Using a case study of an integrated information technology services firm, the author examines how the interplay between culture, structure, and leadership is managed in order to build control and employee loyalty. The author focuses on the salient features of the case, namely that a high-profile culture combines with a low-profile leadership and with minimal structuring to create a vibrant and loyalty-generating organizational environment. The author proposes that these processes are effective because they reinforce one another. It is their articulation, not their existence, that acts both as an unobtrusive control mechanism and as an employee loyalty–generating process, fulfilling the needs of both the organization and its professionals.


Background Apremilast is a phosphodiesterase4 inhibitor. Two pivotal trials were carried out comparing apremilast to placebo in plaque psoriasis (PP). At week 16, significantly more patients taking apremilast achieved PASI75 (28.8%–33.1%) in both trials, versus placebo (5.3%–5.8%). Purpose To assess the adaptation of the PP treatment prescriptions of apremilast under the Hospital Protocol and its economic impact, and to assess the percentage of patients who reached PASI75 at week 16. Material and methods A descriptive, retrospective study was conducted between March 2016 and October 2017 on apremilast prescriptions. Patients with PP treated with apremilast were included and data were available from medical histories. According to the use protocol (UP) of apremilast, it should be used in patients with PP who have any contraindication to biologic therapies (BT) such as immunosuppression, due to the fact that indirect comparisons suggested that it is less efficient than BT. Results After designing the UP of apremilast, 32 prescriptions from the Dermatology Department were registered. 34.37% of patients (11/32) met the requirements of use (contraindication of BT). If the compliance of the UP had been 100%, 21 patients would have been treated with etanercept (the first-line BT chosen in our centre). Thus, it would have lead to a cost saving of 19.85% of the cost per patient/year in PP treatment since a year of treatment with etanercept costs €6245.52, whereas with apremilast it is €7794.2. Data concerning initial PASI and PASI at week 16 were available in 56.25% (18/32), in which 27.77% reached PASI75 (5/18). Among 43.75% (14/32) of patients without PASI75 results, 42.85% (6/14) had no data about PASI, 42.85% (6/14) had not already reached week 16 and in 14.28% (2/14) the treatment had been withdrawn because of adverse events (AE). Twenty-five per cent (8/32) of patients did not currently continue with the treatment, 25% (2/8) of them because of AE and 75% (6/8) because of lack of efficacy. Conclusion The implementation of a consensual UP for new treatments such as apremilast could enhance the rational use of this drug, but further collaboration with the physicians is needed to achieve a better optimisation of the available resources. No conflict of interest


Along with the criminal justice system that the theories of punishment will be meaningful within them, the restorative justice system is also improving. United Nations Economic and Social Council has urged member states that make available the restorative justice programs at all stages of the criminal justice process. [1] Despite the UN reception of restorative justice programs adoption as supplement of the criminal justice system and encouraging governments to apply them, [2] currently domestic legal systems are primarily subordinates of the criminal justice system. Restorative justice system is used only in some legal systems and in the treatment of certain crimes. Such an approach in the international community is as the dominant approach. Dealing with the perpetrators of international crimes and justice execution means criminal justice execution for perpetrators of these crimes. [1] "Basic principles on the use of restorative justice programmes in criminal matters", op.cit, para. 6 [2] Ibid, para. 20


Spectral observations of ions of beryllium in the JET plasma are described and are interpreted in terms of the interplay of atomic reactions and local plasma conditions. The methods of generalized-collisional-radiative theory are extended and used to provide a quantitative model. Emphasis is placed on the role of metastable ion states. The diagnostic scope of beryllium observations is explored for the influx ions Be0+ and Be1+ in the visible spectral range, for Be2+ in the XUV, and for Be3+ by charge exchange spectroscopy. Useful results for general diagnostic interpretation are presented in tables and graphs. The calculation procedures and data form part of the 'Atomic Data and Analysis Structure' in use at JET.


Postblastocyst development of mouse preembryos was studied in vitro in order to determine direct effect of Cd2+, Ni2+, and Co2+ ions on embryogenesis during the peri-implantation stage. Uterine horns were flushed on Day 4 of pregnancy and expanded blastocysts were cultured for 4 days in the presence of micromolar Cd2+ (1.1-26.4), Ni2+ (0. 1-500) or Co2+ (1-200). Area of trophoblast outgrowth was measured and used as a quantitative toxicological endpoint. Hatching, attachment, outgrowth, and formation of inner cells mass were also registered. Significant adverse effect on the development stages were observed at 2.2 microM (Cd2+), at 10 microM (Ni2+), and at 100 microM (Co2+). Cd2+ and Co2+ decreased the area of trophoblast markedly at concentrations of 1.1 and 10 microM, respectively. Ni2+ exposure resulted in a slight increase at 10 microM followed by a marked reduction in the trophoblast area at 250 microM. Reduced proliferative ability of trophoblast cells may point to compromised invasiveness of the embryo. The lowest Cd2+ concentration (1.1 microM=0.25 microg/ml) significantly deteriorating trophoblast development was found to be lower than Cd levels ranging up to 0.512 microg/g, reported in clinical ovarian samples of occupationally nonexposed women. The morphological alteration and loss of cellular contacts in blastocysts induced by exposure to Cd2+, Ni2+, or Co2+ may adversely influence adhesion and recognition events and may disturb aggregation of mononuclear trophoblastic cells to multinucleated cells in the course of peri-implantation in vivo as well.


The proportional integral derivative (PID) regulator is the most often utilized controller in the industry due to its benefits. It permits linear systems to operate well, but it causes non-linear behavior when the system is subjected to physical variable circumstances, such as temperature and saturation. A PID controller is insufficient in this case. The proportional integral (PI) controller inside the direct torque control (DTC) regulates the speed of the doubly fed induction motor (DFIM). However, the system consisting of DTC and a DFIM is non-linear due to its multivariable parameters, resulting in undesirable overshoots and torque ripples. As a result, several approaches are used to improve the DTC's robustness. The integration of optimization methods was discovered. These algorithms are used to provide gains that are near-optimal, bringing the system closer to its ideal state in order to accomplish effective torque and speed control. This article focuses on a comparative study of the different objective functions, in order to have very effective DFIM behaviors, by using a genetic algorithm. Agenetic algorithm (GA) is presented in this study for adjusting the optimal PID parameters in DTC to control the DFIM, utilizing objective functions such as integral square error (ISE), integral time absolute error (ITAE), and integral absolute error (IAE), employed independently and in a weighted combination. This article offers a comparison of several objective functions inside the DTC and DFIM, which will be utilized in future research into another optimization technique for this control type. Matlab/Simulink was used to construct the novel hybrid structure based on the GA-DTC intelligent control. The simulation results demonstrated the efficiency of the GA-DTC intelligent control with a weighted combination, providing acceptable performance with respect to rapidity, precision, and stability, as well as an improvement of 14.53% in the rejection time reduction, fewer torque ripples and flux ripples on the stator and rotor by 27.88%, 15.13%, and 4.375%, respectively, and respective increases of 32.45% and 71% in the THDs of the stator and rotor currents, which are acceptable.


The present invention relates to a repeater for amplifying signals transmitted and received between a communications terminal such as cellular phone and a base station and, more particularly, to a repeater for mobile communications system, which amplifies the signal received from the communications terminal accommodatively to intensity of the signal, or correlatively with the existence of the input signal, and transmits the amplified signal to the base station. The repeater of the invention establishes a line coupler 7 on a transmission line for a first amplifier 5 amplifying the frequency signal received from the terminal and divides the frequency signal input to the first amplifier 5. A gain control signal generator 8 generates a gain control signal corresponding proportionally to a level of the frequency signal divided by the line coupler 7 and applies the gain control signal to the first amplifier 5. Here, the first amplifier 5 sets a gain level of the frequency signal to be transmitted to the base station variable, or decides whether to transmit, based on the gain control signal.


Intelligent systems based on machine learning techniques, such as classification, clustering, are gaining wide spread popularity in real world applications. This paper presents work on developing a software system for predicting crop yield, for example oil-palm yield, from climate and plantation data. At the core of our system is a method for unsupervised partitioning of data for finding spatio-temporal patterns in climate data using kernel methods which offer strength to deal with complex data. This work gets inspiration from the notion that a non-linear data transformation into some high dimensional feature space increases the possibility of linear separability of the patterns in the transformed space. Therefore, it simplifies exploration of the associated structure in the data. Kernel methods implicitly perform a non-linear mapping of the input data into a high dimensional feature space by replacing the inner products with an appropriate positive definite function. In this paper we present a robust weighted kernel k-means algorithm incorporating spatial constraints for clustering the data. The proposed algorithm can effectively handle noise, outliers and auto-correlation in the spatial data, for effective and efficient data analysis by exploring patterns and structures in the data, and thus can be used for predicting oil-palm yield by analyzing various factors affecting the yield. Keywords—Pattern analysis, clustering, kernel methods, spatial data, crop yield


Context. Star formation begins with the gravitational collapse of a
 dense core inside a molecular cloud. As the collapse progresses, the centre of the core
 begins to heat up as it becomes optically thick. The temperature and density in the centre
 eventually reach high enough values where fusion reactions can ignite, and the protostar
 is born. This sequence of events entails many physical processes, of which radiative
 transfer is of paramount importance. Simulated collapsing cores without radiative transfer
 rapidly become thermally supported before reaching high enough temperatures and densities,
 preventing the formation of stars.Aims. Many simulations of protostellar collapse make use of a grey
 treatment of radiative transfer coupled to the hydrodynamics. However, interstellar gas
 and dust opacities present large variations as a function of frequency, which can
 potentially be overlooked by grey models and lead to significantly different results. In
 this paper, we follow up on a previous paper on the collapse and formation of Larson's
 first core using multigroup radiation hydrodynamics (Paper I) by extending the
 calculations to the second phase of the collapse and the formation of Larson's second
 core.Methods. We have made the use of a non-ideal gas equation of state as
 well as an extensive set of spectral opacities in a spherically symmetric fully implicit
 Godunov code to model all the phases of the collapse of a 0.1, 1, and 10
 M⊙ cloud cores.Results. We find that, for an identical central density, there are only
 small differences between the grey and multigroup simulations. The first core accretion
 shock remains supercritical while the shock at the second core border is found to be
 strongly subcritical with all the accreted energy being transfered to the core. The size
 of the first core was found to vary somewhat in the different simulations (more unstable
 clouds form smaller first cores) while the size, mass, and temperature of the second cores
 are independent of initial cloud mass, size, and temperature.Conclusions. Our simulations support the idea of a standard (universal)
 initial second core size of ~3 × 10-3 AU and mass
 ~1.4 × 10-3 M⊙. The grey approximation for
 radiative transfer appears to perform well in one-dimensional simulations of protostellar
 collapse, most probably because of the high optical thickness of the majority of the
 protostar-envelope system. A simple estimate of the characteristic timescale of the second
 core suggests that the effects of using multigroup radiative transfer may be more
 important in the long-term evolution of the protostar.


This article argues that underlying Thomas Hobbes' prescription for concentrated power is system of ethics based on his understanding of human nature and the biological processes that govern natural human function. His thesis in Leviathan is not so much an argument for how rulers should rule as much as it is an argument for why individuals should allow themselves to be ruled in a specific manner. The justification for accepting rule comes from right reason which, in turn, comes to us from the dictates of the biological organism. If the biological organism is functioning correctly, it supports those processes and impulses which drive self-preservation. Anything that corrupts these natural processes and impulses are said to contravene right reason. Ultimately, the author believes that theoretical discourse concerning the essential interplay between political ethics and human nature should include consideration of Hobbes alongside Aristotle, David Hume, and others.


In Oakland, California, Tilo sells herbs and spices. No mere shopkeeper, she is The Mistress of Spices and, with her knowledge of their secret powers, she helps customers find answers to the questions of love, loss and loneliness. But when Tilo herself falls in love, she has a big choice to make. This is an upper-level story in a series of ELT readers comprising a wide range of titles - some original and some simplified - from modern and classic novels, and designed to appeal to all age groups, tastes and cultures. The books are divided into five levels: Starter Level, with about 300 basic words; Beginner Level (600 basic words); Elementary Level (1100); Intermediate Level (1600); and Upper Level (2200). Some of the titles are also available on cassette.


This paper presents a new mobile robot design based on hybridization of the mobile platform and manipulator arm as one entity for robot locomotion as well as manipulation. The novel mechanical design is described in detail. To analyse the design, a virtual prototype tool was developed with ADAMS software for multi-body dynamic motion simulations of the complete robotic system. The simulation results were used to study the robot's mobility characteristics through animations of different possible tasks that require various locomotion and manipulation capabilities. The ability to visualize and validate various robot mobility cases and to study its functionality in the early design stages aided in optimizing the design and hence dramatically reduce physical prototype development time and cost. The design optimization process also involved proper components selection. Moreover, the simulations enabled us to define motor torque requirements and maximize end-effector payload capacity for different robot configurations.


A recently developed electron monochromator has been used in noncoplanar symmetric electron momentum spectroscopy studies on atomic argon and molecular cubane. This (e,2e) monochromator typically produces beam currents of 30μA, at better than 98% focus to the inner Faraday cup, into the interaction region. Contemporary work has concentrated on incident electron beam energies in the range 500-1800 eV. At these energies the overall coincident energy resolution is usually in the range 0.50-0:62 eV (FWHM). Binding energy spectra, at different values of recoil momenta, for both argon and cubane, highlight the performance of the spectrometer and will be presented. In addition, selected momentum distributions (MDs) for the respective valence orbitals in both argon and cubane will also be given. These MDs are compared against theory calculations made within either a distorted wave impulse approximation (argon) or plane wave impulse approximation (cubane) reaction mechanism framework. For the argon calculations Hartree-Fock orbitals were employed, while for cubane an extensive range of density functional theory basis sets were used. Some of the ramifications of the present results will be discussed.


Solvothermal reaction of 4,4'-dithiodipyridine (dtdp) with CuI at 120 or 160 degrees C results in the formation of three new coordination networks formulated with [Cu4I4(tdp)2] (1; tdp = 4,4'-thiodipyridine), [Cu5I5(ptp)2] (2), and [Cu6I6(ptp)2] [3; ptp = 1-(4-pyridyl)-4-thiopyridine]. The starting dtdp reagent was unprecedentedly converted into two tdp and ptp ligands via new in situ cleavage of both S-S and S-C(sp2) bonds and temperature-dependent in situ ligand rearrangement of dtdp. 1 is a two-dimensional (2D) Cu4I4 cubane-like coordination network of 2-fold interpenetration. While in 2, the Cu8I8 and Cu2I2 cluster units are alternately connected by the mu2-sulfur bridges into one-dimensional inorganic chains along the a axis, which are further joined by the ptp spacers into a three-dimensional (3D) coordination network of 2-fold interpenetration. 3 is a 3D non-interpenetrating coordination network constructed with 2D inorganic (Cu2I2)n layers and the ptp spacers. 1 displays an intense orange-red emission light with a maximum at ca. 563 nm. While luminescence quenching occurs in 2 and 3 by electron transfer of a photoelectron to the electronegative acceptor molecule of ptp.


Memoization is a well-known optimization technique used to eliminate redundant calls for pure functions. If a call to a function f with argument v yields result r, a subsequent call to f with v can be immediately reduced to r without the need to re-evaluate f's body. Understanding memoization in the presence of concurrency and communication is significantly more challenging. For example, if f communicates with other threads, it is not sufficient to simply record its input/output behavior; we must also track inter-thread dependencies induced by these communication actions. Subsequent calls to f can be elided only if we can identify an interleaving of actions from these call-sites that lead to states in which these dependencies are satisfied. Similar issues arise if f spawns additional threads. In this paper, we consider the memoization problem for a higher-order concurrent language whose threads may communicate through synchronous message-based communication. To avoid the need to perform unbounded state space search that may be necessary to determine if all communication dependencies manifest in an earlier call can be satisfied in a later one, we introduce a weaker notion of memoization called partial memoization that gives implementations the freedom to avoid performing some part, if not all, of a previously memoized call. To validate the effectiveness of our ideas, we consider the benefits of memoization for reducing the overhead of recomputation for streaming, server-based, and transactional applications executed on a multi-core machine. We show that on a variety of workloads, memoization can lead to substantial performance improvements without incurring high memory costs.


We have used oligonucleotide-fingerprinting data on 60,000 cDNA clones from two different mouse embryonic stages to establish a normalized cDNA clone set. The normalized set of 5,376 clones represents different clusters and therefore, in almost all cases, different genes. The inserts of the cDNA clones were amplified by PCR and spotted on glass slides. The resulting arrays were hybridized with mRNA probes prepared from six different adult mouse tissues. Expression profiles were analyzed by hierarchical clustering techniques. We have chosen radioactive detection because it combines robustness with sensitivity and allows the comparison of multiple normalized experiments. Sensitive detection combined with highly effective clustering algorithms allowed the identification of tissue-specific expression profiles and the detection of genes specifically expressed in the tissues investigated. The obtained results are publicly available (http://www.rzpd.de) and can be used by other researchers as a digital expression reference.


Minimally invasive total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has evolved over the last 5 years to a viable alternative to the traditional open technique. In this paper a new classification system is proposed to help organize the various approaches. The surgical technique for quadriceps-sparing minimally invasive TKA, the anaesthesia and the rehabilitation programme are described. Medium-term results of a pilot study of 58 knees in 54 patients are presented, which suggest excellent early outcomes. Technical factors, quality control, and training remain the main issues of concern for surgeons new to these demanding techniques.


WRINKLED1 (WRI1) is a transcriptional activator that binds to AW boxes in the promoters of many genes from central metabolism and FA synthesis, resulting in their transcription. BIOTIN ATTACHMENT DOMAIN-CONTAINING (BADC) proteins are homologs of BIOTIN CARBOXYL CARRIER PROTEIN (BCCP) that lack a biotin-attachment domain and are therefore inactive. In the presence of excess FA, BADC1 and BADC3 are primarily responsible for the observed long-term irreversible inhibition of ACETYL-COA CARBOXYLASE (ACCase), and consequently FA synthesis. Purified WRI1 bound with high affinity (Kds in the low nanomolar range) to canonical AW-boxes from the promoters of all three BADC genes. Consistent with this observation, the expression of BADC1, BADC2 and BADC3 genes and BADC1 protein levels were reduced in wri1-1 relative to wild type (WT), and BADCs gene expression and BADC1 protein levels also were elevated upon WRI1 overexpression. The double mutant badc1badc2 phenocopied wri1-1 with respect to both reduction in root length, and elevation of indole-3-acetic acid-Asp (IAA-Asp) levels relative to WT. Overexpression of BADC1 in wri1-1 decreased its IAA-Asp and partially rescued its short-root phenotype demonstrating a role for BADCs in seedling establishment. That WRI1 positively regulates genes encoding both FA synthesis and BADCs i.e., conditional inhibitors of FA synthesis, represents a coordinated mechanism to achieve lipid homeostasis in which plants couple the transcription their FA synthetic capacity with their capacity to biochemically downregulate it. One sentence summary WRI1 regulates genes encoding both fatty acid synthesis and inhibitors of FA synthesis (BADCs), creating a lipid homeostatic mechanism in which the transcription of FA synthetic capacity is coordinated with the capacity to biochemically downregulate FA synthesis.


Abstract:This paper aims to explore the diversity of expressions for food ingestion in some Oceanic languages, and intends to map out the convergences and divergences attested among these languages. Six main points are addressed: first, a brief historical and environmental survey will be presented; second, the parameters distinguishing 'eat' verbs among the Kanak languages will be compared with the differentiation made in other Oceanic languages. In the notional domain under discussion, each Kanak language has its own food noun categories, depending on physical, nutritive or symbolic (cultural) criteria, and distinguished on the basis of the verb they combine with. Third, a typological perspective will show how Kanak is organized with respect to the contextual aspects incorporated into the meaning that is expressed together with the basic action of eating. Then, we will discuss some frequent distinctions found in Oceanic languages to extend the comparison. Fifth, the role of possessive classifiers reserved for specific kinds of food nouns and their relation to different 'eat' verbs will be investigated; and finally, some remarks will be made on the diversity of constructions available for 'eat' verbs in Oceanic languages.


A minimal invasive procedure, Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is purposed to extract kidney stones by percutaneous access. It is indicated in: (1) simple pyelum stone, sized more than 2 cm, (2) kalyx stone, especially more than 2 cm sized, (3) multiple stone, (4) ureteropelvic junction and proximal ureter stone, (5) large kidney stone, (6) stone in solitary kidney. Coagulopathy and active untreated urniary tract infection are contraindicated undergoing PCNL. The advantages of this procedure are relaltively high stone free rate (90%), able to treat large kidney stone and inferior kalyx stone, low morbidity. The need of skillful and experienced operator is the disadvantage of PCNL. Stones size less than 1 cm could be extracted directly during PCNL by using forcep, while those whose sized are more than 1 cm need fragmentation by litotriptor. In cases with small stone burden and uncomplicated, tubeless PCNL is indicated to replace nefrostomy post operatively. It was reported that bleeding, renal pevis trauma, fluid absorbtion, pleura cavity trauma, intestine perforation, hepar/spleen trauma, and sepsis exist as complication of PCNL with incidence rate varies between 0% to 8%. Keywords: kidney stone, PCNL, therapy


Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, X-Men, Men in Black, Daredevil, The Hulk - since the 1970s, the film world has increasingly turned to comic books and graphic novels for inspiration. These days no summer is complete without a major blockbuster movie based on a comic. Modern special effects have made large-scale superhero epics possible, but the diversity of the comics being published has made for a wide variety of subjects, as evidenced by "Ghost World", "From Hell", "Akira" and "Road to Perdition". This book looks at 20 key titles in detail, covering every stage of the journey from comic book panel to feature film frame, including development, production, sequels and spin-offs. From the huge success of the "Superman" and "Batman" franchises, to misfires such as "Mystery Men" and "Dick Tracy" and speculation about future films, the book includes interviews with key creative artists about the development of the movies from the original comics.


Unboiled and boiled polyester (PET) (Egyptian manufacturer) fibres having irregular cross-sectional shape were stretched at room temperature using a mechanical device with a double-beam interference microscope. The optical results obtained were used for calculating some macro-structural parameters. The evaluated density results were used to calculate the degree of crystallinity, the form birefringence, the mean square density fluctuation and some other macro-structural parameters at different stresses and different boiling times. Relationships between the macro-structural parameters with different stresses are given for these fibres. The investigated parameters changed with boiling and stretching. So the obtained results clarify that reorientation occurred. Empirical formulae were suggested to correlate the changes in some structural parameters with different draw ratios, and their constants were determined. This means that the series and parallel components are deformed in the same mode by drawing.


From a previous study on co-integration, it has been proposed that if two series follow a Generalized Auto-regressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (GARCH(1,1)) model, then the two series are co-integrated. However, the proposition was carefully proved using a simulation study. In this paper, a proof of this proposition is presented by applying a case study of the Kenyan market. The dollar exchange and Interbank lending rates in Kenya are analyzed. The procedure described in the simulation study is carefully followed, and consequently all the tests and justifications given follow. Unit root tests (Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF), Phillips Perron (PP) and Kwiatkowski Philips Schmidt Shin (KPSS)) on the data indicates non-stationarity. Differencing is applied to attain stationarity. Co-integrating factor is then estimated to be -0.490747, with its residuals being stationary. elatively same R 2 and adjusted R 2 values indicates adequacy of the model. This ascertains the proposition; and also that co-integration models can be used to analyse time series data with high volatility and heteroskedasticity. It is recommended that a similar study be undertaken with a combination of Auto Regressive Moving Average Process (ARMA) and GARCH models to capture both conditional variance and conditional expection properties.


Abstract This article deals with systematization of the categories of emotional intelligence, emotional potential and a relationship between emotions and feelings, and emphasizes the importance of a sustainably developed personality in the context of sustainable education (Jovaiša, 2007, 2011). The inward consistency is perceived as an internal human orientation, showing itself in positive relationship with the exterior world and the individual (Pileckaitė-Markovienė, 2002). A person with a strong sense of internal consistency has a stronger motivation and appears to be more resistant to stress. Educating children to become emotionally sustainable individuals, means helping them to solve their emotional issues, in order to learn important behaviour strategies and to experience positive interactions with their environment. Children who receive emotional education remain more composed and stable in critical situations. They are able to deal with their feelings, even the negative ones, more easily. Such children are less vulnerable to various illnesses and diseases; they experience less anger and aggression. This article analyzes a system of means and methods for development of intelligence in childhood in the context of sustainable education. It also presents and analyzes the results of recently accomplished research. The aim of the research is to evaluate possibilities and opportunities for development of emotional intelligence in pre-school education institutions and family environment. The article analyses the system of means and measures that aim to develop emotional sustainability in young, preschool children, as it presents and analyses results of the conducted research. The purpose of this research is to assess the emotional potential in children, and the possibilities of educating for emotional sustainability at preschool institutions and within the family environment. The research has targeted preschool pedagogues and parents, who are raising preschool children. The results have shown that respondents do perceive the existence of difference between concepts of emotions and feelings. Childrenís emotions are constantly changing, i.e., they equally display both negative and positive emotions, and, as a result, these emotions may have a fortifying or weakening effect on childrenís emotional sustainability. Emotional intelligence is one of components of inward consistency, and its development in sustainable education is a long, consecutive and continuous activity. Accordingly, the respondents attempt to improve every day and in every possible way. Development of emotional intelligence is a long and consistent work that needs to be practised daily through a variety of activities. In contrast to parents, pedagogues tend to believe that children are the best at assessing and understanding the feelings of other people. The respondents agree that the greatest effect on a childís emotional sustainability comes from family, education and environment. Respondents agree that family, upbringing and environment make the supreme impact on intelligence.


This study sought to analyze applicability of the Suzuki method in Zimbabwean music education. Applicability of the Suzuki method in an African context seems a mammoth task as some of the concepts are not in line with the African cultural norms. The method is based on the central view that early music education of children should involve parents and that it requires a conducive learning environment. The study adopted a qualitative approach and case study design, which focused on selected primary schools in Masvingo urban. The population of this study was made up of school administrators, teachers, music students and parents from selected schools. The sample of this study comprised two music teachers, two administrators and twenty students from each school. In this study the researcher used random sampling and the following instruments were employed to solicit data: questionnaires, interviews and document analysis. Respondents revealed that the Suzuki method was difficult to implement in most Zimbabwean schools and that both teachers and parents were not aware of the method. They also indicated that children from affluent families benefited from the method more than those in high density schools. Problems such as limited time, inadequate teaching and learning materials as well as inappropriate methodology were mentioned as major challenges. The study concluded that teachers in schools under study implemented the Suzuki method unawares. It was therefore recommended that teachers and school heads be encouraged to work together to promote the effective implementation of the Suzuki method. This could be enhanced through workshops involving stakeholders.


In this paper, we report a case study carried out in order to analyze the potential of applying knowledge discovery as a strategy to support decision making in public administration. The discovery of knowledge was implemented by using a binary classifier to predict the success of failure concerning cost and deadline plans. The prediction was made analyzing descriptive data of the plans. The dataset was obtained from a project management system that was built based on the practices of the PMBOK guide. The strategies used in this case study, the difficulties faced during the classifier modeling process and the results are discussed herein.


This is the twenty-sixth annual review published in JAAS on the application of atomic spectrometry to the chemical analysis of environmental samples. This Update refers to papers published approximately between September 2009 and August 2010 and continues the series of Atomic Spectrometry Updates in Environmental Analysis that should be read in conjunction with other related reviews in the series.2–6 In the analysis of air, work is ongoing in developing new and existing air sampler devices with an increasing focus on sampling nanoparticles. Determination of mercury in the atmosphere remains a focus for many research groups and this year has seen a renewed interest in sampling and analysis of respirable silica. There is a growing interest in measuring emissions from transport sources such as aviation and shipping. In the field of water analysis, as in previous years, the main areas of activity are the development of preconcentration and extraction procedures and elemental speciation protocols. In the field of soil, plant and related materials analysis, the past year has seen a marked increase in publications featuring LIBS. The technique now appears well established for screening purposes but has not yet convinced detractors of its suitability for use in quantitative multi-element analysis. There is a growing body of literature examining species stability during sample pre-treatment and extraction. Slurry sampling has experienced renewed interest this year. In the field of geological analysis, as in previous years, considerable effort is being spent not only on the production, characterization and certification of new geological reference materials, but also on enhancing the certification of existing reference materials and the development of reference materials with assigned elemental isotopic ratios. Laser ablation continues to go from strength to strength in being adopted as a solid sampling tool within the geochemical community with a growing interest in coupling laser ablation systems to multicollector ICP-MS systems for in situ isotopic analysis. Feedback on this review is most welcome and the lead author can be contacted using the email address provided.


Abstract:Two narrative episodes in the Hebrew Bible feature a character named Tamar: Judah's daughter-in-law in Gen 38 and David's daughter in 2 Sam 13. In this study, I argue that these Tamar figures can be linked to imagery evoked in the Genesis Apocryphon's reinterpretation of Sarai (1Q20 XIX, 14–16). In the Genesis Apocryphon, Sarai appears to Abram in a dream as a date palm ([inline-graphic 01]) who saves Abram, a cedar, by intertwining her roots with his. Few have connected these Tamar accounts, but those who have identify fertility as the critical thematic link. This essay shows how the Tamar characters in Gen 38 and 2 Sam 13 and Sarai-as-Tamar in Abram's dream in the Genesis Apocryphon are linked not by fertility but rather by transgressive familial relations. The incestuous motif draws upon the botanical image of the date palm, which is explored in the Genesis Apocryphon's rendering of Abram and Sarai in Egypt. There, Sarai appears to Abram as a Tamar figure—one whose desirability above ground is apparent to all, but whose roots entwine fortuitously with the roots of others. Through a close reading of the texts, I demonstrate how the image of the date palm evokes the character of a woman in the family who is desirable above ground but strategic and invasive below ground.


The problem of therapy presented by paralytic dislocation of the hip causes every orthopedic surgeon many moments of uneasiness and doubt. Difficult as the treatment of this condition has always been, the dilemma in which the surgeons of an earlier generation found themselves could still be resolved more readily than that of the modern surgeon. In his review of the condition, Sever1divided cases of paralysis of the hip into three categories: The first group consisted of cases of the early stage, in which mild paralysis without dislocation existed. In these the prognosis was good, and the treatment consisted of the correction of deformities and the application of a plaster or a brace. The second group consisted of cases in which a reducible paralytic dislocation existed. The prognosis was not as good as that in the former group, but the treatment consisted of correction of the contractures and the


This summer's extreme weather events remind us that climate change poses an existential threat to the planet. If unabated, it has the potential to produce catastrophic ecosystem and societal changes, and it already has had an adverse effect on public and individual health. Because it leads to population displacement, deprivation, malnutrition, exposure to hazardous materials and neurotoxins, and expansion of vector-borne infections that affect the nervous system, climate change is already affecting our professional work as neurologists and, more importantly, the lives of our patients. This is why we are joining other medical journal editors on a "call for urgent action to keep average global temperature increases below 1.5°C, halt the destruction of nature, and protect health," and publishing this editorial, which will appear simultaneously in 233 scientific journals throughout the world in advance of this year's UN General Assembly (September 2021), the UN Biodiversity Conference (October 2021), and the UN Climate Change Conference (November 2021). We hope that this international effort will contribute to the deliberations at these forums. We also hope that this editorial will encourage our readers to work in their community to find urgent, sustainable, and equitable solutions to the most pressing challenge of our time.


The devastation caused by the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami opened access for many different organizations to enter Aceh to conduct disaster relief operations. This paper examines the role of one such actor, the Islamic organization Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI). Through its humanitarian work, including the provision of relief aid, medical care, and trauma healing, HTI pursued its political-religious vision of 'caliphatization', the restoration of a global Caliphate and the implementation of Islamic law. Because Islam was already a dominant feature of the Acehnese context with the vast majority of Acehnese declaring a Muslim identity, the case of HTI's disaster relief work was one of intra-religious proselytization to proximate others. Even so, HTI's project was intended to be transformative. However, while the disaster clearly provided an opening for HTI to expand its work in Aceh, and while HTI experienced significant growth in the region as a consequence, its wider project of 'caliphatization' failed to resonate with political elites and has had little impact on political processes. This paper analyses HTI's disaster relief work and assesses the reasons for both its rapid growth and limited political impact.


Laryngomicroscopy is a short-lasting procedure, which causes considerable hemodynamic and ECG changes. Therefore it sets specific demands on anesthetic care. In this double-blind randomized work, we studied hemodynamic and ECG changes in patients during laryngomicroscopy in jet ventilation under propofol-alfentanil anesthesia with and without esmolol, a short-acting beta1-adrenergic receptor blocking agent. Forty ASA class I-II patients were allocated to receive either esmolol 1 mg.kg-1 + 200 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 (the esmolol group) or saline (the control group) (mean age +/- SD 36 +/- 12 yrs in the esmolol group and 39 +/- 9 yrs in the control group). The heart rate and arterial pressure were measured non-invasively and ECG was analyzed with the aid of a microcomputer. In the control group, neither the heart rate nor the QTc interval of the ECG did change significantly when compared with the baseline values. In the presence of esmolol, the heart rate decreased and the QTc interval shortened during the procedure. Arterial pressure increased in the control group, but not in the esmolol group, when compared with the baseline values. No cardiac arrhythmias occurred in either of the groups. On the basis of the present study, propofol-alfentanil anesthesia combined with esmolol is a satisfactory method to meet specific demands of laryngomicroscopy in young and middle-aged ASA I-II patients. However, a combination of propofol and esmolol showed a tendency to decrease both the heart rate and arterial pressure and a caution is necessary when the combination were used in elderly patients.


Precisely modeling complex systems like cyber-physical systems is challenging, which often renders model-based system verification techniques like model checking infeasible. To overcome this challenge, we propose a method called LAR to automatically 'verify' such complex systems through a combination of learning, abstraction and refinement from a set of system log traces. We assume that log traces and sampling frequency are adequate to capture 'enough' behaviour of the system. Given a safety property and the concrete system log traces as input, LAR automatically learns and refines system models, and produces two kinds of outputs. One is a counterexample with a bounded probability of being spurious. The other is a probabilistic model based on which the given property is 'verified'. The model can be viewed as a proof obligation, i.e., the property is verified if the model is correct. It can also be used for subsequent system analysis activities like runtime monitoring or model-based testing. Our method has been implemented as a self-contained software toolkit. The evaluation on multiple benchmark systems as well as a real-world water treatment system shows promising results.


BACKGROUND
The onset of asthma frequently occurs after the age of 50 yr and the severity and causes of this late onset disease are poorly known.

METHODS
25 chronic asthmatics (65.7 +/- 6.5 yr) whose asthma started after the age of 50 yr were compared with 23 chronic asthmatic children (11.6 +/- 2.8 yr) and 24 COPD patients (61.6 +/- 3.4 yr). Both asthmatic groups had a similar apparent duration of asthma. None of the asthmatics was a smoker. All COPD were smokers. The severity of asthma was defined according to the Aas score. FVC, FEV1, MMEFR, Raw were tested and reversibility of bronchial obstruction was determined on Raw after salbutamol inhalation. Allergy was assessed by skin prick tests, RAST and total serum IgE (PRIST).

RESULTS
Patients with childhood asthma had: 1) a significantly lower clinical severity of asthma; 2) a significantly less severe bronchial obstruction, and 3) a significantly greater reversibility than old age asthmatics. There was no significant difference between pulmonary function tests pre- and post-bronchodilators between COPD and old-age asthmatics. All asthmatic children and 40% of older patients were allergic.

CONCLUSIONS
The occurrence of asthma in old age patients leads to a more severe course of the disease and allergy appears to play a role in many old age patients.


One of the most widely acknowledged correlates of educational disadvantage is poor scholastic achievement The purpose of the present paper is to review and summarize what is known about the reading achievements of Irish primary school pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds using data extracted from a variety of st\ldies including national assessments, test standardizations, and programme evaluations. The findings indicate that the reading achievements of pupils in schools designated as disadvantaged are consistently below those of pupils in non-designated schools and test standardization samples. Literacy problems are particularly serious in schools serving concentrations of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds.


The Chinese Temples Ordinance was promulgated by the British colonial government in Hong Kong to address the alarming growth of "pseudo-religious establishments" exploiting the ignorant masses of uneducated Chinese residents. This article critically examines the ordinance and the 2015 proposed amendments as a case study of the potential pitfalls in state responses to religious fraud. First, this article demonstrates the discriminatory nature of the ordinance, which perceived Chinese religions as particularly prone to fraudulent practices and deserving of specific regulatory controls that are not applicable to any other religions. Tellingly, this discriminatory approach—while unconstitutional and undesirable—continues to underpin the proposed reform. Second, this article delineates the conceptual distinctions within religious fraud and the interaction dynamics between religious donors and recipients and argues that the government-sanctioned registration scheme under the ordinance is neither justified nor appropriate to address religious fraud premised on promises of divine intervention in exchange for financial contributions.


We consider the class of inclusive hadron collider processes in which several energetic jets are produced, possibly accompanied by colourless particles (such as Higgs boson(s), vector boson(s) with their leptonic decays, and so forth). We propose a new variable that smoothly captures the $N+1$ to $N$-jet transition. This variable, that we dub $k_T^{\rm ness}$, represents an effective transverse momentum controlling the singularities of the $N+1$-jet cross section when the additional jet is unresolved. The $k_T^{\rm ness}$ variable offers novel opportunities to perform higher-order calculations in Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) by using non-local subtraction schemes. We study the singular behavior of the $N+1$-jet cross section as $k_T^{\rm ness}\to 0$ and, as a phenomenological application, we use the ensuing results to evaluate next-to-leading order corrections to $H$+jet and $Z$+2 jet production at the LHC. We show that $k_T^{\rm ness}$ performs extremely well as a resolution variable and appears to be very stable with respect to hadronization and multiple-parton interactions.


Given the current professional behavioral health workforce shortage, nursing professional development practitioners require educational resources to fully support registered nurses across settings in responding to patients with behavioral health symptoms. Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour training to help nonprofessional bystanders assess a mental health crisis, provide initial help, and connect to supports and self-help resources in the local community. Mental Health First Aid was acceptable and useful to 60 RNs and can be supplemented with additional content.


To satisfy the need of developing eco-friendly flexible antimicrobial packaging film with minimum use of synthetic chemical ingredients, the present study examined the efficacy of citric acid (CA) as crosslinking agent and essential oils (EOs), viz., cinnamon essential oil (CEO) and oregano essential oil (OEO) as natural antimicrobials in corn starch-polyvinyl alcohol (CS-PVA) film. Compared to film prepared from filmogenic solution (FS) containing 75 kg CS+8.75 kg PVA+24.6 kg glycerol per m3 FS, film additionally containing CA at 0.07 kg/kg CS indicated 95% higher ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and 27% lower water vapor permeability (WVP). Film developed with incorporation of CEO and OEO at 1.875 m3 in 100 m3 FS (CS:PVA= 8.5:1) containing CA at 0.07 kg/kg CS exhibited antimicrobial action against Staphylococcus aureus. Added advantage was, both EOs could reduce WVP of film with no EO by about 50%, though CEO exhibited better antimicrobial action. Structural alteration in film matrix due to incorporation of EOs was evident from FTIR and SEM analyses. Thus, from the overall results, CEO (at 1.875 m3 /100 m3 FS) incorporated CS-PVA film cross-linked with CA, in prescribed amounts, was found to be the suitable antimicrobial film with appreciable mechanical properties (UTS ≈4 MPa, Elongation ≈50%) and water vapor permeability (≈0.5×10-6 kg.m.m-2.kPa-1.h-1).


In a previous study, transformation demonstrated that a gene governing enterotoxin A production (entA+) in Staphylococcus aureus strain S-6 was located on the chromosome between the purB110 and ilv-129 markers; in contrast, the entA+ gene of strain FRI-196E was shown not to be located in the same position. In the current study, 54 enterotoxin A-producing strains of S. aureus were examined to locate the entA+ gene. Conventional transformation procedures and a series of multiply marked derivatives of NCTC 8325 were used as recipients for chromosomal mapping. Of the 54 strains tested, 23 were found to contain the entA+ gene at the original locus between the purB110 and ilv-129 markers. Twenty-seven strains could not be analyzed either because their DNA was genetically ineffective in transforming strain 8325 (23 strains), or Pur+ Ilv+ transformants could not be recovered (four strains). Four other strains contained an entA+ gene that could not be located in any of the chromosomal linkage groups. A new insertion site for Tn551 was located within the hla+ gene involved in alpha-toxin production. It eliminated alpha-toxin production and was used to separate the entA+ gene from the hla+ marker in the purB110-ilv-129 region. This segment of the chromosome is shown to consist of the purB110, entA+, hla+, and ilv-129 markers in that order.


Image-based three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction utilizes a set of photos to build 3D model and can be widely used in many emerging applications such as augmented reality (AR) and disaster recovery. Most of existing 3D reconstruction methods require a mobile user to walk around the target area and reconstruct objectives with a hand-held camera, which is inefficient and time-consuming. To meet the requirements of delay intensive and resource hungry applications in 5G, we propose an edge computing-based photo crowdsourcing (EC-PCS) framework in this paper. The main objective is to collect a set of representative photos from ubiquitous mobile and Internet of Things (IoT) devices at the network edge for real-time 3D model reconstruction, with network resource and monetary cost considerations. Specifically, we first propose a photo pricing mechanism by jointly considering their freshness, resolution and data size. Then, we design a novel photo selection scheme to dynamically select a set of photos with the required target coverage and the minimum monetary cost. We prove the NP-hardness of such problem, and develop an efficient greedy-based approximation algorithm to obtain a near-optimal solution. Moreover, an optimal network resource allocation scheme is presented, in order to minimize the maximum uploading delay of the selected photos to the edge server. Finally, a 3D reconstruction algorithm and a 3D model caching scheme are performed by the edge server in real time. Extensive experimental results based on real-world datasets demonstrate the superior performance of our EC-PCS system over the existing mechanisms.


Among the different cultures and traditional practices that are followed in and around the world, the Native Americans are following distinct cultural practices among their clans. Among the Native American tribes, the 'Ojibwe' group is a special clan. This particular clan has fought and acquired freedom from the European settlers. 'Ojibwe' ancestors have notable characteristics that are followed by generation after generation. This study analyses the struggle in emphasizing the identity of the 'Ojibwe' tribal people in the novel 'The Antelope Wife' .Through an innovative story- telling  method, the novelist tries to create an identity for them and reclaim their cultural identity. The novelist has used literature as a tool for studying about the indigenous past, family ties, tradition and culture in the novel. Moreover, the novelist strongly stresses upon the importance of family in one's life. According to 'Ojibwe' people, an individual's life is constructed or marred if he is stranded from his family. This study focuses on how myth, imagination, ancestral values and heritage are intertwined in establishing 'Ojibwe' culture.


Background/Aims: Cesarean-induced isthmocele can cause heavy or prolonged menses, dyspareunia, and dysmenorrhea. We compared the efficacy of vaginal surgery and operative hysteroscopy for the treatment of cesarean-induced isthmocele. Methods: Seventy-seven women with cesarean-induced isthmocele underwent either vaginal surgery or operative hysteroscopy between August 2008 and December 2011. We evaluated operating time, blood loss, complications, and postoperative pregnancy. Operative efficacy was defined as an improvement in menstrual periods and a change in residual isthmocele nidus size on transvaginal ultrasonography. Results: The operative efficacy of vaginal surgery was superior to that of hysteroscopy (93.5 vs. 64.5%; p < 0.001). However, patients who underwent vaginal surgery had a longer operative time (55 vs. 25 min; p < 0.001) and greater blood loss (50 vs. 10 ml; p < 0.001). Two patients in each group were able to achieve subsequent pregnancy. Patients who had menstrual periods longer than 7 days after surgery were more likely to have a residual nidus. Conclusions: The therapeutic efficacy of vaginal surgery is superior to operative hysteroscopy in the treatment of cesarean-induced isthmocele.


Several experiments were set up to see the effects of several mycorrhiza species and compost treatments on horticultural seedling quality. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of various compost (14 different composts) material applications on tomato and pepper seedling quality, growth and nutrient uptake. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse at Cukurova University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Soil Science, Adana, Turkey. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design in three replications. Ground (< 1mm) basaltic tuff (18%), andesitic tuff (10%) and rock phosphate (2%) were added to compost (70%) used as organic fertilizer. Two growth media (organic fertilizer:soil:sand at 1:1:1 V/V and andesitic tuff:soil:organic fertilizer at 6:3:1 V/V) were used for seedling production. Plants were inoculated with G. caledonium; a level of 1000-spores per pot was placed 3 cm below the seeds. Non-mycorrhizal plants also received the same amount of mycorrhizal spore free medium. The result showed that compost materials contained different amounts of nutrients. Tomato and pepper seedlings showed different responses to each compost material. The results also showed that the mycorrhizal inoculation significantly increased plant length and diameter. Plants had better growth and responded to the mycorrhizal inoculation in 6:3:1 (v/v) more than in 1:1:1 (v/v) growth media. Mycorrhizal inoculation also increased root colonization depending on compost materials. Mycorrhizal inoculation had different effects on plant growth and nutrient uptake depending on compost material. Domestic waste, animal fertilizers (cows and sheep), chicken manure, different plant materials and mushroom waste were determined to be the most suitable compost material for plant growth.


Blood form trypomastigotes of the Y strain of T. cruzi, produced a strong inhibition of the blastogenic response to T and B cell mitogens, of the C3H/He, C57BL/6 and BALB/cJ strains of mice, while culture epimastigotes of the Y strain kept in a medium that allows parasite growth at 26 degrees, 30 degrees, 34 degrees and 37 degrees C produced a strong stimulatory effect that was even higher than the effect of the mitogens alone. Both the inhibitory or the stimulatory effects were dose-dependent. The stimulatory effect of epimastigotes was also temperature-dependent producing increased stimulation indexes as the temperature of parasite cultures was raised. Metabolically active, living parasites seemed to be necessary for an improved lymphocyte stimulation suggesting a potential role of secreted metabolites as polyclonal activators of mouse lymphocytes.


Servo drives require high dynamics and reliability on speed control. Conventional cascade linear controllers suffer from the proportional-integral parameters tuning work and low dynamic response, due to their cascaded structure. In this paper, an improved model predictive direct speed control is proposed with rapid speed tracking and very small speed offset. The new control scheme eliminates the cascaded structure by predicting the future speed in discrete steps. The optimal voltage vector to control the motor is then selected according to an evaluation criterion for speed and flux tracking. To reduce the system cost and improve the reliability, a load torque observer is adopted to estimate the actual load torque. Besides, to avoid torque oscillations and overshoots during rapid speed variation, a torque suppression factor is incorporated into the cost function. Furthermore, a myopic prediction correction method is developed to enhance both the dynamic and steady-state responses. Simulation and hardware-in-the-loop results are presented to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.


This paper presents a forward body-biasing (FBB) scheme for active leakage power reduction in cache memories. We utilize super high VT (threshold voltage) devices to suppress the leakage power in unselected portions of a cache while fast operation is achieve by dynamically forward body-biasing the selected SRAM cells. In order to generate a super high VT device, the 2-D halo doping profile was optimized considering different nanometer regime leakage mechanisms. The transition latency and energy overhead associated with FBB could be minimized by (i) waking up the SRAM cells ahead of the access and (ii) exploiting the cache access pattern. The combined device-circuit-architecture level techniques offer 64% total leakage reduction and 7.3% improvement in bitline delay compared to a previous state-of-the-art low-leakage SRAM technique.


In evaluating distortion with the visual nodal slide optical bench, the transverse displacements to right and left of center upon which the values of distortion are based are likely to be asymmetric with respect to the initial setting made at the axial focus. Several factors that contribute to this condition are (1) transverse displacement of the rear nodal point of the lens with respect to the center of rotation of the nodal slide, (2) misalignment of the collimator, and (3) prism effect on the lens. The manner in which these factors affect the observations are discussed. It is shown that the accuracy of the values of distortion are not adversely affected provided proper care is taken. A test for consistency of observations is developed and demonstrated. Results of measurements on several lenses are given that demonstrate the effect of the various factors.


. We consider the problem of sentiment analysis in news media articles cast as a three-way classification task: negative, positive, or neutral. We show that subdividing the training corpus by topic (local news, sports, hi-tech, and others) and training separate sentiment classifiers for each sub-corpus improves classification F1 scores. We use topics since some words carry different sentiments in different domains: e.g., the word "force" is typically positive in the sports domain but negative in the political domain. Our experiments on the Kaggle dataset with sentiment-labeled Kazakhstani news articles in Russian language using the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model partially proved our hypothesis, showing that for the most prominent "kz" (local news) topic, we achieve an F1 score of 0.70, which is greater than the baseline model trained without the topic-awareness showing just 0.67. Topic-aware improves F1 scores in some topics, but due to the topic/class imbalance further research is needed. However, the performance in terms of F1 over all the corpus does not improve or the improvements are very small. Moreover, our approach shows better results on topics with many text samples than those with relatively small amounts of articles.


The present study proposes a fuzzy mathematical model of HIV infection consisting of a linear fuzzy differential equations (FDEs) system describing the ambiguous immune cells level and the viral load which are due to the intrinsic fuzziness of the immune system's strength in HIV-infected patients. The immune cells in question are considered CD4+ T-cells and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs). The dynamic behavior of the immune cells level and the viral load within the three groups of patients with weak, moderate, and strong immune systems are analyzed and compared. Moreover, the approximate explicit solutions of the proposed model are derived using a fitting-based method. In particular, a fuzzy control function indicating the drug dosage is incorporated into the proposed model and a fuzzy optimal control problem (FOCP) minimizing both the viral load and the drug costs is constructed. An optimality condition is achieved as a fuzzy boundary value problem (FBVP). In addition, the optimal fuzzy control function is completely characterized and a numerical solution for the optimality system is computed.


Photographs of the Far North, including images of gum digging, kauri logging, farming, and views of Kaitaia, Rawene, and other towns in the area. Most photographs taken by Arthur Northwood at the Northwood Studio, Kaitaia.
Source of Title - Title supplied by Library
Accompanying material - Information relating to some of these images in PA back file
Arrangement: Albums at PA1-o-394 to PA1-o-396.

Negatives at 1/2-024646 to 024664, 029635 to 029641, 029830 to 029857; 1/1-004884 to 004967, 006210 to 006379, 006809 to 006823, 009741, 009776 to 009785.
Richard Arthur Northwood (1854?-1926) was born in Sydney and came to New Zealand in the late 1860s to serve as a pharmacist with the Armed Constabulary in the Taranaki Wars. He married Mary Jane Harrison, and their children Arthur James (1880-1949), Richard Alfred (1881-1955) and Charles Hubert (b 1882) were born at Pukearuhe.
In the early 1890s the family moved to North Auckland. Richard Arthur Northwood worked as an industrial chemist in fish factories, and the family settled at Pukenui, on the Houhora Harbour.
Richard Arthur Northwood, a photographer himself, encouraged the interest in his sons, and arranged correspondence courses for them in photography and accountancy. They also worked at fishing and gum digging, and all four held masters and engineers certificates for small vessels.
On 1910 Arthur James Northwood established a studio in Kaitaia, which he operated until his death in 1949. The studio continued to operate after his death, as Highlite Studios.
Richard Alfred Northwood worked as an accountant in Kohukohu where, with his brother Hubert Charles Northwood, he operated from 1910 to 1919 the Northwood Brothers studio. For the next 20 years he managed the Maori Affairs store in Te Kao. In 1941 he joined Arthur James Northwood in his Kaitaia studio.
Hubert Charles Northwood operated a studio in Gisborne in the early 1920s. In 1925 he established the Bellwood Studios in Queen Street, Auckland. In the 1940s this studio passed to Miss Amy Harper.
The bulk of the negatives held by the Alexander Turnbull Library were taken between 1910 and the 1930s by Arthur James Northwood.
Quantity: 3 album(s). 869 b&w original negative(s). 77 b&w original photographic print(s).
Physical Description: Photograph albums, photographic prints, negatives
Processing information: Archivists notes - Originally arranged and described in 1993. Major enhancement of descriptive records, including creation of group level record, undertaken by Photographic Archive staff in 2006.


Common carp ( Cyprinus carpio ) is one of the commercially important and commonly cultured fish. In the hatchery intensive incubation leads to microbial overgrowth in C. carpio eggs that hamper egg development, hatchability and larval survivability. The aim of this study is to find out causes of mass mortality in C. carpio eggs during peak- breeding season between March to May 2015 at Mafatema fish hatchery, Chanchra, Jessore sadar upazilla. In the present study three disinfectants with three different concentrations in each such as methylene blue 1, 3 and 5mg/L., malachite green 1, 3 and 5mg/L., sodium chloride 1, 2 and 3g/L were used to observe the hatching rate of fertilized eggs and survival rate of larvae. Bacterial load of culture water was examined during the induced breeding of C. carpio with mycological examination of egg samples with different disinfectants. The total bacterial count fluctuated from 3.4 x 10 8 CFU/ml to 32.7 x 10 8 CFU/ml during the period of fertilization to 4days of hatching. The fertilized eggs infected by Saprolegnia spp. were appeared as tuft hairy like balls with a white cottony envelop. Among all the treatment 1mg/L methylene blue, 3mg/L malachite green and 1g/L sodium chloride showed significantly better ( P<0.05 ) hatching rate 95·33±2·08, 88.00±2.64 and 92.33±4.04% respectively. The same concentration of methylene blue, malachite green and sodium chloride showed significantly better ( P<0.05 ) better survival rate 95·00±4.35, 75.00±3.00 and 87.00±6.24% respectively. Finally among all the treatment 1mg/L of methylene blue showed significantly better ( P<0.05 ) hatching and survival rate 95·33±2·08% and 95·00±4.35 % respectively. So 1mg/L of methylene blue is the best disinfectant for C. carpio fertilized egg treatment. Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. December 2015, 1(3): 578-588


Here we report a systematic method for constructing a large scale kinetic metabolic model and its initial application to the modeling of central metabolism of Methylobacterium extorquens AM1, a methylotrophic and environmental important bacterium. Its central metabolic network includes formaldehyde metabolism, serine cycle, citric acid cycle, pentose phosphate pathway, gluconeogensis, PHB synthesis and acetyl-CoA conversion pathway, respiration and energy metabolism. Through a systematic and consistent procedure of finding a set of parameters in the physiological range we overcome an outstanding difficulty in large scale kinetic modeling: the requirement for a massive number of enzymatic reaction parameters. We are able to construct the kinetic model based on general biological considerations and incomplete experimental kinetic parameters. Our method consists of the following major steps: 1) using a generic enzymatic rate equation to reduce the number of enzymatic parameters to a minimum set while still preserving their characteristics; 2) using a set of steady state fluxes and metabolite concentrations in the physiological range as the expected output steady state fluxes and metabolite concentrations for the kinetic model to restrict the parametric space of enzymatic reactions; 3) choosing enzyme constants K's and K'eqs optimized for reactions under physiological concentrations, if their experimental values are unknown; 4) for models which do not cover the entire metabolic network of the organisms, designing a dynamical exchange for the coupling between the metabolism represented in the model and the rest not included.


The Tesla Test Facility (TTF) will soon be upgraded to an FEL-user facility capable of providing SASE-FEL radiation with a wavelength down to 6 nm. In the context of this upgrade, it was recognized that the present injector needed to be rebuilt. In this paper, after discussing the short comes of the present injector in use at TTF-1, we present the new design and its performance study for various scenarii of operation.


The starch chemistry aspect of amylose and amylopectin fractions along with their contributory roles in defining starch food behavior; such as in gels formation, pasting quality, swellability, dextrinization and viscosity from various sources such as legumes, root, tubers and cereals were reviewed. Chemical and physical modifications of starch like cationation, esterification, acetylation, alkalization and annealing, which somehow weakens glucose linked bond and releasing fractional starch moieties have shown to modify characteristic behavior of starch in food systems and for non-food systems. The application of starch in food and non-food systems were envisaged from resistant to non-resistance starches in legumes, roots and tubers and these were observed to be better in functional characteristic than cereal starches.


Abstract Developing a unified classification system to replace four of the systems currently used in disability athletics (i.e., track and field) has been widely advocated. The diverse impairments to be included in a unified system require several assessment methods, results of which cannot be meaningfully compared. Therefore, the taxonomic basis of current classification systems is invalid in a unified system. Biomechanical analysis establishes that force, a vector described in terms of magnitude and direction, is a key determi-nant of success in all athletic disciplines. It is posited that all impairments to be included in a unified system may be classified as either force magnitude impairments (FMI) or force control impairments (FCI). This framework would provide a valid taxonomic basis for a unified system, creating the opportunity to decrease the number of classes and enhance the viability of disability athletics.


When designing for a group of professionals, it is important to know their work practice. This is well-known and practised, e.g., in agile software development in which customers are involved in development work, but less so when the professionals are software engineers or in particular software architects. In the SA@Work project, we have extensively studied software architect work at four Danish companies using both qualitative and quantitative approaches. In this paper, we report on concerns (analysis, design, evaluation, realization, management, and interaction) that software architects have in their work. Our lessons learnt are software architecture work (in the setting that we studied) is as much about non-technical as technical work, that architecture is often found "in the small" and that architects vary widely in type. Furthermore, we point to lessons for future research and development of software architecture techniques.


OF THESIS COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS (CFD) MODELING AND VALIDATION OF DUST CAPTURE BY A NOVEL FLOODED BED DUST SCRUBBER INCORPORATED INTO A LONGWALL SHEARER OPERATING IN A US COAL SEAM Dust is a detrimental, but unavoidable, consequence of any mining process. It is particularly problematic in underground coal mining, where respirable coal dust poses the potential health risk of coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP). Float dust, if not adequately diluted with rock dust, also creates the potential for a dust explosion initiated by a methane ignition. Furthermore, recently promulgated dust regulations for lowering a miner's exposure to respirable coal dust will soon call for dramatic improvements in dust suppression and capture. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) results are presented for a research project with the primary goal of applying a flooded-bed dust scrubber, with high capture and cleaning efficiencies, to a Joy 7LS longwall shearer operating in a 7-ft (2.1 m) coal seam. CFD software, Cradle is used to analyze and evaluate airflow patterns and dust concentrations, under various arrangements and conditions, around the active mining zone of the shearer for maximizing the capture efficiency of the scrubber.


Cutaneous vasculitis comprises a wide spectrum of clinical syndromes and histopathologic findings that share the common theme of vascular inflammation and blood vessel damage. Clinical pattern and proper histopathologic studies are essential to the proper classification and evaluation of vasculitis. This article discusses the major types of cutaneous vasculitis typified by necrotizing or leukocytoclastic vasculitis and includes discussions of Henoch-Schönlein purpura, urticarial vasculitis, erythema elevatum diutinum, cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa, livedoid vasculitis, and cutaneous granulomatous vasculitis.


for the solid-liquid equilibrium. thermophysical properties of solid wax instead of further development of models towards a model of deposition of wax should focus on the determination of the mechanism of deposition is the thermal diffusion. This implies that further work The results from the simulations support the hypothesis that the limiting represented better by the physical properties solid of C,, than by molar averages. at the temperatures investigated. The properties of the rotator phase are The model suggests that the solid structure is predominantly in a rotator structure physical properties and mechanisms. The results from the simulations are used to test different hypothesis regarding physical properties and the interfacial temperature. model represents the experiments within the limit of the uncertainties of the are chosen to imitate the conditions of previously reported experiments. The mixtures of n-alkanes in the C,&,, range. The initial and boundary conditions A numerical model has been developed in order to simulate freezing of binary


The case of pregnancy associated herpes hepatitis described by Fink et all has many similarities with a case we presented to the Medical Society for the Study of Venereal Diseases in Zurich 1993, as well as with other documented cases. However, a literature search has shown that there were 17 reported cases and not eight as stated by the authors. These cases remain rare and the clinical features are initially those of a non-specific viral illness, but it must be bome in mind that herpes simplex is a treatable cause of hepatitis in pregnancy. Including our case, five patients have been treated with acyclovir. All of them survived. This compares with a mortality of 37% for all cases and 60% for untreated cases. It must also be noted that not all patients present with florid mucocutaneous lesions and the diagnosis must be considered in their absence. Four of the previous reported 17 cases had no mucocutaneous lesions, while in some, lesions may be scanty and initially overlooked. Even when absent, however, multiple sites are culture positive, and we recommend that oropharyngeal and genital swabs for herpes simplex virus (HSV) should be performed in all cases of hepatitis in pregnancy. Blood cultures may be positive and any biopsy material should also be cultured. Fink et al suggest that dissemination is not necessarily the result of recent primary infection, but a review of the other documented cases indicates that this is more likely. None of the patients had a clear history of recurrent symptomatic herpes, and in those cases in which antibody responses are documented they are suggestive of primary infection. We know of no cases in which dissemination has been documented in the context of recurrence. This case is also notable as being the earliest stage of gestation in which dissemination has occurred. Other cases have occurred after the 25th week of pregnancy with a mean gestation of 31 weeks. In summary, disseminated HSV in pregnancy seems to occur in the context of primary infection, usually in the third trimester, but now documented as early as 24 weeks. All cases have been associated with hepatitis; clinical findings may be nonspecific and cutaneous lesions absent. Therefore, a high index of suspicion is needed if antiviral treatment is to reduce the high mortality. I FAIRLEY J WILSON Department of Genitourinary Medicine, The General Infirmary at Leeds, Great George Street, Leeds LSI 3EX


The "new market" for meat alternatives promises meaty profits and attracts enormous interest by consumers and investors alike. In this chapter, the historical development of meat alternatives is reviewed in an attempt to identify what is "new" about this particular market in the United Kingdom as an example of a Western country. Beginning in Victorian England, through the Wars into the 21st century, the societal background and developments leading into various episodes of markets for meat alternatives are discussed. Together with a description of the "new" market, historical continuities and current opportunities are outlined. It is concluded that health, environment, and business opportunities have played an important role throughout the history of the market, but the significance of this market in the commercial world is new.


IT HAS long been recognized by the practical engineer responsible for the proper maintenance of high-voltage oilfilled electrical equipment that water constitutes one of the chief and in some instances the only serious threat to successful service. However, consideration of the dangers presented by water during the operation of high-voltage machines must not be limited to a study of the relation between the dielectric strength and the water content of the insulating liquid used. For successful operation, the cellulosic insulation must be maintained in a dry condition.


Su, R., Munns, K., Beauchemin, K. A., Schwartzkopf-Genswein, K., Jin-Quan, L., Topp, E. and Sharma, R. 2011. Effect of backgrounding and transition diets on fecal concentration and strain types of commensal Escherichia coliin beef cattle. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 91: 449-458. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of four different backgrounding diets [55% corn silage in combination with 40% of either temper rolled barley-grain, wheat dried distillers' grain, corn dried distillers' grain or millrun (dry matter basis)] and a transition diet containing increasing amount of concentrate (60 to 90%) on fecal Escherichia coli in feedlot heifers. Heifers were fed backgrounding forage based diets for 91 d and then were shifted to a transition diet for an additional 18 d. Strain characterization of E. coli (n=224) was carried out at time time points over 109 d and indicated that heifers fed the barley-grain diet shed higher (P<0.001) total and tetracycline-resistant (Tetr) E. coli in the backgrounding phase. Of the total E. coli examined (n=224), 70.3% showed resistance to one or more of the 14 antimicrobials examined, which increased to 82.3% by day 109. Among the recovered E. coli, 23 phenotypes and 154 pulsed field gel electrophoresis patterns grouped into 38 clusters indicative of extensive E. coli diversity in heifers. Although supplementation of 40% barley-grain was correlated to higher total E. coli shedding in the backgrounding phase, the backgrounding diets did not influence strain clustering. Strains collected during the transition phase clustered more closely than those collected during the backgrounding phase. This increased strain clustering with high concentrate inclusion in the transition diet was observed within 18 d of the transition phase. Our study indicated variations in E. coli shedding rates and strain clustering in relation to time and diet.


Purinergic 2X receptors (P2X) on the endings of group III and IV afferents play a role in evoking the exercise pressor reflex. Particular attention has been paid to P2X3 receptors because their blockade in the periphery attenuated this reflex. In contrast, nothing is known about the role played by P2X receptors in the spinal cord in evoking the exercise pressor reflex in rats. P2X7 receptors, in particular, may be especially important in this regard because they are found in abundance on spinal glial cells and may communicate with neurons to effect reflexes controlling cardiovascular function. Consequently, we investigated the role played by spinal P2X7 receptors in evoking the exercise pressor reflex in decerebrated rats. We found that intrathecal injection of the P2X7 antagonist Brilliant Blue G (BBG) attenuated the exercise pressor reflex (Blood Pressure Index: 294 ± 112 mmHg·s pre vs 7 ± 32 mmHg·s post; P < 0.05). Likewise, intrathecal injection of minocycline, which inhibits microglial cell output, attenuated the reflex. In contrast, intrathecal injection of BBG did not attenuate the pressor response evoked by intra-carotid injection of sodium cyanide, a maneuver that stimulated carotid chemoreceptors. Moreover, injections of BBG into either the arterial supply of the contracting hindlimb muscles or into the jugular vein did not attenuate the exercise pressor reflex. Our findings support the hypothesis that P2X7 receptors on microglial cells within the spinal cord play a role in evoking the exercise pressor reflex.


The instability of Eu complexes against ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation is an important problem to solve before they can be practically applied in white light-emitting diodes. A novel technique of encapsulating tris(2-thenoyltrifluoroacetonato)(1,10-phenanthroline)europium(III) [Eu(TTA)3phen] was investigated using high-pressure annealing (solvothermal process) as a final process in the sol–gel synthesis. The photoluminescence and excitation spectra of encapsulated Eu(TTA)3phen samples synthesized by solvothermal and conventional annealing processes were almost the same. A half brightness time of 589 min was achieved while irradiating with UV light of 360 nm and 5 mW/cm2 by optimization of ammonia concentration and annealing temperature. The longest half brightness time was longer than that of encapsulated Eu(TTA)3phen synthesized by conventional thermal treatment. One possible reason for this result is that the chemical reaction of the sol–gel based glass network occurs more efficiently with high-pressure annealing. As a result, a high encapsulating efficiency was achieved owing to the small amount of organic component in the sol–gel derived glass network.


The invaluable social and economic contribution that women collectively make is often undervalued and underestimated. This paper attempts to address this to some extent, by providing a contemporary assessment of women's contribution to paid off-farm work in rural and agricultural communities in Australia. As part of the analysis, women's contributions to paid off-farm work activities are examined. Measures of the contribution of women in terms of their contribution to paid off-farm work are calculated using values derived from specially constructed models. A brief literature review of relevant research concerning the determinants of women's contribution to paid off-farm work in the agricultural and rural communities is also incorporated. The findings presented are thus largely based on current research, with one of the main goals of the exercise being to provide more complete information regarding the contribution of women to agricultural and rural communities, to improve future policy development and implementation in relevant areas.


Background Advances in biologic treatments have led to a new therapeutic frontier for moderate-to-severe psoriasis. Nevertheless, the efficacy of anti-TNFα decreases with time, requiring adjustments to maintain valuable Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) responses. Objectives To evaluate the efficacy and safety of adalimumab dose escalation (40 mg, subcutaneous, once a week for 24 weeks) in psoriatic adult patients with secondary loss of response (PASI ≥50 to ≤75 or PASI≥75 and DLQI ≥5). Materials and Methods A multicentre, observational study involving different Italian third-level referral centres for psoriasis enrolled a total of 64 adult patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis who were treated with adalimumab and experienced a secondary loss of response. Primary end-points were PASI< 75 or PASI ≥50 to ≤ 75 with DLQI ≤ 5, and the secondary end-point was the ability to maintain a therapeutic response, resuming adalimumab every other week. Results At Week 16 and Week 24, 29/64 (45.3%) and 35/64 (54.6%) responded based on PASI, and mean DLQI was 4.9 and 4.09, respectively. At Week 36 and Week 48, 45.3% and 28.1% patients achieved the second end-point, respectively. No adverse events were recorded except for one patient with recurrent tonsillitis. Conclusion Adalimumab escalation could be considered in cases with loss of response before switching to alternative biologic therapy.


Contemporary social preventive orthodontics in Slovenia has a special form as units all the aspects of the epidemiological, researching, professional and organisational characteristics. It has grown out of our society and has been tailored for our needs, which means that it is social and suitable for the tasks of social and preventive medicine. Our idea "healthy and functional teeth for all children" has been our current, periodical and final goal, its achievement being dependent on the generations of dental doctors and specialists in orthodontics: this means, however, that the progress cannot be urged.


Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the blood which have detached from both the primary tumor and any metastases may be considered as a "liquid biopsy" and are expected to replace tumor biopsies in the monitoring of treatment response and determining patient prognosis. Here, we introduce a facile and efficient CTC detection material made of hydroxyapatite/chitosan (HA/CTS), which is beneficial because of its transparency and excellent biological compatibility. Atomic force microscopy images show that the roughness of the HA/CTS nanofilm (HA/CTSNF) substrates can be controlled by changing the HA:CTS ratio. Enhanced local topographic interactions between nano-components on cancer cell membranes, and the antibody coated nanostructured substrate lead to improved CTC capture and separation. This remarkable nanostructured substrate has the potential for CTC culture in situ and merits further analysis. CTCs captured from artificial blood samples were observed in culture on HA/CTSNF substrates over a period of 14 days by using conventional staining methods (hematoxylin eosin and Wright's stain). We conclude that these substrates are multifunctional materials capable of isolating and culturing CTCs for subsequent studies.


ABSTRACT Chen, Y.-H.; Chu, T., and Wang, K.-H., 2019. Analytical and experimental investigation of waves propagating through thin, porous walls for coastal protection applications. Journal of Coastal Research, 35(6), 1294–1306. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. This paper presents a combined analytical and experimental investigation of the interaction between either a linear monochromatic or a nonlinear solitary wave and a thin, porous wall as a breakwater for coastal protection. This study will determine with validation a unique porous-wall property defined as a material constant in Darcy's law based on theoretical formulation of the porous flow condition using the laboratory data and will evaluate the effectiveness of the porous walls on the transmitted waves through the analytical solutions derived for both the monochromatic and solitary wave conditions. A series of wave tank experiments were performed to record wave elevations in front of and behind the porous walls. Monochromatic waves with various incident wave conditions were first generated to test eight thin, porous walls with varying pore sizes and porosities. The porous-wall properties determined and validated with monochromatic wave data are found to be dependent on the porosity and pore size. The transmitted wave height is reduced as the porosities of the walls decrease. When comparing two porous walls with the same porosity, less incident wave energy gets transmitted through the wall with a smaller pore diameter. Additionally, those porous walls were applied in laboratory tests with inputs of incident solitary waves of varying wave heights. The derived analytical solutions with the determined porous-wall material constants for the cases of solitary waves are verified with the results, similar to the monochromatic wave cases, showing good matches between the predicted and measured wave profiles. Overall, this study provides an important analytical approach with confirmed experimental verifications to be used for coastal engineering application analyzing waves interacting with a thin, porous wall.


To accompany James' photographs of French gardens of the second half of the 18th century, Mosser's essay embraces notions of the poetic, pastoral and romantic, rapture, ectasy and panic. The author uses both a myriad of references to period literature and art and notions of "the sublime allegorical idea", imaginary landscape and the readable labyrinth to draw the gardens, the photographs and her text into the same domain. 10 bibl. ref.


Inflammasomes are signaling complexes that link the recognition of pathogen and danger associated molecular patterns (PAMPs and DAMPs) by cytosolic pattern-recognition receptors (PPRs) to the activation of Caspase-1, leading to the release of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18, and the induction of pyroptosis. In addition to the canonical inflammasome activation by Caspase-1, other inflammatory caspases including murine Caspase-11 and its human orthologs Caspase-4 and Caspase-5 participate in the non-canonical pathway in response to intracellular LPS and Gram negative bacteria escaping the phagosomes, resulting in pyroptotic cell death as well as NLRP3 inflammasome-dependent cytokine release. Contrary to the highly regulated multiprotein platform required for Caspase-1 activation in the canonical inflammasomes, non-canonical inflammatory caspases are directly activated by binding to LPS thus simultaneously act as innate sensors and effectors. It is still largely unknown how the activity of these caspases is regulated. Here we identified the oxidized phospholipid 1-Palmitoyl-2-arachidonoyl-sn- glycero-3-phosphorylcholine (oxPAPC) as a negative regulator of the non-canonical inflammasome in macrophages. In addition to its previously reported TLR4 antagonistic role, oxPAPC directly binds to Caspase-4 and Caspase-11, competes with LPS binding and consequently, inhibits LPS-induced pyroptosis, IL-1β release and septic shock in vivo. Therefore, oxPAPC and its derivatives could provide a basis for novel therapies targeting non-canonical inflammasomes during Gram-negative bacterial sepsis.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to compare the influences of antianginal drugs such as mononitrate, beta-blocker and calcium channel blocker on cardiovascular responsiveness to orthostasis.

METHODS
The responses to passive orthostasis (tilt provocation at 60 degrees for 3 min) were measured in normotensive healthy volunteers with whole-body impedance cardiography and finger blood-pressure monitoring after a single moderate oral dose of isosorbide-5-mononitrate (CAS 16051-77-7, 10 mg), the beta1-blocker bisoprolol fumarate (CAS 104344-23-2, 5 mg), the dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker nisoldipine (CAS 63675-72-9, 5 mg), and placebo in a randomised, double-blind fashion.

RESULTS
In supine position, none of the drugs altered pre-tilt arterial pressure or heart rate (HR) when compared to placebo. Nisoldipine decreased systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) when compared to either placebo or bisoprolol, and increased the cardiac index (CI) when compared to placebo. During the passive orthostasis, the mononitrate decreased SVRI when compared to placebo or bisoprolol. The mononitrate increased HR and pulse wave velocity (PWV) when compared to the other study groups, and decreased the stroke index when compared to placebo. In the bisoprolol group, the tilt responses of diastolic arterial pressure, HR, CI, left cardiac work index, and PWV decreased significantly compared to those in the placebo group. Nisoldipine did not alter the responses to orthostasis when compared to placebo. When compared to the mononitrate, both nisoldipine and bisoprolol decreased CI response to orthostasis.

CONCLUSIONS
The mononitrate adversely affects the cardiovascular responsiveness to orthostasis. The beta-blocker reduces the responses and thus probably oxygen demand during orthostasis. The dihydropyridine calcium blocker seems to influence the responsiveness less than the mononitrate or beta-blocker.


In the late southern winter of 1998, Centre National d'l•tudes Spatiales (CNES), the French Space Agency, released six 10-m-diameter, superpressure balloons from a location near Quito, Ecuador. Three balloons collapsed soon after launching, but the remaining three drifted westward for a few weeks at altitudes between 19 and 20 km. Two of those balloons crossed the Pacific Ocean befbre falling above the "maritime continent," while the other completed a revolution around the Earth and crossed the Pacific for a second time before its final fall. Despite the small number and the relatively short duration of the flights, the balloons provided a unique in situ data set for the lower equatorial stratosphere. This part 1 of a two-part paper describes this data set and analyzes outstanding features in the planetary scales. Part 2 focuses on gravity-wave scale. It is argued that balloon trajectories over the Pacific are primarily determined by the westward drift during the easterly phase of the equatorial quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) and the meridional velocity field of a mixed Rossby-gravity (Yanai) wave with an apparent period of 4 days and zonal wave number 4. This wave appears to have two episodes of amplification during the balloon flights. It is also argued that the balloons show evidence of oscillations with periods between 2 and 4 days and of a Kelvin wave with an apparent period close to 10 days and zonal wave number 1. In this way, the balloon behavior provided a pictorial view of air parcel trajectory in the equatorial ower stratosphere. It is stated that larger balloon campaigns can provide excellent in situ data sets for studies on the dynamics and composition of the middle atmosphere.


The steps taken to implement a therapeutic interchange program for i.v. histamine H2-receptor antagonists and to determine the potential cost savings are described. A literature review conducted by pharmacists at a 273-bed nonteaching community hospital showed that i.v. famotidine was as safe and effective as i.v. cimetidine or ranitidine and that it was feasible to add famotidine to total parenteral nutrition (TPN) solutions. Because of famotidine's cost advantage, it was proposed that i.v. famotidine be used in place of specific dosage regimens of i.v. ranitidine or cimetidine and in TPN solutions ordered for patients receiving concurrent H2-antagonist therapy. The approval of the hospital attorney and hospital gastroenterologists was secured, and a formal proposal was submitted. The pharmacy department distributed a memorandum describing the advantages of famotidine, conducted inservice education sessions, and sought the compliance of physicians by placing reminders on order forms and patient charts and by contacting physicians directly. The program was implemented in May 1989. During the first three months, only one physician insisted that patients receive i.v. ranitidine rather than famotidine. It was projected that the interchange of i.v. famotidine for cimetidine or ranitidine would result in a total savings of $37,565 during the first year due to reductions in the cost of drugs, supplies, and nursing labor. The acceptance of a therapeutic interchange program for H2 antagonists was excellent, and the projected savings are substantial.