole intronic sequences would not significantly improve the efficiency of molecular diagnosis of DCM probands.


Seasonal diversity and distribution of seven benthic foraminiferal species belonging to six families in association with the marine sponge Liosina paradoxa attached to pneumatophores of the mangrove Avicennia marina were documented at four sampling stations (St1–St4), Sandspit backwaters, Karachi coast during 2013. The calcareous species Ammonia sp. and Quinqueloculina laevigata were recorded at all stations in different seasons whereas the agglutinated species Ammotium cassis and Rotaliammina squamiformis were the most dominant species throughout the study. During the study period, water temperature ranged between 22.5–30.3°C, salinity ranged from 35–40, dissolved oxygen ranged from 0.11–3.45 mg L−1, and pH ranged from 7.15–7.69. The maximum relative abundance (45.65%) of foraminiferal species occurred at St2 from an exposed area while minimum relative abundances (13.04%) were recorded at St3 in sheltered areas. A K-dominance curve showed that highest frequency values in species were observed in the post-monsoon season as compared to the monsoon season. The present study is the first to report the foraminiferal assemblages associated with a marine sponge (Liosina paradoxa) from the mangrove habitat at Sandspit backwaters, Karachi.


In order to solve the problem caused by heterogeneous data communication and non-uniform data specification in energy data acquisition, an energy data acquisition gateway based on OPC UA (OPC unified architecture) technology which supports three protocols of ZigBee, BACnet/IP and KNX is proposed and designed. The IMX287 ARM9 microprocessor and embedded Linux operation system are adopted as the hardware and software platform in this gateway. Also the application, hardware framework and software function framework of multi-protocol gateway are illustrated and the configuration of the gateway is performed based on the embedded Web server. Finally, the standard OPC UA energy data server has been developed. It is proved in practice that the energy data acquisition gateway based on OPC UA can support the conversion from different fieldbus protocols to OPC UA data model, providing a unified data access interface and addressing the heterogeneous communication network.


A case of intersigmoid hernia, personally observed is described, The various aspects of this pathology are examined and the imprecise clinical picture as well as the anatomical and diagnostic aspects and surgical techniques are underlined. The conclusion is drawn that a preoperative diagnosis is not easy and the importance of enteroclysma and TAC to prove the presence of hernia is underlined.


Lively thought can be developed in various ways. Examples are given here showing how episodes from Michael Faraday's work used in Physics classes affected pupil thinking. Some observations on the connection between feelings and conceptual learning are discussed.


To identify factors that influence the clinical response to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), we studied the correlation between in vitro sensitivity to 5-FU and the expression of seven biological markers. The markers, thymidylate synthase (TS), dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD), pyrimidine nucleoside phosphorylase, p53 (wild/mutant), p21, cyclo-oxygenase-2, and inducible nitric oxide synthase were measured in tumour tissues from 32 colorectal cancer patients. The activities of TS and DPD were significantly lower in the tumours sensitive to 5-FU compared with those that were not sensitive to 5-FU. In tumours with TS < 3.7 pmol/min per mg protein and DPD < 98 pmol/min per mg protein, the percentage of cases sensitive to 5-FU (67%) and the mean percentage inhibition of tumour cells by 5-FU (42.8%) were significantly higher than in the other tumours (0% and 13.1%, respectively). The other biological markers did not correlate with in vitro sensitivity to 5-FU. Tumour sensitivity to 5-FU can be more precisely predicted by taking the activities of both TS and DPD into consideration than by using either alone.


OBJECTIVES
To understand how upper extremity disorders related to computer use affect graduate and undergraduate university students; and, to develop hypotheses for prevention and management of these disorders.

METHODS
Focus group discussions concerning upper extremity disorders were conducted among sixteen symptomatic undergraduate and graduate students at a private university in the US. Discussions were tape recorded, transcribed, coded for themes, and analyzed qualitatively.

RESULTS
The findings point to four main themes: 1). the essential role of computers in academic, social, and personal activities; 2). the negative impact of upper extremity disorders on students' physical and emotional well-being, including their career aspirations; 3). students' expectations and perceptions of medical care providers; and 4). recommendations for interventions.

CONCLUSION
Students with upper extremity disorders experience numerous adverse consequences on a college campus. Effective strategies for prevention, and treatment of upper extremity disorders in young adults in universities are needed. Based on this research, an educational and skills development intervention would appear to be appropriate for preventing disability due to upper extremity disorders.


This study examined the changes in age at first oestrus, the weaning-to-oestrus interval (WEI), and duration of oestrus (DE) in a Yorkshire sow population during two years of adaptation from a northern (55°48′N, 9°13′W) European region to a southern (44°03′N, 23°35′W) one. The adaptation process induced a grouping effect of gilts around the mean age of the onset of puberty. Autumn and spring were characterized by the most enhanced gilt grouping effect at 201 to 210 days of age. The same effect was found for oestrus duration, which declined from a 12- to 96-hour range in the first year to an 18- to 90-hour range in the second year. The mean age of first oestrus was 0.8 days significantly lower in the second year compared with the first; the maximal lowering (1.7 days) occurred in the winter season. The WEI decreased significantly from the first to the second year in all four seasons, by a mean annual value of 0.88 days (15.9%). DE increased by 6.5 hours (significantly for all seasons) from the first year to the next. DE showed an ascending evolution from winter to spring and descending from summer to autumn, during each monitored year. Adaptation influences the oestrus in sows. The age to puberty and WEI tended to decrease, while DE tended to increase, with a simultaneous decrease in the variability of these oestrus parameters.


Thirty-eight crossbred steers were used to evaluate effects of nutritional regime (grass-, short-, long-, and forage-fed) and post-slaughter chilling (3 C) and conditioning temperature (13 C) on carcass psychrotrophic and mesophilic bacterial counts. Inside chucks from right halves of carcasses chilled at 3 C for 48 h were used to evaluate effects of nutritional regime and vacuum packaging on total aerobic and anaerobic bacterial counts. Psychrotrophic and mesophilic mean bacterial counts tended to decrease from 1 to 46 h postmortem regardless of temperature treatment. At 46 h postmortem, the forage-fed group mean psychrotrophic count was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than that for any of the other feeding regimes. Mesophilic mean counts were significantly different (P < 0.05) at 46 h postmortem (grass-fed >short-fed >long-fed > forage-fed). Carcass halves chilled at 3 C for 46 h had lower total psychrotrophic and mesophilic mean bacterial counts than did corresponding halves conditioned at 13 C for 8 h then chilled at 3 C for 38 h. Total aerobic and anaerobic counts tended to remain constant or decrease slightly during vacuum storage for 21 days at 0 to 1 C. Both aerobic and anaerobic counts on vacuum-stored cuts from carcasses of grass-fed steers were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than other feeding-regime means. Aerobic and anaerobic counts on vacuum-stored cuts from carcasses of short-, long-, and forage-fed steers were statistically similar. All carcass and inside-chuck bacterial counts were well within acceptable limits. Scalpel-template sampling was considered to be a significant improvement over previously used methods.


Our recollections of past experiences can vary both in the number of specific event details accessible from memory and the precision with which such details are reconstructed. Prior neuroimaging evidence suggests the success and precision of episodic recollection to rely on distinct neural substrates during memory retrieval. In contrast, the specific encoding mechanisms supporting later memory precision, and whether they differ from those underlying successful memory formation in general, are currently unknown. Here, we combined continuous measures of memory retrieval with model-based analyses of behavioural and neuroimaging data to tease apart the encoding correlates of successful memory formation and mnemonic precision. In the MRI scanner, participants encoded object-scene displays, and later reconstructed features of studied objects using a continuous scale. We observed overlapping encoding activity in inferior prefrontal and posterior perceptual regions to predict both which object features were later remembered versus forgotten, and the precision with which they were reconstructed from memory. In contrast, hippocampal encoding activity significantly predicted the precision, but not overall success, of subsequent memory retrieval. The current results identify a hippocampal-cortical encoding basis for episodic memory precision, and suggest a contribution of shared cortical encoding mechanisms to the formation of both accessible and precise memory representations.


In this paper we describe a basis for a system that is able to compute actual scientific and realistic visualization methods in parallel. It is capable to integrate easily in modern VR renderers like for example Open Inventor [SGIa], Coin [Coi] and OpenSG [Vos02]. Our approach is advantageous for processing large datasets which usually are the result of physically based simulation algorithms and programs. Using our techniques it is even more feasible to manage similar visualization problems for other large amounts of data (e.g. medicinal CT-scans or large geometries) in the context of displaying interactively.


YBa2Cu3Oy (YBCO) foam samples show an open, porous foam structure, which may have benefits for many applications of high-Tc superconductors. As the basic material of these foams is a pseudo-single crystalline material with the directional growth initiated by a seed crystal similar to standard melt-textured samples, the achieved texture of the YBCO is a very important parameter. We analyzed the local texture and grain orientation of the individual struts forming the foam by means of atomic force microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). Furthermore, the magnetic properties of a foam strut are evaluated by means of SQUID measurements, from which the flux pinning forces were determined. A scaling of the pinning forces in the temperature range between 60 K and 85 K was performed. These data and the details of the microstructure are compared to IG-processed, bulk material.


Aiming to establish the quality of service indicators and performance analysis for medical tourism industry, five dimensions of quality of service and 31 indicators for medical tourism are constructed through literature review and in-depth interviews with business representatives, experts, administrative organizations, and consumers. The consumer expectation and perception of medical tourism industry are collected and analyzed with artificial neural network and Mahalanobis Distance. The key improvement directions in the quality of service for medical tourism industry are sequenced as Service companies or hospitals present relevant certificates and certification, Appropriately keep secret of patients' medical records, Service providers (travel agents, treatment planners) can understand customer demands, Travel agents should present medical knowledge to provide customers with correct information, and Service providers (travel agents, treatment planners) could design a standard service procedure according to customer demands. The research results could provide the government, industry, and universities with reference of decision-making for medical tourism. © Kamla-Raj 2014 Ethno Med, 8(1): 23-31 (2014)


Preleukemic syndromes are a group of acquired bone-marrow disorders characterized by dysplastic maturation of hematopoietic cells and peripheral-blood cytopenias. Although the clinical course is variable, most patients succumb to hemorrhage, infection, or acute leukemia. These syndromes are generally considered untreatable. We administered low doses of cytarabine by continuous intravenous infusion for 7 to 21 days in eight patients with preleukemia or with preleukemia in evolution to acute leukemia. Eight of 13 courses were associated with marked increases in peripheral-blood granulocyte, platelet, and red-cell counts, with the result that six of the eight patients needed no transfusions for 2 to over 14 months. These preliminary results demonstrate that continuous infusion of low-dose cytarabine can offer patients with preleukemic syndromes hematologic improvement with limited toxicity.


Practice-based research is extending understanding in the disciplines of strategy and project management, in part as a result of strong advocacy of research from 'strategy-as-practice' and 'projects-as-practice' perspectives. Such perspectives provide holistic contextual information and reveal the evolutionary and responsive nature of project and strategy processes. As environments shift and become more complex, dynamic capabilities are required for projects to flourish. Normative project management approaches are being challenged and practicebased project portfolio management (PPM) research is emerging. Increasingly, PPM defines the space between strategy and project management, with a key project focus on temporality. There is a need for further development and encouragement of practice-based approaches in PPM research that are alert to the becoming of projects as spatial manifestations that unfold in (different conceptions of) time. We identify three themes in project and portfolio management research that employ practice-based and strategically anchored perspectives. We illustrate the trajectory of early work on strategy and the front end of projects through to the development and application of increasingly sophisticated theoretical perspectives in project portfolio management (PPM) research. The dynamic capabilities perspective is shown to provide a strong theoretical foundation for investigating PPM and its role in implementing and informing strategy through projects. Theoretically grounded and practice-based research represents the interplay between structure and practice, with these reciprocally and recursively shaping each other over time. Building on these examples we call for practicebased research in PPM, and we suggest a convergence of strategy-as-practice perspectives and practice-based PPM research.


The major cauise of morbidity in insulin-dependent diabetic patients is vascular complications-particularly microangiopathy, as reflected by retinopathy and nephropathy. The factors influencing the development of these complications remain poorly understood. Studies in diabetic identical twins have suggested that genetic factors may have a role not only in the liability to diabetes but also in the likelihood of diabetics developing retinopathy.1 The pattern of HLA antigens is genetically determined and an association between the HLA pattern and several diseases, including insulin-dependent diabetes, has been well established. This investigation aimed at seeking an association between the HLA pattern and liability to or protection from severe diabetic retinopathy in insulin-dependent diabetic patients. Because of a recent report in abstract form,2 we directed our attention to the antigens HLA-A1 and HLA-B8.


Context: The tooth alignment and leveling constitute the preliminary clinical phase of any orthodontic procedure with fixed appliances. It has been accepted in orthodontics the principle that light and continuous forces would be desirable for physiologic and controlled tooth movement. For this purpose, it has been suggested that nickel-titanium (NiTi) archwires which offer a force-bending curve with a defined baseline and a larger activation range should be used Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the force versus deflection properties of different brands of NiTi wires available in market. Settings and Design: Null hypothesis. There is no difference in force-deflection properties between different brands of same dimension NiTi archwires available in market. A cross-sectional study design was planned. Subjects and Methods: Different companies were identified producing their own version or marketing NiTi archwires of the following sizes: 0.016 inch round and 0.016 × 0.022 inch rectangular were selected because all companies produced or marketed these particular sizes, and in addition, these were selected because these wire sizes are commonly used clinically. The three-point bend test was utilized to test the various wires in accordance with the ISO 15841 standard for orthodontic wires with the exception that the bottom support span was 16 mm rather than 10 mm due to fixture limitations. Statistical Analysis Used: Data obtained from different brands of wires available in the Indian market Ormco, American Orthodontics, Ortho Organizers, Rocky Mountain Orthodontics 3M and MO which are manufactured in U.S.A,While as Natural, Orthomatix, JJ Orthodontics, Koden, Gdc, Rabbit force, and Optima are manufactered in china. and size 0.016 inch round wire and 0.16x0.022 inch rectangular wires were compared using ANOVA test.Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 2.1. Results: In this study, the data show that minimum force during activation of 0.016 inch round wire at 1 mm was 95 ± 10 g whereas maximum was 165 ± 10 g with a difference of 70 ± 20 g. Whereas at 3 mm activation, minimum force generated was 150 ± 10 g and maximum was 225 ± 10 g with a difference of 75 ± 20 g. In 0.016 × 0.022 inch rectangular wire, minimum activation force at 1 mm deflection was 210 ± 10, whereas maximum was 340 ± 10 with a difference of 130 ± 20 g. For deactivation, the minimum force for 0.016 wire at 1 mm deflection was 40 ± 10, whereas maximum force was 125 ± 10 with a difference of 85 ± 20 g, and for the 0.016 × 0.022 wire, the minimum load at 1 mm deflection was 150 ± 10 g, whereas the maximum was 295 ± 10 g with a difference of 145 ± 20 g. The deactivation force in majority of brands (8) at 1 mm deflection was <80 g whereas at 3 mm, majority brands have force levels >150–195 g. The deactivation force at 3 mm deflection in five brands was between 235 and 335 and five other brands between 335 and 445 whereas at 1 mm, deflection majority of brands was between 170 and 200 g. Conclusion: From this data, a comparative evaluation shows that there is a huge difference in force-deflection properties of same dimension wire from different brands, which means that its making the orthodontic treatment more indeterminate; some wires have shown less and some have shown more force.Wires of the same materials, dimensions, but from different manufacturers do not always have the same mechanical properties. There are significant differences in the activation and deactivation forces among the different manufacturers of NiTi archwires. Improvements should be made in the standardization of the manufacturing testing process of NiTi archwires to provide orthodontists with NiTi archwires that have consistent mechanical properties despite the manufacturing brand that produces them.


Methods to calculate the refractive properties of solutions at different wavelengths are described by using experimental data at just two wavelengths. The properties are the refractive index and its gradients with temperature and concentration. Cauchy's equation is used to determine the refractive indices. The gradients versus temperature and concentration are then determined by using the Murphy-Alpert and the Lorentz-Lorenz equation, respectively. Finally, the particular case of a triglycine sulfate aqueous solution is considered as an example. The approach should provide the desired information for fringe analysis when dual-wavelength holographic or other interferometry is used for solving heat and mass transfer problems in fluids during crystal-growth experiments.


Neutrinos interact with matter only through weak processes with low cross-section. To detect cosmic neutrinos most efforts have relied on the detection of visible Vavilov-Cerenkov light in detectors embedded in the target volumes. To access the decreasing flux of ultra-high energy neutrinos, far above 1 PeV, ideas on how to increase the detection volume by observing coherent radio frequency emission caused by the Askaryan effect have been put forward. Here we describe how a satellite in lunar orbit equipped with an electromagnetic vector sensor could detect Askaryan pulses induced by neutrinos interacting with the moon. The threshold neutrino energy is found to be 50 EeV for this setup, and the sensitivity is determined from simulations. A model dependent event rate of 2.2 events per year is calculated.


In this paper, we propose an automatic fluency evaluation algorithm for English speaking tests. In the proposed algorithm, acoustic features are extracted from an input spoken utterance and then fluency score is computed by using support vector regression (SVR). We estimate the parameters of feature modeling and SVR using the speech signals and the corresponding scores by human raters. From the correlation analysis results, it is shown that speech rate, articulation rate, and mean length of runs are best for fluency evaluation. Experimental results show that the correlation between the human score and the SVR score is 0.87 for 3 speaking tests, which suggests the possibility of the proposed algorithm as a secondary fluency evaluation tool.


We use a TVP-VAR model to investigate possible changes in the time series properties of key Norwegian macroeconomic variables since the 1980s. The sample period is characterised by deregulation, globalization, sizable petroleum revenues, a switch from exchange rate to infl?ation targeting and adoption of a policy rule for the use of petroleum revenues.We fi?nd that the long-run means of CPI and core in?flation rates declined signifi?cantly until the mid-1990s and have since then remained close to the ifln?ation target of 2.5% from 2001 onwards. The persistence in especially CPI infl?ation has fallen during the infl?ation targeting period while the volatility of both infl?ation rates and the nominal effective exchange rate has increased. We document an increase in the correlations between money market rates and the in?flation rates as well as the output gap during the in?flation targeting period and a steady decline towards zero in the correlations between money market rates and nominal exchange rate changes. There is evidence of an increase in the correlations between oil prices and the other macroeconomic variables over time. Our counterfactual analysis suggests oil shocks to have been important for output gap and in?flation volatility while monetary policy shocks have been important for driving infl?ation persistence and the correlation of money market rates with macroeconomic variables.


Although there is growing interest in the use of physical testbeds to evaluate the performance of applications and protocols for sensor platforms, such studies also encounter significant challenges that include the lack of scalability and repeatability, as well as the inability to represent a diverse set of operational scenarios. On the other hand, simulators can typically address the preceding problems but often lack the high degree of fidelity available to the analysts with physical testbeds. In this paper, we present the design and implementation of sQualNet an accurate and scalable evaluation framework for sensor networks that effectively addresses the preceding challenges. In particular, sQualNet integrates sensor network operating systems with a very high-fidelity simulation of wireless networks such that sensor network applications and protocols can be executed, without modifications, in a repeatable manner under a diverse set of scalable environments. sQualNet extends beyond the existing suite of simulators and emulators in four key aspects: first it supports emulation of sensor network applications and protocols in an efficient and flexible manner; second, it provides an efficient set of models of diverse sensing phenomena; third, it provides accurate models of both battery power and clock drift effect which have been shown to have a significant impact on sensor network studies; and finally it provides an efficient kernel that allows it to run experiments that provide substantial scalability in both the spatial and temporal contexts. We demonstrate these advantages, both qualitatively and quantitatively, by means of various case studies including a study that evaluates an experiment with up to 1000 nodes running networking application like Surge faster than real time.


Date: 1,2 December 2010 Venue: UCD Conway Institute Lecture Theatre Wednesday, 1 December (09:30–16:20) Session Chair: Dr Shane Duggan, TCD 0930 RNA detection and quantitation Dr Shane Duggan, TCD 1010 Differential gene expression: overview of relevant methods Dr Karen Power, UCD 1050 Coffee/Tea 1120 Polymorphism association with disease Prof. Denis Shields, UCD 1200 Model organisms Dr Alison Reynolds, UCD 1240 Lunch break Session Chair: Dr Ross McManus, TCD 1320 DNA cloning strategies Dr Ross McManus, TCD 1400 Imaging using Fluorescent/Confocal Microscopy Dr Gavin McManus, TCD 1440 Coffee/Tea 1500 RNA interference Dr Stephen Maher, TCD 1540 Systems Biology Approaches to Understanding Mammalian Signal Transduction Dr Marc Birtwistle, UCD


REPORT OF A CASE A 40-year-old homosexual man was referred to the dermatology department because of a widespread eruption that had appeared 4 weeks before and that had spread rapidly. The lesions were not pruritic and he was otherwise well. He denied any sexual activity for 4 years. Examination showed several dark-purple, smooth surfaced, nontender, grouped nodules and plaques on the arm, wrists, and knees (Figs 1 and 2) and isolated papules on the shaft of the penis. The lesions ranged from 0.5 to 3 cm in diameter. No mucosal lesions or lymphadenopathy was seen. The rest of the examination showed normal findings. A skin biopsy specimen was obtained from one of the nodules (Fig 3). What is your diagnosis? DIAGNOSIS: Secondary syphilis. HISTOPATHOLOGIC FINDINGS The biopsy specimen showed a dense inflammatory infiltrate in the middermis and the upper dermis with several mononuclear cells