Abstract This is a review of the edited collection of Jan Klabbers and Gianluigi Palombella, 'The Challenge of Inter-Legality' (Cambridge, 2019). It considers how the volume revisits the influential concept of 'inter-legally', introduced by the Portuguese sociologist Boaventura de Sousa Santos 35 years ago. The main focus of the review is an evaluation of the editors' innovative and extended attempt, supported by many of the contributions, to account for inter-legality not simply as a sociological phenomenon - an effect of the interpenetration of legal orders - but as an idea with its own specifically legal content. In so doing, the editors provide a new normative dimension to our understanding of contemporary legal pluralism on the global stage. It is important, however, to continue to recognise the limitations of any single juridical idea in contributing to our understanding of global (in)justice.


Two rare cases of calcified myxomas of the right heart (multiple myxomas of the right atrium and tricuspid valve and myxoma of the right ventricle originating from the subvalvular structures) are described. Both patients were operated, tumour and the tricuspid valve were removed and valve prosthesis was made. At necropsy changes characteristic of pulmonary hypertension resulting from the recurring thromboembolism by a tumourous tissue were found in one case.


Title: Pupils` responsibility for their own learning. Intensions and realities in a Norwegian upper secondary school Language: Norwegian Keyword: case study, ethnography, responsibility, school organization, school improvement, self-regulation, disciplining techniques, self-discipline, individualization. ISBN: 978-91-7346-703-2 Education policy in Norway is currently emphasizing personal flexibility, responsibility and freedom of choice for learners. Concepts are modern, but also derive from traditions of progressive education. Pupils' responsibility for own learning relies on self-regulation theory. Self-regulation skills are vital not only to guide one's own learning during school, but also to educate oneself and up-date one`s knowledge after leaving school. The purpose of this work is to investigate how responsibility in learning and work is talked about and constructed in a context where pupils are invited into such activities. The empirical study was conducted during a period of 1 year. Data were collected by a case study and ethnographic research involving participant observation in two classes in one school. Data were also obtained through document analyses, field notes and individual interviews with pupils and teacher, and group-interviews with pupils. The thesis demonstrates how new education policies were reflected in both architecture and the schools ́ curriculum. Teachers were invited to influence the planning process by working collaboratively in teams, but much of the decisions and activities were described as centrally controlled planning. In spite of heavy leadership investment in architecture and pedagogical vision building, teachers' work organization did not manage to find a common improvement strategy for a vision teachers found both right and impossible at the same time. The school ́s official ideology emphasized pupils ́ own responsibility. This constructivist view of learning has implication for teaching because it suggests an active role for pupils. Teachers were required to offer an environment that stimulates pupils ́ to take responsibility for their own learning and skills. Pupils' perceptions of learning environments were related to their motivation and use of self-regulation skills. About one third of them managed to show responsible own learning with most tasks. I call their capacity a general self-regulative orientation. The others, the majority, only succeeded with this under special circumstances, thus I call it a specific self-regulative orientation. Within that group some did not manage the demands on responsibility at all, in sum 15 per cent. The result shows that not all teachers were well equipped to create conditions in order to foster the development of effective selfregulative skills. The learning context did not stimulate pupils to create their own goals; instead the learning tended to be steered by teachers' goals. These goals did not always capture the pupils' interest, or activate prior knowledge or steer the learning process. Pupils' perception for taking responsibility for their own learning were related to their appreciation of learning tasks and self-efficacy. Pupils' autonomy is an important condition for active self-regulated learning. Lack of support, expectations and engagements from teachers had great influence on pupils' attitudes and motivation. Teachers' behaviors are essential to create a self-regulated environment. Since many pupils had difficulties in managing their studies and cope with the learning environment, disciplinary actions from the teachers were necessary.


Non-Gaussian statistical signal processing is important when signal or noise deviates from the ideal Gaussian model. Stable distributions are among the most important non-Gaussian models. Minimum noise power, minimum variance distortionless signal response (MNPDR, MVDR) and minimum mean square error (MMSE) beamformers are widely used to estimate the signals in Gaussian noise environments. In this paper, we present a beamforming technique for additive symmetric /spl alpha/-stable (S/spl alpha/S) noise environments. This new technique uses FLOS to formulate a nonlinear cost function which is then minimised to get an optimum weight vector for the array of sensors while the gain in the desired look direction is constrained to be unity. As this nonlinear constrained optimisation problem doesn't have a closed form solution, we use a gradient-based algorithm to estimate the weight vectors. This new algorithm is computationally efficient and can be used with a wide range of stable noise models.


Back reef areas contain a mosaic of relatively shallow habitats that serve as a key nursery for reef species. Expansive back reef habitats in the lower Florida Keys, USA border the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. A combination of floating, artificial settlement substrates and plankton nets moored in channels connecting coastal waters and back reef habitats quantified spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) and stone crab (Menippe sp.) settlement, and larval fish ingress, respectively, during 1999 and 2002–2003. The key finding was that channels connecting coastal waters with back reef areas serve as conduits for ingressing larval spiny lobster, stone crabs, and fishes. The results highlight the important role of Atlantic Ocean sources of spiny lobster pueruli and lutjanid fish larvae in this back reef system, and Gulf sources of stone crabs. Spiny lobster settlement generally peaked in August and September and occurred on the Atlantic Ocean side of this back reef system; settlement of stone crabs peaked at the same time as spiny lobster yet occurred predominantly on the Gulf side. Recruitment of larval fish was higher on the Atlantic than Gulf side, with 37% of fish species collected nearly exclusively on the Atlantic side and about 25% collected nearly exclusively on the Gulf side. Channel habitats appear critical to supporting the nursery role of back reef habitats and should receive special consideration in future ecosystem studies, as well as during spatial planning and evaluations of essential fish habitat.


Abstract This main purpose of the study is to investigate upon the impact of non-standard work practices on children development, family functioning and employees' health and safety concerns in a 24/7 Economy. This paper reviews the concept of 24/7 economy and explores the impact of non-standard work practices. A survey instrument is administered to 400 householders of Mauritius and the questionnaires were further processed and analysed with the statistical programme SPSS 20, by using descriptive and inferential analysis. The results of the findings have demonstrated that changes in children development and family functioning and employees' health and safety concerns highly impact on the householders. The evidence of numerous associations from the present research have shown that 24/7 economy will give rise to pollution. Indeed, children will be affected by lack of parental time and employees might suffer from health issues with the 24/7 culture. The present research fills the significant gaps in the literature review by generating an integrative functioning framework of the 24/7 economy for island economies.


Interleaver is important part in turbo encoder and decoder. The special third generation (3G) interleaver had been included in the released 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) specification and standard. The complex interleaver algorithm is described first. Then Verilog HDL Implementation of an improved interleaver is presented. By using RAM block, interleaver algorithm is transformed to address controlling of RAM reading and writing in order to simplify interleave process. It shows that encoding and decoding delay can be shorted effectively. The design was proved correctly by experiment and had been made use of in turbo encoder and decoder as a module.


Abstract Phylogeny reconstructions based on DNA sequences from nuclear ribosomal internal and external transcribed spacers and plastid trnT-trnF regions were used to examine the taxonomy and biogeography of North American Gaillardia (Asteraceae). Phylogenetic analyses based on maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference criteria consistently recovered several well-supported clades. Gaillardia comosa, G. gypsophila, and G. suavis, forming sect. Agassizia, were placed sister to the rest of Gaillardia, in which the two major clades correspond to sects. Gaillardia and Hollandia. Section Hollandia consists of the Gulf Coast G. aestivalis complex. Three major, well supported clades were consistently recovered in sect. Gaillardia: (1) G. multiceps and G. turneri were sister to an Intermountain clade of G. parry, G. spathulata, and G. flava; (2) a paraphyletic G. pinnatifida and G. arizonica; and (3) G. pulchella, G. aristata, G. amblyodon, G. coahuilensis, G. mexicana, G. henricksonii, and G. powellii. Dispersal-Vicariance Analysis reconstructed a Chihuahuan Desert origin for Gaillardia, an inference consistent with earlier hypotheses. Major range expansions in Gaillardia included the following: (1) eastward expansion into central Texas and along the Gulf Coast in sect. Hollandia; (2) northwestern expansion, resulting ultimately in the Intermountain clade, but including also G. multiceps and G. turneri; (3) northward expansion of the G. pinnatifida complex; (4) easterly and especially northward expansion of G. amblyodon, G. pulchella, and G. aristata; and, possibly, (5) northward expansion onto the Great Plains by G. suavis.


The need to improve agricultural productivity through technological adoption is undoubtedly critical in the drive for economic growth and poverty reduction in Nigeria. This study therefore examines availability, awareness and adoption rates of crop production technologies among farm household in Nigeria as well as the determinants.The study was based on data collected in a National Agricultural Research System (NARS) survey to determine available technologies, and a nationwide Farm Households Technology Use (FHTU) survey to assess awareness, adoption and impacts of the technologies on farm households. The NARS survey was focused on all public, private and multinational Institutions involved in agricultural research, extension and technology goods production and marketing identified across the six geopolitical divisions of Nigeria. The FHTU survey covered 1,663 randomly selected farm households drawn by multistage random sampling across about 240 farming communities/villages in 80 Agricultural Development Project (ADP) cells spread across all block in six states (Benue, Ebonyi, Cross-river, Ogun, Sokoto and Taraba), which were drawn one state per geopolitical division of Nigeria. The data were analysed using descriptive, budgetary and econometric techniques. The NARS survey revealed that a wide range of improved varieties of cassava (57), maize (54), rice (65) and tomato (11) as well as innovative farming practices, equipment and intermediate materials have been developed and released to farmers across the country. However, while the awareness rates of many of the technologies are quite high (above 70%), the adoption rates, defined by the percentage of potential users that have tried and are willing to continue the use of the technology, are generally low, except for cultivation of improved varieties (above 70%),and use of fertilizer (56%), herbicide (52%) and mechanised tillage (43%). The current (2011/2012) use rates were however much lower than the adoption rates due to non-availability of many of these technologies in the local market, and where available, high cost. There are also significant (p<0.01) variation in adoption rates of the technologies across the states, with likelihood of adoption generally declining significantly with increase in travel cost to nearest agro-service centre (p<0.05) and household size (p<0.05), but rising significantly with increase in farm size (p<0.01), household wealth (p<0.01), and education level of the household head (p<0.05). The likelihoods of adoption were also generally and significantly (p<0.05) lower among female headed households than among male headed households.


It is common practice to work in the approximation that beam-like radiation fields are polarized transverse to the propagation axis. However, even in the paraxial approximation, this fails to correctly describe beam polarization and propagation characteristics. We present here the paraxial Maxwell's equations for beams having cylindrical polarization, which describe the full vector structure of these beams in the paraxial regime. The effect that these relations have on the polarization and propagation of cylindrically polarized Laguerre-Gauss and Bessel-Gauss beams is subsequently explored.


Objective: Hypertension is associated with unfavorable changes in adrenergic receptor responsiveness, but the relationship of race and sex to adrenergic receptor responsiveness in the development of cardiovascular disease is unclear. This study examined &agr;-adrenergic and ß-adrenergic receptor responsiveness in African-American and white men and women with untreated high blood pressure (BP) (HBP) and with normal BP. Methods and results: The study sample comprised 161 African-American and white men and women in the age range 25–45 years. Isoproterenol, a nonselective ß-adrenergic receptor agonist, was administered intravenously to determine the bolus dose required to increase heart rate by 25 bpm, an index of &bgr;-adrenergic receptor responsiveness. Similarly, phenylephrine, an &agr;1-adrenergic receptor agonist, was administered to determine the bolus dose required to increase BP by 25 mmHg, an index of vascular &agr;1-adrenergic receptor responsiveness. HBP (P < 0.01), male sex (P = 0.04), and higher BMI (P < 0.01) were all associated with reduced &bgr;-adrenergic receptor responsiveness, with a similar trend observed for African-American race (P = 0.07). Conversely, &agr;1-adrenergic receptor responsiveness was increased in association with HBP (P < 0.01), female sex (P < 0.01), and African-American race (P < 0.01). Conclusion: In the early stages of hypertension, cardiovascular &bgr;-adrenergic receptors demonstrate blunted responsiveness, whereas conversely &agr;1-adrenergic receptors exhibit increased responsiveness. This pattern of receptor changes is especially evident in men and African-Americans, is exacerbated by obesity, and may contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease.


Stimulation of bovine alveolar macrophages with calcium ionophore A23187 resulted in marked production of leukotriene (LT)B4 and a lesser increase in thromboxane (TX)B2, whereas opsonized zymosan (OPZ) resulted in production of TXB2 and relatively small increases in LTB4 and prostaglandin (PG)F2 alpha. Alveolar macrophages incubated with recombinant bovine interferon-gamma or lipopolysaccharide, and subsequently stimulated with A23187 or OPZ, had altered arachidonic acid metabolism, producing markedly increased amounts of TXB2 and PGF2 alpha, and slightly increased LTB4. Incubation of alveolar macrophages with lipopolysaccharide had a more profound effect on the increased amounts of TXB2 and PGF2 alpha, observed in response to stimulation with A23187 or OPZ, than did incubation with interferon-gamma. Alveolar macrophages incubated with recombinant bovine interferon-alpha 1-1 also produced slightly increased amounts of LTB4 when stimulated with A23187 or OPZ. Altered arachidonic acid metabolism by alveolar macrophages exposed to interferons and lipopolysaccharide may contribute to the development of pulmonary inflammation, such as in the early stages of bacterial pneumonia following viral infections that induce interferon production.


CONTEXT
In the normal course of activity, pathologists create and archive immense data sets of scientifically valuable information. Researchers need pathology-based data sets, annotated with clinical information and linked to archived tissues, to discover and validate new diagnostic tests and therapies. Pathology records can be used for research purposes (without obtaining informed patient consent for each use of each record), provided the data are rendered harmless. Large data sets can be made harmless through 3 computational steps: (1) deidentification, the removal or modification of data fields that can be used to identify a patient (name, social security number, etc); (2) rendering the data ambiguous, ensuring that every data record in a public data set has a nonunique set of characterizing data; and (3) data scrubbing, the removal or transformation of words in free text that can be used to identify persons or that contain information that is incriminating or otherwise private. This article addresses the problem of data scrubbing.

OBJECTIVE
To design and implement a general algorithm that scrubs pathology free text, removing all identifying or private information.

METHODS
The Concept-Match algorithm steps through confidential text. When a medical term matching a standard nomenclature term is encountered, the term is replaced by a nomenclature code and a synonym for the original term. When a high-frequency "stop" word, such as a, an, the, or for, is encountered, it is left in place. When any other word is encountered, it is blocked and replaced by asterisks. This produces a scrubbed text. An open-source implementation of the algorithm is freely available.

RESULTS
The Concept-Match scrub method transformed pathology free text into scrubbed output that preserved the sense of the original sentences, while it blocked terms that did not match terms found in the Unified Medical Language System (UMLS). The scrubbed product is safe, in the restricted sense that the output retains only standard medical terms. The software implementation scrubbed more than half a million surgical pathology report phrases in less than an hour.

CONCLUSIONS
Computerized scrubbing can render the textual portion of a pathology report harmless for research purposes. Scrubbing and deidentification methods allow pathologists to create and use large pathology databases to conduct medical research.


Drinking water is an important source for trace elements intake into human body. Thus, the drinking water quality has a great impact on people's health and longevity. This study aims to study the relationship between drinking water quality and human health and longevity. A longevity county Mayang in Hunan province, China was chosen as the study area. The drinking water and hair of local centenarians were collected and analyzed the chemical composition. The drinking water is weak alkaline and rich in the essential trace elements. The daily intakes of Ca, Cu, Fe, Se, Sr from drinking water for residents in Mayang were much higher than the national average daily intake from beverage and water. There was a positive correlation between Ni and Pb in drinking water and Ni and Pb in hair. There were significant correlations between Cu, K in drinking water and Ba, Ca, Mg, Sr in the hair at the 0.01 level. The concentrations of Mg, Sr, Se in drinking water showed extremely significant positive relation with two centenarian index 100/80% and 100/90% correlation. Essential trace elements in drinking water can be an important factor for local health and longevity.


This paper presents an analytical and numerical evaluation of a single-stator, single rotor axial-flux induction prototype, with squirrel cage made of copper. Additionally a set of experimental test are carried out to validate those models. In order to estimate the magnetizing current required for the motor the Carter factor is calculated for different airgap lengths. Traditional equivalent circuit is used to compute operational conditions, based on parameters calculated by rotor locked and no-load tests parameters of a three-phase machine. Finite element analysis is used to verify the motor performance showing close agreement between them.


Cordycicadins A-D (1-4) are four novel polyketides that were isolated from the liquid fermentation of the insect-pathogenic fungus Cordyceps cicadae JXCH1. The structures were determined by a combination of spectroscopic analysis, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and computational methods. Compounds 1, 3, and 4 harbor an unusual exocyclic enol ether bridge that connects the separated ring systems. Hypothetical biosynthetic pathways for 1-4 were proposed. Cordycicadins A (1) and B (2) showed antifeedant activity against silkworm larvae (Bombyx mori) with EC50 values of 65.4 and 57.0 μg/cm2, respectively.


Abstract The estimation of age at death is one of the most fundamental biological parameters, determined on skeletal remains in anthropological context. That is why, there is a constant need to improve applied methods. Histomorphometry, which uses microscopic analysis of bone tissue is suggested to be one alternative method. In general, this technique is based on measurements and the determination of the number and density of basic bone structural units, osteons. Osteon density is found to be related with age of the individual. The main goal of this research was to compare results of determined age at death, on the basis of ribs histology, comes from methods proposed by different authors. We analyzed ground cross sections of ribs from archeological origin. The presented methodology is simple in use and effective. Four different methods were tested (Stout and Paine 1992; Cho et al. 2002; Kim et al. 2007; Bednarek et al. 2009). The obtained age results were compared with each other as well as related to the age estimated by standard macroscopic method used in anthropology. Bednarek's method is recognized to be the most supportive for anthropological analyzes. Methodological issues connected with grinding methodology and results interpretation are also presented. Hypothesis about interpopulation as well as histological and dimorphic differences were confirmed.


To determine oral-genital coinfection with HPV in female patients who presented lesions suggestive of oral and genital HPV infection. Study design: 76 female patients, who attended Department of Oral Medicine of the School of Dentistry of the University of Buenos Aires were included. Oral clinical inspection, exfoliative cytology and nested polymerase chain reaction and subsequent sequencing (PCR) for HPV were performed. The 76 women were referred to the Department of Lower Genital Tract (TGI) of the José de San Martin Hospital for their gynecological study to search for lesions compatible with HPV infection by colposcopy, Pap smear and PCR. Correlation / regression coefficient and relative risk were estimated. Results: 39 positive oral lesions were found with PCR. Of the 76 patients with lesions suggestive of oral HPV, 11 patients also had lesions compatible with the virus in the lower genital tract. Only 10 lesions were positive for HPV at this location. There was coincidence in three oral-genital cases. Two patients had the same HPV genotype and one had different genotypes. Conclusions: In this study the percentage of oral-genital HPV coinfection was 27.27%. This suggests that oral HPV is not a predisposing factor for genital infection in the same patient.


Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. The gut microbiota and its associated metabolites may be involved in the development and progression of CVD, although the mechanisms and impact on clinical outcomes are not fully understood. This study investigated the gut microbiome profile and associated metabolites in chronic stable angina (CSA) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients compared to healthy controls. Bacterial alpha diversity in stool from ACS or CSA patients was comparable to healthy controls at both baseline and follow-up visits. Differential abundance analysis identified operational taxonomic units assigned to commensal taxa differentiating ACS patients from healthy controls at both baseline and follow up. Both CSA and ACS patients had significantly higher levels of trimethylamine N-oxide compared to healthy controls (CSA; 0.032 ± 0.023 mmol/L, p <0.01 vs healthy and ACS; 0.032 ± 0.023 mmol/L, p =0.02 vs healthy respectively). ACS patients had reduced levels of propionate, and butyrate (119 ± 4 vs 139 ± 5.1 µM, p =0.001 and 14 ± 4.3 vs 23.5 ± 8.1 µM, p <0.001 respectively), as well as elevated serum sCD14 (2245 ± 75.1 vs 1834 ± 45.8 ng/mL, p <0.0001) and sCD163 levels (457.3 ± 31.8 vs 326.8 ± 20.7 ng/mL, p =0.001), compared to healthy controls at baseline. Furthermore, a modified small molecule metabolomic and lipidomic signature was observed in both CSA and ACS patients compared to healthy controls. These findings provide evidence of a link between gut microbiome composition and gut bacterial metabolites with CVD.


【The fuzzy self-tuning PID controller is a PID controller with a fuzzy logic mechanism for tuning its gains on-line. In this structure, the proportional, integral and derivative gains are tuned on-line with respect to the change of the output of system under control. This paper deals with two types of fuzzy self-tuning PID controllers, rule-based fuzzy PID controller and learning fuzzy PID controller. As a medical application of fuzzy PID controller, the proposed controllers were implemented and evaluated in a laparoscopic surgery robot system. The proposed fuzzy PID structures maintain similar performance as conventional PID controller, and enhance the position tracking performance over wide range of varying input. For precise approximation, the fuzzy PID controller was realized using the linear reasoning method, a type of product-sum-gravity method. The proposed controllers were compared with conventional PID controller without fuzzy gain tuning and was proved to have better performance in the experiment】


Abstract Objectives People with cerebellar ataxia have few options to improve the standing stability they need for function. Strategic placement of light weights on the torso using the balance‐based torso‐weighting (BBTW) method has improved stability and reduced falls in people with multiple sclerosis, but has not been tested in cerebellar ataxia. We examined whether torso‐weighting increased standing stability and/or functional movement in people with cerebellar ataxia. Methods Ten people with cerebellar ataxia and 10 matched controls participated in this single‐session quasi‐experimental pilot study. People with ataxia performed the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) prior to clinical testing. All participants donned inertial sensors that recorded postural sway; stopwatches recorded duration for standing and mobility tasks. All participants stood for up to 30 s on firm and foam surfaces with eyes open then eyes closed, and performed the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. Light weights (0.57–1.25 kg) were strategically applied to a vest‐like garment. Paired t tests compared within‐group differences with and without BBTW weights. Independent t tests assessed differences from controls. All t tests were one‐tailed with alpha set at .05. Results Duration of standing for people with ataxia was significantly longer with weighting (p = .004); all controls stood for the maximum time of 120 s with and without weights. More severe ataxia according to SARA was moderately correlated with greater improvement in standing duration with BBTW (Pearson r = .54). Tasks with more sensory challenges (eyes closed, standing on firm surface) showed less body sway with weighting. Duration for the TUG was unchanged by torso‐weighting in people with ataxia. Conclusion Strategic weighting improved standing stability but not movement speed in people with ataxia. BBTW has potential for improving stability and response to challenging sensory conditions in this population. Future studies should further examine gait stability measures along with movement speed.


The National Probation Service in England and Wales has been buffeted by change in recent years. This has happened at a time when rhetoric has become increasingly punitive, with probation emphasising its role in providing punishment in the community. It therefore seems surprising that there has been a decisive shift in terms of the gendered composition of its staff — there are now many more women than men working in probation. This review outlines quantitative changes and then explores qualitative research data from women probation officers. These different perspectives provide an in-depth account of this interesting and still-changing organisational setting.


The increasing use of petroleum plastics has caused environmental damage due to the degradation time of these materials. An alternative to petroleum plastics could be thermoplastic starch (TPS). However, thermoplastic starch does not exhibit satisfactory tensile properties. The mechanical properties of thermoplastic starch can be improved by adding sisal microfibers. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of different levels of glycerol and sisal microfibers on the thermal and tensile properties of thermoplastic corn starch composites. The microfibers were obtained via mechanical treatment followed by chemical treatment (alkaline treatment and bleaching). The films were obtained by the casting method using commercial corn starch and glycerol as a plasticizing agent, reinforced with sisal microfibers. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results revealed that the addition of microfibers did not change the chemical structure of the TPS matrix. The films from the samples with 18% glycerol and 10% microfibers had the highest value for the maximum tension, equal to 4.78 MPa. The thermal decomposition profile of TPS was not altered by the addition of microfibers. Our findings demonstrated the profound influence of glycerol and microfiber contents on the tensile properties of thermoplastic starch composites.


N‐mixture models have become a popular method for estimating abundance of free‐ranging animals that are not marked or identified individually. These models have been used on count data for single species that can be identified with certainty. However, co‐occurring species often look similar during one or more life stages, making it difficult to assign species for all recorded captures. This uncertainty creates problems for estimating species‐specific abundance, and it can often limit life stages to which we can make inference. We present a new extension of N‐mixture models that accounts for species uncertainty. In addition to estimating site‐specific abundances and detection probabilities, this model allows estimating probability of correct assignment of species identity. We implement this hierarchical model in a Bayesian framework and provide all code for running the model in BUGS language programs. We present an application of the model on count data from two sympatric freshwater fishes, the brook stickleback (Culaea inconstans) and the ninespine stickleback (Pungitius pungitius), and illustrate implementation of covariate effects (habitat characteristics). In addition, we used a simulation study to validate the model and illustrate potential sample size issues. We also compared, for both real and simulated data, estimates provided by our model to those obtained by a simple N‐mixture model when captures of unknown species identification were discarded. In the latter case, abundance estimates appeared highly biased and very imprecise, while our new model provided unbiased estimates with higher precision. This extension of the N‐mixture model should be useful for a wide variety of studies and taxa, as species uncertainty is a common issue. It should notably help improve investigation of abundance and vital rate characteristics of organisms' early life stages, which are sometimes more difficult to identify than adults.


The infrahyoid neck is a complex region of anatomy and pathology. The spatial division of the infrahyoid neck into six discrete spaces is accomplished by three layers of the deep cervical fascia. Once understood, the pathologic processes in this region can be better characterized. Additionally, this article includes the anatomy and pathology of the thyroid and parathyroid glands and the brachial plexus.


Live Sei and Minke whales were observed underwater off Japan by a new method using commercial catcher boats. A non-explosive harpoon was fired into the tail region of a whale and a diver approached the "tethered" live whale.

After initial flurries, Sei and Minke whales swam steadily ahead of the catcher and could easily be approached by a diver. They took absolutely no notice of the diver. Live Sei and Minke whales kept their mouths tight shut all the time, but immediately after death the lower jaw always fell open. Little blood was emitted from the harpoon wound. The flippers were raised laterally when a whale surfaced and held against the sides of the body when it dived.

The body shape of both rorqual species was streamlined and the throat region was quite flat, not in any way dilated. The classical baggy-throated illustrations of rorqual whales do not show the true shape of live animals.

Sperm whales harpooned by the same method swam about wildly, shed much blood and could not be observed underwater.


This study aims to develop primary school students' general development exercise skills and reveal teachers' views about their professional development on learning technologies in physical education. Mixed method was used in the study with experimental and qualitative research methods. The main relevance of this study is an analysis that conducts an experiment of a system of general development exercises that are used to perform independently by primary school students to clarify, verify the results of the study and test an effective experimental method in this direction. During the study, the experimental groups and control group of primary school students were included and the results of experiment and qualitative data were analysed. In addition, the study revealed comparative data with analysis, synthesis, questionnaires, diagnostics and other practical methods. As a result of the experimental work, a system of specific general developmental exercises (GDE) aimed at developing the skills of independent performance by primary school students through GDE was developed. Elements of life movements taken from various roots of Kazakh national culture were introduced into the system of GDE within the framework of cooperation with class teachers, a series of thematic methodological seminars were held for physical education teachers and a methodological guide was developed. Results of this study provided practical implications for primary school teachers to use systems of a new direction of preparing children for a healthy lifestyle.

Keywords: General development exercises, primary school teachers, students, physical education.


The traditional percentage and correlational methods of estimating reliability of duration recording were compared to the reliability obtained with an event-by-event examination of observers' records in which the actual percentage of time that the observers were in agreement was calculated. While observing standardized videotapes, eight volunteer undergraduate students recorded "studying" using a specific definition and "not eating" using a nonspecific definition. The order of persentation and level of definition specificity were reversed for eight additional volunteer observers. Recordings were done on an event recorder. It was found that the traditional percentage reliability scores were significantly higher than actual (event-by-event) observer agreement for both behaviors, at both levels of definition specificity. Correlational reliability coefficients were significantly greater than event-by-event scores for specific definitions only. Implications of the findings include the possibility that duration recording, which does not involve a permanent product (e.g., when using a stopwatch), may be periodically checked for reliability with an event recorder, or that interval recording may be used.


Solutions in the field of Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) do not generally use standards to implement a communication interface between sensors and actuators. This makes these applications isolated solutions because it is so difficult to integrate them into new or existing systems. The objective of this research was to design and implement a prototype with a standardized interface for sensors and actuators to facilitate the integration of different solutions in the field of AAL. Our work is based on the roadmap defined by AALIANCE, using motes with TinyOS telosb, 6LoWPAN, sensors, and the IEEE 21451 standard protocol. This prototype allows one to upgrade sensors to a smart status for easy integration with new applications and already existing ones. The prototype has been evaluated for autonomy and performance. As a use case, the prototype has been tested in a serious game previously designed for people with mobility problems, and its advantages and disadvantages have been analysed.


Spider plant ( Cleome gynandra L .) contributes considerably to the nutrition and medicines of communities in southern Africa. However, its utilisation is limited by its bitterness caused by condensed tannins. Unfortunately, processing options that reduce the bitterness also remove nutritionally and medicinally useful compounds. The objective of this study was to assess the genetic variability of condensed tannins and their association with bitterness in C. gynandra so as to devise variety recommendations for either direct utilisation or for breeding programmes in Zimbabwe. Total phenolic compounds and condensed tannins were quantified in five genotypes. The amount of total phenolic compounds were not significant, but quite significant (P<0.001) for condensed tannins. Genotype CGSKGP had the highest (0.49 mg g-1) and twice as much condensed tannins as CGKEX and CGSKP. Bitterness was positively correlated with the concentrations of condensed tannins (r=0.94, P<0.05), but not with total phenolics. We identified two genotypes, CGKEX and CGSKP with less bitterness (condensed tannins) that can be used in breeding for less bitterness to reduce excessive processing that lowers the nutritional and medicinal properties of C. gynandra . Key Words : Cleome gynandra, indigenous vegetable, nutrition, phenolic compounds


This paper aims to provide evidence of what fixes the information technology skills shortage. The focus is on countries' workforce development factors, i.e., human and technology. The research model was tested using secondary data from multiple sources. An ordinary least square with panel corrected standard errors was used to analyze the data. The results indicate that organizations' staff training and gender parity among science, technology, engineering, and mathematics graduates relate negatively to IT talent shortage; this is consistent in both models the authors tested. This study contributes to the IT workforce literature by being the first study that empirically examines the relationships between IT skills shortage and the relevant workforce development factors. Besides, objective measures of IT skills shortage were used, thus overcoming issues that might arise from using the subjective ones, such as counting the number of IT job openings based on predetermined occupation codes. For policymakers wanting to fix the IT skills shortage, the results revealed factors that can help fix the issue in the short term. Future research could examine other factors, such as policy or gender parity in IT careers if appropriate data is available.


This paper presents design and simulation of a transceiver system for active phased array at C-Band using multi-technology based chips. Multi-technology feature is new emerging technique for complex RF and microwave systems designs where transceiver chips based on different fabrication technologies like MMIC, LTCC and microstrip are integrated on same RF board. Design and simulation of full transceiver system is very challenging because of the presence of multiple technologies in one single design. Finite Element Method (FEM) based electromagnetic solver has been used to simulate complete module. A peak module output gain 18.2 dB has been achieved at an overall module efficiency of 21%. Keywords—MMIC, LTCC, Chip-in-package, MultiTechnology, Transceiver, Active phased Array Antenna, ADS


Infrared radiation (IR-A) causes structural changes in the skin, similar to those caused by prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Evaluation of efficacy and safety of cosmetic products concentrates in in vitro tests and clinical trials. A promising alternative is the use of fragments of human skin from elective cosmetic surgery, to evaluate the actual clinical benefits of a product applied topically. Objective: The objective of this study was to correlate IR-A radiation effects in biopsies and in ex vivo skin fragments and in human fibroblasts culture by quantifying MMP-1, TIMP-1 and GADD45a mediators. Methods: Collection of biopsies from 15 volunteers after IR-A applications for 5 consecutive days. Exposure to IR-A radiation of human skin fragments from elective cosmetic surgery, and human fibroblasts culture. Measurement of MMP-1, TIMP-1 and GADD45a mediators for further comparison of results. Results: In the three models used, the IR-A radiation induced an increase in MMP-1, inhibited the synthesis of GADD45a, and did not changed TIMP-1 values. Conclusion: Due to the positive correlation of the models studied, it may be suggested the use of ex vivo skin as plausible and sustainable tool to overcome differences between knowledge generated from in vitro and clinical experiments


The role of the maize industry is discussed with reference to employment, foreign exchange earnings, food production, input provision, market segment and contribution to GDP. The impact of changes in the maize industry is quantified by means of input-output analysis and dynamic multipliers. The impact of the maize industry is insignificant relative to the total economy with regard to contribution to GDP, market for other products and input provision. Employment is the terrain of the most important impact of the maize industry.


A large amount of work has been done to overcome the difficult problems of bidirectional loss for SAW transducer. It turns out that the design of single phase unidirectional transducer (SPUDT) is much more challenging then that of conventional interdigital transducers, because of the extreme difficulty to synthesize the optimum transduction tap and reflectivity weighting functions simultaneously. In this paper, electrode width controlled SPUDT is used for the fabrication of high efficient acousto-optic switch and low loss SAW filter used in fiber-optic communication.


MicroRNAs have emerged as new diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers for breast cancer. Herein, we analysed miR-99a-5p expression levels in primary tumours and plasma of breast cancer patients to evaluate its usefulness as a minimally invasive diagnostic biomarker. MiR-99a-5p expression levels were determined by quantitative real-time PCR in three independent cohorts of patients: (I) Discovery cohort: breast cancer tissues (n = 103) and healthy breast tissues (n = 26); (II) Testing cohort: plasma samples from 105 patients and 98 healthy donors; (III) Validation cohort: plasma samples from 89 patients and 85 healthy donors. Our results demonstrated that miR-99a-5p was significantly downregulated in breast cancer tissues compared to healthy breast tissues. Conversely, miR-99a-5p levels were significantly higher in breast cancer patients than in healthy controls in plasma samples from both testing and validation cohorts, and ROC curve analysis revealed that miR-99a-5p has good diagnostic potential even to detect early breast cancer. In conclusion, miR-99a-5p's deregulated expression distinguished healthy patients from breast cancer patients in two different types of samples (tissues and plasma). Interestingly, expression levels in plasma were significantly lower in healthy controls than in early-stage breast cancer patients. Our findings suggest circulating miR-99a-5p as a novel promising non-invasive biomarker for breast cancer detection.


This paper considers the measurement of monopoly power in light of recent advances in game theory, in particular those relating to the Shapley value [2, 3, 6]. Traditional measures of monopoly power (e.g., 17]) were all based on Cournot's model of monopoly [5], where the monopolist, knowing his demand curve and knowing that it is Independent of his action, maximizes his profits. Indeed, without the passivity of buyers, the hypothesis of profit maximization cannot operate, for then the situation is that of a game. The essential problem with this model, as pointed out by Aumann [1], is answering when buyers in a monopolized market become passive. Surely it takes more than one buyer, but will even a continuum of buyers be enough? Some examples in the literature [4, 9] suggest that with a very large number of buyers, monopoly will indeed be advantageous, in so far as a monopoly's imputation equals its Shapley value. Testing this hypothesis is the aim of the paper.


Practical synthetic routes for the preparation of 1-(7-chlorobenzothiazol-2-yl)-1-methylethylamine (VII), a key intermediate of the barnyardgrass-controlling herbicide, 3-[[1-(7-chlorobenzothiazol-2-yl)-1-methyl]ethyl]-2,3-dihydro-6-methyl-5-phenyl-4H-1,3-oxazin-4-one (MI-3069), were investigated. As the result, the intermediate VII was prepared in an excellent overall yield by cyclization of 2-amino-2-methylpropionitrile with 2-amino-6-chlorothiophenol, which was synthesized by hydrogenation of 2-nitro-6-chlorothiophenol derived from 2,3-dichloronitrobenzene. This practical route consisted of shorter steps with relatively cheaper reactants than the reported method.


Massive multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) is unquestionably a key enabler of the fifth-generation (5G) technology for mobile systems, enabling to meet the high requirements of upcoming mobile broadband services. Physical-layer multicasting refers to a technique for simultaneously serving multiple users, demanding for the same service and sharing the same radio resources, with a single transmission. Massive MIMO systems with multicast communications have been so far studied under the ideal assumption of uncorrelated Rayleigh fading channels. In this work, we consider a practical multicast massive MIMO system over spatially correlated Rayleigh fading channels, investigating the impact of the spatial channel correlation on the favorable propagation, hence on the performance. We propose a subgrouping strategy for the multicast users based on their channel correlation matrices' similarities. The proposed subgrouping approach capitalizes on the spatial correlation to enhance the quality of the channel estimation, and thereby the effectiveness of the precoding. Moreover, we devise a max-min fairness (MMF) power allocation strategy that makes the spectral efficiency (SE) among different multicast subgroups uniform. Lastly, we propose a novel power allocation for uplink (UL) pilot transmission to maximize the SE among the users within the same multicast subgroup. Simulation results show a significant SE gain provided by our user subgrouping and power allocation strategies. Importantly, we show how spatial channel correlation can be exploited to enhance multicast massive MIMO communications.


Massive cosmic neutrinos change the structure formation history by suppressing perturbations on small scales. Weak lensing data from galaxy surveys probe the structure evolution and thereby can be used to constrain the total mass of the three active neutrinos. However, much of the information is at small scales where the dynamics are nonlinear. Traditional approaches with second order statistics thus fail to fully extract the information in the lensing field. In this paper, we study constraints on the neutrino mass sum using lensing peak counts, a statistic which captures non-Gaussian information beyond the second order. We use the ray-traced weak lensing mocks from the Cosmological Massive Neutrino Simulations (MassiveNuS), and apply LSST-like noise. We discuss the effects of redshift tomography, multipole cutoff $\ell_{\rm max}$ for the power spectrum, smoothing scale for the peak counts, and constraints from peaks of different heights. We find that combining peak counts with the traditional lensing power spectrum can improve the constraint on neutrino mass sum, $\Omega_m$, and $A_s$ by 39%, 32%, and 60%, respectively, over that from the power spectrum alone.


This brief study investigates the synchronisation of undirected coupled harmonic oscillators by using a sampled-data control strategy. In the absence of measured velocity information, each of the networked oscillators can only obtain the measurements of the position states relative to its neighbours at the sampling moments. A distributed protocol based on the sampled relative position measurements at a series of time instants is proposed for the coupled harmonic oscillators. Necessary and sufficient conditions for achieving synchronisation are analytically established in virtue of the graph theory, matrix analysis theory and Schur stability theory of cubic polynomials. Theoretical results indicate that the explicit range that contains all the desirable sampling periods is uniquely determined by the largest eigenvalue of the Laplacian matrix associated with the network graph and the position gain of the harmonic oscillators. An effective simple iterative method is then developed to calculate the range in which the desirable sampling periods fall. Finally, numerical simulations are performed to illustrate the correctness of the theoretical results and effectiveness of the proposed protocol.


Conducting optical coatings for the visible light range are commonly made of Indium Tin Oxide (ITO), but ITO is unsuitable for near-infrared telecommunications wavelengths because it can become absorptive after extended illumination. In this paper we show an alternative approach which uses conventional coating materials to create either non-conducting or conducting antireflection (AR) coatings that are effective over a fairly broad spectral region ( lambdalong/lambdashort approximately 1.40) and also usable for a wide range of angles of incidence (0-38 masculine, or 0-55 masculine) in the telecom wavelength range. Not only is the transmittance of windows treated with such coatings quite high, but they can be made to have extreme polarization independence (low polarization dependent loss values). A number of such coating designs are presented in the paper. A prototype of one of the conducting AR coating designs was fabricated and the measurements were found to be in reasonable agreement with the calculated performance. Such AR coatings should be of interest for telecommunication applications and especially for anti-static hermetic packaging of MEMS devices such as optical switches.


These are the expanded notes of some talks in the working seminar group on Algebraic Geometry at the Universitat Polit ecnica de Catalunya in 2008. The aim was to understand Haesemeyer's descent arugument, so we present the main results of Haesemeyer and his collaborators on cdh-descent following very closely their papers.


Fibrillar, or "hairy," adhesives have evolved multiple times independently within arthropods and reptiles. These adhesives exhibit highly desirable properties for dynamic attachment, including orientation dependence, wear resistance, and self-cleaning. Our understanding of how these properties are related to their fibrillar structure is limited, although theoretical models from the literature have generated useful hypotheses. We survey the morphology of 81 species with fibrillar adhesives to test the hypothesis that packing density of contact elements should increase with body size, whereas the size of the contact elements should decrease. We test this hypothesis in a phylogenetic context to avoid treating historically related species as statistically independent data points. We find that fiber morphology is better predicted by evolutionary history and adhesive mechanism than by body size. As we attempt to identify which morphological parameters are most responsible for the performance of fibrillar adhesives, it will be important to take advantage of the natural variation in morphology and the potentially suboptimal outcomes it encompasses, rather than assuming evolution to be an inherently optimizing process.


This study is conducted to determine the reliable method in ageing of Sprattus sprattus L., 1758 inhabiting Black Sea by investigation of bony structures and using length-frequency analysis. The results obtained from each methods were compared. Samples were collected from depths between 30 m and 150 m inside 3 miles offshore in November 2004, February 2005 and May 2005. Totally 1927 individuals were sampled and used length-frequency analysis. Age determination was also made in 301 specimens (108 female, 193 male) representing each length group. Vertebrae, opercles, subopercles, cleithra, scales and otoliths were removed from each individuals. Each bony structures were prepared for ageing by suitable techniques. After preliminary examinations; it was determined that the other bony structures except otoliths were not suitable for age estimation. Therefore, these bony structures were not evaluated in age analysis. Otoliths were read three times by binocular microscope. The percent agreement, the average percent error and the coefficient of variation were calculated from obtained age data and reliability of otoliths in age determination was investigated. In addition, age-length-weight relationships were examined by otolith age data. Consequently, it was reported that both otolith reading method and length-frequency anaysis were suitable for ageing this species.


A two-wheeled self-balancing robot is a mobile robot with two wheels on each side. It is equipped with a controller which balances it. A PID controller can be used to control robot's position so that it can move steadily in bumpy surfaces. Its PID controller moves by calculating suitable proportional constant (Kp), constant integral (Ki) and derivative constant (Kd) using trial and error method. The analysis of controlling system is based on three aspects of analysis; transient response analysis, steady state response analysis, and stability analysis. The results of present research show that the robot maintained its balance when it moved on a bumpy surface with Kp of 50, Ki of 170 and Kd of 2,2. The analysis of PID parameter suggests that the response of self balancing robot is categorized as overdamped with the percentage of error steady state of1,02% while its stability is categorized as marginally stable.


The ability to form epithelial lumina is a central architectural characteristic of virtually all organs and indispensable for their function. Ontogenetically, the kidney is one of the best-characterized organs, but concepts of the regulated formation of its hollow epithelial structures are still emerging. Epithelial cell lines provide the opportunity to study molecular mechanisms in simplified assays modeling cyst and tube formation. In these systems, several groups have identified molecules implicated in lumen formation, and their downregulation results in either multiple-lumen or no-lumen phenotypes. On the basis of these phenotypes, we propose a working model, assigning proteins to groups with similar functions. Defects within these specific protein groups lead to distinct epithelial phenotypes. Studies of mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition underline the importance of these protein groups, but converting these basic models of lumen formation to an understanding of the mesenchymal to tubule formation during kidney development is still challenging.


Ecuador has 55 active volcanoes in the northern half of the Ecuadorian Andes. There, consequences of active volcanism include ashfalls, pyroclastic flows (fast moving fluidized material of hot gas, ash, and rock), and lahars (mudflows), which result in serious damage locally and regionally and thus are of major concern to Ecuadorians.

In particular, Tungurahua (elevation, 5023 meters) and Cotopaxi (elevation, 5876 meters) are high-risk volcanoes. Since 1999, eruption activity at Tungurahua has continued and has produced ashfalls and lahars that damage towns and villages on the flanks of the volcano. More than 20,000 people live on these flanks.


There were five sesquiterpene lactones, belonging to the eudesmanolide class, isolated from the halophyte Sonchus brachyotus DC. The structures of the compounds were determined using spectroscopic methods, including 1D and 2D NMR spectra, MS data, and optical rotation values. Compounds 4 and 5 were characterized by the position of p-hydroxyphenylacetyl group in the sugar moiety. In the evaluation of anti-inflammatory effects on LPS-activated RAW264.7 macrophages, compound 1, 5α,6βH-eudesma-3,11(13)-dien-12,6α-olide, potently suppressed the expression of iNOS and COS-2, as well as the production of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10. Treatment of 1 regulates the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.


Neurons of the circumesophageal ganglia of Aplysia synthesize 1--2000 dalton peptides and subject them to axonal transport in large quantities in the pleuro-visceral connective and pedal nerves. Most of the protein transported in the connective nerves accumulates in the abdominal ganglion, although some passes out its peripheral nerves. Autoradiography revealed no evidence for terminations of the transporting axons in possible neurohemal areas of this ganglion. It is suggested that these data reflect the existence of a pathway mediating the "directed delivery" of neural peptides in this nervous system.


Abstract A model output statistics (MOS) scheme, using a stepwise-selection multiple linear regression approach, is used to estimate marine fog probability at 24 h intervals from 0 to 48 h, for the North Pacific Ocean (30–60°N) summer season. The predictand is uniquely determined by present and past weather, visibility and low-level cloud information in the primary synoptic report. Available predictors include 158 Fleet Numerical Oceanography Center model output parameters as well as monthly climatological fog frequencies. The regression equations, containing at most seven terms, are derived from 0000 GMT synoptic ship report data in the months of July 1976, 1977 and 1979. Evaporative heat flux and fog frequency are among the first four parameters selected for each equation. Reliability and sharpness diagrams are presented to identify specific biases in estimating fog probability. Categorical (percentage correct, threat and Heidke skill) and probabilistic (Brier) scoring methods are used to establish the ...


Sarah the chimpanzee was the primary participant in David Premack's language studies initiated at University of California at Santa Barbara in 1967. The first author was an undergraduate assistant training Sarah from 1967 to 1969. This article describes some of the early work with Sarah and our recent search for her. Sarah's whereabouts during the intervening years, and subsequent reunion with her in 2016 at Chimp Haven, a chimpanzee sanctuary in Louisiana, are described. It was found that despite her illness, Sarah engaged with the first author and demonstrated that she remembered him and the mechanics of the communication procedure that served as the foundation for testing Sarah's cognitive reasoning abilities as they pertained to language. There was no evidence she remembered any of the 5 symbolic nouns that were presented during a matching-to-sample procedure. The authors expressed their gratitude to the staff at Chimp Haven for the excellent care of Sarah.


A 75‐year‐old man with severe oculobulbar myasthenia gravis (MG) treated with acetylcholine esterase inhibitors (AChEIs) was found to have muscle‐specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK) antibodies. Neurophysiological examination displayed extra repetitive discharges after the compound motor action potential (CMAP) at low‐frequency stimulation, possibly triggered by AChEI. This indicates an abnormal sensitivity to acetylcholine in patients with MuSK antibodies and may be a useful indicator of the adverse effect of AChEI treatment in these patients. Muscle Nerve, 2006


Our work hypothesis is that phonotactics is best described by non-categorical, probabilistic biases, embodied in the lexicon as constraints on lexical forms which are emergent properties of the operation of dynamical systems that shape language behaviour. In order to investigate if these biases are robust enough to help a learner infer the phonotactic constraints of a language, we developed a connectionist model of an aspect of vowel-to-vowel phonotactics: harmony and contour, namely the tendency for vowels to share or avoid repetition of phonic properties. A Simple Recurrent Network was trained to predict the next phone in the word. No phonetic information was supplied to the network. The network was able to learn a significant amount of phonetic knowledge only from the distributional biases embodied in the lexicon. For example, the model was able to correctly differentiate between vowels and consonants and to discriminate between the dynamics of contour and harmony.


BACKGROUND
Although studies have indicated that the frontal lobe plays an important role in performance on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and that basal ganglia play a specific role in frontal lobe function, the role of striatal dopamine (DA) activity in performance on the WCST remains unclear.

METHODS
We assessed the relation between the availability of striatal dopamine transporters (DATs) and performance on the WCST as a measure of executive function in healthy individuals. We approximated the availability of DATs in 53 healthy volunteers aged 19-61 years by use of single photon emission computed tomography with technetium-99m (99mTc)-TRODAT-1 as the ligand. The WCST was administered to all participants.

RESULTS
The availability of DAT was significantly negatively correlated with perseverative errors on the WCST, both before and after adjustment for body mass index (r(before) = -0.39, p = 0.004; r(after) = -0.39, p = 0.005).

LIMITATIONS
This was an association study; thus, a causal relation between DAT availability and performance cannot be confirmed.

CONCLUSION
Our results suggest that striatal DAT availability may play a role in executive function as measured by the WCST.


There is a growing interest in empirical applications of rational choice theory in contemporary European Sociology. One major proponent for an explicit link between rational choice theory and large scale data analysis is John Goldthorpe. This is a critical comment on Goldthorpe's (1996a) programmatic article in the European Sociological Review, "The Quantitative Analysis of Large-Scale Data-Sets and Rational Action Theory: For a Sociological Alliance". It is argued that the link is treated in an unproblematic and oversimplified way in that article. His claim that quantitative data analysis need rational choice theory is an overstatement, rather, it is argued, rational choice theory might sometimes be used in explanations of statistical regularities. The claim that rational choice theory needs quantitative data is rejected for being based on a dubious understanding of rational choice theory. (Less)


We have selected 47 couples with unexplained infertility in order to analyse a possible link between sperm dysfunction studied in males in in vitro conditions and karyotype analysis of somatic cells. In order to identify so called "idiopathically infertile" couples we had to exclude any change in reproductive organs in both partners or in spermiogram which would qualify any of spouses into known category of infertility. We have revealed chromosome aberrations (translocations and marker chromosomes) in 19% of infertile males and in 6% of infertile females. Idiopathically infertile males had an overall decreased ability of sperm function (measured by proportion of penetrated hamster oocytes by human sperm) in comparison to fertile controls, however, still well placed within physiological range of values. Only sperm from a patient with identified translocation was clearly below the normal level of penetration (20% of penetrated oocytes), however, also the patients with revealed chromosome variant polymorphisms presented statistically lower values of penetration in comparison to fertile controls (39% vs 57%, p<0.05). On the contrary, patients with marker chromosomes did not exhibit affected sperm function. It can be speculated that only particular chromosome aberration in group of idiopathically infertile males may affect sperm functional capability (measured in vitro), however, the intragonadal genetic analysis has to be recommended in order to confirm such a causative link.


Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common malignant neoplasm of the oral cavity. The performance of END (elective neck dissection) in cases of maxillary SCC is controversial because the literature traditionally classified maxillary tumors as having low metastatic potential. The aim of this systematic review and meta‐analysis was to determine the percentage of occult cervical metastases in maxillary SCC to identify in which cases there is the need to perform an END. We searched the PubMed database to select articles dated from 2000 to 2020 that fulfilled our inclusion criteria; finally, we reviewed 27 manuscripts. We show that the overall cervical and occult metastases rate was 35% and 19%, respectively. For T1, the percentage of occult metastasis rate was 11%; for T2, it was 16%; for T3, it was 20%; and for T4, it was 32%. We suggest END (levels I–II–III) as treatment to T3/T4 cN0 patients.


A family of sets is evolutionary if it is possible to order its elements such that each set except the first one has an element in the union of the previous sets and also an element not in that union. This definition is inspired by a conjecture of Naddef and Pulleyblank concerning ear decompositions of 1-extendable graphs. Here we consider the problem of determining whether a family of sets is evolutionary. We show that the problem is NP-complete even when every set in the family has at most 3 elements and each element appears at most a constant number of times. In contrast, for families of intervals of integers, we provide a polynomial time algorithm for the problem.


OBJECTIVE
Older women are at particular risk of osteoporosis. Among women with osteoporosis, fractures of the vertebra (vertebral fracture) are common, hard to detect and associated with risk of further fracture. Identifying vertebral fracture in a timely manner allows instigation of preventive measures to reduce the risk of further fracture. Although detection of vertebral fracture requires spinal radiograph, many women do not receive referral. To begin development of a screening tool to identify women in need of referral we undertook a qualitative study to characterize women's experiences of vertebral fracture, using Eccleston's 'Ten Neglected Bodily Senses'.

METHODS
Four qualitative focus groups were conducted with women who had been diagnosed with vertebral fracture (n = 19, age 60-91 years). Data were audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed thematically using the 'Ten Neglected Bodily Senses'.

RESULTS
Women's experiences of vertebral fractures related to seven senses: pain, movement, fatigue, balance, pressure, appetite and breathing. Pain was the dominant sense and all participants explained how pain increased with activity, reaching a crescendo, and described strategies to minimize this disruption. Most participants had become physically shorter, making some feel 'squashed', putting pressure on other body parts. Some described appetite loss or a sense of restricted breathing. Participants experienced a sense of being 'pulled' forwards, impacting on balance and exacerbating fear of falling.

CONCLUSION
The study found senses that have not been previously described in the experiences of women with vertebral fracture. These will be used to inform the design of a new screening tool for use in primary care.


The application of vascularized omental graft for the treatment of four patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease is presented. The superficial temporal artery and vein were used as recipient vessels, and vascular anastomosis was applied in an end‐to‐end fashion. The distal parts of the omentum were exteriorized as monitoring segments for about 1 week. Angiography and cerebral blood flow (CBF) studies were performed in all patients postoperatively. There were no major complications, and all patients showed increases of CBF and apparent clinical improvement. It is suggested that this method is effective in selected patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


The genome of the Lyme disease pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi strain B31 MI includes one linear chromosome, 10 circular and 12 linear plasmids. Members of four paralogous gene families, revealed by genome sequencing, have been suggested as replication/partition functions for both the linear and circular plasmids. Some of these genes have been experimentally shown to be essential for the replication of the B. burgdorferi replicons that encode them. In this study, we located the region essential for replication of lp17, the second smallest linear plasmid in B. burgdorferi. We used a novel in vivo method, targeted deletion walking, to systematically delete DNA from either the left or right end of lp17. We report that the region essential for replication of lp17 is 1.8 kb (bp 7946–9766) and contains only one intact open reading frame (BBD14). Expression of BBD14 is required for the replication, suggesting that it is the replication initiator for lp17. The BBD14 protein is a member of paralogous family (PF) 62 and we present the first experimental evidence for the role of a PF 62 member. Adjacent non‐coding sequences are also required, suggesting that the origin lies at least partially outside the coding region. Surprisingly, deletion of BBD21, the ParA orthologue (PF 32), had little effect upon plasmid stability or incompatibility. Finally, data are presented suggesting that lp17 replication occurs preferentially on a linear rather than a circular DNA molecule.


The electrochemical reduction of N2 to NH3 under ambient conditions is a promising N2 fixation method, which provides a new technical solution to remedy the limitations of the Haber–Bosch process. Defect engineering is considered an inspiring strategy for strong N2 activation. Herein, we demonstrate the reduction of N2 on dopant-free defect graphene, which was prepared via the molten salt method. Systematic experiments and density functional theory calculation revealed that the defect sites are the unique active sites for nitrogen adsorption and activation. The phenomenon of N incorporation into graphene using the product NH3 from the NRR as the N source has never been reported before. This was thoroughly studied in this study, and thus serves as a unique perspective to illustrate the significance of defect sites in activating N2.


The paper addresses a new defect detection method that uses independent component analysis (ICA) for locating and also partially identifying defects in textile fabric images. The method is based on obtaining ICA basis vectors for a large number of textile images obtained from the same fabric. Feature vectors are computed for the test images and these are compared with the true feature vector predetermined from a defect-free image. The proposed method is shown to be invariant under rotation. Experimental results are also presented to demonstrate the use of this method for visual inspection of textile products obtained from a real factory environment.


Although approximately half of all metastatic colorectal cancers (mCRCs) harbour mutations in KRAS or NRAS, hardly any progress has been made regarding targeted treatment for this group over the last few years. Here, we investigated the efficacy of vertical inhibition of the RAS‐pathway by targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) in patient‐derived xenograft (PDX) tumours with primary KRAS mutation. In total, 19 different PDX models comprising 127 tumours were tested. Responses were evaluated according to baseline tumour volume changes and graded as partial response (PR; ≤ − 30%), stable disease (SD; between −30% and +20%) or progressive disease (PD; ≥ + 20%). Vertical inhibition with trametinib and cetuximab induced SD or PR in 74% of analysed models, compared to 24% by monotherapy with trametinib. In cases of PR by vertical inhibition (47%), responses were lasting (as long as day 137), with a low incidence of secondary resistance (SR). Molecular analyses revealed that primary and SR was driven by transcriptional reprogramming activating the RAS pathway in a substantial fraction of tumours. Together, these preclinical data strongly support the translation of this combination therapy into clinical trials for CRC patients.


This study compares the deposition behavior of kinetic sprayed bronze-diamond composite coatings produced using different mixtures of helium and nitrogen gas. To determine impact properties of the diamond particles, bare and nickel-coated diamonds are deposited on bronze layers and the effects of plastic deformation are examined using SEM and finite-element analysis. The results indicate that the deposition efficiency of diamond is determined by several factors and depends more on the angle and shape of the diamond particles than on the deformation properties of the bronze matrix.


Abstract Unlike conventional forensics, digital forensics does not at present generally quantify the results of its investigations. It is suggested that digital forensics should aim to catch up with other forensic disciplines by using Bayesian and other numerical methodologies to quantify its investigations' results. Assessing the plausibility of alternative hypotheses (or propositions, or claims) which explain how recovered digital evidence came to exist on a device could assist both the prosecution and the defence sides in criminal proceedings: helping the prosecution to decide whether to proceed to trial and helping defence lawyers to advise a defendant how to plead. This paper reviews some numerical approaches to the goal of quantifying the relative weights of individual items of digital evidence and the plausibility of hypotheses based on that evidence. The potential advantages enabling the construction of cost-effective digital forensic triage schemas are also outlined. Key points The absence of quantified results from digital forensic investigations, unlike those of conventional forensics, is highlighted. A number of approaches towards quantitative evaluation of the results of digital forensic investigations are reviewed. The significant potential benefits accruing from such approaches are discussed.


We report a facile approach to preparing binary mixed polymer brushes and free-standing films by combining the layer-by-layer and surface-initiated polymerization (LbL-SIP) techniques. Specifically, the grafting of mixed polymer brushes of poly(n-isopropylacrylamide) and polystyrene (pNIPAM-pSt) onto LbL-macroinitiator-modified planar substrates is described. Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and free radical polymerization (FRP) techniques were employed for the syntheses of pNIPAM and pSt, respectively, yielding pNIPAM-pSt mixed polymer brushes. The composition of the two polymers was controlled by varying the number of macroinitiator layers deposited on the substrate (i.e., LbL layers = 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20); consequently, mixed brushes of different thicknesses and composition ratios were obtained. Moreover, the switching behavior of the LbL-mixed brush films as a function of solvent and temperature was demonstrated and evaluated by water contact angle and atomic force microscopy (AFM) experiments. It was found that both the solvent and temperature stimuli responses were a function of the mixed brush composition and thickness ratio where the dominant component played a larger role in the response behavior. Furthermore, the ability to obtain free-standing films was exploited. The LbL technique provided the macroinitiator density variation necessary for the preparation of stable free-standing mixed brush films. Specifically, the free-standing films exhibited the rigidity to withstand changes in the solvent and temperature environment and at the same time were flexible enough to respond accordingly to external stimuli.


According to American gilded-age reformers like Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Superintendent Edwin G. Cooley (1857-1923), American civilization was headed for collapse in 1909. 1 Cooley's solution was to administrate the CPS according to principles of science and efficiency. Cooley eventually resigned, however, because of struggles over his administrative approach ("Expect Cooley," 1909). In that same year the noted author Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914) 2 compiled a collection of his short stories to mark the close of his literary career. In this collection appeared a short story, "Moxon's Master," which first appeared in 1893. It was a tale about a reclusive student of science named Moxon. A narrator in conversation with Moxon, who speculated on the nature of life and the presence of it in all matter, tells most of the short story. Later, the narrator found Moxon playing chess with a robot in his machine shop. When Moxon achieved checkmate, the robot lost control and murdered his opponent, and the building burnt down. The narrator awakened in the hospital pondering if it all was real, or not (Bierce, 1893/2014).These two men - Cooley and Moxon - both worked with systems of artificial intelligence and imposed them upon their subjects - Cooley's public school students and Moxon's robot - making them creatures of science. Cooley and other educators like him were out to ward off social collapse with a system wherein students were tested and sorted according to their mental capacity. Based on these mental tests, students considered less intelligent were placed in technical classes, while those considered advanced went to professional and academic classes (Wrigley, 1982). With everyone in their "place" social order would be restored. Bierce was known for his ability to manipulate the epistemological elements of time and space (Grenander, 1997) and in this article; Bierce's short story becomes an epistemological lens through which I treat historian Julia Wrigley's (1982) account of Cooley's educational bureaucracy, with tropes found in Bierce's science fiction.Conversely, both Cooley and Moxon did not maintain control over intelligence. Cooley, in fact, encountered resistance to his reforms from mid-level superintendents, building principals, teachers, and organized labor (Rousmaniere 2007; Wrigley, 1982). This narrative also attempts to reveal parallels in Cooley's bureaucracy in relation art education in Chicago, in what I term the science fiction of intelligence. This narrative speaks to the theme of this volume of the Journal of Social Theory in Art Education: students' growth, learning, and assessment, which become acts of assessination - as barriers and limitationsThe Machine and Science Fiction of IntelligenceThe World English Dictionary defines the term "machine" in two ways - First, as an "an organized body of people that controls activities, policies, etc." (Machine, 2014, para. 8), as found in the CPS and its bureaucracy. The second definition is "an assembly of interconnected components arranged to transmit or modify force in order to perform useful work" (Machine, 2014, para. 1). Moxon gave a similar definition of a machine: "Any instrument or organization by which power is applied and made effective, or a desired effect produced" (Bierce, 1893/2014, para. 4). In fact he declares, "I do believe a machine thinks about the work it is doing" (para. 6). Cooley's test-driven efficiency was precisely such a bureaucratic machine that "thought" - it differentiated and sorted students according to their intelligence levels and then tracked them into art and industrial classes. Moxon's discussion of machines that "think," in robots programmed and automated for specific tasks, parallels the narrow focus of Cooley's technical high schools, where students learned to think in rhythm with factory machines (Bierce, 1893/2014; Callahan, 1962). Testing students' abilities to do tasks and programming a robot to also do tasks are arguably two ways to create forms of intelligence and they are both overlapping fictional representations of mental activity and constitute a science fiction of intelligence. …


To verify the quality and accuracy of Phobos-2 Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (ISM) spectra of Mars, we have performed comparisons with telescopic data obtained contemporaneously and which have spatial and spectral overlap with the ISM measurements. We find general agreement between the independently-calibrated data sets in terms of spectral shape and absorption band strength and position in the 0.77 to 0.93 micron overlap region. The telescopic data were scaled to the ISM reflectance values in this overlap region to yield new bright and dark region composite reflectance spectra from 0.40 to 3.14 microns. We ascribe the increase in band depth and overall spectral heterogeneity of the ISM data relative to previous telescopic observations to the more than order of magnitude increase in spatial resolution achieved by ISM from Martian orbit. Further increases in spatial resolution from future orbital imaging spectroscopic instruments can be expected to reveal even greater degrees of compositional and mineralogic diversity on Mars.


Cytogenetic end-points used to estimate risk of genotoxic events in workers include the measurement of micronuclei (MN) in exfoliated cells, lymphocytes, and other tissues. Micronuclei are chromatin-containing bodies outside the cell nucleus resulting from contaminant-induced DNA damage. A review of 71 reports of human genotoxic responses to chemical or physical agents published between 1999 and 2001 revealed that 14% of such studies measured genotoxicity endpoints in specific target tissues relevant to the site of disease for the agent examined; 18% used endpoints in surrogate or non-target tissues but considered the relations between endpoints in surrogate and disease target tissues, and 68% measured genotoxicity endpoints in accessible tissues without reference to specific targets for disease. Methylenebis-(2-chloroaniline) (MOCA), used in polyurethane manufacture, is a suspected bladder carcinogen. Bitumen, used in road surfacing, contains skin and lung carcinogens. In this study, we aimed to compare genotoxicity in urothelial cells and in lymphocytes of workers exposed to these materials. Twelve men employed in polyurethane manufacture, twelve bitumen road layers, and eighteen hospital stores personnel (controls) were recruited and all provided blood and urine samples on the same day. Blood cultures were prepared using a cytochalasin B-block method. Exfoliated urothelial cells were collected from urine and stained for light microscopy. The number of MN in urothelial cells was higher in MOCA-exposed (14.27 +/- 0.56 MN/1000, 9.69 +/- 0.32 MN cells/1000) than in bitumen exposed workers (11.99 +/- 0.65 MN/1000, 8.66 +/- 0.46 MN cells/1000) or in control subjects (6.88 +/- 0.18 MN/1000, 5.17 +/- 0.11 MN cells/1000). Conversely, in lymphocytes, MN were higher in bitumen-exposed (16.24 +/- 0.63 MN/1000, 10.65 +/- 0.24 MN cells/1000) than in MOCA-exposed workers (13.25 +/- 0.48 MN/1000, 8.54 +/- 0.14 MN cells/1000) or in control subjects (9.24 +/- 0.29 MN/ 1000, 5.93 +/- 0.13 MN cells/1000). The results of this study suggest that genotoxins can cause different rates of micronuclei formation in different tissues. Thus, the sensitivity and relevance to cancer risk may be greater if the tissues selected for genotoxicity studies reflect the target tissue for the chemicals concerned.


A lecturer at a university has the obligation to perform tri dharma college. One of the tri dharma is research. Research activities is a very important thing to be managed properly. Good management can improve the quality of the lecturer career that will have an impact on the quality of STMIK STIKOM Indonesia (STIKI) as an educational institution. This research has been through various stages, ranging from business process analysis, design until the implementation of the system. Based on the analysis of business processes in the current system found various problems. The main problem is on the process of research recapitulation. The running of manual system could be caused human error and generated inaccurate information and not real time. The system is designed using a structured design models starting from document flow diagrams, system flow diagrams, data flow diagrams until the entity relationship diagram. The bulit system has ranging features from master data management, management of research proposals until the management of the research report. All of these management processes have been designed to run systematically that could be minimized the error rate due to human error.


An infusion of 2-hydroxyestrone given to estrogen primed post-menopausal women resulted in a rapid and total suppression of serum prolactin. Serum LH responded with an initial rise followed by a 30% decrease below baseline values. Serum FSH exhibited a significant suppression below preinfusion levels. The catechol estrogen had no effect on serum LH, FSH and PRL in post-menopausal women who were not pretreated with estrogens. This impact of 2-hydroxyestrone on pituitary hormone secretion provides for the physiological role of this non-uterotropic estrogen in the neuroendocrine mechanisms of the human.


BackgroundElevated C-reactive protein (CRP) serum levels, an exquisitely sensitive objective marker of inflammation, relate to long-term prognosis in patients with coronary artery disease and in apparently healthy men. Because abnormalities of endothelial regulation of vascular function may contribute to the occurrence of coronary events, we tested the hypothesis that elevated CRP levels are associated with an abnormal systemic endothelial vascular reactivity. Methods and ResultsEndothelium-dependent (10 to 50 &mgr;g/min acetylcholine) and endothelium-independent (2 to 8 &mgr;g/min sodium nitroprusside) forearm blood flow responses were measured with venous occlusion plethysmography in 60 male patients with angiographically documented coronary artery disease. Forearm blood flow responses to acetylcholine were inversely correlated with CRP serum levels (r =−0.46, P =0.001). With multivariate analysis that included the classic risk factors for coronary artery disease, elevated CRP serum level remained a statistically significant independent predictor of a blunted endothelial vasodilator capacity. Most important, normalization of elevated CRP levels over time was associated with a normalization of endothelium-mediated forearm blood flow responses after 3 months. ConclusionsThus, elevated CRP serum levels indicative of a systemic inflammatory response are associated with a blunted systemic endothelial vasodilator function. The identification of elevated CRP levels as a transient independent risk factor for endothelial dysfunction might provide an important clue to link a systemic marker of inflammation to atherosclerotic disease progression.


Technological improvements and access provide a fertile scenario for the creation and development of mobile applications. This scenario of intense production of new software for mobile devices results in a myriad of apps providing information about almost all the cultural segments, including those dedicated to UNESCO World Heritage Sites (WHS). However, not all of the apps have the same efficiency. In order to have a successful app, its development must consider usability aspects aligned with reliable content. Despite the guidelines for mobile usability being broadly available, they are generic, and none of them concentrates specifically in cultural heritage. This article aims to fulfil this literature gap and discusses how to develop specific guidelines for a better WHS experience. It uses an empirical approach applied to an open-air WHS city: Weimar and its Bauhaus and Classical Weimar sites. To build the guidelines, this research compared literature-based guidelines to industry-based ones, extracted from a vast compendium of available apps dedicated to WHS. The instructions compiled from both sources have been comparatively tested by using two built prototypes from the distinctive guidelines.


Although the reign of Mary i (1553–8) was a tumultuous and eventful one, for over four hundred years there was little debate about it or about the queen's efforts to restore Catholicism to England. The reign was almost universally perceived as poor, nasty, brutish and short-lived and the restoration of Catholicism was believed to have been doomed to failure, both because the burning of heretics offended English sensibilities and because Protestantism was already so deeply embedded in England that it could not be uprooted. Yet towards the end of the twentieth century, the tectonic plates of historical research began to shift and the resulting tremors altered the historiographical landscape of Mary's reign, and indeed of the English Reformation.


The authors describe and analyze a flexible, robust, multichannel TDMA (time division multiple access) radio communications system that is ideally suited for portable as well as mobile indoor use. It uses noncoherent signalling and incorporates slow cyclical frequency hopping and burst-error-correcting coding to provide low-error communications at aggregate rates of several Mb/s without the need for antenna diversity or adaptive equalization. The system can be implemented in a small building with a centrally located antenna or in a large building with a distributed antenna system. The authors concentrate on the problem of communicating within one cell of a building.<<ETX>>


Foliar shade triggers rapid growth of specific structures that facilitate access of the plant to direct sunlight. In leaves of many plant species, this growth response is complex because, although shade triggers the elongation of petioles, it reduces the growth of the lamina. How the same external cue leads to these contrasting growth responses in different parts of the leaf is not understood. Using mutant analysis, pharmacological treatment and gene expression analyses, we investigated the role of PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTOR7 (PIF7) and the growth-promoting hormone auxin in these contrasting leaf growth responses. Both petiole elongation and lamina growth reduction are dependent on PIF7. The induction of auxin production is both necessary and sufficient to induce opposite growth responses in petioles vs lamina. However, these contrasting growth responses are not caused by different auxin concentrations in the two leaf parts. Our work suggests that a transient increase in auxin levels triggers tissue-specific growth responses in different leaf parts. We provide evidence suggesting that this may be caused by the different sensitivity to auxin in the petiole vs the blade and by tissue-specific gene expression.


BACKGROUND
The purpose was to examine student performance in a clinical setting after an extra-curricular student experiential learning experience.

METHODS
Ten Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) Doctor of Physical Therapy students participated in performing strength and conditioning services during the second year of the professional education program. Clinical instructor comments were evaluated from the midterm assessment. Data were collected over 3 years for this study.

RESULTS
The main themes that emerged from clinical instructors' comments were that students demonstrated good communication skills, including managing challenging conversations with colleagues, patients, and other professionals; effective interprofessional interactions and teamwork; attention to movement analysis; and empathy when working with a diverse group of patients. The majority of clinical instructors reported that students exceeded expectations for performance.

CONCLUSION
The experiential learning opportunity of performing strength and conditioning training may foster the development of professional and clinical skills, such as interprofessional collaborations and managing challenging conversations with a broad range of individuals, as is required in clinical practice.


To improve the membrane, if CoAlPO4-5 was appropriately added, it could increase the rejection rate of metal ions compared with the PSf membrane. Besides, penetration rate would also increase, and the pressure applied could be lowered when the improved membrane was used. The optimum amount of CoAlPO4-5 added for Co : Al : P = 0.1 : 0.92 : 1.0 is about 5 wt %, while for the Co : Al : P = 0.08 : 0.93 : 1.0, this optimum value would shift toward a higher wt % because the latter has less active sites per unit weight of CoAlPO4-5. The hydrated radius of metal ion had great influence on the rejection rate. The larger the radius, for example, that of the +3 valence cations, the higher the rejection rate would exhibit, and the rate for Cd2+ was much lower because its radius was the smallest one. Moreover, although incompatibility existed in the improved membrane and the variation of applied pressure was limited, durability of this membrane under the operating conditions was good. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 80: 2768–2773, 2001


BACKGROUND
Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) frequently experience poor postural control affecting mobility and/or cognitive impairment, even in the early stages of the disease. As postural control consumes attentional resources, it is essential to test stability during a cognitive task.

AIM
To assess postural control and determine the effect of a cognitive task on balance in patients with a clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) suggestive of MS, within 3 months from onset.

DESIGN
Observational case control study

SETTING
Multiple Sclerosis Center and Institute of Motor Functions, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel

POPULATION
Fifty-two CIS patients, aged 35.2±1.3 years, disease duration of 54±6.2 days and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) of 1.7±0.2, participated in the study. The control group consisted of 28 age and gender matched healthy subjects.

METHODS
Stability was evaluated by the quantifying movement of the center of pressure (CoP) during standing under three conditions: eyes open, eyes closed, and while performing the modified Stroop test. Sway rate and CoP data was collected by a computerized force platform device.

RESULTS
After combining major postural control parameters, only 50% of the patients performed normally. Differences in postural variables were found between patients and healthy subjects (P<0.01). Both sway rate and standard deviation of the CoP in all test conditions were significantly higher in patients compared to controls. The cognitive task resulted in an elevated sway rate both in CIS patients and the control group when compared with the eyes open task. Within 3 months of the onset of neurological symptomatology, postural instability was detected in 50% of CIS patients using a dedicated balance measurement device.

CONCLUSION
As these findings are associated with the very early phase of MS, it appears that the ongoing pathological disease process is already taking place with regard to the balance control system.

CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT
Identification of postural abnormalities in the early stages is important in order to establish proper intervention programs.