Nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) field emitters have attracted significant interest for vacuum microelectronics applications. This work presents an approach to enhance the field electron emission (FEE) properties of NCD films by co-doping phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) using microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. While the methane (CH4) and P concentrations are kept constant, the N2 concentration is varied from 0.2% to 2% and supplemented by H2. The composition of the gas mixture is tracked in situ by optical emission spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy are used to provide evidence of the changes in crystal morphology, surface roughness, microstructure, and crystalline quality of the different NCD samples. The FEE results display that the 2% N2 concentration sample had the best FEE properties, viz. the lowest turn-on field value of 14.3 V/µm and the highest current value of 2.7 µA at an applied field of 73.0 V/µm. Conductive AFM studies reveal that the 2% N2 concentration NCD sample showed more emission sites, both from the diamond grains and the grain boundaries surrounding them. While phosphorus doping increased the electrical conductivity of the diamond grains, the incorporation of N2 during growth facilitated the formation of nano-graphitic grain boundary phases that provide conducting pathways for the electrons, thereby improving the FEE properties for the 2% N2 concentrated NCD films.


In this paper, a robust yaw moment controller is designed to improve vehicle handling and stability. Three issues regarding to vehicle mass variation, cornering stiffness uncertainty, and tracking control are considered in the controller design process. To deal with these issues, parameter-dependent control strategy, norm-bounded uncertainty description, and tracking error feedback are applied. The control objective is to stabilise the closed-loop system and to optimise the tracking performance on yaw rate and sideslip angle with respect to their targets. The condition for designing such a controller is derived in terms of linear matrix inequality (LMI). Numerical simulations on a nonlinear vehicle model are performed to validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.The results show that the designed controller can improve vehicle handling and stability regardless of the variation of vehicle mass and the change of road surface.


The incidence of reversible ischaemia was assessed four weeks after primary coronary occlusion in 36 patients who had not required earlier revascularisation after randomisation to receive rTPA (n = 19) or placebo (n = 17). Coronary arteriography was performed at three weeks and thallium scintigraphy with dynamic stress testing at four weeks. Patients were followed for one year without planned intervention in the absence of symptoms. Managing physicians remained blinded to thrombolytic therapy. Patency rate of the infarct related artery at three weeks was greater after rTPA (rTPA 16, placebo 9; p = 0.04). Reversible perfusion defects within infarct related artery territory occurred with similar frequency in both treatment groups (rTPA 7, placebo 8). Multivessel disease was frequent (rTPA 11, placebo 12) but associated with a low incidence of reversible perfusion defects outside infarct related artery territory (rTPA 3, placebo 2). Thallium scintigraphy identified six of seven patients requiring subsequent revascularisation (sensitivity 86%, specificity 59%, negative predictive value 94%). Dynamic stress testing was positive for reversible ischaemia in 28% (rTPA 6, placebo 4) and identified two patients requiring revascularisation (sensitivity 29%, specificity 72%, negative predictive value 81%). The greater patency rate achieved with rTPA at three weeks after primary coronary occlusion was not associated with a significantly greater incidence of reversible perfusion defects at four weeks in patients who had not required prior revascularisation. The absence of reversible perfusion defects at four weeks was associated with a low incidence of revascularisation procedures during one year follow-up.


We report on the case of middle-aged right-handed woman with central pontine myelinolysis (CPM) revealed by high resolution structural T2-weighted FLAIR MRI imaging. There was a general flattening of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Fourth Edition subtest scores which were 1 standard deviation below expected values. In contrast Wechsler Memory Scale—Fourth Edition visual and auditory memory scores remained within the normal range. Verbal working memory appeared mildly impaired while nonverbal working memory was not. Scores on the Advanced Clinical Solution's Social Perception battery were all in the normal range as were academic skills measured by the Wide Range Achievement Test—Fourth Edition. Performance was impaired on the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System's counterpart of the Trail-Making Test: Part B. Similarly, on the Draw-A-Person Test there was a discrepancy in that our patient's standard score was 76 compared to her estimated premorbid FSIQ in the average range. She also displayed bilateral motor coordination slowing on the Finger Tapping task collectively suggesting damage to pontine motor tracts. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory—Second Edition—Restructured Form profile was consistent with a diagnosis of severe anxiety and depression perhaps due to damage to serotoninergic neural tracts originating within the central pons. Finally, the patient displayed severe sleep disturbances and other signs of reticular activating formation injury. CPM may constitute a unique means of studying reversible subcortical lesions in the central pons in otherwise healthy subjects with benign illness. To our knowledge this is among the first patients with CPM without the usual risk factors for the disorder and who was otherwise healthy. Knowledge of the etiology and neuropsychology of such patients might aid in understanding the interaction of the fronto-ponto-cerebellar tracts in executive functions and motor programming.


The mobile telecommunications industry is undergoing a rapid change, which is increasing the interdependency of firms in the sector. This trend increases the likelihood that mobile information and entertainment services will be delivered through inter-organisational networks of firms. These networks are the topic of this research. In particular, we examine service networks and the possible influence of business models on their characteristics. Using data from five case studies of mobile service networks, we examine the influence of revenue models and network membership benefits on network characteristics. The results of this exploratory research demonstrate that revenue models have a relationship with governance and that both revenue sharing agreements and governance mechanisms become less standardised with greater distance from the end user. In the conclusion we discuss the implications of these findings for research on both inter-firm service networks and business models.


Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) represents an alternative to prenatal diagnosis and allows selection of unaffected IVF embryos for establishing pregnancies in couples at risk for transmitting a genetic disorder.


Most existing deblurring methods focus on removing global blur caused by camera shake, while they cannot well handle local blur caused by object movements. To fill the vacancy of local deblurring in real scenes, we establish the first real local motion blur dataset (ReLoBlur), which is captured by a synchronized beam-splitting photographing system and corrected by a post-progressing pipeline. Based on ReLoBlur, we propose a Local Blur-Aware Gated network (LBAG) and several local blur-aware techniques to bridge the gap between global and local deblurring: 1) a blur detection approach based on background subtraction to localize blurred regions; 2) a gate mechanism to guide our network to focus on blurred regions; and 3) a blur-aware patch cropping strategy to address data imbalance problem. Extensive experiments prove the reliability of ReLoBlur dataset, and demonstrate that LBAG achieves better performance than state-of-the-art global deblurring methods and our proposed local blur-aware techniques are effective.


The colon and rectum are the parts of digestive system of human beings. Cancer affecting either of these organs may be called colorectal cancers. Conventional cancer chemotherapy is not very effective for treatment of colorectal cancer, as the drug molecule does not reach the target site at therapeutic concentration, on the other side they produces sever systemic toxic effect. Aim of this study was to develop a novel colon targeted Assam Bora rice starch compression coated tablet for site specific delivery of 5-FU to the colon without the drug being released in stomach or small intestine. Core tablet of 5-FU was prepared using microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and spray dried lactose by direct compression method. The in vitro drug release study in different physiological environment confirmed insignificant release of 5-FU in physiological condition of stomach and small intestine further fast and major drug release in caecal content. In vivo drug absorption of optimized formulation was performed in order to establish its targeting potential in colon. It is concluded from the present study that Assam Bora rice starch can be used as a drug carrier for an effective colon targeted delivery system for drugs effective against the large intestine resident disease condition.


Objectives : Assuming That the Characteristic of Meridian System Has Been Similar to This of Electric Potentials in Human Body and That Measurements of Electric Potential at Well and Sea Points in Branches of the Twelve Meridians Will Be Representative of Measurements of the Twelve Meridians, to Measure the Electric Potentials in Healthy Volunteers(HG), Patients Diagnosed As a Cerebral Infarction(CG), a Arrhythmia(AG), a Other Intervertebral Disc Disorder(IG), and a Joint Disorder(JG), and Then to Find Out the Characteristic of Biophysical Meridian System, Finally to Compare with the Results of the Electric Potential in Those Groups. Methods : We Selected Who HG Were Diagnosed by a Blood Test, Urine Examination and Differentiation of Syndromes by Five Viscera among Volunteers, CG by CT and Wind-Syndrome Caused by Hyperactivity of the Liver-Yang, AG by EKG, CT, and Deficiency or the Heart Blood, IG by X-ray or CT and Pain in Waist, and JG by X-ray and Knee Pain. Their Electric Potential of Well and Sea Points in the Meridians Were Measured by hysiograph. Results and Conclusions : Measurements Were Analyzed by Factor Analysis, Analysis of Variance, and Logistic Regression Model, We Obtained That Most of the Results, In Conclusion, Hold Good for the Classical Meridian Doctrine.


The performance of thin-film transistors based on an aluminum oxide gate dielectric and a pentacene semiconductor have been systematically enhanced by modification of the oxide surface. The oxide layer was formed at room temperature using a standard anodization technique. The effects of surface modification of the oxide layer on device performance have been investigated. Higher mobility transistors were fabricated by passivating the oxide layer with a self-assembled molecular monolayer of an alkyl phosphonic acid or a spin-coated acrylic film. In both cases the normalized sub-threshold swing was reduced by a factor of 1.9 and 1.5, and the maximum charge-carrier mobility was increased by one and two orders of magnitudes respectively. The much increased mobility for transistors modified by a thin film of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) is attributed to the larger pentacene grain size.


OBJECTIVE
Previous studies of AN showed low-grade inflammation. Are low-grade inflammation and circulating lymphocytes associated with chronic conditions?

METHOD
Peripheric blood cytokines were measured using Luminex™ technology in a chronic AN cohort (mean = 67.42 months), compared to Constitutional Thinness (CT), Constitutional Obesity (CO), and Healthy Controls (HC). Secondarily a prospective cohort of chronic AN (mean = 54.11 months) was recruited to compare the functional lymphocyte profile in blood by flow cytometry to CT and HC.

RESULTS
In the AN group, most cytokine concentrations were lower than in CT and HC groups. The IL-23 (98.02 pg/ml) was elevated related to HC and CO, and the IL-10 (4.178 pg/ml) was elevated versus CO. In the CT group, IL-9 (0.06216 pg/ml) was elevated compared to AN. The AN group had high Treg (9.259% of CD4+ ) and CD8+ Integrinβ7+ (9.552% of CD3+ ) versus HC for lymphocyte populations. In CT group, elevated Treg (9.7% of CD4+ ) elevated percentage of CD4+ CCR9+ (5.867% of CD3+ ) and CD8+ Integrinβ7+ (10.21% of CD3+ ) were found versus HC.

CONCLUSIONS
The chronic state of AN and CT is surprisingly non-inflammatory with elevated Treg cells. These results suggest that maintaining a dysregulated response to intestinal antigens may contribute to maintaining AN.


Background and Objective: Chronic or non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are rapidly emerging as leading causes of morbidity and premature mortalities globally, with greater effect  being felt in low and middle income nations. As poor health behaviours practised in youthful years have been implicated in developing NCDs in later years in life, It is important to understand the level of awareness of young people regarding NCDs in order to remedy any knowledge gaps and encourage healthy practices among them that will reduce the burden  of these diseases in later life. This  study  seeks  to  describe the knowledge of two groups of final year students of a tertiary institution in Nigeria on the awareness and knowledge of non-communicable diseases and their risk factors.
Methods: The study was designed as a cross-sectional survey at the University of Lagos, Nigeria during the 2017/2018 academic session. A sample size of 422 final year students were used with convenient stratification. Self administered questionnaires was distributed to the class of  students who consented to participating in the study. The questionnaires were used to assess the level of awareness of the students of non communicable diseases and their risk factors. Data obtained from the questionnaires was analyzed using SPSS version 21.
Results: A result of 94.7% was obtained. The results show 89.5% versus 65% of students in health related discipline (college of medicine campus) and those in Akoka campus respectively had good knowledge of NCDs and their risk factors while 10.5% versus 35% had poor knowledge.
Conclusion: Students in the campus of college of medicine had more knowledge of NCDs and their risk factors. Campus location of students had statistically significant relationship with awareness and knowledge on NCDs. (p, <0.05).


ABSTRACT Executive function (EF) skills involve higher-level cognitive functions, such as planning, goal formation, goal-directed behavior, and effective performance. Previous research has shown that these aspects of EF are essential for successful functioning in everyday life. This study aimed to examine differences in the behavioral aspects of EF between young adults with epilepsy and healthy controls. The study involved 62 young adults, aged 18 to 30 years, divided into two groups: a study group of young adults with well-controlled epilepsy and a control group of healthy young adults. The groups were matched according to basic sociodemographic characteristics. The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function – Adult version was used to assess the behavioral aspects of executive functions. A significant difference between groups was only observed on the Organization of Materials scale, where the group with epilepsy achieved better performance. Our findings suggest that self-assessed behavioral control of EF is almost the same in healthy young adults and young adults with epilepsy who have no comorbidities and have good control of the disease as well as preserved intellectual ability and functionality in everyday activities.


In this master thesis I aim to present some of the basic theory of determinantal processes. Some preliminary theory of random measures and point-process theory is reviewed in the first chapter. In the second chapter I introduce the notion of a determinantal process, through what is called trace-class kernels. I mention a few of the most fundamental theorems from the field and go through some useful theorems for determinantal processes concerning interpolation between different processes. An algorithm for simulating determinantal processes was suggested earlier in [9]. I study this algorithm and derive more explicit formulas for implementation. The algorithm is however based on some assumptions that the underlying process is of a specific form. There is however a way to get around this assumption in order to study a wider class of processes, using another result from [9]. I will study some processes that interpolate between well-known processes, and use my implemented simulation tool to study how this interpolation manifests itself.


This 212-page book argues that borders immobilize international workers, preserves elites ́ wealth and privilege, prevents attempts to mitigate climate change, and aids in enclosing natural and oceanic commons, for the purposes of dispossession and extraction. The central premise behind this argument is a binary theorizing "movement and fixity as a conflict between the desire for freedom and the desire for control, between people who move around and people who want them to stay in place" (p.10). Chapter 1 focus on the failures of European border politics of control and arrival in the context of the socalled "refugee crisis," including the strategy of shifting the blame for lifethreatening conditions of migrants on to "the smuggler." Chapter 2, turns to the U.S.-Mexico border illustrating the trend of militarized borders. Actors like the Joint Task Force North (JTF-N) has transferred a logic of militarization from Afghanistan and Iraq to the previously civilian contexts like crime or asylum politics (p. 42), and more than 47,000 people have lost their lives at the U.S.Mexican border (p. 45). Chapter 3 looks to border contexts, like India, Bangladesh, Israel and Australia, helpfully explaining how different states at different times invoke different (violent) border strategies. Some like India, expand massive walls, while others, like Australia, seek to preempt boat migration through a string of deals with, especially small, neighboring island states (pp. 645). Chapter 4 dives into the relationship between the global poor and borders as a strategy to maintain privilege. Through a hasty account of English serfdom and slavery, citizenship and identity documents all the way from the English Middle Ages over American slavery to the Declaration of Human Rights, Jones seeks to build an argument that the movement of the poor has been, and now again is being, being limited through violence means. Chapter 5 depicts the present enclosure of previously common resources as relatively new, tracing its emergence from the English Midlands Revolts over post-Westphalian colonialization of Africa to the enclosure of the world ́s oceans. Chapter 6 opens with the collapse of the Rana Plaza building that killed 1,127 factory workers. Jones ties violence inflicted on migrants to corporate globalization, tracing its rise from the 1890s, through the 1929 crisis and onwards through the 1970s to free trade globalization replete with WTO, NAFTA and TPP. Borders intensify environmental hazards and capture labor, he argues (p.132), feeding into the problematic narrative of developmentalism that contains labor and regulators, but not capital (p.139). Chapter 7 links together climate change


Face manipulation has shown remarkable advances with the flourish of Generative Adversarial Networks. However, due to the difficulties of controlling the structure and texture in high-resolution, it is challenging to simultaneously model pose and expression during manipulation. In this paper, we propose a novel framework that simplifies face manipulation with extreme pose and expression into two correlated stages: a boundary prediction stage and a disentangled face synthesis stage. In the first stage, we propose to use a boundary image for joint pose and expression modeling. An encoder-decoder network is employed to predict the boundary image of the target face in a semi-supervised way. Pose and expression estimators are used to improve the prediction accuracy. In the second stage, the predicted boundary image and the original face are encoded into the structure and texture latent space by two encoder networks respectively. A proxy network and a feature threshold loss are further imposed as constraints to disentangle the latent space. In addition, we build up a new high quality Multi-View Face (MVF-HQ) database that contains 120K high-resolution face images of 479 identities with pose and expression variations, which will be released soon. Qualitative and quantitative experiments on four databases show that our method pushes forward the advance of extreme face manipulation from 128 $\times$ 128 resolution to 1024 $\times$ 1024 resolution, and significantly improves the face recognition performance under large poses.


Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequent type of non skin cancer among women and a major leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Western countries. It is substantial to discover novel biomarkers with diagnostic, prognostic or predictive usefulness as well as therapeutic value for BC. Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) belong to a novel class of endogenous interfering RNAs that play a crucial role in post transcriptional gene silencing through mRNA targeting and, thus, are involved in many biological processes encompassing apoptosis, cell-cycle control, cell proliferation, DNA repair, immunity, metabolism, stress, aging, etc. MiRNAs exert their action mainly in a tumor suppressive or oncogenic manner. The specific aberrant expression patterns of miRNAs in BC that are detected with the use of high-throughput technologies reflect their key role in cancer initiation, progression, migration, invasion and metastasis. The detection of circulating extracellular miRNAs in plasma of BC patients may provide novel, non-invasive biomarkers in favor of BC diagnosis and prognosis and, at the same time, accumulating evidence has underscored the possible contribution of miRNAs as valuable biomarkers to predict response to chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Data from in vitro and in vivo studies on BC have revealed promising therapeutic approaches via miRNA delivery and miRNA inhibition. The purpose of this review is to explore the ontological role of miRNAs in BC etiopathogenesis as well as to highlight their potential, not only as non-invasive circulating biomarkers with diagnostic and prognostic significance, but also as treatment response predictors and therapeutic targets aiding BC management.


GANESAN, PRASANTH Efficiently Adding Secure Communications to Networked LowEnd Embedded Systems using Software Thread Integration. (Under the direction of Assistant Professor Alexander Dean). The wide spread acceptance of distributed embedded networks is motivated by factors such as cost, weight and power consumption. Communication protocols or MAC layer protocols can be implemented in software on microcontrollers to save costs in comparison to dedicated chips. Traditional methods for implementing a protocol's lowest layers (sending and receiving bits and bytes) in software incur significant execution time overhead, which limits system efficiency and peak performance, increasing power consumption. An additional constraint on communication is security. Wireless networks in particular require secure channels of communication due to the open nature of the RF medium, which makes them vulnerable to attacks. To provide privacy these networks use security protocols. Cryptographic support is a vital ingredient of these protocols. All data transmitted and received is encrypted or decrypted in real time. This further burdens the system processor, forcing lower network bit-rates or higher processor clock speeds and therefore increasing power consumption. Software Thread Integration (STI) is a software technique which interleaves multiple threads at the machine instruction level. This enables system resources to be used efficiently and eliminates context switch overhead. This technique gives a wonderful opportunity to utilize the free cycles generated in communication protocols by cryptographic algorithms. Real-time work is performed faster, allowing for better throughput rates. Throughput increase is also attained because of more efficient use of the communication channel. Timing constraints of the communication threads are met while cryptographic duties are performed concurrently. This saves many processor cycles as well. In some cases it may also allow hardware to software migration without any effect on the throughput rates. This thesis proposes a set of methods to add cryptographic support efficiently to networked embedded systems using STI and save processor cycles and power. A system level software architecture is proposed to enable the use of integrated threads efficiently. TDMA threads are integrated with encryption/decryption threads and, using the above technique and proposed architecture, implemented as part of an open source operating system AVRX. The results show that an STI based implementation is more efficient in the case of synchronous transmission compared to traditional ISR or busy-wait schemes. Our analysis of an integrated thread including the RC4 stream cipher at a relative bus speed of fcpu/16 showed a 22% increase in algorithm throughput while data throughput increased by 23%. Further results and benefits are tabulated and evaluated. Efficiently Adding Secure Communications to Networked Low-End Embedded Systems using Software Thread Integration


This paper outlines the present status of lightning arrester application on transmission lines and suggests future investigations to determine the most effective design and method of application. Information from klydonograph tests is presented to show that lightning arresters are needed on both high-voltage and low-voltage lines. It is suggested that present practise in both design and application has limitations which may be overcome with the result of better protection which will be economically justified.


In response to ramp-and-hold indentation, the slowly-adapting type I (SAI) afferent exhibits an exponential decrease in its firing frequency during the hold phase. Such adaptation may be tied to skin relaxation but is neither well understood nor has it been quantitatively modeled. The specific hypothesis of this work is that skin relaxation is a primary contributor to observed changes in firing rate. Double exponential functions were fit to 21 responses from a mouse SAI afferent for both instantaneous firing rate and indenter tip force over time. The model was then generalized by using a linear transformation between fit parameters for force and firing rate data, allowing prediction of firing rates from force. The results show that the generalized model matches the recorded firing rate (R2 = 0.65) equally well as fitting a doubleexponential function directly to firing rate (R2 = 0.67) for a second dataset. When the procedure was repeated with two D-hair fibers, the generalized model matched the recorded firing rate (R2 = 0.47) much more poorly compared to the fitted double-exponential function (R2 = 0.89). Thus, firing rate adaptation in SAI responses can be predicted by skin relaxation, whereas this factor alone did not adequately describe adaptation in the D-hair.


Backgroud Recent trials suggest sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) significantly reduced proteinuria in patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN). While little was known its efficacy in clinical practice especially in those already received full dose reninangiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors. Methods A cohort of 93 Chinese patients with biopsy-proven IgAN and persistent proteinuria underwent full supportive therapy, including optimal blood pressure control and full dose angiotensin-converting enzyme–inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker therapy. Proteinuria reduction at three and six months after initiating SGLT2i therapy was analyzed. Results A total of 93 patients were enrolled in this study and 62 of them completed the six-month follow-up. After SGLT2i administration, a significant reduction in proteinuria was observed, with a decrease of 22.9% (p < 0.001) at three months and 27.1% (p < 0.001) at six months. During the six-month follow-up period, a decline of 3.0 mL/min/1.73m2 in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (p = 0.012) and an increase of 0.8 g/L in albumin (p = 0.017) were observed. The anti-hypertensive effect of SGLT2i was not significant (p > 0.05). Notably, a consistent antiproteinuric effect of SGLT2i was observed across various settings, including different age groups, baseline levels of proteinuria/eGFR, use of immunosuppressive agents, and the presence of comorbid diabetes and hypertension (all p values >0.05). Conclusion The proteinuria was significantly reduced after SGLT2i administration in IgAN patients with full dose angiotensin-converting enzyme–inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker therapy. Importantly, the antiproteinuric effect of SGLT2i was observed independently of immunosuppressive agent therapy, age, baseline eGFR and proteinuria levels, as well as the history of hypertension and diabetes.


Electronic patient record mining deals with the implicit and useful medical information stored in the electronic patient record database. By this technology the useful knowledge is extracted and the scientific and auxiliary decision-making is proved for the diagnosis and treatment of disease. In this paper, a rough knowledge mining algorithm (named RKMA) based on extension decision rule lattice is presented. Firstly the electronic patient records are converted into different recordings in order to be further reduced and classified in the medical database. Secondly both variable rough thresholding and concept lattice are relatethed. A novel extension decision rule lattice is constructed. This extension lattice can rough reduce the mutative knowledge attributions and well mine all disease diagnosis rules without more redundancy by avoiding finding frequent item sets. The experimental results show this RKMA algorithm well can mine consistent decision rules, and it is better robustness than other algorithms on the capability of attribution reduction and rule mining for electronic patient records.


Abstract. The research proposes the study of the Royal Park of Tirana in Albania, with particular reference both to the vegetation system, such as tree-lined avenues, ornamental gardens and vegetable gardens, and to the architectural elements such as the Villa, the Church, the gardener's house, the generator house and greenhouses. The few iconographic documents consist of the plans of the Grand Park of Tirana in 1957 and 1980, where some large buildings can be identified. The bibliography is relegated to the few citations found in the volumes illustrating the works of the two architects G. Bosio and G. Bertè. For the activities of knowledge of the Royal Park and of the architectural elements, in addition to the classical techniques of direct and indirect survey, we took into account the Ryobi laser instrumentation applied on portable computer support both tablets and smartphone. This digital system allows an immediate view of the relevant data on the photographic image taken by the support, transforming it into a dynamic datum. In the first phase, the relevant activity envisaged a basic knowledge extended to architectural organisms and green systems with a primitive geometric model; subsequently, measurements of architectural details, structures and the digital model were made. Appropriate photographic documentation was produced in addition to bibliographic, archival, and iconographic surveys.


Purpose This study is an update to check if the frequency of imaging QA suggested by AAPM Task Group Report 142 (TG142) is necessary with our 5 year experience. TG142 presents recommendations for QA criteria of IGRT treatment. ACR has adopted it to be the requirements for any radiatiotherapy practices; however, we propose to reduce the frequency on image quality QA according to this 5 year study.Method and Materials: This study uses VarianIX2100 and Siemens Artiste Linacs to perform QAs on KV, MV, CBCT modalities. The QA was designed following under the recommendations of TG142. This study reports the daily imaging positioning/repositioning and imaging and treatment coordinate coincidence. QA results on kV, MV and CBCT from 4/7/2010∼3/11/15 are analyzed. KV, MV, CBCT images are taken with the Varian isocube localized at the isocenter. Digital graticule is used in the software to verify the isocenter position. CBCT images are taken with the cube placed at 1cm superior, lateral and anterior of the isocenter. In-line fusion software is used to verify the contrived shift. Digital ruler provided at the on-board-imaging software or adaptive-targeting software was used to measure the position differences. The position differences were recorded at AP,LR,SI directions. Results 5 yearmore » records on kV, MV, CBCT show the shifts in all three directions are within the tolerance of 1mm suggested in TG142 for stereotactic radiation treatment(SRS/SRT). There is no occasion where shifts are outside 1mm tolerance. Conclusions The daily imaging QA suggested in TG142 is useful in ensuring the accuracy needed for SRS/SRT in IGRT. 5 year measurements presented suggest that decreasing the frequency of imaging QA may be acceptable, in particular for institutions reporting no violation of tolerance over periods of few years.« less


One of the requirements of Modified Condition and Decision Coverage (MCDC) is that test cases should be selected to demonstrate that a condition can independently affect the outcome of a decision. However, it is known that test cases cannot be selected to satisfy this "independently-affect" requirement when a decision contains strongly coupled conditions. Researchers have proposed various forms of MCDC in addressing this issue. In last 20 years, these variant MCDC forms have been discussed and applied as test data adequacy criteria in white-box testing, and as fault revealing techniques in empirical studies. In this paper, we performed a systematic literature review (SLR) on these MCDC variants. By clarifying the existing meanings of these variants, we are able to define another MCDC form. Moreover, we performed an empirical study to compare the fault detecting ability of this new form with other existing MCDC variants. The results showed that this new form of MCDC has a higher fault detecting ability than the others.


The silver (Ag) powder was synthesized in a mechanochemical (MC) process by inducing a solid-state displacement reaction between silver chloride (AgCl) and copper (Cu). This process was carried out in argon atmosphere conditions using a planetary ball mill. The reaction caused the mixture of AgCl and Cu to change the composition of the mixture to Ag and copper chloride (CuCl). CuCl was separated from MC product by leaching with ammonium hydroxide. Thus, Ag powder was obtained as the final product. Stearic acid (C18H36O2) was used as the additive to improve dispersion of Ag powder during the MC process. The ground powders, formed in the presence and absence of additive, were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The XRD determined that the reaction between AgCl and Cu was completed in 18 h milling. SEM and particle size analysis examinations revealed that the size of the particles in the synthesized metallic Ag powder was in the range of 30–300 nm.


Perfusion and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been used to guide therapy in patients with large vessel occlusions. In an analogous fashion, the authors used perfusion and diffusion MRI to demonstrate a perfusion deficit and a matching diffusion lesion in a patient with lacunar infarct. Following thrombolytic therapy, the authors observed a reversal of the perfusion deficit, the diffusion lesion, and clinical recovery. This case suggests that perfusion and diffusion MRI may be informative in patients with lacunar infarction who are candidates for thrombolysis.


This study investigated the impact of respondent gender, victim gender, and victim sexual orientation on judgments toward the victim of a depicted stranger rape. Respondents were required to read a scenario in which victim gender and sexual orientation varied between subjects, and to complete measures of behavioral blame, responsibility, and severity of the attack. Results revealed that male respondents made more anti-victim judgments than female respondents did. Male respondents judged gay male victims more negatively than they did other victims. Female respondents' judgments were pro-victim regardless of victim gender and victim sexual orientation. Results are discussed in relation to the feminist analysis of victim blame, and blame toward male rape victims. Implications for support services, particularly of male victims, are also considered.


A retrospective examination of the bone scans of 425 pediatric oncology patients was undertaken to determine the incidence of photon-deficient (cold) lesions in this population. Eight patients (1.8%) had cold lesions due to a wide variety of tumors. Of the tumor types, six had not been previously reported to give cold lesions on bone scan. The appearance of the radiograph at the site of the cold lesion was normal in five of the eight patients. All but one of the patients had "hot spots" as well as a cold lesion. Follow-up scans showed resolution of the cold lesions in two cases and a change from cold to hot in one case. A review of the literature revealed eight cases of cold lesions on bone scan due to tumor in pediatric patients. The previous reports included five patients with neuroblastoma and three with osteosarcoma.


Abstract. We present the first ever comprehensive statistical study of the spatiotemporal characteristics of field-aligned currents in the terrestrial magnetosphere-ionosphere system using multi point measurements. We determine how the FAC density, variability and scale size are coupled. The three ST 5 satellites were in a pearls-on-a-string formation making measurements of the magnetic field with variable inter-spacecraft separations ranging from a few seconds to about 10 min. More than 4700 sets of satellite passes are analyzed using a robust correlation analysis aimed at determining the variability of the FAC system as a function of scale size and satellite spacing. We find significant differences between the FAC characteristics on the dayside and on the nightside in terms of dynamics of the current systems. On the dayside the FAC characteristics are found to be independent of IMF Bz and geomagnetic activity while the nightside indicates increased variability during disturbed conditions. The boundary separating highly and poorly correlated FACs can be fitted by a linear line for satellite separations shorter than 60 s (dayside) and 160 s (nightside). We interpret this as the dayside and nightside magnetospheric reconfiguration times respectively. For times exceeding this the FAC characteristics are suggested to be controlled by the solar wind (dayside) and plasma sheet (nightside) dynamics. Finally, the characteristics of FAC system with scale sizes larger than ~200 km (at ionospheric altitude) appear to be stable and repeatable on time scales of the order of a minute (i.e. comparable to the low-altitude orbiting satellite's traverse time across the auroral belt). In this sense, our results effectively validate the Iijima and Potemra (1978) assumption that on average the large-scale currents with scale sizes of the Region1 and Region2 are quasi-persistently significant in the transport of energy and momentum between the magnetosphere and the ionosphere.


Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy has been investigated mainly at referral institutions. Thus, the clinical history of the disease that emerges from published studies could be influenced by a bias in patient selection. In the present study, we compared the clinical features of an outpatient population of 25 patients who had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with those reported in 78 studies published during the past five years. In the 25 study patients, age, sex, and the extent of left ventricular hypertrophy, as well as the prevalence of diastolic filling abnormalities, subaortic obstruction, and ventricular arrhythmias, were similar to those in patients described in the literature. Cardiac symptoms, however, were much less severe in the study patients. Eighteen patients (72 percent) were asymptomatic, six (24 percent) had mild symptoms, and only one (4 percent) had moderate-to-severe symptoms. Of 24 patients followed for a mean period of 4.4 years (range, 2.9 to 5.7), none died or had clinical deterioration. Of 3404 patients described in the 78 studies we reviewed, 2483 (73 percent) came from only two referral institutions. Of the 1721 patients in whom severity of symptoms was reported, 757 (44 percent) had moderate-to-severe symptoms. However, 727 (96 percent) of these patients were studied at one of the same two referral institutions. We conclude that the natural history of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may be more benign than can be inferred from published reports.


When expert systems based on causal probabilistic networks (CPNs) reach a certain size and complexity, the "combinatorial explosion monster" tends to be present. We propose an approximation scheme that identifies rarely occurring cases and excludes these from being processed as ordinary cases in a CPN-based expert system. Depending on the topology and the probability distributions of the CPN, the numbers (representing probabilities of state combinations) in the underlying numerical representation can become very small. Annihilating these numbers and utilizing the resulting sparseness through data structuring techniques often results in several orders of magnitude of improvement in the consumption of computer resources. Bounds on the errors introduced into a CPN-based expert system through approximations are established. Finally, reports on empirical studies of applying the approximation scheme to a real-world CPN are given.


The development of internet users encourages a great potential for the creation of online shopping. Consumers have several factors considered in making online purchasing decisions through an electronic market. This is because one of the problems in online sales in Indonesia is the difficulty in building buyer trust. However, customer satisfaction level towards Tokopedia site is relatively low due to the high level of complaints, specifically the one that is provided by its customer service that is deemed to be very slow in responding to complaints. The aim of this study is to find out the effect of service quality on customer satisfaction, service quality on consumer trust, and customer satisfaction on consumer trust in utilizing Tokopedia services. This study used a quantitative approach with a casual type. The sample used was 100 users who use Tokopedia services. The analysis technique used in this study is Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) Partial Least Square (PLS), with the help of SmartPLS program. The results showed that Service quality has a positive effect on customer satisfaction, Service quality has a positive effect on trust, and customer satisfaction has a positive effect on trust.


In this study, particle velocities and stresses in solid phase carbon dioxide were measured for pressures up to 500 MPa, using the split Hopkinson pressure bar method and the plate impact method. The particle velocities were measured using the electromagnetic induction method, while the stresses were measured using Polyvinylidene fluoride gauges. The shock Hugoniot is obtained mainly by employing the impedance match method. Also, some macroscopic change of the granular structure under shock loading was observed. The experimental results indicate that a transition from the shock compression curve to the isothermal compression curve occurs at around 110 MPa.


Chris Arthur's approach aims at a systematic re-ordering of Marx's categories. This article argues that his approach is actually a different ordering of different categories that are positioned within a specific theoretical whole, a Hegelian re-interpretation of Marx and especially of abstract labour, which distances itself from Marx. While the debate has focused mainly on the philosophical aspects of Arthur's work, its economic features have not been the object of a systematic analysis. Yet, a full assessment of the 'New Dialectics' should include explicitly a systematic internal critique of its economic dimensions. The aim of this article is to assess the internal consistency of the economic ramifications of the 'New Dialectics'. The focus is on the notions of abstract labour, concrete labour, and exploitation. Arthur's faithfulness to Marx, or correspondence to Marx's quotations, is not the criterion used to assess the 'New Dialectics'. Rather, the criterion is whether it (a) discovers logical inconsistencies in Capital and (b) is itself free from inconsistencies. The answer is negative in both cases.


In the management of rare cornual ectopic pregnancy, there is no consensus on surgical treatment modalities in obstetric practice. In this article, we aimed to describe the safe and easily applicable minilaparotomic surgical steps with black pencil drawings. A 5-centimeter-size of Pfannenstiel incision was made to enter the abdomen with sterile covering under operating room conditions. After evaluating the topographic anatomy of the uterus and adnexa, a window was opened just below the ligamentum ovarii proprium and skeletonization of the cornual ectopic pregnancy was achieved. Then, ligamentum ovarii proprium was ligated and cut by using 1.0 vicryl and U sutures were placed in 3 planes after skeletalization of cornual ectopic pregnancy mass. After cornuotomy was performed and the pregnancy material was removed the uterine myometrium layer and serosa were closed separately with baseball stitches. Total operation time was 20 minutes, perioperative blood loss was recorded as 50 ccs/dl and the patient was discharged at 24th hour without any complications. With this surgical technique applied with minilaparotomic incision, fertility-preserving surgery can be performed in a short time without causing excessive blood loss or hysterectomy. Studies involving many cases are needed to prove perioperative and postoperative results of this surgical technique.


Pediatric pelvic osteomyelitis is a rare entity. The diagnosis is frequently delayed due to difficulty in confirming the diagnosis. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of Pseudomonas pelvic osteomyelitis in a previously healthy adolescent boy. The diagnosis was made radiographically and confirmed by culture. The patient was treated with Levofloxacin and Gentamicin resulting in a complete recovery.


Erotic Censorship: The Second Sexual Revolution in Censorship of Pornographic Movie Posters in Belgium (1970-1980)

 This article studies the relationship between the second sexual revolution, pornography, and censorship by analyzing censorship of pornographic film posters in Belgium between 1970 and 1980. The prosecution of offences against decency declined in the Belgian courts throughout the seventies, which inspired changes in censorship practices. However, censorship was not only a restrictive power, allowing or prohibiting certain practices, but also led to the production of new content. The creative use of tape in film posters reveals how cinema managers used censorship to create more interest in their movies. Paradoxically, a period of increasing freedom produced a more visible form of censorship. My main conclusion is that censorship played a fundamental role in the eroticization of the public space during the second sexual revolution, thus complicating the apparent contradiction between the second sexual revolution and censorship.


The two phase flow of air-water mixture in circular and rectangular channels with hydraulic diameters of 100 μm to 1 mm has been modeled via computational tools. Two phase flow patterns obtained from the computed results have been compared to those of the ones reported in literature and a reasonable agreement has been obtained. After the validation of the computational procedure, keeping the dimensionless numbers relevant to the small hydraulic diameters constant, the size of the channel has been changed to understand the transition to the flow regime in which the "conventional" governing equations fail. Gas and liquid superficial velocities range from 0.083 m/s to 70 m/s and from 0.043 m/s to 5.67 m/s, respectively.Copyright © 2004 by ASME


BACKGROUND
Cancer cells are characterized by multiple genetic defects which result in altered rates of cell division, cell death and ability to differentiate. These same molecular alterations may also contribute to therapeutic resistance. We examined the potential contribution of the pro-apoptotic gene, bax, to suppressing the growth of prostate cancer cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
The bax-deficient DU145 prostate cancer cell line was transfected with a hemagluttinin-tagged bax (HA-bax) vector to generate stable expressing bax clones.

RESULTS
Ha-bax clones exhibited a significant reduction in tumor growth compared to vector control and parental cells when xenografted into nude mice. HA-bax clones were significantly more sensitive to cell death induction by cis-diamminedichloroplatinum, etoposide, doxorubicin and gamma-radiation than vector control cells. Sensitivity to paclitaxel remained unaltered in the Ha-bax cells.

CONCLUSION
These findings suggest that bax may possess a tumor suppressor function in prostatic glandular epithelial cells and be an important determinant of sensitivity to therapeutic cell death induction.


The A-ONE Boutique Hotel Bangkok is a great place to start your fabulous holiday, providing guests with the ultimate experience. Amazing city views and city excitement within walking distance. We await your arrival.


A synthesis of the new tetracyclic scaffold ProM-19, which represents a XPP tripeptide unit frozen in a PPII helix conformation, was developed. As a key building block, N-Boc-protected ethyl (1S,3S,4R)-2-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2-carboxylate was prepared through a diastereoselective aza-Diels-Alder reaction and subsequent hydrogenolytic removal of the chiral N-1-phenylethyl substituent under temporary protection of the double bond through dihydroxylation and reconstitution by Corey-Winter olefination. The target compound Boc-[ProM-19]-OMe was then prepared via subsequent peptide coupling and Ru-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis steps employing (S)-N-Boc-allylgylcine and cis-5-vinyl-proline methyl ester as additional building blocks. In addition, Ac-[2-Cl-Phe]-[Pro]-[ProM-19]-OMe was prepared by solution phase peptide synthesis as a potential ligand for the ena-VASP EVH1 domain.


Engineering risk analysis methods, based on systems analysis and probability, are generally designed for cases in which sufficient failure statistics are unavailable. These methods can be applied not only to engineered systems that fail (e.g., new spacecraft or medical devices), but also to systems characterized by performance scenarios including malfunctions or threats. I describe some of the challenges in the use of risk analysis tools, mainly in problem formulation, when technical, human and organizational factors need to be integrated. This discussion is illustrated by four cases: ship grounding due to loss of propulsion, space shuttle loss caused by tile failure, patient risks in anesthesia, and the risks of terrorist attacks on the US. I show how the analytical challenges can be met by the choice of modeling tools and the search for relevant information, including not only statistics but also a deep understanding of how the system works and can fail, and how failures can be anticipated and prevented. This type of analysis requires both imagination and a logical, rational approach. It is key to pro-active risk management and effective ranking of risk reduction measures when statistical data are not directly available and resources are limited. Advances: Engineering Risk Analysis Page 2 of 40 Ch 16 060502 V04 CONTENTS Engineering Risk Analysis Method: Imagination and Rationality Pro-Active Risk Management Early Technology Assessment and Anticipation of "Perfect Storms" Remembering the Past While Looking Ahead A Brief Overview of the Method and Formulation Challenges The Challenge of Structuring the Model Dynamic Analysis Imagination and Rationality Incomplete Evidence Base Data The Tool Kit Extension of RA to Include Human and Management Factors: The SAM Model Example 1. Ship Grounding Risk: Influence Diagram and SAM Model Representation The Grounding of Oil Tankers or Other Cargo Ships Problem Formulation Based on a SAM-Type Influence Diagram The Overall Risk Analysis Model Example 2. A Two-Dimensional Risk Analysis Model: The Heat Shield of the Space Shuttle Orbiters Example 3. A Dynamic Analysis of Accident Sequences: Anesthesia Patient Risk Example 4. Probabilistic Analysis of Threats of Terrorist Attacks Conclusions Advances: Engineering Risk Analysis Page 3 of 40 Ch 16 060502 V04 Engineering Risk Analysis Method: Imagination and Rationality Risk analysis for well known, well documented and steady-state systems (or stable phenomena) can be performed by methods of statistical analysis of available data. These include, for example, maximum likelihood estimations, and analyses of variance and correlations. More generally, these methods require a projection in the future of risk estimates based on a sufficient sample, of preferably independent, identically distributed data, and other experiences from the past. However, when designing or operating a new type of engineered system, one can seldom rely on such a body of evidence, even though there may exist relevant data regarding parts of the system or the problem. The same is true in all new situations in which the risk can only be evaluated from a rigorous and systematic analysis of possible scenarios, and from dependencies among events in a scenario. For instance, assessing the risk of a terrorist attack on the US requires "imagination" as emphasized in the 9/11 Commission Report (NCTA, 2004). To do so, one has to rely first on a system's analysis, and second, on Bayesian probability and statistics (e.g., Savage, 1954; Press, 1989). The engineering method of "Probabilistic Risk Analysis" (PRA or here, simply RA), which was designed in the nuclear power industry among other fields (USNRC, 1975; Henley and Kumamoto, 1992; Bedford and Cooke, 2001), was presented in the previous chapter. In what follows, I describe some specific features and applications of the engineering risk analysis method with the objective of finding and fixing system weaknesses, whether technical or organizational (Paté-Cornell, 2000, 2002a). The focus is mostly on the formulation phase of a risk analysis, which can present major challenges. I describe and illustrate four specific problems and possible solutions: the explicit inclusion of human and management factors in the assessment of technical failure risks using influence diagrams, with as an Advances: Engineering Risk Analysis Page 4 of 40 Ch 16 060502 V04 example, the case of ship grounding due to loss of propulsion; the characterization of the dynamics of accident sequences illustrated by a model of analysis of patient risk in anesthesia; the treatment of spatially-distributed risks with a model of the risk of an accident caused by a failure of the tiles of the NASA space shuttle; and the challenge of structuring the modeling of a type of threat that is new –at least on the scale that has been recently observed– illustrated by the risks of different types of terrorist attacks on the US. Pro-Active Risk Management Early Technology Assessment And Anticipation Of "Perfect Storms" The risk analysis (RA) method used in engineering is based both on systems analysis and probability and allows computation of the risk of system failure under normal or abnormal operating circumstances. More importantly, it permits addressing and computing the risk of "perfect storms", i.e., rare conjunctions of events, some of which may not have happened yet even though some of their elements may have been observed in the past. These events can affect, for instance, the performance of a new space system faced with a combination of challenges (e.g., a long voyage, cosmic rays, planetary storms, etc.). The same method can be used to perform early technology assessment, which is especially critical in the development of systems such as medical devices, which are expensive to engineer and less likely than not to pass the statistical tests required by the USFDA before approval (Pietzsch et al., 2004). In that context, RA can thus be used to anticipate the effectiveness and the safety of a new medical device when the practitioners may not be accustomed to it, when there may be some design problems, and/or Advances: Engineering Risk Analysis Page 5 of 40 Ch 16 060502 V04 when the patients happen to be particularly vulnerable (e.g., premature babies). In a different setting, one can also use this type of analysis to assess the risks of combined factors on a firm's bottom line, for example, a competitor's move, a labor strike that affects its supply chain, and/or a dip in demand caused by a major political event. In that perspective, RA can be applied, for instance to the quantification of the risks of bankruptcy in the insurance industry when a company is faced with a decline in market returns, repeated catastrophes, and prosecution of its executives for professional misconduct (Paté-Cornell and Deleris, 2005). Also, as described further, the same RA method can be used to support the choice of counter-terrorism measures, given the limited information provided by the intelligence community, in the face of everchanging situations (Paté-Cornell, 2002b). Remembering the Past While Looking Ahead Anticipating rare failures, as well as shedding light on mundane but unrecognized problems, can provide effective support for risk management. But there is a clear difference between probabilistic risk analysis and expected-utility decision analysis (e.g., Raiffa, 1968), in which the decision makers are known at the onset of the exercise (Paté-Cornell, 2006). The risk analysis question is often: what are the risks (as assessed by an analyst and a group of experts), and how can the results be formulated to best represent uncertainties and be useful to the eventual decision maker(s)? The key issue, in all cases, is to anticipate problems that may or may not have occurred before, and to recognize existing ones in order to devise pro-active risk management strategies. The engineering risk analysis method permits ranking risk management options and setting priorities in the use of resources. The quantification of each part of the problem by probability Advances: Engineering Risk Analysis Page 6 of 40 Ch 16 060502 V04 and consequence estimates allows their combination in a structured way, using both Bayes' theorem (to compute the probability of various scenarios) and the total probability theorem (to compute the overall probability of total or partial failures). Effective risk management options can then be formulated. They include for instance, adding redundancies, but also, the observation of precursors, i.e., signals and near-misses, which permit anticipating future problems and implementing pro-active measures (Phimister et al., 2004). A Brief Overview of the Method and Formulation Challenges The Challenge of Structuring the Model The first step in a risk analysis is to structure the future possible events into classes of scenarios as a set of mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive elements, discrete or continuous. Each of these scenarios is a conjunction of events leading to a particular outcome. The choice of the model structure, level of detail, and depth of analysis is critical: as one adds more details to a scenario description (A and B and C etc.), its probability decreases. In the limit, the exact realization of a scenario in a continuous space would have a zero probability, making the exercise useless. Therefore, one needs first to formulate the model at a level of detail that is manageable, yet sufficient to identify and characterize the most important risk reduction options. This level of detail may vary from one subsystem to the next. Second, one needs to compute the probability of the outcomes that can result from each class of scenarios, adjusting the level of detail, as shown later, to reflect the value of the information of the corresponding variables as support for risk management decisions. Finally, one needs to quantify the outcomes of these scenarios


Introduction
Co-infection with COVID-19 and other viral or bacterial infections has been described in many studies. Most cases of dengue fever in Saudi Arabia have been reported in Jeddah city and mainly during the summer season.

Method and results
We describe four patients who presented to the emergency department with febrile illness accompanied by symptoms and blood tests suggestive of dengue fever. They also had radiological findings suggestive of COVID-19 chest infection and positive PCR tests. Three of the patients required hospital admission, and all had a good outcome.

Conclusion
In areas with a high rate of dengue fever, serological screening for dengue fever should be considered as part of COVID-19 investigation, especially if symptoms or a full blood count are suggestive.

LEARNING POINTS
Dengue fever (DF) and COVID-19 co-infection has been reported in countries with a high rate of DF.Symptoms and /or full blood count changes suggestive of DF should draw the attention for a DF screening while reviewing patients with suspected COVID-19 infection.


Background and objectives: It has been suggested that white matter hyperintensity lesions (WMHs), which typically progress over time, can also regress, and that this might be associated with favorable cognitive performance. We determined the prevalence of WMH regression in patients with cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) and examined which demographic, clinical, and radiological markers were associated with this regression. Methods: We used semi-automated lesion marking methods to quantify WMH volume at multiple timepoints in three cohorts with symptomatic SVD; two with moderate-to-severe symptomatic SVD (the SCANS observational cohort and the control arm of the PRESERVE interventional trial) and one with mild-to-moderate SVD (the RUN DMC observational cohort). Mixed-effects ordered logistic regression models were used to test which factors predicted participants to show WMH regression. Results: No participants (0/98) in SCANS, 6/42 (14.3%) participants in PRESERVE, and 6/276 (2.2%) in RUN DMC showed WMH regression. On multivariate analysis, only lower WMH volume (OR: 0.36, 95% CI: 0.23–0.56) and better white matter microstructural integrity assessed by fractional anisotropy using diffusion tensor imaging (OR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.07–2.24) predicted participant classification as regressor versus stable or progressor. Discussion: Only a small proportion of participants demonstrated WMH regression across the three cohorts, when a blinded standardized assessment method was used. Subjects who showed regression had less severe imaging markers of disease at baseline. Our results show that lesion regression is uncommon in SVD and unlikely to be a major factor affecting the use of WMH quantification as an outcome for clinical trials.


Setting fuzzy rules is one of the paramount techniques in the design of a fuzzy system. For a simple system, fuzzy if-then rules are usually derived from the human experts. However, in the event of having multiple variables coupled with a few features, the classification problem will be getting more sophisticated, as a result human expert may not be able to derive proper rules. This paper presents a genetic-algorithm-based fuzzy inference system for extracting highly comprehensible fuzzy rules to be implemented in human practices without detailed computation (hereafter denoted as GA-FIS). The impetus for developing a new and efficient GA-FIS model arises from the need of constructing fuzzy rules directly from raw data sets that combines good approximation and classification properties with compactness and transparency. Therefore, our proposed GA-FIS method will first define the membership functions with logical interpretation which is amendable by domain experts to human understanding, and then genetic algorithm serves as an optimization tool to construct the best combination of rules in fuzzy inference system that can achieve higher classification accuracy and gain better interpretability. The proposed approach is applied to various benchmark and real world problems and the results show its validity.


Adversarial attack techniques in deep learning have been studied extensively due to its stealthiness to human eyes and potentially dangerous consequences when applied to real-life applications. However, current attack methods in black-box settings mainly employ a large number of queries for crafting their adversarial examples, hence making them very likely to be detected and responded by the target system (e.g., artificial intelligence (AI) service provider) due to its high traffic volume. A recent proposal able to address the large query problem utilizes a gradient-free approach based on Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm. Unfortunately, this original approach tends to have a low attack success rate, possibly due to the model's difficulty of escaping local optima. This obstacle can be overcome by employing a multi-group approach for PSO algorithm, by which the PSO particles can be redistributed, preventing them from being trapped in local optima. In this paper, we present a black-box adversarial attack which can significantly increase the success rate of PSO-based attack while maintaining a low number of query by launching the attack in a distributed manner. Attacks are executed from multiple nodes, disseminating queries among the nodes, hence reducing the possibility of being recognized by the target system while also increasing scalability. Furthermore, we utilize Multi-Group PSO with Random Redistribution (MGRR-PSO) for perturbation generation, performing better than the original approach against local optima, thus achieving a higher success rate. Additionally, we propose to efficiently remove excessive perturbation (i.e, perturbation pruning) by utilizing again the MGRR-PSO rather than a standard iterative method as used in the original approach. We perform five different experiments: comparing our attack's performance with existing algorithms, testing in high-dimensional space in ImageNet dataset, examining our hyperparameters (i.e., particle size, number of clients, search boundary), and testing on real digital attack to Google Cloud Vision. Our attack proves to obtain a 100% success rate on MNIST and CIFAR-10 datasets and able to successfully fool Google Cloud Vision as a proof of the real digital attack by maintaining a lower query and wide applicability.


To the Editor: The report by Duane et al. (1) on the treatment of status epilepticus with hemispherectomy contains several significant laterality and technical items (not mentioned by the respected authors) deserving comments: The (presumably) right-handed boy that they described had silent status for several days before the process was interrupted by the injection of pentobarbital (PTB) into the right carotid artery. Injection in the left carotid seems to have affected only the activity in the left hemisphere (see Fig. 3b of their article). This asymmetry corroborates the assertion that the influence of the major hemisphere (in this case, the right) on the minor (the left) via the callosum is one way and that the said influence is excitatory in nature (2–4). The technical aspect relates to the fact that the EEG run at higher speed showed the temporal precedence of the epileptic events occurring in the major hemisphere compared with those in the minor by an estimated 50–60 ms (p. 1002, and Fig. 2). This corresponds to the interhemispheric transfer time (IHTT). The EEG at lower speed did not provide such information. Rather, the EEG at conventional speed was misleading in suggesting a "bilateral independent spike" on two different occasions (p. 1001, and Fig. 2A). According to the callosal circuitry just delineated and described in detail elsewhere (2–4), this patient was right hemispheric in his laterality of motor control (including that of speech, as the most obvious task in indicating such characteristics). This is evident from the fact that postoperatively the patient "had paucity of speech for 1 month, although the patient's speech was presumed to be left hemisphere dominant." We were not informed whether this assumption was based on the patient's behavioral handedness or the result of the amytal testing. At any rate, the speech impediment (aphasia) showed that it was an incorrect assumption. Similar examples may be found in the recent literature reviewed elsewhere (2). We were not informed as to the resolution of the language problem. According to the anatomy under discussion, only the major hemisphere is capable of initiating seizures (excluding those instances with a nondominant lesion causing increased intracranial pressure, thus affecting the major hemisphere) (2). Therefore in the case described by the authors, no need exists for continuation of anticonvulsants after the removal of the major hemisphere (p. 1004). Given the panorama of procedures used in this case, it is obvious that (with the exception of high-speed EEG) none of them provided secure guidance in bringing the situation to successful conclusion. Elsewhere I have shown that such guidance can be obtained noninvasively by determining the reaction time of two similar effectors on each side of the body (4). The side closer to the command center will have a shorter reaction time by an amount commensurate to IHTT (see earlier). I would be grateful to the authors for answers regarding the issue of language recovery in this patient.


When a well-collimated beam of high-energy electrons traverses a thin single-crystal specimen (as in transmission electron microscopy), an inelastic event may induce an angular spread in the inelastic beam, effectively reducing collimation. Calculation of the 'smeared out' diffraction contrast preserved in the inelastic beam indicates that measured mean free paths for discrete excitations may alter with diffraction conditions. Theory is correlated with experimental observations for plasmon and nitrogen K-loss signals from single-crystal aluminium nitride platelets. These results enable favourable diffraction conditions for quantitative microanalysis of single crystals by electron energy-loss spectrometry to be defined.


A 12-year experience of therapy for esophageal carcinoma in a community-based cancer center was reviewed retrospectively. Of a total of 88 patients with histologically proven carcinoma of the esophagus 30 (34.1%) underwent curative esophagectomy. Twelve patients received preoperative chemoradiotherapy. Fourteen esophagectomies were performed transhiatally and 16 via the thoracolaparotomy approach. The average distance from incisors was 32.2 and 32.1 cm, respectively. Overall morbidity was 36.7%, with major complications in 30% of patients. Mortality was 3.3%. A comparison of patients treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy (12 patients) and surgery alone (18 patients) showed no statistical difference in morbidity, mortality, or length of hospital stay. Analysis of these parameters in groups of patients operated via the transhiatal versus thoracolaparotomy approach demonstrated statistically lower morbidity (14.3% versus 56.3%, respectively), with no difference in mortality and a trend toward a shorter hospital stay in the former group. Overall survival at 3 years was 63.9%. In the combined therapy group, 90.9% of patients survived 3 years compared to 40.4% in the surgery only group (P = 0.0177). There was a trend toward better survival in the group of patients treated via the transhiatal approach. This study demonstrated that curative therapy for esophageal carcinoma can be performed with acceptable morbidity and mortality in a community teaching hospital.


In accordance with the Jewish view human life begins with the first breath. The consequences following are wide reaching for the bioethical arguing within prenatal medicine and abortion in particular. The Jewish understanding of the beginning of life is based on theological grounds (like the special emphasis on this life or the principle of "actuality before potentiality"). whose consequences are philosophically contestable.


The purposes of this study are to review the community-based care programs for the elderly among NPOs, focused on the Regional Council on the Social Welfare and Elderly Club, in Japan and to examine the way these programs help the community elderly to live independently in their own home in the community. First, the community welfare policy for the aged and service delivery organizations in Japan are reviewed. Second, using the informations about the elderly support programs carried out by the Regional Council on the Social Welfare and Elderly Club, various kinds and processes of specific programs developed to meet the local characteristics are introduced. Applicability of these programs to rural Korea is discussed.


Subject area

The subject area is corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Study level/applicability

The study is applicable to undergraduate- and graduate-level courses on CSR.

Case overview

The case discusses the issue of integrating CSR in TPDDL's (TPDDL – Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited) business model. TPDDL was formed as the result of a joint venture between Delhi Vidyut Board and Tata Power. At the time of the joint venture, a large number of users of electricity in Jhuggi-Jhopdi (JJ) clusters were not paying for electricity usage. A huge number of residents were not even in the system where they could be billed. The ones who were in the system had strong political banking as they were huge vote banks and hence would not pay. Only 40 per cent of electricity that was going to JJ cluster was billed due to this TPDDL was incurring huge commercial losses. As residents had very low income, TPDDL decided to invest in CSR activities to train the residents so that they could secure a job and pay the bills as well. Mr Praveer Sinha, MD and chief executive officer (CEO), urged his team to bring 100 per cent JJ clusters under the billing net without any coercive measures. TPDDL adopted parent company Tata's CSR code and came up with innovative ways of engaging with these communities.

Expected learning outcomes

The outcomes are: strategic CSR initiatives for business excellence; incorporating CSR in existing business Model 3; role of stakeholders in CSR implementation; and benefits accruing from CSR activities.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email firstname.lastname@example.com to request teaching notes.

Subject code

CSS 11: Strategy.


In this study, we analyzed nutrient cycling structure of a small farm (cattle of 100 heads and arable lands of 2.5 ha) in Jeonnam province to investigate the effects of nutrients input by the addition of bedding materials (sawdust and rice hull) and nutrients loss before the application to the soils (the period during manure storage in the feedlot and composting process) on nutrient cycling structure. Sawdust and rice hull added as bedding materials increased N by 1.6% and 14.2% and by 3.1% and 27.4%, respectively, relative to the amount of nutrients produced by excretion. This result suggests that the addition of nutrients via bedding materials should be considered for better estimation of nutrient balance. The most significant characteristics of the nutrient cycling structure was loss of mass and nutrients during the storage (21 days) and composting period (90 days). During this period, 78.4% of N and 9.5% of was lost from sawdust compost; meanwhile, the percentages of loss for rice hull compost were 81.6% and 10.3%, respectively. A lower percentage of nutrients loss in sawdust compost than that in rice hull compost was attributed to the relatively slow decomposition rate of organic materials in the sawdust compost which has higher C/N ratio and lignin contents. Therefore, it was concluded that estimation of nutrient balance should be conducted based on nutrient contents in the final compost being applied to the lands rather than the amount of nutrients contained in the livestock excretion. In addition, the effects of bedding materials on nutrient losses should be also taken into account.


Abstract The environmental conditions associated with squall lines (SL) that were observed during the period of 13 April–13 May 1987 (GTE/ABLE-2B) originating at the northern coast of South America and propagating over the Amazon Basin are documented. The SL observed on 5–7 May are examined in more detail. The SL days had in common a stronger and deeper low-level jet when compared with the days without SL. Two possible explanations are found for the intensification of the low-level jet: propagating easterly waves in the tropical Atlantic, which eventually reach Manaus, and localized heat sources in the western Amazon. Both were observed on 5–6 May. It is suggested that numerical simulations should be performed to unravel the relative importance of each large-scale mechanism.


F42lac recombination with lambda plac is normally 20-fold to 50-fold higher than recombination between lambda plac and a chromosomal lac gene. Transductional crosses with lambda plac and a recombinant plasmid containing the lac operon and F replication functions show only two to four-fold higher recombination than similar crosses with a chromosomal lac gene. Insertion of a BamHI fragment containing the entire tra regulon of F into the mini-F-lac plasmid restores the high level of recombination seen with F42lac.


Purpose: Developing a simple and yet strong repair technique that allows smooth gliding of the tendon within the tendon sheath has remained a challenge to meet the biomechanical needs of early active rehabilitation. Our Objective was to compare Unhas and Bunnell suture technique in terms of strength and gap resistance in tendon repair. Materials and Methods: Thirty feet of healthy roosters Gallus domesticus were harvested and assigned randomly into 2 groups of 15 feet each. The tendons were repaired using Unhas suture and Bunnell suture utilizing monofilament nylon 4-0. Every specimens were tested by using repaired tendon gap formation apparatus and then measured when it produced an initial gap and 2-mm gap at the repair site. The measurements were then analyzed for statistical significance. Results: Significant difference in initial gap was detected between repaired tendon using Unhas suture and Bunnell suture. Two-millimeter gap forces were tested and Unhas suture group was also significantly higher compared with Bunnell suture group. Conclusions: Unhas suture was proven to be able to resist gap forces either in initial gap or 2-mm gap compared with Bunnell suture Clinical Relevance: Unhas suture may be a reliable alternative in tendon repair that provides tensile strength, gapping resistance and also provide easiness which can be performed with conventional suture material and less operating time.


PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW
Climate change, deforestation, urbanization, and increased population mobility have made the risk of large outbreaks of yellow fever more likely than ever. Yellow fever vaccine production barely meets demands. In this review, we address the causes of the recent yellow fever outbreaks, why fractional dose yellow fever vaccination works, the role of virus neutralizing antibodies in the protection against yellow fever, and the need for revaccination.

RECENT FINDINGS
Human activities have profoundly changed the epidemiology of yellow fever. The excess of infectious viral particles in routine yellow fever vaccine batches allows for off-label use of fractional dose yellow fever vaccination in response to emergency situations. Two studies have confirmed long-term protection after fractional dose yellow fever vaccination. The need for the presence of virus neutralizing antibodies (VNA) to protect an individual against yellow fever depends on the epidemiological setting. In case of sylvatic transmission, population immunity is irrelevant for individual protection, as mosquitoes are transmitting the virus from infected nonhuman primates to human.

SUMMARY
With the growing connectivity through air travel, countries with high densities of nonimmune populations and of the urban mosquito vector, Aedes aegypti, should ensure that their citizens are properly vaccinated against yellow fever before traveling to a yellow fever endemic country. In the situation of sylvatic transmission, the presence of protective levels of VNA will determine the outcome and may require revaccination at some point in time.


This paper presents a semi-blind equalisation scheme for a multi-carrier code division multiple access system (MC-CDMA). The combination of a MC technique (OFDM) and spread-spectrum technique (CDMA) gives rise to an access technique which is robust to channel impairments, relatively low complexity and high flexibility in bandwidth assignment. The technique proposed in this paper uses a blind channel estimation technique assuming previous knowledge of the frequency spreading code of desired user's signal. It makes use of orthogonal transmit diversity and multiple antennas at the receiver, providing diversity gain and immunity to multipath fading and co-channel interference.


A supply chain network might exhibit complex dynamics in the face of increasingly volatile and
uncertain environment. The impact of network structure and collaboration on the dynamics and robustness of supply chain network, however, remains to be explored. In this paper, a unified state space model for a two-layer supply chain network composed of multiple distributors and multiple retailers is developed. A robust control algorithm is advocated to reduce both order and demand fluctuations for unknown demand. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the robust control approach has the advantage to reduce both inventory and order fluctuations. In the simulation experiment, it is interesting to notice that complex network structure and collaborations might contribute to the reduction of inventory and order oscillations. This paper yields new insights into the overestimated bullwhip effect problem and helps us understand the complexities of supply chain networks.


Viet Nam continues to experience high economic growth compared to regional and global economies. The average gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate reached approximately 6.8 % from 2016 to present. This economic growth, in combination with urbanization and rapid population growth, has boosted demand for energy in general and electricity in particular. The Government of Viet Nam is well aware that it needs to balance the need for increasing energy supply for socio-economic growth with ensuring energy security and environmental protection. This paper reviews the assessment of the impact of managing the large-energy-users on national energy efficiency and more coherent and consistent national-level regulatory framework contributing to low carbon policy for the Vietnam industry. From the scenario assessment, this paper indicated significant potential for improving the scope of managing the large-scale enterprises on improved compliance for energy efficiency to achieve the target of energy security and sustainable development for Vietnam.


The article presents lexical terminology of children relating to their age, which are present in the region of Pogórze Ciężkowicko-Rożnowskie (on the border of tarnowskie and nowosądeckie counties). The Language material was gathered by means of a questionnaire. It was answered by almost 200 people, who represent two age groups: middle-school students, and the oldest inhabitants of the area in question. The results revealed significant differences in the way a child is perceived by the students and by the oldest generation. The respondents representing these two groups determine different caesura for adulthood, and they also justify this choice differently. Lexical terminology of children relating to their age constitutes a significantly larger number of lexical items in the language of the older inhabitants of Pogórze. Students more frequently quote names common in general Polish language, both in its colloquial and regional form. Older respondents are more keen to use differentiating dialectal terms, including lexical items referring to the past reality of village life. Students are familiar mainly with the dialectal lexical items for children that are widespread in the area in question and have numerous derivatives.


Purpose: The purpose of this thesis it to investigate if and how branding in public transportation can influence sustainable consumer behaviour. It is of interest to analyse the influence of different branding concepts (green, love and technology) on attitude towards public transportation, the intention to use and recommend it. Methodology: The study was of quantitative nature. Three brands for a fictive public transportation company, called Svensk Trafik, were developed. The data collection was carried out by an online web-based survey which investigated how the different branding concept would influence Swedish citizens' attitude and behavioural intention. This study was based on an experimental design, in which the treatment consisted of three differently manipulated brands (green, love and technology). Findings: The results showed that the brands were all perceived differently by homogenous groups. Moreover, all branding measures contributed in different ways to explaining the attitude towards public transportation, the intention to use and recommend it. In fact, the green brand had the highest impact on attitude, behavioural intention and recommendation, followed by the technology brand and love brand. Moreover, attitude towards the brand accounted for the strongest predictor in explaining attitude towards public transportation, while self-brand connection was the weakest. For intention to use and recommendation of public transportation, self-brand connection was the most important measure, while brand fit accounted for the weakest. Consequently, a green branding strategy seems to be most successful for building a public transportation brand. Research implications/limitations: More research related to the brand building process of public transportation companies is necessary. In particular, core values, mission and vision that drive the service of public transportation needs to be better understood to develop effective branding strategies. The main limitation of this study was that the tested public transportation brands were fictive. Practical implications: A green branding strategy seems to be most successful to persuade people to use public transportation on a regular basis. Furthermore, it is recommended that managers in the public transportation sector take self-brand connection into consideration in the brand building process. Originality/value: This study is the first of its kind to investigate public transportation from a brand building perspective focusing on the internal values, such a vision, mission and core values and its influence on attitude and behavioural intention. (Less)


Ferrite beads and gaps are commonly used to isolate simultaneous switching noise produced on the power/ground planes of the modern digital boards by the switching of complex integrated circuits. The work presented in this paper studies the effectiveness of these components in mitigating the propagation of the high-frequency noise on DC power buses of a very complex multilayer high speed digital board. Two different types of ground plane layouts are compared: single point and multipoint ground layer stitching. S21 measurements on bare boards and eye diagram measurements on full functioning boards show a better degree of isolation in the case of multipoint ground plane stitching. The signal integrity analysis is integrated with a thermal analysis, conducted with infrared thermographies executed on the test boards. Three points are explained in details: 1) plane segmentation improves noise separation; 2) multipoint stitching improves thermal dissipation; 3) power plane segmentation together with ground plane stitching is a good compromise between electrical and thermal demands


tate the creation of revolutionary buildings, landscapes, and cities. Van der Ryn and Cowan contend that using ecology as the basis for design is the only way to build a more efficient and sustainable world. They argue that concerns for sustainability should be an inherent part of the design process and that the impact on larger systems should be considered even when undertaking small design projects. One set of specific suggestions on how to accomplish this includes detailed descriptions of sewage treatment plants that use constructed marshes to purify water; another set describes &dquo;industrial ecosystems&dquo; in which waste from one productive process becomes fuel for the next process. This book is a valuable step toward realizing its intention of changing and adapting the design process for the postindustrial era, in which the


While the activities of multinational oil corporations contribute significantly to oil pollution and environmental degradation in most oil-producing countries, the extent to which illegal artisanal refineries contribute to the environmental problems in Niger Delta remains unclear. Extant literature attributes this to the expanding activities of the artisans as well as the use of crude technology in illegal oil refining. Given the widespread nature of the artisanal oil-refining economy in the Niger Delta region, we assess its contribution to the growing environmental pollution in the region. By artisanal oil refining, we mean small-scale crude oil processing or subsistent distillation of petroleum that is often outside the boundaries of the state law. This study links the continual failure of the clean-up programme in the Niger Delta to the booming artisanal crude oil-refining economy in the region. Using predominantly qualitative methods of data collection and content analysis, we adopted the enterprise value chain analysis to underscore the underlying local economic interests and external economic opportunities that sustain oil bunkering, oil theft and petro-piracy. We conclude that these illegal refining processes significantly undermine the Ogoniland clean-up project and make the remediation programme unsustainable in Nigeria.


The effect of glycosaminoglycans on calcium oxalate crystal formation in the supersaturated solution was studied by examining the size and shape of calcium oxalate crystals generated under an optical microscope. It was found that heparan sulfate and heparin were more effective growth inhibitors than chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid at concentrations within their respective urinary range. With increasing calcium and/or glycosaminoglycans concentration in the solution, the degree of growth inhibition caused by glycosaminoglycans was enhanced. Calcium oxalate crystal shapes generated with various glycosaminoglycans varied with glycosaminoglycan species. One of the causes of those differences in the shape and degree of growth inhibition might be the structural differences between them, that is, the number of sulfate residue and O- or N-form they contain. Calcium oxalate crystal shapes in the presence of heparin or heparan sulfate at higher concentrations were similar to those of calcium oxalate monohydrate crystals in the urinary sediments of hyperoxaluric patients. These facts might suggest the possibility that heparin and/or heparan sulfate were present in the crystal forming region.


This paper presents the design and development of novel type microcontacts in monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) chip-carriers to printed circuit board (PCB) assembly. Several new concepts of microcontacts for packaging solutions of microwave and millimeter-wave MMIC are depicted. Simulation and vector network analyzer (VNA) measurement results for these microcontact transitions are discussed. The results show that the electrical parameters are highly dependent on the transition dimensions and substrate features. These contacts are based on male stud (bump) and female (ring) concept. When mating each other, there are clips effect and self-alignment features. Special attention is paid to the shape of the microcontacts in order to facilitate assembly and strengthen the connection. Equivalent electrical circuit is proposed for PSPICE simulation of the dc contact resistance. Finally, the article discusses the technological implementation of the proposed new microcontact stud-ring through low-cost ultraviolet electroplating, lithography, and molding (UV-LIGA) process and the regime influence on the shape, geometry, and mating capabilities. Results from mechanical pull and adhesion tests are also discussed


Rationale and Objectives:The purpose of this study evaluating a cesium iodide-amorphous silicon-based flat-panel detector was to optimize the x-ray spectrum for chest radiography combining excellent contrast-detail visibility with reduced patient exposure. Materials and Methods:A Lucite plate with 36 drilled holes of varying diameter and depth was used as contrast-detail phantom. For 3 scatter body thicknesses (7.5 cm, 12.5 cm, 21.5 cm Lucite) images were obtained at 113 kVp, 117 kVp, and 125 kVp with additional copper filter of 0.2 and 0.3 mm, respectively. For each setting, radiographs acquired with 125 kVp and no copper filter were taken as standard of reference. On soft-copy displays, 3 observers blinded to the exposure technique evaluated the detectability of each aperture in each image according to a 5-point scale. The number of points given to all 36 holes per image was added. The scores of images acquired with filtration were compared with the standard images by means of a multivariate analysis of variance. Radiation burden was approximated by referring to the entrance dose and calculated using Monte Carlo method. Results:All 6 evaluated x-ray spectra resulted in a statistically equivalent contrast-detail performance when compared with the standard of reference. The combination 125 kVp with 0.3 mm copper was most favorable in terms of dose reduction (approximately 33%). Conclusion:Within the constraints of the presented contrast-detail phantom study simulating chest radiography, the CsI/a-Si system enables an addition of up to 0.3 mm copper filtration without the need for compensatory reduction of the tube voltage for providing constant image quality. Beam filtration reduces radiation burden by about 33%.


Catalysts and pure phases were characterized using XRD, 31P MAS-NMR and XPS techniques. The catalysts always showed the XRD patterns of vanadyl (V(IV)) pyrophosphate, while the presence of V(v) phases was detected from the 31P spectra. The XPS results did not exclude the existence of low concentrations of V(v) surface centres. The best catalysts contained traces of V(v) compounds.


Luminescent hydrogels are of immense importance for various applications nowadays, but there is still a significant challenge to achieve excellent optical functional hydrogels combining robust mechanical properties and high self-healing efficiency under mild conditions. Herein, we describe the preparation of a series of color-tunable and robust luminescent hydrogels through the electrostatic interactions between positively-charged luminescent micelles and negatively-charged clay nanosheets. The further addition of poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) results in an obvious enhancement in the mechanical strength of the hydrogels via physical cross-linking, leading to a more stable luminescent hydrogel with fast self-healing performance. The obtained luminescent hydrogels can also retain their shape persistence even when immersed in organic solvents, affording novel luminescent organogels with outstanding optical performance.


It is the purpose of this article to elucidate certain aspects of the speech therapy management of the patient who is a professional voice user, as he progresses towards a better use of his voice. Based on personal case experience, the author seeks to alert the reader to the role of supportive listening, empathy and personal qualities of the therapist which enable him/her to come to a better understanding of the patient's problem.


Crop diversity of vegetable species is threatened by the current homogenization of agricultural production systems due to specialization of plant breeders and increasing globalization in the seed sector. With the onset of modern agriculture, most traditional vegetable cultivars were replaced by highly productive and often genetically uniform commercial breeds and hybrids. This led to the loss of landraces, especially in countries with a super-intensive agriculture. The agricultural biodiversity erosion represents a huge risk for food safety and security. Vegetable landraces are associated with the cultural heritage of their place of origin being adapted to local agro-ecological areas and are more resilient to environmental stress than commercial cultivars. The chapter aim to highlight the importance of keeping and using vegetable landraces as valuable sources of genes for traditional farmers, but also for future breeding processes. We analyze the historical role of landraces, genetic diversity, high physiological adaptability to specific local conditions in association with traditional farming systems, as well as the breeding perspectives and evaluation of genetic diversity based on molecular markers.