Rather than having established forms available to pour things into, forms frequently need to be built from the ground up. Practically, it is simpler to use assembly line production for academic work, and most of academic writing is relatively linear objective prose. However, boundaries are being crossed in diverse disciplines by a number of scholars with a variety of agendas. One of the less common breaks with convention is fragmentation. For instance, multiple meanings can be created by deciding whether to read a fragment in relation to what came before or what follows. The computer has increased the ability to reduce the linearity of texts with hypertext, which allows the creation of links to several ideas at one time without privileging one aspect above another. Another of the most advanced changes in academic writing conventions is the inclusion of the personal voice and personal experience as evidence. Most writing that transgresses or transcends conventional boundaries is an amalgam of the classic essay and the academic article. (Examples illustrating the new styles are appended.) (CR) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. AAAAAAAAAA**AAAAAAAAA*AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA:,AAAA*AAA*AAAAAAAAAAAAAA


The current work aims to make a foundation for an engineering design of a cyclone gasifier to be able not only to predict its flow field with a suitable accuracy but also to investigate a large number of design alternatives with limited computer resources. A good single-phase flow model that can form the basis in an Euler-Lagrange model for multi-phase flow is also necessary for modelling the reacting flow inside a cyclone gasifier. The present paper provides an objective comparison between several popular turbulence modelling options including standard k-e and SST with curvature corrections, SSG-RSM and LES Smagorinsky models, for the single-phase flow inside cyclone separators/gasifiers that can serve as a guide for further work on the reacting multi-phase flow inside cyclone gasifiers and similar devices. A detailed comparison between the models and experimental data for the mean velocity and fluctuating parts of the velocity profiles are presented. Furthermore, the capabilities of the turbulence models to capture the physical phenomena present in a cyclone gasifier that affects the design process are investigated.


Noradrenaline (NA)-stimulated &bgr;adrenoreceptors activate adenylate cyclase via excitatory G-proteins (Gs). Activated adenylate cyclase in turn promotes the production of cAMP. Critical roles of cAMP–dependent protein kinase A (PKA) in divergent cellular functions have been shown, including memory, learning and neural plasticity. Ocular dominance plasticity (ODP) is strongly expressed in early postnatal life and usually absent in the mature visual cortex. Here, we asked whether the activation of cAMP–dependent PKA could restore ODP to the aplastic visual cortex of adult cats. Concurrent with brief monocular deprivation, each of the following cAMP–related drugs was directly and continuously infused in the adult visual cortex: cholera toxin (a Gs–protein stimulant), forskolin (a Gs–protein–independent activator of adenylate cyclase) and dibutyryl cAMP (a cAMP analogue). We found that the ocular dominance distribution became W–shaped, the proportion of binocular cells being significantly lower than that in respective controls. We concluded that the activation of cAMP cascades rapidly restores ODP to the adult visual cortex, though moderately. The finding further extends the original hypothesis that the NA–&bgr;–adrenoreceptors system is a neurochemical mechanism of cortical plasticity.


Editors' acknowledgments: Having finally reached our Ithaca, an honorary volume comprising a plethora of remarkable contributions, we wish to acknowledge everyone who made this journey enjoyable and worthwhile. First and foremost, we would like to thank all the contributors who went above and beyond with a view to submitting insightful and contemporary papers of high academic quality and integrity. We respected the writing and reference style of each contributor to the utmost, bearing in mind the unique style of each author and not wishing to stylize our volume. We hold that consistency of legal scholarship indeed prevails through this thought‐provoking diversity. Hence, we endorsed such scholarship through opting to catalogue the studies thematically, rather than alphabetically. We also wish to thank our publisher, Ant. N. Sakkoulas, who made this publication possible and who accommodated our every request. Last but not least, we thank Professor Nestor Courakis for his unceasing efforts and commitment to excellence that inspired us to achieve his expectations. We took the important decision to have this volume published, primarily, in electronic format. The benefits of such a decision are patent and significant: the volume is published over a brief period of time, especially given the wealth of entries; it is free to be accessed and downloaded, allowing any Scholar to peruse, consult, and reference it; and it curtails the environmental impact of printing and distributing such a large tome across the globe. On a final note, a common, cardinal principle, shared by all of us with Professor Courakis, inter alia, is that of continuously striving to promote meaningful academic partnerships, that is, ones imbued with idea crosspollination. Therefore, any questions, comments, or suggestions to each and every one of us, are eagerly welcomed.


Aims: The aim of this study is to investigate the antimicrobial activities of aqueous and ethanolic (EtOH) extracts of orange (C. sinensis Pers.) and lime (C.aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle) peels on some selected pathogenic bacteria isolated from jollof rice.
Study Design: Antimicrobial analysis, phytochemical analysis
Place and Duration of Study: Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Wesley University Ondo, Ondo State, Nigeria, between June and July 2017.
Methodology: Antimicrobial analysis of aqueous and EtOH extracts prepared from orange and lime peels were done by using the agar well diffusion method against the selected pathogenic bacteria. The extracts were screened for anti-nutrients such as alkaloids, tannins, oxalate, phytate and glycosides.
Results: The EtOH extracts of orange peel showed a remarkable zone of inhibition against Escherichia coli (23.5 ± 0.1 mm) followed by Staphylococcus aureus (11.4 ± 0.0 mm) and Bacillus cereus (9.8 ± 0.0 mm). Whereas, the aqueous extracts of orange showed no zone of inhibition against the tested pathogenic bacteria. In addition the EtOH peel extract of lime showed maximum zone of inhibition against  S. aureus (15.5 ± 0.0 mm) followed by E. coli (14.3 ± 0.1 mm) and B. cereus (12.1 ± 0.2 mm), whereas its aqueous peel extract showed no zone of inhibition against K. pneumonia, S. aureus, E. coli and B. cereus. Both EtOH extracts of orange and lime peels showed no zone of inhibition against K. pneumonia. Streptomycin, the reference antibiotic, had no zone of inhibition against B. cereus and S. aureus whereas it recorded maximum zone of inhibition against E. coli (24.0 ± 0.0 mm) and K. pneumonia (25.1 ± 0.1 mm). The phytochemical analysis showed presence of oxalate, alkaloids, phytate, tannins and glycoside in the aqueous and EtOH extracts of lime and orange peels. The antimicrobial activities of EtOH extracts of both lime and orange peels demonstrated inhibitory effect against the targeted organisms such as B. cereus, S. aureus and E. coli.
Conclusion: The exploration of novel antimicrobial agents from natural resources such as plant like Lime and sweet orange as food preservative is due to the presence of various secondary metabolites.


Idealized analytical electromagnetic (EM) models predict a spatially non-uniform signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) gain with increasing coil elements and magnetic field strength. Using realistic EM models, we calculated the performance of prototype 32- and 64-channel receive head arrays at 7T and 10.5T using full-wave simulation with a head-mimicking gel phantom. We obtained SNR and g-factor results in agreement with predictions from ultimate intrinsic calculations, showing ~2-fold SNR gains for a large central region for 64 channels at 10.5T vs. 7T, and lower g-factors with the higher field and higher channel counts; peripheral SNR depended on both field magnitude and channel count.


Tocopherols (T), which exist as α-, β-, γ-, and δ-T are important dietary antioxidants. Our previous studies have demonstrated that a mixture of tocopherols (γ-TmT), δ-T, and γ-T effectively inhibited colon carcinogenesis in AOM/DSS-treated mice or AOM-treated rats. However, the effects of different forms of tocopherols on carcinogenesis in animal models and in humans remain controversial. In the present study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of α-T, γ-T, and δ-T on colon carcinogenesis induced by a dietary carcinogen, 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), and promoted by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) in CYP1A-humanized (hCYP1A) mice. At 5-6 weeks age, male hCYP1A mice were fed the AIN93M diet or diet supplemented with 0.2% α-T, γ-T, or δ-T for 1 week before PhIP treatment (2x 100mg/kg b.w., 3 days apart), which was followed by DSS (1.5% in drinking water for 4 days) treatment. The mice were sacrificed 10 weeks after the first dose of PhIP. Significant inhibition of colon tumor incidences was caused by dietary δ-T and γ-T, but not by α-T. In addition, oxidative and nitrosative stress markers (i.e., 8-oxo-dG and nitrotyrosine) as well as pro-inflammatory stress markers (i.e., PGE2, LTB4, NFκB and p-STAT3) were significantly reduced by δ-T. Dietary treatment with δ-T and γ-T significantly increased the δ-T and γ-T levels, respectively, in the blood and tissues, but their levels were still lower than the levels of α-T. However, the levels of their side-chain degradation metabolites (δ-T and γ-T forms of carboxyethyl hydroxychroman and carboxymethylbutyl hydroxychroman) were much higher than their parent tocopherols in blood and tissues. Altogether, we demonstrated the inhibitory effects of δ-T and γ-T in a dietary carcinogen-induced colon carcinogenesis model. The inhibition is possibly due to the antioxidative, reactive nitrogen species-trapping, and anti-inflammatory activities δ-T and γ-T. (Supported by NIH grants F31CA168333, RO1CA120915 and RO1AT007036 as well as shared facilities funded by CA72720 and ES05022) Citation Format: Chung S. Yang, Jayson X. Chen, Anna B. Liu, Hong Wang, Marlon Lee, Siyuan Yu, Chunfang Zhao, Ying-Yi Kuo, Eric Chi, Nanjoo Suh. Inhibition of PhIP/DSS-induced colon carcinogenesis by different forms of tocopherols in CYP1A-humanized mice. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 2814. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-2814


The large-scale prints in The Carnegie Atlas of Galaxies have been used to formulate a classification scheme for the central regions of late-type galaxies. Systems that exhibit small bright central bulges or disks (type CB) are found to be of earlier Hubble type and of higher luminosity than galaxies that do not contain nuclei (type NN). Galaxies containing nuclear bars, or exhibiting central regions that are resolved into individual stars and knots, and galaxies with semi-stellar nuclei, are seen to have characteristics that are intermediate between those of types CB and NN. The presence or absence of a nucleus appears to be a useful criterion for distinguishing between spiral galaxies and Magellanic irregulars.


The number of cruciate ligament injuries has grossly increased between 1970 and 1979 in the statistics of the Schweizerische Unfallversicherungsanstalt. Attention is drawn to new and more differentiated methods of diagnoses and therapy. A falloff of the invalidity rate owing to a betterment of diagnoses and therapy can only be observed trendwise. Preventive measures should be demanded above all in sports because there we find the origin of more and more cruciate ligament injuries.


Research on corporate entrepreneurship has grown rapidly over the past decade. This authoritative collection brings together some of the most influential studies that have shaped our thinking in this field, and highlights the importance of corporate entrepreneurship for organizational renewal, strategic change, learning, and improved profitability and growth. The volume covers topics such as designing effective corporate venturing programs, antecedents and consequences of corporate entrepreneurship, and organizational structure. Further sections investigate the dynamic interplay between competitive strategy and corporate entrepreneurship, the relationship between national culture and the pursuit of corporate entrepreneurship, as well as value creation. The editor's introduction outlines avenues for future exploration, and highlights the importance of developing new theories that link corporate entrepreneurship to organizational growth.


INTRODUCTION
Programming the cochlear implant (CI) has always been a challenge for all medical specialists in audiology, especially in pediatric patients without language secondary profound hearing loss. For this reason are searched alternatives to achieve normal hearing with the implant during programming in the shortest time possible.

OBJECTIVE
To analyze whether through modification threshold T we get faster audiological threshold, describe the differences in time found in patients with sensorineural hearing loss IC users with thresholds T at 10% modified, and T thresholds modified according to clinical responses after obtaining audiological threshold within normal parameters and report the speech coding strategies commonly used at the start of the program and to reach above the hearing threshold to language area.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
We performed an observational, cross-sectional, descriptive, comparative study in which we evaluated a total of 31 patients with sensorineural hearing loss, under six years, and both sexes, of cochlear implant users of Advanced Bionics, which were divided in two groups: Group I: 15 patients with modification of thresholds T to 10%, following the manufacturer's recommendations (unmodified) and Group II: 16 patients with T threshold modification according to clinical response cochlear (modified). Were reported strategies most used speech coding in both groups at the start of the program and to reach the threshold audiological within normal parameters.

RESULTS
In patients in group I (not modified) were 256 days on average to reach threshold audiological and group II (modified) was 335.6 days. Without statistic significant p = 0.197, with an average of 295.8 days for both groups and the speech coding strategy more used was the Hi-Res P with Fidelity 120, modifying both groups only one patient from power up obtaining threshold.

CONCKUSIONS
It was established that thresholds T patient's subjective threshold as compared to T of 10% automatically obtained by SoundWave is not necessary since there are no statistically significant differences in relation to time to take patients implanted normal hearing threshold. The speech coding strategies more widely used and accepted by the patient was the Hi-Res P with Fidelity 120.


Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC) and viral interleukin-10 (vIL-10) have immunosuppressive properties. In this study, we tested their ability to prevent cardiac allograft rejection. Bone marrow derived MSC from Lewis rat were expanded ex vivo and transduced with rvIL-10-retrovirus. Autologous MSC or vIL-10 transduced MSC were injected (~25 x 106; i.v.) into irradiated (4 Gy) rat (RT1.Al). Six weeks later heterotopic heart (RT1.An) transplantation (Tx) was performed. MSC therapy prolonged (P<0.05) cardiac allograft survival (14±1 days; n= 4) compared to untreated controls (7±1 days; n=4). Also, vIL-10-MSC treatment prolonged (P<0.01) graft survival (38±1 days; n=6) compared to empty vector treated group (15±1 days; n=4). In vIL-10-MSC preconditioned animals that received donor bone marrow after heart Tx, graft survival was 22±2 days (n=8). Intragraft expression of co-stimulatory molecule (CD80) and cytokines (IL-2, IFN-γ) as determined by RT-PCR was lower (P<0.03) in vIL-10-MSC treated grafts compared to untreated control grafts. Ex vivo expanded MSC were CD34−, CD45+(5 %), CD29+(90%), CD80 (0%), CD 86 (8%), CD90+(93%), MHC Class I+(23–57%), and MHC Class II- as determined by FACS. Both vIL-10 and empty vector engineered MSC expressed CD29 (>95%) but not other molecules. The vIL-10-MSC produced ~ 6 ng/ml of vIL-10 ex vivo. vIL-10-MSC addition in MLR cultures inhibited lymphoproliferative response (P<0.05). TGF-β expression in stimulated (TNF-α or IL1-β) and unstimulated MSC was 46 – 65% of β-actin. IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IFN-γ, and TNF-α expression was negligible in MSC (0–7% of β-actin). VEGF and HGF mRNA expression in MSC was 58% and 5% of β-actin, respectively. TgGFP+ MSC were demonstrable in various tissues for >28 days. Both MSC and vIL-10 conditioning to promote allograft survival seems promising.


The relationship between species' niche breadth (i.e. the range of environmental conditions under which a species can persist) and range size (i.e. the extent of its spatial distribution) has mostly been tested within geographically restricted areas but rarely at the global extent. Here, we not only tested the relationship between range size (derived from species' distribution data) and niche breadth (derived from species' distribution and co-occurrence data) of 1255 plant species at the regional extent of the European Alps, but also at the global extent and across both spatial scales for a subset of 180 species. Using correlation analyses, linear models and variation partitioning, we found that species' realized niche breadth estimated at the regional level is a weak predictor of species' global niche breadth and range size. Against our expecta-tions, distribution-derived niche breadth was a better predictor for species' range size than the co-occurrence-based estimate, which should, theoretically, account for more than the climatically determined niche dimensions. Our findings highlight that studies focusing on the niche breadth vs range size relationship must explicitly consider spatial mismatches that might have confounded and diminished previously reported relationships.


The impacts of four types of pre-retirement planning activities (financial, health, social life, and psychological planning) on retirement adjustment were investigated in a sample of Chinese retirees residing in Hong Kong. This study consisted of two phases of data collection, pre-retirement and post-retirement phases. Pre-retirement planning behaviors and psychological health (including attitudes toward retirement, adjustment to retirement, anxiety toward retirement, psychological well-being (PWB), and psychological distress) six months before and after retirement were measured. The final sample consisted of 90 Hong Kong Chinese retirees. Compared with the pre-retirement phase, retirees exhibited more positive attitudes toward retirement and better adjustment after they had actually retired, whereas their level of anxiety and psychological distress remained low over time. Pre-retirement planning was found to be predictive of changes in psychological health, though its impact was not always positive depending on the type of planning activities. In particular, greater psychological planning was associated with positive attitudes toward retirement and better PWB, whereas more social life planning activities were associated with greater psychological distress. In addition to financial and health planning, psychological planning activities should also be prompted to facilitate a smooth adjustment to retirement.


The success rate of some methodological factors influencing the antepartal analysis of fetal heart rate variability (FHRV) by abdominal electrocardiography (aFECG) were studied in 80 normal and 554 high risk pregnancies. The success rate of FHRV analysis was found to be dependent on the gestational age with virtually 100% success at 22 to 25 weeks and at 40 to 41 weeks of gestation. The lowest rate of success, 50% was found around the 30th week of gestation (Fig. 1). The fifteen-degree lateral tilt and the supine position of the mother were found to be equal respecting the success rate and the test results, while the 90-degree lateral tilt was found to be less favorable for the analysis. FHRV analysis succeeded more often with electrode paste than it did with tap water moistening or with dry electrodes. The rejection limit of maximum interval differences in FHRV analysis was found to be an important factor influencing the test results. The variability indices should be compared only if they have been measured with the same rejection logic. Differential index, of short-term variability, can be measured from short samples of aFECG, having a good correlation between DIs measured using 1-minute, 5-minute and 20-minute samples (Figs. 3, 4). On the other hand, interval index measuring the long-term variability should be measured using longer samples of aFECG.


Objectives Lipid mediators in the GI tract regulate satiation and satiety. Bile acids (BAs) regulate the absorption and metabolism of dietary lipid in the intestine, but their effects on lipid-regulated satiation and satiety are completely unknown. Investigating this is challenging because introducing excessive BAs or eliminating BAs strongly impacts GI functions. We used a mouse model (Cyp8b1–/– mice) with normal total BA levels, but alterations in the composition of the BA pool that impact multiple aspects of intestinal lipid metabolism. We tested two hypotheses: BAs affect food intake by (1) regulating production of the bioactive lipid oleoylethanolamide (OEA), which enhances satiety; or (2) regulating the quantity and localisation of hydrolysed fat in small intestine, which controls gastric emptying and satiation. Design We evaluated OEA levels, gastric emptying and food intake in wild-type and Cyp8b1–/– mice. We assessed the role of the fat receptor GPR119 in these effects using Gpr119–/– mice. Results Cyp8b1–/– mice on a chow diet showed mild hypophagia. Jejunal OEA production was blunted in Cyp8b1–/– mice, thus these data do not support a role for this pathway in the hypophagia of Cyp8b1–/– mice. On the other hand, Cyp8b1 deficiency decreased gastric emptying, and this was dependent on dietary fat. GPR119 deficiency normalised the gastric emptying, gut hormone levels, food intake and body weight of Cyp8b1–/– mice. Conclusion BAs regulate gastric emptying and satiation by determining fat-dependent GPR119 activity in distal intestine.


Carcinoid tumours most frequently develop in the gastrointestinal tract but have been described in many organs of the body. In 1977 the first cases were reported in the mamma, followed by descriptions of argyrophilic carcinoid‐like, neuroendocrine mammary tumours by many investigators who performed immunohistochemical and ultrastructural examinations. The existence of true carcinoids in the mamma is still a controversial issue. Eight mammary neoplasms with monomorphous cytonuclear features, five of the small cell carcinoid‐like variety and three composed of larger cells, were examined by immunohistochemical and ultra structural examination. We believe this kind of tumours are ductal or lobular carcinomas with focal or more extensive neuroendocrine features and are the result of a dual differentiation of neoplastic precursor stem cells along epithelial and endocrine lines. Consequently, we consider that treatment of such cases should not be different from that of the ordinary type of mammary carcinomas.


The people of West Kalimantan tend to store water in water reservoirs around their homes, so that the water reservoirs are preferred to be used as breeding sites for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Prevention of the development of mosquitoes is very important, one program to suppress mosquito transmission is by eradicating larvae. The many negative effects of synthetic larvicides make the use of cytetic larvicides restricted, thus encouraging the development of natural larvicides, which are safe for the human body, easily accessible and environmentally friendly. Celery is one of the vegetable larvicides that is being developed by several researchers, so the purpose of this study is to determine the larvicidal activity of celery herb infused and to determine the concentration that can kill the most larvae and determine the values of LC 50 , LC 100 and LT 50 , LT 100 . This research was conducted with a concentration of 1%, 2%, 3%, 4% and 5%, positive control (abate 0.01%) and negative aquadest control tested on 25 larvae for 24 hours. The results of this study showed the highest Mortality Percentage of mortality of Aedes aegypti larvae obtained from the infused of celery herbs (Apium graveolens L.) at a concentration of 5% which was 98.64%. Lethal concentration (LC 50 ) infused of celery (Apium graveolens L.) as larvacide was 1.88%, LC 100 4.43%, and Lethal Time (LT 50 ) at 12.39 hours, LT 100 at 29.42 hours


This article, the first in a five-part series, discusses the skills required to present information and study findings at conferences. The article explores the ways in which best practice might be most successfully disseminated, through either verbal or poster presentations. In subsequent issues of Nursing Standard the author examines the dissemination of best practice through publication, taught sessions, workshops and electronic forms of communication.


AbstractAccurate assessment of the lymphatic system has been limited due to the lack of optimal diagnostic methods. Recently, we adopted noncontrast magnetic resonance (MR) lymphangiography to evaluate the central lymphatic channel. We aimed to investigate the feasibility and the clinical usefulness of noninvasive MR lymphangiography for determining lymphatic disease.Ten patients (age range 42–72 years) with suspected chylothorax (n = 7) or lymphangioma (n = 3) who underwent MR lymphangiography were included in this prospective study. The thoracic duct was evaluated using coronal and axial images of heavily T2-weighted sequences, and reconstructed maximum intensity projection. Two radiologists documented visualization of the thoracic duct from the level of the diaphragm to the thoracic duct outlet, and also an area of dispersion around the chyloma or direct continuity between the thoracic duct and mediastinal cystic mass.The entire thoracic duct was successfully delineated in all patients. Lymphangiographic findings played a critical role in identifying leakage sites in cases of postoperative chylothorax, and contributed to differential diagnosis and confirmation of continuity with the thoracic duct in cases of lymphangioma, and also in diagnosing Gorham disease, which is a rare disorder. In patients who underwent surgery, intraoperative findings were matched with lymphangiographic imaging findings.Nonenhanced MR lymphangiography is a safe and effective method for imaging the central lymphatic system, and can contribute to differential diagnosis and appropriate preoperative evaluation of pathologic lymphatic problems.


Background: Isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) deficiency (IAD) is an adrenal insufficiency caused by a decrease in ACTH alone among the anterior pituitary hormones. IAD is often overlooked because it causes nonspecific symptoms. We report a case of IAD diagnosed after the appearance of mild cognitive impairment (MCI).Case presentation: Our department was consulted on a case of a 46-year-old man for whom dementia was suspected because he was speaking incoherently, wiped his nose with his hands and showed mild brain atrophy on MRI. He was previously diagnosed with some psychiatric diseases, such as narcolepsy and adjustment disorder. He could not continue working due to somnolence, general fatigue and appetite loss. At the examination, he had difficulty concentrating and sustaining attention, exhibited restlessness, and scored 25 points on the Mini Mental State Examination-Japanese (MMSE-J); MCI was observed. Blood tests showed decreased ACTH, cortisol and free thyroxine and increased thyroid-stimulating hormone levels. He received further evaluation, and he was diagnosed with IAD and primary hypothyroidism. Hydrocortisone (15 mg) was started, after which his physical problems and his difficulty concentrating disappeared. His MMSE-J score also increased to 30. His cognitive functions completely recovered. He returned to work and continued to work stably.Conclusion: This patient was diagnosed with IAD and treated with adrenocortical hormone replacement therapy. His cognitive functions recovered, his physical and mental disorders were alleviated, and he returned to society. It is important not to miss neurological and psychiatric symptoms that can be cured by physical treatment.


BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Smoking rates are markedly higher among trauma-exposed individuals relative to non-trauma-exposed individuals. Extant work suggests that both perceived stress and negative affect reduction smoking expectancies are independent mechanisms that link trauma-related symptoms and smoking. Yet, no work has examined perceived stress and negative affect reduction smoking expectancies as potential explanatory variables for the relation between trauma-related symptom severity and smoking in a sequential pathway model. Methods The present study utilized a sample of treatment-seeking, trauma-exposed smokers (n = 363; 49.0% female) to examine perceived stress and negative affect reduction expectancies for smoking as potential sequential explanatory variables linking trauma-related symptom severity and nicotine dependence, perceived barriers to smoking cessation, and severity of withdrawal-related problems and symptoms during past quit attempts.

RESULTS
As hypothesized, perceived stress and negative affect reduction expectancies had a significant sequential indirect effect on trauma-related symptom severity and criterion variables.

CONCLUSIONS AND SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE
Findings further elucidate the complex pathways through which trauma-related symptoms contribute to smoking behavior and cognitions, and highlight the importance of addressing perceived stress and negative affect reduction expectancies in smoking cessation programs among trauma-exposed individuals. (Am J Addict 2016;25:565-572).


We have presented the radio light curve for BL Lac object Mkn 421 on the radio 22 and 37 GHz band by the Metshovi radio observatory's data from January 1986 to January 2005.The DCF method has been used to study the characteristic periodicity of Mkn 421,and the results shows that the light curve variability period value of Mkn 421 is(3.85±0.10) yr on 22GHz band,(4.05±0.10) yr on the 37 GHz band.This two variability period value's mean value is 3.95 yr which is the smallest period value of Mkn 421 at present.The period value(23.1±1.1) yr got by Liu on the optical band should be overlied by this nearly four-year period value.Studied the quasi-periodic data of the radio 22GHz and 37 GHz band,the spectral index of the two band have been got,and the results shows that there is strong correlation between the spectral index and the radio flux density.


This paper describes a simple yet effective method for identifying incorrect parameters associated with the power network model. The proposed method has the desired property of distinguishing between bad analog measurements and incorrect network parameters, even when they appear simultaneously. This is accomplished without expanding the state or the measurement vectors. There is also no need to a priori specify a suspect parameter set. All these features are verified via simulations that are carried out using different-size test systems for various possible cases. Implementation of the method involves minor changes in the weighted least-squares state estimation code; hence, it can be easily integrated into existing state estimators as an added feature.


Land reform has been a significant part of the South African agricultural agenda since 1994 with the creation of a national Department of Land Affairs to oversee and drive this process. While much has happened in the intervening years, some might argue that in many instances the results have been far from positive. The political current that winds its way through the land redistribution process has not helped matters. Using two different examples of land reform initiatives from the Western Cape and the Free State, a brief overview of how land reform has been implemented since 1996 is provided. Both cases involve aspects of the role played by agricultural support agencies, including Department of Land Affairs officials, extension, research and non-government organisations. The purpose of the discussion is to look at what can be learned from these cases, including their similarities and dissimilarities, and in light of this knowledge consider how we can possibly proceed towards land reform for agricultural development. Ultimately land reform and specifically the Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development programme of the Department of Land Affairs must seek to ensure the appropriate identification of beneficiaries and land. Research, extension and the new national and provincial directorates of farmer settlement must ensure that the appropriate agricultural support services are available that will result in agricultural development. The land reform process and agricultural development will only be successful if the goals and objectives are realistic. The lessons from these cases provide us with some guidance for the way forward. South African Journal of Agricultural Extension Vol.32 2003: 15-27


Besides the popular Cloud Computing paradigm, a new approach to distributed computation, known as Fog Computing, has been emerging in the last few years. This approach suggests, that the intelligence should move from the data centers to the network level. In the past years, Fog Computing has been gaining more attention, which has led to the rise in projects and publications. Unfortunately, there is very little support to test and evaluate Fog Computing applications. Aside from expensive real world deployments, there are few tools to simulate the behavior. Since simulation does not execute the application to be tested, the results are less accurate than in an emulated environment. Emulation offers a trade-off between evaluation costs and accurate results. This work proposes a new approach to read in network topologies from different sources and uses them to evaluate user defined Fog Computing applications. To identify the edge of those networks an algorithm is presented. Also, a heuristic to place fog nodes cost optimal within a user defined proximity of the edge is suggested. The final outcome can be exported to a network emulator like MaxiNet in combination with Docker. This approach is implemented in EmuFog and published open source. It is easily extensible for future use, platform-independent, and flexible for different applications to test. A user can specify the computing capabilities (i.e.RAM) of each node type and define the associated Docker image to run. Hierarchies can be built using dependencies between fog node types. Also, an evaluation is carried out to measure the algorithms presented. For the edge identification and the fog node placement, the evaluation shows reasonable running times even for bigger network sizes of up to 10, 000 nodes. In the evaluated networks the heuristic shows an average deviation of 1.2, and in the worst-case scenario, a deviation of 3 of the cost optimal result.


Background: SARS-CoV-2 vaccines play an important role in reducing disease severity, hospitalization, and death, although they failed to prevent the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 variants. Therefore, an effective antiviral such as a Galectin-3 (Gal-3) antagonist might have the potential to prevent viral transmission. ProLectin-M (PL-M), a Gal-3 antagonist, has been shown to have anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity in previous studies. Aim: The present study aimed to further evaluate the antiviral effect of PL-M tablets in 34 subjects with COVID-19 disease, in addition to determining the antiviral mechanisms of PL-M by NMR studies. Methods: The efficacy of PL-M was evaluated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study in patients with mild to moderately severe COVID-19. Primary endpoints included changes in absolute RT-PCR Ct values of the nucleocapsid and open reading frame (ORF) genes from baseline to days 3 and 7. The incidence of adverse events, changes in blood biochemistry, inflammatory biomarkers, and levels of antibodies against COVID-19 were also evaluated as part of the safety evaluation. In vitro 1H-15N HSQC NMR spectroscopy studies were also performed to determine the interactions of PL-M with Gal-3 and the S1 spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. Results: PL-M treatment significantly (p = 0.001) increased RT-PCR cycle counts for N and ORF genes on days 3 (Ct values 32.09 and 30.69 +/- 3.38, respectively) and 7 (Ct values 34.91 +/- 0.39 and 34.85 +/- 0.61, respectively) compared to placebo. All subjects were RT-PCR negative for both genes in the PL-M treatment group from day 3 onwards. The Ct values in the placebo group were consistently less than 29 (target cycle count 29) for both genes until day 7, and no placebo subjects were negative by RT-PCR. 1H-15N HSQC NMR spectroscopy revealed that PL-M specifically binds Gal-3 in the same way as the structurally similar NTD of the SARS-CoV-2 S1 subunit. Conclusion: PL-M is safe and effective for clinical use in reducing viral load and promoting rapid viral clearance in COVID-19 patients by inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 entry into cells through inhibition of Gal-3. Keywords: Galectin-3, ProLectin-M, SARS-CoV-2, Clinical Trial, NMR, Spike protein.


The phenanthrene ring in the title compound, C14H8Br2, is approximately planar [maximum deviation = 0.039 (3) Å]. In contrast, the two bromo atoms are displaced slightly from the phenanthrene plane [maximum deviation = 0.1637 (3) Å]. In the crystal, the molecules adopt a herringbone-like arrangement and form face-to-face slipped π–π stacking interactions along the b axis, with an interplanar distance of 3.544 (3) Å and slippage of 1.81 Å. The crystal studied was a racemic twin with a minor twin fraction of 0.390 (10).


Vitiligo is a skin disorder characterized by depigmented macules secondary to melanocyte loss. An unusual facet is its relation to melanoma: Cytotoxic T lymphocytes directed to melanocyte antigens are found in both conditions and imply a breakdown of tolerance, yet the resulting immune reaction is the opposite. The mechanisms at the basis of these opposite effects are not known. Here, we performed a direct comparison of whole melanocyte‐specific T cell populations in the two diseases. We demonstrate that neither precursor frequencies of Melan‐A/MART‐1‐specific T lymphocytes nor their status of activation differ significantly. However, by using a tetramer‐based T cell receptor down‐regulation assay, we documented a higher affinity of vitiligo T cells. We calculated that the peptide concentration required for 50% of maximal receptor down‐regulation differed by 6.5‐fold between the two diseases. Moreover, only vitiligo T cells were capable of efficient receptor down‐regulation and IFN‐γ production in response to HLA‐matched melanoma cells, suggesting that this difference in receptor affinity is physiologically relevant. The differences in receptor affinity and tumor reactivity were confirmed by analyzing Melan‐A/MART‐1‐specific clones established from the two diseases. Our results suggest that the quality, and not the quantity, of the melanocyte‐specific cytotoxic responses differs between the two pathologies.


BACKGROUND
Patients with type 2 diabetes often initiate insulin with once-daily basal insulin. Over time, many patients intensify their insulin regimens in an attempt to attain and sustain glycemic targets. This study compares three intensification approaches: changing insulin glargine to preprandial AIR inhaled insulin (developed by Alkermes, Inc. [Cambridge, MA] and Eli Lilly and Company [Indianapolis, IN]; AIR is a registered trademark of Alkermes, Inc.), intensifying glargine via validated titration algorithms (IG), or adding AIR insulin while intensifying glargine (AIR + IG).

METHODS
Five hundred sixty patients with hemoglobin A(1c) (A1C) of 7.5-10.5%, on one or more antihyperglycemic medications, and on once-daily insulin glargine for > or =4 months were randomly allocated to one of the three treatments lasting 52 weeks. The primary objective assessed between-group differences in A1C mean change from baseline to 24 weeks using last-observation-carried-forward (LOCF) in the intent-to-treat population.

RESULTS
At 24 weeks, A1C was reduced from a mean baseline of 8.5% to 7.7%, 7.9%, and 7.5% for the AIR, IG, and AIR + IG groups, respectively. AIR produced 0.20% greater A1C decrease than IG (least-squares mean difference = -0.20%; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.39, -0.02). AIR + IG had a 0.35% greater A1C decrease versus IG (95% CI, -0.57, -0.13). The -0.15% difference between AIR + IG versus AIR was not significant (P < 0.198). More hypoglycemia categorized as severe occurred with AIR alone versus IG alone at LOCF end points. More nocturnal hypoglycemia occurred with IG alone versus AIR alone and AIR + IG.

CONCLUSIONS
Preprandial inhaled insulin provides an alternative for patients not optimized on insulin glargine alone. Glycemic control, hypoglycemic risk, delivery preference, and regimen complexity must be considered when selecting insulin initiation and optimization regimens.


This study was designed to identify the relationship between consumers' involvement with a brand, their perception of its repositioning, and their consumption of the brand after repositioning. The object of study, the McDonald's fast food chain, included healthy items on its menu as part of a bid to reposition its brand. Data were collected via online questionnaires, which were answered by 214 individuals. Data were analyzed using econometrics, resulting in the preparation of a simultaneous equation model with two regressions, whose dependent variables were perception and consumption. The results indicated that perception of brand repositioning depended positively on the consumers' attitudes towards a balanced diet and how often they frequent McDonald's, while there was a negative relationship with the consumers' age, sex, education, and how important they felt the nutritional value of foods was. The results suggest that perception is influenced by personal stimuli and emotional involvement with the brand. However, adherence to the brand after repositioning was not found to be influenced by any kind of involvement, but by the consumers' personal stimuli.


The past decade has seen major advances in the treatment of both hepatitis C (HCV) and hepatitis B (HBV) virus infections. Indeed sustained virological responses (SVR) for HCV infection, perhaps tantamount to cure, have increased from under 10% over 50% for the genotype 1 infections and to 70–80% for genotype 2 and 3 infections. Although sustained virological clearance is less common for HBV infections, for those who can be treated with interferon, this frequency is about 30% and for others, it is now possible to achieve prolonged suppression of viral replication using a variety of nucleoside and nucleotide inhibitors. Although these antiviral effects are encouraging and although many additional treatments are in the pipeline, the array of therapies has vastly increased the complexity of patient management and this paper will attempt to place such treatments into perspective and to draw upon consensus algorithms developed by leaders in the field and adopted by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. This paper is not intended to be a comprehensive review of the subject, but rather to serve as a synthesis of opinion and as a practical guideline for those managing patients with chronic hepatitis that is often compounded by the coexistence of HIV infection. Because treatment of chronic HBV infection is more complex and less understood and because space is limited, this chapter will deal primarily with the management of chronic hepatitis B. While the decision of when and whom to treat and the selection of the appropriate antiviral agent is a shifting and evolving process, there is uniformity in the belief that for both HBV and HCV, suppression or eradication of viral replication is the sine qua non of therapy and, if successful, is associated with diminished inflammation and fibrosis progression and a marked reduction in the most severe hepatitis outcomes, namely cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).


Children with Down syndrome (DS) have a 10- to 30-fold increased risk of developing acute myeloid leukemia or acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Patients with DS and leukemia are treated with the same chemotherapeutic agents as patients without DS. Treatment regimens for pediatric leukemia comprise multiple cytotoxic drugs including methotrexate, doxorubicin, vincristine, cytarabine, and etoposide. There have been reports of increased toxicity, as well as altered therapeutic outcomes in pediatric patients with DS and leukemia. This review is focused on the pharmacokinetics of cytotoxic drugs in pediatric patients with leukemia and DS. The available literature suggests that methotrexate and thioguanine display altered pharmacokinetic parameters in pediatric patients with DS. It has been hypothesized that the variable pharmacokinetics of these drugs may contribute to the increased incidence of treatment-related toxicities seen in DS. Data from a small number of studies suggest that the pharmacokinetics of vincristine, etoposide, doxorubicin, and busulfan are similar between patients with and without DS. Definitive conclusions regarding the pharmacokinetics of cytotoxic drugs in pediatric patients with leukemia and DS are difficult to reach due to limitations in the available studies.


Abstract : The background of this research is the fact that student learning outcomes in mathematics at present still low, and the instruction that occurs until know is the students are more passive and less emphasis on high level thinking skills (higher order thinking skills or HOTS) . Therefore, it should be considered a learning approach that can increase the students activity and HOTS of students through "posing problems". One of the approaches learning that fit with this activity is Problem Posing with orientation on applied HOTS. Begining with the development of research has goal at producing a set means of problem posing learning oriented to HOTS applying conneccted in good similarity matter, those fullfill the valid criteria, practical, and effective. The development of a device learning is done using general education development model by Tjeerd Plomp. The process of the development consist of four phases e.g.:  (1) the phase of earlier investigation, (2) the phase of design, (3) the phase of the realization or construction and  (4) the phase the test, evaluation and revision. The research  analyzed descriptive ly . Beside that , during the experiment phase used statistical analysis " t " test . The result of the analysis shows that (1) a device learning resulting in the form of: lesson plan ( RPP ), a student book , a teacher book, students worksheets ( LKS ) as and tests learning outcomes that qualify a good criteria , it means  valid, practical and effective. This matter based on the data; average score of validation was 4,19 (good category), the average percentage of the ability of teachers in managing the learning was 86,5% (good category), the average percentage of the student activity in learning was 86,9% (good category), the average student response was 95,17% (very positive), the average validity items was 0,71 (high), reliability items was  0,80 (high), and 88,9% students have completed,  (2) Students learning outcomes who take part in  learning posing problems related to the application of the HOTS oriented are better than learning outcomes of the students who given conventional learning of mathematics with the similarity matter in the third year student of  junior high schools. This matter based on the data ;  he average student learning outcomes experimental class was 83,9 Whereas student learning outcomes in the control class was 71,4. Besides the calculation  results of the test statistic t, in which obtainable arithmetic t = 4,172 whereas by using significant extent a = 5% and critical areas in which db = 35, then obtained table t = 2,042. seen that arithmetic t  > table t. Key words : development set learning , learning problem posing, HOTS, similarity ,


Intensification of carburizing and boriding of steel parts is achieved by microarc surface alloying. For carburizing, the parts are immersed in coal powder followed by electric current passing. For boriding, a coating with diffusant is used. Acceleration of diffusion is achieved by action of microarc discharges on the steel surface. The aim of this work was to study the effect of diffusion parameters on thickness, structure, and phase composition of coatings. The samples were made of 20 steel. Surface current density was 0.45 – 0.53 A/cm2. Duration of the process was 2 – 8 min. At the beginning of heating, temperature of the samples increases, and then stabilizes at 930 – 1250 °C due to cessation of micro-formation during combustion of coal particles. After carburizing, a eutectoid mixture is formed on the surface, then, the zone with ferrite-perlite structure is located, which transfers into the original structure. The maximum layer thickness (60 – 390 microns) is reached after 6 – 7 min of heating and then does not increase due to a decrease in the carbon potential during combustion of coal particles. Similar relationship is obtained when boriding: the maximum layer thickness (60 – 340 microns) is reached after 6 – 7 min and then does not increase due to depletion of diffusant source in the coating. At current density of 0.45 A/cm2, the layer consists of a base (a dispersed ferrite-carbide mixture) containing fine inclusions of iron borides and boron carbide. At current densities of 0.49 and 0.53 A/cm2, the layer has heterogeneous structure, with areas of high-hard boride eutectic located at the base. At high current density, diffusion of carbon and boron along the grain boundaries forms Fe – C – B triple eutectic. At lower current density, surface temperature is lower than eutectic formation temperature, so heterogeneous coating structure is not formed. The work results make it possible to choose modes of microarc heating to obtain the required parameters of diffusion layer.


Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) led a multi-state, collaborative natural lawn care outreach program promoting sustainable lawn care practices at the community and household level. The programmatic goal was to improve Lake Michigan basin ecosystem health by reducing pesticide, synthetic fertilizer, and irrigation water use and runoff within the watershed through changing the practices of those responsible for the creation and upkeep of lawns. Targeted audiences were educated about the relationship between Great Lakes Basin watershed health and lawn care practices as well as trained in natural, low-input lawn care methods. The program aimed at achieving efficiency by leveraging collaborating partner resources to adapt existing materials and transfer programs across partners and states. Anticipated program impacts were estimated prior to implementation based on previous program evaluations and available research, and additional evaluations were conducted during the project period (2010–2014). Over the outreach period, over 300 landscape professionals, 400 Master Gardeners and teachers, and 2,000 homeowners were trained in natural lawn care practices. Using an evaluation transfer approach, this effort translates into an estimated reduction of 3.4 million pounds of weed and feed applied to lawns per year with associated decreases in pesticides, phosphorous, and irrigation. This paper reflects on lessons learned though the natural lawn care program evaluation experience and makes recommendations for future programming.


Network coding is an effective approach for improving the performance of wireless networks, such that a new generation of routing protocols, known as network coding-aware protocols, recognize coding opportunities during their route discovery process, and try to establish routes containing appropriate coding opportunities. Most of the research works being done around this type of routing, only try to maximize the number of coding opportunities along data transmission route. However, merely considering coding opportunities, may decrease the optimality and the throughput of routes, since sometimes, by considering only the number of coding opportunities without paying attention to the quality of links along routes, the quality of detected routes will be decreased. In this paper, in order to resolve the deficiencies of previously related works, a new network coding-aware routing protocol based on fuzzy logic is proposed, such that the delay of links besides the satus of all nodes along different paths are evaluated through utilizing fuzzy logic, and the overall value of all paths are determined. Finally, paths wirh better status in terms of the quality of links and nodes, are selected for data transmission. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed protocol has better performance than previous approaches, in terms of throughput, packet delivery ratio, and delay.


Ham sandwiches inoculated with a mixture of five enteropathogenic bacteria, Bacillus cereus , Clostridium perfringens . Escherichia coli , Salmonella typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus , were held at 30, 21 and 4 C for up to 24 h. Food poisoning potential was judged by the growth and survival of the inoculated pathogens. Major differences were observed between new and old (30 days of storage at 4 C) ham samples. On new ham, all enteropathogens were able to grow except C. perfringens , whereas on old ham, with high microbial competition. the pathogens survived but did not grow. Severe storage temperature abuse was necessary to develop a food poisoning potential in new ham samples. The safety of old ham was attributed to the competitive microflora that grew in the ham during storage at 4 C for 30 days. Infective pathogens, E. coli and S. typhimurium , either survived or increased in numbers under all test conditions. The safety of vacuum packaged sliced ham for use in sandwiches, in its present market form, was indicated by these studies.


The problem of managing working capital, i.e. net working capital in trade, is very specific, challenging, current, significant and complex. In order to achieve the target financial performance, it is necessary to manage working capital as efficiently as possible. Based on that, this paper analyses the dynamics of size and the impact of net working capital on the profitability of trade in Serbia. In the period 2013 - 2021, in the trade of Serbia, the maximum amount of net working capital was achieved in 2021, the maximum percentage of net working capital from assets was achieved in 2021, the maximum percentage of net working capital from sales was achieved in 2021, and the maximum profitability was achieved in 2021. In the specific case, there is a strong correlation between profitability and net working capital of trade in Serbia. The coefficient of determination is high (Adjusted R Square .941; Sig. F Change .000). The influence of net working capital on the profitability of trade in Serbia is very significant (Sig. .000). This means, in other words, that more efficient management of net working capital can have a significant impact on the profitability of trade in Serbia. Observed dynamically, the amount of net working capital of trade in Serbia has increased recently. This had a positive impact on its liquidity, solvency, efficiency and profitability. Recently, the productivity of trade in Serbia has also increased. The factors that influenced it were: favourable economic climate, foreign retail chains, application of new business models, new concepts of management of costs, income, profit, customers, product categories, application of the concept of sustainable development and digitization of the entire business.


A new species of Litomosoides was collected from the abdominal cavity of Oligoryzomys nigripes (Rodentia: Muridae) in a semideciduous secondary rainforest of Misiones, Argentina. Litomosoides odilae n. sp. belongs to the carinii group and is characterized by the amphids displaced dorsally; buccal capsule with an anterior segment transparent and an annular asymmetrical thickening; esophagus divided, with the posterior glandular portion slightly wider than the muscular; male cloacal aperture strongly protruded; and microfilaria sheathed with an attenuated tail. The morphology of the new species, which is similar to that of L. petteri, a parasite of marsupials in Brazil, suggests that host-switching events may have occurred in the diversification of this genus.


Shale exposed around Dange northwestern, Nigeria was studied. The aim was to determine the grade, quality and usability of the shale as drilling mud using its physico-chemical and the rheological characteristics.

Sixty-one (61) samples were collected from exposed sections and pits. Major elements such as SiO2, Al2O3, MgO and CaO were determined. X-ray diffraction method was employed for the qualitative identification of the minerals in the shale. Cation Exchange Capacity and Exchangeable cations were determined using the Methylene Blue Absorption and Ammonium Acetate Saturation Methods respectively. Grain-size distribution and Atterberg Limits tests were also conducted. Apparent Viscosity, Plastic Viscosity and Yield point were calculated from readings obtained on a multi-speed Fann viscometer.

The dominant clay mineral observed is smectite (71%) implying good expansive potential. Dominant oxides were SiO2 (42.60-57.50%), Al2O3 (12.00-16.70%), CaO (0.43-12.50%). Exchangeable cations obtained were Na+ (0.48-6.67), Ca2+ (14.03-34.50) and K+ (0.42-1.95) meq/100g clay. Liquid and plastic limits ranged from 69.40-86.00% and 30.10-36.10% respectively giving a Plasticity Index of 39.40-52.60%.

The samples plot close to Ca-montmorillonite on the clay identification chart. The viscosity increased on addition of 7-10% sodium carbonate. It has good sodium exchange potential. In the natural state, it does not meet the API/OCMA specifications. However, its rheological properties improved significantly on treatment with sodium carbonate thus confirming its suitability as raw material in drilling mud.


Diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract such as functional gastrointestinal diseases - including irritable bowel syndrome - as well as inflammatory bowel diseases are on the rise in Hungary. More and more nutritional recommendations are emerging as part of the therapy, but so far there is no uniform recommendation for the dietary management of these gastrointestinal diseases. Among the dietary recommendations that have been made so far, the low FODMAP diet is noteworthy. FODMAP itself stands for the abbreviation of the initials of fermentable, short-chain, poorly absorbable carbohydrates: fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAP). The low FODMAP diet is a scientifically and clinically proven therapeutic recommendation, which is supported in Hungary by the Ministry of Human Resources Guideline (2020). Research has shown that the low FODMAP diet has been shown to reduce gastrointestinal symptoms. The diet consists of 3 phases, the first of which is a step-by-step list of trigger and non-trigger foods that the doctor, with the help of a dietitian, determines. As this stage of the diet can be the most challenging, it is worth emphasizing that it should be developed in collaboration with a dietitian. The aim of the diet is to find a balance between keeping symptoms at a low level and expanding the diet. Low FODMAP diet has been shown to be an effective, successful, and accepted nutritional intervention in the management of symptoms of functional and inflammatory bowel disease. Its use can improve the success of pharmacological interventions and increase patient compliance, hence the need to expand the widespread dissemination of the diet. A mobile app developed by a research team at Monash University will support self-management and practical implementation of the diet and increase adherence to nutritional therapy. Orv Hetil. 2022; 163(31): 1224-1230.


Multinucleated giant cells resembling Reed-Sternberg (RS) cells are occasionally observed in high-grade lymphomas of the large-cell or immunoblastic type, but much less commonly in low-grade lymphomas. This study was conducted to determine whether RS-like cells found in seven B-cell low-grade lymphomas were immunologically similar to the neoplastic cells in the lymphoma or to the true RS cells seen in Hodgkin's disease, and whether they were therefore indicative of a composite lymphoma. Immunohistochemical studies were performed on paraffin sections of the seven low-grade (one small lymphocytic, one mantle zone, and five follicular) lymphomas with a panel of antibodies reactive with leukocyte common antigen (LCA), B-cell, T-cell, and Hodgkin's disease associated antigens. The RS-like cells were reactive with LCA (four of six), L26 (seven of seven), LN1 (five of six), LN2 (two of six), and MB2 (three of six). No positive staining was seen with either Leu-M1 or Ber-H2. The RS-like cells in the mantle zone lymphoma expressed L26, Leu-22, and kappa cytoplasmic light chains. This immunophenotype is similar to that of the neoplastic small lymphocytic cells. One of the low-grade follicular lymphomas progressed to an immunoblastic lymphoma with many RS-like cells. Paraffin immunohistochemistry on both lesions revealed a similar B-cell phenotype for the RS-like cells. Immunogenetic studies revealed B-cell and bcl-2 gene rearrangements in the immunoblastic lymphoma. These results indicate that RS-like cells in low-grade lymphomas are transformed neoplastic cells of B-cell lineage. With careful morphologic examination augmented by immunohistochemical studies, these lesions can be differentiated from Hodgkin's disease and from composite lymphomas of the combined Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's type.


The U.S. healthcare data has undergone significant transformations as computerized technologies have evolved in recent decades. Data trends in healthcare have transitioned from less frequent, higher-fidelity provider-documented electronic health records (EHR) to more frequent, lower-fidelity patient and device-generated data. In particular, prevalent Internet of Things (IoT) devices and apps collect enormous amounts of information associated with individuals health statuses, physical activities, and environmental triggers to chronic conditions. As a result, health-related data generated from IoT devices today is now exceeding EHR data in terms of volume and frequency. It is important, however, to integrate these data into healthcare decisions since they reflect various aspects of citizens lifestyles and well-being in a comprehensive and continuous manner. Given these trends, a key problem facing heathcare researchers and practitioners is how to successfully migrate towards the use of the high-frequency, low-fidelity (HFQ) data in the healthcare domain. Addressing this problem requires research that focuses on the following issues: (1) how to scalably extract insights from large volumes of health data, (2) how to integrate and share HFQ data along with learned insights from those data, and (3) after an integrated health system is created, what methods and techniques are needed to evolve it to adopt more efficient technology or perform upgrades and updates as needed. This dissertation presents software architectures and patterns targeting these issues. First, we propose a machine learning based filtering architecture for drawing insights from HFQ data at scale. Second, we describe a data sharing framework based on distributed ledger technologies (DLT) to address technical requirements defined by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC). Lastly, we document a design pattern sequence for effectively designing and maintaining a DLT-enabled healthcare data sharing system in a secure and evolvable manner.


Reflection is widely accepted as a learning tool and is considered integral to professional practice. Journal writing is advocated in facilitating reflection, yet little is written about how to assess reflection in journals. The purpose of this study was to develop and test a method of assessing the elements of reflection in journals and to determine whether, and to what level, reflection occurs in journals. Twenty-seven physical therapy students maintained written reflective journals throughout three of their four eight-week clinical affiliations. The students were introduced to concepts of reflective practice with definitions of terms and reflective questions before their second affiliation. A coding schema was developed to assess the journals. Three raters assessed forty-three journals. The text of each journal was analyzed for evidence of nine elements of reflection, and each journal was categorized as showing no evidence of reflection, evidence of reflection, or evidence of critical reflection. Descriptive statistics were used to demonstrate evidence of reflection. Reliability between each pair of raters was assessed using percent agreement, phi coefficients, and gamma statistics. Interrater reliability of all raters was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC[2,1]). Results showed that the raters assessed 95.3%-100% of the journals as showing at least one element of reflection. The percent agreement between rater pairs for the nine elements of reflection ranged from 65.1% to 93.0%, the phi coefficient ranged from 0.08 to 0.81, and the ICC(2,1) values used to assess reliability among the three raters on each element ranged from 0.03 to 0.72. Averaging the assessment of the three raters for the overall journal, 14.7% of the journals were assessed as showing no evidence of reflection, 43.4% as showing evidence of reflection, and 41.9% as showing evidence of critical reflection. The percent agreement between rater pairs for the overall assessment of the journals ranged from 67.4% to 85.7%, the gamma statistic ranged from 0.88 to 0.98, and the ICC(2,1) among all raters was 0.74 (95% confidence interval, 0.61-0.84). These results represent an acceptable level of agreement for use of this method of assessment for educational purposes. The coding schema developed provides a mechanism to assess evidence of reflection in written journals, which will enable instructors to evaluate student competency, obtain a baseline for facilitating reflective practice, and assess their own efficacy in facilitating reflection among students.


In the past two decades, there has been a sharp increase in the number of studies on racial residential integration. However, there is a fair amount of disagreement in this work about how to conceptualize integration and how to operationalize it in research. We conduct a research synthesis of published research from 1950 to 2013 to uncover (1) how scholars have defined integration, (2) how scholars have measured integration, and (3) which ethnic/racial groups are integrating with whom. We have three key findings. First, the definition of integration moved away from being a multidimensional concept—involving both racial mixing in neighborhoods and cross-racial interactions—to solely referring to the racial composition. Second, the measurement of integration varies tremendously across time. Third, although the combination of ethnic/racial groups has expanded from Whites and Blacks sharing a residential space to include other groups such as Asians and Hispanics, these differences are often not made explicit. We conclude with a discussion of the implications of these findings.


This paper introduces a method of measuring the delta between the effective refractive index of a silicon waveguide and a waveguide with wider dimensions through the constructive and destructive interference in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI). The method consists of a fixed effective refractive index variation incorporated by tapering one of the arms in the interferometer to a wider waveguide dimension. The MZI consists of a Y-branch splitter and a multimode interference (MMI) coupler. The Y-branch splitter splits the input light 50/50 into the two arms, and the MMI is used for recombination of the two arms. A change in the effective refractive index of one arm in comparison with the other arm in the interferometer will introduce a phase difference on recombination in the MMI. The MMI has the following three ports: the top and bottom output ports, which are the antisymmetric outputs, and the middle port, which is the symmetric output. When the two signals are in phase, all the light is coupled into the symmetric port, and when the two inputs are π out of phase, the light is coupled 50/50 into the antisymmetric ports. The interferometer is designed on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer and fabricated through IMEC Belgium. Theoretical, simulation, and measured results are presented and compared.


This paper presents a new interaction point process that integrates geological knowledge for the purpose of automatic sources detection of multiple sources in groundwaters from hydrochemical data. The observations are considered as spatial data, that is a point cloud in a multi-dimensional space of hydrogeochemical parameters. The key hypothesis of this approach is to assume the unknown sources to be the realisation of a point process. The probability density describing the sources distribution is built in order to take into account the multi-dimensional character of the data and specific physical rules. These rules induce a source configuration able to explain the observations. This distribution is completed with prior knowledge regarding the model parameters distributions. The composition of the sources is estimated by the configuration maximising the joint proposed probability density. The method was first calibrated on synthetic data and then tested on real data from hydrothermal systems.


The problem of identifying and quantifying the brittle deformation of carbonate reservoirs both in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and elsewhere is addressed. Naturally occurring fractures may substantially increase or decrease the permeability and porosity of reservoirs, and therefore knowledge of location, orientation, density and connectivity of fractures is required to optimise hydrocarbon production. A rock containing parallel fractures can be seismically anisotropic, provided the vertical and horizontal extent and spacing of the fractures is small compared to the seismic wavelength. Seismic anisotropy may be detectable from attributes of pre-stack 3-D seismic data including reflection amplitude variation with offset and azimuth (AVOA). However, in carbonates seismic-velocity anisotropy can result from many different factors, including present-day horizontal stress anisotropy, sedimentological features such as clinoforms, and geological structure. We present a methodology for determining whether a proposed reservoir-fracture model is consistent with the observed seismic data. The approach includes modelling the seismic anisotropy where an essential input parameter is the compliance of the fractures. Since so little is known about this key parameter, we determine an upper bound to fracture compliance from well data and existing laboratory and field data and consequently obtain an upper bound to the seismic anisotropy that might be detected. We apply our method to data from an onshore carbonate oilfield in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where analysis of core, log and 3-D post-stack seismic data indicates that open or partially open fractures may be pervasive and could have a dominant influence on reservoir production. Due to poor AVOA data quality our results are inconclusive. However, this case study is a demonstration of the methodology that could be applied elsewhere.


Here we review the recent literature on adhesive disease, a common complication of surgery. In particular, we focus on drug-eluting electrospun adhesion barriers fabricated of biodegradable polymers. This can be a promising approach for the development of novel adhesion barriers. RICICd has large experience in the development of products for cardiovascular surgery, in particular, the bioprosthesis heart valves and blood vessels. Since 2010, under the leadership of the academician of RAS L. S. Barbarash researches to create bioresorbable vascular prostheses of small diameter began. the primary purpose – to create polymer structures with bio-directed action capable to replace individual structures of a living organism, in particular, of cardiovascular system. Scientific novelty of the problem lies in using a new approach for creation an organ directly in the patient's body by biofunctional and bioresorbable features of polymer structures. the long-term patency of PCL vascular grafts and PHBV and PCL composition grafts had proved. the in vitro experiments had proved that growth factors incorporated into composition of biodegradable grafts retain their biological activity. the long-term in vivo experiments had demonstrated that vascular endothelial growth factor had accelerated endothelization and had improved vascular patency of biodegradable polymer grafts.


This paper describes insulation technology for a 72/84 kV vacuum interrupter for a new C-GIS; cubicle type gas insulated switchgear. The insulation performance has been increased by a multigap shield configuration around the ceramic surface, which resulted in 40% volume reduction of the vacuum interrupter. The C-GIS housing the vacuum interrupter has been reduced by 40% in volume. In the paper we describe the basic characteristics on surface insulation and the area effect on surface insulation and their application to a new 72/84 kV C-GIS.


Objective To describe the process of constructing and implementation of Webquest as pedagogical strategy as guiding the study about the pedagogical concepts using Comic. Method The first stage of the study was outlined applied research of technological production. The second stage was characterized as research exploratory, descriptive documentary for the analysis of Comic. in the teaching diploma in Nursing of EEUSP in 2013. Results The proposed Webquest was implemented, resulting in 18 Comic. All Pedagogical Concepts studied were addressed; used the software indicated and the power point, the plots developed in different scenarios and most Comic contemplated mandatory items. Conclusion The use of different technological resources provide learning, by mobilizing multiple potentialities, abilities and interests of students, favoring the construction of collective and collaborative learning, strengthening important and necessary features in training that will influence the human resource profile in tune with the aspirations of the labor market.


To understand the potential role of bats in the epidemiology of Leptospira, we investigated the frequency of Leptospira in bats from Central China in 2018. Sixty bats belonging to four species of two families were captured from rural areas of Xianning City, Hubei Province, China. We extracted DNA from the kidneys of bats, and Leptospira spp. were determined by PCR amplification of the rrs2, flaB, lipL32, and secY genes. We found that 57% (34/60) of bats were positive for Leptospira with at least one of the four genes, and the positive rate of Leptospira in bats was 45% (27/60) with rrs2, 50% (30/60) with flaB, 15% (9/60) with lipL32, and 27% (16/60) with secY. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that bats were infected with two species of Leptospira, including Leptospira interrogans and Leptospira borgpetersenii. A high prevalence of Leptospira spp. in bats suggested that bats were important carriers of Leptospira in China.


The Watershed of Hassan II dam contains a fairly well developed river system, including the Moulouya River and Ansegmir River whose flows are almost permanent. This watershed drains an area of 3300Km ² and it is subject to anthropogenic disturbances that can have a negative effect on the quality of water supplied to the dam whose health is affected by the intrinsic characteristics of the watershed. Indeed, Moulouya receives throughout its headwaters domestic discharges from local populations and pollutants from agriculture developed throughout the valley of the upstream part of the wadi. The objective of this work, spread over the period from September 2011 to August 2012, is to monitor the physico-chemical quality of water of Moulouya river at a station situated just in upstream of the confluence river-lake of the dam, eventually leading to an estimate of the quantity and quality of pollution injected by this River in the Hassan II dam. It shows that the average concentrations of total suspended solids, total phosphorus and nitrate (expressed as nitrate ion) in water injected into the dam, were in the range of 39.21 mg/L, 212.83 mg/L and 6.23 mg/L respectively.


Abstract 1878 Introduction: Lenalidomide (Len) and bortezomib (Bort) have been shown to improve the outcomes of patients with MM. These novel agents have been used in combination with corticosteroids as doublets but also in combination with alkylating agents, anthracyclines and each other in more complex regimens of 3 or more agents. While more complex regimens have shown improved response rates and progression free survival compared to doublets using either of these two novel agents, it remains unclear if there is a survival advantage to the use of 3 or more agents in combination. Methods: Patients with MM who received both Bort and Len non concurrently at our institution between January 2004 and August 2010 were included in this analysis. Patients were stratified according to whether they had received Len+/−Dexamethasone or Len in combination with 2 or more agents into Len A and Len B respectively. Similarly, Bort based therapy was stratified according to whether it was Bort+/−dexamethasone or Bort + 2 or more agents into Bort A or Bort B respectively. Finally, patients who received only doublets or single agents were thought to receive Non Intensive (NIT) therapy. Those who received 3 more agents in combination at some point were labeled to have received Intensive therapy (IT). High risk cytogenetics included deletion 13q, 17p, t(4:14), t(14;16) or hypodiploidy. The primary outcome measure was overall survival (OS) from initial diagnosis. Results: 208 patients were confirmed to have received both Bort and Len. The median age was 60 years (range 33–80), 59% were males. Len A included 177 patients, Len B 21 patients. Bort A included 158 patients, while Bort B 49 patients. NIT included 132 patients, and IT 59 patients. No differences were noted in baseline characteristics including age, ISS and Durie/Salmon stage, baseline β2microglobulin or renal function, presence of poor risk cytogenetics, frequency of high dose therapy between Bort A and B, Len A and B or the IT arm or NIT groups respectively. Bort B patients were more likely to have bone disease (82 versus 65%, p=0.03) than Bort A patients. Len A patients had a trend toward improved OS as compared to Len B (median OS 72 vs 57 months, p=0.07). Bort A patients had an improved OS compared to Bort B (median OS 72 vs 45 months, p= 0.02). Similarly NIT patients had improved OS compared to IT (median OS 74 vs 57 months, p=0.03). In addition, patients without poor risk cytogenetics, did not have differences in OS regardless of whether they belonged to the IT or NIT groups. However patients who had poor risk cytogenetics, had a worse survival if they belonged to the IT group compared to the NIT (median OS 46 vs 71 months, p=0.01). On multivariable analysis, only the presence of renal failure at baseline and the IT group were negative prognostic factors. Conclusion: This retrospective analysis suggests that a sequence of doublets is associated with improved survival among patients with myeloma as compared to regimens with 3 or more agents in patients with high risk cytogenetics. While the limitations of this retrospective study limit drawing definitive conclusions, it appears that poor cytogenetics and disease biology trumps treatment intensification. Disclosures: Baz:Celgene: Membership on an entity9s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Millenium: Research Funding. Alsina:Millennium: Consultancy, Membership on an entity9s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity9s Board of Directors or advisory committees; Allergan: Research Funding. Djulbegovic:Millenium: Research Funding.


Idiopathic cardiomegaly is probably the commonest single diagnosis other than hypertension made in tropical and subtropical African cardiovascular practice. Understanding of the nature of this disease has been hampered by failure to recognize the possibility that the term "idiopathic cardiomegaly" may embrace several disease entities. Evidence suggests that many factors, sometimes acting singly, but often acting in combination, may be responsible for the genesis of so-called idiopathic myocardial failure. The future attitude to research should not be one of excluding well-defined forms from the concept of idiopathic cardiomegaly, but one of clinicopathological classification, which should be a prelude to the search, within each moiety of this group of disorders, for a specific or dominant etiological factor.


The XENON project at INFN Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso, Italy, aims at dark matter direct detection with liquid xenon dual-phase time projection chambers. Latest results of XENON100 detector exclude various models of leptophilic dark matter. A search for low mass weakly interacting massive particles was also performed, lowering the energy threshold for detection to 0.7 keV for nuclear recoils. The multi-ton XENON1T detector is fully installed and operating. It is expected to reach a sensitivity a factor 100 better than XENON100 with a 2 ton·year exposure.


The ``IEEE Recommended Practice for Energy Conservation and Cost Effective Planning in Industrial Facilities'' (IEEE 739-The Bronze Book) is reviewed. The book, published in 1984, was sponsored by the Industrial and Commercial Power Systems Department of the Industry Applications Society. The paper highlights the contents of the book. The topics include energy planning, auditing, economics, lighting design, efficiency in equipment, metering, and load management.


With the fast development in mobile technologies and ever-increasing use of smart phones in everyday activity, researchers and developers are paying attention to exploit the advantages of mobile systems to support online teams. One important advantage would-be to implement the A3 paradigm: Anytime, Anywhere, Awareness, that is notifying users about ongoing activity in their online workspace. However, due to the computational limitation of mobile devices, the extension of web-based systems to systems that support also mobile clients require specific design and implementation to make the system usable, efficient and scalable. In this work we present an event-based approach to extend web-based applications to support Anytime, Anywhere, Awareness in Online Teams. It should be noted that the A3 paradigm is meant not only as informing channel but also for social support and scaffolding. The key feature here is the definition of events linked to state changes of the objects in the common workspace. The events are then processed and send to mobile clients for consumption. We present the main requirement analysis, the building blocks of the architecture for efficient event management and the prototype implementation.


Retinoid X receptor (RXR) is a nuclear receptor that plays important and multiple roles in mammalian development and homeostasis. We previously reported that, in human choriocarcinoma cells, tributyltin chloride and triphenyltin hydroxide, which are typical environmental contaminants and cause masculinization in female mollusks, are potent stimulators of human chorionic gonadotropin production and aromatase activity, which play key endocrine functions in maintaining pregnancy and fetal development. However, the molecular mechanism through which these compounds stimulate these endocrine functions remains unclear. Our current study shows that trialkyltin compounds, including tributyltin chloride and triphenyltin hydroxide, function as RXR agonists. Trialkyltins directly bind to the ligand-binding domain of RXR with high affinity and function as transcriptional activators. Unlike the natural RXR ligand, 9-cis-retinoic acid, the activity of trialkyltins is RXR specific and does not activate the retinoic acid receptor pathway. In addition, trialkyltins activate RXR to stimulate the expression of a luciferase reporter gene containing the human placental promoter I.1 sequence of aromatase, suggesting that trialkyltins stimulate human placental endocrine functions through RXR-dependent signaling pathways. Therefore, our results suggest that activation of RXR may be a novel mechanism by which trialkyltins alter human endocrine functions.


Objective(s): This study aimed to compare impacts of silver nanoparticles and silver cobalt nanoparticles on the hepatic function tests and changes in liver tissues in adult male rats.Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 49 adult male Wistar rats, each weighing approximately 180-220 gr. The rats were randomly assigned to seven groups of seven including one control group and six experimental groups. The experimental groups 1 and 2 respectively received 25 and 100 mg/kg of silver nanoparticles synthesized for 75 sec intraperitoneally for 14 days. Experimental group 3 received silver nanoparticles that were synthesized at 300 sec which were administered intraperitoneally in a 25 mg/kg dose for 14 days. The experimental groups 4 and 5 received silver cobalt nanoparticles, whereby silver nanoparticles were synthesized at 75 sec and were administered intraperitoneally in a 25 and 100 mg/kg dose for 14 days, respectively. Finally, experimental group 6 received a 25 mg/kg dose of silver cobalt nanoparticles, intraperitoneally for 14 days, with the silver nanoparticles synthesized for 300 sec. At the end of this period, the serum levels of hepatic enzymes, albumin, and total protein were measured and tissue changes were evaluated in this study.Results: The mean serum levels of AST, total protein, and albumin in the experimental groups 1 and 3 increased significantly compared to the control group. Similarly, the mean serum levels of ALT and ALP in the experimental group 3 showed a significant increase in comparison with the control group. The mean of liver weight in all experimental groups was significantly higher than the control group(P<0.05). Furthermore, the necrosis of the liver tissue was observed in the recipients of silver nanoparticles. However, liver necrosis was not observed in the groups receiving silver cobalt nanoparticles.Conclusion: The use of silver nanoparticles can boost the serum levels of hepatic enzymes and increase liver tissue necrosis, as well. However, the silver cobalt nanoparticles did not change the levels of hepatic enzymes and liver tissue.


The Author emphasizes the ambiguity of the term "discourse" in a variety of linguistic traditions, she concentrates, however, on the French conception of discourse. The Author defines its sources and history which lie at its foundation in order to focus in greater detail on the presentation of the output of the French discourse analysts' contemporary thought, the definition of the key concept and delineation of its interdisciplinary nature. Further, she discusses more closely the problems of Polish textology and the position which the immigrant-word "discourse" has recently assumed in it. Finally, the Author juxtaposes both visions of discursivity and attempts to interpret the reception of the French theory of discourse in Poland.


The aim of the experiment was to analyzed coefficients of digestibility of the maize silage nutrients in horse feeding. Horses of Slovak warmblood breed engaged in the research were 2.5 ± 0.5 years old. Horses in boxes without bedding to avoid eating it and excrement contamination were stabled. Horses individually with ad libitum access to water were housed. The boxes with trough for corn silage were equiped. The corn silage contained 362.3 g of dry matter, 74.1 g of crude protein, 27.1 g of crude fat and 948.2 g of organic matter in kg of dry matter. The feed twice a day, in the morning and in the evening was given. The feed intake and leftovers were weighed every day. Excrements immediately after excreting to avoid urine contamination into plastic containers were collected and weighed. The content of nutrients in the feed intake and in the excrements were analysed. In analysed samples the gravimetric dry matter amount by drying at 103 ± 2 °C, crude protein content by Kjeldahl method, fat content by extraction method according to Soxhlett – Henkel, ash content by burning the sample at 530 ± 20 °C in muffle furnace and organic matter content by calculation were determined. Coefficients of apparent digestibility in percent from taken in and excreted nutrients were calculated. In maize silage for horse feeding an average coefficient of digestibility of dry matter 61.94%, of crude protein 56.03%, of crude fat 72.34% and of organic matter 65.19% was found.


Abstract Background and Aims: Recent studies have brought evidence on the connection between excess weight and suboptimal glycemic control for Diabetes Mellitus (DM) patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between increased Body Mass Index (BMI) and the likelihood of having suboptimal glycemic control in patients with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Materials and Methods: A case-control study was conducted on 662 patients suffering from Diabetes Mellitus and statistical analysis was performed in order obtain evidence associating BMI and poor glycaemic control. We defined as increased BMI, values >25 kg/m2 and a hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) value >7% reflected suboptimal glycemic control. Results: 559 (84%) patients had HbA1c >7%. 550 (83 %) patients had a BMI >25 kg/m2. In case of HbA1c >7%, a BMI >25 kg/m2 was found in a number of 457 patients (82 %), whereas a normal BMI was present in 102 (18%) patients. For the HbA1c<7% cases, the number of patients associating BMI >25 kg/m2 was 93 (90%) and a normal BMI was present in 10 (10%) patients. BMI >25 kg/m2 was not associated with a higher probability of having above-target HbA1c values compared to patients with target HbA1c (OR 0.48, 95% CI: 0.24 to 0.95), with a statistically significant p <0.05. Conclusions: The findings revealed that although in case of suboptimal glycemic control, the number of patients who had a BMI >25 kg/m2 was significantly higher than the number of patients with a BMI < 25 kg/m2, a BMI above target was not associated with greater odds of having HbA1c higher than the standard 7% level, compared to individuals with normal HbA1c levels. The results emphasize that a multitude of factors are involved in the process of achieving a targeted glycemic control and a stepped-care approach should be considered for optimum management of Diabetes Mellitus.


Abstract. Millimetre-wave (mmW) imaging is an emerging technique for non-destructive
testing. Since many polymers are transparent in this frequency range, mmW
imaging is an attractive means in the testing of polymer devices, and images
of relatively high resolution are possible. This contribution presents an
algorithm for the precise imaging of arbitrarily shaped dielectric objects.
The reconstruction algorithm is
capable of automatically detecting the object's contour, followed by a
material-sensitive reconstruction of the object's interior. As an example we
examined a polyethylene device with simulated material defects, which could
be depicted precisely.


-Markets playscrucial role in the economic life of the people, and they are essential in the distribution of commodity, however pointed out that the rapid growth of urban centres has generated management problems. The most important of these problems are the encroachment of the open spaces environment and health issues including solid waste management, water supply, housing, traffic congestion and water pollution respectively. This research is however aimed at identifying the significant impact of commercial activities on traffic flow on Lagos road in order to in order to recommend ways to curtail the menace.To achieve the aim and objectives hypotheses were formulated. In order to validate the hypotheses regression statistical tools was used. Regression estimates the coefficients of the linear equation, involving one or more independent variables that best predict the value of the dependent variable. The first hypothesis reveals a low coefficient of determination. This can be seen from R-squared of 0.24. The R-squared reports that the independent variables can explain 24 per cent of total variation in the influence of the market in traffic flow in the area, while 76% are accounted for by other variables other than the market location, where some of the traffic are influenced by the nonavailability of parking space by the banks and other parameters.The second hypothesis reveals an average coefficient of determination; this can be seen from R-squared of 0.672, which reveals the market location will have 67% impact on traffic flow in the area, while the other 33% of the traffic gridlock in the area is not as a result of the presence of the market, the research thus reveals the market is greatly influencing traffic flow in the area. The research however revealed that most of the shops and banks along the road are with small or no parking space, which thus result to their customer parking along the road, thereby inhibiting the free flow of traffic in the area. It can however be concluded that market location has negatively affected traffic flow in the study area, as the road thus not only lead to the market but connects with other places such as Ajangbadi, Shibiri etc., the road has been nightmare to motorist as enough provision is not made for parking which may be as a result of land use conversion, the available parking space is not properly utilized by motorist as they consider it too expensive, thereby causing many of the buyers to park their vehicles by the road side which invariably leads to traffic in the area.


In oncology jaw reconstruction, the probability of infection, sequestration and failure in scarring is high. For this reason, we use a vascularized free bone graft, whose direct blood flow makes it much more resistant to support the attendant properly. The use of bone scintigraphy by means of three phases acquisition technique is very effective to evaluate the viability of these vascularized grafts during the first days after surgery, in order to adjust the attendant treatments and to prevent the possible complications.


A novel double-layered microencapsulated red phosphorus (DMRP) has been prepared through chemical precipitation of aluminum trihydrate (ATH) and in situ polymerization of melamine formaldehyde (MF) resin on the red phosphorus (RP) powder surface, and its structure was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The influence of DMRP on flame retardance and thermal stability of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) was thoroughly investigated by means of X-ray diffractometry (XRD), limiting oxygen index (LOI), vertical burning test, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). With an optimum mass ratio of RP/ATH/MF = 72.25%/12.75%/15%, it has been found that PLA with the addition of DMRP at 25 wt % loading level shows good flame retardance compared to plain RP as well as the conventional microencapsulated red phosphorus (CMRP), and can achieve UL94 V-0 rating along with an LOI increase from 20.5 to 29.3. The TGA and XRD studies indicate that the interaction occurs among all three components: RP, ATH, and MF resin. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012


A preliminary review of advanced nuclear reactor technologies was performed; the gas-cooled (solid core) reactor and the liquid metal cooled reactor appear to have the greatest potential for application during the 1980-1990 time period specified for this study. Preliminary weight and size estimates on the basis of projected technologies for application with a reference liquid metal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) energy conversion system indicated a directly coupled gas cooled reactor (including shield and containment vessel) would weigh 833,000 pounds (416 tons) and have a maximum diameter of 17 ft., whereas an indirectly coupled (intermediate heat exchanger) liquid metal reactor would weigh 1,030,000 pounds (515 tons) and have a maximum diameter of 21 ft. These estimates are based on a reactor producing 1000 MW(t) power having a lifetime of 18,000 hours. The gas cooled reactor was selected as representative of advanced reactor concepts. Direct coupling of the gas-cooled reactor to a two-phase liquid metal MHD device appears feasible; an overall cycle efficiency of 37% was calculated for a helium cooled reactor coupled to an MHD duct using lithium as the working fluid - a reactor subsystem weight of 1.3 million pounds (635 tons) was calculated (for a 1000 MW(t), 18,000 hr. reactor). Alternate more » MHD working fluids were considered during the study. Recommendations for future studies are identified including more extensive evaluations of both gas-cooled and liquid metal cooled reactor concepts. « less