OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the diagnostic performance of MRI for the assessment of inferior vena cava (IVC) wall invasion by IVC thrombus in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

METHODS
We retrospectively collected patients who underwent radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy for RCC between 2010 and 2018 at Peking University First Hospital. All the patients underwent imaging on a 1.5 Tesla or 3.0 Tesla MRI scanner. Fifty-six patients met the inclusion criteria. Preoperative imaging was reviewed by two radiologists blinded to details of the patient's surgical procedure and histopathology. Two radiologists measured the maximum anterior-posterior diameter and coronal diameters of the IVC and renal vein, and the craniocaudal extent of tumor thrombus, and evaluated the MRI features of IVC thrombus, including occlusion of the IVC lumen, the margin of the tumor thrombus (smooth vs. irregular), contact of the IVC thrombus and IVC wall, and altered signal of the IVC wall. Univariable and multivariable associations of clinical and radiographic features with IVC wall invasion were evaluated by Logistic regression.

RESULTS
Of the 56 patients [male: 43, female: 13, mean age: (55.64±0.43) years], 17 (30.36%) were detected with IVC wall invasion, and most were clear cell carcinoma. Tumor thrombus with IVC wall invasion showed an increase in length of IVC thrombus [(7.91±3.59) cm vs. (5.94±3.57) cm, P=0.049], and more features of complete occlusion of the IVC lumen (P=0.002), irregular margin of the IVC thrombs (P=0.005), contact of the IVC thrombus and IVC wall (P=0.001), and altered signal of the low-intensity vessel wall (P<0.001), with a sensitivity of 94.12% and a specificity of 79.49%.

CONCLUSION
The present study indicates that MRI could be a means of evaluating RCC with IVC wall invasion, and the combination of tumor thrombus length and subjective impression of IVC wall invasion achieved a high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis.


A retrospective study of a large series of patients (5,100 cases of radiologically confirmed rhino-sinusitis) was carried out to assess the efficacy of traditional radiology in the diagnosis of chronic sinusitis and the specific role of more recent imaging techniques. Traditional radiography, often limited to the naso-occipital projection (lack of collaboration), allows a reliable examination only of maxillary sinus. "Typical" findings of chronic sinusitis have been identified as "polipoid" thickening of the mucous membrane and localised parietal opacity. Both maxillary sinuses are involved in approximately 91% of cases, with ethmoidal involvement in 53%. Thickened mucosal walls and retention cysts may be obscured by inflammatory exudate: the air space is reduced and the sinus appears cloudy or opaque (acute reinflammation). The overall frequency of chronic sinusitis is 11.1% (67% in the 8-14 age range, 29% in the 5-8 age range and 4% in the 2-5 age range). Complications are rare (4 cases). Whereas echotomography provides limited and inconstant findings, CT and MRI are indicated in case of isolated opacity of a maxillary sinus, persistent after treatment: the former allows a detailed study of the bone, the latter enables to obtain a better tissue characterization. MRI often allows the differential diagnosis between inflammatory diseases and malignant tumors.


The efficacy of video self-modeling (VSM) to improve reading fluency for English language learners (ELLs) is explored. A review of the literature demonstrates the success of VSM in improving non-ELL students' fluency. Preliminary research with culturally and linguistically diverse students implies that the intervention can be equally effective with these populations. A brief review of second-language acquisition reveals the ways in which VSM complements the needs of ELLs at various stages of acquisition. Special considerations for educators of ELLs are also included. Continued research is necessary to establish VSM as an effective research-based method for ELLs, but the existing evidence base demonstrates the potential success of the intervention. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


Based on good processing property of two-dimentional ultrasonic vibration assisted grinding (TUVAG), phase transformation in the grinding surface of nanozirconia toughened alumina ceramics (ZTA ceramics) is studied by XRD analysis. Experimental results show different processing method and grinding depth may lead to surface phase transformation of ZTA ceramics. Under the same grinding parameters, phase transformation ratio of grinding surface under TUVAG is higher than that under diamond grinding (DG), and its phase transformation ratio increases with the increasing of grinding depth. Phase transformation ratio can effectively inhibit generation and expansion of microcracks of grinding surface.


The purpose of this study is to develop the algorithm which can control muscle power assist robot especially for elderly. Recently, wearable robots for power assistance are developed by many researchers, and its application fields are also variable such as for medical or military equipment. However, there are many technical barriers to develop the wearable robot. This study suggest a control method improving performance of a wearable robot system by using a EMG signal of major muscles and a force sensor signal as command signal of system. The result of the robot Prototype efficiency experiment, the case of Maximum Isometric motion it suggest 100% power of muscle, the man need only 66% of MVIC(Maximum Voluntary Isometric Contraction) to lift 5㎏ dumbbell without robot assist. However the man needs only 52% of MVIC to lift 5㎏ dumbbell with robot assist. Therefore 20% muscle power increased with robot assist. Also, we designed light weight robot mechanism that extract the command signal verified and drive the wanted motions.


Seventy-three patients who had incisional hernia repair at two hospitals, a government and a private, from 2000 to 2005 were reviewed. Fifty-nine (80.8%) patients were females and 52 (71.2%) patients were Saudi. Five (6.8%) patients had minor complications. Twenty-four (32.9%) patients had polypropylene mesh while 49 (67.1%) patients had vypro mesh, both types where fixed intraperitoneally using absorbable vicryl 2/0 interrupted suture. No differences in complications, duration of surgery, or hospital stay between patients using either vypro or prolene mesh. Intraperitoneal mesh placement of incisional hernia is safe on short and long term follow-up. Vypro mesh compares favorably with prolene mesh. The authors encountered no enterocutaneous fistula and experienced only 2 (2.7%) recurrences over one year.


Abstract There is a tendency in the Catholic theological tradition to attribute to apophaticism a status superior to the via affirmationis. There are good reasons to offer a critique of this tendency, if only to raise once again the issue of theological rhetoric, especially as it makes use of metaphor and paradox. To make the point, the present essay then proceeds to exemplify the affirmation-negation dynamic of the Profession of Faith in an expansive, poetical version of the Creed of the Great Tradition. Ambrose's classical hymn Te Deum has functioned as a model for the piece. And who knows if this attempt might help restore the theology of the Blessed Trinity to the classrooms of Catholic colleges, from which it has virtually disappeared, often under cover of apophaticism or (worse) ethics?


This paper deals with a study of some 300 cases delivered with the vacuum extractor compared with a similar number delivered with forceps. Foetal distress was the indication in 22.3% of the vacuum-extractor cases and 29.6% of the forceps cases, the difference not being significant. In 10 cases foetal distress increased during traction with the vacuum extractor partly because of absolute or relative shortness of the cord, and, in these delivery was completed with the forceps. In our experience this change of instrument would appear to have been unnecessary. Much has been made of the slow action of the vacuum extractor, but in the series quoted the duration of extraction was less than five minutes in more than half of the cases, and in only four did it reach 20 minutes. The results show that in the vacuum extractor series five babies in 300 died. In two of these intracranial haemorrhage was the cause and in both instances traction was prolonged beyond 20 minutes. In the forceps series seven infants died and in four of these cerebral haemorrhage and tentorial lacerations were found. There was evidence of central nervous system damage in 1% of the vacuum-extractor series and 1.3% of the forceps series. The frequency of cephalhaematoma and scalp laceration was the same in both groups, and 95% of these cleared up within five days. In the forceps series there were four facial palsies and one fractured skull. No similar lesions were found in the vacuumextractor group.


PURPOSE
Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) in patients with extensive-disease small-cell lung cancer (ED-SCLC) leads to significantly fewer symptomatic brain metastases and improved survival. Detailed effects of PCI on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) are reported here.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
Patients (age, 18 to 75 years; WHO < or = 2) with ED-SCLC, and any response to chemotherapy, were randomly assigned to either observation or PCI. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and patient-reported symptoms were secondary end points. The European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer core HRQOL tool (Quality of Life Questionnaire C30) and brain module (Quality of Life Questionnaire Brain Cancer Module) were used to collect self-reported patient data. Six HRQOL scales were selected as primary HRQOL end points: global health status; hair loss; fatigue; and role, cognitive and emotional functioning. Assessments were performed at random assignment, 6 weeks, 3 months, and then 3-monthly up to 1 year and 6-monthly thereafter.

RESULTS
Compliance with the HRQOL assessment was 93.7% at baseline and dropped to 60% at 6 weeks. Short-term results up to 3 months showed that there was a negative impact of PCI on selected HRQOL scales. The largest mean difference between the two arms was observed for fatigue and hair loss. The impact of PCI on global health status as well as on functioning scores was more limited. For global health status, the observed mean difference was eight points on a scale 0 to 100 at 6 weeks (P = .018) and 3 months (P = .055).

CONCLUSION
PCI should be offered to all responding ED SCLC patients. Patients should be informed of the potential adverse effects from PCI. Clinicians should be alert to these; monitor their patients; and offer appropriate support, clinical, and psychosocial care.


In recent years cottonseed size has been reduced as a result of the substantial fiber yield increases cotton breeders have made. Small cottonseed size has been associated with reduced germination, low seedling vigor and stand establishment, and has created production problems for downstream whole seed users. The potential loss in revenue to the cotton industry due to small seed size is substantial and has prompted a renewed effort by breeders to generate high-yielding, high-quality varieties with increased seed size. To aid these efforts and enable a better understanding of the effects of seed characteristics on fiber, a fuzzy-seed imaging method was developed. The method utilizes inexpensive, off-the-shelf equipment and an open source image processing pipeline to derive the number of seeds, seed index, and seed area, height, width, and perimeter. The time to image the seed and process the image takes less than three minutes per sample on average. The seed counts and seed index were strongly correlated with manual measurements at r = 0.967 and 0.693, respectively. Associations among seed characteristics and fiber indicate seed area, when used to calculate lint density, could be a useful selection criterion for breeders to increase both yield and seed size.


Resource pools are collections of computational resources which can be shared by different applications. The goal with that is to accommodate the workload of each application, by splitting the total amount of resources in the pool among them. In this sense, utility functions have been pointed as the main tool for enabling self-optimizing behaviour in such pools. The goal with that is to allow resources from the pool to be split among applications, in a way that the best outcome is obtained. Whereas different solutions in this context exist, it has been found that none of them tackles the problem we deal with in a total decentralized way. In this paper, we then present a decentralized utility maximization approach for adaptive and optimal management of shared resource pools.


The influence of Montreal Protocol legislation accepted by Polish Authority (in 2002) on concentration halogenated compounds (CFCs) in the atmosphere was observed. We present measurements made on atmospheric concentrations of seven halogenated compounds (freons F-11, F-12, F-113, chloroform, 1,1,1trichloroethane, carbon tetrachloride, and sulphur hexafluoride) between 1997 and 2008 from the densely polluted urban area of Kraków. The trend coefficients are calculated for the mean daily data measurements obtained at the Kraków stations (50oN, 20oE) using weighted regression method. The concentration of F-11, chloroform, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, and F-12 has a tendency to decrease, whereas F-113, carbon tetrachloride, and sulphur hexafluoride tend to increase. The results of the trend coefficient calculations expressed in ppt/year are F-11, -3.2; F-113, +0.4; CHCl3, -1.3; CH3CCl3, -3.5; CCl4, +1.9; F-12, -0.6; and SF6, +0.22. The result of the measurements, particularly after 1 July 2002, shows a decrease in concentration of the mentioned compounds. This suggests that the Montreal Protocol limitations of CFC emissions are respected in Central Europe, especially in Poland, where those limitations have been in place since July 2002.


Process mining involves discovering, monitoring, and improving real processes by extracting knowledge from event logs in information systems. Process mining has become an important topic in recent years, as evidenced by a growing number of case studies and commercial tools. Current studies in this area assume that event records are created separately from a conceptual model (CM). Techniques are then used to discover missing processes and conformance with the CM, as well as for checks and enhancements. By contrast, in this paper we focus on modeling events as part of a tight multilevel CM that includes a static description, dynamics, events-log scheme, and monitoring and control system. If there is an out-of-model event log, it is treated as a requirement needed to build or enrich the CM. The motivation for such a unified system is our thesis that process mining is an essential component of a CM with built-in mining capabilities to perform self-process mining and attain completeness. Accordingly, our proposed conceptual model facilitates collecting data generated about itself. The resultant framework emphasizes an integrated representation of systems to include process-mining functionalities. Case studies that start with event logs are recast to evolve around a model-first approach that is not limited to the initial event log. The result presents a framework that achieves the aims of process mining in a more comprehensive way


Nicolaus Cusanus presents a subtle theory of alterity. We will show why Cusanus does not consistently assign humans a position superior to other living beings, even when strong anthropocentric arguments seem to be present. Kazuhiko Yamaki (2017: 280), e.g., has recently pointed out that the attribution of a privileged position to humans in the world already fails logically, because the complicatio-explicatio scheme applies to all creatures. I would like to follow up on Yamaki's argument that Cusanus at this point is rather concerned with describing a specific relationship between God and the creatures or the world. If this argument is extended to the question of humans and animals in Cusanus as a whole, the way in which these relations are to be figured becomes the focus of consideration. Just as Cusanus, in cosmology and anthropology, examines the perspectivity of knowledge and the decentralization of the Earth (as a noble star among other stars) without falling into pure perspectivism or decentralism, so traits of this reflective and (figuratively) 'living' thinking must also apply to the description of the relationship of living beings to one another or in relation to their Creator.


The main purpose of this thesis is to study changes in the level of sex segregation in the Swedish labour market during the 20th century.The thesis includes four empirical chapters. Chapter 2 studies trends in sex segregation by industry and market position in the Swedish labour market between 1890 and 1990. The analyses demonstrate that the Swedish labour market has in overall terms become relatively less sex segregated, both by industry and by market position, since the turn of the century. Chapter 3 focuses on changes in the level of sex segregation in the Swedish labour market since the late 1960s. However, unlike the previous chapter, the data used here is on a more detailed occupational level.Chapter 4 focuses, unlike the above chapters, on the supply side of female labour force participation and allocation. The aim is to examine why young women end up in male-dominated or sex-integrated occupations rather than female-dominated ones with regard to their upbringing, their educational attainment, and family responsibility.Chapter 5 is a comparative analysis of cross-national variation in sex segregation. The results indicate that, given differences in sex composition and occupational structure, the countries studied here produce fairly similar segregation profiles that are markedly structured by gender. The thesis is concluded by a discussion of how to interpret the principal findings in terms of stability or change over time, as well as in terms of similarity and variability between countries


Based on the principle of BP neural networks, the rolling force model is established after thoroughly analyzing and reprocessing the data of 1350 mm aluminium foil mill. It states that the difference between the output of artificial neural networks rolling force model and the real value is in the order of 3 percent. The model reflects the real feature of process.


Background The PI3K pathway is known to regulate the transcription of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) in endothelial and cancer cells. The inhibition of VEGF is the rationale behind the development therapy with anti-angiogenics. We investigated the activation of PI3K pathway, defined as PTEN loss and/or PIK3CA mutations, and the relationship with survival in metastatic breast cancer patients treated with the anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody bevacizumab. Patients and methods : Records for patients with HER2 negative metastatic breast cancer (MBC), treated with bevacizumab from July 2005 to June 2010, and with known PI3K status were reviewed. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed using SPSS 15.0. Results : A total of 40 patients — 26 with and 14 without PI3K activation — were identified. Median age was 47 years (range 27–79). Median overall survival (OS) was 41.23 months (CI 95%: 27.29 — 55.18) and 66.23 months (CI 95%: 61.04 — 71.42) in patients with and without PI3K activation, respectively (p=0.04). Among patients with PI3K activation, OS was 34.13 months (CI 95%: 22.40 — 45.86) and 43.43 months (CI 95%: 26.9 — 59.97) in cases with PIK3CA mutations and PTEN loss, respectively. As compared to patients without PI3K activation, patients with PI3KCA mutations but not patients with PTEN loss showed a significant worse outcome (p=0.006 and p=0.3, respectively). In the multivariate analysis including grade, hormone receptor and Ki67 status, and total lines of treatment, the activation of PI3K activation proved to be an independent prognostic factor (p=0.03). Conclusions : The activation of the PI3K pathway is significantly associated with decreased OS of MBC patients treated with bevacizumab. Prospective evaluation of PI3K activation on VEGF signaling with differential implication of PI3KCA and PTEN loss is warranted. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2011;71(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-13-01.


INTRODUCTION: In the event of decompression using an isobaric differential cockpit pressurization system, oxygen concentration breathed pre-decompression must be greater than required for the given cockpit altitude in order to prevent hypoxia. The model for determining oxygen concentration requirements advanced by Dr. John Ernsting, when graphed against cockpit altitude, creates a hypoxia safety "notch" which has become a standard requirement for aircraft oxygen systems. Although variables in the Ernsting notch model are not fixed, they are often presented as such.METHODS: Model equations are presented to evaluate the effects of different cockpit pressurization, oxygen regulator PBA schedules, and changes to the physiological state of the aircrew.RESULTS: Increased cockpit differential pressure, regulator breathing pressure, and aircrew respiratory quotient decreased pre-decompression oxygen concentration requirements by up to 6%, eliminating the hypoxia safety "notch." Although effects were small, reducing alveolar carbon dioxide pressure decreased oxygen concentration requirements while reducing respiratory quotient increased oxygen concentration requirements. A 10-mmHg increase in the minimal oxygen hypoxia threshold increased the pre-decompression oxygen concentration requirement 8 to 12% depending on cockpit altitude.CONCLUSION: Variation in cockpit and regulator pressure schedules which stray outside the parameters used by Ernsting need to be independently calculated. During flight, an individual's physiological "notch" will be dynamic, wavering in response to changes in metabolic load, respiratory dynamics, and environmental conditions. Consideration of aircrew activity should be factored in when considering minimal oxygen concentration for pre-decompression hypoxia protection in the design of aircrew life support systems.Dart TS, Morse BG. Variations on Ernsting's post-decompression hypoxia prevention model. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2022; 93(2):99-105.


The present study was conducted from 12 Sep.2019 to 10 Nov. 2019 at the Gastroenterology ward, Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar Pakistan, aiming to accurately investigate the Peptic Ulcer Disease state, signs and symptoms, to ensure complete information about drug therapy and patients response. Peptic ulcer disease is defined as an upper gastric mucosal rupture due to acid hat results in the formation of ulcers that extend beyond the muscular mucosa to the submucosa. Peptic ulcer is characterized by abdominal pain, change in appetite, unexplained weight loss, nausea, vomiting, heart burn and dark, tarry stools. Spicy and acidic foods, Stress and restless lifestyle were considered to be the leading causes of peptic ulcer. However the Helicobacter pyloribacterium is responsible for up to 60% stomach ulcers. Frequent use of painkillers, old age, obesity Smoking, excessive alcohol use, too little sleep, type O blood and chronic stress, are the risk factors of peptic ulcers. Acute peptic ulcers results from taking aspirin or anti-inflammatory drugs. Chronic peptic ulcer represents a profound loss of substance. Data from a total of10 patients (6 female and 4 male)of all age, having various peptic ulcer diseases were involved in this study. It was concluded that most of the female patients (60%) were having peptic ulcers as compared to male patient (40%). It was found that 30-40 years old peptic ulcer patient percentage was 20%.Moreover it was observed that frequent use of Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs has been found to be the main causes of peptic ulcers


This paper assesses the impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement on Mexican manufacturing plants' prices and markups. We distinguish between Mexican goods that are exported and those sold domestically, and decompose their prices separately into markups and marginal costs. We then analyze how these components were affected by reductions in Mexican output tariffs, intermediate input tariffs, and U.S. tariffs. We find that declines in these tariffs led to significant reductions in the marginal costs of Mexican products. However, prices of exported goods slightly increased as exporters increased their markups in response to declines in U.S. tariffs.


This LibGuide has been designed specifically for higher degree research students, academics, and researchers to facilitate access to key library and research services.


Coaches teach proper mechanics at a young age in an effort to increase pitching efficiency (i.e., proper pitching mechanics). Unfortunately, the mechanics taught to beginning pitchers are based on the findings from adult pitchers and may result in techniques that are detrimental to younger pitchers. The purpose of this study was to compare kinematics published for pitchers across various ages in an effort to determine whether the pitching techniques vary across developmental periods. A meta-analysis of papers published describing pitching kinematics for youth and adult pitchers was conducted. Maximal rotational velocity of the trunk and maximum external rotation of the shoulder were observed during the arm cocking phase. Peak magnitudes for abduction, horizontal adduction, and shoulder internal rotation were observed during the deceleration phase of the movement. In addition, by comparing previously published data across youth and adult pitchers, valuable insight into the differences in mechanics was gained. The results demonstrated that there are some distinct differences between youth and adult pitching mechanics. This finding may allow increased focus to be applied to those parameters observed to differ across age, increasing the knowledge base available for coaches to properly instruct youth pitchers.


We give several e cient transformations for manipulating the sta tistical di erence variation distance between a pair of probability distribu tions The e ects achieved include increasing the statistical di erence de creasing the statistical di erence polarizing the statistical relationship and reversing the statistical relationship We also show that a boolean formula whose atoms are statements about statistical di erence can be transformed into a single statement about statistical di erence All of these transforma tions can be performed in polynomial time in the sense that given circuits which sample from the input distributions it only takes polynomial time to compute circuits which sample from the output distributions By our prior work see FOCS such transformations for manipulating statistical di erence are closely connected to results about SZK the class of languages possessing statistical zero knowledge proofs In particular some of the transformations given in this paper are equivalent to the closure of SZK under complement and under certain types of Turing reductions This connection is also discussed brie y in this paper


Networks of neurons express persistent spontaneous network activity when maintained in dissociated cultures. Prolonged blockade of the spontaneous activity with tetrodotoxin (TTX) causes the eventual death of the neurons. In this study, we investigated some molecular mechanisms that may underlie the activity‐suppressed slow degeneration of cortical neurons in culture. Already after 3–4 days of exposure to TTX, well before the neurons die, they began to express markers that lead to their eventual death, 7–10 days later. There was a reduction in glutamate receptor (GluR2) expression, a persistent increase in intracellular calcium concentration, activation of calpain, and an increase in spectrin breakdown products. At this point, blockade of GluR2‐lacking GluR1 or calpain (either with a selective antagonist or through the natural regulator of calpain, calpastatin), protected cells from the toxic action of TTX. Subsequently, mitochondria lost their normal elongated shape as well as their membrane potential. Eventually, neurons activated caspase 3 and PUMA (p53 up‐regulated modulator of apoptosis), hallmarks of neuronal apoptosis, and died. These experiments will lead to a better understanding of slow neuronal death, typical of neurodegenerative diseases.


Background Fish oil supplements are administered for treatment of hypertriglyceridemia, frequently in combination with other lipid-lowering agents. Given the presence of overlapping mechanisms of action of N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids with that of other lipid-lowering agents, in particular fibrates, the efficacy of fish oil may be diminished with concomitant administration of other lipid-lowering agents. Objective To determine the efficacy (primarily triglyceride lowering) of fish oil supplements when co-administered with other lipid-lowering agents versus that of fish oil alone. Design/Setting Retrospective chart review. Outpatient clinics of large Gov. HMO (VA, Memphis). Patients Representative population of veterans attending outpatient clinics with active prescription for fish oil supplements at the time of survey, who had lipid profiles prior to and following initiation of fish oil. Results Over 500 individuals receiving fish oil supplements were identified. Of these, 94 individual patients had the required information available and were therefore evaluable for this study. Forty-eight were receiving fish oil alone and 46 had fish oil added to another hypolipidemic agent(s) (statin, fibrate, niacin). The average dose of fish oil administered in both groups was relatively low (3.2 and 3.3 grams per day in fish oil only and fish oil added groups), indicating use of relatively low doses of fish oil in many patients. Despite this, fish oil therapy effectively reduced triglyceride and to an equal extent in the fish oil only and fish oil added groups (228% versus 224% respectively, p = .24). Analysis of triglyceride response by type of lipid-lowering agent administered showed no significant attenuation of fish oil efficacy with concomitant administration of statin, niacin, or fibrate. Limitations A limited number of evaluable cases were identified. The study was not prospective or randomized. A limited effect of other hypolipidemic agents on triglyceride response to fish oil supplements may have gone undetected; however, the present study supports the hypothesis that fish oil supplements are effective when added to other hypolipidemic agents. Conclusions Fish oil supplements effectively reduce plasma triglyceride when administered alone or with concomitant lipid-lowering therapy. Submaximal doses of fish oil supplements are frequently used in this outpatient practice setting, thereby limiting the benefit gained.


The aim of this paper is to analyse the discourse and the practice of the Pedagogy of Competencies in a Business Administration course from a private Higher-Education School in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, in order to identify and indicate the possibilities and challenges demanded by the implementation process taking place when moving from the course pedagogical project to a pedagogical practice. The focus of professional competencies distinguishes four dimensions, which were used as categories of analysis in this paper: identification, normalization, formation and certification/assessment. The project research methodology was qualitative-descriptive, carried out in three different occasions during three years. Data collection was done from the documentation of the course investigated as well as from semi-structured interviews. The research results indicate that, on one hand, there was a discourse to form students' competencies. On the other hand, it was evident that there were some limitations related to such models of students' formation. The conclusion reached has showed that even with indications of some elements of a Pedagogy of Competencies in the course investigated, they did not represent a systematic and articulate guidance given in a global way amongst other elements forming the teaching-learning process proposed by a students' competency-based formation. Finally, we emphasize that this article is justified for its contribution to enhancing the knowledge on the implementation of this model of formation, and therefore to provide a basis for changes in the teaching-learning process as well as to enable actions aiming to overcome the challenges encountered in Business Management courses in relation to students' competency-based formation. Key words: Teaching in Business Administration courses. Competency approach. Teaching-learning process.


Detached eddy simulation (DES) of the liquid-phase turbulent flow in an unbaffled stirred tank agitated by a six-blade, 45°-pitched blade turbine was performed in this study. The tank wall is cylindrical with no baffle and the fluid flow problem was solved in a single reference frame (SRF) rotating with the impeller. For the purpose of comparison, computation based on large eddy simulation (LES) was also carried out. The commercial code Fluent was used for all simulations. Predictions of the phase-averaged turbulent flow quantities and power consumption were conducted. Results obtained by DES were compared with experimental laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV) data from the literature and with the predictions obtained by LES. It was found that numerical results of mean velocity and turbulent kinetic energy profiles as well as the power consumption are in good agreement with the LDV data. When performed on the same computational grid, which is under-resolved in the sense of LES, DES allows better accuracy than LES in that it works better in the boundary layers on the surface of the impeller and the stirred tank walls. It can be concluded that DES has the potential to predict accurately the turbulent flow in stirred tanks and can be used as an effective tool to study the hydrodynamics in stirred tanks.


- This work aims to a development of mechanical properties of PMMA that is utilized in denture material, by using two types of polymers; blends (PMMA:2%NR) and (PMMA:2%SR) as a matrix materials strengthen with natural nanoparticles from the pomegranate peel powder (PPP) that were added at different weight fractions (0.0, 0.1%, 0.3%, 0.5% and 0.7%). Two groups of bio nanocomposites specimens were prepared, using (Hand Lay-Up) method. Experimental tests were carried out on surface roughness, hardness and wear rate as well as analyzing of FTIR test. The minimum values of surface roughness and wear rate were reached 1.51 nm and 0.317 × 10 -8 g/cm respectively for polymer blend nanocomposite ((PMMA:2%NR): 0.7% PPP). Whereas, the maximum value of Shore D hardness reached 90 for the same sample of nanocomposites. According to these results, it can be a concluded that the addition of Nano pomegranate powder and natural rubber can develop the mechanical properties of PMMA material used in medical applications.


The red patch located on the propodus of Cherax quadricarinatus males is a sexually dimorphic structure. This patch presents an enigma because it is soft and uncalcified, consisting of a thin red to whitish-orange membrane. It presents an impairment of the fighting capability of the males, which, like many other clawed crustaceans, use these appendages in intra- and interspecific aggressive interactions. Present knowledge on patch structure and colour, development and their endocrine control by the androgenic gland is reviewed. The function of the red patch as a possible sensory organ or social signal is discussed. The red patch may transmit information concerning the gender, size and quality of its owner. Several hypotheses concerning the signal function of the patch are suggested and evaluated in the light of our present knowledge of the social behaviour of C. quadicarinatus .


(0.965 − x)(K₀.₄₈Na₀.₅₂)NbO₃–xBiGaO₃–0.035(Bi₀.₅Na₀.₅)ZrO₃ [(0.965 − x)KNN–xBG–BNZ] lead-free piezoelectric ceramics were prepared using normal sintering for improving the piezoelectric properties and temperature stability of KNN-based ceramics. The effects of the BiGaO₃ (BG) content on their phase structure, microstructure, and piezoelectric properties were investigated. Orthorhombic–tetragonal phase coexistence has been found in the ceramics with the composition range of 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.001, and the coexistence of rhombohedral, orthorhombic and tetragonal phases at room temperature was obtained with 0.002 ≤ x ≤ 0.006. Then enhanced piezoelectric properties and a high Curie temperature (e.g., d₃₃ = 312 pC N⁻¹, kₚ ∼ 44%, and TC ∼ 341 °C) were observed. All the results show this system of potassium–sodium niobate-based ceramics demonstrates promising potential in practical applications.


End-to-end (E2E) models have made rapid progress in automatic speech recognition (ASR) and perform competitively relative to conventional models. To further improve the quality, a two-pass model has been proposed to rescore streamed hypotheses using the non-streaming Listen, Attend and Spell (LAS) model while maintaining a reasonable latency. The model attends to acoustics to rescore hypotheses, as opposed to a class of neural correction models that use only first-pass text hypotheses. In this work, we propose to attend to both acoustics and first-pass hypotheses using a deliberation network. A bidirectional encoder is used to extract context information from first-pass hypotheses. The proposed deliberation model achieves 12% relative WER reduction compared to LAS rescoring in Google Voice Search (VS) tasks, and 23% reduction on a proper noun test set. Compared to a large conventional model, our best model performs 21% relatively better for VS. In terms of computational complexity, the deliberation decoder has a larger size than the LAS decoder, and hence requires more computations in second-pass decoding.


The phenomenal growth in the adoption of mobile cellular devices in the developing world has open the opportunity to develop a global platform for connected learning - a software and data infrastructure that will serve as the foundation for the many systems that we build to realize the idea of equal access to educational services. In this paper, we argue that the most challenging factor for the deployment of this platform is the development and implementation of an engineering standard specification grounded in new learning theories and principles. We propose the IEEE ADBook that has the potential to become the first truly global framework for connected learning supporting inclusive education in developing countries.


People are constantly exposed to various toxic substances, for instance toxins related to recent food scandals or cigarette smoke. In early evolution, oxygen was a toxic substance, too. Fortunately, human cells have developed adequate protective systems against oxygen, such as glutathione and thioredoxine. The dynamic protection balance against oxygen is also being used to adjust to other toxins. The method of adjustment depends on the substance, time and dose. This dissertation examines the effects of acrolein (in cigarette smoke), silver nanoparticles (in electronics) and flavonoids (in fruit and vegetables). The study results show that low doses of these substances induce protective systems.


Digital Rights Management (DRM) systems aim to create a secure framework to control access and actions that can be performed by users (both human and machine). DRM technologies have become very important in an increasingly networked world because it promises the owner of the file persistent control over the file even when the file leaves the owner's machine. It is not only useful in combating piracy (which is currently the main use of DRM systems) but also for protecting sensitive documents in enterprises.

DRM systems can be seen to fit at various levels on a computer system - at an application layer, which is currently seen in applications like Apple iTunes; at an operating system level like Microsoft's Rights Management System (RMS) in Windows Server 2003 or at a hardware level like Content Scramble System (CSS) in DVD players. However, current DRM systems are mostly not interoperable and in most cases either do not provide all the requirements expected by the customer or do not provide a totally secure framework.

DRM systems that are used for copyright enforcement give rise to many legal questions mostly revolving on the amount of control the copyright holder has over their creations once they have been distributed to the users. Many of the legal questions do not affect DRM systems for enterprises, but most of the technical requirements are the same.

This report gives a broad overview of current state of DRM systems and their strengths and weaknesses. It starts by looking at the legal requirements of the system to satisfy both the right holders and the end consumers. We then discuss the structure of DRM systems, their characteristics and how well they satisfy the legal requirements. Finally we review three types of DRM systems and how well they satisfy the requirements desired in a DRM system.


Background: Poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) has been widely investigated for various biomedical applications, such as craniofacial bone regeneration, wound dressing and tissue engineering. Electrospinning is a versatile technology used to produce micro/nanoscale fibers with large specific surface area and high porosity. Purpose: The aim of the current study is to prepare PLGA nanofibers using electrospinning for guided tissue regeneration/guided bone regeneration applications. The objective of this study is to determine the appropriate electrospinning parameters such as applied voltage, flow rate, spinneret-collector distance and polymer solution concentration for preparation of PLGA fibrous membrane and their effect on the mean fiber diameter of the electrospun fibers. Method: PLGA pellets were dissolved in Hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) in various concentrations overnight using a bench rocker. The resulting PLGA solution was then loaded into a syringe and electrospinning was done by maintaining the other parameters constant. Similarly, various fibrous mats were collected by altering the specific electrospinning parameter inputs such as applied voltage, flow rate and spinneret-collector distance. The morphology of the fibrous mats was characterized using Scanning Electron Microscope. The mean fiber diameter was assessed using ImageJ software and the results were compared using one-way ANOVA. Results: We obtained bead-free uniform fibers with various tested solution concentrations. One-way ANOVA analysis demonstrated significant variation in mean fiber diameter of the electrospun fibers with altering applied voltage, solution concentration, flow rate and spinneret-collector distance. Conclusion: The above-mentioned electrospinning parameters and solution concentration influence the mean fiber diameter of electrospun PLGA nanofibers.


Antibiotic prophylaxis treatment at delivery is highly recommended for reducing the risk of infection for mothers positive for group B streptococcus. It is therefore expected that some cord blood (CB) products will contain residual antibiotics. This study aimed to determine the incidence and level of β‐lactam antibiotics in CB products.


Interventions in the energy sector offer significant opportunities for reducing both greenhouse and other health-damaging pollution, resulting in what are called "co-benefits." The health community plays a critical role in evaluating such interventions to optimize progress of both sorts because both affect health. In detail, analyses require sophisticated modeling and specific local information. As a starting point, however, we offer here a set of scoping methods for obtaining a quick assessment of these co-benefits for interventions in the energy sector, the arena with the highest potential for significant co-benefits. Thus we combine relevant methods developed separately in recent years for cost-effectiveness assessments in the climate change, health, and development communities. We offer sample calculations, which illustrate the apparent high degree of co-benefit effectiveness for targeted interventions in the household energy sector in developing countries.


In this paper I discuss running an online examination with STACK for a year 1 "Introduction to Linear Algebra" course. The COVID pandemic has continued to disrupt teaching during 2021-22, and were are still not able to return to the examination hall for a traditional exam. Instead, our examinations were still "take home". Under these circumstances we wrote a fully automatically marked final test for the course. With over 800 students on the course in 2021-22, the paper-based examination was estimated to cost about 50 person-days to mark. Clearly, reducing this cost is an attractive prospect. However, important questions remain. To what extent can we write questions which cover the learning objectives of the course? How did the students do with the test? What recommendations can we offer for similar courses, and future years? In particular, do we need to return to the exam hall?


Spinal cord injury (SCI) often results in loss of upright mobility and independence subsequently challenging rehabilitation practitioners for meaningful intervention strategies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and potential impact on walking function of the stimulation and ergometer training protocol (STEP) in chronic SCI. Fourteen individuals with a chronic motor incomplete SCI (>1-year post injury) were enrolled in the study. The intervention consisted of a 12-week walking training program delivered three times per week from 20 up to 45 min in combination with 10 channels of FES on a step ergometer. Subsequent to this training, 30 min over ground walking training was performed. Ten out of the 14 participants completed the trial (71%). All participants who completed the intervention increased their walking speed by an average of 0.13 m/s (0.08) and walking endurance by an average of 117 ft (84 ft). For those who completed the trial, 50% demonstrated increases on the Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury II by at least one level while 60% demonstrated an increase in lower extremity motor scores; all completing the Timed Up and Go Test at baseline demonstrated a reduction in time to complete during post-test evaluation. Recruitment objectives were attained. Overall retention was lower than anticipated with 29% withdrawing secondary to issues with lower extremity pain and exertional demands; however, no other adverse events occurred. Improvements in mobility outcomes generated by the STEP show promise in the context of feasibility and warrant further investigation to evaluate efficacy in comparison to other walking recovery interventions. The STEP was well-tolerated by participants who were >1 year and less than 10 years post SCI. Those completing the protocol exhibited improvements in commonly used SCI walking outcome measures.


The mature crystalline bacterial cell surface (S-layer) protein SbsC of Bacillus stearothermophilus ATCC 12980 comprises amino acids 31-1099 and assembles into an oblique lattice type. As the deletion of up to 179 C-terminal amino acids did not interfere with the self-assembly properties of SbsC, the sequence encoding the major birch pollen allergen (Bet v1) was fused to the sequence encoding the truncated form rSbsC(31-920). The S-layer fusion protein, termed rSbsC/Bet v1, maintained the ability to self-assemble into flat sheets and open-ended cylinders. The presence and the functionality of the fused Bet v1 sequence was proved by blot experiments using BIP1, a monoclonal antibody against Bet v1 and Bet v1-specific IgE-containing serum samples from birch pollen allergic patients. The location and accessibility of the allergen moiety on the outer surface of the S-layer lattice were demonstrated by immunogold labeling of the rSbsC/Bet v1 monolayer, which was obtained by oriented recrystallization of the S-layer fusion protein on native cell wall sacculi. Thereby, the specific interactions between the N-terminal part of SbsC and a distinct type of secondary cell wall polymer were exploited. This is the first S-layer fusion protein described that had retained the specific properties of the S-layer protein moiety in addition to those of the fused functional peptide sequence.


A rare example of coordination at the amino group of NH2 pym (2-aminopyrimidine) relevant to N-H activation is described that leads to a novel Ag(I) -imide 3D metal-organic framework (MOF). The coordination of Ag(I) to NH2 pym produced an electron-withdrawing effect and thus increased its acidity, which facilitated the N-H activation and the subsequent formation of the Ag-imide bond. A cooperative metalation/deprotonation process for the N-H activation of NH2 pym is suggested. Interestingly, photoluminescence of 1 is switched on at the low temperature of 77 K.


The lizard family Iguanidae comprises eight living genera distributed throughout the New and Old World, and includes several island endemics. We reconstruct phylogenetic relationships among these genera using 90 previously published morphological characters, to which we add a molecular (mtDNA sequence) data set that includes 742 nucleotides of the ND4 gene and the complete sequences of the histidine, serine, and leucine tRNAs (217 nucleotides). Trees were initially constructed separately from these three data sets, and then tested for significant conflict in topologies that would suggest the influence of different evolutionary processes. The three data sets were then combined, and a single tree was obtained from the total evidence that permitted identification of potential sources of character incongruence. Several additional analyses of the combined data sets were repeated with sequential deletion of successive classes of homoplastic characters, and we show that the same single tree topology is recovered in most cases. However, part of the tree structure collapses when the matrix of combined characters is completely purged of all homoplastic characters. We argue that this extreme results in an unacceptable loss of phylogenetic information, and we present a single phylogenetic hypothesis for all living genera of iguanas. We show that this hypothesis is significantly more parsimonious than either of two previously published trees, and we discuss the evolution and biogeography of the Iguanidae based on the preferred hypothesis.


Quality metrics have a long history in the field of kidney transplantation. These metrics are highly visible, with significant ramifications to transplantation centers based on their use in regulatory review and other stakeholders. In this perspective, we review the history of quality metrics in this field, discuss the perceptions and empirical evidence evaluating the impact of metrics on care delivery, and summarize the current landscape of quality oversight. Based on the research findings and opinions of the transplantation community, we suggest that significant reforms are needed for the evaluation of quality in the field based on more appropriately aligning metrics with optimizing patient outcomes. Moreover, there are vast potential uses of the current data that should be emphasized in a learning environment rather than a highly punitive system. In our view, these reforms would enhance care delivery, improve patient care, and better align incentives for providers of care that treat transplantation patients.


Present-day agricultural technology is facing the challenge of limiting the environmental impacts of agricultural production – such as greenhouse gas emissions and demand for additional land – while meeting growing demands for agricultural products. Using the well-established method of life-cycle assessment (LCA), potential environmental impacts of agricultural production chains can be quantified and analyzed. This study presents three case studies of how the method can pinpoint environmental hot spots at different levels of agricultural production systems. The first case study centers on the tractor as the key source of transportation and traction in modern agriculture. A common Austrian tractor model was investigated over its life-cycle, using primary data from a manufacturer and measured load profiles for field work. In all but one of the impact categories studied, potential impacts were dominated by the operation phase of the tractor's life-cycle (mainly due to diesel fuel consumption), with 84.4-99.6% of total impacts. The production phase (raw materials and final assembly) caused between 0.4% and 12.1% of impacts, while disposal of the tractor was below 1.9% in all impact categories. The second case study shifts the focus to an entire production chain for a common biogas feedstock, maize silage. System boundaries incorporate the effect of auxiliary materials such as fertilizer and pesticides manufacturing and application. The operation of machinery in the silage production chain was found to be critical to its environmental impact. For the climate change indicator GWP100 (global warming potential, 100-year reference period), emissions from tractor operation accounted for 15 g CO2-eq per kg silage (64% of total GWP100), followed by field emissions during fertilizer (biogas digestate) application with 6 g CO2-eq per kg silage (24% of total GWP100). At a larger system scale that includes a silage-fed biogas plant with electricity generated by a biogas engine, silage cultivation operations are no longer the largest contributor; the most important contributor (49.8%) is methane slip from the exhaust of the biogas engine. In the third case study, the biogas plant model is energy system in an Alpine municipality of Western Austria is expanded to include a hypothetical system that uses mainly hay from currently unused alpine grassland in a local biogas plant. Here, the relative environmental impacts depend strongly on the fossil fuels that are assumed to be displaced by the local biogas plant; methane slip emissions from the exhaust dominate the impact of the hypothetical local biogas scenario. Taken together, the case studies demonstrate the potential and limitations of LCA as a technique to support decisions of agricultural stakeholders at a variety of scales. Choosing the proper system scale is key to a successful application of this method.


ABSTRACT The Scottish Government's ambitious 1 + 2 Language Strategy has refocused attention on language education policy (LEP) and the provision for learning additional languages in Scottish schools. However, the maintenance of community languages continues to be the responsibility of minoritised parents and their complementary schools. This article reports on a national survey of complementary school providers in order to gain insights into their perspectives of community language learning during the implementation of the 1 + 2 Language Strategy. Data are analysed using a Critical Language Policy (CLP) lens and reveal a complex picture of provision for teaching and learning community languages, outside of mainstream schools, and an untapped resource for language planning and valuing the linguistic diversity of Scotland. The article concludes with a discussion to inform future developments of the 1 + 2 Language Strategy, among which is greater engagement with language communities and a more nuanced planning approach to language learning for contemporary societies.


Toxic blooms of cyanobacteria are ubiquitous in both freshwater and brackish water sources throughout the world. One class of cyanobacterial toxins, called microcystins, is cyclic peptides. In addition to ingestion and dermal, inhalation is a likely route of human exposure. A significant increase in reporting of minor symptoms, particularly respiratory symptoms was associated with exposure to higher levels of cyanobacteria during recreational activities. Algae cells, bacteria, and waterborne toxins can be aerosolized by a bubble-bursting process with a wind-driven white-capped wave mechanism. The purposes of this study were to: evaluate sampling and analysis techniques for microcystin aerosol, produce aerosol droplets containing microcystin in the laboratory, and deploy the sampling instruments in field studies. A high-volume impactor and an IOM filter sampler were tried first in the laboratory to collect droplets containing microcystins. Samples were extracted and analyzed for microcystin using an ELISA method. The laboratory study showed that cyanotoxins in water could be transferred to air via a bubble-bursting process. The droplets containing microcystins showed a bimodal size distribution with the mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) of 1.4 and 27.8 μm. The sampling and analysis methods were successfully used in a pilot field study to measure microcystin aerosol in situ.


Abstract The protein arginine deiminase 4 (PAD4) is a calcium-dependent enzyme, which catalyses the irreversible conversion of peptidyl-arginines into peptidyl-citrullines and plays an important role in several diseases such as in the rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Creutzfeldt–Jacob's disease and cancer. In this study, we report the inhibition profiles and computational docking toward the PAD4 enzyme of a series of 1,2,3-triazole peptidomimetic-based derivatives incorporating the β-phenylalanine and guanidine scaffolds. Several effective, low micromolar PAD4 inhibitors are reported in this study.


The compost's humic acid (HA) content decreased when it was fertilized in coastal seawater with steelmaking slag, as confirmed. This study clarified the cause for this change by a detailed analysis of the structural changes in HAs based on the TMAH-py-GC/MS, HPSEC, and 3D-EEM spectra. An increase in the levels of pyrolysates of tannic acid with a low polymerization degree was attributed to the biodegradation of a high polymerized aromatic structure. Moreover, analyses of 3D-EEM, supported by HPSEC, indicated that approximately 20 kDa of the fluorescent matter was generated at the protein-like peaks (Ex/Em = 220/340 and 275/350 nm) in HAs derived from a mixture of compost with steelmaking slag. It would be caused due to the formation of HAs from the bacterial by-product by a catalytic reaction of the steelmaking slag. From these findings reported herein, we conclude that bio-degradation was a major reason for the decreased HA content, and the formation of HA from a part of the degradation products. This would be a reason for the structural modification of HA under the seawater condition.


This paper presents the use of spatially resolved oblique-incidence diffuse reflectance spectroscopy for skin cancer diagnosis. Spatio-spectral data from 166 pigmented skin lesions were collected for the wavelength range from 455 to 765 nm. A set of neural network based classifiers separates the pigmented malignant melanomas from the benign and dysplastic subgroups. A total of 110 lesions were used as the training set and 56 lesions were used as the testing set. This classifier performs with an overall 100% sensitivity and 92% specificity for the training set and 100% sensitivity and 88% specificity for the testing set. The second classifier was designed to separate the benign from the dysplastic subgroups. For the second classifier a total of 100 lesions were used as the training set and 51 lesions were used as the testing set. The overall classification rates were 94% and 88% for the training and testing sets respectively.


Ketogenesis takes place in hepatocyte mitochondria where acetyl-CoA derived from fatty acid catabolism is converted to ketone bodies (KB), namely β-hydroxybutyrate (β-OHB), acetoacetate and acetone. KB represent important alternative energy sources under metabolic stress conditions. Ketogenic diets (KDs) are low-carbohydrate, fat-rich eating strategies which have been widely proposed as valid nutritional interventions in several metabolic disorders due to its substantial efficacy in weight loss achievement. Carbohydrate restriction during KD forces the use of FFA, which are subsequently transformed into KB in hepatocytes to provide energy, leading to a significant increase in ketone levels known as "nutritional ketosis". The recent discovery of KB as ligands of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) - cellular transducers implicated in a wide range of body functions - has aroused a great interest in understanding whether some of the clinical effects associated to KD consumption might be mediated by the ketone/GPCR axis. Specifically, anti-inflammatory effects associated to KD regimen are presumably due to GPR109A-mediated inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome by β-OHB, whilst lipid profile amelioration by KDs could be ascribed to the actions of acetoacetate via GPR43 and of β-OHB via GPR109A on lipolysis. Thus, this review will focus on the effects of KD-induced nutritional ketosis potentially mediated by specific GPCRs in metabolic and endocrinological disorders. To discriminate the effects of ketone bodies per se, independently of weight loss, only studies comparing ketogenic vs isocaloric non-ketogenic diets will be considered as well as short-term tolerability and safety of KDs.


The antinociceptive efficacy of Coumarin was tested in mice, rats, and rabbits. No increase in threshold for the antinociceptive reaction was observed in the hot plate test and tail flick response in mice and rats. Using the tooth pulp test in rabbits, the threshold for the licking reaction was increased. This effect was dose dependent and could, at least partially, be antagonized by Naloxone. Because there is no direct opiate-like activity of Coumarin, these results suggest that the effect may be mediated by the release of endogeneous opiate-like peptides. It remains totally unclear why this effect could only be demonstrated in one particular test in one species.


This study aims to create the very first dependency-to-constituency conversion algorithm optimised for Turkish language. For this purpose, a state-of-the-art morphologic analyser and a feature-based machine learning model was used. In order to enhance the performance of the conversion algorithm, bootstrap aggregating meta-algorithm was integrated. While creating the conversation algorithm, typological properties of Turkish were carefully considered. A comprehensive and manually annotated UD-style dependency treebank was the input, and constituency trees were the output of the conversion algorithm. A team of linguists manually annotated a set of constituency trees. These manually annotated trees were used as the gold standard to assess the performance of the algorithm. The conversion process yielded more than 8000 constituency trees whose UD-style dependency trees are also available on GitHub. In addition to its contribution to Turkish treebank resources, this study also offers a viable and easy-to-implement conversion algorithm that can be used to generate new constituency treebanks and training data for NLP resources like constituency parsers.


The study on girl child sexual abuse and whose findings are presented in this article was conducted in 2010 as an academic requirement for the purpose of completing a Master's degree in Gender Studies at the University of Zambia. This article outlines issues of sexual abuse and the various reasons why under-age girls are more vulnerable to sexual abuse, cultural beliefs with regard to sexual abuse, gender and power relations and sexual abuse, and existing community programmes and knowledge levels, and institutional mechanisms of the sexual abuse case reporting in Lusaka urban. The article has drawn conclusions and recommendations for enhancing the protection of the children against child sexual abuse. By conducting a study that comprehensively assesses the types of programmes and perceived implementation gaps from Lusaka, this report poses specific policy and structural recommendations on how best to address the existing problem of increased vulnerability of under-age girls to sexual abuse. Child sexual abuse is a form of abuse in which a child is abused for the sexual gratification of an adult or older adolescent (CHIN, 2005: 53). Child sexual abuse is the actual or the likely sexual exploitation of a child and includes rape, incest and all forms of sexual activity (VSO, 2008: 2). In Zambia, anyone under the age of sixteen is classified as a child. Researchers cite various reasons why child sexual abuse is so common: Gender power relations (patriarchy views which place women and children in lower positions), poverty, a legacy of violent homes, power relations between children and adults, and cultural beliefs. The research was an exploratory study undertaken in Lusaka urban and endeavored to explore why the problem of sexual abuse was persistent and why under-age children were vulnerable to it. Using purposive and simple random sampling, a sample size of seventy was arrived at and both qualitative and quantitative approaches of research were employed. The data was then analysed manually and by Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The institutions visited were: Ministry of Community Development and Social Welfare, Women and Law in Southern Africa Trust, The Child Protection Unit of the Zambia Police Service, Young Women Christian Association, Isubilo Orphanage and Drop-in Centre and Jesus Cares Ministries Orphanage. Additionally, community members from Chawama, Mtendere and Kabwata compounds were interviewed for more insight into the study. The study results showed that under-age girl-children were more vulnerable to sexual abuse because they were easy to coerce, threaten, lure and could be more trusting than much older girls. Further, the study revealed that gender-power relations, power relations between children and adults, cultural beliefs and community programmes on sexual abuse played a role in girl child sexual abuse. The overall study recommendations were coined from the outcomes and conclusions made in the study as follows: children needed more focused education to increase their knowledge about child sexual abuse; intensify funding injections into already functional community and school programmes, for example the School Liaison Programme under the Zambia Police Service; putting in place a holistic approach to sensitise community members centring on encroaching cultural norms and practices that perpetrate child sexual abuse; there was need to intensify and widen the coverage of programmes on child sexual abuse clearly stipulating and defining types of sexual abuse; the law and punishment for perpetrators; perceived gaps in the awareness programmes and institutional mechanism for sexual abuse case reporting was bureaucratically long, long court procedures and negative cultural doctrines also played a role and as such needed attention.


Objectives In this study, a knowledge audit was conducted based on organizational intelligence quotient (OIQ) principles of Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME) to determine levers that can enhance OIQ in healthcare. Methods The mixed method study was conducted within the MOHME. The study population consisted of 15 senior managers and policymakers. A tool based on literature review and panel expert opinions was developed to perform a knowledge audit. Results The significant results of this auditing revealed the following: lack of defined standard processes for organizing knowledge management (KM), lack of a knowledge map, absence of a trustee to implement KM, absence of specialists to produce a knowledge map, individuals' unwillingness to share knowledge, implicitness of knowledge format, occasional nature of knowledge documentation for repeated use, lack of a mechanism to determine repetitive tasks, lack of a reward system for the formation of communities, groups and networks, non-updatedness of the available knowledge, and absence of commercial knowledge. Conclusions The analysis of the audit findings revealed that three levers for enhancing OIQ, including structure and process, organizational culture, and information technology must be created or modified.


BT model is widely used in municipal infrastructure construction financing in recent years. The repurchase price of BT project is the core issues between project sponsor and BT investors. Repurchase price consists of two parts: project settlement price and investment income. Return on investment is closely related to bank lending rates, social discount rate and the risk level of investor tolerance. By utilizing CAPM model, the author analyzed how to determine the rate of return required by investors, which effects the return on investment of BT project. The calculating formula of return on investment of BT project is proposed according to different repurchase manner.


A necessary condition for providing quality of service to distributed virtual environments (DVEs) is to provide a system response below a maximum threshold to the client computers. In this sense, latency-aware partitioning methods try to provide response times below the threshold to the maximum number of client computers as possible. These partitioning methods should find an assignment of clients to servers that optimizes system throughput, system latency, and partitioning efficiency. In this paper, we present a new algorithm based on greedy randomized adaptive search procedure with memory for finding the best solutions as possible to this problem. We take into account several different alternatives in order to design both the constructive phase and the local search phase of this multistart metaheuristic for combinatorial problems. Additionally, we enhance this basic approach with some intensification strategies that improve the efficiency of the basic search method. Performance evaluation results show that the new algorithm increases the performance provided by other metaheuristics when applied to solve the latency-aware partitioning problem in DVE systems.


The dose-rate at any point outside a spherical homogeneous radioactive source is calculated assuming exponential absorption both in the surrounding medium and in the source. The integral expression so obtained is used to derive the dose-rate on the surface explicitly. Numerical values and approximate expressions are presented in the special cases of the source in a non-absorbing medium and a medium of absorption coefficient equal to that of the source. The errors involved in the various approximations are given. An estimation of the effect of scattered radiation by means of ` build-up factors ' is discussed.


In Sweden camping tourism holds the position as one of the largest niches within the tourism accommodation sector. Th e camping sector represents more than 17 million or 35% of commercial overnight stays in total. On the island of Öland which is located in Kalmar county, and in Kalmar county itself, the camping sector represents more than 1.75 million or 65% of the annual overnight stays which positions Kalmar and Öland as the second largest camping region in Sweden. However, tourism businesses, and especially island tourism systems, can be vulnerable to shifting environmental conditions. In recent years, the media has highlighted the issue of harmful algae blooms frequently aff ecting coastlines in the Baltic Sea. Based on structured interviews, this article investigates the perceptions campground managers and camping tourists have of the impact of algae blooms on tourism. Th e results show that both among campground managers and visitors, algae blooms are perceived as an environmental concern that might aff ect tourism in negative ways.


Abstract Objective: Oral contraceptive pills (OCP) are widely used for treating women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Metformin has beneficial effects on insulin resistance and endothelial functions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of treatment with drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol (EE) alone or in combination with metformin on the flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD) and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) in women with PCOS. Methods: Fifty women with PCOS (mean age 23 ± 5) were randomized to oral treatment of OCP alone (n = 25) or an OCP combination with metformin (n = 25) for 6 months. FMD from the brachial artery and CIMT were calculated. The hormonal profile, HOMA-IR score, basal insulin and glucose levels were studied in both groups. Before and after 6 months' treatment, echocardiographic measurements and laboratory tests were also obtained. Results: After 6 months' treatment we observed a small decrease in FMD in the OCP group (14.9 ± 9.4 versus 14.4 ± 9.9, p = 0.801) and a slight increase in the combination group (14.5 ± 9.1 versus 15.0 ± 8.0, p = 0.715) but neither of them reached significance. CIMT increased in the OCP group (0.048 ± 0.011 to 0.050 ± 0.010 cm, p = 0.433) and decreased slightly in the combination group (0.049 ± 0.012, 0.048 ± 0.011 cm, p = 0.833). Conclusion: We demonstrated that adding metformin to OCP treatment may have beneficial effect on FMD and CIMT that represent vascular function in patients with PCOS. These results suggest that adding metformin to OCP treatment for PCOS could preserve the cardiovascular system and improve it.


Large penetrations are routinely made in existing reinforced concrete (RC) slabs due to structural and/or functional changes. Externally bonded fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites can in turn be bonded to the tension face of the slab in the immediate vicinity of the penetration in order to restore the strength of the slab due to the lost internal steel reinforcement. In order to prevent premature debonding failure of the FRP strengthening, anchors can be applied. The results of tests on the strength and behaviour of one-way spanning RC slabs with large central penetrations which have been strengthened with unanchored and anchored FRP composites are presented in this paper. The FRP strengthening was found to be effective in strengthening penetrated slabs and the anchors were found to be effective in controlling the propagation of debonding cracks.


The effects on compressive strength of one form of cold working, tensile prestraining, are investigated for mild steel tubular struts. The material factors that are considered are strain hardening, strain aging and the Bauschinger effect. A programme of tests has been carried out for a range of slenderness ratios varying from 20 to 150, so as to determine the influence between the chosen variables and slenderness ratio. The work highlights the significant losses of load capacity that can occur when the struts are prestrained in tension by amounts of about 10 per cent strain. (Author/TRRL)


Although Prehistoric Anthropology seems to flourish there are reasons for concern. Innovative developments as e.g. molecular techniques require rethinking of concepts and more staff and money, requirements for which Prehistoric Anthropology seems not to be well prepared to cope with. One way to drive back competition by foreign subjects could be to set up research co-operation.


The authors present a new method to find solutions of the Virasoro master equations for any affine Lie algebra g. The basic idea is to consider first the simplified case of an Inonu-Wigner contraction gc, of g and to extend the Virasoro constructions of gc, to g by a perturbative expansion in the contraction parameter. The method is then applied to the orthogonal algebras, leading to fixed-level multi-parameter Virasoro constructions, which are the generalizations of the one-parameter Virasoro construction of su(2) at level four.


Polydiacetylene (PDA), conjugated polymer, is an attractive sensor material that has a unique optical property to transform its color from visible blue to fluorescent red upon environmental perturbations like heat, pH, specific metal ions, and etc. In this study, we propose a novel method to detect metal ions by using polydiacetylene (PDA)-embedded sensor microfibers fabricated with a 3-D hydrodynamic focusing technique using alginate and calcium solutions. Moreover, by changing the head groups of PDA, we successfully detected Al3+ and Zn2+ ions up to 1mM using PDA micro fibers.Copyright © 2011 by KSME


Nevus is a congenital pigmented malformation rarely found in the oral mucosa. Around one third of cases located in this anatomical region are of the blue type, a histological variant with considerable tendency to malignancy. This study reports the case of a male patient, chronic smoker, with a blue nevus measuring 5 cm in diameter on the hard palate. Since controversy exists in the literature regarding the incisional biopsy of pigmented lesions with malignant or malignant potential, excision without previous biopsy of the lesion was the therapy of choice for this case. The patient was followed-up for two years with no sign of recurrence or malignant transformation.


The data on the use of tipranavir and enfuvirtide in pregnancy are very limited. We performed a pharmacokinetic profile in a pregnant woman with multidrug-resistant HIV-1 infection at 37 weeks gestation. Tipranavir levels were in the therapeutic range and the cord blood concentration at delivery was relatively high when compared with other protease inhibitors. No enfuvirtide was detected in the fetal compartment. Tipranavir and enfuvirtide were successfully used in pregnancy, but possible toxicities must be kept in mind.


Welcome to this latest bumper edition of the Journal of Vascular Societies Great Britain and Ireland (JVSGBI). It contains 11 brilliant articles and two excellent supplements! The first article is an editorial outlining the extensive but perhaps underappreciated work undertaken by the excellent vascular CRG. This is followed by three original research articles addressing CLTI and frailty; a review of vascular Ehlers Danlos syndrome which includes a novel, in depth presentation of the patient's perspective; four research protocols and two interesting case reports. We also present the prize-winning abstracts from the recent Annual Scientific Meetings of the VSGBI and its affiliated societies. Finally we include two supplements – firstly the Scottish Physiotherapy Amputee Research Group (SPARG) guidelines regarding the management of intermittent claudication and secondly all the abstracts presented at the VSGBI ASM in Brighton in November 2022. I would like to thank the journal reviewers and editorial board who continue to provide fantastic support for which I am really grateful. Please continue to submit your articles for consideration of publication.


Background: The aim of this study was to investigate vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphism as a risk factor associated with chronic periodontitis (CP) and to determine the effect of VDR gene polymorphism on phenotypic CP.Methods: This study is a case-control design that included 162 adults divided into two groups: patients with CP (case group) and patients without CP (control group). Venous blood and DNA were obtained from individual samples. The gene polymorphism was determined using Restricted Fragment Length Polymorphism-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RFLP-PCR) and DNA sequencing to identify endonuclease restrictions in exon 9 (TaqI). The data were analyzed using an independent t-test and Fisher's exact test. The odds ratio (OR) was used to calculate the risk of VDR gene polymorphism in CP. Results: VDR gene polymorphism was detected in patients with CP and a TT genotype (86.4%), Tt genotype (12.4%), and tt genotype (1.2%). The case group with TT and Tt genotypes had an OR of 12.5 (95% CI:1.6–99.8) of having CP compared to the control group (P<0.05).Conclusions: VDR gene polymorphisms (the TT and Tt genotypes) are risk factors associated with individual susceptibility to CP.


Background: Clostridia-derived diseases, in particular C. difficile-associated disease (CDAD), have been increasing in incidence, severity, and morbidity. The mainstay of treatment options has relied upon metronidazole and vancomycin, but these treatments routinely result in high relapse rates (20%) and, in the case of metronidazole, decreasing efficacy. Objective: Evaluate and compare the current clinical and preclinical therapies of CDAD. Methods: . Results/conclusion: The new antibiotics in development and preclinical development reflect next-generation versions of older drugs or two new mechanism-of-action class drugs (OPT-80, REP3123). Based on the current preclinical and clinical data, the next-generation drugs impart only a subtle difference from the intrinsic weaknesses of their genre. In contrast, OPT-80 and REP3123 seem to be differentiated.


Intestinal metaplasia of the stomach, a mucosal change characterized by the conversion of gastric epithelium into an intestinal phenotype, is a precancerous lesion from which intestinal-type gastric adenocarcinoma arises. Chronic infection with Helicobacter pylori is a major cause of gastric intestinal metaplasia, and aberrant induction by H. pylori of the intestine-specific caudal-related homeobox (CDX) transcription factors, CDX1 and CDX2, plays a key role in this metaplastic change. As such, a critical issue arises as to how these factors govern the cell- and tissue-type switching. In this study, we explored genes directly activated by CDX1 in gastric epithelial cells and identified stemness-associated reprogramming factors SALL4 and KLF5. Indeed, SALL4 and KLF5 were aberrantly expressed in the CDX1+ intestinal metaplasia of the stomach in both humans and mice. In cultured gastric epithelial cells, sustained expression of CDX1 gave rise to the induction of early intestinal-stemness markers, followed by the expression of intestinal-differentiation markers. Furthermore, the induction of these markers was suppressed by inhibiting either SALL4 or KLF5 expression, indicating that CDX1-induced SALL4 and KLF5 converted gastric epithelial cells into tissue stem-like progenitor cells, which then transdifferentiated into intestinal epithelial cells. Our study places the stemness-related reprogramming factors as critical components of CDX1-directed transcriptional circuitries that promote intestinal metaplasia. Requirement of a transit through dedifferentiated stem/progenitor-like cells, which share properties in common with cancer stem cells, may underlie predisposition of intestinal metaplasia to neoplastic transformation.


The purpose of the study is to identify and justify the modern perspectives of open educational resources (OER) for higher education in Russia. The methodology includes study of initiatives, services, OER tools in Russia and abroad, evaluation of OER development factors. The authors have conducted a survey of university lecturers, processing of the results using statistical methods of analysis. The following prospects for the development and use of OER in higher education are identified: 1) further dissemination of free access to educational materials through the involvement of a wider range of universities; 2) improving the quality of educational materials in the context of expanding access to them; 3) extension of electronic educational environment, since OER are not tied to specific tools or technologies, and may be distributed in social media, mobile applications. The study of international and Russian practice has shown that OER provide methodological support primarily to university lecturers, allowing them to study the best practices of education leaders, to handle OER in accordance with the educational objectives of their courses and the students' requirements and expectation. As a result of the survey, it was found that 60% of lecturers at Russian universities distribute their own educational materials on the Internet during the educational process for the convenience of students.


In the recently published debate in Gut regarding the utility of mass screening of European and North American populations for coeliac disease (CD), divergent conclusions were presented ( Gut 2003; 52 :168–9 and 170–1). In this context, the increased utility of screening adults for CD in those presenting with concomitant morbidity (for example, metabolic bone disease and fracture) was raised. To support such an hypothesis, evidence of either an increased fracture rate in those with CD or, alternatively, an increased incidence of CD in those presenting with fracture would be required.

Thomason and colleagues,1 in a study of 244 patients with CD and 161 age and sex matched controls, addressed the first of these possibilities. They found that patients with …


Abstract : The primary focus of this research is to integrate dynamical processes of wave and turbulence in the upper ocean surface boundary layer (SBL) into a physics-based computational capability for the time-dependent radiative transfer (RT) in the ocean. The combined capability we develop will provide direct forward predictions of the radiance distributions in the upper ocean. We aim to use this capability for understanding the basic features and dependencies of oceanic radiance on the wave environment, to provide guidance and cross-calibration for field measurements, and to validate and benchmark existing and new theories. As an ultimate goal, the proposed direct simulation also provides a framework, in conjunction with sensed radiance data, for the optimal reconstruction of salient features of the ocean surface and the above-water scene.


Saliency models aim to predict where we look at within a visual scene. They are based on low-level visual features including color, intensity, and orientation. They process these visual features to generate a 2D saliency map, indicating the most salient part of the image. In contrast with saliency models, saccadic models intend to predict the sequence of eye fixations, i.e. the way observers deploy their gaze while viewing a stimulus on screen. Rather than computing a unique saliency map, saccadic models compute plausible visual scanpaths, i.e. the actual sequence of fixations and saccades unfolding across time. By the term plausible, we mean that the predicted scanpaths should be as similar as possible to human scanpaths. They should exhibit similar characteristics, such as the same distributions of saccade amplitudes and saccade orientations. Saccadic models offer many advantages over saliency models. The most important one is the ability to tailor the saccadic model to a particular context, such as a particular type of scene, a particular population or to a particular task at hand. This modelling framework not only relies on the image salience (i.e. properties of the stimulus) but most importantly on our ability to model viewing biases and systematic gaze patterns of observers. In this presentation, we introduce an age-dependent saccadic model able to reproduce the gaze behavior of a certain target age group.


Objectives. To examine the associations of self-reported disability status with health care access barriers for sexual and gender minority (SGM) people. Methods. The Population Research in Identity and Disparities for Equality (PRIDE) Study participants lived in the United States or its territories, completed the 2019 annual questionnaire (n = 4961), and self-reported their disability and health care access experiences, including whether they had a primary care provider, were uninsured, delayed care, and were unable to obtain care. We classified disabilities as physical, mental, intellectual, and other; compared participants to those without disabilities; and performed logistic regression to determine the associations of disability status and health care access barriers. Results. SGM people with disabilities were less likely to have a usual place to seek health care (69.0% vs 75.3%; P ≤ .001) and more often reported being mistreated or disrespected as reasons to delay care (29.0% vs 10.2%; P ≤ .001). SGM people with disabilities were more likely to delay care (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.28; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.83, 3.81) and be unable to obtain care (AOR = 3.10; 95% CI = 2.59, 3.71). Conclusions. Future work should address culturally competent health care to ameliorate disparities for the SGM disability community. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print July 20, 2023:e1-e10. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307333).


An investigation of the difficulties associated with analyzing the geometric constraints placed upon the human operator in a work setting was conducted. Many workstations, such as a cockpit, have limited data available for creating the CAD models required for human performance analysis. To create a model, a time consuming, labor intensive process of collecting measurement data by hand must be performed, resulting in a CAD model of questionable accuracy. In order to conduct accurate repeatable analysis, CAD data for all workstations must be collected quickly and in a standardized format. A demonstration project undertaken by the USAF's Armstrong Laboratory and the Crew System Ergonomics Information Analysis Center (CSERIAC) Program Office assessed the feasibility of using Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) technology to collect workstation geometry and create a CAD Model. Baseline data for comparing hand collection methods was derived from previous aircraft cockpit CAD modeling projects. This method involved approximately two weeks for data collection alone and another week to create the CAD model. The CMM technology was determined to be a cost effective method for creating CAD models of aircraft cockpits. This technology substantially reduced the time required to build a high fidelity CAD model while significantly improving the accuracy of the data. Using a partial cockpit as the workstation, the authors demonstrate the tools and methodology developed for collecting cockpit geometry data and converting the data into a CAD model.


In situ electrolysis within an optically transparent thin-layer electrochemical (OTTLE) cell was applied at 293-243 K in combination with FTIR spectroscopy to monitor spectral changes in the carbonyl stretching region accompanying oxidation of four tetracarbonyl olefin complexes of tungsten(0), viz., trans-[W(CO)(4)(eta(2)-ethene)(2)], trans-[W(CO)(4)(eta(2)-norbornene)(2)], [W(CO)(4)(eta(4)-cycloocta-1,5-diene)], and [W(CO)(4)(eta(4)-norbornadiene)]. In all cases, the one-electron-oxidized radical cations (17-electron complexes) have been identified by their characteristic nu(CO) patterns. For the bidentate diene ligands, the cis stereochemistry is essentially fixed in both the 18- and 17-electron complexes. The radical cation of the trans-bis(ethene) complex was observed only at 243 K, while at room temperature it isomerized rapidly to the corresponding cis-isomer. The thermal stability of the three studied radical cations in the cis configuration correlates with the relative strength of the W-CO bonds in the positions trans to the olefin ligand, which are more affected by the oxidation than the axial W-CO bonds. For the bulky norbornene ligands, their trans configuration in the bis(norbornene) complex remains preserved after the oxidation in the whole temperature range studied. The limited thermal stability of the radical cations of the trans-bis(alkene) complexes is ascribed to dissociation of the alkene ligands. The spectroelectrochemical results are in very good agreement with data obtained earlier by DFT (B3LYP) calculations.


ABSTRACT The micropolitics involved in urbanising land is yet to be well illustrated in urban and development studies. With the case of Dahongmen in Beijing, this paper explores the governing techniques for dealing with land transformation to uncover the nature and conduct of the state in weaving together land and urban questions. Recognising the power of discourses in enacting actions, this paper focuses on two performative moments of the state in reassembling land for the urban process, corresponding to social (re)ordering and economic mechanisms respectively. Both moments are critical since new ideas, concepts, and calculative rationales are invented to reassemble land into the intermediator of the urban process, whereby the state renews its identity and authority. The state, seen from the perspective of performativity, is more like a process (with structural effects) where certain utterances are made and repeated to incorporate multiple actors in land assemblages for the urban political economy.


The present investigation relates to the development of extended release matrix tablets containing Oxybutynin Hydrochloride for the treatment of over reactive urinary bladder. Oxybutynin Hydrochloride is an anticholinergic agent, having short half life of (2-3hours) the development of extended release formulations of Oxybutynin Hydrochloride is therefore therapeutic relevance and can be used to provide a consistent dosage through extending an appropriate level of drug over time. To achieve this goal various prototype formulation trials are taken and evaluated with respect to the various quality control such as dissolution. The formula will be finalized by comparing the in vitro dissolution profile with that of the Ditropan tablets.
Reason for selection of delayed release dosage form:
Due to instability in acidic environment, a trail was made to by-pass the stomach by using enteric coating which thereby improves bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy with no degradation of drug. Objective of the study: To formulate and evaluate Extended release tablets of Oxybutynin Hydrochloride. To determine the best fit dissolution profile for dosage form. To study the release profile of the dosage form and to compare their drug-release profiles with the Ditropan(innovator). To study the stability of the optimized formulation. The oral extended release matrix tablet containing 15mg of Oxubutynin Hydrochloride provided extended release for 24 hours. The hydrophilic polymer HPMC K100M alone gave a satisfied release profile compared in combination with Kollidon K90 F. The optimized formulation followed first order kinetics while the drug release mechanism was non-Fickan (Anomalous type) controlled by diffusion through swollen matrix.
The optimized formulation F8 and the marketed formulation (Ditropan) were found to have a similar in vitro release profile, which is confirmed by f1 and f2 values.
A month of stability study data revealed no marked changes in the physical parameters and drug release profile.


Some genes produce transcripts that function directly in regulatory, catalytic, or structural roles in the cell. These non-coding RNAs are prevalent in all living organisms, and methods that aid the understanding of their functional roles are essential. RNA secondary structure, the pattern of base-pairing, contains the critical information for determining the three dimensional structure and function of the molecule. In this work we examine whether the basic geometric and topological properties of secondary structure are sufficient to distinguish between RNA families in a learning framework. First, we develop a labeled dual graph representation of RNA secondary structure by adding biologically meaningful labels to the dual graphs proposed by Gan et al [1]. Next, we define a similarity measure directly on the labeled dual graphs using the recently developed marginalized kernels [2]. Using this similarity measure, we were able to train Support Vector Machine classifiers to distinguish RNAs of known families from random RNAs with similar statistics. For 22 of the 25 families tested, the classifier achieved better than 70% accuracy, with much higher accuracy rates for some families. Training a set of classifiers to automatically assign family labels to RNAs using a one vs. all multi-class scheme also yielded encouraging results. From these initial learning experiments, we suggest that the labeled dual graph representation, together with kernel machine methods, has potential for use in automated analysis and classification of uncharacterized RNA molecules or efficient genome-wide screens for RNA molecules from existing families.


The Chesapeake Regional Information System for our Patients (CRISP) is a health information exchange in Maryland that is designed to improve communication among members of the health care team including physicians, nurses, and other health professionals. Senior care pharmacists gained access to CRISP through successful collaborative efforts at both the state and national levels. This involved efforts to address medication-related problems that continue to be a concern during transitions of care, especially for older, vulnerable adults. Having access to recent clinical data assists the senior care pharmacist in providing medication therapy management services during transitions of care-the movement of a patient from one setting of care to another.This article highlights the importance of collaboration and advocacy between state and national leadership of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) with key stakeholders to negotiate and gain access to such information for senior care pharmacists working in the post-acute and long-term care settings in Maryland.


A wing cover panel assembly, wing cover and method of forming thereof are disclosed in which an attachment surface of the wing cover panel is provided with a locating channel into which a wing structural element such as a stringer or spar is captured so as to fix the wing structural element to the wing cover panel.


Scholars seek to present the history of the Ewe in two main ways, namely, the symbolic and the scientific. Migration narratives constitute good examples of the symbolic historical genre. Using Tent and Blair's toponymic typology, the paper tried to extract scientific historical information from some of the names of places contained in the migration narratives of the Asogli of the Volta Region. The paper found out that toponyms are history-preserving tools among the Asogli since they are used to mark certain important occurrences on the migration route. The linguistic approach used also revealed that Asogli migration narrative toponyms have brought various grammatical structures together through the process of agglutination. The paper, therefore, concluded that while scholars who adopt the scientific approach may rely, for example, on archaeology, a linguistic approach could provide a complementary alternative for gaining a holistic historical picture of the Asogli.

 Key words: Migration narratives, history, linguistics, toponyms, toponymy, agglutination.