The purpose of this research opportunity was to investigate the methods and roles of cell signaling via protein cascades and their connections to the functionality of the immune system. During my summer internship, I worked with investigators at the United States Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) to develop and test the activity of man-made protease cascades that could someday mirror the complement system in its aggressive response to specific signal molecules. My research experience inspired me to develop a unit for a second year Biology/AP Biology course. Students will examine the effects of several factors, including protease concentration, substrate concentration, and a non-cascade reaction, on reaction rates through construction of both physical models and simulated protease cascades. In this unit, students first work with a hands-on physical manipulative model to familiarize them with how a protein cascade works. Then, all of the students will work in tandem on a kinesthetic activity modeling exactly how protein cascades behave. This activity allows for a cost-effective method of demonstrating protease cascades without expensive lab equipment and reagents. Students translate their knowledge into the application stage when they examine how protease cascades work in the human body and discuss various uses and effects of cascades, such as protein kinases, on the immune system.


This project involves the fabrication and testing of microporous, polymer membranes designed to remove minute amounts of toxic air pollutants such as formaldehyde from air streams. The hypothesis to be tested is that active, the silver contained within the porous polymer membranes results in high formaldehyde retention.Monolayers consist of different sizes of sPS particles are assembled first on the silicon wafers by spin coating method and convective assembly method, respectively. Then each kind of monolayer with one dimension of sPS particles is deposited with a nanometer scaled silver thin film with a bench top metal evaporator. The porous membranes are produced by assembly of close-packed colloidal crystals of silver capped polystyrene template particles and subsequent infiltration with polyurethane prepolymer. The prepolymer is cured by UV exposure. The sPS particles are removed from the particle polymer membrane by treatment with organic solvents resulting in the formation of inverse opal structures. Silver does not dissolve in the organic solvents and cannot leave the pores due to the small size of connecting holes in an inverse opal. All the monolayers, cylindrical colloidal crystals and microcapillaries after infiltration of polyurethane had been characterized by optical microscope, and the porous membranes had been characterized by SEM.The application of porous membranes with silver caps is to absorb formaldehyde in the air, while in fact the silver caps are oxidized and become Ag2O, which will initiate a gas-phase/solid reaction with formaldehyde. In the future, TiO2 will be applied together with Ag2O, since TiO2 is another good absorbent for formaldehyde


Chemosensory Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels on airway sensory nerves are potential targets for the treatment of chemical-induced respiratory pathologies. Therefore, we examined the role of TRPA1 and TRPV1 in a mouse model of allergic chemical-induced airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). On days 1 and 8, wild type (WT) C57Bl/6 mice were dermally treated with 1% toluene-2,4-diisocyanate (TDI) or vehicle (acetone/olive oil). On day 15, mice received a single intranasal challenge with 0.1% TDI or vehicle. In a first set-up, these mice received an IP injection of the NK1R antagonist RP67580 , prior to the challenge. In a second set-up, the TDI challenge was replaced by a TRPA1 or TRPV1 agonist challenge. We performed in vitro intracellular calcium imaging experiments using Chinese Hamster Ovarian (CHO) cells, selectively expressing mTRPA1 or mTRPV1. A challenge with TDI evoked a 50% decrease in respiratory frequency immediately after the intranasal challenge, indicative for sensory irritation. One day later, TDI-sensitized and challenged mice showed AHR, without signs of lung inflammation. TDI-treated mice, injected with the NK1R antagonist did not develop AHR, compared to vehicle-injected mice. Replacing the TDI challenge with a specific TRPA1 or TRPV1 agonist did also not induce AHR in TDI-treated mice. The in vitro experiment showed that 0.001% TDI induced an increased calcium influx in mTRPA1-, but not TRPV1-expressing CHO cells. These results indicate an important role for TRP channels in our mouse model. Yet, merely activating TRP channels in the challenge phase is not sufficient to induce AHR, indicating the importance of the allergen-specific challenge.


In American Sign Language (ASL), a receiver watches the signer and receives language visually. In contrast, when using tactile ASL, a variety of ASL, the deaf-blind receiver receives language by placing a hand on top of the signer's hand. In the study described in this article we compared the functions and frequency of the signs YES and #NO in tactile ASL and visual ASL. We found that YES and/or #NO were used for twelve functions in both. There was, however, some variation. In one environment YES occurred in tactile ASL but not in visual ASL. With regard to frequency, the two signs occurred far more often in tactile ASL. Unexpectedly, significant variation was also found within visual ASL, depending on the number of interviewees in a session. YES and #NO were used more frequently with two or more interviewees and less often when only one interviewee was present. These findings led us to the concept of a "visibility continuum" to account for the variation between visual and tactile ASL, as well as for the variation within visual ASL. The data also reveal variation in tactile ASL that correlates with role and gender, as well as the age at which a participant started using tactile ASL (i.e., similar to age-of-acquisition effects).


Knowledge distillation is an effective tool to compress large pre-trained convolutional neural networks (CNNs) or their ensembles into models applicable to mobile and embedded devices. However, with expected flops or latency, existing methods are hand-crafted heuristics. They propose to pre-define the target student network for knowledge distillation, which may be sub-optimal because it requires much effort to explore a powerful student from the large design space. In this paper, we develop a novel teacher guided neural architecture search method to directly search for a student network with flexible channel and layer sizes. Specifically, we define the search space as the number of the channels/layers, which is sampled based on the probability distribution and is learned by minimizing the search objective of the student network. The maximum probability for the size in each distribution serves as the final searched width and depth of the target student network. Extensive experiments on a variety of face recognition benchmarks have demonstrated the superiority of our method over the state-of-the-art alternatives.


The problem of validity of the semi-phenomenological model of collisionality dependence of the polarization current contribution into the generalized Rutherford equation for neoclassical tearing modes proposed by Wilson H R et al (1996 Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 38 A149) and later discussed and analysed by Maraschek M et al (1999 Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 41 L1) is considered. It is shown that the collisionality dependence of the polarization current in this model contradicts that in the theory of linear MHD instabilities. Because of this, the above model is, to some extent, ad hoc . Since this model cannot be substantiated by any theory developed up until now, it should be used with care for evaluation of the plasma behaviour in ITER. The discussed disagreement between experiments, for which interpretation of this model was used, and a recent theory of magnetic islands may serve as a stimulus for further development of the theory.


The recently discovered [4+1]-spirocyclization of nitroalkenes to indoles provided a convenient new approach to 2-(1H-indol-2-yl)acetonitriles. However, this reaction was complicated by the formation of inert 3-(2-nitroethyl)-1H-indole byproducts. Herein, we offer a workaround this problem that allows for effective transformation of the unwanted byproducts into acetonitrile target molecules.


The experiments were performed on male rats, drinking 2% NaCl solution ad libitum for 12 days instead of tap water. The pituitary gland was exposed by the transpharyngeal approach under urethane-chloralose anaesthesia. The posterior lobe remained in neural and partial vascular connection with the hypothalamus, whereas the anterior lobe was entirely removed. Samples of the outflow medium from the incubated in situ rat posterior pituitary lobe were collected during 30 min intervals. Substance P-like peptides and vasopressin activities were assayed by the biological tests. Injections of hypertonic solution into the internal carotid artery did not change vasopressin release, but induced an increase in Substance P release from the posterior pituitary lobe into the incubation medium. Under conditions of unexcitability of the osmosensitive cells, triggering vasopressin release, the injection of hypertonic solution into the internal carotid artery stimulated the Substance P-like peptides release from the posterior pituitary lobe.


The oxidation of the zircaloy cladding of fuel rods in nuclear reactors, important during a severe accident, is governed by the diffusion of oxygen in solid zirconium. The latter exists in many phases which depend on the content of oxygen and have different diffusion coefficients. Discontinuous changes in oxygen concentrations occur at the phase boundaries, which also move in the course of diffusion, obeying an equation similar to the Stefan condition in heat transfer problems with phase change. We have devised and implemented a scheme for 1-D problems using the finite-difference approach, which involves setting the diffusion coefficient to zero in 'forbidden' concentration ranges. The method is shown to be mathematically equivalent to the enthalpy formulation for the Stefan problem. With a boundary condition at the vapour/solid interface which takes into account steam diffusion and dissociation, the code is applied to analyse the phenomena of steam starvation and the dissolution of the oxide layer, which are relevant to severe accidents.


Objective To explore the apoptosis-inducing effect of selective sensory or motor nerve injury on skeletal muscle atrophy.Methods Thirty healthy adult SD rats were randomly divided into three groups,namely,ventral root transection group(VRT group,received left L4-L6 ventral rhizotomy),dorsal root transection group(DRT group,received left L4-L6 dorsal rhizotomy),and sciatic nerve transection group(SNT group,received left sciatic nerve transection).Each group comprised 10 SD rats.The bilateral gastrocnemius was harvested 10 weeks after operation to observe the apoptosis and Fas/FasL expression of the skeletal muscle cells through fluorescent labeling,transmission electron microscopy,and immunohistochemistry.Result Ten weeks after the denervation,apoptosis-related changes,especially obvious changes of the nuclear apoptotic morphology,were observed in the skeletal muscle cells.The aggregation degree of the nucleus and the expression of Fas/FasL increased in the following order: DRT group,VRT group,and SNT group.No apoptotic body,but early apoptotic morphology,was found in the denervated gastrocnemius through transmission electron microscopy.Conclusions The effect of motor nerve injury on skeletal muscle atrophy is more serious than that of sensory nerve injury.The rebuilding of motor nerves should be preferentially considered in the clinical treatment of muscle atrophy induced by denervation.


The geometrical features of the (non-convex) loss landscape of neural network models are crucial in ensuring successful optimization and, most importantly, the capability to generalize well. While minimizers' flatness consistently correlates with good generalization, there has been little rigorous work in exploring the condition of existence of such minimizers, even in toy models. Here we consider a simple neural network model, the symmetric perceptron, with binary weights. Phrasing the learning problem as a constraint satisfaction problem, the analogous of a flat minimizer becomes a large and dense cluster of solutions, while the narrowest minimizers are isolated solutions. We perform the first steps toward the rigorous proof of the existence of a dense cluster in certain regimes of the parameters, by computing the first and second moment upper bounds for the existence of pairs of arbitrarily close solutions. Moreover, we present a non rigorous derivation of the same bounds for sets of y solutions at fixed pairwise distances.


This article describes an action research project designed to engage women, health providers, and communities to respond to gender-based violence (GBV) in Vietnam. Based on results from in-depth interviews and group discussions, it considers the extent to which the project approaches were empowering for abused women. The results underscore the problems entailed in introducing systematic screening for gender-based violence into government health facilities in the low-resource setting of Vietnam, the importance of combining ideational change and rights components with support for abused women, and the difficulty of engaging male perpetrators.


Several recent reports have addressed the problem of estimating the response slope from repeated measurements of paired data when both stimulus and response variables are subject to biological variability. These earlier approaches suffer from several drawbacks: useful information about the relationships between the error components in a closed-loop system is not fully utilized; the response intercept cannot be directly estimated; and the normalization procedure required in some methods may fail under certain circumstances. This paper proposes a new, general method of simultaneously estimating the response slope and intercept from corrupted stimulus-response data when the errors in both variables are specifically related by the system structure. A direct extension of the least-squares approach, this method [directed least squares (DLS)] reduces to ordinary least-squares methods when either of the measured variables is error free and to the reduced-major-axis (RMA) method of Kermack and Haldane (Biometrics 37: 30-41, 1950) when the magnitudes of the normalized errors are equal. The DLS estimators are scale invariant, statistically unbiased and always assume the minimum variance. With simple modifications, the method is also applicable to paired data. If, however, the relation between error components is uncertain, then the RMA method is optimal, i.e., having the least possible asymptotic bias and variance. These results are illustrated by using various types of closed-loop respiratory response data.


ca gel (toluene-EtOAc-HCOOH, 50:40: 20) afforded 30mg of 1, 9mg of 2, and 15mg of 3. Identification of the flavonoids was made by direct comparison of their physical and spectroscopic data (FAB-mass, IR, UV, 1H-and 13C-NMR, DEPT. COSY 1H-1H) with those reported in the literature (3— 7). Although these flavonoids have been isolated from several plants (6—10), they have not, to our knowledge, been reported previously from Aiphitonia species. Information in detail on the work-up procedure and copies of the original spectra are obtainable from the author of correspondence


A new dammarane triterpene named mauritic acid (1) was isolated from the roots of Mauritia flexuosa L.f. The complete structural assignment of this new compound was elucidated from spectroscopic methods. Moreover, this compound was evaluated for its cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines (OVCAR-8, PCM3, NCIH358M and different leukaemia cell strains). The mauritic acid presented significant cytotoxicity against OVCAR-8, PCM3 and NCIH358M cell lines with IC50 3.02, 2.39 and 6.19 μM, respectively. The triterpenes 1 and 2 were also tested for their antimicrobial activity against 15 strains of microorganisms, including fungi and bacteria, with the best minimal inhibitory concentration values ranging from 50.8 to 203.5 μM.


| This paper compares two types of multiresolution data structure for data fusion, the data pyramid and the data cylinder. Data pyramids are well established, and in recent years non linear operators such as alternating sequential morphological lters have been used in their construction. The essential diierence between pyramids and cylinders is that pyramids undergo subsampling at each level. This paper compares the fusion of medical images through pyramids and cylinders and also considers the eeects of diierent sampling ratios.


A focused ion beam (FIB) coupled with high resolution electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) has emerged as a useful tool for generating crystallographic information in reasonably large volumes of microstructure. In principle, data generation is reasonably straightforward whereby the FIB is used as a high precision serial sectioning device for generating consecutive milled surfaces suitable for mapping by EBSD. However, there are several challenges facing the technique including the need for accurate reconstruction of the EBSD slice data and the development of methods for representing the myriad microstructural features of interest including, for example, orientation gradients arising from plastic deformation through to the structure of grains and their interfaces in both single-phase and multi-phase materials. This paper provides an overview of the use of 3D-EBSD in the study of texture development in alloys during deformation and annealing and includes an update on current research on the crystallographic nature of microbands in some body centred and face centred cubic alloys and the nucleation and growth of grains in an extra low carbon steel.


Purpose To evaluate the effectiveness of using 3D-surface-image to guide breath-holding (BH) left-side breast treatment. Methods Two 3D surface image guided BH procedures were implemented and evaluated: normal-BH, taking BH at a comfortable level, and deep-inspiration-breath-holding (DIBH). A total of 20 patients (10 Normal-BH and 10 DIBH) were recruited. Patients received a BH evaluation using a commercialized 3D-surface- tracking-system (VisionRT, London, UK) to quantify the reproducibility of BH positions prior to CT scan. Tangential 3D/IMRT plans were conducted. Patients were initially setup under free-breathing (FB) condition using the FB surface obtained from the untaged CT to ensure a correct patient position. Patients were then guided to reach the planned BH position using the BH surface obtained from the BH CT. Action-levels were set at each phase of treatment process based on the information provided by the 3D-surface-tracking-system for proper interventions (eliminate/re-setup/ re-coaching). We reviewed the frequency of interventions to evaluate its effectiveness. The FB-CBCT and port-film were utilized to evaluate the accuracy of 3D-surface-guided setups. Results 25% of BH candidates with BH positioning uncertainty > 2mm are eliminated prior to CT scan. For >90% of fractions, based on the setup deltas from3D-surface-trackingsystem, adjustments of patient setup are needed after themore » initial-setup using laser. 3D-surface-guided-setup accuracy is comparable as CBCT. For the BH guidance, frequency of interventions (a re-coaching/re-setup) is 40%(Normal-BH)/91%(DIBH) of treatments for the first 5-fractions and then drops to 16%(Normal-BH)/46%(DIBH). The necessity of re-setup is highly patient-specific for Normal-BH but highly random among patients for DIBH. Overall, a −0.8±2.4 mm accuracy of the anterior pericardial shadow position was achieved. Conclusion 3D-surface-image technology provides effective intervention to the treatment process and ensures favorable day-to-day setup accuracy. DIBH setup appears to be more uncertain and this would be the patient group who will definitely benefit from the extra information of 3D surface setup.« less


Algorithms have permeated throughout civil government and society, where they are being used to make high-stakes decisions about human lives. In this paper, we first develop a cohesive framework of algorithmic decision-making adapted for the public sector (ADMAPS) that reflects the complex socio-technical interactions between human discretion, bureaucratic processes, and algorithmic decision-making by synthesizing disparate bodies of work in the fields of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Science and Technology Studies (STS), and Public Administration (PA). We then applied the ADMAPS framework to conduct a qualitative analysis of an in-depth, eight-month ethnographic case study of algorithms in daily use within a child-welfare agency that serves approximately 900 families and 1300 children in the mid-western United States. Overall, we found that there is a need to focus on strength-based algorithmic outcomes centered in social ecological frameworks. In addition, algorithmic systems need to support existing bureaucratic processes and augment human discretion, rather than replace it. Finally, collective buy-in in algorithmic systems requires trust in the target outcomes at both the practitioner and bureaucratic levels. As a result of our study, we propose guidelines for the design of high-stakes algorithmic decision-making tools in the child-welfare system, and more generally, in the public sector. We empirically validate the theoretically derived ADMAPS framework to demonstrate how it can be useful for systematically making pragmatic decisions about the design of algorithms for the public sector.


A 59 year-old man with a history of asbestos exposure presented with a right pleural effusion and a diffuse pleural thickening with focal calcifications on chest X-ray. Cytological examination of pleural fluid indicated malignant mesothelioma. A biopsy specimen showed malignant mesothelioma surrounding a fragment of mature bone. The patient was treated with intrapleural interferon, but relapsed 3 years later. A fresh biopsy specimen showed round tumor cells surrounding osteoid substance. Only ten cases of this rare variant of malignant mesothelioma with osteoblastic heterologous elements have been reported in the literature. The most difficult differential diagnosis is primary pleural osteosarcoma.


The detection of seven fast radio bursts (FRBs) has recently been reported. FRBs are short duration (∼1 ms), highly dispersed radio pulses from astronomical sources. The physical interpretation for the FRBs remains unclear but is thought to involve highly compact objects at cosmological distance. It has been suggested that a fraction of FRBs could be physically associated with gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Recent radio observations of GRBs have reported the detection of two highly dispersed short duration radio pulses using a 12 m radio telescope at 1.4 GHz. Motivated by this result, we have performed a systematic and sensitive search for FRBs associated with GRBs. We have observed five GRBs at 2.3 GHz using a 26 m radio telescope located at the Mount Pleasant Radio Observatory, Hobart. The radio telescope was automated to rapidly respond to Gamma-ray Coordination Network notifications from the Swift satellite and slew to the GRB position within ∼140 s. The data were searched for pulses up to 5000 pc cm−3 in dispersion measure and pulse widths ranging from 640 μs to 25.60 ms. We did not detect any events ⩾6σ. An in depth statistical analysis of our data shows that events detected above 5σ are consistent with thermal noise fluctuations only. A joint analysis of our data with previous experiments shows that previously claimed detections of FRBs from GRBs are unlikely to be astrophysical. Our results are in line with the lack of consistency noted between the recently presented FRB event rates and GRB event rates.


Background: Niemann-Pick disease type C1 (NP-C1) is a rare, autosomal-recessive neurodegenerative disorder with no United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug. Lithium has been shown to have considerable neuroprotective effects for neurological disorders such as bipolar disorder, Alzheimer's disease and stroke and has been tested in many clinical trials. However, the pharmacological effect of lithium on NP-C1 neurodegenerative processes has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to provide an initial evaluation of the safety and feasibility of lithium carbonate in patients with NP-C1. Methods: A total of 13 patients diagnosed with NP-C1 who met the inclusion criteria received lithium orally at doses of 300, 600, 900, or 1,200 mg daily. The dose was reduced based on tolerance or safety observations. Plasma 7-ketocholesterol (7-KC), an emerging biomarker of NP-C1, was the primary endpoint. Secondary endpoints included NPC Neurological Severity Scores (NNSS) and safety. Results: Of the 13 patients with NP-C1 (12–33 years) enrolled, three withdrew (discontinuation of follow-up outpatient visits). The last observed post-treatment values of 7-KC concentrations (128 ng/ml, SEM 20) were significantly lower than pretreatment baselines values (185 ng/ml, SEM 29; p = 0.001). The mean NNSS was improved after lithium treatment at 12 months (p = 0.005). Improvement in swallowing capacity was observed in treated patients (p = 0.014). No serious adverse events were recorded in the patients receiving lithium. Conclusion: Lithium is a potential therapeutic option for NP-C1 patients. Larger randomized and double-blind clinical trials are needed to further support this finding. Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03201627.


The co-receptor CD8 plays an important part in the proper functioning of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. In order to sense stimuli, the T cell surface recep- tor (TCR) engages peptide-specifically with its ligand pMHC, while CD8 makes peptide-unspecific contact to the MHC subunit. In this work, the entirety of interactions between TCR, CD8, and pMHC are elucidated by confronting of a family of mathematical pMHC-TCR-CD8 interaction mod- els with accurately measured dose response data. The interaction model being in best agreement with the data, termed CBM, consists of a TCR- CD8 complex having the striking property that its CD8 subunit exhibits increased affinity to pMHC compared to CD8 alone.
A T cell triggering model, founded on multivalent binding, is con- structed that enables affinity-based ligand discrimination. In combination with CBM, the TCR triggering model is capable to correctly predict key aspects of dose response T cell activation data, and introduces a novel mechanism for the contribution of CD8 in ligand discrimination and T cell activation. The high affinity CD8 binding site of the TCR-CD8 complex prevents low affinity (self) ligands to establish pMHC-TCR contacts and thereby reducing the intracellular signal intensity in response to self pep- tides. High affinity (foreign) ligands, on the other hand, can counteract by forming pMHC-TCR contacts with TCR-CD8 complexes. Because CD8 also binds the kinase Lck, this leads to enhanced intracellular signal in- tensity in response to foreign antigen. Thus, CD8 amplifies affinity-based ligand discrimination and the proposed mechanism leads to improved self tolerance as well as sensitivity towards foreign antigen of T cells allocating CD8 a significant contribution to T cell immunity.


In view of the frequent failure of the ball-eye (BE) in the transmission line, the force analysis of BE in extreme weather is carried out, and a set of bending fatigue test equipment was designed. It is the first time to carry out the fatigue test of BE treated by normalising, annealing and quenching and tempering process under bending loads of 2330, 3495 and 4560 N. Meanwhile, the bending fatigue life curve is plotted. From the macro and micro point of view, the characteristics and the content of the elements of the fracture, and the influence of the internal structure on the mechanical properties of three samples of different heat treatment processes are analysed. Conclusion indicates that the mechanical properties of the BE treated by normalising process are best, whose microstructure is fine and uniform 'ferrite + pearlite'. Comparing the life of BE withstood tension load, it is revealed that bending load is the main reason to accelerate the failure of BE.


Multifragmentation of carbon-induced fission is considered following the statistical scission model. The fragment products in the exit channel are two different deformed nuclei, as well as some nucleons and / or alpha particles. The angular distributions and variances of this multifragmentation process, including two deformed heavy fragments, have been numerically calculated. The present calculations show the strong dependence of these values on the nuclear temperature. The present calculated differential cross-sections are in good agreements with the experimental data for an incident carbon energy of 84 A MeV.


The present study was conducted in Bikaner district of western Rajasthan. A total of 81 (total sample size) farmers selected for the study using purposive-cum-random methods of sampling. The results of the present study revealed that 37.75 per cent farmers grew different kind of vegetables in hot arid eco-system of Bikaner district during Kharif and Rabi season. Sixty to seventy per cent farmers of the district grew mateera, kachari and snap melon during Kharif season as rainfed crops. At present, the major arid vegetables being grown by the farmers on small scale (0.10 ha) to large scale (2.50 ha) in different cropping systems during Karif and Rabi seasons are mateera (Citrullus lanatus), snapmelon, kachari (cucumis callosus), brinjal, bottle gourd, ridge gourds, clusterbean, round melon, Indian aloe, okra, tomato, chilli, cauliflowers, cabbage, spinach, fenugreek (leaves), coriander (green), carrot, radish, pea, green onion, mustard leaves, sangari (pods) of khejri (Prosopis cineraria), moringa pods, etc. The major vegetable cropping system practiced by the vegetable growers (farmers) in Bikaner district are sole , inter, mixed cropping system and perennial plantation. Mixed cropping is the most prominent system of vegetable growing in arid environment which is practiced by majority (58.25 % of the farmers covering highest area (0.6-2.5 ha). During Rabi season and irrigated conditions, brinjal, cauliflower/cabbage, spinach, fenugreek (leaves), coriander (leaves), carrot, radish, pea, green onion, etc are grown by 33.45 per cent farmers (out of total vegetable growers) on a small scale (0.20.3 ha) as sole crops during Rabi season and bottle gourds, mustard leaves, cauliflowers/ cabbage, chilli, fenugreek, etc. are grown as inter-crops in ber, aonla, citrus/kinnow orchards by only 15.20 per cent farmers on a small scale (0.1-0.2 ha). During the Kharif season, the farmers grow Mateera, snapmelon Kachari bottlegourd, cluster bean, brinjal and Indian aloe on their fields and earn net income from them ranging Rs. 26162 to 41117, per hectare. Incase of Rabi season's arid vegetables, the farmers are getting net income ranging Rs.33302 to 47380 per hectare.


The study of the diagnostic accuracy of Infrared Thermal Imaging in the diagnosis of orthopaedic injuries in childhood has been motivated by the high incidence of these injuries throughout the world, being one of the most common reasons for urgent medical consultation. Diagnosis of musculoskeletal injuries usually involves radiography, but this exposes children without fractures to unnecessary ionising radiation. This chapter assesses whether infrared thermography could provide a viable alternative in cases of trauma. To evaluate the accuracy of this technique new thermographic variables have been added to those commonly analysed, such as the extent of the injury and the difference in the size of the area that is at an equal temperature or higher than the maximum temperature of the healthy area. Nonlinear cataloguing methods (decision tree models) have also been applied. With the protocol presented, infrared thermal imaging had a sensitivity of 0.91, a specificity of 0.88 and a negative predictive value of 0.95 for diagnosing musculoskeletal injuries. Clinical Applications: Infrared Thermal Diagnosis of Orthopaedic Injuries in Childhood


Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a methodology to assess environmental performances of products throughout their life cycles. Traditionally, LCA-based decision-making focuses on environmental impacts, excluding customer expectations and economic considerations. Moreover, it usually uses generic data while environmental performances of industrial systems often depend on local contexts. The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive framework to identify the solution most adapted to a specific context, considering environmental, economic and commercial aspects. First, environmental performances of competing products are compared thanks to LCA. A sensitivity analysis highlights influential parameters on which operational scenarios are built. Costs are then incorporated into a set of exploitation scenarios.Second, matrix-based approach is used. Products are ranked according to several client profiles. The most suitable solution for a given context is identified.This framework is applied on three burners for forge furnaces. Results show that client profiles and operational contexts (namely client expectations, location and resources availability and costs) affect choices.Copyright © 2014 by ASME


In a previous issue of Philosophia Christi, Kirk MacGregor responded to an essay of mine in which I argued for a neo-Molinist account of open theism. The argument demonstrated how, given standard counterfactual semantics, one could derive an "open future square of opposition," that is, a depiction of the logical relations that hold between future-tense statements from an open theistic standpoint. Conceding the validity of the argument, MacGregor nevertheless sought to deny its soundness by criticizing both its conclusion and the Stalnaker-Lewis semantics on which the argument was based. In this paper, I argue that MacGregor's reasons for rejecting the open future square, as well as his Molinist alternative to the Stalnaker-Lewis semantics, are uncompelling.


A shared tuned mass damper (STMD) was proposed in previous research for reduction of dynamic responses of the adjacent buildings subjected to earthquake loads. A single STMD can provide similar control performance in comparison with two traditional TMDs. In previous research, a passive damper was used to connect the STMD with adjacent buildings. In this study, a smart magnetorheological (MR) damper was used instead of a passive damper to compose an adaptive smart STMD (ASTMD). Control performance of the ASTMD was investigated by numerical analyses. For this purpose, two 8-story buildings were used as example structures. Multi-input multi-output (MIMO) fuzzy logic controller (FLC) was used to control the command voltages sent to two MR dampers. The MIMO FLC was optimized by a multi-objective genetic algorithm. Numerical analyses showed that the ASTMD can effectively control dynamic responses of adjacent buildings subjected to earthquake excitations in comparison with a passive STMD.


Why do we work in public hospitals, what do we look for and what do we find working at these places? There are several answers. The heritage, the places where we learnt, the places where medicine is practiced. A model that feeds us. They cannot be improved and it is difficult to accept their limitations. However, many factors such as teaching, research and group work, encourage us to continue working in them. Variation and simultaneity, they are places with many variables, a living organism. The myth, the mother, that transmits its principles and behaviors, gives us a sense of life, feeds us and allows us to feed others. Economical reasons and performance. When performance of physicians is analyzed, positive values such as contact with patients, hours of discussion and study, quality of care, risks, dedication and training difficulties must be taken into consideration. Hospitals are not a patient assembly line. Fantasies and representations. We are participating in a health community and hospitals become a place for personal growth. Respect towards poverty. Helping the less fortunate. Knowledge and learning. Experiencing values. Forgotten words. Bioethics brought back several principles that are present in hospitals such as compassion, empathy, sweetness, service, humility, gratitude.


The level of coffee consumption is on a raging level, making the coffee shop business is also increasingly emerging in the form of both local coffee shops and international coffee shops. Coffee Corner is the first coffee shop in Langsa city that combines traditional and modern aspects in its presentation. To ensure business continuity, Kedai Coffee Corner has to create a strategy so that it can boost their customer satisfaction and loyalty by providing experience that can be formed through five dimensions of sense, feel, think, act and relate. This study aims to analyze the influence of experiential marketing on customer satisfaction and loyalty. Corner coffee shop customers of which criteria is above than 17 years old and willing to be respondents are taken and as many as 180 respondents are selected using accidental sampling technique, then the respondents fill out a questionnaire that contains a statement about the variables studied so that the data obtained will then be processed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The result of the research shows that experiential marketing has a significant effect on customer satisfaction and loyalty either directly or indirectly. Experiential marketing is reflected by two dimensions that have the greatest contribution and those are sense and relate. Better quality and aroma of the coffee, as well as superiority in fragrant than other coffee shops, is the indicator that contributes the most to the sensory dimension. An excellent coffee image and quality of the presentation are the indicators that contribute the most to the relative dimension.


Aerial multispectral images are a good source of crop, soil, and ground coverage information. Spectral reflectance indices provide a useful tool for monitoring crop growing status. A series of aerial images were obtained by an airborne MS4100 multispectral imaging system on the cotton and soybean field. Ground hyperspectral data were acquired with a ground-based integration system at the same time. The Normalized Difference Vegetative Index(NDVI), Simple Ratio (SR), and Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) calculated from both systems were analyzed and compared. The information derived from aerial multispectral images has shown the potential to monitor the general growth status of crop field. The vegetation indices derived from both systems were significantly different (p-value was 0.073 at α= 0.1 level) at the early growing stage of crops. The correlation coefficients of the image NDVI and ground NDVI were 0.3029 for soybean field and 0.338 for cotton field. SAVI and SR were not correlated. Keywords: airborne multispectral image, hyperspectral reflectance, vegetation index, remote sensing, crop growth condition DOI: 10.3965/j.issn.1934-6344.2009.03.033-040 Citation: H Zhang, Y Lan, R Lacey, W C Hoffmann, Y Huang. Analysis of vegetation indices derived from aerial multispectral and ground hyperspectral data. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2009; 2(3): 33


Intelligent behavior requires a comparison between the predicted and the actual consequences of behavioral actions. According to the theory of predictive processing, this comparison relies on a neuronal error signal that reflects the mismatch between an internal prediction and sensory input. Inappropriate error signals may generate pathological experiences in neuropsychiatric conditions. To examine the processing of sensorimotor prediction errors across different telencephalic brain areas we optically measured neuronal activity in head-fixed, adult zebrafish in a virtual reality. Brief perturbations of visuomotor feedback triggered distinct changes in swimming behavior and different neuronal responses. Neuronal activity reflecting sensorimotor mismatch, rather than sensory input or motor output alone, was prominent throughout multiple forebrain areas. This activity preceded and predicted the transition in motor behavior. Error signals were altered in specific forebrain regions by a mutation in the autism-related gene shank3b. Predictive processing is therefore a widespread phenomenon that may contribute to disease phenotypes.


Bullying is an intentional, unprovoked abuse of power by one or more children in order to inflict pain or cause distress to another child on repeated occasions. Victims of regular bullying lack confidence, have lower self esteem, regard themselves as less competent. Studies have shown that victimization from bullying behavior is associated with substantial adverse effects on physical and psychological health. There is a higher prevalence of depression, school absenteeism and detioration in school performance. Health professionals seeing children with common health symptoms should ask whether the child is being bullied. The anti-bullying programme can be implemented with relatively simple means and without major costs. It is primarily a question of changing attitudes, behavior and routines in school life. Our results stress the importance of regular communication between children, parents, teachers and health care professionals with regard to bullying incidents.


ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the effects of solifenacin, darifenacin, and propiverine on nasal-, subfoveal-, temporal choroidal thicknesses (NCT, SFCT, TCT), intraocular pressure (IOP) and pupil diameter (PD). Materials and Methods Patients with overactive bladder (OAB) diagnosed according to The International Continence Society were administered with solifenacin, darifenacin or propiverine on a daily basis between November 2017 and May 2018. NCT, SFCT, TCT, IOP, and PD of these patients were measured and compared as initial, fourth and twelfth weeks. Results A total of 165 patients (330 eyes) with OAB were evaluated. Solifenacin (n=140) significantly reduced IOP from 17.30±2.72 mmHg to 16.67±2.56 mmHg (p=0.006) and 16.57±2.41 mmHg (p=0.002), at the fourth and twelfth weeks, respectively. Darifenacin (n=110) significantly reduced NCT from 258.70±23.96 μm to 257.51±22.66 μm (p=0.002) and 255.36±19.69 μm (p=0.038), at the fourth and twelfth weeks, respectively. Propiverine (n=80) significantly increased PD from 4.04±0.48 mm to 4.08±0.44 mm (p=0.009) and 4.09±0.45 mm (p=0.001), at the fourth and twelfth weeks, respectively. Conclusion These findings can help to decide appropriate anticholinergic drug choice in OAB patients. We finally suggest further well-designed randomized prospective studies with a larger population to evaluate the anticholinergic-related complications in eyes.


Lafora' disease is an autosomal recessive, fatal, generalized polyglucosan storage disorder that occurs in childhood or adolescence with stimulus sensitive epilepsy (resting and action myoclonias, grand mal, and absence), dementia, ataxia and rapid neurological deterioration. We present a 19-year-old, 32 kg woman with lafora's disease was scheduled for tonsillectomy under general anesthesia. Her preanesthetic examination revealed extreme muscle atrophy and dementia. Grand mal, myoclonic seizures, and upper airway obstruction were frequent. General anesthesia and tracheal intubation with sevoflurane and nitrous oxide provided safe anesthesia. The intraoperative course was uneventful and the emergence of anesthesia was smooth.


Existing techniques for recognizing and identifying disturbed signals waveforms are primarily based on visual inspection. This paper proposes a wavelet packet based technique to perform a feature extraction from the disturbance signal and a classification of the extracted features in order to identify the possible causes of the disturbance. The same wavelet based procedure is applied to signal compression and denoising in order to make the EMC analysis of the data easier.


This study considers the uniqueness of neuronal generators of human brain evoked potentials measured on the scalp using the physical and mathematical properties of the volume conductor model. The results are applicable to a realistic, nonhomogeneous head shape where the potential map is known on a continuous set of points on the scalp. It is shown that sources which occupy "zero volume" in space such as point dipoles or sources distributed on an open surface or a line are uniquely defined by the potential maps. Finite volume nonoverlapping sources are also uniquely defined by their potential map. However, there are infinitely many different but overlapping sources which can create the same map. Several examples of such sources are provided. It is shown that there is a unique, minimum volume source which can be defined in this case. Results suggest that if a reconstruction of the sources starts from a continuous scalp map (obtained by interpolation of the data between electrode sites), one can obtain unique results concerning the source parameters that are not available in a search for a source whose potential map fits only at a discrete set of points.<<ETX>>


Abstract Background Electric scooters (e-scooters) are becoming increasingly common in major urban areas worldwide. Cities in some countries have even piloted programmes to promote their use to reduce general vehicular traffic. There have, however, been widespread media reports outlining concerns about their safety. We decided to investigate these concerns by reviewing the records of patients who presented to our center, a Level 1 Major Trauma Center in the United Kingdom, with orthopedic injuries associated with e-scooter use. Methods We reviewed the electronic medical records of all patients who presented to our center from January 2018 to January 2020 with e-scooter associated fractures. Demographic, injury, and surgical data were collected to characterize the types of e-scooter-related fractures and to investigate the frequency of such injuries over the duration of our search. A literature review of MEDLINE and EMBASE was performed to investigate specifically orthopedic injuries caused by electric scooter use. Results Six patients were identified (3 male, 3 female; mean age 35.43 years) who had sustained a variety of injuries. The presentation and clinical outcomes are presented. Three patients required operative management, and three patients were managed conservatively. Conclusion This case series demonstrates an increasing frequency of significant orthopedic injury associated with e-scooter use treated at our center over the course of two years. This small series highlights an important problem given that this increase has occurred despite electric scooter usage in public spaces being illegal. Legalization might result in further increase in the incidence of injury.


Krabbe disease is a rare autosomal recessive leucodystrophy, with <5% of the cases having an adolescent-onset form. A 30-year-old woman with a history of a subacute episode of gait impairment at 14 years of age, and mild spastic paraparesis since then, was followed with an initial diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. After 10 years of slow disease progression without response to treatment, the initial diagnosis was reviewed, and an extensive metabolic work up revealed decreased activity of galactocerebrosidase. Genetic testing of the GALC gene proved the diagnosis of Krabbe disease and found a novel mutation. This case highlights the value of a critical eye in the initial differential diagnosis, mainly in the presence of atypical findings.


Nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) function as signaling molecules in a number of critical signal transduction pathways in plants, including plant biotic interactions. In addition to the role of plant-derived NO and ROS in plant resistance, which has been well documented, pathogen-produced NO and ROS have recently emerged as important players in fungal development and pathogenesis. However, the effects of pathogenic fungi-derived NO and ROS on signaling pathways during fungal pre-infection development remain unknown. Here, using a combination of pharmacological approaches and confocal microscopy, we investigated the roles of NO and ROS during the germination of Puccinia striiformis Westend f. sp. tritici (Pst) the wheat stripe rust pathogen. Both NO and ROS have a crucial role in uredinial germination. The scavengers of NO and ROS delayed spore germination and decreased the lengths of germ tubes. A similar phenotype was produced after treatment with the promoter. However, the spores germinated and grew normally when the levels of NO and ROS were simultaneously elevated by the application of a promoter of NO and a donor of ROS. Confocal laser microscopy indicated that both NO and ROS preferentially localized at the germ pores and apexes of growing germ tubes when the ROS/NO ratio in the spores was maintained in a specific range. We concluded that both NO and ROS are critical signaling molecules in the pre-infection development of Pst and that the polar growth of the germ tube is coordinately regulated by NO and ROS.


Computed tomography as a noninvasive X-ray method offers new facilities for detecting and diagnosing recurrences after surgical treatment of rectal carcinomas. In a comparative study the CT findings of 14 patients with recurrent rectal tumors of the Kuwait Cancer Control Center and of 77 patients of the Central Institute for Cancer Research in Berlin-Buch/GDR were reviewed. CT is of high sensitivity and specificity for the detection and the extent diagnosis of recurrent rectal tumors and is helpful in taking the appropriate therapeutic decision (surgery, radiotherapy). CT examination becomes mandatory for the postoperative follow-up and further assessment.


The concentrations of various trace elements and radionuclides have been measured in marine protein concentrates prepared from surface feeding fishes. As with concentrates prepared from benthic fishes, the 210Pb-210Po pair are the most significant radionuclides present. Concentrations of stable Pb, Co and Ag in certain concentrates are sufficiently high to contribute substantially to estimated current intakes of these elements.


Trustees must pay more attention to capital financing as oversight intensifies, rating agencies ask more questions, and the need for new funding sources grows.


Venture Insights has been surveying Australian mobile consumers annually since 2018. The latest survey was conducted in March 2021 and included 1,019 respondents. The results show that price and network performance remain the main purchasing drivers for mobile services, with more than 90% of respondents rating them as important or very important. On price, 86% did not expect to spend more each year for their mobile phone services, which is consistent with previous surveys. The persistent importance of price shows that mobile services are seen as a commodity by many customers. A total of 38% of respondents were considering churning their mobile phone service; of these respondents, 40% chose price as the key churn driver. There is consistent focus on Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) driven by price. The survey results suggested that the total market share for MVNOs could increase by 6 percentage points, if all respondents indicating a move to an MVNO actually did so. Only 20% of respondents indicated they were willing to pay more for 5G mobile services or handsets. A majority (55%) of respondents change their mobile phones every 2-3 years; 39% said they would consider purchasing a recycled/refurbished mobile phone at a lower price.


Protocyanin is a complex pigment extracted from flower petals of blue cornflower, Centaurea cyanus. The components of protocyanin were recently demonstrated to be anthocyanin (AN), flavone glycoside (FL), Fe, Mg and Ca ions. For X-ray structure determination, protocyanin was reconstructed from the components and crystallized in space group P212121 with unit cell dimensions of a = 29.7, b = 49.2 and c = 78.3Å. Two protocyanin molecules are contained in an asymmetric unit. Data were collected on the beam line 6A at Photon Factory KEK to1.05 Å resolution. The refined molecule has pseudo three-fold symmetry and four metals align along the pseudo three-fold axis in order of Ca, Fe, Mg and Ca. The four metals are coordinated to six AN and six FL molecules. The inner Fe and Mg ions are each coordinated to three AN's, respectively, while the outer two Ca ions are each coordinated to three FL's. Both AN and FL molecules are self-associated with each other as AN-AN and FL-FL in pair and this hydrophobic association also exists between AN and FL molecules, building copigmentation stacks. Protocyanin is a tetra-metal (Fe, Mg, 2Ca) nuclear complex, a new type of supramolecular pigment.


Introduction Carcinoid is a relatively benign tumor of the gastrointestinal tract and is thought to originate from the chromaffin cells in the mucosa. Although most commonly located in the appendix, carcinoids have been found from the cardia of the stomach to the rectum. Occasionally these tumors become more malignant and invade adjacent tissues and metastasize to the liver and other distant organs. Histologically no differentiation can be made between the small, apparently benign lesion and the distant metastatic tumors. Thus, many workers feel that all carcinoid lesions are potentially malignant. Although most carcinoids are discovered incidentally at the time of surgery or autopsy, it is now apparent that some carcinoids produce a variety of clinical manifestations through secretion of the pharmacologically active agent, serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine). Clinical Manifestations Recently an unusual clinical syndrome has been described which is associated with "malignant" carcinoid of the small intestine and metastasis to the


The evolution of the distribution of strains and stresses within the multifilamentary composites designed for an improved bronze route is characterized all along their restack bundling process of fabrication. The results of numerous investigations of the microstructure are briefly compared to those of finite element simulations. The work compares the effects of the difference in mechanical behaviour of the various components to that of their repartition. The importance of the composite lay-out, that is to say of the relative disposition and of the volume of the bronze areas, as well as of the size, morphology and spacing of the filaments, for the Nb3Sn formation is demonstrated. The consequences for both the Nb3Sn grain size and the critical current are finally displayed.


Dense deposit disease (DDD), previously known as membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type 2, is an extremely rare disease affecting two to three people per million. The rarity of this disease makes it difficult for clinicians to establish evidence-based clinical practices for its management. Here, we report a case of DDD who presented with features of acute nephritic syndrome and did not respond to most of the treatment options available in literature.


A new ganglioside showing choleragenoid-binding activity was purified from mouse spleen and characterized. From the results of sugar-composition analysis, enzymatic hydrolysis, a permethylation study, 1H-NMR spectroscopy, and negative-ion fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, the structure of the ganglioside was determined to be as follows: Gal beta 1-3GalNAc beta 1-4Gal beta 1-3GalNAc beta 1-4Gal beta 1-4Glc beta 1-1'ceramide 3----NeuGc alpha 2 This ganglioside contains a terminal tetrasaccharide structure identical with that of II3NeuGc alpha-Gg4Cer (GM1(NeuGc]. By means of a TLC-immunobinding assay and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the ganglioside was demonstrated to have almost the same choleragenoid-binding activity as GM1. Another ganglioside, that migrated faster than the new choleragenoid-binding ganglioside, was also purified from the same source material and identified as IV4GalNAc beta,IV3NeuGc alpha-Gg4Cer (GalNAc-GM1b(NeuGc]. Since, in the previous study, we demonstrated the existence of IV3NeuGc alpha-Gg4Cer (GM1b(NeuGc] in mouse spleen (Nakamura, K. et al. (1984) J. Biochem. 96, 949-957), the results of this study suggest that the new choleragenoid-binding ganglioside is synthesized from GM1b(NeuGc) through GalNAc-GM1b(NeuGc).


Organic matter in sediments from cores collected from the upper continental slope (200–2700 m) off California and southern Oregon shows marked differences in concentration and marine character between the last glacial interval (ca. 24–10 ka) and either Holocene time or last interstadial (oxygen isotope stage 3, ca. 60–24 ka). In general, sediments deposited during Holocene time and stage 3 contain higher amounts of marine organic matter than those deposited during the last glacial interval, and this contrast is greatest in cores collected off southern California. The most profound differences in stage 3 sediments are between predominantly bioturbated sediments and occasional interbeds of laminated sediments. The sediments are from cores collected within the present oxygen minimum zone on the upper continental slope from as far north as the Oregon-California border to as far south as Point Conception. These upper Pleistocene laminated sediments contain more abundant hydrogen-rich (type II) marine algal organic matter than even surface sediments that have large amounts of nonrefractory organic matter. The stable carbon-isotopic composition of the organic matter does not change with time between bioturbated and laminated sediments, indicating that the greater abundance of type II organic matter in the laminated sediments is not due to a change in source but rather represents a greater degree of production and preservation of marine organic matter. The presence of abundant, well-preserved organic matter supports the theory that the oxygen minimum zone in the northeastern Pacific Ocean was more intense, and possibly anoxic, during late Pleistocene time as a result of increased coastal upwelling that enhanced algal productivity.


The past decade has witnessed explosive growth of mobile subscribers and services. With the purpose of providing better-swifter-cheaper services, radio network optimisation plays a crucial role but faces enormous challenges. The concept of Dynamic Network Optimisation (DNO), therefore, has been introduced to optimally and continuously adjust network configurations, in response to changes in network conditions and traffic. However, the realization of DNO has been seriously hindered by the bottleneck of optimisation speed performance. An advanced distributed parallel solution is presented in this paper, as to bridge the gap by accelerating the sophisticated proprietary network optimisation algorithm, while maintaining the optimisation quality and numerical consistency. The ariesoACP product from Arieso Ltd serves as the main platform for acceleration. This solution has been prototyped, implemented and tested. Real-project based results exhibit a high scalability and substantial acceleration at an average speed-up of 2.5, 4.9 and 6.1 on a distributed 5-core, 9-core and 16-core system, respectively. This significantly outperforms other parallel solutions such as multi-threading. Furthermore, augmented optimisation outcome, alongside high correctness and self-consistency, have also been fulfilled. Overall, this is a breakthrough towards the realization of DNO.


DFMEA is a systematic and scientific method for new product design and development, which is applicable throughout the entire process of new product design and development. In this paper, DFMEA method is adopted in the systematic analyzing of the million-kilowatt nuclear power steam turbine rotor new product design and development process. On the basis of the introduction of product characteristics and current development requirement, DFMEA is introduced to the design and development process, applying the block diagram and structure-function matrix to locate the possible failure factors. Subsequently, the evaluation criteria of Severity (S), Occurrence (O), and Detection (D) are introduced and defined. According to the criteria, the Risk Priority Numbers (RPN) and Action Priority (AP) of key risks are sorted, therefore indicating the terms critical to product quality improvement.
 Through the application of DFMEA, an effective risk identification and analysis of the million-kilowatt nuclear power steam turbine rotor is carried out, achieving the results that operational failures are advanced to the design stage to implement countermeasures, therefore realizing the improvement of product and system operation reliability, optimization of project cycle and manufacturing cost reduction. DFMEA promotes the optimization of overall new product development process. Meanwhile it provides ideas for the subsequent design optimization methods of similar kinds.


The substantiation of the development and compliance with the algorithm for the adoption and implementation of management decisions regarding the digital transformation of the socio-economic and ecological systems of Ukraine is an urgent task for the long-term development of the country. The article presents an algorithm for making management decisions, as well as a holistic mechanism for their implementation. The main idea of the algorithm is to take into account certain aspects of the management decision-making process, to follow the general management methodology, as well as to correctly interpret and use the principles of the system approach. The decision implementation mechanism involves the formation of a complete system of implementation of organizational forms, principles, methods and management tools, taking into account the main functions of management, as well as the aspects of space and time.


The present study is inspired by the great wealth of species exhibited by the ichthiofauna. Not only concepts and techniques of ecology deserve attention, but also knowledge in other biological areas, such as zoology and anatomy, are necessary. The intention of the present work is to discover the morphology of fish through the study of the digestive tract morphology, associating it to diet data, in order to better understand the biology of four fish species of the upper Paraná River floodplain. The samples were collected quarterly in the year 2000 with gillnets of different meshes. The stomach content was analyzed under a stereoscopic microscope and the frequencies of occurrence (FO) and volumetric (FV) and the alimentary index (IAi) were calculated. Various morphologic characteristics were analyzed and schematized using a light chamber. The species were grouped into two trophic guilds - insectivores (Astyanax altiparanae and Parauchenipterus galeatus) and piscivores (Serrasalmus marginatus and Hoplias aff. malabaricus). The first two, although consumers of insects, preyed on different alimentary groups, notably Hymenoptera in the case of A. altiparanae and Coleoptera in the case of P. galeatus. Serrasalmus marginatus and H. aff. malabaricus consumed mainly fishes. However, only pieces of prey were usually found in the stomach content of the first species, whereas whole fishes were found in the stomach content of the second. Astyanax altiparanae exhibited characteristics that allowed it to obtain food in several compartments of the water column. Similarly P. galeatus consumed food resources that were available in all aquatic compartments, although the abilities to capture, to manipulate and to absorb food differed, as shown by the importance of teeth plates and pharyngeal teeth. Serrasalmus marginatus and H. aff. malabaricus, although resembling each other in many aspects of the digestive tract morphology, differed in the strategies used to capture prey. The analysis showed that, according to the main food item of the diet, the species were grouped into two trophic guilds. However, those within the same category used different feeding methods, and similarity in items consumed does not imply the same group of morphological characteristics.


Aim: This was to evaluate our experience with patients who were diagnosed on table whilst undergoing tube pericardiostomy.Methods: This is a 6-year retrospective study of all patients who had evident visible visceral constrictive pericarditis at tube pericardiostomy in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. The study was for all cases seen from January 2013 till December 2018.Results: A total of 21 patients had tube pericardiostomy done during the period under review, whilst 13 patients had visualized thickened visceral pericardium with effusion making 61.9% of all cases of pericardiostomy seen within the period. The mean age was 38.9years with a male: female ratio of 1.3:1. All had serosanguinous pericardial effusion with debris and fibrinous material. The epicardium was visualized through the subxyphoid incision. All patients had irrigation of the pericardial space, creation of a pericardial window and the harvested pericaridium sent for histological analysis. They also had tube pericardiostomy which was subsequently connected to an underwater seal drainage bottle. Only 4 of those with ECP subsequently had pericardiectomy.Conclusion: Preoperative diagnosis of effusive pericarditis is the norm, however in circumstances of limited diagnostic resources, visualization during tube pericardiostomy is advocated.


Various genetic factors are controlling regulatory cells T (Treg) cell function, such as miRNAs. Interfering in the miRNA synthesis pathway in Treg cells could result in loss of Tregs' regulatory function, leading to the promotion of inflammatory settings and autoimmunity. This study was designed to investigate the role of miRNA in regulating Treg cells in SLE patients. Treg's frequency was determined using flow cytometry in 100 SLE patients' and100 healthy controls. Expression of miR-21, miR-24, miR125, miR-146a, miR-148a, and miR-155 was estimated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The ROC curve evaluated the diagnostic role of miRNAs in SLE. A significant elevation (p<0.001) in Treg cells in SLE patients than controls was observed, with a maximum increase inactive SLE cases. SLE patients exhibit a significant increase in miR-21 (p<0.01), miR-148a (p<0.001), miR-146a (p<0.05) and miR-155 (p<0.001) and significant reduction in miR-24 (p<0.001). An insignificant decrease in miR-125 was observed in SLE patients. The best sensitivity and specificity were detected in miR-148a (88%, 70%) at a cutoff value of 1. 065. Tregs were positively correlated with miR-21(r=0.333, p<0.05), miR-146a (r=0.589, p<0.01) and miR-148a (r=0.309, p<0.05). In conclusion, this research provides a piece of novel information regarding Treg cells' in SLE patients. Our results pointed to the substantial role of miRNAs in controlling Treg cells in lupus. To validate our interesting results, more researches are needed.


A 77-year-old retired engineer presented to accident and emergency with deteriorating shortness of breath that had been troubling him for several months. At that time, he was being investigated by a chest physician who had identified bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis on ultrasound and was awaiting further imaging. Clinical assessment and nerve conduction studies on this admission were compatible with a diagnosis of motor neuron disease but specialist neurology input recommended an MRI to rule out cord pathology. This proved problematic as the patient was non-invasive ventilation dependent and unable to lay supine as this further compromised his respiratory function. To ensure that a potentially reversible cause for his symptoms was identified, the patient was intubated for an MRI which subsequently demonstrated multi level spinal epidural empyema. The benefits of neurosurgical intervention were judged to be uncertain at best, and following discussion with the family, active care was withdrawn. The patient passed away shortly thereafter.


Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) is used to increase the production of oil from geological reservoirs. EOR technology often involves injecting water into rock formations to recover oil remaining in rock pores. Therefore, an evaluation of the wettability of the oil–mineral–water 3-phase interfacial system is needed. In particular, the contact angle of water on the mineral surface in the presence of oil is the essential parameter governing wettability. In this study, the contact angles in the decane–muscovite–water interfaces were measured using an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). The topologies of small water droplets (mostly less than 15 μm) in a liquid decane solution on muscovite plates were acquired with an AFM. The height and contact width obtained from the profiles of small droplets provide the contact angles between decane–muscovite–water interfaces. To correct for the effect of scanning pressure on topologies, contact angle measurements were carried out at different scanning pressures and force curves were measured on the decane–water interface. The corrected contact angles of water droplets showed around 20 degrees over a contact width of about 6 μm, which were in agreement with macroscopic contact angle data, while they decreased to about 15 degrees at a smaller contact width than about 2 μm. The relationship between corrected contact angles and droplet sizes is explained well by the modified Young's equation with a line-tension force of -2.1 × 10-9 N. The results indicate that the wettability of oil–mineral–water interfaces differs between nano/micro scale and macro scale. Therefore, microscopic wettability should be considered when evaluating EOR in real rock systems.


Empirical studies of intergenerational social mobility have found that women are more mobile than men. To explain this finding, we describe a model of multitrait matching and inheritance, in which individuals' attractiveness in the marriage market depends on their market and non-market characteristics. We show that the observed gender differences in social mobility can arise if market characteristics are relatively more important in determining marriage outcomes for men than for women and are more persistent across generations than non-market characteristics. Paradoxically, the female advantage in social mobility may be due to their adverse treatment in the labor market. A reduction in gender discrimination in the labor market leads to an increase in homogamy in the marriage market, lowering social mobility for both genders.


Alcohol consumption has numerous health consequences for the human body. For example, heavy drinking on a daily basis causes liver diseases, and certain products such as acetaldehyde produced from alcohol metabolism are more toxic than alcohol itself. Accordingly, the current study evaluated the role of Lactobacillus fermentum MG590 to enhance the removal of the toxic effect of alcohol in alcohol metabolism. The maximum activities of the alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) by L. fermentum MG590 were observed after 6 h of culture. The production of ADH and ALDH by L. fermentum MG590 was also confirmed by SDS-PAGE. Six hours after the addition of alcohol to a culture broth of L. fermentum MG590, the alcohol concentration decreased from 7.5 to 2.7%. From an in vitro evaluation based on hepatocytes, the viability of hepatocytes in a medium containing alcohol and the cytosol of L. fermentum MG590 was higher than that in a medium containing only alcohol. From an in vivo test using SD rats fed a 22% alcoholic drink, the blood alcohol concentration (BAC), glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) in the rats fed a medium containing L. fermentum MG590 were lower than those in the rats fed a medium containing only the alcohol drink. These results demonstrate that the ADH and ALDH produced by L. fermentum MG590 play an important role in detoxicating alcohol in vivo. Therefore, a fermentation broth of L. fermentum MG590 could be used as an effective alcohol detoxification drink.


A polymer-based nanofiber composite actuator designed for contractile actuation was fabricated by electrospinning, stimulated by electrolysis, and characterized by electrochemical and mechanical testing to address performance limitations and understand the activation processing effects on actuation performance. Currently, Electroactive polymers (EAPs) have provided uses in sensory and actuation technology, but have either low force output or expand rather than contract, falling short in capturing the natural kinetics and mechanics of muscle needed to provide breakthroughs in the bio-medical and robotic fields. In this study, activated Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers have demonstrated biomimetic functionalities similar to the sarcomere contraction responsible for muscle function. Activated PAN has also been shown to contract and expand by electrolysis when in close vicinity to the anode and cathode, respectively. PAN nanofibers (~500 nm) especially show faster response to changes in environmental pH and improved mechanical properties compared to larger diameter fibers. Tensile testing was conducted to examine changes in mechanical properties between annealing and hydrolysis processing. Voltage driven transient effects of localized pH were examined to address pHdefined actuation thresholds of PAN fibers. Electrochemical contraction rates of the PAN/Graphite composite actuator demonstrated up to 25%/min. Strains of 58.8%, ultimate stresses up to 77.1 MPa, and moduli of 0.21 MPa were achieved with pure PAN nanofiber mats, surpassing mechanical properties of natural muscles. Further improvements, however, to contraction rates and Young's moduli were found essential to capture the function and performance of skeletal muscles appropriately.


This paper develops a methodologically sound framework for valuing anti-piracy technologies used in the recorded entertainment industries. The method is consistent with the `nobody knows'' principle because it does not rely upon the calculation of a counterfactual `but for piracy' forecast. The developed method is applied in the context of the motionpicture industry to value digital watermarking technology; sample calculations are provided for theatrical box-office revenue, distributor revenue, and home video revenue.


INTRODUCTION
Patients admitted to the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit (Neuro-ICU) with acute neurological illnesses (ANI; e.g., stroke, tumor, TBI) and their informal caregivers experience high rates of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress. To address this need, we previously developed the Recovering Together (RT) dyadic intervention to help prevent chronic emotional distress in both patients and caregivers. Currently, we are conducting a fully-powered, single-blind randomized clinical trial (RCT) to evaluate the efficacy of RT versus an attention matched health education control. Here, we describe the protocol and current status of this RCT.

METHODS
We aim to recruit 194 at risk patient-caregiver dyads from the Neuro-ICU at MGH. Eligible dyads include patients diagnosed with ANI, cognitively intact, at least one partner endorses emotional distress (on Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), English speaking, age 18 or older. Dyads are randomized to the intervention (RT-1) or control condition (RT-2) (both six-sessions). RT-1 teaches resiliency (e.g., coping, mindfulness) and interpersonal skills. RT-2 provides education on health-related topics (e.g., stress, self-care, adhering to medical recommendations). Blinded research assistants collect measures at baseline, post-intervention, and three months follow-up. We will conduct mixed linear, mediation, and actor-partner interdependence models to examine changes in dyads' outcomes across time.

RESULTS
We have recruited 28 dyads and aim to recruit 194 total.

DISCUSSION
If successful, we plan to test RT in a large-scale, multisite hybrid effectiveness-implementation study in Neuro-ICUs across the country. Enhancing psychosocial supports for patients and families could improve health outcomes, healthcare efficiency, and the culture of these units.


This thesis will examine why the foldcourse, which is usually seen as a regional version of sheep-corn husbandry, was apparently confined to East Anglia. It will explore the foldcourse through its complex interactions with the environment, social structures and agrarian practices of the region and use these factors to establish the pre-conditions for the presence or absence of the foldcourse. The manorial right to a foldcourse was not 'automatic', and in a number of multi-manorial townships there was a connection between the possession of a foldcourse and Domesday estates. In the medieval period, the foldcourse and individual free folds co-existed in a diverse system that evolved into one under more direct manorial control in the sixteenth century - a period in which the term foldcourse became more widely and loosely used. The foldcourse remained, however, essentially an 'individualistic' rather than communal regime throughout its lifespan with only the minimal necessary communal activity.
The foldcourse was, rather than a form of sheep-corn husbandry, intimately connected with infield-outfield agriculture which was widespread across the light soil regions of East Anglia. Thus, foldcourse rights, as opposed to shack, were often confined to the outfield (which itself operated under a variety of names), as was the 'compensation' or provision of exchange lands by manorial lords. The cropping regimes employed in the light soil regions commonly involved significant periods of extended fallowing of both infield and outfield arable; the purpose of which was to improve the soil structure and thereby the retention of nutrients and moisture, and for the development of better plant cover and improved grazing for the flocks. On some Norfolk estates, this combination of foldcourse, variable infield-outfield cropping regimes with extended fallowing developed, during the early-modern period, into an improved and flexible form of open-field agriculture.


Abstract The Amstel river is located in the peat-covered coastal plain of the Netherlands and gives Amsterdam its name (Amstel dam). It is a small secondary branch of the repeatedly bifurcating Rhine delta system. Historically, the Amstel debouched into the peat-fringed former Oer-IJ estuary, which was connected to the North Sea, but after the closure of this inlet the estuary was transformed into an inland sea (IJ) due to erosion of the adjacent peat. The Amstel river was active between 3000 BP and 1122 AD after which time the supply water from the Rhine was stopped due to the construction of a dam far upstream near Wijk bij Duurstede. On the basis of borehole data from various sources, four cross-sections were constructed in the Amstel branch to study the unknown lithology and lithostratigraphy of the Amstel sediments in the Amsterdam area. The deposits show the Amstel was a low-energy river which carried mainly clay. The cross-sections reveal that the Amstel in its downstream part was flanked by two lithologically identical layers of overbank clay, intercalated by a peat layer. The lowermost overbank clay was deposited from 3000 BP to about 1000 AD. The intercalated peat layer is estimated to have developed between the 11th and 12th centuries AD, indicating a decreased sediment supply in the Amstel, and rise of water level in the downstream river caused by Zuiderzee influences such as storms and tide. The uppermost overbank clay was deposited during major storm surges such as those documented in 1164 and 1170 AD, and was derived from the brackish Zuiderzee; it has been traced upstream along the Amstel for over 10 km. Near the mouth of the Amstel channel in the Oer-IJ estuary its bottom has been scoured by estuarine processes to a lower level. On the basis of archaeological and geological data it is argued that the Amstel channel of medieval Amsterdam had a water depth of about 6 m before the construction of a dam in the 13th century. Soil scientists, historical geographers and historians have argued that the Amstel once consisted of two separate rivers: a northern Oer-IJ connected channel draining from the Amsterdam Stopera to the north, and a southern peat draining channel draining from the Amsterdam-Watergraafsmeer to the south. The relatively straight stretch of the present-day Amstel now positioned within the urban area has been hypothesised to be man-made between the 11th and 13th centuries AD. In this paper, on the basis of geological arguments such as channel depths, overbank clays, peat composition and other characteristics, it is concluded that the Amstel had a natural channel in the Amsterdam area.


Fictions are well established in the theory and practice of civil law; similar importance is here claimed for fictions in the theory and application of scientific law. A puzzle from quantum mechanics, previously referred to in this Journal [Am. J. Physiol. 238 (Regulatory Integrative Comp. Physiol. 7(: R277-R290, 1980], is reinterpreted by suggesting quantum logic as a source of relevant fictions, which indicate a solution to that puzzle. Another physiological application of quantum theory suggests that the concept of "the state of the brain" may, in its usual classical sense, not be useful for an individual brain--but may well be suggestively modeled by a quantum state. The notion of "myths," usually only pejoratively applied in positivistic writings, is suggested for rehabilitation, in view of their helpful function (often unnoticed) even in positivistic thinking. Finally, an example of a biological simulation (of a tumor by a cell culture) is presented, to show that its multilayered fictionalizations illustrate the surprising fact that a simulation that is insulated from the system being simulated can be logically more powerful than any uninsulated simulation.


South Australia is the cave art-richest state of Australia. So far, two concentrations of rock art occurring in limestone caves have been recorded, one on the Nullarbor Plain in the state's west, the other on the Mt Gambier karst in the far south-east. Both cave art regions extend into the two adjoining states, Western Australia and Victoria. The Mt Gambier corpus represents one of the two largest concentrations of cave art known in the world. The history of the discovery of South Australian cave art is presented, together with a brief evaluation of the research so far conducted and of its results. The term 'parietal art' has been queried with me several times and it seems appropriate to begin this essay by qualifying it. The word 'parietal' has several meanings pertaining to the wall of a cavity, but in the sense it is used in rock art research it refers to the pre-Historic, consciously modulated, human markings on the walls and ceilings of caves, particularly deep limestone caves. L'art parietal of western Europe has until the 1970s remained the only Pleistocene art tradition that provides evidence of a pre-Historic preference for deep caves, but the former existence of a second such tradition has been established in Australia in the last few decades. Archaeologists and others sometimes misuse the term 'cave art' to describe paintings in rockshelters and overhangs, and some writers have applied the expression 'parietal art' to virtually all painted rock art. The use of this colloquialism is not acceptable in a scientific context. Up to one half of the world's painted rock art occurs on vertical or only slightly concave cliff faces, while most of the remainder is found on the underside of loose boulders or in rockshelters, such as are frequently formed in granites and sandstones by granular and mass exfoliation processes. True caves are found almost exclusively in carbonate rock, predominantly limestone, and are usually formed by a combination of tectonic and solution processes. The distinctive feature of caves is that they possess a speleoclimate, and a speleofauna — in short, a parietal environment. Most non-troglobite animal species (troglobites are the species that live wholly and permanently in the dark zone of caves), including in many cultures man, find this a threatening environment, one they are loath to enter, and ethnographic evidence throughout the world indicates that indigenous peoples often shun caves. Deep caves feature prominently in their myths, as the abodes of a multitude of malignant spirits or beings, and Australia is no exception. The reluctance of the Aborigines to enter caves, sometimes even deep rockshelters, is attributable to a mythology describing them as the dwelling places of sorcerers, witches, rainbow serpents and other creatures. It was therefore not surprising that Australia seemed to be quite devoid of cave art, and there was no incentive in searching for something one knew could not be there. Nearly all the studies done on Australian rock art up to the mid-1960s were tied firmly to iconology and ethnographic interpretation — an approach that is still claimed by many researchers to be valid for rock art research. Little thought was given to the time depth rock art might possess (as, conversely, has been the case in North America right up to the 1980s). Lane and Richards (1966) mentioned the occurrence of hand stencils in four caves of the Nullarbor Plain, Murrawijinie Number 1 and Number 3 Caves, Knowles Cave and Abrakurrie Cave, as the only known Australian examples of what could reasonably be described as cave art (Fig. 1). Two more hand stencils were more recently located in Old Kudardup Cave, in the south-west of Western Australia (Morse 1984). But in nearly all cases these paintings are located close to the entrance of the cave in question, well within the reach of daylight. While these hand stencils are of' considerable interest they do not constitute evidence of a major art tradition that, like that of the Franco-Cantabrian region of Europe, has survived only in limestone caves. Hand negatives are a very common feature in Australian rock art, and occur in fact in all states though they are rare in Tasmania and South Australia. Neither are they any proof that their makers regularly undertook Cave Art Research 2006 Volume 6 long and arduous underground journeys, as the artists of the Upper Palaeolithic of Europe certainly did. On the contrary, the Australian evidence published prior to 1968 suggested that the pre-Historic Australians never ventured beyond the safety of daylight. The concept that they could ever have engaged in systematic subterranean treks, be it for economic or ritual purposes, was quite alien to Australian archaeologists. Koonalda Cave It should therefore have come as no surprise to Alexander Gallus that there was no shortage of scepticism when he announced in 1968 that extensive wall markings found in Koonalda Cave up to 300 metres from the entrance and in complete darkness (Fig. 2), were made by humans during the Pleistocene (Gallus 1968, 1971). They had been found by A. Hunt in 1957. Gallus likened the finger markings to those known from French and Spanish caves, which are believed to often predate the earliest figurative art there, and he reported extensive evidence of chalcedony mining from the general vicinity of the markings. Many objections were raised against his first and subsequent reports. Alternative explanations for the finger and abrasion marks included that they had been produced by bats or owls; that they could have resulted from the sharpening of bone points; that they are dissected solution tubes, or, alternatively, surface solution grooves. Even if they are of human origin, it was argued, they could have been made by recent visitors, or produced accidentally by people marking the soft walls with their fingers as they groped their way in the dark. I must point out, risking the accusation of being wise in hindsight, that some of these alternative explanations border on the absurd. Limestone solution grooves (they are called Karren) cannot be formed in a parietal environment (vadose water is as a rule saturated with solute); solution tubes are easily recognised, and are very rare in Australian caves (we have observed them in only two caves out of the nearly 300 we have examined); the relative hardness of the Tertiary limestone wall in Koonalda Cave hardly exceeds 2 on the Mohs Scale, which would not have much effect on bone points; and the cave markings bats and birds are capable of producing, although extremely numerous throughout the world, differ significantly from finger marks (Bednarik 1991). After studying these human markings from 1959, Gallus came to the conclusion that they must be preHistoric, and of quite considerable age. His daring claims of 1968 followed a series of expeditions, and his perseverance led to a major investigation of the cave in 1967. R. V. S. Wright's expedition confirmed not only that the wall markings are indeed human, that they had been intentionally produced and they occur amidst extensive evidence of pre-Historic chert mining, it also confirmed that this use of the cave appeared to be restricted to the Pleistocene. Wright (1971a: 28) concluded from the results of his excavation that traces of human activity are present from roughly 22 000 to 15 000 bp. He suggests that Gallus' date of 31 000 ± 1650 presents a discrepancy in the stratigraphy, but I believe that the dating of the Koonalda sequence as a whole can only be taken as tentative in any case, and it would therefore be premature to omit any of the dates because it appears incongruous. It should be emphasised that all carbon-14 dates reported by Wright are in fact incompatible at one standard deviation. Two different horizons yielded identical dates, whilst no two dates from any supposedly single stratum overlap within their errors. ANU-148 is dated some 2500 years younger than ANU-245, despite having been recovered 4.3 metres lower than the latter. Worse still, the 31 000-year-old sample was collected less than two metres below the surface, whereas a 19 400-year-old sample came from nearly six metres below the surface. Finally, V-92 is from a surface deposit in front of the Squeeze and Wright suggests contemporaneity of the wall markings and the carbon-14 sample. Curiously he states that this 19 900 ± 2000-year-old charcoal 'was possibly European in origin, alternatively it was genuinely prehistoric', and he mentions that traces of decayed wood were also observed at the sample's collecting Figure 1. Ochre hand stencil in Abrakurrie Cave. Cave Art Research 2006 Volume 6 site. Gallus reports a similar date (21 200 ± 700) from surface-near strata in the vicinity of the Squeeze, and in a later paper mentions remnants of a torch, collected from a surface clast in the decorated passage; this is of a similar age (Gallus 1977: 374-5). However, it is quite clear that the preHistoric finger markings in Koonalda Cave were executed well before the cessation of the major tectonic adjustments to the profile of the Art Passage, and these major roof falls appear to precede the last-mentioned dates. It is also plausible that surface finds such as torch remains could mark some of the most recent human activity in a particular part of the cave. I consider Koonalda Cave to have a speleogenetically complex history, as have most large cave systems, and I believe that the wall markings can be related to tectonic phases, but not directly to charcoal found in the sediment deposits. Not only do large caves usually have such intricate and irregular stratigraphies that these are often of little archaeological use, most of the detritus in this cave consists of loosely packed boulder screes. The percolation of small material through the large openings in these deposits is well illustrated by Sharpe (1982: 21) when he reports how an exposed film fell down between the clasts


The mechanism for the generation of a direct current through a crystal illuminated in a static interference pattern in an alternating external electric field with an asymmetric temporal profile is examined theoretically. The oscillation period of the external field is assumed short in comparison with the time scale of the response of the crystal to the illumination.


The size and distribution of Phytoplankton populations are indicators of the ecological status of a water body. The chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentration is estimated as a proxy for the distribution of phytoplankton biomass. Remote sensing is the only practical method for the synoptic assessment of Chl-a at large spatial and temporal scales. Long-term records of ocean color data from the MODIS Aqua Sensor have proven inadequate to assess Chl-a due to the lack of a robust ocean color algorithm. Chl-a estimation in shallow and coastal water bodies has been a challenge and existing operational algorithms are only suitable for deeper water bodies. In this study, the Ocean Color 3M (OC3M) derived Chl-a concentrations were compared with observed data to assess the performance of the OC3M algorithm. Subsequently, a regression analysis between in situ Chl-a and remote sensing reflectance was performed to obtain a green-red band algorithm for coastal (case 2) water. The OC3M algorithm yielded an accurate estimate of Chl-a for deep ocean (case 1) water (RMSE = 0.007, r2 = 0.518, p < 0.001), but failed to perform well in the coastal (case 2) water of Chesapeake Bay (RMSE = 23.217, r2 = 0.009, p = 0.356). The algorithm developed in this study predicted Chl-a more accurately in Chesapeake Bay (RMSE = 4.924, r2 = 0.444, p < 0.001) than the OC3M algorithm. The study indicates a maximum band ratio formulation using green and red bands could improve the satellite estimation of Chl-a in coastal waters.


Abstract Revision rhinoplasty presents several complex surgical challenges. Proper patient selection for revision rhinoplasty, along with thorough preoperative examination and surgical planning, is key to achieving ideal outcomes. Along with achieving a high level of understanding of primary rhinoplasty techniques, surgeons performing revision rhinoplasty must understand and diagnose deformities created by the primary surgery. A systematic approach to diagnosing rhinoplasty deformities assists in forming a suitable surgical plan. A classification system based on nasal analysis, described here, may be used to differentiate the degree of difficulty of the surgery as well as assist in surgical planning. Surgeons have a multitude of options available in their armamentarium for addressing common nasal deformities encountered during revisional surgery, and a stepwise surgical approach may facilitate the creation of an optimal aesthetic and functional result.


Abstract. A photonic-assisted image rejection mixer is proposed based on Hilbert transform in the optical domain using a phase-shifted fiber Bragg grating (PS-FBG). The image signal and the desired RF signal are converted to the optical domain by carrier-suppressed single-sideband modulation, which is then split into two parts. One part is Hilbert transformed by a specially designed PS-FBG and a 90-deg optical phase shifter and then combined with the other part to directly reject the image signal in the optical domain. The image-free optical signal is downconverted to an intermediate frequency signal by combining it with an optical local oscillator signal and then detecting them in a photodetector. The image rejection capability of the system is analyzed, and an image rejection ratio of 68.0 or 58.6 dB is achieved when the bandwidth of the image signal is 20 or 60 MHz, respectively, while having an acceptable influence on the desired RF signal. Quadrature phase-shift keying (QPSK) signals, 8 phase-shift keying (8PSK) signals, and 16 quadrature amplitude modulation (16-QAM) signals are used to evaluate the image rejection performance. When the bandwidth of the image signal is 18.75 MHz, the error vector magnitudes of the downconverted QPSK, 8PSK, and 16-QAM signals with the same power, modulation format, and bandwidth are 2.5%, 2.5%, and 2.6%, respectively.


Effects of the membrane structure and reactant type on the trapping of carcinogens and other reactive species by semipermeable magnetic polyethyleneimine (PEI) microcapsules are investigated. A series of these microcapsules with poly(hexamethyleneterephthalamide) membranes was prepared by interfacial polymerization with an 8-fold variation of hexamethylenediamine concentration in the aqueous emulsion phase. Although little change was found in the encapsulation of PEI (within the microcapsule core) and magnetite, the microcapsule membrane showed a 6-fold alteration in regard to mass and associated PEI. All the microcapsule types tested were capable of trapping N-methyl-N-nitrosourea and fluorescein isothiocyanate as covalent-binding probes, and eosin and tetrasodium copper phthalocyanine tetrasulfonic acid (CPTS) as ionic-binding probes. Very rapid penetration and reaction of eosin and CPTS with the membranes was demonstrated, with apparent saturation of membrane binding affecting the overall trapping. Differences in the site and quantity of binding were ascribed to the following factors: the core:membrane distribution of incorporated PEI; the probe molecular weight; the reaction or adsorption of the probes with the microcapsule membrane; the probe stability in aqueous solution; and the amount of probe used. These probes represent the chemical-physical features of many known carcinogens or metabolites; together with previous data, these results indicate the potential usefulness of this type of microcapsule for trapping carcinogens (and their metabolites) as covalently or ionically bound products.


We conducted two studies to examine parameters of social attention in contingency awareness training using switch activation with individuals who had multiple profound disabilities. In Study 1 we compared leisure devices and social attention as reinforcing stimuli with 5 individuals. Results indicated the reinforcing qualities of social attention over leisure devices with 2 individuals and documented the importance of session length in training. In Study 2 we investigated idiosyncratic behaviors as indicators of responsiveness with 3 of the 5 original participants as they activated switches. Behavior changes during switch activation versus nonactivation times in the leisure device and social attention conditions suggested volitional movement supporting contingency awareness and preference. Implications for clinical practice are discussed.