Growth factor-independent proliferation and loss of response to differentiation factors are believed to be critical elements in carcinogenesis. We have developed an in vitro model of human prostatic carcinogenesis by the introduction of SV40 DNA into normal prostatic epithelial cells to create a transformed, immortal cell line, pRNS-1-1. This non-tumorigenic cell line responded similarly to normal prostatic epithelial cells to most growth- and differentiation-regulatory factors, with the notable exception of loss of response to the inhibitory factor 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. In this study, we describe the introduction of the ras oncogene into pRNS-1-1 cells to create a tumorigenic cell line, pRNS-1-1/ras. In addition to an attenuated response to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, these cells also became unresponsive to retinoic acid and gained the ability to undergo clonal proliferation in the absence of epidermal growth factor (EGF). EGF-independent growth could not be linked to the production of autocrine transforming growth factor-alpha, but instead was likely due to sustained signaling by the ras oncogene, bypassing ligand-activation of the EGF receptor. Ligand-independent proliferation, coupled with the loss of response to the growth-inhibitory and differentiation agent retinoic acid, may be important elements in the conversion of human prostatic epithelial cells to tumorigenicity.


Some arguments are probably valid: Syllogistic reasoning as communication Michael Tessler, Noah D. Goodman {mtessler, email@example.com Department of Psychology, Stanford University Abstract Syllogistic reasoning lies at the intriguing intersection of natu- ral and formal reasoning, of language and logic. Syllogisms comprise a formal system of reasoning yet use natural lan- guage quantifiers, and invite natural language conclusions. How can we make sense of the interplay between logic and language? We develop a computational-level theory that con- siders reasoning over concrete situations, constructed proba- bilistically by sampling. The base model can be enriched to consider the pragmatics of natural language arguments. The model predictions are compared with behavioral data from a recent meta-analysis. The flexibility of the model is then ex- plored in a data set of syllogisms using the generalized quan- tifiers most and few. We conclude by relating our model to two extant theories of syllogistic reasoning – Mental Models and Probability Heuristics. Keywords: Reasoning; language; QUD; Bayesian model Figure 1: How will the reasoner interpret the experimenter's argument? Consider for a moment that your friend tells you: "Every- one in my office has the flu and, you know, some people with this flu are out for weeks." Do you respond with "Everyone in your office has the flu." Do you respond with "Pardon me, there is no inference I can draw from what you just said." Or do you respond "I hope your officemates are not out for weeks and I hope you don't get sick either." The first response – while true – does not go beyond the premises; the second response attempts to go beyond the premises by strict classical logic, and fails; the final response goes beyond the premises, to offer a conclusion which is probably useful and probably true. This cartoon illustrates a critical dimension along which cognitive theories of reason- ing differ: whether the core and ideal of reasoning is deduc- tive validity or probabilistic support. A separate dimension concerns the extent to which principles of natural language— pragmatics and semantics—are necessary for understanding reasoning tasks. In this paper, we explore the idea that the formalism of probabilistic pragmatics can provide insight into how people reason with syllogisms. The form of the argument above resembles a syllogism: a two-sentence argument used to relate two properties (or terms: A, C) via a middle term (B); the relations used in syl- logisms are quantifiers. Fit into a formal syllogistic form, this argument would read: All officemates are out with the flu Some out with the flu are out for weeks Therefore, some officemates are out for weeks The full space of syllogistic arguments is derived by shuffling the ordering of the terms in a sentence ("All A are B" vs. "All B are A") and changing the quantifier (all, some, none, not all 1 ). Most syllogisms have no valid conclusion, i.e. there 1 For distinctiveness, we will refer to the quantifiers as such. Note is no relation between A & C which is true in every situa- tion in which the premises are true. This is the case with the argument above. Often in these cases, however, people are perfectly comfortable drawing some conclusion. A recent meta-analysis of syllogistic reasoning showed that over the population, the proper production of no valid conclusion re- sponses for invalid arguments ranged from 76% to 12%. For valid arguments, the accuracy of producing valid conclusions ranged from 90% to 1% (Khemlani & Johnson-Laird, 2012): people do not seem to find drawing deductively valid conclu- sions particularly natural. Perhaps because of this divergence between human behav- ior and deductive logic, syllogistic reasoning has been a topic of interest in cognitive psychology for over a hundred years (St¨orring, 1908), and before that in philosophy, dating back to Aristotle. Syllogisms are undoubtedly logical; indeed, the syllogistic form was the only formal system of logic for mil- lennia. At the same time, the arguments use natural language quantifiers and invite natural language conclusions; precisely pinning down the meaning and use of quantifiers has been an ongoing area of inquiry since Aristotle (e.g. Horn, 1989). Many theories of syllogistic reasoning take deduction as a given and try to explain reasoning errors as a matter of noise during cognition. Errors, then, may arise from im- proper use of deductive rules or biased construction of log- ical models. Many other kinds of reasoning, however, can be well-explained as probabilistic inference under uncertainty. Probability theory provides a natural description of a world in which you don't know exactly how many people are in the that in sentence-form, the last two quantifiers are typically presented as "No A are B" and "Some A are not B", respectively.


Enhancing the output performance of nanogenerators using composite films consisting of a piezoelectric material embedded into polymers has gained much attention over the last few years. Such composite films can provide a high surface charge density and dielectric permittivity, which can further efficiently enhance the performance of nanogenerators. We, for the first time, employed aluminum (Al)-doped barium titanate (BaTiO3; ABTO) particles to enhance the performance of nanogenerators. These ABTO particles were synthesized via a solid-state technique, and the effect of Al dopant concentration on their crystallinity and ferroelectric properties was systematically investigated. However, the BTO particles with 2% Al dopant concentration exhibited a high remnant polarization and piezoelectric coefficient, and they were further employed to efficiently enhance the output performance of the hybrid piezo/triboelectric nanogenerators. For this, these ABTO particles were first mixed with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to prepare a composite film. Next, the ABTO/PDMS composite film was employed as a piezoelectric material and triboelectric material of the hybrid nanogenerator (HNG) and exhibited a high output performance owing to their synergetic effects. In addition, the influence of the surface roughness of the composite film on the performance of the HNG was also investigated and optimized. Consequently, the HNG device with the rough surface ABTO/PDMS composite film exhibited maximal open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current, and power density values of ∼945 V, ∼59.8 μA, and ∼42.4 W m−2, respectively. For practical device application, the stable and high electrical power generated from the HNG device was employed to light several light-emitting diodes and power portable electronic devices.


In this paper we present a generic model which evaluates the economic viability of alternative maintenance strategies for differently sized photovoltaic plants with variable components. We thoroughly review the existing literature on reliability, maintenance and maintenance strategies for PV plants. The model is applied to ground-mounted solar PV plants of three different sizes: 1, 10, and 100 MWp. The analysis compares immediate corrective maintenance with maintenance strategies of different periodicity (weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly). Simulations take the driving time of the service team and the operation of a spare parts inventory into account. We further analyze the impact of hourly spot prices in contrast to constant prices (feed-in tariffs). We find that corrective maintenance is the most cost-effective strategy. If the service journey takes six hours instead of one hour, corrective maintenance becomes more expensive than weekly periodic maintenance. For a three-hour journey, the size of the PV plant matters. If corrective maintenance is adopted, the establishing of a spare parts inventory should be considered. When volatile hourly spot prices are considered, we find that opportunity costs are lowest (highest) when service teams operate at 8 pm (8 am), irrespective of the day of the week, whereas maintenance events scheduled for Wednesdays at 8 am or 2 pm are, given current EPEX spot prices, the most cost-effective in terms of total costs.


Television (TV) consumers adore interactivity and personalization. Internet Protocol television (IPTV) systems help satisfy this desire by providing different services including video-on-demand (VoD), network personal video recording (NPVR), and time shift TV (TSTV). However, these services place a heavy traffic load on the network by requiring a unicast video stream for each active customer. This paper discusses means to reduce the network traffic load by introducing storage deep in the network—thus avoiding the need for unicast traffic support over the metro or core network—and algorithms to place content intelligently on those storage devices. An algorithm for intelligent redistribution is described that endeavors to place the most appropriate content close to consumers. The paper discusses further how this new paradigm of network storage can help improve quality of experience for the IPTV consumer and can assist in the deployment of Internet video and sharing of user-generated content (UGC).


Interlocked intramedullary osteosynthesis is the most common method for treating femoral shaft fractures. The aim — to reveal specifi c characteristics of the histostructure of canine femoral muscles when healing femoral fractures under osteosynthesis using interlocking intramedullary reinforcement with an antegrade metal rod. Femoral shaft fractures were modelled in 9 mongrel dogs. The fractures were fi xed with an intramedullary rod. In Group I (n=4), osteosynthesis was started immediately after bone injury. In Group II (n=5), osteosynthesis was started 4 days after fracture (delayed osteosynthesis). M. biceps femoris and M. quadriceps femoris were studied. In Group I and Group II, bone healing occurred following 42 and 70 days, respectively. A unifi ed bone marrow cavity and cortical layer had been formed by day 70 and day 100 in Group I and Group II, respectively. The histostructure of M. quadriceps femoris in Group I remained largely unchanged throughout the experiment, while M. biceps femoris underwent the process of structural reorganization on days 42 and 70 of the experiment. The Group of delayed osteosynthesis demonstrated changes in the histostructure of both muscles, including an increased diversity of fi bre diameters, an increased number of nuclei in myocytes, fi brosis of the interstitial space and perimysial arterial vessels. These changes were more pronounced in M. biceps femoris. Three months after injury, the histostructure of the muscles under study, even in the Group of delayed osteosynthesis, had no signifi cant differences and tended to the intact norm. In femoral fractures, the earliest possible fi xation of bone fragments with an inter locking antegrade intramedullary rod is recommended. A complete bone healing in such cases occurs a month earlier than in those with delayed osteosynthesis. The femoral muscles of the anterior group are injured to a lesser extent than those of the posterior group.


Objectives. To directly measure SARS-CoV-2 infection in diverse schools with either remote or onsite learning. Methods. 4 schools participated. Schools A and B served low-income Hispanic learners, school C special needs, and all three provided predominantly remote instruction. School D served middle and upper-middle income, White learners, with predominantly onsite instruction. 320 learners [10.5+/-2.1(SD); 7-17 y.o.]; 86% had phlebotomy. Testing occurred early in the fall (2020), at lower levels of COVID-19, and 6-8 weeks later during the fall-winter surge (tenfold increase in COVID-19 cases). Results: Nasal RT-qPCR for SARS-CoV-2 and 21 respiratory pathogens was performed. Phlebotomy was obtained for circulating immunity. Face covering and physical distancing fidelity was measured by direct observation. 17 learners were SARS-CoV-2 positive during the surge. School A (97% remote) had the highest infection rate (9/70, 12.9%, p<0.01) and IgG positivity rate (13/70, 18.6%). School D had the lowest infection and IgG positive rate (1/86, 1.2%). Mitigation compliance [physical distancing (mean 87.4%) and face covering (91.3%)] was high at all schools. Learners with documented SARS-CoV-2 infection had neutralizing antibodies (94.7%), broad and robust interferon-gamma T cell responses, reduced frequencies of monocytes, and lower levels of circulating inflammatory mediators. Conclusions: Infection in the schools reflected regional rates rather than remote or onsite learning modalities. Schools can implement successful mitigation strategies across a wide range of income, school-type, and student diversity. Reduced monocyte and immune mediator concentrations coupled with robust humoral and cellular immunity may explain the generally milder symptoms in school-aged children.


The architecture and custom implementation of a grammar processing subsystem for a real-time large-vocabulary continuous speech recognition system using hidden Markov models are described. The prototype has 3000, words and larger vocabularies and higher throughput can be obtained by adding more grammar processors. This subsystem contains two custom VLSI chips that perform the evaluation of starting word probabilities associated with the across-word transitions in the hidden-Markov-model (HMM)-based speech recognition system. This system has a maximum computation rate of 200 MOPS and an I/O bandwidth of 265 MB/s. All circuits were silicon compiled and were working on first silicon. >


By integrating commercial off-the-shelf software, reusable components from other projects, and custom-developed code, the author quickly and cheaply created a flexible and extensible financial risk-management application. He also found that the Nextstep operating system lets users play a more active role in design and development and fosters reuse.<<ETX>>


Magnetic strips aimed at high-frequency carrier-type magnetic field sensors were studied by using various strip widths in a carrier frequency range of gigahertz to obtain conditions for large impedance change. The impedance change was attributed to a magnetic resonance effect. It was shown that DC magnetic field regions at which the maximum change of impedance occur for wide strip elements were closely related to the applied carrier frequencies as expected theoretically. The DC magnetic field for the maximum sensitivity decreased as strips become narrow.


Testing is very important for the validation of software, but tests are all too often developed on an ad hoc basis. Here iwe show a more systematic approach with a basis in structured specifications. The approach will be demonstrated on Sophus, a medium-sized software library developed using (informal) algebraic specifications.


Several recent studies have found a positive, statistically significant correlation between ratification of human rights treaties and respect for human rights. Some commentators have interpreted these results as evidence of the causal effect of international human rights law on human rights outcomes. We revisit this debate and present evidence that for two treaties — the Convention on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women and the Convention Against Torture — these results disappear once time trends are taken into account. Our evidence suggests that recent improvements in human rights are attributable to long running trends that pre-date the emergence of the relevant treaty regimes.


The surgery of hyperparathyroidism can be technically very difficult, even for an experienced surgeon. Until the present decade, preoperative localization procedures were of little help because of poor resolution of imaging modalities, significant morbidity, and the cost of invasive procedures. The efficacy of preoperative high-resolution CT scanning was evaluated in ten patients with primary hyperparathyroidism who had not previously been operated on. Contrast and noncontrast scans were performed on each patient, under the supervision of an experienced radiologist. Surgical findings were the standard against which all CT scans were judged. Each patient was diagnosed as having a single adenoma. Preoperative scans localized eight of ten adenomas for an overall sensitivity of 80 percent. In one patient, the adenoma was incorrectly localized for a specificity of 89 percent. The smallest adenoma correctly localized measured 4×4 mm in its axial dimensions. In addition to shortening operative time, accurate preoperative localization permitted use of unilateral dissection technique. Recent literature has repeatedly proved unilateral dissection superior to bilateral dissection by production of identical cure rates and a 2- to 12-fold decrease in postoperative hypocalcemia. We suggest that CT scanning be considered in the routine preoperative workup of patients who have primary hyperparathyroid disease.


Mitochondria are a major source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and are also the target of cellular ROS. ROS damage to mitochondria leads to dysfunction that further enhances the production of mitochondrial ROS. This feed‐forward vicious cycle between mitochondria and ROS induces cell death. Within a few minutes of radiation exposure, NADPH oxidase is activated to elevate the ROS level. Activated NADPH oxidase might induce the feed‐forward cycle of mitochondria and this is a possible mechanism for cancer cell death induced by heavy ion irradiation. We found that after 4 Gy of 12C6+ ion radiation of HepG2 cells, the NADPH oxidase membrane subunit gp91phox was not involved in enzyme activation through increased expression; however, the subunit p47phox was involved in activation by being translocated to the membrane. 12C6+ ion radiation clearly decreased the ΔΨm of HepG2 cells, increasing mitochondrial DNA damage and inducing cell death. Pretreatment with apocynin (APO, an NADPH oxidase inhibitor) effectively prevented the ΔΨm decrease, mitochondrial DNA damage, and cell death induced by radiation. However, these protective effects were not observed with APO treatment after irradiation exposure. These data demonstrated that NADPH oxidase activation was an initiator in mitochondrial damage. Once mitochondria entered the feed‐forward cycle, cell fate was no longer controlled by NADPH oxidase. Only antioxidants that targeted mitochondria such as MitoQ could break the cycle and release cells from death. J. Cell. Physiol. 229: 100–107, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


ABSTRACT The Bristol Fall Column was constructed to analyse current transported sediments from 62µ to 8 mm. size. This is possible because a large sample is used (at least 50 gms.) which is sedimented in a full tube of 18 inches diameter. Other original features include a new sediment release mechanism. The importance of expressing results in terms of fall velocity is emphasized, and velocities determined for large samples in the new Column are compared with earlier single-sphere results.


This paper explores the definitions of social contract on elderly caregiving among a group of seven Chilean aging experts. The data show that for Chileans, family remains a strong institution that should provide care of its members, with daughters or daughters-in-law being the preferred person to provide care. Also, age segregation, along with the gradual privatization of services such as health care and the pension system, promotes individuality: this can become a problem for future generations because they are no longer concerned with helping others.


The damage produced in crystalline silicon by Ge‐ion implantation at 130 keV is studied as a function of fluence. Rutherford backscattering measurements in channeling configuration and reflectivity measurements in the 1.5–6.5 eV energy range are presented and discussed. The results obtained by both techniques are in agreement on the determination of the amorphization threshold. The dielectric functions, obtained by the Kramers–Kronig analysis and checked through ellipsometric measurements at one selected wavelength, are well reproduced by finite sets of classical harmonic oscillators. It is possible to describe the behavior of the oscillator parameters through analytical functions of a single variable related to the amount of damage. In a representative case, the damage depth profile is obtained after the removal of controlled amounts of silicon by anodic oxidation, and good agreement is found with the Rutherford backscattering results.


Emissions of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxygen, exhaust opacity, and engine performance were measured upon (1) A 1.4 litre turbo charged Elsbett powered Volkswagen Transporter, running on cold pressed, filtered to 25 microns, unprocessed rape seed oil, compared with running on mineral fuel oil. (2) A 2.4 litre naturally aspirated Toyota Dyna, running on rape methyl ester compared with running on mineral fuel oil. Emissions of carbon monoxide were found to be generally higher with the mineral fuel oil (peak value 0.27%) than with the rape methyl ester (peak value 0.25%) used in the Toyota Dyna, however with the Elsbett engined vehicle running on unprocessed rape seed oil the carbon monoxide emissions were significantly higher than that of the mineral fuel oil (peak values of 0.29% and 0.19% respectively). The emissions of carbon dioxide were similar for both vehicles and for both fuels (typically 11% - 14%), whereas oxygen emission was found to be greater with the oil seed rape based fuels (typically 2.5% 3.5%) than with the mineral fuel (typically 0.5% - 2.5%), for both vehicles. Exhaust opacity was found to be significantly greater for the mineral fuel oil (typically 40 - 80 Hartridge smoke units) than the oil seed rape based fuels (typically 20 - 60 Hartridge smoke units), in the case of the Toyota Dyna running on rape methyl ester the exhaust smoke output was approximately half that of the mineral based fuel.


We describe the diagnostic and management dilemmas faced in the case of a thirty-year-old woman without a prior cardiac history, who after a motor vehicle accident, was found to have persistent EKG changes in the inferior leads consistent with an acute injury pattern. The patient was ultimately thought to have trauma and subsequent occlusion of the right coronary artery.


Formation of suburbia is an obvious exposure of urban poverty and forms spontaneously without construction permit and official scheme for civil construction, it is developed by gathering of low income groups and live in low levels of quality and quantity compared to other areas and regions of city and named as non-official residential, spontaneous dwelling and slums, in this areas, due to this fact that humanism is vanished, social deviations grow rapidly and crimes such as burglary, addiction, smuggling, prostitution would extend. Furthermore, development of grounds for activities and extension in narco above and family disorders in suburbia is constructive factor to include social insecurity. This paper aims to assess degrees of social insecurity feeling and dwelling quality in Kashan city. To conduct this, we imply measurement method and 225 residence of Kashan selected by proper cluster sample and by articulated questionnaires data gathered. Validity of consistency and constion of this study determined by Cronbache's alpha for social security construction. Measure of social security feeling due to 12 separate aspects (Life risk, financial, semantic, ethical, cultural, economical, civil, emotional, feelings, occupation, legal and chastity) has been evaluated. According to this study results, there is not any difference in social security feelings and value in assessed regions.


Abstract. Monitoring the evolution of the aerodynamic flow in potentially dangerous conditions is very important to ensure flight safety. Due to the impossibility of experimental study of critical flight conditions in real flights, methods of scaled modeling of flow processes have been developed and are widely used in aerodynamics and hydrodynamics. Aircraft icing is one of the most important processes that pose a threat to flight safety. The presented study is aimed at developing techniques for monitoring of process of aircraft icing and its influence on flow behaviour, that can be used in controlled conditions of aerodynamic/hydrodynamic tube. While available technical means for aerodynamic study does not include the wind tunnel for registration of flow simultaneously with icing process, the proposed framework includes as icing process 3D registration so further modelling this process in a hydrodynamic tube for flow monitoring. The proposed technique includes three phases, that allow to perform comprehensive monitoring of the whole process beginning with 3D registration of ice accretion development and completing with accurate 3D flow evolution monitoring corresponding to icing process.


Therapeutic results were analysed in 50 patients, including 17 with polymyositis (PM) and 30 with dermatomyositis (DM). All patients were treated with prednisone (Encorton, Polfa) and 47% of patients with PM and 73% with DM required combined treatment with prednisone and cytostatic agents, mostly with cyclophosphamide (Endoxan G.D.R.). Long-term treatment monitored with the clinical status led to remissions persisting after treatment discontinuation in 17.6% of PM patients and 24.2% of DM patients. In 64.7% of PM patients and 57.6% of DM patients regression of the clinical signs of the disease was achieved but these patients required further treatment. No information was obtained on 5 cases. Four DM patients died. The cumulative 17-year survival rate of PM patients was 100%, and that of DM patients was 78.8% . In 45 follow-up cases, the mortality was 8.9%. Side effects of the combined treatment included most frequently mucosal candidiasis (22.2%), transient leucopenia (14.8%) and recurrent respiratory tract infections (11.1%). In 5 cases liver biopsy was done and histological examination disclosed moderate fatty, glycogen and vacuolar degeneration of the hepatocytes. The statistical analysis of prognostic factors such as the diagnosis of PM or DM, sex, age at disease onset, disease duration till diagnosis establishing and beginning of treatment, fever, dysphagia, circulatory and respiratory changes, leucocytosis nad ESR at the beginning of the disease showed that sex (female), older age at disease onset and respiratory system changes may be accepted as poor prognosis factors.


ABSTRACT The dice tower, or pyrgus, an ancient device for rolling dice, was an everyday object in the Roman world, but up to now only two towers, from Germany and Egypt, have been found. In re-examining a group of bone box-casings from Richborough Roman Fort, however, the author has found that some of these casings must have belonged to such a tower. This article shows how this dice tower may have been constructed. The author also summarises the literary and artistic evidence for dice towers, and shows how the rosette decoration on this tower links it to the Roman game of Duodecim Scripta.


Experimental data concerning the effects of diagenesis and fossilization on soft-bodied microorganisms (particularly algae preserved in siliceous sediments) have been obtained through systematic monitoring of morphological and organic chemical changes in filamentous blue-green algae ( Lyngbya majuscula , Oscillatoriaceae) during simulated fossilization in synthetic chert. With increasing time and temperature, there were tendencies toward reddening, darkening, and fragmentation of algal filaments, reduction in the size of algal cells and sheaths, destruction of micellar order in sheaths (with consequent loss of bire-fringent character), coalescence of trichomes, and destruction of intracellular components with preferential preservation of sheaths and cell walls. In addition, some algal filaments were damaged by growth of quartz spherulites, producing artifactual morphologies that appear to have natural counterparts in Precambrian fossiliferous cherts. Original algal hydrocarbons, and particularly normal alkanes, were relatively stable, but several previously absent hydrocarbons were produced through decomposition of other organic compounds. Isoprenoid compounds, chlorins, and probably porphyrins were derived from the degradation of algal chlorophyll. The δC 13 PDB value of algal carbon was unaffected in most experiments but decreased by 3‰ under extreme time and temperature conditions. Results of this study suggest trends in the morphological degradation of naturally silicified algae, demonstrate that certain morphologies are artifacts of the silicification process, and suggest possible explanations of observed organic chemical trends in recent and ancient sediments.


Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients are susceptible to hepatitis B infection due to profound immunosuppression and repeated transfusions. However, the comparative effectiveness of hepatitis B vaccination in different phases of chemotherapy has not been studied. Aim: In this comparative interventional study (CTRI/2017/08/009402), vaccination in the induction phase (IP) was compared to that in the maintenance phase (MP). Materials and Methods: The participating ALL patients in both groups (29 per group) were vaccinated with double the dose of hepatitis B vaccine at 0, 1, and 2 months. The proportion of patients with seroprotective anti-hepatitis B surface titers (>10 IU/ml) was compared between the two groups after each dose. Results: The seroprotection rates between both the phases were similar following the first (relative risk [RR] = 4, confidence interval [CI]: 0.47–33.65) and third (RR = 1.4, CI: 0.73-2.84) doses of vaccination, whereas following the second dose of vaccination, the seroprotection rate in IP was significantly higher than that of MP (RR = 1.9, CI: 1.07–3.35). Conclusion: This study concluded that a 0, 1, and 2 schedule of hepatitis B vaccination has similar efficacy in both the IP and the MP of chemotherapy in ALL patients. As the IP has a higher trend of seroprotection rates compared to MP, vaccination in IP followed by revaccination postchemotherapy may be preferred in countries with a high prevalence of hepatitis B infection.


Training mixed-domain translation models is a complex task that demands tailored architec- tures and costly data preparation techniques. In this work, we leverage federated learning (FL) in order to tackle the problem. Our investiga- tion demonstrates that with slight modifications in the training process, neural machine trans- lation (NMT) engines can be easily adapted when an FL-based aggregation is applied to fuse different domains. Experimental results also show that engines built via FL are able to perform on par with state-of-the-art baselines that rely on centralized training techniques.We evaluate our hypothesis in the presence of five datasets with different sizes, from different domains, to translate from German into English and discuss how FL and NMT can mutually benefit from each other. In addition to provid- ing benchmarking results on the union of FL and NMT, we also propose a novel technique to dynamically control the communication band- width by selecting impactful parameters during FL updates. This is a significant achievement considering the large size of NMT engines that need to be exchanged between FL parties.


We have designed an automatic song identification component of a digital rights management (DRM) system for music, called MusicDNA. The details of MusicDNA are presented and the process by which we arrived at the final system configuration is outlined. This paper documents our experiences so that it can serve as a reference to those seeking to build a complete DRM system for music.


Social norms play an essential role in human interactions and the development of the evolution of human history. Extensive studies corroborate that compliance with social norms typically requires a punishment threat as almost always specific individuals have self-interests that tempt them to violate the norm. Neural imaging studies demonstrate that lateral orbitofrontal cortex (LOFC) and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (rDLPFC) are activated when individuals decide to increase social norm compliance when punishment is possible. Moreover, rDLPFC is affirmed to be involved in social norm compliance with or without external punishment threats in a series of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) research. However, these neuroscience studies are based on the ultimatum game (UG) in which the decision-making power between the proposer and the responder is unequal, and no studies support the causal relationship between rDLPFC and voluntary cooperative norms compliance among the equal decision-making power of subjects. Whether modulating the excitability of rDLPFC, which plays a role in norm compliance, alters the extent of compliance with voluntary cooperative norms under equal decision-making power and how norms from different types with asymmetric endowment influence compliance remain unknown. The present study aimed to provide evidence of a direct link between the neural and behavioral results through the application of tDCS over rDLPFC on compliance with voluntary cooperative norms under equal decision-making power. Results verified that activating rDLPFC altered voluntary cooperative norms compliance of all our participants and significant effect over different initial endowments was observed. The role of norm.own and norm.other in compliance was changed in the anodal treatment. Findings validate that enhancing the excitability of the rDLPFC using tDCS leads to high compliance in voluntary cooperation and this effect is specific to equal decision-making power rather than unequal decision-making power.


Over the past fifteen years or more, the Tasmanian Health and Human Services
sector has seen a number of attempts to move towards more consultative
policy-making arrangements between the government and non-government
sectors. There have been a number of steps taken to move both sectors towards
partnership-style arrangements (Alessandrini & Ryan 1998; Ryan 1999).
This paper examines the case of the health and human services sector in
Tasmania, using the partnership process of 'Changing Relationships' to begin
exploring the experiences of workers in both the government and non-government
sectors. In doing so, it illustrates the challenges and opportunities both sectors
have faced in working towards a partnership arrangement. Perhaps more
significantly, this paper also bridges the gap between the breadth of theoretical
literature on consultation in policy-making and the limited applied investigation
of these issues. It shows a changed process in Tasmania, in which policy-making
has become more multi-faceted, with higher levels of trust, reciprocity and
friendship between workers in both sectors. However, there remain a number of
barriers to policy-making, including organisational memory and a commitment
to consultation that is often emphasised more 'in spirit' .
Overall, notable barriers to policy-making have been observed by key
informants in both sectors. This paper discusses the lessons for Tasmania
but also findings that are applicable beyond the state. With policy processes
more often involving greater consultation and more interaction between the
government and non-government sectors, the findings and challenges outlined
in this paper are applicable to other jurisdictions in Australia and overseas.


The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different doses of biochar (BC) and cadmium (Cd) on the yield and nutrient uptake of maize plant. It was carried out in 3 replications of 3 kg pots under greenhouse conditions. In the study, biochar (0% and 2% w/w) which is attained from rosehip seed and 4 different Cd doses (0 mg/kg, 2 mg/kg, 4 mg/kg and 8 mg/kg) were applied. In the research, P2088 maize species was used and harvested approximately 60 days after sowing and shoot dry matter production, Cd, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn) and copper (Cu) concentrations were determined of maize plant. According to the results, the highest dry matter production was obtained with 27.52 g/pot in 2% BC and 4 mg/kg Cd application. However, in the research, dry matter production decreased with increasing Cd application in 0% BC application, whereas all Cd applications increased dry matter production in 2% BC application compared to control. The highest concentrations of P and K (0.39% P and 2.54% K) were determined in 0% BC and 2 mg/kg Cd, 2% BC and 0 mg/kg Cd applications whereas the highest N concentration of maize plant was determined in 2% BC and 0 mg / kg Cd application with 2.23% N.


Diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) is sensitive in detecting
alpha-Synuclein (alpha-Syn) accumulation-associated
microstructural changes at late stages of the pathology in
alpha-Syn overexpressing TNWT-61 mice. The aim of this study
was to perform DKI in young TNWT-61 mice when alpha-Syn starts
to accumulate and to compare the imaging results with an
analysis of motor and memory impairment and alpha-Syn levels.
Three-month-old (3mo) and six-month-old (6mo) mice underwent
DIU scanning using the Bruker Avance 9.4 T magnetic resonance
imaging system. Region of interest (ROI) analyses were
performed in the gray matter; tract-based spatial statistics
(TBSS) analyses were performed in the white matter. In the same
mice, alpha-Syn expression was evaluated using quantitative
immunofluorescence. Mean kurtosis (MK) was the best
differentiator between TNWT-61 mice and wildtype (WT) mice. We
found increases in MK in 3mo TNWT-61 mice in the striatum and
thalamus but not in the substantia nigra (SN), hippocampus, or
sensorimotor cortex, even though the immunoreactivity of human
alpha-Syn was similar or even higher in the latter regions.
Increases in MK in the SN were detected in 6mo mice. These
findings indicate that alpha-Syn accumulation-associated
changes may start in areas with a high density of dopaminergic
nerve terminals. We also found TBSS changes in white matter
only at 6mo, suggesting alpha-Syn accumulation-associated
changes start in the gray matter and later progress to the
white matter. MK is able to detect microstructural changes
induced by alpha-Syn overexpression in TNWT-61 mice and could
be a useful clinical tool for detecting early-stage Parkinson's
disease in human patients. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights
reserved.


This paper argues that Epicurus held a non-reductionist view of mental states that is in the spirit of Davidson's anomalous monism.1 We argue for this conclusion by considering the role that normative descriptions play in the peritropē argument from On Nature 25. However, we also argue that Epicurus was an indeterminist. We can know that atoms swerve because we can know that we make choices that are up to us and this is incompatible with the ancestral causal determination of mental states by atomic processes. Epicurus escapes the traditional criticism of indeterminist libertarians because the swerve is not meant to explain how choices may be free. The anti-reductionist stance on the mental means that nothing about atomic processes could possibly explain any particular mental event. Moreover, because of the practical and therapeutic nature of Epicurean philosophy, it is not necessary that Epicurus provide an explanation of how the swerve subserves freedom of choice. We know all that we need to know for eudaimonia when we know that some choices are up to us.


Past research on pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs) has identified several psychosocial determinants, ranging from personal values to attitudes—mostly environmental concerns—and norms. Less attention has been devoted to the role of affect and identity processes, until recently, when investigations began into the emotional connections with nature and environmental identity, i.e., one's self-concept in relation to the natural world. Finally, research into the parent–child transmission of ecological values was recently developed. We aimed to analyze the role of the above-mentioned variables in predicting different PEBs, within a comprehensive framework. We hypothesized a chain relationship between the ecological values of parents and mothers, the ecological values of their children, environmental concerns, affect towards nature, environmental identity, and PEBs, as the final outcomes. In a cross-sectional exploratory study, an online questionnaire was administered to 175 young Italian adults. Validated scales to measure the above variables and socio-demographics were included. The results showed a different pattern of predictors for each PEB. Overall, the importance of the emotional connection with nature and environmental identity in predicting PEBs has clearly emerged. Finally, the role of intergenerational transmission of ecological values in PEBs, with differences between the influence of fathers and mothers, is outlined. The study provides a more integrative view of PEBs by considering the variety of human processes. Theoretical and practical implications of results are discussed.


Nationalism and national sentiment could be considered blessing on the one hand and curse on the other understood properly from various perspectives. These notions can be considered blessing in the sense that they arouse the feeling of unity, nearness, oneness and ownness among the conationals or compatriots; they can be understood as curse in the sense that they create borders, divide humans into various different groups and subgroups which arouses the parochial feeling of conational which sometimes results in conflict, civil war and division of a country. Nationalism, viewed from positive perspective, can be understood as an effective means or a tool that can work to arouse the feeling of unity, nearness, and ownness among the people belonging to a certain nation. In essence, it requires that all individuals belong to a nation for the realization of their true moral worth. As a result, they owe their primary loyalty to their nation over any other sub-groups to maintain the moral value. Viewed from negative perspective, nationalism, mostly the extreme form of nationalism, leads the individuals, their subgroups, and nation to a dark moment. Racial hatred and ethnic cleansing-consequences of extreme kind of national sentiment--can be considered as some instances. The curse side of nationalism and national sentiment can be turned into blessing by properly handling the spirit of nationalism and national sentiment with positive thinking.


The Wolfcampian-Leonardian age Abo Formation has been the major objective of exploration efforts in southeastern New Mexico since 1980. The Abo Formation in Chavez County consists of red and green mudstones and shales interbedded with very fine-grained reddish-orange sandstones. The sandstones are subarkosic arenites deposited in a fluvial/delta plain environment on the northwest shelf of the Permian basin. Producing sandstones are characterized by very low in-situ permeabilities (0.006 to 0.01 md) and porosities (determined from CNL density logs) ranging from 5 to 12%. Petrographic analysis of the producing zones yields only traces of visible porosity (^approx 1%), indicating the relative importance of fractures to total porosity. The importance of this secondary porosit is substantiated by the concentration of production within an area of major southwest-northeast-trending buckles that result in folded and fractured zones parallel to their strike. Abo sediments were derived from the predominantly granitic Pedernal uplift to the north and west of the producing area. The prograding fluvial/delta plain is evidenced by calcareous mudstones at the base of the Abo with calcite fracture fillings grading upward into anhydritic mudstones containing anhydrite fracture fillings and bird's-eye lenses. In general, three main producing zones are found in the upper Abo Formation. These sandstones occur either as a single thick (6 to 10 m, 20 to 33 ft) sand or several thin (2 to 4 m, 6.5 to 13 ft) sands separated by thin mudstones. Changes in thickness and character o these three major sands represent lateral shifts in subaerially deposited, braided paleochannels. The relatively homogenous mudstone intervals between producing sands and at the base of the section represent delta switching and tidal backreef (submarine) deposition. Gas wells in the Abo initially produce from 200 to 4,000 MCFGPD of dry (1,000 Btu) gas after considerable acidizing and fracturing. The modeling of the depositional environment of the Abo is critical to the selection of prime drilling locations. Paleochannel development and trends, as well as significant interbedded mudstone intervals, are essential for good Abo potential. Several stratigraphic and diagenetic trapping processes may result in hydrocarbon accumulations within these anastomosed fluvial sandstones. Channel fills are most commonly contained laterally and vertically by mudstones. Differing amounts of calcite and anhydrite cement and argillaceous matrix within the sandstones may create diagenetic traps within the channels. The best Abo wells are located in areas where paleoc annels are well developed and intersect southwest-northeast-trending structural zones. The completion of these wells can be complicated by inadequate cementing prior to fracturing resulting in the fracturing of containing mudstones and shales instead of gas-bearing perforated sandstone intervals. The relatively shallow, 950 to 1,300 m (3,100 to 4,300 ft), depths to encounter pay, combined with the higher allowable tight gas (107) price in the Abo, have stimulated significant activity in this new play that is certain to expand as the reservoir and trapping mechanism is better understood. End_of_Article - Last_Page 476------------


This study was carried out to investigate the possibility of prediction the occurrence of heat stress in dairy cows and determination of climate critical periods. The most common indexes for estimation the degree of thermal stress istemperature humidity index (THI). In this study Yousef's THI index (1985)was used to analyze the yearly and monthly effects of temperature and humidity. Meteorological data were obtained from the Northeast Regional Climate Center of Iran.After theTHI was calculated, the variability of THI was analyzed using scatter charts and THI values were analyzed as two-factor factorial design. Statistically, the changes of THI had constant trend over the year. Effects of years were meaningful and THI monthly means had significant differences during the year. The highest values of THI were evaluated in July that THI values in many hours were higher than the threshold values of the occurrence of heat stress. Moreover, 186291 records of milk production from a large industrial dairy farm were analyzed. Data showed that milk production also had constant trend over the year but with opposite direction of THI. In other words, when the amount of THI increased and passed of the threshold values of the occurrence of heat stress, milk production reduced and reached to the lowest level in July.Generally THI index is effective for determination of the critical periods of climate and prediction the probability of heat stress in dairy cows, and it can be a perfect guidefordairy farmersto perform adequate preventive acts.


The present study aims at investigating the effects of eutectic Si and Secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS) on mechanical properties of Al-Si-Cu alloy. Heat treatment and controlling of solidification rate affect to microstructure of Al-Si-Cu alloy. Al-Si-Cu alloy was dissolved in an electric furnace. The alloy cast in STD61 mold which had been pre-heated to 95 °C and 200 °C. Eutectic Si and SDAS were finer as cooling rate increased. Image analysis technique has been utilized to examine the microstructure. Microstructure observation results showed that T6 heat treatment has a strong influence eutectic Si particle morphology. The mechanical properties, such as tensile strength, yield strength, elongation, were improved by ASTM E8 standard. Tensile properties of the Al-Si-Cu alloys prepared by different cooling rates were the same as each other by T6 heat treatment. †(Received December 19, 2013)


Disturbed interoception (i.e., the sensing, awareness, and regulation of internal body signals) has been found across several mental disorders, leading to the development of interoception‐based interventions (IBIs). Searching PubMed and PsycINFO, we conducted the first systematic review of randomized‐controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the efficacy of behavioral IBIs at improving interoception and target symptoms of mental disorders in comparison to a non‐interoception‐based control condition [CRD42021297993]. Thirty‐one RCTs fulfilled inclusion criteria. Across all studies, a pattern emerged with 20 (64.5%) RCTs demonstrating IBIs to be more efficacious at improving interoception compared to control conditions. The most promising results were found for post‐traumatic stress disorder, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia and substance use disorders. Regarding symptom improvement, the evidence was inconclusive. The IBIs were heterogenous in their approach to improving interoception. The quality of RCTs was moderate to good. In conclusion, IBIs are potentially efficacious at improving interoception for some mental disorders. In terms of symptom reduction, the evidence is less promising. Future research on the efficacy of IBIs is needed.


The gills of the African freshwater crab Potamon niloticus-Ortmann have been investigated by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Potamon has seven pairs of phyllobranchiate gills contained in the branchial chambers. From the central axis of the gills arise bilaterally situated thin flaps, the lamellae. The afferent branchial vessel (the epibranchial vessel) is located on the dorsal aspect of the gill arch and the efferent vessel (the hypobrancial vessel) on the ventral side. Between these two blood vessels, the blood percolates through the lamellar vascular channels where it is oxygenated. The lamellae consist of an epithelial cell layer covered by a thin cuticle which consists of tightly fused but distinct layers. The epithelial cells approach each other at regular intervals and fuse in the middle of the lamellar sinus delineating the vascular channels. Apical profuse membranous infoldings and numerous mitochondria characterize the epithelial cells, features typical of cells involved in active transport of macro- and micromolecules. In Potamon, however, there were no distinct gas exchange and osmoregulatory regions of the gills. On average, the cuticle was 0.78 μm thick while the epithelial cell was 6 μm. Cells that were morphologically similar to the renal glomerular podocytes of the vertebrates were observed in the efferent gill vessel of Potamon. These cells have been said to be phagocytic and may play an important defensive role in the crustaceans. Although basically the morphology of the gills of Potamon is similar to that of the other decapods, fine structural differences were evident as would be intuitively expected in a group of animals that has undergone such remarkable adaptive radiation.


Ample previous studies have provided behavioral and electrophysiological evidences about stereotype activation. It is an open question whether stereotype activation is an unintentional process and what the characteristics of brain activity in this process are. Adopting priming Stroop paradigm, the present study aimed to investigate the pattern and the neural correlates of unintentional stereotype activation by recording both behavioral and ERP data. Thirty young participants (16 female) were recruited in this experiment. The prime word was a social category label ("Men" / "Women") and a Korean character (" 남 "/" 여 ") in the prime and "no-prime" control conditions respectively. The target word was either a stereotypic trait word associated with one of the gender categories or a scene-descriptive word. Thus, the target word was consistent, inconsistent or irrelevant with the gender stereotype. A trial in this experiment began with a 300 ms fixation cross, followed by the prime which was presented on the screen for a period of 300 ms. The prime was followed by an ISI of 500ms, after which the target word came for 300ms. After the presentation of the target a blank was presented and lasted until the participants responded. And then, the inter-trial interval (ITI) was randomized between 600 and 800 ms. All words appeared in the center of the computer screen. The participants were told that 360 words with red, green or blue would appear on the screen in random order. For each word appearing on the screen, they were asked to decide as fast as possible whether a word was red, green or blue by pressing the "Q","P" and the "space" button respectively. The button labels of "red", "green" and "blue" were pasted on the "Q", "P" and "Space" of the computer key board before the experiment. The responses were counterbalanced across the participants. Behavioral results showed that the reaction time for consistent, inconsistent and irrelevant targets was almost the same in the "no-prime" condition. However, in the prime condition, the participants made significantly faster responses for the consistent targets, compared to the inconsistent; the reaction time for the irrelevant targets was faster than the inconsistent targets but slower than the consistent targets. ERPs results indicated that the N400 amplitude was significantly affected by the target types, but the tendency was obviously different across the prime and the "no-prime" conditions. In the "no-prime" condition, the irrelevant targets elicited the significantly largest N400 amplitude; the N400 amplitudes evoked by the consistent and the inconsistent targets were almost same. However, in the prime condition, the N400 elicited by the inconsistent targets was significantly larger than the consistent targets over the fronto-central area, and the N400 elicited by the irrelevant targets was larger than the consistent targets but smaller than the consistent targets. These results indicated that the process of stereotype activation was an unintentional automatic process. This unintentional stereotype activation effect with "double-edged knife" pattern started at the post-perceptual processing stage and the N400 ERP component reflected the unintentionally access of stereotypical knowledge in the memory representation. The N400 ERP component could be a sensitive indicator to investigate unintentional stereotype activation.


Traumatic carotid-cavernous sinus fistula(tCCF)is an arteriovenous shunt caused by internal carotid artery rupture in the cavernosus sinus, resulting from head injury. This leads to a triad of symptoms including pulsating exophthalmos, chemosis with conjunctival hyperemia, and orbital bruit. Because of life-threatening problems and local swelling after injury, it is difficult to diagnose tCCF at an early stage. Delayed treatment can cause irreversible neurological and/or ophthalmological damage. Moreover, it may lead to profuse nasal bleeding and even death. Here, we report a rare case of tCCF with a facial fracture after a sports accident. A 35-year-old man suffered a facial injury by bumping against another player during a baseball game. He had multiple fractures of the mandible and maxilla, but no other fractures, including cranial base fracture, were apparent. Open reduction and fixation of the mandible and conservative reduction of the maxilla were performed under general anesthesia. Exophthalmos and ophthalmoplegia were noted on the 16th day after injury. Diagnostic imaging was performed, and a neurosurgeon diagnosed tCCF. Successful management was achieved with no sequelae by endovascular surgery. Careful observation and prompt cooperation with specialists are very important for the treatment of maxillofacial trauma.


AIM
The purpose of this study was to compare the acute effects of different stretching methods on acceleration, speed, agility, power, and flexibility in different soccer positions.

METHODS AND RESULTS
Therefore, 16 soccer players conducted 10 m, 20 m, shuttle run agility, vertical jump, and V-sit flexibility after static (SS), dynamic (DS), combined (static + dynamic) (CS), and no stretching (NS). Relative to the no-stretching condition, there were significant differences in fitness performances after (1) DS vs. SS, (2) DS vs. CS, and (3) CS vs. SS in defenders, midfielders, strikers, and also in all players (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION
In conclusion, it may be desirable for soccer players to perform DS during warm up prior to the performance of activities that require a high power output.


The wind tunnel test to identify the acoustic noise source position of the wind turbine blade was conducted in KARI low speed wind tunnel. Microphone array and time-domain beamforming methodology was applied to this study. To reduce the data processing time, a modified beamforming method with a criteria between calculation time step and grid size for rotating angle in the cylinderical coordinate system was proposed. The test results shows that the data processing time to identify the noise source position was reduced to 20% compared with conventional method. And the dominant noise source of the blade moves from inboard to blade tip as the frequency increases.


This report presents key evaluation findings for the National Science Foundation's Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program. LSAMP was designed to increase the pool of underrepresented minority students completing bachelor's degrees and pursuing graduate studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Findings reveal that LSAMP graduates were indeed more likely than national comparison groups to enroll in and complete graduate studies in STEM. Program staff report that LSAMP expanded institutions' ability to develop STEM talent. A research-based descriptive model of the program's implementation is included, establishing a critical link between theory and practice to inform future interventions.


This work undertaken at the suggestion of Prof. Sollas, who supervised the work, and at his suggestion a large number of rock-sections have been examined. To Mr. W. W. Fisher, M. A. Public Analyst for Oxfordshire, Berkshire, & Buckinghamshire, I am indebted for much help and many valuable suggestions in carrying out the chemical analyses. I must also express my thanks to Mr. Linsdall Richardson for kindly verifying a number of my identifications, and for his help in the correlation of the beds with those of other districts. My thanks are also due to Mr. R. C. Sikes, M.Inst.C.E., for permission to visit the Ardley Cutting, and to the Directors of the Oxford Portland-Cement Works, who, contrary to their regulations, readily granted me permission to examine their quarry. II. General Description. The rocks described in this paper form a well-defined series sharply separated from the underlying beds, consisting of the Clypeus Grits on the west and Northampton Sands on the east; and from the Oxford Clay, which nearly always conformably succeeds. Throughout the series there is a general westward thickening, especially marked in the lower members of the Great Oolite. The Cornbrash. This consists of rubbly non-oolitic limestones of various degrees of coarseness containing the normal Cornbrash fauna. The total thickness appears to be only about 17 feet, of which the upper part is characterized by Microthyris lagenalis, the lower by Terebratula intermedia. Cephalopods are far from abundant, there being apparently but two records: namely, Clydoniceras discus from Kirtlington and


Resistance to fungal infections is increasing throughout the world, and this is especially important in immunocompromised patients. Infection with candida fungi species is one of the most important causes of fungal infections in these patients, able to cause complications and mortality. The purpose of this study was to determine the susceptibility of isolated candida species to systemic antifungal drugs in immunocompromised patients in Urmia. Two hundred patients with immune deficiencies were examined for Candida fungi infection in Urmia hospitals. After isolation of Candida species causing the infection, their susceptibility to amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole and ketoconazole was investigated. Data were analyzed using SPSS21. Chi-square, Fisher's exact and Monte Carlo tests were used to compare the data. Out of the 200 patients with immune deficiencies, 45 (23%) of the patients showed infections due to Candida fungi species. The isolated species were albicans (68.9%), glabrata (13.3%), tropicalis, parapsilosis, krusei and kefyr (each 4.4%). Overall susceptibility to amphotericin B was 77.8%, fluconazole 55.6%, itraconazole 46.7%, voriconazole 91.1%, posaconazole 77.8%, and ketoconazole 40%. According to the results, Voriconazole is the best medicine for preventing or treating candidal infections in patients with immune deficiencies.


The Jamestown district, Boulder County, Colorado, is a major producer of fluorspar; prior to 1940, gold, gold-telluride, and lead-silver ores were mined. Fluorite occurs as a primary mineral in phases of the composite sodic granite stock at Jamestown and in breccia zones, stockworks, and pipe-shaped bodies in and adjacent to the stock. Gold and telluride mineralization occurs with and without fluorite in veins peripheral to the stock. A great variety of fluid-inclusion types is present in the district, reflecting chemically and physically diverse fluids. Fluid inclusions in early-stage quartz from the fluorspar deposits have filling temperatures of 250 degrees to 375 degrees C, salinities of 20 to 30%, and boiling is indicated at many locations. Most inclusions associated with the main fluorite stage have salinities of at least 26% to more than 50% and filling temperatures in the range of 250 degrees to 350 degrees C. Probable cognate fluorite on the inclusion walls and as many as ten daughter minerals precipitated from some primary inclusions in fluorite attest to the presence of salt and CaF 2 -rich polycomponent fluorspar-depositing fluids. Carbon dioxide-rich liquids and vapors were present during and after the main period of fluorspar deposition.Gold-bearing veins contain fluid inclusions indicating that two fundamentally different types of fluids were present. Inclusions in pregold quartz and fluorite have filling temperatures which range up to 375 degrees C, and most have very high salinities comparable to those from the fluorspar deposits, suggesting that early quartz and fluorite of the gold-bearing veins was roughly contemporaneous with the main period of fluorspar deposition. Fluid inclusion and other thermometric data (Kelly and Goddard, 1969) suggest that gold and telluride deposition occurred at temperatures below 300 degrees C. Fluid inclusions most directly associated with gold deposition have filling temperatures in the range 205 degrees to 270 degrees C and have about 4% salinity. These data suggest that the gold-bearing fluids either evolved from the fluorite-bearing fluids or were later unrelated hydrothermal pulses introduced on reopened structures.Boiling occurred at many locations that were at relatively high elevations or adjacent to the sodic granite stock. From the interpretation that boiling occurred and from the heterogeneity of CO 2 contents, we deduce that fluid pressures were low and variable, commonly near 150 bars, but ranging to as much as approximately 500 bars when CO 2 pressures were high; these determinations are compatible with the depth of cover estimated from geomorphic reconstruction using the Flattop peneplain. The absence of strong thermal or salinity zonation of fluids relative to the outcropping stock suggests that fluids were emanating from a larger intrusive body at depth.


With the dramatic expansion of information over internet, users around the world express their opinion daily on the social network such as Facebook and Twitter. Large corporations nowadays invest on analyzing these opinions in order to assess their products or services by knowing the people feedback toward such business. The process of knowing users' opinions toward particular product or services whether positive or negative is called sentiment analysis. Arabic is one of the common languages that have been addressed regarding sentiment analysis. In the literature, several approaches have been proposed for Arabic sentiment analysis and most of these approaches are using machine learning techniques. Machine learning techniques are various and have different performances. Therefore, in this study, we try to identifying a simple, but workable approach for Arabic sentiment analysis on Twitter. Hence, this study aims to investigate the machine learning technique in terms of Arabic sentiment analysis on Twitter. Three techniques have been used including Naive Bayes, Decision Tree (DT) and Support Vector Machine (SVM). In addition, two simple sub-tasks pre-processing have been also used; Term Frequency-Inverse Document Frequency (TF-IDF) and Arabic stemming to get the heaviest weight term as the feature for tweet classification. TF-IDF aims to identify the most frequent words, whereas stemming aims to retrieve the stem of the word by removing the inflectional derivations. The dataset that has been used is Modern Arabic Corpus which consists of Arabic tweets. The performance of classification has been evaluated based on the information retrieval metrics precision, recall and f-measure. The experimental results have shown that DT has outperformed the other techniques by obtaining 78% of f-measure.


In recent years, proteomics has been applied to platelet clinical research. Platelets are small enucleated cells that play a fundamental role in hemostasis. In a pathological context, unwanted platelet activation is related to various diseases, primarily thrombosis, but also cancer metastasis, inflammation, immunity, and neurodegenerative diseases. The absence of a nucleus is one of the reasons why proteomics can be considered an ideal analytical tool for platelet research. Indeed, platelet proteomics has allowed the identification of many novel signaling proteins and receptors, several of which are being pursued as potential therapeutic targets. Encouraged by this success, several research groups have recently initiated clinical proteomics studies covering diseases where platelets are involved in some way, such as coronary artery disease, storage pool diseases, uremia, cystic fibrosis, and Alzheimer disease. The goal was to identify platelet biomarkers and drug targets that can help to improve the treatment/diagnosis of the disease and provide further mechanistic evidences of the role platelets play in the pathology. The present article will comment on the recent progress of clinical proteomics in the context of platelet research, challenges, and perspectives for the future ahead.


Monte Carlo simulations have been performed for extensive atmospheric showers (EAS) initiated by primary gammas and protons. At sea level the angular distributions of the charged secondaries from proton-initiated showers are narrower than those from gamma-initiated showers. This effect is significant and it occurs at all radii. Thus by exploiting this difference, gamma showers can be enhanced over background if one has sufficient experimental angular resolution on individual tracks and sufficient numbers of detected particles.


Intermittent snoring and cyclic oscillations of heart rate and oxyhaemoglobin saturation (Sao2) are characteristic features of the obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS). Thus, overnight recordings of laryngeal sounds and heart rate by a portable device (MESAM) and of Sao2 by oximetry are applicable to screen outpatients for the presence of OSAS. Computerized analysis for time intervals of constant heart rate and intervals between snoring sounds is used by MESAM to quantify respiratory disturbances during sleep. Rapid increases in Sao2 during the postapnoeic hyperventilation period together with the number of desaturations are used by a new software for quantitative analysis of oximetry. To elucidate reliability of results from automatically scored MESAM and oximetry recordings, we compared the four computer calculated respiratory disturbance indices from heart rate (RDIH), snoring (RDIS), resaturations (RDIR) and desaturations (RDID) with the apnoea plus hypopnoea index (AHI) from simultaneously performed polysomnography. The study population consisted of 53 snorers with an AHI of 19.0 +/- 2.6 (median +/- SEM; range 0.7-87.8). Whereas both RDI's from MESAM correlated rather weakly with the AHI from polysomnography (RDIH: r = 0.32, p less than 0.05; RDIS: r = 0.33, p less than 0.05), this correlation was much better for the RDI's from oximetry (RDIR: r = 0.951, RDID: r = 0.93; p much less than 0.0001). Accepting a plus/minus 30 percent difference from the AHI, the RDIR classified 77% of patients correctly, the RDID 62%, the RDIS 32% and the RDIH 23%. In conclusion, results from computerized analysis of oximetry for desaturations and rapid resaturations correlate more closely with polysomnography than those from automatic scoring of MESAM recordings.


The Finish National Road Administration has used its network-level pavement management system, the Highway Investment Programming System (HIPS), as a decision support tool since 1989. However, this system is capable of addressing strategic questions concerning paved roads only; it is not capable of addressing questions concerning bridges, for example. A new idea has been to review the existing pavement management system (HIPS) and take the basic features of the Finnish Bridge Management Systems and to modify and couple these two systems into one system, the infrastructure management system (IMS), to optimize simultaneously bridge and pavement maintenance and rehabilitation under the same budget and other constraints. The development of the first version of IMS appeared to be rather successful. The first results show that it is possible to allocate monies between pavements and bridges by using the minimization of social costs as an objective function. Compared with the short-term allocation procedure in HIPS, the influence of traffic volume is stronger in IMS. The system can be modified further. This means that other parts of the infrastructure, like power transmission lines, can be incorporated into the analysis.


Complete or incomplete decapitation as a consequence of suicidal hanging is very rare, few cases having been reported in the worldwide literature. Posthanging decapitation is typically related to a drop of several meters. Three cases of complete decapitation and one case of incomplete decapitation by suicidal hanging are reported with particular emphasis on internal findings and vital reaction patterns. Personal, circumstantial, autopsy, and toxicological data were analyzed to define basic characteristics of such extreme injuries. The crucial factor for the state of decapitation itself is the kinetic energy of the falling body, the strength of the human neck tissue, and the diameter and elasticity of the used ligature. Results of our case study suggest Simon's hemorrhage and air embolism as useful autopsy findings in posthanging beheading cases. Simon's hemorrhage was demonstrated in three cases of four. The test for air embolism was positive in all four cases.


Using the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, this three-wave experiment (N = 1,830) examined whether a public health crisis motivates people to engage with complicated information about the virus in the form of jargon. Results revealed that although the presence of jargon negatively impacted message acceptance for topics that were not particularly urgent (flood risk and federal risk policy), the presence of jargon within the COVID-19 topic condition did not affect message perceptions—at first. In subsequent waves of data collection, however, it was found that the influence of jargon strengthened over time within the COVID-19 topic condition. Specifically, jargon began to exert a stronger influence on processing fluency despite the continued urgency of the topic. This finding suggests that motivation to process COVID-19 related information declined over time. Theoretical contributions for language, processing fluency, and persuasion are offered and practical implications for health, risk, science, and crisis communicators are advanced.


Objective. Curfews are implemented to curtail youth violence. Trauma systems and emergency medical services (EMS) may need to prepare for changes in patient volume resulting from local ordinances. This study evaluated the impact of the 1995 Washington, DC, Juvenile Curfew Act on EMS transports of injured youth and on youth homicides. Methods. A retrospective, comparative cohort study was performed. Transports of injured youth and youth homicides were counted in corresponding months of 1994 and 1995. Cohorts were formed by year, time of day, age group, and mechanism of injury. Year-to-year statistical comparisons of injury proportions were performed using the chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. Results. One thousand forty-eight transports were included. No significant difference was observed in transports with curfew implementation. Most assaults on youth occurred outside the curfew time. No effect of the curfew on homicides was detected. Of 67 homicides, only two victims were under the curfew. Conclusion. No effect of the curfew on transports for injuries or on homicides was demonstrated. The curfew was not in effect during the period of highest risk.


Objective(s): The main objective of the current assay was to evaluate the antibacterial and regenerative effects of hydrogel nanocomposite containing pure natural zeolite (clinoptilolite) integrated with alginate (Alg) as wound healing/dressing biomaterials. Materials and Methods: The zeolites were size excluded, characterized by SEM, DLS, XRD, FTIR, and XRF, and then integrated into Alg hydrogel followed by calcium chloride crosslinking. The Alg and alginate zeolite (Alg/Zeo) hydrogel was characterized by swelling and weight loss tests, also the antibacterial, hemocompatibility, and cell viability tests were performed. In animal studies, the burn wound was induced on the back of rats and treated with the following groups: control, Alg hydrogel, and Alg/Zeo hydrogel. Results: The results showed that the hydrodynamic diameter of zeolites was 367 ± 0.2 nm. Zeolites did not show any significant antibacterial effect, however, the hydrogel nanocomposite containing zeolite had proper swelling as well as hemocompatibility and no cytotoxicity was observed. Following the creation of a third-degree burn wound on the back of rats, the results indicated that the Alg hydrogel and Alg/Zeo nanocomposite accelerated the wound healing process compared with the control group. Re-epithelialization, granulation tissue thickness, collagenization, inflammatory cell recruitment, and angiogenesis level were not significantly different between Alg and Alg/Zeo nanocomposite. Conclusion: These findings revealed that although the incorporation of zeolites did not induce a significant beneficial effect in comparison with Alg hydrogel, using zeolite capacity in hydrogel for loading the antibiotics or other effective compounds can be considered a promising wound dressing.


The three dimensional intervertebral movements of fourteen patients with lumbar instability were measured. These movements of a group of six normal subjects were also measured. The CT scan in rotation to the left and to the right was used to investigate the axial rotational instability of the lumbar spine. MRI was used to determine the grade of disc degeneration. The relations between the axial rotational instability and other dimensional movements, the grade of disc degeneration and physical signs were analyzed. The facet of the lumbar spine with rotational instability showed hypertrophy, subluxation and joint laxity. The intervertebral disc of the lumbar spine with rotational instability showed the grade 3-4 disc degeneration. When facet degeneration increases in addition to disc degeneration, rotational instability may occur, and then rotational deformity may narrow the lumbar canal.


Interaction between a peptide hormone and extracellular domains of its receptor is a crucial step for initiation of hormone action. We have developed a modification of the yeast two-hybrid system to study this interaction and have used it to characterize the interaction of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) with its receptor by using GAL4 transcriptional regulation with a beta-galactosidase assay as readout. In this system, IGF-1 and proIGF-1 bound to the cysteine-rich domain, extracellular domain, or entire IGF-1 proreceptor. This interaction was specific. Thus, proinsulin showed no significant interaction with the IGF-1 receptor, while a chimeric proinsulin containing the C-peptide of IGF-1 had an intermediate interaction, consistent with its affinity for the IGF-1 receptor. Over 2000 IGF-1 mutants were generated by PCR and screened for interaction with the color assay. About 40% showed a strong interaction, 20% showed an intermediate interaction, and 40% give little or no signal. Of 50 mutants that were sequenced, several (Leu-5 --> His, Glu-9 --> Val, Arg-37 --> Gly, and Met-59 --> Leu) appeared to enhance receptor association, others resulted in weaker receptor interaction (Tyr-31 --> Phe and Ile-43 --> Phe), and two gave no detectable signal (Leu-14 --> Arg and Glu-46 --> Ala). Using PCR-based mutagenesis with proinsulin, we also identified a gain of function mutant (proinsulin Leu-17 --> Pro) that allowed for a strong IGF-1-receptor interaction. These data demonstrate that the specificity of the interaction between a hormone and its receptor can be characterized with high efficiency in the two-hybrid system and that novel hormone analogues may be found by this method.


Introduction:Spondyloarthritis (SpA) includes a group of diseases that share immunogenetic, clinical and radiologic findings, with a particular involvement of the axial skeleton and the entheses. Methods:SpA patients attending ambulatory care in 11 rheumatology services located in 6 Argentine provinces were included in a prospective, observational multicentre cohort of SpA in Argentina (Iberoamerican Spondyloarthritis Registry [RESPONDIA]). Data collected were transmitted online and stored in the Spanish spondyloarthritis registry (REGISPONSER) Web site. Sociodemographic, clinical features and diagnosis, disease activity, functional status, quality of life, work status, radiographic changes and treatment data were collected by means of validated tools. Results:A total of 402 patients were included; 59% were male, with median age of 48.3 years and median disease duration of 8 years; 68.7% of patients belonged to middle and lower-middle social classes. Eighty-six patients were diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), 242 with psoriatic arthritis, 25 with reactive arthritis, 10 with SpA associated with inflammatory bowel disease, 33 with undifferentiated SpA and 6 with juvenile AS. The median score was 2.6 for the Bath AS Functional Index, 3.8 for the Bath AS Disease Activity Index and 5 for the Bath AS Radiology Index. The lower social class patients achieved a worse Bath AS Functional Index than other social classes and a worse Bath AS Disease Activity Index, compared with upper-middle class. Conclusions:The sociodemographic distribution pattern observed in these SpA patients was similar to that expected in the general population of Argentina, with worse functional capacity and higher disease activity observed in the lower social classes.


Data on the distribution of ATP-activity (A) along the longitudinal axis of the body of Bothriocephalus scorpii are given. A has been shown to decrease from the head to the posterior parts of the body. However, A has been noted to increase a little on the part of the body where mature eggs are thrown out.


Endoscopic spine surgeons bridge the major gap between fusion-oriented spinal surgeons and pain management physicians. Current surgical philosophy by traditionally trained spinal surgeons focuses on decompression with or without fusion as the "ultimate cure" for a painful spinal segment, while pain management uses spinal injections and techniques such as peripheral nerve and spinal cord neuro-modulation to relieve pain. Endoscopic surgery is the least invasive of current minimally invasive surgical options-focuses on treating the patho-anatomy of the pain generator. This represents a path between traditional open decompression with or without fusion and the more temporary techniques of pain management.


The response of cultured bovine aortic endothelial (BAE) cells after exposure to alpha-particle radiation from chelated 212Bi has been evaluated. The results suggest that even relatively high doses of alpha-particle radiation from 212Bi (20-72 Gy) cause only minor acute changes in the morphology of BAE cells (light and electron microscopy) under conditions of confluent monolayer growth. Significant morphological changes can be detected in cells that detach from the monolayer, though it is unclear whether these changes represent a genuine response to irradiation or reflect the causes or effects of monolayer detachment with the consequent loss of intercellular biochemical communication. After alpha-particle irradiation (20-40 Gy) angiotensin-converting-enzyme activity was not detectable in the monolayer culture medium but was significantly decreased within the cell monolayer. Neutral-elution-assay data demonstrated that DNA double-strand-break (DSB) damage occurred in these cells and that about 35% of the DSBs were repairable.


Building and using knowledge bases have become widespread in the customer support area, where the need is great and the potential benefit is high. While customer support has become a focal point for knowledge creation and use, other departments in an organization are now contributing to, and retrieving knowledge from, the knowledge bases being developed. These knowledge bases are becoming more corporate-wide repositories, with some companies even making the knowledge directly available to customers and consumers. CBR has become a useful tool to provide the representational framework and the search mechanism for these knowledge bases. As companies desire to create and distribute these knowledge bases globally, a number of key issues in authoring, distributing, localizing, maintaining and managing the whole process have been successfully addressed.


This study will attempt to analyze the effectiveness of the immigration point system in selecting immigrants. The development of the system within the historical context will be explored as well as the changes that have occurred since its creation until the most recent alterations. Interviews, with a range of opinions, will be analyzed to compliment [sic] secondary data to assess the impacts which have resulted from the point system through its design, operation and theory. These sources will also be used to provide suggestions and recommendations on how the point system could be improved to maximize effectiveness. Ultimately, the goal of this paper is to add to the growing body of literature surrounding this topic and to determine if the point system is indeed an effective method of selection.


The fundamental results of recent research on the propagation of elastic microwaves (hypersonic waves) in crystals of various types are considered. The procedure for experiments with hypersonic waves is briefly described. The characteristics of the propagation of elastic waves in crystals (polarization, velocity, energy flux) and methods of their calculation are given. The principal mechanism of damping of hypersonic waves are considered, such as interactions with thermal phonons by the Akhiezer mechanism and by the Landau-Rumer mechanism, and interactions with free carriers and with defects. A separate chapter is devoted to problems of the propagation of hypersonic waves in magnetically-ordered crystals and their interactions with spin waves. The scattering of light by hypersonic waves is also considered, the singularities of this phenomenon are discussed, as is its use for the investigation of the characteristics of elastic-wave propagations. Some conclusions are drawn from the point of view of the prospects of using hypersonic methods in solid-state physics research.


Sitagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitor (DPP-4), sustains activity of the incretin hormones GLP-1 and GIP and improves hyperglycemia in Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It has however proven challenging to quantify the effect of sitagliptin on rates of insulin secretion (ISR) during a prandial challenge. The tight feedback governance of ISR by plasma glucose means that in the face of treatment-related lowering of postprandial glycemia, corresponding stimulation of ISR is lessened. We postulated that sustaining a stable level of moderate hyperglycemia before and during a meal challenge (MC) would be a platform that enables greater clarity to assess the effect of sitagliptin on ISR and an approach that could be valuable to evaluate novel targets that increase insulin secretion directly and by augmenting incretins. A hyperglycemic clamp (HGC) at 160 mg/dl was conducted in 12 healthy volunteers (without diabetes) for 6 h; 3 h into the HGC, MC was administered while maintaining stable hyperglycemia of the HGC for an additional 3 h. Modeling of C-peptide response was used to calculate ISR. In crossover design of three periods (sitagliptin twice and placebo once), the effect of sitagliptin vs. placebo on ISR and the reproducibility of the response to sitagliptin were assessed. Sitagliptin increased ISR compared with placebo by 50% and 20% during the HGC alone and the HGC-MC phases, respectively ( P < 0.001 for both). There was an associated significant treatment-based increase in circulating insulin, as well as active levels of GLP-1. Robust reproducibility of the sitagliptin-mediated ISR response was observed; the intraclass correlation value was 0.94. The findings delineate the effect of sitagliptin to stimulate insulin secretion, and these benchmark data also demonstrate that an HGC-MC can be a useful platform for interrogating therapeutic targets that could potentially modulate ISR via direct action on beta-cells as well as by augmenting release or action of incretins.


The fluorescent antibody technic was applied to the study of thrombocytopenic purpuras with a presumable immunologic pathogenesis.

The results of the investigation suggest the hypothesis that some plasma protein material is strongly adherent to the surface of megakaryocytes in more than 50 per cent of cases of chronic ITP.


Correlating events in complex and dynamic IoT environments is a challenging task not only because of the amount of available data that needs to be processed but also due to the call for time efficient data processing. In this paper, we discuss the major steps that should be performed in real- or near real-time event management focusing on event detection and event correlation. We investigate the adoption of a univariate change detection algorithm for real-time event detection and we propose a stepwise event correlation scheme based on a first-order Markov model. The proposed theory is applied on the maritime domain and is validated through extensive experimentation with real sensor streams originating from large-scale sensor networks deployed in a maritime fleet of ships.


In this paper, we present an empirical study with the research purpose to determine the opinions of future teachers on experiential learning outside the classroom in the cemetery. We define experiential learning as learning that combines a person's sensory and emotional experience, thinking, analysis and action into a whole. When planning learning activities of experiential learning outside the classroom, it is necessary to focus on a place that can contribute significantly to a richer learning experience. One of the possible places could be a cemetery. The research sample included 65 students from the last academic year studying primary education at the Faculty of Education of the University of Maribor in Slovenia. The research was conducted in March 2020. The results showed that students associate the word "cemetery" with death, candle, grave and funeral. However, the phrase "teaching at the cemetery" is considered innovative and inappropriate. Most students have no personal experience of teaching in cemeteries. The answers to the question about the appropriateness of teaching at the cemetery are equally divided. Social studies are considered the most appropriate subject for teaching at the cemetery, and sports is the least appropriate. The students also feel that they are not qualified enough to teach outside the classroom.


The tumor-forming endocrine cells of the pancreas belong to the APUD system. These cells are of neuroectodermal origin. The tumor can be diagnosed in most cases by a distinct clinical picture, and the diagnosis can be veryfied by direct hormone determination or/and by the biochemical disorders caused by the hormones. For localisation angiography, szintigrams, endoscopic pancreatography, and sonograms were used up to now without convincing results in many cases; computerized tomography promises to be the decisive examination in the future. Three hormones can, up to now, not yet be correlated with a distinct clinical picture specific for a pancreatic tumor. On the other hand, four tumors are responsible for a very typical clinical entity, the insulinoma, the glucagonoma, the gastrinoma, and the vipoma, as illustrated by our own cases. The surgical therapy consists mainly in enucleation of an adenoma or in partial pancreatic resection. Total pancreatectomy is indicated only in few cases. The Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is treated best by total gastrectomy. Malignant tumors are sensible to streptozotozin.


During the past few decades, fabrication of functional rotaxane-branched dendrimers has become one of the most attrac-tive yet challenging topics within supramolecular chemistry and materials science. Herein, we present the successful fab-rication of a family of new rotaxane-branched dendrimers containing up to twenty-one platinum atoms and forty-two photosensitizer moieties through an efficient and controllable divergent approach. Notably, the photosensitization efficiencies of these rotaxane-branched dendrimers gradually increased with the increase of dendrimer generation. For example, third-generation rotaxane-branched dendrimer PG3 revealed 13.3-fold higher 1O2 generation efficiency than its corresponding monomer AN. The enhanced 1O2 generation efficiency was attributed to the enhancement of intersystem crossing (ISC) through the simple and efficient incorporation of multiple heavy atoms and photosensitizer moieties on the axles and wheels of the rotaxane units, respectively, which has been validated by UV-visible and fluorescence tech-niques, time-dependent density functional theory calculations, photolysis model reactions, and the apparent activation energy calculations. Therefore, we develop a new promising platform of rotaxane-branched dendrimers for the prepara-tion of effective photosensitizers.


This study documents the 3-phase BLDC(Brushless DC) motor to improve conventional exhaust fan motor. Energy efficiency, noise, and air pollution reduction for the high-performance vibration of the BLDC motor has been used in many fields. It is necessary to achieve the information of rotor position for driving 3-phase type brushless DC motor. It is also necessary that the PWM control algorithm design for a MOSFET driver to control the motor speed control for each of three phases. BLDC motors for exhaust fan, we studied the controller and software. The control circuit and motor control program through which Exhaust fan up close and person can be used safely and protect the environment


The present study was to a develop bilayer sustained release tablet of Isosorbide mononitrate, an anti-anginal organic nitrate vasodilator. The tablets were prepared by wet granulation method. Hydrophilic and hydrophobic matrix materials such as hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, and polyox were used, which can release the drug up to 24hrs in predetermined rate. Binder used was pvp k-30. The influence of hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymer and granulation technique was studied. The formulated tablet were also characterized by physical and chemical parameters such as for granules, angle of repose, bulk density, compressibility index, total porosity, and drug content and for the tablet thickness, hardness, diameter, weight variation test, drug content, friability, and in vitro release studies. The granules showed satisfactory flow properties, compressibility, and drug content. The invitro release rate profile showed the higher concentration of F6 polymer in tablet.


Simulation is still rarely used by management researchers, particularly those who study business and other systems as social rather than technical or mechanical entities. Why? This article explores this question. The validation issue in simulation research and several examples of good simulation practice are discussed. The main reasons for the low status of simulation research in management studies are: the emphasis on academic specialization rather than craftsmanship, the complicated systems rather than complex systems viewpoint, and the paradigm of the empirical sciences rather than design sciences which prevails in management studies.  1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved


In order for fuel cells to have commercial viability as alternative fuel sources, researchers need to develop highly active and robust fuel cell electrocatalysts. In recent years, the focus has been on the design and synthesis of novel catalytic materials with controlled interface and surface structures. Another goal is to uncover potential catalytic activity and selectivity, as well as understand their fundamental catalytic mechanisms. Scientists have achieved great progress in the experimental and theoretical investigation due to the urgent demand for broad commercialization of fuel cells in automotive applications. However, there are still three main problems: cost, performance, and stability. To meet these targets, the catalyst needs to have multisynergic functions. In addition, the composition and structure changes of the catalysts during the reactions still need to be explored. Activity in catalytic nanomaterials is generally controlled by the size, shape, composition, and interface and surface engineering. As such, one-dimensional nanostructures such as nanowires and nanotubes are of special interest. However, these structures tend to lose the nanoparticle morphology and inhibit the use of catalysts in both fuel cell anodes and cathodes. In 2003, Rubinstein and co-workers proposed the idea of nanoparticle nanotubes (NNs), which combine the geometry of nanotubes and the morphology of nanoparticles. This concept gives both the high surface-to-volume ratio and the size effect, which are both appealing in electrocatalyst design. In this Account, we describe our developments in the construction of highly active NNs with unique surface and heterogeneous interface structures. We try to clarify enhanced activity and stability in catalytic systems by taking into account the activity impact factors. We briefly introduce material structural effects on the electrocatalytic reactivity including metal oxide/metal and metal/metal interfaces, dealloyed pure Pt, and mixed Pt/Pd surfaces. In addition, we discuss the geometric structure and surface composition changes and evolutions on the activity, selectivity, and stability under fuel cell operation conditions. We expect that these nanostructured materials with particular nanostructured characteristics, physical and chemical properties, and remarkable structure changes will offer new opportunities for wide scientific communities.


Vitiligo is a skin disorder of unknown aetiology, affecting 0.1-2% of the general population. The aim of the present study was to investigate its relationship with sleep disorders, especially parasomnias. Two hundred and sixteen individuals were examined. Among them, 116 were suffering from vitiligo, 52 from other dermatological diseases and 48 were healthy subjects, serving as a control group. An inventory including items related to sleep disorders from childhood and adolescence was used. The study was focused specifically on parasomnias. Patients suffering from vitiligo reported a significantly higher occurrence of sleepwalking, nocturnal enuresis, night illusions, sleep terrors and nightmares than that of the control group, prior to the manifestation of the disease. Patients suffering from other dermatological diseases only reported significantly more often nightmares and nocturnal enuresis compared to the control group. A relationship between parasomnias during early life and later development of vitiligo was detected. This finding supports the hypothesis that neural mechanisms involving monoaminergic systems (especially the serotoninergic one) may potentially be involved in the aetiopathology of vitiligo.