This case provides students with an opportunity to decide how to respond to an SEC inquiry and how to communicate adverse news. It does so in the context of accounting for separately priced extended warranties. LCA-Vision (LCA), a leading provider of LASIK vision-correction services, accounted for separately priced extended warranties incorrectly. Under US generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), LCA was required to defer revenues associated with extended warranties. Instead, LCA recognized 93% of these revenues immediately, and deferred the 7% in accordance with the proportion of customers needing follow-up treatment. During the routine review process, the SEC posted a comment letter questioning this accounting treatment, which subsequently led to a restatement and shareholder litigation. Therefore, the case is an opportunity to examine how managers interact with regulatory bodies, communicate with investors, account for separately priced extended warranties, and correct erroneous filings via issuing a restatement. It is suitable for an audience of accounting students, or as an elective for general business students who have some exposure to accounting. Excerpt UVA-C-2413 Rev. Nov. 30, 2018 Correcting Sight and Accounting at LCA-Vision Inc. It is 10:35 p.m. on March 13, 2007, and an excited Jonathan Harper puts down the phone. He just spoke with his boss, Levi, and has been given his first assignment as a new consultant. His firm advises on matters of securities regulations. The client, LCA-Vision Inc. (LCA), has just run into problems with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Harper did not get all the details, but, apparently, LCA's description of its accounting led the SEC to believe that its accounting for separately priced warranties is not in compliance with US generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). LCA wants to know whether it is in compliance, and, if not, how it should account for these warranties and communicate with the SEC and investors. Harper can hardly believe his luck. In his very first assignment, he will get an opportunity to advise a client on how to deal with the nation's top securities regulator. Levi had arranged a meeting with him in the morning to share details. But Harper was too excited to sleep, so he decided to see what he could find out about LCA and its accounting policies relating to extended warranties prior to the meeting. Harper races online and finds that LCA is listed on NASDAQ (under the ticker LCAV), and is one of the leading providers of laser vision-correction services in the United States. He learns that LCA owns and operates 60 LasikPlus vision centers in the United States, and operates some in Canada through a joint venture. Since 1995, the company has performed more than 740,000 laser vision-correction procedures throughout the United States and Canada. Further, its stock price took off from 2003 through 2006, but is now starting to stall (Exhibit 1). . . .


Artificial Intelligence (AI) has recently raised to the point where it has a direct impact on the daily life of billions of people. This is the result of its application to sectors like finance, health, digital entertainment, transportation, security and advertisement. Today, AI fuels some of the most significant economic and research institutions in the world, and the impact of AI in the near future seems difficult to predict or even bound. In contrast to all this power, society remains mostly ignorant of the capabilities, requirements and standard practices of AI today. Society is becoming aware of the dangers that come with that ignorance, and is rightfully asking for solutions. To address this need, improving on current practices of interaction between people and AI systems, we propose a transparency scheme to be implemented on any AI system open to the public. The scheme is based on two main pillars: Data Privacy and AI Transparency. The first recognizes the relevance of data for AI and is supported by GDPR, the most important legislation on the topic. The second considers aspects of AI transparency yet to be regulated: AI capacity, purpose and source. Lacking legislation to build upon, we design this pillar based on fundamental ethical principles. For each of the two pillars, we define a three-level display. The first level is based on visual signs, inspired by traffic signs managing the interaction between people and cars, and designed for quick and universal interpretability. The second level uses a factsheet system, providing further detail while still abstracting the subject. The last level provides access to all available details. After detailing and exemplifying the proposed transparency scheme, we define a set of principles for creating transparent by design software, to be used during the integration of AI components on user-oriented services.


Since 1992, mass mortalities among cultured giant tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon (Fabricius), and kuruma shrimp, Penaeus japonicus (Bate), have been observed in Taiwan. The condition is known as 'white spot disease' (WSD), based on the characteristic white spots on the cuticle of diseased shrimp. With the scanning electron microscope, two sizes of white spots were observed. Each spot represented a protrusion on the inside surface of the carapace. The composition of white spots was similar to that of the cuticule, most calcium, as determined with an energy dispersive spectrometer. Histological studies of moribund, infected specimens revealed degenerated cells, characterized by hypertrophied nuclei, in various meso- and ectodermal tissues. Infected tissues included cuticular epidermis, connective tissue, lymphoid organ, antennal gland, and haematopoietic, gill and nervous tissue. Nuclei were Feulgen-positive and no occlusion body was found in the necrotic tissue. Transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of rod-shaped and enveloped virions in the hypertrophied nuclei. The virions measured 298 ± 21 × 107 ± 8 nm in the giant tiger shrimp and 248 ± 12 × 104 ± 8 nm in the kuruma shrimp. In an experimental infection trial, cumulative mortality was 40% within 14 days under stress conditions. No mortality was observed in controls or in non-stressed infected shrimp. Experimental infections show that environmental stressors such as ammonia may enhance the severity of WSD virus infections in cultured shrimp.


In the last few decades, a number of radiopharmaceuticals for imaging inflammation have been proposed that differ in their specificity and mechanism of uptake in inflamed foci as compared to the traditional inflammation imaging agents. Radiolabelled cytokines represent a reliable tool for the preclinical diagnosis of chronic inflammatory processes, even before anatomical and functional changes occur in affected tissues. Moreover, the introduction of radiolabelled monoclonal antibodies and sophisticated technique like PET/CT now make the field of inflammation imaging highly specific and accurate. In this review, different approaches of the established and experimental radiopharmaceuticals for imaging of chronic inflammation are discussed.


The synthesis of 4,5-diamino derivatives of pyrimidine and pyrimido[4,5-d]pyrimidines is presented. The antibacterial and antifungal activity of the compounds was investigated on nine selected bacterial species, comparing the changes in the chemical structure with increase in the bioactive properties. The investigations have shown that the obtained derivatives of pyrimido[4,5-d]pyrimidines and especially the compounds reveal interesting antibacterial 6e and antifungal 6d activity.


: Bran is the outer part of cereal grains that is separated during the cereals de-hulling and milling processes. It was considered in the past a by-product of cereal industry employed mainly as animal feed. Cereal bran, being particularly rich in different functional biopolymers, bio-active compounds and essential fatty acids, attracted the interest of pharmaceutical and food industry. Furthermore, the peculiar techno-functional properties of brans together with their particular physiological and nutritional aspects have led to a great interest in their incorporation as main or secondary components in different groups of food products including bakery and confectionery products, breakfast cereals and extruded foodstuffs, emulsions and functional dairy products and pasta products. In the first part of the present work the main fractionation processes, bran fractions properties and their physicochemical and technological properties are briefly reviewed. In the second part, relevant applications, with emphasis on patents, in food industry are reviewed as well.


We studied, for the first time, the near-infrared, stellar and baryonic Tully-Fisher relations for a sample of field galaxies taken from a homogeneous Fabry-Perot sample of galaxies [the Gassendi HAlpha survey of SPirals (GHASP) survey]. The main advantage of GHASP over other samples is that the maximum rotational velocities were estimated from 2D velocity fields, avoiding assumptions about the inclination and position angle of the galaxies. By combining these data with 2MASS photometry, optical colours, HI masses and different mass-to-light ratio estimators, we found a slope of 4.48 +/- 0.38 and 3.64 +/- 0.28 for the stellar and baryonic Tully-Fisher relation, respectively. We found that these values do not change significantly when different mass-to-light ratio recipes were used. We also point out, for the first time, that the rising rotation curves as well as asymmetric rotation curves show a larger dispersion in the Tully-Fisher relation than the flat ones or the symmetric ones. Using the baryonic mass and the optical radius of galaxies, we found that the surface baryonic mass density is almost constant for all the galaxies of this sample. In this study we also emphasize the presence of a break in the NIR Tully-Fisher relation at M-H,M-K similar to -20 and we confirm that late-type galaxies present higher total-to-baryonic mass ratios than early-type spirals, suggesting that supernova feedback is actually an important issue in late-type spirals. Due to the well-defined sample selection criteria and the homogeneity of the data analysis, the Tully-Fisher relation for GHASP galaxies can be used as a reference for the study of this relation in other environments and at higher redshifts.


ABSTRACT Superoxide dismutases (Sods) play very important roles in preventing oxidative damages in aerobic organisms. The nitrogen-fixing heterocystous cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 has two Sod-encoding genes: a sodB, encoding a soluble iron-containing Sod (FeSod), and a sodA, encoding a manganese-containing Sod (MnSod). The FeSod was purified and characterized. A recombinant FeSod was also obtained by overproduction in Escherichia coli. Immunoblot study of the FeSod during induction of heterocyst differentiation showed that the cells produced six- to eightfold more FeSod 8 h after a shift from a nitrogen-replete condition to a nitrogen-depleted condition. However, the amount of FeSod protein in filaments with mature heterocysts was the same as that in filaments grown with combined nitrogen. Superoxide anion-generating chemicals such as methyl viologen did not induce upregulation of the sodB gene expression. The predicted preprotein of the sodA gene has a leader peptide and a motif for membrane attachment at the N terminus of the mature protein. Activity staining after gel electrophoresis of the purified thylakoid membranes showed that most of the MnSod in Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 was located on thylakoids toward the lumenal side. Expression of the sodA gene in E. coli shows that the leader peptide was required for its activity and the membrane localization of the MnSod. Northern hybridization detected one 0.82-kb transcript of sodA. The sodA gene was upregulated by methyl viologen, whereas its amount was unchanged during heterocyst differentiation. Immunoblotting and activity staining showed that isolated heterocysts contained a lower but still significant amount of FeSod, suggesting that its function is required in heterocysts. No MnSod was observed in isolated heterocysts. These results show that the two different Sod proteins have differentiated roles in Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120.


OBJECTIVE
To conduct a systematic search for (1) the effectiveness of evidence-based communication tools to increase patient understanding of evidence, (2) effective formats for representing probabilistic information and (3) effective strategies for eliciting patient preferences about evidence. A case scenario is used to illustrate some of the difficulties of putting these results into practice.

DATA SOURCES
Systematic search of The Cochrane Library, Medline, Psychinfo, Embase and Cancerlit.

REVIEW METHODS
Systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and high quality RCTs were included. Studies were excluded if they did not address the question, were focused on behavioural outcomes without attempting to increase understanding, were concerned with counselling as a therapeutic intervention, or were specific to communication regarding clinical trial participation.

RESULTS
We found 10 systematic reviews of RCTs and 30 additional RCTs addressing our questions. Communication tools in most formats (verbal, written, video, provider-delivered, computer-based) will increase patients' understanding but are more likely to do so if structured, tailored and/or interactive. Probabilistic information is best represented as event rates (natural frequencies) in relevant groups of people, rather than words, probabilities or summarized as effect measures such as relative risk reduction. Illustrations such as cartoons, or graphs (vertical bar charts) appear to aid understanding. Values clarification exercises may be better than standard utility techniques for eliciting preferences in individual decision making. Looking for effective evidence-based communication tools for prostatic specific antigen testing highlighted the challenges for clinicians and consumers in accessing tools that are evidence-based in design as well as content.

CONCLUSION
There is an increasing body of evidence supporting the design of effective evidence-based communication tools but variable access to such tools in practice.


INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: As the use of telemedicine expands, it is important to assess its impact on safety and quality of care as well as costs. Outcomes from virtual visits (VV), remote encounters via a video system, have not been evaluated in the postoperative pediatric urology population. We sought to compare VV with in-person visits (IPV) with respect to clinical outcomes and family experience. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted of VV and IPV during a 2 month period in 2018. Postoperative patients of 8 pediatric urologists were enrolled. The following variables were tracked: appointment compliance, waiting room and visit time, and the number of unscheduled encounters and readmissions. After each postoperative visit, families were asked to complete an electronic 11-question survey pertaining to their experience, including quantifying direct cost, missed work and school, and their satisfaction. Opportunity cost was estimated by multiplying reported missed work time by an average hourly wage of $22.81 (US Bureau of Labor Statistics). RESULTS: 51 VV and 57 IPV were completed. There was no difference in the characteristics of the 2 cohorts (Table). Waiting room time for IPV was significantly longer (p<0.001), with IPV starting a mean of 20 minutes after the scheduled time as compared to a mean VV start of 1.8 minutes prior to the scheduled time. VV face-to-face time spent with the urologist was significantly longer by 1.5 minutes (p=0.024). There was no difference in unscheduled encounters and there were no readmissions in either cohort. The survey response rate was 54% in both cohorts. Families reported that VV took 15 minutes, compared to almost 3 hours for IPV (p<0.001). To participate in VV, significantly less work and school was missed by parents and children, respectively. Families incurred significantly greater direct (p<0.001) and opportunity (p=0.0025) costs for IPV, totaling $108.23 on average per visit. Nearly all families (97-98%) were very satisfied or satisfied with their postoperative visit, whether it was virtual or in-person. CONCLUSIONS: For pediatric urologic postoperative care, VV are associated with shorter wait and travel times, decreased missed work and school, and similar clinical outcomes compared to IPV. Telemedicine also reduces direct and opportunity costs associated with these brief but important encounters. Table. No title available. Source of Funding: None


Many economic theories of decision making assume that people evaluate options independently of other available options. However, recent cognitive theories such as decision field theory suggest that people's evaluations rely on a relative comparison of the options' potential consequences such that the subjective value of an option critically depends on the context in which it is presented. To test this prediction, we examined pairwise choices between monetary gambles and varied the degree to which the gambles' outcomes covered with one another. When people evaluate options by comparing their outcomes, a high covariance between these outcomes should make a decision easier, as suggested by decision field theory. In line with this prediction, the observed choice proportions in 2 experiments (N = 39 and 24, respectively) depended on the magnitude of the covariance. We call this effect the covariance effect. Our findings are in line with the theoretic predictions and show that the discriminability ratio in decision field theory can reflect the choice difficulty. These results confirm that interdependent evaluations of options play an important role in human decision making under risk and show that covariance is an important aspect of the choice context.


In vivo and in vitro studies give a paradoxical picture of the actions of the key regulatory factor TGF-β1 in epidermal wound healing with it stimulating migration of keratinocytes but also inhibiting their proliferation. To try to reconcile these into an easily visualized 3D model of wound healing amenable for experimentation by cell biologists, a multiscale model of the formation of a 3D skin epithelium was established with TGF-β1 literature–derived rule sets and equations embedded within it. At the cellular level, an agent-based bottom-up model that focuses on individual interacting units (keratinocytes) was used. This was based on literature-derived rules governing keratinocyte behavior and keratinocyte/ECM interactions. The selection of these rule sets is described in detail in this paper. The agent-based model was then linked with a subcellular model of TGF-β1 production and its action on keratinocytes simulated with a complex pathway simulator. This multiscale model can be run at a cellular level only or at a combined cellular/subcellular level. It was then initially challenged (by wounding) to investigate the behavior of keratinocytes in wound healing at the cellular level. To investigate the possible actions of TGF-β1, several hypotheses were then explored by deliberately manipulating some of these rule sets at subcellular levels. This exercise readily eliminated some hypotheses and identified a sequence of spatial-temporal actions of TGF-β1 for normal successful wound healing in an easy-to-follow 3D model. We suggest this multiscale model offers a valuable, easy-to-visualize aid to our understanding of the actions of this key regulator in wound healing, and provides a model that can now be used to explore pathologies of wound healing.


Purpose This study aimed to investigate the association of muscle thickness (MT) and echo intensity (EI) obtained at different regions along the muscle length with muscle volume (MV), intramuscular adipose tissue (IntraMAT), and muscle strength of the quadriceps femoris (QF). Patients and Methods A total of 135 community-dwelling adults (64 men and 71 women) participated in the study. Ultrasound scanning of the rectus femoris (RF) and vastus intermedius (VI) was performed at three locations (from mid- to distal thigh). The MT of the RF and VI and EI of the RF were measured. MRI-derived MV, IntraMAT, and muscle strength of the QF were measured. Results The correlation between RF-MT and RF-MV weakened as scanning approached the distal thigh, and the difference between the coefficients for the scanning locations was significant for women. However, the correlation of VI-MT with VI-MV and that of the combined MT of RF and VI with the MV of the whole QF and muscle strength were comparable among the scanning locations for both sexes. The correlation of RF-EI with the IntraMAT of the RF and the whole QF and muscle strength was also comparable among the scanning locations for both sexes. Conclusion The results of this study suggest that ultrasound measurements at the distal thigh can predict MV, IntraMAT, and muscle strength of the QF to the same degree as those at the mid-thigh.


A disaster can be defined in many ways based on perspectives, in addition, its types are able to classify differently by various standards. Considering the different perspectives, the disaster can be occurred by natural phenomenon that is like typhoon, earthquake, flood, and drought, and by the accident that is like collapse of facilities, traffic accidents, and environmental pollution, etc. Into the modern society, moreover, the disaster includes the damages by diffusion of epidemic and infectious disease in domestic animals. The disaster was defined by natural and man-made hazards in the past. As societies grew with changes of paradigm, social factors have been included in the concept of the disaster according to new types unexpected by new disease and scientific technology. Change the concept of social disasters, Ministry of Public Safety and Security (MPSS) has provided the regional safety index, which measures the safety level of a local government. However, this regional safety index has some limitation to use because this index provides the information for city unit which is a unit of administrative districts of urban. Since these administrative districts units are on a different level with urban and rural areas, the regional safety index provided by MPSS is not be able to direct apply to the rural areas. The purpose of this study is to determine the regional safety index targeting rural areas. To estimate the safety index, we was used for 3 indicators of the MPSS, a fire, a crime, and an infectious disease which are evaluable the regional safety index using an accessibility analysis. For determining the regional safety index using accessibility from community centers to public facilities, the safety index of fire, crime, and infectious disease used access time to fire station, police office, and medical facility, respectively. An integrated Cheongju, targeting areas in this study, is mixed region with urban and rural areas. The results of regional safety index about urban and rural areas, the safety index in rural area is relatively higher than in the urban. Neverthless the investment would be needed to improve the safety in the rural areas.


The molecular basis for the "epigenetic memory" that ensures maintenance of unique patterns of regulatory DNA methylation of selected genes responsible for cancer progression has remained elusive. Using a breast cancer progression model system, we found that hyperactive TGFβ-TGFβR-Smad2 signaling axis is involved in the maintenance of DNA hypermethylation mediated silencing of critical target genes to facilitate breast cancer progression. Disruption of TGFβ signaling caused a corresponding decrease in DNMT1 binding activity accompanied with increased expression of the target genes and acquisition of tumorigenic properties. These observations are consistent with passive demethylation of the newly synthesized DNA due to absence of sustained TGFβ-Smad signaling downstream events. In summary, we provide conclusive evidence that the reversal of the DNA hypermethylation status of gene promoters occurs as a result of TGFβ/Smad signaling pathway perturbation. By extension, we predict that inhibition of TGFβ-TGFβR-Smad2 signaling axis is an effective therapeutic strategy for breast cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 187.


Charge transfer in semiconductor heterojunctions is largely governed by the offset in the energy levels of the constituent materials. Unfortunately, literature values for such energy level offsets vary widely and are usually based on energy levels of the individual materials rather than of actual heterojunctions. Here we present a new method to determine absolute energy levels and energy level offsets in situ for films containing CdSe and PbSe quantum dots. Using spectroelectrochemistry, we find a type I offset at the CdSe-PbSe heterojunction. Whereas the energy level offset follows the expected size-dependent trend, the absolute positions of the 1Se level in the individual CdSe or PbSe quantum dots does not. This level varies by more than 0.5 eV, depending on film composition and surface defect concentration. Rather than extrapolating energy level offsets from measurements on pure CdSe or PbSe quantum-dot films, we suggest measuring energy level offsets in heterojunctions in situ.


The olive plant has been an important source of nutrition and medicine of the Mediterranean. In this study it is aimed to design a textile product conserve oleuropein compound as a medical textile. Oleuropein was used in different concentrations with different cross-linker and applied to cotton fabric by pad-drycure method. FTIR-ATR and SEM were used to examine the presence of the oleuropein on the cotton fabrics. The oleuropein applied cotton fabrics antimicrobial activity test was performed against both gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative Escherichia coli bacteria. The durability of the antimicrobial activity of cotton fabrics was tested after 10 washing cycles at 40 °C for 30 min. Tensile strength tests of the fabrics were performed to evaluate the effect of oleuropein solution pH value changes. Air permeability and whiteness values of fabrics were performed on the fabrics before and after the treatment with oleuropein


The temperature measurement at southwest-facing edge of a rubber forest was conducted in a calm tropical region of Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China in January 1998, and the daytime thermal characteristics and their time-space variations nearby the edge of the rubber forest were discussed. There was an obviously thermal effect at forest edge. The depth of edge influence on soil surface temperature was up to 13 m from the edge into the forest. Soil surface temperature reached its highest at 4.5 m outside the forest. The highest air temperature occurred at 0 m of the edge. The heat transfer nearby the edge was quite different in number and in direction. Outside the forest, the heat was transferred from ground to air on almost daytime, while at interior of forest, was opposite after the noon. The heat was transferred from the rubber canopy to the ground. At the forest edge, such variation was complex, depended mainly on location and time.


Introduction:Recently, increased attention has been paid to the association of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) with the use of immunomodulatory medications for autoimmune diseases. Case Report:A 23-year-old Native American woman with a history of systemic lupus erythematosus and erosive polyarthritis treated with prednisone and etanercept presented with focal weakness, hemiataxia, diplopia, and dysarthria. Brain magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated progressive, T2 signal hyperintensities within the brainstem and cerebellar white matter without mass effect or gadolinium enhancement. Cerebrospinal fluid showed elevated protein and JC virus polymerase chain reaction positive with 28,600 copies/ml diagnostic of PML. Conclusions:The development of PML in this patient treated with etanercept and prednisone highlights the increased risk for opportunistic infection with JC virus in patients with autoimmune diseases on immunosuppressive therapies.


The malate synthase gene, MLS1, of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is transcriptionally regulated by the carbon source in the growth medium. A MLS1lacZ fusion gene, expressed at a basal level in the presence of 2% glucose, is derepressed more than 100-fold under conditions of sugar limitation. No evidence for MLS1 induction by oleic acid was found. By deletion analysis of the MLS1 control region, we identi®ed two sites, UAS1 and UAS2, as important for ecient derepression of the gene. Both sites contain sequences that resemble the previously characterized carbon source-responsive element (CSRE) found in the promoter of the isocitrate lyase gene ICL1. Indeed, UAS1 and UAS2 in the MLS1 upstream region turn out to be functional CSRE sequence variants. This ®nding allowed us to de®ne a modi®ed version of the CSRE consensus sequence (CCRTYSRNCCG). Protein binding to UAS1MLS1 was observed with extracts from derepressed but not from repressed cells, and could be competed for by an excess of the unlabelled CSRE(ICL1) sequence. No competition was observed with a mutated CSRE variant. Site-directed mutagenesis of both CSREs in the MLS1 promoter reduced gene activation under derepressing conditions to 20% of the wild-type level. The same decrease was observed with the wild-type MLS1 promoter in a cat8 mutant, lacking an activator of CSRE-dependent transcription. The CSRE/Cat8p-independent activation of MLS1 is mediated by constitutive UAS elements. The pleiotropic transcription factor Abf1p, which binds to the MLS1 upstream region, may contribute to constitutive activation. Thus, in order to ensure the severe glucose repression of MLS1 observed, repressor elements that respond to the carbon source must counteract constitutive activation. In summary, ICL1 and MLS1 share common cis-acting elements, although a distinct mechanism of carbon source control also contributes to MLS1 regulation.


PurposeThis paper aims to highlight provisions that may attract corporate criminal liability (CCL) in legislation and regulations enacted in Malaysia. Further, this paper identifies gaps or obstacles in the implementation of CCL in Islamic banks (IBs) in Malaysia.Design/methodology/approachThis research adopts the qualitative methodology. More specifically, it uses normative legal research by focusing on primary and secondary data obtained from legislation, regulations, decided case laws, guidelines, law textbooks and bank annual reports in relation to CCL provisions. It also conducts semi-structured interviews with different categories of experts, including legal practitioners (lawyers), regulators from Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and Securities Commission Malaysia, officers of the Attorney General's Chambers and officers from legal departments in IBs.FindingsThe results conclude that IBs should implement the law on CCL because they are considered corporations. It is also found that not all IBs complied with CCL provisions brought corporate offenders before the court.Research limitations/implicationsThis research is restricted by its specialisation in CCL in IBs in Malaysia.Practical implicationsThe CCL provision has to be implemented effectively by IBs to achieve the benefit. However, not all IBs implement CCL provision properly. The understanding created by the interview data illuminates the challenges in implementing CCL provisions. Thus, this paper seeks to change the approach in the implementation of CCL provisions by IBs in Malaysia.Originality/valueThe paper touches upon a new area, notably CCL in IBs, which is not well researched in past literature. Although there is a vast research on CCL, corporate crime in IBs in Malaysia is still an unexplored area. This study gives light on the implementation of CCL provisions in IBs.


The contents and subject scope of the peer-reviewed bibliographic database Library Information Systems and Innovations in Digital Environment, LIS), based in IRBIS64 software are characterized in brief. The proportion of source document types and bibliographic records is identified. Science and scientific and practical journals prove to be the major source for the bibliographic array, while the share of other source types is relatively small. The major sources of information, or the core journals within the LIS database subject scope are revealed. Based on the LIS databases contents, the parallel is drawn with Bradford scattering law which states that if journals in a field are sorted by number of articles into three groups, each with about one-third of all articles, then the number of publications in specialized journals will make the one-third, the other one third will be published in the related journals and the other will be distributed between in a vast number of science periodicals unpredictable for the said subject scope. The author establishes that the qualitative and typical composition of the LIS database bibliographic array is in full accord withBradford's law.


Textiles Surface and Structure is a display of work, designed and made on the BA (Hons) Textiles course at UCA Farnham. It was displayed as part of the Festival of Textiles 2016 at the Fashion and Textile Museum in London. Led by artist and designer Sharon Ting, the course forms part of the only School of Crafts and Design in the UK and aims to fuse traditional skills with innovative materials-based textile design. The display in the Fashion Studio features work by Ting as well as that of final year students and recent graduates including Louise Anderson.


Carrier removal effects in n-type silicon as a result of neutron irradiation and subsequent heat treatment have been monitored by Hall effect and conductivity measurements at a temperature of 275°K. Samples of float-zoned, crucible, and Lopex grown (?=100 to 0.3?-cm) phosphorus-doped silicon and float-zoned and Lopex grown (?= 30 to 0.3?-cm) lithium-doped silicon were irradiated at ambient temperature with ~5-MeV neutrons and, subsequently, heat-treated between 20 and 200°C. The carrier removal rates for the lithium-doped samples, 7 to 75 cm-1 were significantly higher than the removal rates observed in the conventionally-doped samples, 6 to 12 cm-1. In addition, the lithium-doped material exhibited a strong dependence of removal rate on dopant concentration; whereas, the data for the conventional samples were relatively independent of dopant level. Upon subsequent heat-treatment, the lithium-doped samples showed continued carrier removal, while the phosphorus-doped samples tended to recover to a preirradiation condition. The enhanced carrier removal in the lithiumdoped material was found to be consistent with the removal of positively-charged lithium donors from a state of electrical activity by ion-drift to the negatively-charged defect cluster. Relevant parameters yielded by this model are: a defect cluster radius of 300A, a cluster charge of -150e, and an effective capture radius for the lithiumdrift of 2500A. The continued carrier removal in the heattreated, lithium-doped silicon follows kinetics expected for the precipitation of lithium at the neutron-produced defect cluster sites through a diffusion-limited process. The model yields an activation energy of ~0.62 eV which compares well with the ~ 0.


The piston impacts against the cylinder liner are the most significant sources of mechanical noise in internal combustion
engines. Conventionally, the severity of impacts is reduced through the modification of physical and geometrical
characteristics of components in the piston assembly. These methods effectively reduce power losses at certain engine
operating conditions. Moreover, the conditions leading to the reduction in power losses inversely increase the engine noise due to piston impacts. An alternative control method that is robust to fluctuations in engine operating conditions is anticipated to improve the engine's NVH performance whilst exacerbation in power loss remains within the limits of the conventional methods. The concept of Targeted Energy Transfer (TET) through the use of Nonlinear Energy Sinks (NES) has not been applied yet in automotive powertrains. Numerical studies have shown a potential in reducing the severity of impact dynamics by controlling piston's secondary motion. The power loss of a piston equipped with a nonlinear energy sink is investigated in this study.


Abstract Plasmonic materials are emerging as key platforms for applications that rely on the manipulation of light at small length scales. Sub-wavelength metallic features support surface plasmons that can induce huge local electromagnetic fields at the metal surface, facilitating a host of extraordinary optical phenomena. Ag nanocrystals (NCs) and nanowires (NWs) are ideal building blocks for the bottom-up fabrication of plasmonic materials for photonics, spectroscopy, and chemical sensing. Faceted Ag nanostructures are synthesized using a colloidal approach to regulate nucleation and crystallographic growth direction. Next, new methods of nanoscale organization using Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) compression are presented where one- and two-dimensional assemblies can be constructed with impressive alignment over large areas. Using this method, plasmon coupling between Ag nanostructures can be controlled by varying spacing and density, achieving for the first time a completely tunable plasmon response in the visible wavelengths. Lastly, these assemblies are demonstrated as exceptional substrates for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) by achieving high chemical sensitivity and specificity, exhibiting their utility as portable field sensors, and integrating them into multiplexed "lab-on-a-chip" devices.


Abstract High grade-gliomas are highly invasive and prone to metastasis, leading to poor survival and prognosis. Currently, we urgently need a new treatment strategy to effectively inhibit glioma. In this study, artemether and paclitaxel were used as two agents for tumour suppression. Two functional materials were synthesised and modified on the surface of the micelle as targeting molecules. The addition of two functional materials confers the ability of the micelles to effectively cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and then target the glioma cells. Thus, this dual-targeted delivery system allows the drug to play a better role in inhibiting tumour invasion and vasculogenic mimicry (VM) channels. In this paper, the anticancer effects of dual-targeted artemether plus paclitaxel micelles on glioma U87 cells were studied in three aspects: (I) In vitro and in vivo targeting assessment, including the role of penetrating BBB and targeting glioma; (II) In vitro regulation of invasion-associated proteins; (III) Inhibition of VM channels formation and invasion in vitro; (IV) The study of pharmacodynamics in tumour-bearing mice. These results suggest that dual-targeted artemether plus paclitaxel micelle may provide a new strategy to treat glioma via inhibiting invasive and VM channels.


Cystic fibrosis-related diabetes mellitus (CF-DM) is thought to be secondary to beta-cell destruction by fibrous tissue replacing the exocrine pancreas. The aim of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that other factors may also be responsible. Glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and islet cell (IA-2) antibodies were measured by quantitative ELISA in a group of patients with CF (n=30) in comparison to a group of newly diagnosed DM type 1 (IDDM) patients (n=30) and normal subjects (n=30). GAD antibodies were positive (>32 ng/ml) in 50% of the CF, 93% of the IDDM and 0% of the control group. IA-2 antibodies were detected (>0.9 U/ml) in 40% of the CF, 93% of the IDDM and 0% of the control group. Among the fifteen CF patients with positive GAD and IA-2 antibodies, four already had IDDM and another five abnormally low (<45 mU/l) first phase insulin response (FPIR) indicating a prediabetic state. We conclude that factors other than mechanical may be involved in the development of CFDM. The presence of autoantibodies predicting IDDM supports the hypothesis that CF-DM may have a multifactorial pathogenesis.


This chapter provides an introduction to film coating—the formulation, application and evaluation of pharmaceutical film coatings. A well-coated tablet begins with a well-made core and, while tablet formulation is covered elsewhere in this volume, some key aspects of tablet cores as they pertain to coating are revisited here. The key formulation components of a film coat—the polymer, plasticiser, colourant and vehicle—are discussed, including the rationale for their use and approximate levels to be included within a formulation. The process for applying a film coat is at least as important to the quality of the finished product as the formulation of the coating and so significant aspects of the process and its control are covered. The chapter concludes with a description of the various techniques used to evaluate film coatings in development and manufacture.


The 21st century is a multiplication age and social and cultural phenomena have become diverse and peoples` desires and individuality have become important. Accordingly, the sensibility that reflects human taste is also required in the exhibition space. The exhibitions in this age induce the direct cognition of senses or take interactive forms that contact diverse media and react. The purpose of this research is to define the concept of haptic presentation method in which the audience perceive in the exhibition space by themselves and the visual elements spread into other senses and perceive complexity, and to present the directional nature. To conduct this research, first, this researcher recognized that haptic sensory experiential research by analyzing the roles and transition history of exhibition space is needed for the present age Second, based on philosophical theories, four haptic sensory expression characteristics (medium nature, experiential nature, attractiveness, sensitiveness) were derived by substituting Giles Deleuze`s four haptic spatial characteristics (grasping short distance, dispersed gaze, cognition of bodily movement, formation of synesthesia through complex senses) and six formative factors of exhibition space (space, form. size, light, quality of materials, and color). And the effective exhibition presentation methods were analyzed through six cases of experiential exhibition spaces. Accordingly, what matters in the experiential exhibition space is to produce the four characteristics: medium nature, experientiality, attractiveness, and sensitiveness in equilibrium. It is necessary for the designers to reflect it appropriately in producing so that the audience can think and experience by themselves. Accordingly, in this thesis, it could be seen that to produce the haptic production characteristics in the experiential exhibition space in equilibrium is the important factor in the experiential exhibition space. In conclusion, experiences n the exhibition space should be approached with the transcendental haptic presentation method by which even the space of actually unexperienced cognition can be expanded and experienced through the metastasis and tension of various senses. Also researches on such senses should be developed continuously, and this researcher expects that this will become a stimulant to present a new directivity.


Abstract The Kapalagulu intrusion displays the following sequence of cumulus phase layering in a stratigraphic sequence of 1400 m: Basal Zone (BZ) olivine ± chromite → Intermediate Zone (IZ) olivine + plag + opx →, olivine + plag + opx + cpx → Main Zone (MZ) plag + opx + cpx → plag + cpx + Fe/Ti oxide + apatite. The corresponding cryptic variation is olivine Fo83 − 77 (limited to BZ and IZ), orthopyroxene En82 − 56, clinopyroxene Ca46Mg45Fe9 to Ca43Mg37Fe21 and plagioclase An88 − 80. Reversals of the cryptic variation occur at the base of MZ (minor reversal) and in the middle of MZ (major reversal), and are attributed to the influx of relatively primitive magma. The major reversal indicates that progressive mixing of fresh and residual magmas occurred. Because of the major reversal, inverted pigeonite appears twice in the layered sequence, but at different compositions (En65 and En56). Unlike the cumulus olivine and pyroxene, cumulus plagioclase exhibits a wide range of composition (5−10% An) in individual rocks and even in single crystals.


The slowing of growth as fish age has long been believed to be related to energy expenditure for maturation, and this rationalization has been used to explain why, across nearly all fish species, the relationship between size at first maturity (Lm ) and maximum (Lmax ) or asymptotic length (L∞ ) is relatively constant. In contrast, the Gill-Oxygen Limitation Theory (GOLT) postulates that (1) fish growth slows because as they grow, their two dimensional ability to extract oxygen from the water diminishes relative to their three dimensional weight gain, and (2) they can only invest energy for maturation if oxygen supply at their size at first maturity (Qm ) exceeds that needed for maintenance metabolism (Q∞ ). It has been reported previously across dozens of marine fish species that the relationship between Qm vs. Q∞ is linear and further, it can be mathematically converted to Lm vs. L∞ by raising both terms to the power of D (the gill surface factor), resulting in a slope of 1.36. If the GOLT is universal, a similar slope should exist for Lm D vs. L∞ D relationships for freshwater species across multiple individual populations that reside in disparate habitats, although to our knowledge this has never been evaluated. For analysis, we used existing data from previous studies conducted on 51 stream-dwelling populations of redband trout Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri, Yellowstone cutthroat trout O. clarkii bouvieri, and mountain whitefish Prosopium williamsoni. Resulting Lm D vs. L∞ D slopes combining all data points (1.35) or for all species considered separately (range = 1.29-1.40) were indeed equivalent to the slope originally produced for the marine species from which the GOLT-derived relationship was first reported. We briefly discuss select papers both supporting and resisting various aspects of the GOLT, note that it could potentially explain shrinking sizes of marine fish, and call for more concerted research efforts combining laboratory and field expertise in fish growth research. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.


A qualitative freshwater mussel survey was performed in the South Fork Spring River, Arkansas between May 13 and June 20, 2006 to assess community composition, density, and the presence of endangered mussel species (Family Unionidae). Twenty-one species from 460 individuals of mussels were collected using qualitative methods. Of those 21 species, 11 were ranked as S1, S2, or S3 using rankings established by the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission Heritage Program. Three species, Amblema plicata (Say 1817), Lampsilis reeveiana (Call 1887), and Ptychobranchus occidentalis (Conrad 1836), comprised 48% of all mussels collected with 12%, 15%, and 21%, respectively. Mussel abundance within beds ranged between 2 to 33 individuals/site with an overall mean of 13 individuals/site. Selecting mussel beds for long-term monitoring in streams is necessary to assess population status and recruitment and to document success of future stream restoration projects.


Sustainability of seagrass restoration raised concern especially limitation and condition of donor seagrass meadows. To counter this, "gardening" approach can be applied by growing seagrass shoots asexually and sexually in a nursery facility. This study was carried out to identify the fauna species associated with seagrass in the husbandry tanks at Marine Ecology Research Centre (MERC), Gaya Island, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. Associated fauna was identified to the lowest taxa, while their behaviour and potential impacts on seagrass growth were recorded weekly for 9 months (April 2016 to December 2016). Bite marks on the seagrass leaves were reconfirmed through isolation of fauna with seagrass leaves. Total of 18 species of fauna identified, mostly were mesograzers foraging on seagrass or epiphytic algae. Those are polychaeta, grammarid amphipod, sphaeromatid isopod, sea hares, nerites snails and greenspine sea urchin which left specific bite marks on the seagrass leaves. Also, there is discovery of boring bivalve residing inside the rhizome of the seagrass. Quarantine protocol should implement in the future nursery facility, by removing harmful organisms and introduce beneficial organisms as biological control, to ensure higher survival and growth of seagrass.


Polynomial identity testing and arithmetic circuit lower bounds are two central questions in algebraic complexity theory. It is an intriguing fact that these questions are actually related.
One of the authors of the present paper has recently proposed
a "real tau-conjecture" which is inspired by this connection.
The real tau-conjecture states that the number of real roots of
a sum of products of sparse univariate polynomials should be
polynomially bounded. It implies a superpolynomial lower bound on the
size of arithmetic circuits computing the permanent polynomial.

In this paper we show that the real tau-conjecture holds true for a restricted class of sums of products of sparse polynomials.
This result yields lower bounds for a restricted class of depth-4 circuits: we show that polynomial size circuits from this class cannot compute the permanent, and we also give a deterministic polynomial identity testing algorithm for the same class of circuits.


Despite decades of academic and industry effort, achieving efficient and dynamic movementof robots remains a significant challenge. Many robots, particularly humaniod robotsand wearable robots such as exoskeletons and prostheses, are quite limited in their versatilityand usefulness because of the force and speed limitations of actuators. Weight andpower consumption are particularly important factors in determining the operating rangeand effectiveness of these devices. Geared electric motors are most commonly used in theseapplications, but often result in slow, stiff, and halting operation. Other options include hydraulicactuators, pneumatic actuators, electroactive polymer actuators, and shape memorymaterials, but none of these are able to achieve the combination of high power output, highefficiency, and low weight that would enable dynamic movement of untethered robots.Many proposed solutions to this problem involve using clutches to improve the efficiencyand capability of actuation systems. However, conventional clutches such as electromagneticand magnetorheological clutches are themselves too heavy and power-hungry to bepractical. This thesis presents an electroadhesive clutch that has 10£ lower weight and1000£ lower power consumption than conventional clutches. To inform a variety of possibleimplementations, I extensively characterized the effects of design choices on the holdingforce, responsiveness, and power consumption of the electroadhesive clutch. Next, I investigatedthe use of the clutch in a walking assistance exoskeleton, demonstrating the reliabilityand advantages of the electroadhesive clutch in a challenging robotics application. Finally, Istudied the use of electroadhesive clutches to harvest, store, and return mechanical energywith rubber springs, and used multiple of these units in parallel to create a force controllableenergy recycling actuator. My aspiration is that the work in this dissertation willlead to improved robotic hardware that enables exciting new capabilities in next generationrobotics.


ABSTRACT The Tunisian revolution against Ben Ali has catalysed the production of an impressive amount of literary works about political detention during the post-independence period in Tunisia. This article investigates how prison literature constructs the memory of these repressive years and provides testimony about the systematic oppression of Tunisian political activists under Bourguiba and Ben Ali. Additionally, the article provides an innovative reading of the workings of prison literature in the context of Tunisia's Truth and Dignity Commission.


Learning idioms play an influential role in language generally and in English notably. Comprehending idioms assists language learners in integrating culture, enhancing skills, and ameliorating English levels. Numerous studies have analyzed the function of idioms in second language acquisition (Cieślicka, 2015). This study investigates the difficulties and strategies used in learning idioms by English-majored students at a regional public university (PU) in the south of Vietnam. This paper furnishes data showing learners' perceptions of facing complications and learning methods. The samples consisted of 150 undergraduate EFL students from English-medium instruction programs. The data was analyzed by utilizing descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings reveal that students struggle to understand idiomatic terms without specific, understandable contexts. Furthermore, the results indicate that the most frequently employed strategies are guessing the meaning of idioms, learning idioms through keywords, and learning from a range of sources, particularly via media. The findings also mentioned that low-proficiency and high-proficiency students encounter identical challenges, with no significant differences. The study's results revealed that the majority of students have difficulty acquiring, recognizing, and interpreting idioms. The findings indicated that guessing the implication of idioms is the most used strategy.  Article visualizations:


Acalypha guatemalensis Pax & Hoffm. (Euphorbiaceae), a plant native from Guatemala and Honduras, is used in folk medicine to treat protozoal infections, gastrointestinal and venereal diseases, rheumatism, cancer and for several other purposes [1]. In a previous work, the dichloromethane extract from dried leaves showed an inhibitory effect on classical pathway of the complement system by in vitro assays [2]. The aim of the present investigation is the characterization of its active fractions and/or constituents. Powdered dried leaves were submitted to extraction with increasing polarity solvents: hexane and dichloromethane. The active extract was submitted to a bioassay-guided fractionation through silica gel CC eluted with a gradient of CH2Cl2:MeOH (99:1 to 60:40), affording twelve fractions. Their activity on classical complement pathway was determined in human serum by hemolytic assay, using quercetin as positive control [3,4]. The active fractions: AGD-II, AGD-V, AGD-VIII and AGD-XII (IC50=5.83, 2.39, 4.15 and 4.73µg/mL, respectively), were successively fractionated through silica gel and SephadexR LH-20 CC, giving mixtures of free sterols and their acetates. Their structures were elucidated by standard spectroscopic techniques and by comparison with literature data. Phytosterols, particularly sitosterol, stigmasterol and campesterol, have been previously described as potent inhibitors of the complement system [5–7], which plays an important role in host defence, inflammation or allergic reactions. Acknowledgements: S. Sciotto to Fondazione Antonio Imbesi, Universita degli Studi di Messina, Messina, Italy. References: 1. Caceres, A. (2009) Vademecum Nacional de Plantas Medicinales. Editorial Universitaria, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala. Guatemala. 2. Risco, E. et al. (2002) 50th Annual Congress of the Society for Medicinal Plant Research, Barcelona, Spain. 3. Klerx JP. et al. (1983)J Immunol Methods 63:215–220. 4. Huang et al. (1998)J Nat Prod 61:757–761. 5. Yamada, H. et al. (1987) Chem Pharm Bull 35:4851–4855. 6. Oh, SR. et al. (1998) Planta Med 64:456–458. 7. Cerqueira, F. et al. (2003) Planta Med 69:174–176.


Starting from the idea that we can distinguish between two main types of the imaginary – the retrograde imaginary and the imaginary of liberation, and following Michel Foucault's distinction between dialectic and strategic logic, this essay seeks to outline a trajectory of social and political change. The retrograde imaginary belongs to the sovereign and the sovereign police. The imaginary of liberation belongs to the radical imagination and revolutionary movements, including the Occupy movement. The essay has a first more theoretical section, where the point is made that perhaps, in the contemporary world, especially in some areas such as the U.S., there is an ongoing reversion to obsolete forms of domination. This would be a result of the fact that the powers that be no longer have hegemony, and they consequently need to exert domination on the basis of mere and raw violence. Or perhaps old and new forms of domination always coexist in such a way that sovereignty is present in all other forms of domination. The second part of the essay deals with some political matters that, originating in the U.S., have global importance. In particular, the essay offers an analysis of the Obama administration's defense of the assassination program (especially the drone strikes) that is becoming a matter of great global, political and moral, concern. The essay ends with the idea that liberation movements, such as the Occupy movement, can provide an exit from the dominant logic of violence and from the increasingly troubling world's situation.


Measurements of NO and NOx' (as measured by a chemiluminescent analyzer equipped with a FeSO4 converter) were made from an aircraft off the east coast of North America in January and February 1986. These measurements show the mixing ratios of the nitrogen oxides to be higher than encountered in remote continental or marine environments. Both the free troposphere and boundary layer mixing ratio distributions are skewed to ward high mixing ratios and are best described by a gamma probability distribution. The mean mixing ratios observed were 2.9 parts per billion by volume (ppbv) in the boundary layer and 0.55 ppbv in the free troposphere for NOx', and 0.56 ppbv in the boundary layer and 0.18 in the free troposphere for NO.


Despite time constraints and other pressures, emergency personnel can improve both outcomes and patient satisfaction by taking the time to engage patients in decisions about their care, according to Leana Wen, MD, MSc, an emergency medicine physician and the director of Patient-Centered Care Research at George Washington University in Washington, DC. Wen has written a book aimed at helping patients advocate for themselves, but she also notes that many emergency providers could be doing a better job of asking patients about their concerns. Wen advises nurses and other emergency staff to prompt patients to organize their thoughts and preparequestions while they are waiting to see the provider. She also urges providers to explain to patients why they are doing certain tests or procedures. This can help providers avoid unnecessary steps, and to formulate a better plan of care. With respect to patient satisfaction, Wen acknowledges that some patients maynot be happy when they are denied antibiotics or other care thatthey are requesting, but she notes that such concerns are usually assuaged when providers take the time to explain why the requested test or prescription is not advisable.


Abstract. The universe is a solid elastic continuum - gukuum. This continuum does not contain any numerical parameters or constraints. All visible and invisible objects of the universe, from large to small, are wave objects in this continuum. All the wave objects in the gukuum are described by the letter specification of the elasticity parameters of the solid body and the three-dimensional wave equation. The nonlinearity that exists in the universe is explained by the law of "winding the linear solution on itself." As a result of such winding, or layering, the linear solution becomes non-linear and creates the entire variety of the material world.


This study investigated the antioxidant potential and anti-fatigue effects of phenolics extracted from the seed coat of Euryale ferox Salisb. The in vitro antioxidant potentials, including scavenging DPPH, hydroxyl radical activities and reducing power were evaluated. Antioxidant status in vivo was analyzed by SOD, CAT, GSH-Px activities and the MDA content in liver and kidneys of D-galactose-induced aging mice. The anti-fatigue effect was evaluated using an exhaustive swimming test, along with the determination of LDH, BUN and HG content. The phenolic extract possessed notable antioxidant effects on DPPH, hydroxyl radical scavenging and reducing power. The mice which received the phenolic extract showed significant increases of SOD, CAT (except for in the kidney), GSH-Px activities, and a decrease of MDA content. The average exhaustive swimming time was obviously prolonged. Meanwhile, increase of LDH content and decrease of BUN content were observed after mice had been swimming for 15 min. The HG storage of mice was improved in the high and middle dose extract groups compared with the normal group. The contents of total phenols and gallic acid of the extract were determined. Three compounds in the extract were identified as 5,7-dihydroxy-2-(3,4,5-trihydroxyphenyl)-chroman-4-one, 5,7,4-trihydroxyflavanone and buddlenol E. These results suggest that the extract of E. ferox is a promising source of natural antioxidants and anti-fatigue material for use in functional foods and medicines.


Objective: To determine the results of visual live anatomical demonstrations among medical students by Surgeons. Study Design: Prospective study. Setting: Department of Anatomy, Liaquat Medical and Dental College, Darul Sehat Hospital. Period: Period of 3 years on the students of Batch 2017, 2018 and 2019. Material & Methods: Total 300 students of first year medical students (MBBS) with full attendance in class over the year were included in study. The mode of presentations was theoretical, video and power-point presentations and through live surgeries. Exclusion criteria students with absenteeism in classes. Results: Out of 100 students enrolled every year, only 75 students were included due to full attendees as per inclusion criteria. Total of 225 students were enrolled. The mean age of students was 19.4 ±0.57 years in every year students. The students were assessed in their term exams and pre-prof exams and showed significant difference in pre-presentation and post-presentation scores. Another group scores with live surgical demonstrations compared those without live visual surgical demonstrations 75.89± 3.9 vs 74.7± 4.6 in year 2017, 79.46 ± 4.9 vs 74.8 ±4.3in year 2018) and 84.8± 3.4 vs 76.41± 4.3 in year 2019 students showed statistical significant difference p value<0.000. Conclusion: The teaching of anatomy by surgeons has markedly improved performance and live visual demonstrations showed increase in interest of medical students.


An accurate estimation of the noise floor is of paramount importance for an optimum performance of spectrum sensing in Cognitive Radio (CR). The most common approach followed by existing noise floor estimation methods is to attempt to isolate a set of noise-only samples based on a given energy/power threshold. However, this approach is unreliable and in general unable to provide accurate estimations of the noise floor, in particular under low SNR conditions where the power of the Primary User (PU) signal is comparable to the noise floor of the CR device. In this context, this work considers a different approach where the power observed by the CR device is modelled as a Gaussian mixture. Based on a mathematical analysis of the relation among the parameters of the obtained Gaussian mixture, a modified version of the well-known Expectation Maximisation (EM) algorithm is proposed to fit the Gaussian mixture to the observed power values and provide an estimation of the noise floor, something that the general EM algorithm fails to achieve in this scenario. The obtained results demonstrate that the proposed method provides a highly accurate estimation of the noise floor in the presence of PU signals over the whole range of SNR values.


Recombinant eukaryotic expression vectors containing fusion genes of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) polyprotein (VP2/4/3) gene and chicken interleukin 2 (ChIL-2) gene were constructed using the technique of splicing by overlapping extension (SOEing) and three times PCR. Fusion gene fragments were directly cloned into pCI, an eukaryotic expression vector, to produce recombinant expression plasmids pCI-VF2/4/3-IL-2 and pCI-IL-2-VP2/4/3. The recombinant plasmids were transfered into Vero cells introduced by Lipofectamine2000 reagent. Gene specific RT-PCR showed that the fusion genes were successfully transcribed in Vero cells. The fusion proteins were detected by indirect immunofluorescence and western-blot assays. These results suggest that the fusion genes were expressed correctly in Veto cells, thus providing a basis for of ChIL-2 in DNA vaccination against IBDV.


The opportunity to supplement common cassava biscuits with a product of higher nutritional value meets consumer expectations. In this work it was studied the effects of process parameters and flaxseed addition on physical properties of expanded snacks. Extrusion process was carried out using a single screw extruder in a factorial central composite rotatable design with four factors: flaxseed flour percentage (0-20%), moisture (12-20%), extrusion temperature (90-130 °C) and screw speed (190-270). The effect of extrusion variables was investigated in terms of expansion index, specific volume, water absorption index, water solubility index, color parameters (L*, a* ,b*) and hardness. The data analysis showed that variable parameters of the extrusion process and flaxseed flour affected physical properties of puffed snacks. Among the experimental conditions used in the present study, expanded snack products with good physical properties can be obtained under the conditions of 10% flaxseed flour, 230 rpm screw speed, temperature of 90 °C and moisture of 12%.


Abstract The idea of transforming one random variate to another with a more convenient density has been developed in the first half of the 20th century. In his thesis, Norman L. Johnson (1917–2004) developed a pioneering system of transformations of the standard normal distribution which gained substantial popularity in the second half of the 20th century and beyond. In Johnson's 1949 Biometrika paper entitled Systems of frequency curves generated by methods of translation, summarizing that thesis, one of his primary interests was the behavior of the shape of the probability density functions as their parameter values change. Herein, we attempt to further elucidate this behavior through a series of geometric expositions of that transformation process. In these expositions insight is obtained into the behavior of Johnson's density functions, and their skewness and kurtosis, as they converge to their limiting distributions, a topic which received little attention.


The structure dependence of exchange bias in ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic (FM/AF) bilayers has been investigated in detail by extending Slonczewski's 'proximity magnetism' idea. Here three important parameters are discussed for FM/AF bilayers, i.e. interfacial bilinear exchange coupling J1, interfacial biquadratic (spin-flop) exchange coupling J2 and antiferromagnetic layer thickness tAF. The results show that both the occurrence and the variety of the exchange bias strongly depend on the above parameters. More importantly, the small spin-flop exchange coupling may result in an exchange bias without the interfacial bilinear exchange coupling. However, in general, the spin-flop exchange coupling cannot result in the exchange bias. The corresponding critical parameters in which the exchange bias will occur or approach saturation are also presented.


In this study, the methods of Water Jet Peening (WJP) and Laser Shock Peening (LSP) were compared to Shot Peening (SP) and investigated in terms of induced residual stresses (RS), microstructure, surface topography and fatigue properties for a casehardened steel. Different modifications of the surface topography were observed for the different peening methods: after SP, a strong plastic deformation of the surface occurred while the LSP had only a minimal influence on surface topography. After WJP with very high pressure (4500 bar), microscopic damages can occur at the surface. SP leads to the highest compressive RS (up to -1650 MPa) with a maximal affected depth of about 170 μm. After WJP, maximum RS of about-1000 MPa with very low depth (50 μm) are present, while the LSP leads to very large affected depths(< 1 mm) and RS of about -1300 MP a. In terms of fatigue properties, the SP process shows the highest improvement compared to the heat treated state (+47 %) while the LSP and the WJP leads to an improvement of +15% and +23 % respectively but with larger scatter.


The reduction of the genus Blaeria to synonymy under Erica requires the publication of six new combinations and three new names for the nine taxa occurring in southern Africa. Four species are reduced to synonymy. Diagnostic features and distribution maps are provided.


In this work, a single - link flexible joint robot manipulator is constructed and controlled using various control techniques. The position and trajectory control is performed by PH) and State Feedback control methods for this system. The purpose of this study is to keep the rotate angle of the link at desired position and to eliminate the oscillation angle of end effectors. The experimental results were compared for each method. The control blocks required for the system are performed on Matlab - SIMULINK and applied dSpace 1103 control board. The experimental results of the system based on Pro and State Feedback controller are quite satisfactory.


This tutorial starts with a survey of optimizations for streaming applications. The survey is organized as a catalog that introduces uniform terminology and a common categorization of optimizations across disciplines, such as data management, programming languages, and operating systems. After this survey, the tutorial continues with a deep-dive into the fission optimization, which automatically transforms streaming applications for data-parallelism. Fission helps an application improve its throughput by taking advantage of multiple cores in a machine, or, in the case of a distributed streaming engine, multiple machines in a cluster. While the survey of optimizations covers a wide range of work from the literature, the in-depth discussion of fission relies more heavily on the presenters' own research and experience in the area. The tutorial concludes with a discussion of open research challenges in the field of stream processing optimizations.


Abstract. To assess the structural health and remaining useful life of wind turbines within wind farms, the site-specific structural response and modal parameters of the primary structures are required. In this regard, a novel inverse-problem-based methodology is proposed here to identify the dynamic quantities of the drivetrain main shaft, i.e. torsional displacement and coupled stiffness. As a model-based approach, an inverse problem of a mathematical model concerning the coupled-shaft torsional dynamics with high-frequency SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) measurements as input is solved. It involves Tikhonov regularisation to minimise the measurement noise and irregularities on the shaft torsional displacement obtained from measured rotor and generator speed. Subsequently, the regularised torsional displacement along with necessary SCADA measurements is used as an input to the mathematical model, and a model-based system identification method called the collage method is employed to estimate the coupled torsional stiffness. It is also demonstrated that the estimated shaft torsional displacement and coupled stiffness can be used to identify the site-specific main-shaft torsional loads.
It is shown that the torsional loads estimated by the proposed methodology is in good agreement with the aeroelastic simulations of the Vestas V52 wind turbine. Upon successful verification, the proposed methodology is applied to the V52 turbine to identify the site-specific main-shaft torsional loads and damage-equivalent load. Since the proposed methodology does not require a design basis or additional measurement sensors, it can be directly applied to wind turbines within a wind farm that possess high-frequency SCADA measurements.


PURPOSE
Utilization of digital manometers chairside is fast becoming a standard of care in dental hygiene education. It is imperative to ensure accurate blood pressure measurements regardless of modality to avoid medical emergencies in the dental chair. This study sought to determine the accuracy of the automated digital arm and wrist cuffs utilized by students in the University of Maine at Augusta, Bangor Campus Dental Health Programs' dental hygiene clinic.

METHODS
After institutional review board approval, 121 subjects were recruited, with 21 excluded for a total of 100 subjects. Subjects were randomly assigned to different test modalities upon check-in. Initial blood pressure measurements were taken with a calibrated aneroid control device by a principal investigator. A second measurement was taken with the randomized arm or wrist manometer 5 minutes later. Investigators were blinded to the modality of test manometer and measurements obtained from the second reading. All readings were taken according to manufacturers' instructions to ensure technique consistency.

RESULTS
Data indicated lower readings for each modality from the control for both systolic and diastolic measurements. The differences in the systolic and diastolic readings for the wrist modality were significantly lower than the control with (p= 0.000) and (p=0.000), respectively.

CONCLUSION
Automated digital manometers should be used with caution as a screening tool in the dental setting, particularly when administration of pharmacological agents such as local anesthesia may be used during the course of treatment. These automated modalities should not be used for patients with cardiac or hypertensive conditions.


Background Numerous studies have observed effects of myocardial bridge on myocardial blood flow perfusion and arteriosclerosis from the angle of histology. However, there were few studies concerning ultrastructure characteristics of coronary artery and proximal and distal vascular endothelial cells with the influence of myocardial bridge. Objective To observe myocardial bridge mural coronary artery and proximal endothelial cell ultrastructure characteristics and myocardial bridge-induced hemodynamic changes. Methods Left coronary artery, mural coronary artery proximal end, mural coronary artery and mural coronary artery distal end of 10 patients with coronary artery bypass grafting were treated with heparin-saline and 4% glutaral. The characteristics of vascular endothelial cells and basal lamina were observed with a scanning electron microscope. Results and Conclusion Myocardial bridges of 10 samples located in the middle and proximal anterior descending branch, 2.4–3.6 mm in length. Mural coronary artery proximal portion endothelial cells presented orbicular-ovate. Long axis showed the same direction as blood flow. Many defects were seen on cell surface. Mural coronary artery endothelial cells were long, spindle-shaped, with the consistent direction of long axis and blood flow. Few cells dropped out. Microvillus was observed on endothelial cell surface of two samples, with special bridge-like structure, which was commonly found in one end of cells and connected with consecutive cells following liberation in the lumens. Endothelial cells from mural coronary artery distal end were irregular, with a few detects on the surface, clear boundary, no drop out. Endothelial cells from mural coronary artery had similar area as endothelial cells from the proximal and distal ends. However, perimeter was significantly increased, but morphous index was significantly low (P < 0.05). These indicated that endothelial cells of the mural coronary artery are free from atherosclerosis due to higher shear stress caused by myocardial bridge. The intima of the section proximal to mural coronary artery was likely to be sclerosed due to the lower and oscillatory shear force.


OBJECTIVE: To report a case of acute mesenteric ischemia associated with the use of oral propranolol. CASE SUMMARY: A 59-year-old white man was admitted to the hospital with chronic diarrhea and weight loss. The patient was diagnosed as having hyperthyroidism. Therapy with propylthiouracil 100 mg 3 times daily and propranolol 20 mg twice daily was initiated on an outpatient basis. The following day, the patient was readmitted to our hospital with increased abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. Angiography revealed superior mesenteric artery occlusion. Antegrade aorta-mesenteric bypass surgery was performed for revascularization, and the patient was discharged 10 days after the surgery. The patient was well both clinically and endoscopically at a follow-up visit 8 months later. DISCUSSION: Although mesenteric ischemia is a devastating illness of varied causes, drug-associated mesenteric ischemia is rarely seen. By decreasing cardiac output and selective vasodilatory receptor inhibition in the splanchnic circulation, propranolol can cause a decline in splanchnic blood flow. An objective causality assessment indicated that propranolol was the possible cause of the arterial occlusion. CONCLUSIONS: Propranolol may rarely be associated with mesenteric ischemia. In cases of newly developed acute abdomen undergoing propranolol therapy, physicians should be aware of this rare and serious adverse reaction to this drug.


Analyzed 5-year results of endothelial keratoplasty in 18 patients (18 eyes). Endothelial keratoplasty with a microkeratome fl ap formation of the surface allows for high-frequency transparent engraftment. The period of postoperative rehabilitation is much shorter than with penetrating keratoplasty and refractive disorders and loss of endothelial cells are comparable.


At present, mobile communications traffic routing designs are complicated because there are more systems inter-connecting to one another. For example, mobile communication in the third generation has two routing design conditions to consider, i.e. the circuit switching and the packet switching. The problem in the packet switching routing design is its use of high-speed transmission link and its dynamic routing nature. In this paper, genetic algorithms is used to determine the best solution and the shortest communication paths from mobile packet switching center to mobile station. The variables involved in the decision making are the link cost and link weights. Finally an example scenario is given to demonstrate the functionality of the proposed method.


Objective: To determine if patients with reported BL allergies have increased odds of developing SSI compared to reported NBL allergic patients. Summary of Background Data: SSI represent a significant risk of morbidity and mortality for patients. Cefazolin-based perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis is the guideline-recommended drug-of-choice for most procedures. Due to over-reporting of BL allergies, many patients may not receive guideline-directed cephalosporin-based prophylaxis, which may result in an increased SSI rate. Methods: A single-center retrospective cohort design study was performed. Data was collected on all targeted surgical procedures: cesarean section, vaginal, and abdominal hysterectomy, colon, laminectomy, and spinal fusion surgeries. Results: During the study period, 2676 procedures were analyzed with 454 (17%) and 2222 (83%) in reported BL and NBL allergic cohorts, respectively. Significantly more SSI developed in the BL cohort versus NBL cohort (3.1% vs 1.5%, odds ratio 2.015; 95% confidence interval, 1.090–3.724; P = 0.023). Through a multivariate logistic regression, receipt of a NBL antibiotic regimen was the only variable to have a significant effect on SSI rate (adjusted odds ratio, 3.815; 95% confidence interval, 1.142–12.749; P = 0.030). Conclusion: Reported BL allergic patients have an increased odds of developing SSI in comparison to NBL allergic patients. The increased risk is likely related to administration of NBL antibiotic regimens in comparison to BL-based regimens. Thorough antibiotic allergy history collection can be a valuable SSI prevention tool to safely increase the proportion of patients receiving BL regimen.


Combinatorial optimization problems in the real world are ubiquitous. Practical applications include planning, scheduling, distributed control, resource allocation, etc. These problems often involve multiple agents and can be formulated as a Multi-agent Constraint Optimization Problem (MCOP). A major challenge in such systems is the agent coordination, such that a global optimal outcome is achieved. This thesis is devoted to two major issues that arise in MCOP: efficient optimization algorithms and manipulations from self-interested agents. We introduce a new randomized local search optimization algorithm called Random Subset Optimization (RSO). The RSO algorithm is tested on various applications and demonstrated to converge faster than other local search techniques while achieving competitive performance. For self-interested agents, we define a new form of incentive compatibility called size-limited incentive compatibility and show that RSO algorithm can be used to prevent agents' manipulations.


Over the years, different interpretations of Rent's rule and different ways of estimating the Rent parameters have emerged. In general, these parameters are extracted from the average terminal-gate relationship for a set of circuit modules. We show that this relationship (the Rent characteristic) strongly depends on the definition of the circuit modules. These can be generated in many different ways, either from the topology of the circuit graph or, in a geometric way, by cutting regions from a circuit layout. The resulting Rent parameters can be quite far apart. This paper discusses the fundamental differences between the topological and the two geometric interpretations of the Rent characteristic that are expected to be most appropriate for current wirelength estimation techniques. Our discussion is based on experimental data, as well as on a theoretical model that can be used to estimate certain geometric Rent characteristics from the topological Rent parameters. Using this model, we derive a theoretical lower limit to the value of the average geometric Rent exponent. We also study the impact of the placement approach and placement quality on the geometric Rent characteristics.


In this paper, the human exposure to electromagnetic field radiated from the communication transmitter on the ship deck is analyzed. Two simplified models of the human body exposed to the electromagnetic radiation, the parallelepiped model for the calculation of SAR and cylindrical model for the calculation of the current induced in the human, are used. The fields were measured on 36 different locations of the 45 m steel ship and the obtained results were analyzed according to INCIRP and IEEE recommendations for human exposure to electromagnetic fields. The calculations of the SAR and the current density induced in the human body were found to be below appropriate limits.


The scattering of electromagnetic waves by small particles distributed over an interface between two media with different complex dielectric constants is investigated in a dipole approximation. Analytical expressions for the scattered field for different polarization states of the incident radiation are derived. These are shown to reduce in the appropriate limit to those predicted by first-order Rayleigh-Rice theory for scattering by a slightly rough surface. Results for particles on a tilted interface are also derived and used to model scattering by a roughened undulating surface. Formulae are evaluated for a variety of particle shapes and media dielectric constants, and the effect of clustering is briefly examined.


Abstract The luteinizing hormone–releasing hormone agonist leuprolide acetate is used commonly to manage reproductive problems in pet birds. To determine the effect of leuprolide acetate on plasma and fecal hormone levels in a psittacine species, a single 800 µg/kg dose of the 30-day depot form of leuprolide acetate was administered IM in 11 healthy, nonbreeding adult Hispaniolan Amazon parrots (Amazona ventralis), and plasma and fecal hormone levels were measured before and after leuprolide administration. At pooled baseline to 21 days postleuprolide acetate administration, sample collection day was significantly associated with plasma 17β-estradiol and androstenedione levels and fecal 17β-estradiol levels (evaluated in females only). Both plasma androstenedione and plasma 17β-estradiol levels decreased significantly from baseline to a nadir at 7 days postleuprolide acetate administration but did not differ significantly 14 days later from that nadir or from pooled baseline samples, suggesting that the effect of leuprolide on hormone levels remained about 2 weeks. Fecal 17β-estradiol levels increased significantly from the nadir at 7 days postleuprolide to 21 days postleuprolide administration, with trends of the level at 21 days postleuprolide being higher than the pooled baseline level and of decreasing levels from pooled baseline to 7 days postleuprolide administration. Plasma luteinizing hormone and fecal testosterone levels did not change significantly from baseline levels after leuprolide administration over the 2-day period. No significant correlations were found between plasma hormone and fecal hormone levels. These results suggest that measurement of plasma androstenedione, plasma 17β-estradiol, and fecal 17β-estradiol levels might be useful in assessing the effects of 30-day depot leuprolide acetate in Hispaniolan Amazon parrots.


Epilepsy surgery aims to control epilepsy by resecting the epileptogenic region while preserving function. In some patients with epileptogenic foci in and around functionally eloquent areas, awake surgery is implemented. We analyzed the surgical outcomes of such patients and discuss the clinical application of awake surgery for epilepsy. We examined five consecutive patients, in whom we performed lesionectomy for epilepsy with awake craniotomy, with postoperative follow-up > 2 years. All patients showed clear lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the right frontal (n = 1), left temporal (n = 1), and left parietal lobe (n = 3). Intraoperatively, under awake conditions, sensorimotor mapping was performed; primary motor and/or sensory areas were successfully identified in four cases, but not in one case of temporal craniotomy. Language mapping was performed in four cases, and language areas were identified in three cases. In one case with a left parietal arteriovenous malformation (AVM) scar, language centers were not identified, probably because of a functional shift. Electrocorticograms (ECoGs) were recorded in all cases, before and after resection. ECoG information changed surgical strategy during surgery in two of five cases. Postoperatively, no patient demonstrated neurological deterioration. Seizure disappeared in four of five cases (Engel class 1), but recurred after 2 years in the remaining patient due to tumor recurrence. Thus, for patients with epileptogenic foci in and around functionally eloquent areas, awake surgery allows maximal resection of the foci; intraoperative ECoG evaluation and functional mapping allow functional preservation. This leads to improved seizure control and functional outcomes.


The aim of the study was to examine the levels of sex hormones in men with hyperthyroidism before and during treatment, and determining the feasibility of testosterone prescribing together with thyrostatic therapy, in men with androgen deficiency. The study involved 37 men with newly diagnosed diffuse toxic goiter and 16 healthy men, aged from 22 to 55 years. The testosterone (test.) fractions (overall and free), SHBG, LH, FSH, estradiol and prolactin were determined. All hormones were measured before treatment and after 3, and then 6 months of thyrostatic ther apy. The overall test. level in men with hyperthyroidism was the same as in healthy subjects. Absolute and relative content of free test. fraction was significantly lower, but the SHBG level was higher than in healthy age relative men. The diagnostics of androgen deficiency syndrome was based on free test. determination. All patients with Diffuse toxic goiter the tiamazol (Merkazolil) was appointed, while treatment with testosterone (Omnadren250) were offered to patients with low of free test. levels, but not all followed the recommendations. The groups were follow: patients without androgen deficiency ( n = 16), patients with androgen deficiency, taking only thyrostatic therapy ( n = 10), patients with androgen deficiency taken thyrostatic therapy simultaneously with testosterone therapy ( n = 11). The decreasing of free test. level was detected in 57% of examined men. In most cases (80%) of that patients the 6 months thyrostatic therapy did not lead to free test. normalization. The free test. level concentration was nor mal only in 2 examined not receiving testosterone men (20%) and in 9 (82%; χ 2 = 5.76; p = 0.017) among those who recieved both: thyrostatic and testosterone therapy. During treatment with Omnadren250 the relative content of free test. was significantly higher at 3 and 6 months of treatment. Using a questionnaire AMS confirmed the dynamics characteristics of androgen deficiency in men with hyperthyroidism during treatment. Thus, the recom mendation of prescribing testosterone simultaneously with the start of thyrostatic therapy are grounded in androgen deficiency men with hyperthyroidism.


The effect of using two different filtering methods in the main seawater inlet to a scallop (Pecten maximus) hatchery in Norway was tested. Seawater was filtered through active filter media (AFM) and a protein skimmer, or through a drum filter and a protein skimmer. Seawater quality was characterized and tested on algal growth rate, egg development and larval activity. Tests were performed under winter and spring conditions (March, April and May 2009). Both seawater treatments reduced the dissolved organic carbon concentrations in the inlet seawater. The total bacterial number was stable in both seawater treatments, except for an increase in the drum filter in March. The bacterial community showed seasonal development: Actinobacteria and Alphaproteobacteria dominated in March, while Gammaproteobacteria dominated in April and May. In a cluster analysis, samples from both seawater treatments showed high similarity on similar sampling dates. Vibrio spp. occurred, but was never observed in seawater coming from the skimmer after the drum filter. This sampling point was often clustered as most similar to the incoming seawater. The fraction of scallop eggs that developed into veliger larvae increased from 10% to 50% during the sampling period, and no significant differences were found between the two seawater treatments. The fraction of 8 day old active larvae was lowest in March, in experiments with both undiluted and diluted (1:10, 1:100) seawater from both treatments. No significant difference in activity was found between the treatments, except for undiluted (April) and 100-fold dilution (April and May) from the drum filter, when the larval activity was significantly higher. The effect of both seawater treatments was tested by growing the diatom Chaetoceros muelleri in small volumes for 4-5 days. Daily growth rates (μ) varied between 0.75 and 1.15, and were highest in May. No significant difference in cell concentration was found between the treatments. The results showed that the skimmer attached to the drum filter had the best performance overall in reducing dissolved organic carbon and potentially lethal bacteria. These findings have important implications for hatchery seawater management protocols.


Purpose
The purpose of this study is to analyze the technological change under development linked to the convergence of the Internet of Things (IoT) and digital transformation (DT) from the perspective of a scientific mapping in a context marked by the occurrence of an unexpected event that accelerated this process such as the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and its variants.

Design/methodology/approach
The study was developed under the longitudinal scientific mapping approach and considered the period 1990–2021 using as a basis the descriptors DT and IoT. The steps followed were identification and selection of keywords; design and application of an algorithm to identify these selected keywords in titles, abstracts and keywords using terms in Web of Science (WoS) to contrast them; and performing a data processing based on the journals in the Journal Citation Report during 2022. The longitudinal study uses scientific mapping to analyze the evolution of the scientific literature that seeks to understand the acceleration in the integration of technology and its impact on the human factor, processes and organizational culture.

Findings
This study showed that the technologies converging around IoT form the basis of the main DT processes being experienced on a global scale; furthermore, it was shown that the pandemic accelerated the convergence and application of new technologies to support the major changes required for a world with new needs. Finally, China and the USA differ significantly in the production of scientific knowledge with respect to the first eight followers.

Originality/value
The knowledge gap addressed by this study is to identify the production of scientific knowledge related to IoT and its impact on DT processes at the scale of individuals, organizations and the new way of delivering value to society. This knowledge about researchers, institutions, countries and the derivation is multiple indicators allows improving decision-making at multiple scales on these issues.


Background: Although antiretroviral therapy access for HIV infected children increased dramatically, anemia have been continued as a challenge regardless of cluster of differentiation (CD4) count and viral load. Hence, this study aimed to assess the time to detection of anemia and its predictors among children receiving antiretroviral therapy at Debre Tabor referral hospital and University of Gonder Compressive Specialized hospital, 2020.Methods: A retrospective follow-up study was conducted from January 2010 to December 2018. A total of 372 children under the age of 15 who had received ART were included in the study. Data were collected from children's medical charts and ART registration logbook using a standard checklist. Besides, the data were entered into EPi data 4.2.2 and then exported to Stata 14.0 for further analysis. The Cox regression model, the variables having P-value ≤.05 with 95% CIs in multivariable analysis were declared as a statistically significant for anemia Result: The mean (±SD) of follow-up periods were 56.6 ±1.7 SD months. The overall median survival time free from anemia was 137 months, and the incidence rate of anemia was 6.9 per 100 PYO (95% CI: 5.3, 7.8). Moreover, WHO clinical staging of III/IV [AHR: 4.2, 95% CI: 1.80, 11.1], low CD4 count below threshold [AHR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.09, 3.37], cotrimoxazole preventive therapy non-users, and poor level of adherence [(AHR: 2.4, 95% CI: 1.20, 4.85] were the main predictors of anemia. Conclusion: The incidence rate of anemia was found to be high. Monitor hemoglobin levels routinely with concurrently CD4 cell count levels, WHO clinical stage, and level of adherence. Hence, preventing and correcting of those predictors in a systematic manner in ongoing basis is crucial. Moreover, strategies need to be strengthened cotrimoxazole preventive therapy supplementation


The client assumes centre stage in managing the services encounter, both in terms of service expectations and the service experience itself, aspects that in practice are complex to manage as they entail a human dimension of subjectivity. The literature tends to adopt a more traditional recipe-based "scientific management" approach, while in practice it would appear that a complex adaptive systems (CAS) approach may be more effective in managing the services encounter. It is an approach that embodies a multidisciplinary systems perspective that focuses not only on the on-stage encounters but also on the backstage support systems that play a key role in ensuring client satisfaction. The research consequently adopts a multi-disciplinary review of the literature relating to the management of service encounters to gain an insight into the two contrasting approaches. An important finding that emerges from the research is that the service encounter is emergent in nature and thus extremely complex to manage in practice, while the back and front stage systemic integration and management appear to adopt a more contemporary management approach.