New structures of dielectric resonators, simultaneously performing the functions of antennas and input filters of transceiver-transmitting devices of communication in the microwave wavelength range, are proposed. The new structures have the form of coupled systems of dielectric resonators, some of which are located in the segment of the evanescent waveguide and perform the functions of a band-pass filter, and the other part of the resonators are located in open space and perform the functions of an antenna system. A part of the resonators of the antenna subsystem has the form of dielectric semi-cylinders glued onto a metallic conductive screen and plays the role of directors forming the radiation characteristic. Two cases of the same and different in shape and material dielectric resonators are considered. For the case of dielectric resonators of different types, using the perturbation theory, a system of equations was obtained for the coefficients of the expansion of the scattering field from the known coupled oscillations of the system. Using the developed theory, the frequency dependence of the reflection coefficient of the proposed antenna-filters was calculated. It is shown that the proposed structures are characterized by much more rectangular amplitude-frequency characteristics, which allows to effectively solve the problems of electromagnetic compatibility of several communication systems using adjacent bandwidths. An additional advantage of the considered antenna filters are smaller dissipative losses, which is important for reducing bit errors. Calculated radiation patterns of antennas in the far zone. It is also shown that the radiation characteristics of the antennas do not change, or change only slightly compared with antennas made only with the help of similar structures of dielectric resonators. The obtained simulation results can significantly reduce computation time and optimize complex communication systems that simultaneously perform channel separation and radiation functions.


Photocoagulation of the iris with the Zeiss light coagulator is a modality of treatment which was originated by Meyer-Schwickerath. 1 It is done for two principal reasons: to remove visual obstruction when the iris is displaced so that it blocks the visual axis, or to permit free flow of aqueous if the iris is causing an obstruction between the posterior and anterior chamber. In contradistinction to the numerous articles published dealing with light coagulation of retinal disease, little has been added to Meyer-Schwickerath's description of anterior segment photocoagulation, possibly because many ophthalmologists have not found the method particularly useful. Certain modifications of the standard apparatus and original technique have improved our results in photocoagulation of anterior segment lesions. The most common indication for photocoagulation of the iris is corepraxia, or creation of a new pupil in the updrawn iris subsequent to vitreous loss or wound separation in cataract surgery. However,


A total of eight (8) sandstone samples were subjected to sedimentological and inorganic geochemical analyses in the investigation of reservoir potential, environment of deposition, tectonic setting, and provenance of Campano-Maastrichtian rock units in Anambra Basin, southeastern Nigeria. Sedimentological studies reveal that samples of Owelli and Ajali Sandstones are coarse to medium grained, poorly sorted to moderately sorted sediments deposited in a fluvial environment. The heavy mineral assemblages made up of garnet, epidote and staurolite suggest a metamorphic source while tourmaline and zircon suggest igneous or metamorphic sources. The high maturity indices (58.6 to 71.4) as well as the high percentage of quartz (68 to 74%) suggest mature sandstones that can act as reservoir for generated hydrocarbon. The major oxides discriminate function diagram shows active passive margin for the sandstone samples. Quartzose sedimentary provenance was shown for the sediments which have been highly reworked from original igneous and metamorphic sources, possibly from Abakiliki uplift, Oban massif and/or Obudu basement rocks in the southeast. The high chemical index of alteration (averaging 93%) and the low ratio of K2O/Al2O3 (0.02 to 0.11) in the sediments confirms sedimentary recycling and intensive source area weathering.


Background Yet published values outlining the differences of sport-specific adaptations at the shoulder joint between symptomatic (S) and non-symptomatic (nS) overhead athletes vary widely. Information defining the link between overuse injuries in relation to both shoulder joint and core endurance is also lacking. Objective To evaluate if sport-specific adaptations at the shoulder joint are greater in volleyball players with shoulder problems and core stability would be associated with sport-specific adaptations at the shoulder. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting This study was performed during the indoor volleyball season 2017/2018 in coordination with the Swiss Volleyball Federation. Patients (or Participants) 60 female volleyball players with and without overuse shoulder problems playing in a National League volleyball team. Interventions (or assessment of risk factors) Standardized clinical field tests for passive shoulder ROM in IR and ER, isometric strength of shoulder IR and ER, scapular dyskinesis test and core endurance test were performed during a test session of 1 h. The assessor was blinded to information on the players' current shoulder status. Main outcome measurements Side, group and subgroup comparisons of ROM, strength, scapular control and core endurance and correlations between core endurance and ER strength deficit, strength ratio ER/IR and scapular dyskinesis were described. Results All players showed significant adaptations in ROM, strength and scapular control of their dominant shoulder (Ds). Players in the S subgroup had significantly weaker IR strength than nS players (mean difference, 7 N; 95% CI, 0.54 to 13.05; P ≤ 0.034; r=0.295) and tended to have ER strength deficit. Furthermore, the lower the ER strength deficit, the better the core endurance in the side plank position (Ds: r=0.30; 95% CI, 0.11 to 0.53; P ≤ 0.035). Conclusions Elite female volleyball players showed typical sport-specific adaptations in their dominant shoulder. Values of adaptations did only differ in strength and only between subgroups. Further studies need to quantify the association between core endurance and shoulder strength.


There is little research on trust and satisfaction in the electronic commerce from a longitudinal (pre- and postpurchase) perspective. Based on previous frameworks and theories, this study developed a combined model of consumer trust and satisfaction in the context of Internet shopping. From the valance framework and expectation-confirmation theory, several prepurchase and post-purchase factors such as risk, benefit, consumer trust, expectation, confirmation, and satisfaction are investigated as research variables affecting consumer repurchase intention. The results of the study show that trust is the strongest predictor of the consumer's purchase intention. In addition, as in traditional consumer satisfaction studies, it holds true in electronic commerce consumer behavior studies that the consumer's satisfaction is still the critical determinant to its consequence, i.e., willingness to repurchase.


ABSTRACT Purpose This paper presents an algorithm developed to assess all aspects of sustainable development for hard coal mines. Additionally, an algorithm to assess the environmental efficiency and cost efficiency of mining production processes was presented. Methods To develop the computation algorithm, detailed models were proposed for environmental assessments using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), whereas Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) was proposed for economic and social assessments. Results The algorithm developed is used when preparing a ranking of hard coal mines which considers the main aspects of sustainable development – environmental, economic and social. The tool also enables the performance of both environmental and cost assessment for particular unit processes of mining production. Practical implications The practical purpose is to devise an algorithm that will perform both partial and aggregated assessment of all aspects of the sustainable development of coal mines in Poland. Originality/value It is the first method which includes all aspects of sustainable development and considers the process approach to assess coal mines.


Chemokines are chemotactic cytokines comprised of 70–100 amino acids. The chemokines CXCL12 and CCL5 are the endogenous ligands of the CXCR4 and CCR5 G protein-coupled receptors that are also HIV co-receptors. Biochemical, structural and functional studies of receptors are ligand-consuming and the cost of commercial chemokines hinders their use in such studies. Here, we describe methods for the expression, refolding, purification, and functional characterization of CXCL12 and CCL5 constructs incorporating C-terminal epitope tags. The model tags used were hexahistidines and Strep-Tag for affinity purification, and the double lanthanoid binding tag for fluorescence imaging and crystal structure resolution. The ability of modified and purified chemokines to bind and activate CXCR4 and CCR5 receptors was tested in Xenopus oocytes expressing the receptors, together with a Kir3 G-protein activated K+ channel that served as a reporter of receptor activation. Results demonstrate that tags greatly influence the biochemical properties of the recombinant chemokines. Besides, despite the absence of any evidence for CXCL12 or CCL5 C-terminus involvement in receptor binding and activation, we demonstrated unpredictable effects of tag insertion on the ligand apparent affinity and efficacy or on the ligand dissociation. These tagged chemokines should constitute useful tools for the selective purification of properly-folded chemokines receptors and the study of their native quaternary structures.


Public health agencies can use jail as an opportunity to reach populations disproportionately affected by sexually transmitted infections (STI). The emphasis that STI control programs place on screening jail entrants varies considerably. Nine million individuals passed through U.S. jails in 2005, many in counties where STIs are rare. A pilot program of screening for Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis was implemented at the intake sites for the combined jail and prison system of Rhode Island, a state with a low prevalence of STIs. Prevalence of either gonorrhea or chlamydia among detainees was 4.6%, but in women aged 25 and younger, the rate was 24 times that of similar-aged women statewide. Screening led to treatment for 22 (81%) of the infected inmates and 10 of their partners. The heterogeneity of both jail demographics and STI epidemiology suggests a need to tailor the choice of screening strategy to local conditions.


Generalization of movements from experienced to novel situations is a critical aspect of motor learning. It has been demonstrated that the training period when a movement is learned influences the movement's generalization to untrained situations. However, little is known about how healthy aging affects these processes. For example, young adults exhibit greater generalization of movements learned on a device (e.g. split-belt treadmill or robotic arm) to movements without it (e.g, overground walking or unconstrained reaching) when participants experience small vs. large perturbations on the training device. Here, we investigated whether a similar effect would be observed in older adults. To this end, we compared the generalization of split-belt adaptation to overground walking in older (75.9±4.8 years old) and young adults (24.7±5.9 years old) when adapted gradually (i.e., small perturbations) vs. abruptly (i.e., large perturbations). We found that both age groups adapted more to the abrupt condition compared to the gradual condition, which resulted in greater adaptation effects (i.e., aftereffects) on the treadmill in the abrupt than the gradual groups. We also found that older adults generalize more than young adults, regardless of the perturbation schedule (i.e., gradual or abrupt). Our results suggest that abrupt perturbations during adaptation do not limit the generalization of movement in older adults-perhaps because they are more likely to attribute them to their own faulty movements. These results suggest that large perturbations are better than small when training older clinical populations since abrupt disturbances would lead to more adaptation and generalization of corrected movements in older people.


Domestic Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are used in the UK to provide energy efficiency ratings for use in policy and investment decisions on individual dwellings and at a stock level. There is evidence that the process of creating an EPC introduces measurement error such that repeat assessments of the same property give different ratings, compromising their reliability. This study presents a novel error analysis to estimate the size of this effect, using repeated EPC assessments of 1.6 million existing dwellings in England and Wales. A statistical model of how measurement error contributes to variation between repeated measurements is set out, and exploratory data analysis is used to decide how to apply this model to the available data. The results predict that the one standard deviation measurement error decreases with EPC rating, from around ± 8.0 EPC points on a rating of 35 to ±2.4 on a rating of 85. This predicted error is higher than the limit recommended in UK guidance except in very efficient buildings; it can also result in dwellings being rated in the wrong EPC band, for example it was estimated that 24% of band D homes are rated as band C.


Multidisciplinary studies of the Middle–Upper Bathonian ore-bearing clays at Gnaszyn revealed variable palaeoenvironmental conditions during the deposition of this seemingly monotonous sequence. We interpret the conditions in the bottom environment and the photic zone, and also evaluate the influence of the adjacent land areas, based on sedimentology, geochemistry, sporomorphs and palynofacies composition, benthic (foraminifera, gastropods, bivalves, scaphopods, echinoderms), planktonic (calcareous nannoplankton, dinoflagellate cysts), and nektonic (sharks) fossils. The Gnaszyn succession originated relatively close to the shore, within reach of an intense supply of terrestrial fine clastic and organic particles. The latter are mainly of terrestrial origin and range from 1.5 to 2.5 wt.%. The precise water depth is difficult to estimate but most likely ranges from several tens of metres to a few hundred metres. All fossil groups show minor changes throughout the succession. As the climate seems to have been quite stable during this period we consider sea-level fluctuations to have been the main factor responsible for the changes. The terrestrial input, including freshwater and land-derived clastic and organic particles (sporomorphs and cuticles), increased during periods of sea-level lowstand. As a consequence, stress conditions (lower salinity, higher nutrient availability, lower water transparency) in the photic zone caused blooms of opportunistic planktonic taxa. Furthermore, a faster sedimentation rate led to oxygen depletion and deterioration of the living conditions in the bottom environment due to an increased accumulation of organic matter. As a result, the benthic biota became taxonomically impoverished and commonly dominated by juvenile forms. During periods of high sea level, the source areas were shifted away from the basin, resulting in a decrease in the terrestrial influx, increase in the salinity of surface waters, the appearance of more diverse phytoplankton assemblages, a lower sedimentation rate, and an improvement of living conditions at the bottom.


AbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate, through in vitro and in vivo studies, the existence of a relationship between surface energy, for wettability, and the clinical behavior of dental implants with different surfaces, one with a surface treated by sandblasting with titanium oxide microparticles followed by acid-etching treatment (experimental group) and another with a machined surface (control group). For the in vitro tests, a total of 30 titanium disks (15 disks for each group) were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and dispersive energy spectroscopy and for surface roughness and wettability. For the in vivo tests, a total of 24 implants (12 implants for each group) were inserted in the tibiae of 6 rabbits and were removed after 30 and 60 days for histologic analysis. The results showed that the implants with the experimental surface presented a low wettability, and it also resulted in highly stimulated new bone formation in vivo, when compared with the control group dental implant. As for the bone formation, differences between the different surfaces seemed evident, both in quantity and in quality, as implants from the experimental group showed a higher new bone deposition than that from the control group. Thus, in vitro and in vivo tests demonstrated an excellent biologic response of the surfaces treated by sandblasting with microparticles of titanium oxide followed by acid etching.


Abstract Eupatorium lindleyanum has traditionally been used as folk medicine in Asian countries for its therapeutic effects on tracheitis and tonsillitis. Investigation of the anti-inflammatory active constituents from E. lindleyanum led to the isolation of two novel sesquiterpene lactones, named eupalinolide L (1) and eupalinolide M (2), and seven known sesquiterpene lactones (3–9). The structures and configurations of the new compounds were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analysis, especially 2D NMR techniques. In vivo experiments showed that the sesquiterpenes fraction significantly reduced mouse ear edema induced by xylene (18.6%, p < 0.05). In in vitro assays, compounds 1–9 showed excellent anti-inflammatory activities, as they lowered TNF-α and IL-6 levels in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells (p < 0.001). The above results suggest that the sesquiterpene lactones from E. lindleyanum can be developed as novel potential natural anti-inflammatory agents.


Mature faults with large cumulative slip often separate rocks with dissimilar elastic properties and show asymmetric damage distribution. Elastic contrast across such bimaterial faults can significantly modify various aspects of earthquake rupture dynamics, including normal stress variations, rupture propagation direction, distribution of ground motions, and evolution of off‐fault damage. Thus, analyzing elastic contrasts of bimaterial faults is important for understanding earthquake physics and related hazard potential. The effect of elastic contrast between isotropic materials on rupture dynamics is relatively well studied. However, most fault rocks are elastically anisotropic, and little is known about how the anisotropy affects rupture dynamics. We examine microstructures of the Sandhill Corner shear zone, which separates quartzofeldspathic rock and micaceous schist with wider and narrower damage zones, respectively. This shear zone is part of the Norumbega fault system, a Paleozoic, large‐displacement, seismogenic, strike‐slip fault system exhumed from middle crustal depths. We calculate elastic properties and seismic wave speeds of elastically anisotropic rocks from each unit having different proportions of mica grains aligned sub‐parallel to the fault. Our findings show that the horizontally polarized shear wave propagating parallel to the bimaterial fault (with fault‐normal particle motion) is the slowest owing to the fault‐normal compliance and therefore may be important in determining the elastic contrast that affects rupture dynamics in anisotropic media. Following results from subshear rupture propagation models in isotropic media, our results are consistent with ruptures preferentially propagated in the slip direction of the schist, which has the slower horizontal shear wave and larger fault‐normal compliance.


Haishengsu (HSS) is an active natural extract isolated from Tegillarca granosa, which has previously been demonstrated to inhibit the proliferation of several types of cancer cells in vitro. Our previous study indicated that HSS may induce apoptosis to suppress growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma BEL‑7402 cells by activating Fas pathway. The present study demonstrated that HSS treatment induces the in vitro apoptosis of BEL‑7402 cells via the mitochondrial‑mediated apoptotic pathway detected by DNA fragmentation assay, caspase activity assay and transmission electron microscopy assay, and inhibits tumor xenograft growth in vivo. Alterations in apoptotic regulatory proteins were detected, including decreased expression of B‑cell lymphoma2 (Bcl‑2), upregulation of Bcl‑2‑associated X protein and mitochondrial cytochrome c release, and downstream activation of apoptotic signaling. Furthermore, apoptotic induction was caspase‑dependent, as indicated by cleavage of the caspase substrate, poly (ADP‑ribose) polymerase. Oral administration of 62.5‑250 mg/kg HSS markedly educed the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma tumor xenografts in nude mice. In addition, immunohistochemical staining for caspase‑3 protein and transmission electron microscopy further indicated the induction of apoptosis in these tumor tissues. Taken together, the present study demonstrated that HSS may effectively induce apoptosis to suppress the growth of BEL‑7402 cells in vitro and in vivo, and therefore may hold promise for further development as a novel cancer therapy.


Conical picks are the essential cutting tools used especially on roadheaders, continuous miners and shearers and their cutting performance affects directly the efficiency and the cost of rock/mineral excavation. In this study, in order to better understand the effects of dominant rock properties on cutter performance, 22 different rock specimens having compressive strength values varying from 10 to 170 MPa are first subjected to a wide range of mechanical tests. Then, laboratory full-scale linear cutting tests with different depth of cut and cutter spacing values are realized on large blocks of rock specimens using one type of conical pick. Specific energy, cutting and normal force values for relieved and unrelieved cutting modes are recorded using a triaxial force dynamometer with capacity of 50 tonnes and a data acquisition system. Cutter force and specific energy values are correlated with rock properties and theoretical force and specific energy values obtained from widely used theoretical approaches. The results indicate that uniaxial compressive strength among the rock properties investigated is best correlated with the measured cutter performance values, which is in good agreement with previous studies. However, it is also emphasized in this study that Brazilian tensile strength, Schmidt hammer rebound values, static and dynamic elasticity modulus are also dominant rock properties affecting cutter performance.


For state estimation problem, particle filter is generally used to construct the posterior probability density function by a set of particles, which is regarded as a solution to state estimation. Many techniques have been developed to improve performance of particle filter, at the cost of largely increased computational burden for each particle. In this paper, we propose a post-resampling based particle filter. The modified particle filter is capable of accurately representing the posterior probability density function through properly sampling particles. We applied the proposed particle filter to the classic bearings-only tracking problem. Simulation results showed that our modified particle filter had superior performance and reasonably computational cost, compared with the general approaches. It may provide a promising alternative to the existent particle filters


Opposition to neoliberal globalisation has been especially intense since the Asian crisis. This paper assesses three responses to the crisis: a broad localist reaction in Thailand, and the approaches adopted by two major Asian-based organisations, the Third World Network (TWN) and the Focus on the Global South. The discussion of these approaches focuses on the issues of nationalism and populism; dependency; industrialisation and the state; and liberalisation, international institutions, and local society. Their critiques range from the conservative populism of the localists, to reformism of TWN, and to the more radical "deglobalisation" approach of the Focus group. However, none have been able to free themselves of the influence of dependency models. Their populism and "progressive nationalism" prevents an accurate location of the causes of exploitation in capitalist processes. This paper questions whether the national-global dichotomy of these approaches is an adequate way to conceptualise capitalist production and exploitation in the era of globalisation.


In earlier work, I argued that examples supposed to substantiate consequential moral luck can lose their anomalous appearance if due account is taken of the moral obligation to discharge epistemic responsibilities, and of the different scope and focus of this obligation for the agent as contrasted with the observer. In his recent JMP article, Mark Silcox argues that my explanatory strategy is dependent on an unacceptable commitment to an 'ineliminable epistemic gulf ' between first-person and third-person perspectives. Here I attempt a defence against Silcox's criticism, and tentatively suggest some wider implications of the debate.


BACKGROUND
Cognitive remediation represents an effective treatment for improving functional outcome of psychiatric diseases like schizophrenia or depression. However, in clinical routine the therapeutic approach has not been established continuously. This can be partly attributed to doubts about the reasonableness of cognitive remediation for psychiatric patients. Therefore the current study investigates psychiatric patients' acceptance of, motivation for, and exhaustion due to cognitive remediation compared to an established treatment programme.

METHODS
21 psychiatric patients who simultaneously participated in occupational therapy and cognitive remediation rated the motivation, exhaustion, enjoyment, and effort on a visual analogue scale (VAS) over five weeks with regard to the respective therapy.

RESULTS
The ratings of occupational therapy and cognitive remediation did not differ relating to motivation, exhaustion, and enjoyment. The subjective effort in cognitive remediation was higher than that in occupational therapy.

DISCUSSION
Cognitive remediation is evaluated as being equivalent to an already established treatment programme by psychiatric patients concerning motivation, enjoyment, and exhaustion. Doubts about the acceptance and reasonableness of cognitive remediation could not be confirmed. In clinical routine cognitive remediation as an effective and accepted therapeutic approach should be integrated as a standard procedure for various disorders.


Introduction: A doublet is a pair of impact craters created by the same primary impact event [1]. Doublet craters have been observed on Earth, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Ceres, and Vesta [2,3,4,5,6,7,8, 16,17]. Doublet crater formation. Originally, doublet crater formation was attributed to a single impactor broken up by either atmospheric disruption [9] or tidal forces [1,10], but further studies showed these processes could not result in sufficient separation to create the observed doublets [11,12]. It is now believed that wellseparated binary asteroids are the source of doublet craters [12]. This makes doublets a source of evidence for the prevalence of binary asteroid systems. Constraining binary asteroids. The percentage of asteroids in the current near-earth population that are binary is fairly well established at 15% [2,18]. A systematic study of doublet craters on the Moon could provide insight into the (1) size of the components of NEA binaries, (2) frequency of impact, and (3) percentage of NEA binaries since the formation of the region of interest. Methods and Data: Desiring lightly-cratered units for this study to avoid crater saturation, as well as homogenous areas of uniform age, we initially considered several maria. Concerned with minimizing secondary craters, we also gave consideration to a region's proximity to larger post-mare impacts. Using Wilhelms' geologic map of the Moon [18], we eliminated Mare Imbrium and Oceanus Procellarum for their proximity to the large craters Copernicus, Kepler, and Aristarchus. Mare Nubium was eliminated due to its lack of uniform geologic age. Our candidate survey areas are Mare Serenitatis, Mare Tranquillitatis, Mare Fecunditatis, Mare Humorum, and Mare Crisium. We are defining search areas within these maria whose boundaries align with lines of longitude and latitude. In JMARS [13], we use Robbins' global database of Lunar craters [19] to locate all impact craters smaller than 500 km in diameter. Pairs of craters in close proximity are considered potential doublets. Following the same process as our previous work [14,16,17], these crater pairs are examined in LROC NAC images [20] and evaluated using our scoring system. A Monte Carlo simulation is being used to create randomly-distributed impact points within each study Figure 1: Study area with identified craters in Mare Tranquillitatis.


This study examines how the identities of migrant domestic workers are likely to be endangered and how these individuals struggle to reconstitute them. It is largely based on an interview and observational study with Indonesian and Filipina domestic workers in Singapore. Inspired by the sociological discus- sion of Goffman and Ishikawa, the study reveals how each migrant domestic worker manages her identity in her specific social context. This study shows that domestic workers contrive tactics to negotiate their situations, given that domes- tic work is considered a low prestige occupation and workers tend to be divested of the usual "identity kit" to make up their identity front. Specifically, to com- pensate for their discredited status, domestic workers attempt to reconstitute their damaged identity, obtain a new identity kit, recall previous social and family roles, or anticipate a future identity. They also attempt to acquire new skills and increase their value, so they can identify themselves as more than "just a maid." They obtain additional roles in an attempt to change how they feel about them- selves, to alter the meaning of being a domestic worker, and to redefine their relationships with others either by individual struggles or through collective activities. This study also points out a possible pitfall of identity management among the actors. The mechanism of identity politics might lead to an erosion of value, alienation from other domestic workers, and a strengthening of conven- tional stereotypes and generalizations regarding ethnicity, nationality, and gender. In this context, how non-governmental organizations play a role in mitigating the pitfalls of identity management among domestic workers is also examined. ijjs_1128 82..97


ABSTRACT:This article examines and interprets the phenomenon of Medjugorje as a new religious phenomenon. The name of this Bosnian-Herzegovinian village not only refers to a long series of Marian apparitions, but it is also used as a metaphor for the religious and political developments that occur in relation to those visions. The argument is that in the context of interaction with nationalist agendas and church politics, Medjugorje must be seen as a contested apparitional site that has reinvented itself into a highly successful grassroots religious movement. Medjugorje devotees and the faithful, inspired by tradition, are creating an idiosyncratic devotional expression of Catholicism, in which the individual endures the hardships of pilgrimage for a personalized experience of charismatic gifts and the miraculous. The article contends that this distinguishes this devotional movement from mainstream Catholic pilgrimage culture.


SUMMARY Social media such as microblogs have become so pervasive such that it is now possible to use them as sensors for real-world events and memes. While much recent research has focused on developing automatic methods for filtering and summarizing these data streams, we explore a different trend called social curation. In contrast to automatic methods, social curation is characterized as a human-in-the-loop and sometimes crowd-sourced mechanism for exploiting social media as sensors. Although social curation web services like Togetter, Naver Matome and Storify are gaining popularity, little academic research has studied the phenomenon. In this paper, our goal is to investigate the phenomenon and potential of this new field of social curation. First, we perform an in-depth analysis of a large corpus of curated microblog data. We seek to understand why and how people participate in this laborious curation process. We then explore new ways in which information retrieval and machine learning technologies can be used to assist curators. In particular, we propose a novel method based on a learning-to-rank framework that increases the curator's productivity and breadth of perspective by suggesting which novel microblogs should be added to the curated content.


Grid computing is an advanced technique for collaboratively solving complicated scientific problems using geographically and organisational dispersed computational, data storage and other recourses. Application of grid computing could provide significant benefits to all aspects of power system that involves using computers. Based on our previous research, this paper presents a novel grid computing approach for probabilistic small signal stability (PSSS) analysis in electric power systems with uncertainties. A prototype computing grid is successfully implemented in our research lab to carry out PSSS analysis on two benchmark systems. Comparing to traditional computing techniques, the gird computing has given better performances for PSSS analysis in terms of computing capacity, speed, accuracy and stability. In addition, a computing grid framework for power system analysis has been proposed based on the recent study


External guide sequences (EGSs), which are RNA molecules derived from natural tRNAs, bind to a target mRNA and render the mRNA susceptible to hydrolysis by RNase P, a tRNA processing enzyme. Using an in vitro selection procedure, we have previously generated EGS variants that efficiently direct human RNase P to cleave a target mRNA in vitro. In this study, a variant was used to target the overlapping region of the mRNAs encoding human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) essential transcription regulatory factors IE1 and IE2. The EGS variant was ∼25-fold more active in inducing human RNase P to cleave the mRNA in vitro than the EGS derived from a natural tRNA. Moreover, a reduction of 93% in IE1/IE2 gene expression and a reduction of 3000-fold in viral growth were observed in HCMV-infected cells that expressed the variant, while cells expressing the tRNA-derived EGS exhibited a reduction of 80% in IE1/IE2 expression and an inhibition of 150-fold in viral growth. Our results provide the first direct evidence that EGS variant is highly effective in blocking HCMV gene expression and growth and furthermore, demonstrate the feasibility of developing effective EGS RNA variants for anti-HCMV applications by using in vitro selection procedures.


Thesweet spot can be interpreted as the region where acoustic sources create a spatial auditory illusion. We study the problem of maximizing this sweet spot when reproducing a desired sound wave using an array of loudspeakers. To achieve this, we introduce a theoretical framework for spatial sound perception that can be used to define a sweet spot, and we develop a method that aims to generate a sound wave that directly maximizes the sweet spot defined by a model within this framework. Our method aims to incorporate perceptual principles from the onset and it is flexible: it imposes little to no constraints on the regions of interest, the arrangement of loudspeakers or their radiation pattern. However, the perceptual models must satisfy a convexity condition, which is fulfilled by state-of-the-art monaural perceptual models, but not by binaural ones. Proof-of-concept experiments show that our method, when implemented with van de Par's monaural model, outperforms state-of-the-art sound field synthesis methods in terms of their binaural azimuth localization and binaural coloration properties.


The viscometer described in this paper comprises a vertical cylinder containing the fluid to be tested and an inner, hollow cylinder floating in the fluid and filled with magnetic liquid. The magnetic liquid and inner cylinder are set in motion by applying a rotating magnetic field. Torque is balanced by the stresses in the fluid and the inertia of the rotating cylinder. The main characteristics of this new apparatus are: - possibility of applying various torques to the rotor. Measurements of angular velocity are made on the inner cylinder (in general, conventional viscometers are built on the opposite principle), - study in transient flow. Various measurements on Newtonian fluids (water, plasma, oils, etc.) and on blood suspensions have made it possible to improve the accuracy of the method.


The findings in a large number of examinations of the ears done during the past year on flying personnel with combat experience seem to be of enough interest to report. A total number of 999 officers, including pilots, co-pilots, bombardiers and navigators were examined, as well as a total number of 1,855 aerial gunners. All the personnel included in this report were flyers of Fortresses (B-17's) and Liberators (B-24's). Two officers flew B-18's. None of the officers had less than a total of 400 flying hours. The majority of them had from 600 to 2,500 hours in these ships in the air. It was difficult to obtain the exact number of combat hours for officers since most of them keep a record only of the number of combat missions and the total number of flying hours. Enlisted men, however, seem to have kept exact records as to the number of


Population biologists often wish to examine the effects of continuous biological variables such as measures of growth, body size,nutritional status, and exposure to environmental risk factors on discrete vital events like birth, onset of disease, and death. Traditional statistical analyses are unable to accommodate some complexities which develop in studying such effects, including the censoring of observations and explanatory variables which change over time. Most traditional methods also provide only empirical rather than etiologic models of pertinent processes. Statistical techniques on hazards analysis deemed especially appropriate for studying biodemographic events and processes are reviewed. A general likelihood framework is also presented which allows the efficient estimation and testing of etiologic hazards models. Past attempts to model biological processes underlying age patterns of fertility and mortality are reviewed, while discussion is had on how the hazards framework may be adapted to study the quantitative genetics of vital events.


A theoretical study of two series of small clusters, Si3On(-) and Si6On(-) (n = 1-6), has been carried out. The minimum energy structures were produced adding an electron to neutral species followed by relaxation at the B3LYP-6-311G(2d) level. The vertical ionization energies (VIEs) were computed using the electron propagator theory (EPT) in two approximations, Unrestricted Outer Valence Green Functions (UOVGF) and partial third-order approximation (P3). In the series Si3On(-) the theoretical VIEs of the minimum energy structures agree well with experimental data. For the second series there are not experimental VIEs, and the theoretical results are predictions. The performance of EPT methodologies in conjunction with all-electron or pseudopotentials (PP) calculations is analyzed. The conjunction of P3 and PP approximation proves to be the most efficient and economical methodology to calculate the VIEs of small anionic silicon oxide clusters. In the series Si6On(-) different channels of fragmentation have been calculated. The results suggest that the fragments do not have drastic geometric changes and the anionic fragment corresponds to the atoms where the spin density of the initial large cluster is localized. The Fukui function calculated over selected optimized fragments predicts adequately the interaction between them to form large stable clusters.


Based on extensive clinical and clinical chemical information (107 different items) from 1002 jaundiced patients, we developed a diagnostic algorithm which was evaluated on a test sample of another 110 jaundiced patients. A primary classification into categories of obstructive jaundice (probability of obstruction greater than or equal to 0.80), non-obstructive jaundice (probability of obstruction less than or equal to 0.20), and of doubtful causes of jaundice (probability of obstruction: 0.20-0.80) was attempted. Among 234 patients in the data base who were classified as obstructive, 220 (94%) proved to be so, as did 36 (97%) of 37 in the test sample. The corresponding figures for non-obstructive jaundice were 463 (96%) of 483 patients correctly classified in the data base and 47 (92%) of 51 patients in the test sample. Altogether 69% of the patients in the data base and 75% of those in the test sample were correctly classified, in 27% and 20% the cause of jaundice was doubtful, and only 4% and 5%, respectively, were misclassified. A slight majority of the patients in whom the algorithmic diagnoses were doubtful proved obstructive. A close correlation was found between the preliminary diagnoses made by the algorithm and by the clinicians. A secondary classification of the patients by the algorithm into benign versus malignant causes of obstructive jaundice performed equally well in the data base and the test sample.


We use data from a social experiment to estimate the impact of a rehabilitation and counseling program on the labor market activity of newly entitled Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries. Our results indicate that the program led to a 4.6 percentage point increase in the receipt of employment services within the first year following random assignment and a 5.1 percentage point increase in participation in the Social Security Administration's Ticket to Work program within the first three years following random assignment. The program led to a 5.3 percentage point increase, or almost 50 percent increase, in employment, and an $831 increase in annual earnings in the second calendar year after the calendar year of random assignment. The employment and earnings impacts are smaller and not statistically significant in the third calendar year following random assignment, and we describe SSDI rules that are consistent with this finding. Our findings indicate that disability reform proposals focusing on restoring the work capacity of people with disabilities can increase the disability employment rate.


Over the past few decades, there has been an exponential increase in the utilization of endoscopic procedures. Accurately predicting the demand is crucial for effective capacity planning and resource allocation in the endoscopic unit. However, predictive models are not integrated into current endoscopy software. To overcome this limitation, our group used data on the demand in our tertiary unit from 2015 to 2021 (83 months) to develop forecast models using exponential smoothing techniques adjusted for trend and seasonality (derivation phase). These models were recently published at the Revista Española de Enfermedades Digestivas.


Modern Spanish culture is bold and experimental, expressing a disregard for generic boundaries and formal conventions. In these essays, leading Hispanists explore the dialogue and interrelation between cultural discourses and artistic practices in a variety of nineteenth- and twentieth-century texts from the perspectives of literary criticism, cultural analysis, media studies, politics and the history of art. The contributors address fundamental questions about the relationship between artistic media and cultural fields and provide insights into the way identities - social, political or cultural - are bound up with the textual.


A computer program has been developed for three‐dimensional analysis of total field magnetic anomalies due to arbitrary polarization suitable for present‐day personal computers. A vertical sided prism with arbitrary polarization is used as a basic model. A nonlinear optimization technique based on Marquardt's algorithm is used to estimate all parameters of the model. A combination of prisms is used to analyze more complex magnetic fields. Analytical methods are used to estimate the derivatives required in the simultaneous solutions of the normal equations. Methods have been developed to minimize the computing time in forward calculation as well as in inversion. Approximate equations have been derived for rapid calculation of magnetic anomalies and partial derivatives of anomalies of prismatic bodies, which are valid beyond short distances from the sources. The algorithm has been developed in such a way that the use of the exact and approximate equations may be efficiently monitored as a trade‐off between ...


The rise in passive investment through indexes has been significant in recent decades and is causing a drastic reduction in actively managed assets. In addition to the empirical evidence that index funds outperform actively managed funds, net of fees, the logical basis for index investing, as famously articulated by Professor William Sharpe in The Arithmetic of Active Investing and in other publications, has provided proponents with an unchallenged rationale for indexing — that the average active manager cannot beat the index and actually tends to underperform it after deducting fees. This logical argument has persuaded many investors to increase allocations to index funds given their admitted inability to accurately choose the active outperformers from the active underperformers in advance. It has also reduced active manager's credibility given their inability to add value (in terms of returns vs. an index) as a group. This paper reexamines the "arithmetic of active investing" as explained by Professor Sharpe and attempts to show that its assumptions do not necessarily hold in practice. If active buyers and active sellers have a roughly equal probability of buying or selling each security in the index, liquidity is available on both sides of each trade and index investors are able to execute orders for all securities at proper market-capitalization weightings. However, once active investors concentrate their orders on one side of a trade, it becomes difficult for index investors to execute the proper orders to keep their weightings in-line with the index. This idea of failed order execution (or costly order execution) has been shown by previous authors in the context of how "informed" traders trade with "uninformed" traders. The same concept can be applied to active vs. passive investors as long as active investors are "informed" on average (i.e., possess skill). By illustrating how index investors are required to trade in the underlying shares of the index (or equivalently that ETF Trusts are forced to issue and redeem shares on a continuous basis) it can be shown that order concentration by active investors can cause index investors to experience tracking difference (commonly referred to as tracking error). By including tracking difference in the arithmetic of index investing, active management is no longer a zero-sum game. As long as active managers as a group possess skill, they can beat the index at the expense of index investors who underperform by an amount equal to tracking difference. This framework also indicates that tracking difference is not necessarily a fixed cost for index investors and could potentially increase to undesirable levels in the future.


Cooperative credit banks in Italy and Credit Unions in Ireland are financial co-ops based on people, with the aim to save and to lend money not for profit. Comparing Italy to Ireland it has been possible to observe a different development of cooperative credit banks, tightly linked to a distinct level of participation of people and public authorities in financial activities.  The main goals of this research have been to analyse, from 2000 to 2010, using a quantitative approach, by a panel data statistical model with balanced random effects (GLS), which socio-economic variables have had an action on the growth of credit co-ops; in particular, the aim of this paper has been to estimate if the multifunctionality in agriculture, in terms of numbers of farms and agro-tourism enterprises, has had some direct effects on the development and growth of credit co-ops in Italy and in Ireland. The main results have underlined a meaningful growth of Credit Unions in many Irish rural counties. In Italy the multifunctionality in agriculture has been able to increase the development of cooperative credit banks in the countryside and to get better living conditions in rural territories, lessening socio-economic and financial exclusion.


A case of gastric anisakiasis in a 45-yr-old Oriental woman who had eaten fresh, raw salmon is reported. This is the second case of gastric anisakiasis reported in the United States. The clinical course, endoscopic features, and histological findings are described. With the increased popularity of Japanese restaurants and sushi bars in the United States, the incidence of anisakiasis can be expected to increase. Clinicians and pathologists should be aware of this unusual parasitic infestation in this country.


Abstract. Rapa Nui, an isolated island in the Southeast Pacific, was settled by the Polynesians most likely around 1200 AD and was discovered by the Europeans in 1722 AD. While the Polynesians presumably found a profuse palm woodland on Rapa Nui, the Europeans faced a landscape dominated by grassland. Scientists have examined potential anthropogenic, biological and climatic induced vegetation changes on Rapa Nui. Here, we analyse observational climate data for the last decades and climate model results for the period 800–1750 AD to explore the potential for a climatic-induced vegetation change. A direct influence of the ENSO phenomenon on the climatic parameters of Rapa Nui could not be found in the model simulations. Furthermore, strong climatic trends from a warm Medieval Period to a Little Ice Age or rapid climatic fluctuations due to large volcanic eruptions were not verifiable for the Rapa Nui region, although they are detectable in the simulations for many regions world wide. Hence, we tentatively conclude that large-scale climate changes in the oceanic region around Rapa Nui might be too small to explain strong vegetation changes on the island over the last millennium.


Abstract This cognitive interview study aims to improve the content validity of a newly developed reading motivation instrument for English learners. Previous research has shown there is a significant need for survey developers to conduct cognitive interviews to ensure that in real world settings survey respondents interpret the items as the framers intended. The proposed study focuses on six main patterns of student misinterpretation that could suggest the need for further revision of survey items in order to improve their content and item validity: lexical ambiguity, unclear referential scope, inapplicability, long recall period, complex judgment, and cultural variation. Further implications and suggestions were discussed in relation to both classroom practice and future research.


Abstract— Cell death has been questioned as a mechanism of ventricular failure. In this report, we tested the hypothesis that apoptotic death of myocytes, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts is implicated in the development of the dilated myopathy induced by ventricular pacing. Accumulation of reactive oxygen products such as nitrotyrosine, potentiation of the oxidative stress response by p66shc expression, formation of p53 fragments, release of cytochrome c, and caspase activation were examined to establish whether these events were coupled with apoptotic cell death in the paced dog heart. Myocyte, endothelial cell, and fibroblast apoptosis was detected before indices of severe impairment of cardiac function became apparent. Cell death increased with the duration of pacing, and myocyte death exceeded endothelial cell and fibroblast death throughout. Nitrotyrosine formation and p66shc levels progressively increased with pacing and were associated with cell apoptosis. Similarly, p50 (&Dgr;N) fragments augmented paralleling the degree of cell death in the failing heart. Moreover, cytochrome c release and activation of caspase-9 and -3 increased from 1 to 4 weeks of pacing. In conclusion, cardiac cell death precedes ventricular decompensation and correlates with the time-dependent deterioration of function in this model. Oxidative stress may be critical for activation of apoptosis in the overloaded heart.


Seagrass ecosystem is one distinguish component, which has an important role in tropical ecology. Seagrass also known as a potential organisms that contain bioactive compounds as raw material for medicine, so its distribution is important to be analyzed. The aim of this study were to provided information about distribution, diversity, density, and percent cover of seagrass in Banten Bay. This study was conducted by Line Intercept Transect (LIT) method at three station. There are five species of seagrass that were found in Banten Bay, namely: Cymodocea rotundata, Cymodocea serrulata, Enhalus acoroides, Halophila ovalis, dan Thalassia hemprichii. The highest density of seagras found at Tunda Island (193 individu/m2), and the lowest found at Panjang Island (44 individu/m2). The highest percent cover of seagrass found at Kalih Island (90%), while the lowest found at Panjang Island (62.5%). Enhalus acoroides is the most dominant species of seagrass that found on Banten Bay. The percent cover of seagrass inform that seagrass ecosystem in Banten Bay relatively healthy/wealthy.


The present study was carried out to evaluate acute and subacute toxicity of a hydroalcoholic extract of a mixture (1:1) of A. congensis bark and X. aethiopica fruits used locally in the treatment of diabetes. Acute toxicity of the extract was evaluated in Swiss albino mice. The animals were fed with the hydroalcoholic extract between the doses of 1.0 to 20.0 g/kg body weight and were observed continuously for the first 4 h and for every hour for the next 24 h, then 6 hourly for 48 h. Wistar rats were also fed with different doses of the extract for 30 days and effects on biochemical parameters evaluated (subacute toxicity model). The LD50 of the extract was found to be above 20.0 g/Kg body weight. There was reduction in the plasma glucose and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels, and increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol level in the treated animals. A significant increase in the body weight was observed for groups treated with lower doses of the extract while groups treat with higher doses showed no significant weight increase. Aspartate aminotransferases (AST) and alanine aminotransferases (ALT) levels were not affected at lower doses of the extract but there was increase in creatinine levels in all the treated animals. The extract demonstrated good hypoglycaemic effects by lowering the plasma sugar level and also had some beneficial and reduction effects on cardiovascular risk factors. There was no evidence of drug-induced symptoms or death at all the doses of the extract administered in acute study but subacute results revealed a tendency to cause kidney problems on a long-term use.


A method for calculating the distributed capacitances and resonant frequencies of spiral resonators is described. First, the charge distribution on a spiral is found by a simplified model and the moment method, then the distributed capacitance is calculated. The equivalent inductance of the spiral resonator is then evaluated according to a standard formula, and the resonant frequencies are finally computed. The calculated results are compared with experimental data, and a good agreement between them is shown.


Findings from previous studies demonstrating the effects of perceived social exclusion on social behaviors have been inconsistent. We used self-construal as a moderator to test the effects of perceived social exclusion on recycling behavior. A survey of 606 participants was conducted in Beijing, China. Results show that, for the independent self-construal group, perceived social exclusion had significantly negative effects on their recycling attitudes and subjective norms; in contrast, for the interdependent self-construal group, significantly positive effects were identified. In addition, because of differences in their attitudes toward recycling, their subjective norms, and their perceived behavior control, there was a significant difference in recycling behavior between people with a predominantly independent self-construal and people with a predominantly interdependent self-construal. These findings fill gaps in the literature concerning the effects of perceived social exclusion on recycling behavior.


Neurodegenerative diseases share pathogenic mechanisms at the cellular level including protein misfolding, excitotoxicity and altered RNA homeostasis among others. Recent advances have shown that the genetic causes underlying these pathologies overlap, hinting at the existence of a genetic network for neurodegeneration. This is perhaps best illustrated by the recent discoveries of causative mutations for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal degeneration (FTD). Once thought to be distinct entities, it is now recognized that these diseases exist along a genetic spectrum. With this wealth of discoveries comes the need to develop new genetic models of ALS and FTD to investigate not only pathogenic mechanisms linked to causative mutations, but to uncover potential genetic interactions that may point to new therapeutic targets. Given the conservation of many disease genes across evolution, Caenorhabditis elegans is an ideal system to investigate genetic interactions amongst these genes. Here we review the use of C. elegans to model ALS and investigate a putative genetic network for ALS/FTD that may extend to other neurological disorders.


In recent years, the incidence of dental erosion caused by the ingestion of acidic foods and drinks, including sports drinks, has been increasing in Japan and elsewhere. Therefore, the problems associated with this injury can no longer be ignored in dental clinical practice. The ingestion of these foods and drinks is important from the viewpoint of overall health and disease prevention. For example, fermented foods, such as Japanese pickles, enhance the nutritional value of foodstuffs and promote the absorption of nutrients into the body, and sports drinks are useful for preventing heat stroke and dehydration. Therefore, eliminating these intakes is not a viable solution. In this paper, we outline the mechanism of dental erosion caused by acidic beverages and also describe the effectiveness of alkaline ionized water (AIW) at preventing acid erosion. Given the fact that the complete elimination of acidic beverage consumption is highly unlikely, remedies such as the use of alkaline ionized water (AIW) may be helpful.


ABSTRACT The ability of poliovirus to propagate in neuronal cells can be reduced by introducing appropriate nucleotide substitutions into the viral genome. Specific mutations scattered throughout the poliovirus genome yielded the live attenuated vaccine strains of poliovirus. Neuron-specific propagation deficits of the Sabin strains are partially encrypted within a confined region of the internal ribosomal entry site (IRES), which carries attenuating point mutations in all three serotypes. Recently, high levels of neurovirulence attenuation were achieved with genetically engineered polioviruses containing heterologous IRES elements. This is exemplified with poliovirus recombinants replicating under control of a human rhinovirus type 2 (HRV2) IRES element. We have carried out experiments delineating the genetic basis for neuronal IRES function. Neuronal dysfunction of the HRV2 IRES is determined mainly by IRES stem-loop domain V, the locus for attenuating point mutations within the Sabin strains. Neuronal incompetence associated with HRV2 IRES domain V is substantially more pronounced than that observed with the attenuating IRES point mutation of the Sabin serotype 1 vaccine strain. Mix-and-match recombination of polio and HRV2 IRES domain V suggests that the attenuation phenotype correlates with overall structural features rather than primary sequence. Our experiments have identified HEK 293 cells as a novel system for the study of neuron-specific replication phenotypes of poliovirus. This cell line, originally derived from embryonic human kidney, has recently been described to display neuronal characteristics. We report propagation properties in HEK 293 cells for poliovirus recombinants with attenuated neurovirulence in experimental animals that corroborate this observation.


The article is focused on research of the phenomenon of torture in the XXI century. In the article, the author presents a thesis that explains not only the resumption of torture as a phenomenon in the second half of the XX century but also spreading of the phenomenon of torture in the XXI century with corresponding dispersal of social control networks and, consequently, increasing of types and kinds of deviants. Thus, on the one hand, national criminal justice systems cannot cope with this task – to deal with deviants only within the formal procedures enshrined in national law against the background of increasing classes, types, types and, consequently, the number of deviants. On the other hand, we have the data of numerous studies and surveys of the population of Europe and North America, where from 1/3 to 1/2 of citizens allow the use of torture against terrorists for the purpose of the same "security". The article concludes that the policy of preventing torture and combating social practices of torture in the XXI century is a reflection of a complex political dualistic process: an attempt to develop more "secure society" with corresponding failure to "secure" it. The article analyzes the models that explain the political preconditions for the use of torture in the second half of the XX – early XXI century for the purposes of "protection of society". Thus, scientists distinguish three models: 1) "security model"; 2) "stability model"; 3) "legitimation model". The article emphasizes that in the society of the XXI century torture exists within two interrelated political spheres, where the first of the spheres is a formalized policy of combating torture, which is shaped and implemented within universal regional and national structures. The second one is informal torture policy, which is shaped within the framework of post-modern modulation of panoptic risk management, where torture is an instrument of modern social control.


The rate of psychoactive substance (PAS) use in the adolescent group is increasing around the world. Drug abuse has a negative impact on students' education especially that of secondary school students. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of psychoactive substance use and knowledge of the health consequences among secondary school students in Ogun State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was carried out among 528 consenting students selected using random sampling method. Data obtained using a validated modified World Health Organization's guidelines questionnaire were analyzed with SPSS 20, p-Value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Majority (78.8%) were within the age group 15-18 years, males were 61.4%. Alcohol (95.0%) ranked first of all the substances been consumed among the current PAS users. Age was highly significantly associated with PAS use. Average knowledge of health consequences of PAS use was 11.5%. There is need for continuous health educational intervention to boost the respondents' knowledge about health consequences of uses of psychoactive substances.


Introduction Current options to promote joint comfort are limited to medicines that can reduce pain but can also have adverse effects. Collagen, a major component of joint cartilage, is found in the diet, particularly in meat. Its hydrolysed form, collagen hydrolysate (CH), is well absorbed. CH may stimulate the joint matrix cells to synthesize collagen, so helping to maintain the structure of the joint and potentially to aid joint comfort. Methods In a randomized, double-blind, controlled multicentre trial, 250 subjects with primary osteoarthritis of the knee were given 10 g CH daily for 6 months. Results There was a significant improvement in knee joint comfort as assessed by visual analogue scales to assess pain and the Womac pain subscale. Subjects with the greatest joint deterioration, and with least intake of meat protein in their habitual diets, benefited most. Conclusion CH is safe and effective and warrants further consideration as a food ingredient.


Although some scholars raise alarm about societal harm emerging from Big Data practices, critical social theory (CST) Information Systems research on the structures and dynamics driving Big Data practices is rare. In this research commentary, we interrogate how tech firms use social practices and platform design to strategically manipulate individuals into accepting datafication and data assetization that accrue positive data network effects for themselves and mostly negative data network effects (economic loss, social and privacy harm) for individuals. We draw on the ideas of Heidegger and Marcuse to critically question the Big Data paradigm in order to develop better understanding of the social implications for individuals and society. Using the concepts of false consciousness, digital entrapment, and Faustian bargains, we critically inquire into the Big Data practices that keep us tethered to digital platforms. Specifically, we interrogate sociomaterial structures that socially condition individuals into a digital habitus and to identify themselves as homo digitalis, who view all their "relations" (social and economic) as digital. This social conditioning reproduces a false consciousness that constricts our worldview, undermines our rational choices, and enables the risky compromises we make with tech companies that manipulate and exploit us with their increasingly oppressive Big Data practices and related dark patterns. We critically analyze the case of Microsoft Viva to provide an illustration of how mundane digital tools can condition our reality and entrap us into an open prison. We argue that if we do not critically interrogate our false consciousness of the digital and understand how digital giants colonize our social systems by structurally embedding Big Data practices, we will continue to be susceptible to manipulation and digital entrapment. Ongoing risky compromises with tech firms will erode the very foundations of the "good life," freedom, liberty, and personal privacy, and they will institutionalize the open prison. The CST explanation we propose and the research agenda we outline are meant to encourage research into solutions to the digital entrapment problem. History: Suprateek Sarker, Senior Editor; Robert Gregory, Associate Editor. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.2020.0588 .


Abstract Resonant optical cavities are essential components in mid-infrared applications. However, typical film-type cavities require multilayer stacks with a micron-thick spacer due to mid-infrared wavelengths, and their performance is limited by narrow frequency tunability and angular sensitivity. We propose and experimentally demonstrate the subwavelength-scale (≈λ0/150) resonant nanocavity arrays that enhance the absorption spectrum of the device in the mid-infrared (10–12 microns) via excitation of coupled surface plasmon–phonon polaritons. The proposed metal–insulator–polar dielectric (gold–silicon–silicon carbide) structure supports a guided mode of the coupled surface polaritons in the lateral direction while vertically confining the mid-infrared wave within the 80 nm thick dielectric spacer. In particular, the subwavelength-scale (≈λ0/10) gratings are imposed to form Fabry–Pérot cavity arrays displaying angle-insensitive and frequency-tunable absorption of up to 80% of the optical power in the mid-infrared. Our work should benefit diverse mid-infrared applications and novel designs of polariton-based photonic devices.


Internet of things. The term Internet of Things was used by Kevin Ashton in 1999. IOT is like a vehicle used to as a "Smart Devices" and other items like Electronics, softwares.IOT words was Invented from a two words "Internet "and "Things". Internet is a vast network. The Internet is the global system of interconnected computer networks that use the protocol to link devices. Internet is used in daily life to communicate, search information etc. things means important information or devices. In recent days a population is gained day by a day and smart cities have gained popularity. In this paper we present a "IOT BASED TICKET CHECKING SYSTEM". This system is consist of an IOT module that is used to check the tickets of passenger in trains. This system describes the whole architecture of a train system.


This exploratory study examines the use of agent-based modeling for the dynamic assessment of the hazards associated with flooding responses. While flooding is the specific agent used the techniques are applicable to any type of hazard. The equation upon which the model is built considers three components of vulnerability: geophysical, built, social environments and one component of resiliency, public safety response organizations. The three components of vulnerability combine to create an initial vulnerability level. The public safety response capability is subtracted to provide an adjusted vulnerability. The adjusted vulnerability varies as response assets fluctuate between available and assigned. The development of the agent characteristics for both vulnerability and resiliency requires quantification of the interdependencies of the environment as well as the interaction among the response agencies in a complex adaptive system. The result of the study is anticipated to be a realistic method of conducting an assessment of hazards through the use of vulnerability and resiliency models and a computer simulation that allows the user to evaluate potential impacts.


Process tomography systems need a long-distance high-speed serial link for data communication between sensing electronics and an image reconstruction computer, normally a PC. Using Transputer link adaptor chips (C011) and optical fibres, a low-cost serial data transmission link has been developed. A PC-XT extension card with an interfacing circuit is embedded in a PC, forming one terminal of the serial link. The other terminal can have either two 8-bit parallel ports (input and output respectively) to interface with logic circuits, or one 8-bit bi-directional port to interface with another microprocessor. The serial link with the optical fibres can transmit data at a speed of 10 or 20 Mbits per second over a distance as long as required. It has been used successfully in an electrical capacitance tomography system.


Ebastine is a second-generation histamine H1 receptor antagonist that is used to attenuate allergic inflammation. Ebastine has also shown to affect hair loss; however, the immunoregulatory effect of ebastine cannot completely exclude the possibility of spontaneous hair regrowth in ebastine-treated mice. In this study, we examined the effects of ebastine on the growth of human follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPC) using a WST-1 cell proliferation assay and a bromodeoxyuridine incorporation assay. Ebastine was shown to significantly increase the proliferation of HFDPC. The expression levels of cell-cycle regulatory proteins and an antiapoptotic protein were increased in ebastine-treated HFDPC. Furthermore, elevated expression levels of phospho-AKT and phospho-p44/42 extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) were observed in ebastine-treated HFDPC. Ebastine-mediated HFDPC growth was completely reversed by blocking ERK kinase. The results from our present study suggest that the regulation of HFDPC proliferation by ebastine might be directly involved in hair regrowth through the ERK signaling pathway.


In order to determine the incidence of black hole accretion-driven nuclear activity in nearby galaxies, we have compiled radio data for the LINERs, composite LINER,/Hn and Seyfert galaxies from a complete magnitude-limited sample of bright nearby galaxies (Palomar sample). Our results show an overall radio detection rate of 54% (22% of all bright nearby galaxies) and we estimate that at least ~50% (~20% of all bright nearby galaxies) are true AGN. By comparing the radio luminosity function of the LINERs, composite LINER/Hll and Seyferts galaxies in the Palomar sample with those of selected moderate-redshift AGN, we fhd that our sources naturally extend the radio luminosity function of powerful AGN down to powers of about 10 times that of Sgr A*.


In this study, we provide new data to understand the groundwater flow patterns in the Llanos Basin and their impact on oil biodegradation and the geothermal regimes as well as how the structural styles and anthropogenic activities impact these patterns. Previous studies suggest an active flow of groundwater and variable salinities whose spatial pattern is apparently unrelated to topographically driven groundwater flow. These observations have led to different hypotheses regarding the influence of groundwater flow on Llanos Basin geothermal gradients and oil biodegradation. In this contribution, we present data regarding the hydraulic heads, salinities, geothermal gradients, and structural styles of the Llanos Basin to propose hypotheses explaining these observations. Structural cross sections and subsurface stratigraphic correlations allow us to suggest that the pattern of flow is best explained by a correlation between groundwater flow and structural styles. A basement map of the Llanos Basin confirms that the most important factor controlling geothermal gradients is the type of basement, whereas the factor of groundwater flow appears to be of secondary importance. The evolution of the basin and the frequent absence of correlation between fresh water and the more biodegraded oils support the interpretation that biodegradation is controlled by an older flow of water that started as early as the Oligocene. Finally, mass balances suggest that the temporal scales and volumes of groundwater flow are much larger than the scales observed during the development of the oil fields.


The purpose of the project was to provide cost data and information for use in determining the total cost to the consumer for anti-theft parts marking for the 1987 model year. All cost evaluation information has been compiled from components used in the manufacturing of anti-theft tags and application by manufacturers on required components of vehicles.


Wireless sensor networks have attracted much research attention in recent years and can be used in many different applications. That paper presents the several energy efficient clustering algorithms such as LEACH, PEGASIS and VGA. Energy Efficiency is a crucial factor for the performance of wireless sensor networks (WSN). Clustering is an efficient approach to capitalize the energy of energy constraint sensor nodes in wireless sensor networks (WSNs). LEACH is a major breakthrough for clustering technique by rotating the role of clusterhead among nodes. LEACH, PEGASIS and VGA is able to distribute energy dissipation evenly throughout the sensors, doubling the useful system lifetime for the networks. Clustering technique has been proven to be an effective approach for reducing energy consumption. It also can increase the scalability and lifetime of the network. Clustering facilitate the network self management and make it easy to devise the communication protocols. Keywords: - Clustering Algorithm; Wireless sensor network; Energy efficiency; LEACH; PEGASIS and VGA


Seismic and geodetic studies were carried out before, during, and after underground exploitation of a coal bed in Katowice – Kleofas Coal Mine, located in the Upper Silesia Coal Basin, Poland. Development of a subsidence trough was completed approximately 3 months after passage of a longwall exploitation in the coal seam. This was the time required for the subsidence trough to appear on the surface, which was confirmed by levelling measurements. Sharp changes in the elastic parameters were observed on each profile during subsidence trough development. This observation can result from changing tension and compression forces caused by increase and/or decrease of the elastic parameters of the rock mass. After completion of subsidence trough development, the rock mass appeared to return to its isotropic state and the observed changes ceased. Some minor fluctuations were noted, but they probably resulted from changes in groundwater levels, which might have affected the measured parameters.


Substantial progress has been made on understanding the evolution of Late Pleistocene/Holocene hunter–fisher–gatherers. A growing body of evidence suggests that most of these groups did not, as was long assumed, remain relatively static and marginal over long periods. One area that has a rich, complex, and dynamic hunter–fisher–gatherer prehistory, which persisted until the middle of the 19th century AD, is the Hokkaido region. While empirical information about the hunter–fisher–gatherer archaeology in this region is increasing, understanding of the specific mechanisms driving the cultural trajectories remains insufficient. What specific mechanisms generated the observed hunter–fisher–gatherer cultural patterns and which role climate change played in these processes are two main research questions of the ongoing Baikal–Hokkaido Archaeology Project (BHAP, http://bhap.artsrn.ualberta.ca). Within this scope, we have (1) examined the spatio-temporal distribution of archaeological excavation sites in the Hokkaido region and (2) have evaluated the findings in view of key palaeoclimate records from the greater study area and the preliminary results of the palaeobotanical analysis of the RK12 sediment core from Lake Kushu (45° 25′58′′N, 141°02′05′′E; Rebun Island). The continuous and well-dated RK12 core covering the last ca. 17,000 years has been identified as a key palaeoenvironmental record for the region of northern Japan. The spatio-temporal analysis of archaeological sites in the Hokkaido region exhibits hunter–fisher–gatherer population dynamics from the Upper Palaeolithic (>14,000 cal yr BP) to the Ainu period (ca. 700–100 cal yr BP). Most cultural transitions coincide with periods of climate and environmental change. The data support the hypothesis that Palaeolithic subsistence was, at least partly, based on terrestrial hunting. The subsistence strategy shifted towards marine resources and plant exploitation alongside the early phases of the Jomon cultural complex paralleled by lateglacial climate warming, rising sea levels, and a change in regional marine currents. With continuous Holocene climate warming, site numbers increased suggesting a rise in population, which culminated in the Middle Jomon period (5000–4000 cal yr BP). At the same time, Jomon subsistence experienced a process of diversification and intensification in exploitation of natural food resources. These changes in the food economy probably allowed the persistence of the Middle Jomon culture beyond the Holocene temperature optimum (around 5000 cal yr BP). After, the population decreased until the end of the Jomon culture accompanied by a trend towards cooler climate conditions. During the Satsumon/Okhotsk culture periods (1500–700 cal yr BP) population re-increased. While the spread of Satsumon people into Hokkaido appears to have been controlled by human agency, immigration of Okhotsk people may be linked to climate cooling in the regions north of Hokkaido. Sites representing the following cultural period (Ainu, ca. 700–100 cal yr BP) re-decrease and show a concentration in eastern Hokkaido. It remains unclear what brought about the Satsumon–Ainu cultural transition. Thus far, there is no indication for any social or climatic factors having influenced this cultural transformation. Although most parts of the Hokkaido forager trajectory appear to be linked with environmental changes, causal relations need to be verified by future high-resolution and well-dated regional palaeoenvironmental records (e.g. the RK12 HQR05-P12 JpGU-AGU Joint Meeting 2017


"Merely Judgment" uses affirmative action in government contracting, legislative vetoes, flag burning, hate speech, and school prayer as windows for understanding how Supreme Court decisions send signals regarding the Court's policy preferences to institutions and actors (such as lower courts, legislatures, executive branches, and interest groups), and then traces the responses of these same institutions and actors to Court decisions. The lower courts nearly always abide by Supreme Court precedent, but, to a surprising degree, elected branches and other institutions avoid complying with Supreme Court decisions. To explain the persistence of unconstitutional policies and legislation, Sweet isolates the ability of institutions to derail the litigation process. Merely Judgment explores the mechanisms by which litigants and their peers have escaped from the clutches of litigation and thus effectively ignored, evaded, and trumped the Supreme Court.


In the course of infecting their hosts, pathogenic bacteria secrete numerous effectors, namely, bacterial proteins that pervert host cell biology. Many Gram-negative bacteria, including context-dependent human pathogens, use a type IV secretion system (T4SS) to translocate effectors directly into the cytosol of host cells. Various type IV secreted effectors (T4SEs) have been experimentally validated to play crucial roles in virulence by manipulating host cell gene expression and other processes. Consequently, the identification of novel effector proteins is an important step in increasing our understanding of host-pathogen interactions and bacterial pathogenesis. Here, we train and compare six machine learning models, namely, Naïve Bayes (NB), K-nearest neighbor (KNN), logistic regression (LR), random forest (RF), support vector machines (SVMs) and multilayer perceptron (MLP), for the identification of T4SEs using 10 types of selected features and 5-fold cross-validation. Our study shows that: (1) including different but complementary features generally enhance the predictive performance of T4SEs; (2) ensemble models, obtained by integrating individual single-feature models, exhibit a significantly improved predictive performance and (3) the 'majority voting strategy' led to a more stable and accurate classification performance when applied to predicting an ensemble learning model with distinct single features. We further developed a new method to effectively predict T4SEs, Bastion4 (Bacterial secretion effector predictor for T4SS), and we show our ensemble classifier clearly outperforms two recent prediction tools. In summary, we developed a state-of-the-art T4SE predictor by conducting a comprehensive performance evaluation of different machine learning algorithms along with a detailed analysis of single- and multi-feature selections.


The Xbox is basically a PC, so with a little work you can upgrade it to run your OS of choice.


Abstract Four types of chili (Capsicum annuum) extracts, categorized according to color; green and red, and size; small and large were studied in Hep-G2 cells. Red small (RS) chili had an LC50 value of 0.378 ± 0.029 compared to green big (GB) 1.034 ± 0.061 and green small (GS) 1.070 ± 0.21 mg/mL. Red big (RB) was not cytotoxic. Capsaicin content was highest in RS and produced a greater percentage sub-G1 cells (6.47 ± 1.8%) after 24 h compared to GS (2.96 ± 1.3%) and control (1.29 ± 0.8%) cells. G2/M phase was reduced by GS compared to RS and control cells. RS at the LC50 concentration contained 1.6 times the amount of pure capsaicin LC50 to achieve the same effect of capsaicin alone. GS and GB capsaicin content at the LC50 value was lower (0.2 and 0.66, respectively) compared to the amount of capsaicin to achieve a similar reduction in cell growth.


Objective  To use the Robson Ten Group Classification (RTGC) to analyze cesarean section (CS) rates in a Honduran maternity hospital, with focus in groups that consider induction of labor. Methods  Cross-sectional study. Women admitted for childbirth (August 2017 to October 2018) were classified according to the RTGC. The CS rate for each group and the contribution to the overall CS rate was calculated, with further analyses of the induction of labor among term primiparous (group 2a), term multiparous (group 4a), and cases with one previous CS (group 5.1). Results  A total of 4,356 women were considered, with an overall CS rate of 26.1%. Group 3 was the largest group, with 38.6% (1,682/4,356) of the cases, followed by Group 1, with 30.8% (1,342/4,356), and Group 5, with 10.3% (450/4,356). Considering the contribution to overall CS rates per group, Group 5 contributed with 30.4% (345/1,136) of the CSs and within this group, 286/345 (82.9%) had 1 previous CS, with a CS rate > 70%. Groups 1 and 3, with 26.6% (291/1,136) and 13.5% (153/1,136), respectively, were the second and third larger contributors to the CS rate. Groups 2a and 4a had high induction success, with low CS rates (18.4 and 16.9%, respectively). Conclusion  The RTGC is a useful tool to assess CS rates in different healthcare facilities. Groups 5, 1, and 3 were the main contributors to the CS rate, and groups 2 and 4 showed the impact and importance of induction of labor. These findings may support future interventions to reduce unnecessary CS, especially among primiparous and in women with previous CS.


Abstract To gain insight into factors which may influence future acceptance of dysphagia management via telerehabilitation, patients' perceptions were examined before and after a telerehabilitation assessment session. Forty adult patients with dysphagia (M =66 years, SD =16.25) completed pre- and post-session questionnaires which consisted of 14 matched questions worded to suit pre- and post-conditions. Questions explored comfort with the use of telerehabilitation, satisfaction with audio and video quality, benefits of telerehabilitation assessments and patients' preferred assessment modality. Questions were rated on a 5-point scale (1 = strongly disagree, 3 = unsure, 5 = strongly agree). Patients' comfort with assessment via telerehabilitation was high in over 80% of the group both pre- and post-assessment. Pre-assessment, patients were unsure what to expect with the auditory and visual aspects of the videoconference, however there were significant positive changes reported post-experience. In relation to perceived benefits of telerehabilitation services in general, most patients believed in the value of telerehabilitation and post-assessment this increased to 90–100% agreement. Although 92% felt they would be comfortable receiving services via telerehabilitation, 45% of patients indicated ultimate preference for a traditional face-to-face assessment. The data highlight that patients are interested in and willing to receive services via telerehabilitation; however, any concerns should be addressed pre-assessment.


Objectives The recommended front of neck access procedure in can't intubate, can't oxygenate scenarios relies on palpation of the cricothyroid membrane (CTM), or dissection of the neck down to the larynx if CTM is impalpable. CTM palpation is particularly challenging in obese patients, most likely due to an increased distance between the skin and the CTM (CTM depth). The aims of this study were to measure the CTM depth in a representative clinical sample, and to quantify the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and CTM depth. Methods This is a retrospective analysis of 355 clinical CT scans performed at a teaching hospital over an 8-month period. CTM depth was measured by two radiologists, and mean CTM depth calculated. Age, gender, height and weight were recorded, and BMI calculated. Linear relationships between patient characteristics and CTM depth were assessed in order to derive a predictive equation for calculating CTM depth. The variables included for this model were those with a strong association with CTM depth, that is, a p value of 0.10 or less. Results Mean CTM depth was 8.12 mm (IQR 6.36–11.70). There was no association between CTM depth and sex (β −0.33, 95% CI −1.33 to 0.68, p=0.53), height (cm) (β 0.01, 95% CI −0.05 to 0.06, p=0.79) or age (years) (β −0.01, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.15, p=0.62). Increasing weight (kg) (β 0.12, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.15, p<0.001) and BMI (kg/m3) (β 0.52, 95% CI 0.44 to 0.60, p<0.001) were strongly associated with CTM depth. Predicted CTM depth increased from 6.4 mm (95% CI 4.9 to 8.1) at a BMI of 20 kg/m2 to 16.8 (95% CI 13.7 to 20.1) at BMI 40 kg/m2. Conclusion CTM depth was strongly associated with BMI in a retrospective analysis of patients having clinical CT scans.


Abstract A 1995 surge of Variegated Glacier, Alaska, USA, is discussed in the context of its six 20th-century predecessors, especially the previous surge in 1982/83 which was studied in detail. The average time between surge initiations is 15 years. The 1995 surge was considerably weaker than its predecessors, having a single phase or at most a very weak second phase. The 1995 surge confirms that there is a seasonal cycle, with surge initiation in winter and termination in the first part of the melt season, and a correlation between weather and both surge termination date and surge extent. Two days of record high temperature correlated with the termination of the 1995 surge. The most obvious issue is the absence of a strong second surge phase (as there was in the 1982/83 surge) culminating in a surge extent more in line with that of the predecessors. This is considered in the light of a simple criterion for surge initiation and re-initiation which depends upon the evolving basal shear stress.


Protected areas are increasingly used as a tool to fight against deforestation. This paper presents new evidence on the spillover effects that occur in the decision to deforest and the creation of protected areas in local administrative entities in Brazilian Legal Amazon over the 2001-2011 period. We also highlight the interdependence between these two decisions. We proceed in two steps. First, we assumed that protected areas are created to stop the negative effects of deforestation on biodiversity. In order to control for the non-random location of protected areas, biodiversity indicators are used as excluded instruments. This model is estimated using a spatial model with instrumental variables. Second, a simultaneous system of spatially interrelated cross sectional equations is used to take into account the interdependence between the decision to deforest and the creation of protected areas. Our results show (i) that deforestation activities of neighboring municipalities are complements and that (ii) there is evidence of leakage in the sense that protected areas may shift deforestation to neighboring municipalities. The net effect of protected areas on deforestation remains however negative; it is moreover stable across two sub-periods. Our results confirm the important role of protected areas to curb deforestation and thereby biodiversity erosion. Moreover, they show that strategic interactions deserve attention in the effectiveness of conservation policies.


BACKGROUND
Little information is available regarding the clinical history and long-term prognosis of patients with Eisenmenger syndrome without diagnosis until adulthood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the long-term prognosis and factors predictive of the prognosis in patients with Eisenmenger syndrome diagnosis in adulthood.

METHODS AND RESULTS
We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 106 patients with Eisenmenger syndrome diagnosis in adulthood. Presence of congenital heart defects had neither been noticed nor confirmed with cardiac catheterization until adulthood in most of the patients in our study. After the diagnosis was confirmed, 42 patients died during a mean follow-up period of 7.6 years. The mean survival time from diagnostic catheterization to death was 5.4 years in nonsurvivors. Survival rate was 98% at 1 year, 77% at 5 years, and 58% at 10 years, with the Kaplan-Meier method. Elevated right atrial pressure (>7 mm Hg) and reduced systemic blood flow (<2.9 L/min) were independently associated with increased mortality rate of adults with Eisenmenger syndrome.

CONCLUSION
Patients with Eisenmenger syndrome without diagnosis until adulthood had a poor prognosis. Reduced systemic blood flow and elevated right atrial pressure were associated with high mortality rates in adults with Eisenmenger syndrome.


The World Health Organization acknowledges that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in adults worldwide, and one third of all causes of death. Chest pain accounts for 6% of all visits to emergency departments. Proper diagnosis of those cases with normal or nondiagnostic electrocardiogram is therefore essential, allowing adequate risk stratification and appropriate treatment. The usefulness of different imaging techniques to study these patients in the acute setting is assessed, with emphasis on Nuclear Cardiology techniques. The experience of the Institute of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery in Havana, Cuba, with regard to the use of these techniques in patients with acute chest pain, is reported.


A rapid glasshouse-based bioassay method to screen large numbers of cotton plants for responses to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum (Fov) was developed. Different Fov inoculum concentrations and methods of inoculation were assessed using resistant and susceptible cotton cultivars. Cotton seeds were planted directly into Fov-inoculated soil. Studies of seed germination, seedling establishment, seedling mortality and fusarium wilt symptoms (i.e. stunting, foliar symptoms and vascular browning) were performed to optimize the bioassay parameters. Growing seedlings in Fov-inoculated soils at 5 × 104 or 1 × 105 CFU g−1 soil, in individual seedling tubes with 12 h at 28–30°C and 12 h at 15–18°C, gave consistent results when assessing Fov disease responses 6 weeks after inoculation. When fusarium wilt resistance ranks (FWRRs) and vascular browning index (VBI) means of 18 Australian and other cotton cultivars from the Fov glasshouse bioassay were compared against their fusarium field performance ranks (F-ranks), assessed on adult plants for cotton cultivar release, Pearson's correlation was highly significant for both comparisons. The level of congruence between field and glasshouse data indicated that this protocol should be an effective tool for large-scale screening for Fov-resistance responses in diverse germplasm and breeding populations and for advancing genetic research to develop molecular markers for Fov resistance in cotton.


ABSTRACT Introduction:Ventriculomegaly and hydrocephalus (HCP) are sometimes a bewildering sequela of decompressive craniectomy (DC). The distinguishing criteria between both are less well defined. Majority of the studies quoted in the literature have defined HCP radiologically, rather than considering the clinical status of the patient. Accordingly, these patients have been treated with permanent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion procedures. We hypothesize that asymptomatic ventriculomegaly following DC should undergo aspiration with cranioplasty and be followed up regularly. Materials and Methods: All patients with post-DC who were scheduled for cranioplasty and satisfied the radiological criteria for HCP were included. These patients were categorized into two groups. Group 1 included ventriculomegaly with clinical signs attributable to HCP and Group 2 constituted ventriculomegaly but no clinical signs attributable to HCP. All patients in Group 1 underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunt followed by cranioplasty, whereas all patients in Group 2 underwent cranioplasty along with simultaneous ventriculostomy and temporary aspiration of the lateral ventricle. All patients were regularly followed as the outpatient basis. Results: There were 21 patients who developed ventriculomegaly following DC. There were 10 patients in Group 1 and 11 patients in Group 2. The average duration of follow-up was from 6 months to 2 years. Two patients in the shunt group - (group 1) had over drainage and required revision. One patient in aspiration group - (group 2) required permanent CSF diversion. Conclusion: Cranioplasty with aspiration is a viable option in selected group of patients in whom there is ventriculomegaly but no signs or symptoms attributable to HCP.


Fluorination of low-density polyethylene, polyacetylene, and poly(vinyl alcohol) was carried out using SF6 gas under electric discharge. The polymers were partially fluorinated and the extent of fluorination was more in the case of poly (vinyl alcohol) than the other two polymers. The fluorinated polymers were characterized by elemental analysis (Fluorine), IR, and x-ray diffraction. Optical transparency of the films was also measured. The fluorinated polymers show better solvent resistance and decreased transparency than the virgin polymer. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.