The Pacific Northwest Laboratory is working to design, fabricate, and evaluate a real-time flaw detection and characterization system based on the synthetic aperture focusing technique for ultrasonic testing (SAFT-UT). The system is designed to perform inservice inspection of light-water reactor components. Included objectives of this program for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission are to develop procedures for system calibration and field operation, to validate the system through laboratory and field inspections, and to generate an engineering data base to support ASME Code acceptance of the technology. This progress report covers the programmatic work from October 1985 through September 1986. 45 figs., 8 tabs.


Summary

It has been established that relatively high income families receive a disproportionately large share of UI benefits. Little information on the distribution of costs by income class is available, but it is quite possible that the upper income groups may also bear a disproportionately large share of the costs. More empirical research is needed before the redistributive effects of UI can be known with any degree of confidence.

There is little argument about the desirability on income mainlenance grounds of extending Unemployment insurance benefits in a recessionary period, all other things being equal. U1 is quite efficient as an income maintenance tool for covered workers. With respect to the unemployment problem, though, it is feared by some that the program goes too far in maintaining the incomes of covered workers, and as a result any extension of UI benefits will aggravate the unemployment problem. The evidence presented here suggests that fears of a major increase in unemployment as a result of such changes are largely unwarranted. However, extended UI benefits would appear to have some small, nontrivial adverse impact on unemployment. Finally, it seems that UI's income distributional impact has been portrayed unjustly as pro-rich. It may be that income is transferred through the UI system from the relatively well-to-do to the relatively poor.

There is no scientific way of bringing these considerations to bear in deciding whether or not to restructure the unemployment insurance system. This question can be answered only by invoking fundamental value judgments to decide how sociely would be better off, and I would not presume here to offer my own. This paper will have served its purpose if it has provided the basis for a more informed decision.


F420 is a low-potential redox cofactor used by diverse bacteria and archaea. In mycobacteria, this cofactor has multiple roles, including adaptation to redox stress, cell wall biosynthesis, and activation of the clinical antitubercular prodrugs pretomanid and delamanid. A recent biochemical study proposed a revised biosynthesis pathway for F420 in mycobacteria; it was suggested that phosphoenolpyruvate served as a metabolic precursor for this pathway, rather than 2-phospholactate as long proposed, but these findings were subsequently challenged. In this work, we combined metabolomic, genetic, and structural analyses to resolve these discrepancies and determine the basis of F420 biosynthesis in mycobacterial cells. We show that, in whole cells of Mycobacterium smegmatis, phosphoenolpyruvate rather than 2-phospholactate stimulates F420 biosynthesis. Analysis of F420 biosynthesis intermediates present in M. smegmatis cells harboring genetic deletions at each step of the biosynthetic pathway confirmed that phosphoenolpyruvate is then used to produce the novel precursor compound dehydro-F420-0. To determine the structural basis of dehydro-F420-0 production, we solved high-resolution crystal structures of the enzyme responsible (FbiA) in apo-, substrate-, and productbound forms. These data show the essential role of a single divalent cation in coordinating the catalytic precomplex of this enzyme and demonstrate that dehydroF420-0 synthesis occurs through a direct substrate transfer mechanism. Together, these findings resolve the biosynthetic pathway of F420 in mycobacteria and have significant implications for understanding the emergence of antitubercular prodrug


In this paper, two practical large cylindrical floating-roof tanks with diameters of 60 m and 100 m are selected as research objects. Wind pressures on the internal wall of tank shells under various liquid levels are carefully investigated by both experimental and numerical methods, especially those around the sealing device. It is found that computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation gives similar but generally greater results than wind tunnel tests (WTTs), and that wind pressures around the sealing device increase with the rise of liquid level. Geometrically nonlinear analyses (GNA) are then performed to figure out the variation of buckling behavior of tank shells with the liquid level. Two buckling modes are specified, featured by large buckles in the unstiffened region and local short-wave buckles in the stiffened region, respectively. Buckling loads are found to increase stepwise with the liquid level, with critical heights roughly calculated by positions of stiffening rings. Finally, recommendations on liquid levels maintained in strong wind conditions are given, considering the safety of both sealing devices and tank shells.


This study identifies the factors influencing household choice of coping strategy to an extreme flood event in Marikina City in the National Capital Region of the Philippines, as well as household recovery after the event, measured in terms of the length of time to repair, rebuild, or replace damaged property. A survey of 400 households was conducted to obtain data. A multinomial logistic model was used to analyze coping strategy choice among three possible alternatives: (1) reactive and short-term anticipatory behavior only, (2) reactive and anticipatory behavior plus general long-term preventive measures, and (3) reactive and anticipatory behavior plus preventive and proactive measures. Results showed that wealth, income, learning from past experience, advice from the media, and people's perceptions/attitudes toward natural disasters had significant influences on household choice. With regard to recovery, household income, access to credit (borrowing), the use of a flood alarm system, access to safe shelter, membership in a community organization, adoption of disaster-specific anticipatory measures, and adoption of general preventive measures significantly reduced the time it took for affected households to recover from property damage. Evacuation, relief aid, type of housing, education, household size, and frequency of flooding in the area did not have significant effects.


To prolong serum half-life of human kallikrein (hK) and enhance its secretion rate, we modified hK gene and constructed a new form of recombinant hK protein (hK'-Fc). We amplified hK gene and Fc sequence, replaced the signal peptide of hK gene with murine signal peptide, constructed native expression plasmid of pcDNA-hK-Fc and modified expression plasmid of pcDNA-hK'-Fc, then transfected to CHO cells respectively. After the stable cell lines were screened, we compared the secretion rate between native fusion protein and modified fusion protein, purified fusion protein through Protein A+G affinity chromatography column and investigated the bioactivity of fusion protein. The results showed that recombinant vectors encoding fusion protein hK-Fc and hK'-Fc were constructed successfully; CHO cell lines stably secreting fusion protein were obtained, the yield is higher than 11 mg/L; Secretion rate was enhanced by 5-10 times after the signal peptide of fusion protein was modified; Fusion protein has enzymatic activity in vitro. The above results could promote the following researches on serum half-life of the fusion protein and develop a new stroke medicine with better clinical efficacy.


The clustering process is an innovation on the Polish market. The process concerns various market sectors. The logistic clusters and logistics of clusters result in minimization of expenses and prompt return of expenditure. The cluster is a form of network and its efficacy is very important for logistics. The logistic network presents a new opportunity for cluster and cluster offers new possibility for logistic network as well. The efficacy is necessary for various levels of logistic process.


The presentation of a case where an agenetic lateral tooth was replaced by an oral implant, has been described. The following parameters are important: oral hygiene, the moment of implant surgery, presurgical orthodontic treatment, alternative prosthetic treatment possibilities and recall of the patient.


We extend Zeilberger's approach to special function identities to cases that are not holonomic. The method of creative telescoping is thus applied to definite sums or integrals involving Stirling or Bernoulli numbers, incomplete Gamma function or polylogarithms, which are not covered by the holonomic framework. The basic idea is to take into account the dimension of appropriate ideals in Ore algebras. This unifies several earlier extensions and provides algorithms for summation and integration in classes that had not been accessible to computer algebra before.


We investigate the performance degradation in dispersion-managed soliton systems caused by polarization-dependent loss and polarization-mode dispersion using a 600-km recirculating loop. We show that in an ultralong-haul transmission system, polarization effects can easily induce a variation in the bit-error rate (BER) greater than two orders of magnitude. In addition, polarization scattering caused by soliton collisions in wavelength-division-multiplexing systems makes the polarization-induced BER variation smaller than that in single-channel systems.


BACKGROUND
Experimental/correlational studies have consistently demonstrated that the contents of an individual's goals play an important role within future motivations, learning processes, and outcomes.

AIMS
The aim of the study was to extend past findings by employing a three-point, cross-lagged latent simultaneous structural model in the examination of the role of intrinsic/extrinsic goals' effects on key proximal motivations, learning variables, and achievement in the context of a Japanese university.

SAMPLE
This study consisted of first-year students within seven departments, attending one university (n = 584).

METHODS
Employing three data points, separated by 8 and 7 months, this study tests the effects of students' instrumental goals on future motivations, approaches to learning and learning outcomes. Three goals were the focus of this study: Distal internally regulated, distal externally regulated, and proximal externally regulated. Internally regulated goals were hypothesized to be broadly adaptive, while externally regulated goals were hypothesized to be maladaptive.

RESULTS
Findings reflected the broad importance of internal regulation for goals. Internally regulated goals positively predicted mastery goals and negatively predicted task valuation and effort belief deficits 8 months later. While not predicting achievement directly, internally regulated goals were the strongest predictor of future deep approaches to learning despite the lag of 15 months. Proximal externally regulated goals had no significant cross-lagged effects, and distal externally regulated goals had a negative predictive effect on future deep approaches to learning.

CONCLUSIONS
This study extends intrinsic/extrinsic goal research both within education broadly and in the context of Japan. Furthermore, instrumental goals were found to play important roles supporting students in overcoming future motivation deficits and the pursuit of deep approaches to learning.


The review covers The II International Civil Congress on Comparative Studies (Mozolinskie Readings) "The Role of Man in Civil Law", dedicated to the 90th anniversary of Kutafin Moscow State Law University (MSLA) held online on December 4-5, 2020. The Congress was organized by the Department of Civil Law of Kutafin Moscow State Law University (MSAL), the Scientific and Educational Center of Private Law of Kutafin Moscow State Law University (MSAL), the Statute Publishing house, the Russian Arbitration Center at the Russian Institute of Modern Arbitration, the Institute of International Relations and Socio-Political Sciences of Maurice Thorez Moscow State Linguistic University (The Maurice Thorez Institute of Foreign Languages). The Congress was organized with the participation of the Department of Civil and Administrative Proceedings and the Department of History of State and Law of Kutafin Moscow State Law University (MSLA).The Congress was attended by Russian and foreign scientists from Austria, Armenia, the Republic of Belarus, Italy, China, Latvia, Poland and the United States, as well as a representative of the world intellectual property organization. The total number of participants of the Congress was more than 600 people.On the first day of the Congress, a plenary session and a panel discussion "The Role of an and the Role of IT in Judicial Protection" were held. On the second day, master classes for young scientists, a platform for presentations by young post-graduate scientists and creative workshops for students were organized with moderation by leading scientists on the topic of the creative workshop. The sponsor of the creative workshops was the "ConsultantPlus" company.


Purpose of review Studies on treatment options for patients with locally advanced vulvar cancer (LAVC) are scarce, and high-level evidence for a primary treatment choice is lacking. Furthermore, current treatment options are associated with extensive morbidity and high complication rates. More effective treatment options are urgently needed. This review describes current treatment possibilities, focusing on literature regarding neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) followed by surgery. Recent findings Although data are heterogeneous and limited, NACT followed by surgery might be an effective and well tolerated treatment alternative associated with lower morbidity compared with current treatment options, such as excenterative surgery or definitive chemoradiation. Summary Up until now, several studies describe an overall response rate of 40–86%. Surgery turned out to be possible in 40–90% of the LAVC patients who received NACT. Prospective studies on the efficacy and safety of NACT followed by surgery with a homogeneous chemotherapy regimen are urgently awaited. NACT should, at this point, still be considered investigational.


The document estimates the risk embraced by Colombian commercial banks, and establishes a measurement of excessive risk-taking that is consistent with such estimation. The construction of the excessive-risk measurement follows the basic efficient-portfolio framework, in which the variance of an aggregate portfolio is minimized subject to an observed return. Return and risk-taking in Colombia´s banking industry appear to decrease between December 2007 and May 2011. In spite of this, the excess-risk exhibits an upward trend, and denotes an increasing suboptimality when considered as a proportion of the observed risk. Hence, a reduction in the risk embraced by Colombian banks paradoxically coincides with an increase in their instability.


In product design engineering education, classes in engineering mechanics are often difficult, unrewarding and unsatisfying for both students and lecturers. Within the Product Design Engineering program at Rotterdam University of Applied Science, a new approach has been developed and tested, leading to significantly higher pass rates and more active student participation, leading to deeper and more lasting understanding of the subject. Based upon field research and present day learning theory, an interactive course line was designed in which students build, test and calculate real-life design problems. By gradually increasing the complexity of the cases given, students gain deeper insight in theoretical basics, skills in calculations by hand as well as computer-assisted, analysing constructions and applying forces. Students learn in an informal class-setting in which they are stimulated to experiment, to measure, to calculate, to check outcomes and to ask questions. A mixture of online resources, frontal teaching, peer teaching, individual coaching and team coaching is being used to create a rich learning environment. In this environment it is safe, even encouraged to make mistakes, learn of them, evaluate and improve. Both slow and fast students benefit from this approach. In this paper, we will assess the bottlenecks in the "classical approach" towards teaching engineering mechanics, describe and discuss the "new approach" and draw conclusions on several factors. Thus,making classes more or less effective in creating deeper, durable understanding of construction engineering in a motivating, challenging yet safe learning environment.


Depression may be caused by external factors, such as the pressure of study load, and by internal factors, such as depression in premenstrual phase affected by the decrease in estrogen level. The aim of this research was to find out the difference in depression level in premenstrual phase between Medical Faculty students and Economic Faculty students in Lambung Mangkurat University. It was an analytic survey with cross-sectional approach. Samples were taken by non-probability sampling with purposive sampling technique. The samples were 26 students of Medical Faculty from Basic Medical Education Study Program and  16 students of Economic Faculty from Management Study Program, based on the inclusion criteria. Result showed that there were 22 Medical Faculty students (84.62%) who had mild depression, and there were 9 Economic Faculty students who had mild depression and 4 students (25%) who had moderate depression. Data analysis with Mann Whotney U test showed the o value of 0.196. It was concluded that there were no significant difference in depression level in premenstrual phase between Medical Faculty students and Economic Faculty students. Keywords : depression level, premenstrual phase, study load.


The interpretability of neural networks (NNs) is a challenging but essential topic for transparency in the decision-making process using machine learning. One of the reasons for the lack of interpretability is random weight initialization, where the input is randomly embedded into a different feature space in each layer. In this paper, we propose an interpretation method for a deep multilayer perceptron, which is the most general architecture of NNs, based on identity initialization (namely, initialization using identity matrices). The proposed method allows us to analyze the contribution of each neuron to classification and class likelihood in each hidden layer. As a property of the identity-initialized perceptron, the weight matrices remain near the identity matrices even after learning. This property enables us to treat the change of features from the input to each hidden layer as the contribution to classification. Furthermore, we can separate the output of each hidden layer into a contribution map that depicts the contribution to classification and class likelihood, by adding extra dimensions to each layer according to the number of classes, thereby allowing the calculation of the recognition accuracy in each layer and thus revealing the roles of independent layers, such as feature extraction and classification.


A lot of lives and properties are lost in every year all over the world, due to various geological catastrophes, landslide or land-slip is among one of them. Nowadays, both manual and electronic monitoring systems are used to predict the landslide. The manual monitoring system is laborious, has many limitations and most of the cases it is not practicable. Conversely, most of the electronic systems are complex and expensive. Most of the natural calamities occur without prior notice as a result, it damages the monitoring instrument as well. The monitoring sensor system should be planned as a spread network with a simple positional identification device such as RFID; hence the system can send the real time data without interrupt. In addition, the network should have a self-recovery, self-directed operation and actual data transmission facility in a critical situation. A distributed node network needs a lot of sensors with complex structure and it is expensive too. This paper describes a simple and low cost system which comprises an underground pretension cable with a capacitor gauge sensor attached at one end. A wireless sensor network has been proposed for a simple landslide monitoring system using RFID. The sensing node network can operate by initializing mode, measuring mode and urgent mode. The system is able to select automatically any one of the operating mode depending on the situation, which makes it a robust and dynamic control of real time data transmission system. A mathematical model has been developed for the system and verified by simulation. The result shows that an early prediction of the landslide is possible by using the proposed system.


This article was written to provide opinions on the taxation of e-commerce in Indonesia from the perspective of government policy by using literature study through information obtained through regulations, documents and supporting data. The purpose of writing this article is to provide feedback on e-commerce taxation that occurred in Indonesia with various types of valuations such as transactions and how e-commerce is done in order to find the gap how to levy taxation of e-commerce activities.Research method used is through the review literature review and the previous research then do the analysis to give an opinion. The result of the research is the revenue authority has an important role in realizing the full potential of ecommerce. According to SE-62 / PJ / 2013 there are four types of e-commerce.In Indonesia in the provisions of the applicable Income Tax Law is article 23/26, provided that the payment is received by a state taxpayer who does not have a P3B with Indonesia. Establishment of a regulatory body is required to monitor the traffic of communication through the internet to prevent the occurrence of crime in cybercrime. Keyword : E-commerce Transactions, Indonesian taxes, OECD Models


In this paper, we prove the openness of K-semistability in families of log Fano pairs by showing that the stability threshold is a constructible function on the fibers. We also prove that any special test configuration arises from a log canonical place of a bounded complement and establish properties of any minimizer of the stability threshold.


A total of 3734 female and 4004 male Aedes triseriatus from the WALTON laboratory strain were marked and released into a 4.6-ha oak-maple Woodlot in northern Indiana, USA. Through aspiration sampling, 5.9% of the marked female and 4.7% of the marked male mosquitoes were recaptured over a 40-day period. Daily survivorship of released Ae. triseriatus was 0.80 for females and 0.81 for males. The distribution of marked mosquitoes was highly correlated with the distribution of the natural population of Ae. triseriatus . The distribution of 13,311 eggs collected from ovitraps was not significantly correlated with either the distribution of marked females or with the natural population of female Ae. triseriatus . Significant positive correlations were found between the resting distributions of most mosquito species. Most species were highly aggregated in a relatively small area of the woodlot that contained dense ground cover. The distribution of oviposition by Ae. triseriatus was not correlated with any of the 8 habitat variables measured.


Mixed transition metal oxides (MTMOs) have recently been explored as building blocks for gas sensing applications due to their enhanced sensing characteristics. Here, we demonstrate the application of a co-sputtered V2O5–CdO thin film as a novel chemiresistive sensor for the detection of methane (CH4) gas. From X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies, the mixed phase was identified as polycrystalline cadmium metavanadate (CdV2O6), and from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies, the clear existence of V5+ and Cd2+, corresponding to V2O5–CdO, was observed. The obtained mixed phase featured fused nanorod-like structure with ∼450 nm thickness. By monitoring the sequential sensing characteristics over various temperature (RT-150 °C) and concentration (25–500 ppm) range, the optimum operating temperature (100 °C) was identified. The polycrystalline V2O5–CdO sensor exhibited a response of ∼1.72% towards 25 ppm CH4 at 100 °C. The use of evenly co-sputtered semiconductive (Cd2+ and V5+) nanorods will provide advanced routes towards the development of various devices based on MTMOs.


Six different types of velocity profiles of trolley movement of a container crane are investigated for the minimal sway angle at the target trolley position. Three velocity patterns which include trapezoidal, stepped and notched-type velocity patterns are obtained assuming constant rope length. The notched type velocity pattern is shown to be derived from the time-optimal bang-bang control. The stepped type velocity pattern can be shown to be derived as bang-off bang control as well. Considering the damping effect due to hoist motion a double stage acceleration pattern is also analyzed. The main objective of the paper is to show how much time-reduction can be obtained among several velocity patterns appearing in the literature.


High-Level System Synthesis. Digital Hardware/Software Systems. Synthesis and Optimization of Digital Hardware/Software Systems J. Teich. System Level Design Using the SystemC Modeling Platform J. Gerlach, W. Rosenstiel. Requirements for Static Task Scheduling in Real Time Embedded Systems Ch. Wong, et al. Relocalization of Data Dependences in Partitioned Affine Indexed Algorithms U. Eckhardt, et al. High-level Condition Expression Transformations for Design Exploration M. Palkovic, et al. Component-based System Design in Microkernel-based Systems L. Reuther, et al. Application Cases. Hardware/Software-Architecture and High Level Design Approach for Protocol Processing Acceleration M. Benz, et al. A Fast and Retargetable Simulator for Application Specific Processor Architectures F. Engel, et al. Hardware Supported Sorting: Design and Tradeoff Analysis M. Bednara, et al. Heterogeneous System Design. System Approach and Methodology. Computer Aided Design for Microelectromechanical Systems J. Mehner, et al. An FEM Based Network Approach for the Simulation of Miniaturized Electromagnetic Devices R. Gollee, G. Gerlach. High Performance Control System Processor R.A. Cumplido-Parra, et al. High Level Structural Synthesis of Analog Subsystems - The Information to Electrical Domain Mapping J. Kampe. Statistical Analysis of Analogue Structures A. Graupner, et al. A New Hierarchical Simulator for Highly Parallel Analog Processor Arrays S. Henker, et al. System Simulation and Evaluation. Methods and Tools. Object Oriented System Simulation of Large Heterogeneous Communication Systems U. Hatnik, et al. Object-oriented Modelling of Physical Systems with Modelica using Design Patterns C.Clauss, et al. Simulation of Numerically Sensitive Systems by Means of Automatic Differentiation K. Robenack, K.J. Reinschke. DAE-Index Increase in Analogue Fault Simulation B. Straube, et al. Parameter Optimization of Complex Simulation Models E. Syrjakow, M. Syrjakow. Quantitative Measures for Systematic Optimization, Validation, and Imperfection Compensation in the Holistic Modeling and Parsimonious Design of Application Specific Vision and Cognition Systems A. Konig, et al. Index.


Conclusions A positive result with glyoxylic acid test was obtained in 62.5% of schizophrenic patients, while only 8% of non-schizophrenics gave a positive test. Though non-specific the test affords a statistically significant distinction which cannot be explained by the non-experimental variables. Because of the chance that the test has a significant association with the disease, schizophrenia, further investigation seems warranted.


Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) exerts a clinically apparent negative feedback on the secretion of human thyroid-stimulating hormone (hTSH) in pregnancy, and the two have cross-reactivity for the TSH receptor in membrane preparations of the thyroid. We examined whether hTSH, in turn, has an influence on the secretion and synthesis of hCG in short-term cultures of human placenta at term. A dose- and time-dependent decrease in the extracellular hCG concentration caused by hTSH was demonstrated. To examine whether hTSH inhibits de novo synthesis of hCG or decreases hCG depletion, we determined the amount of hCG secreted and the size of the intracellular pool by using an enzyme immunoassay. By incorporating a radiolabeled amino acid in the hCG molecule, we measured the amount of hCG synthesized de novo. We concluded that hTSH acts by decreasing the rate of de novo synthesis of placental hCG.


Over the past 100 years, the US economy has evolved from one based primarily in the goodsproducing sector (agriculture, manufacturing, and mining) to the service sector. Today the service sector accounts for more than 80% of US Gross Domestic Product and more than 85% of the workforce. In fact, today many engineering graduates go on to work in service sector industries instead of more traditional manufacturing industries. In part, the service sector may be such a large segment of our economy because its processes are highly inefficient. Engineering problem-solving and talent, if properly applied to processes in the service sector, could serve to significantly increase efficiency and reduce costs, similar to advances made in the goodsproducing sector over the past century. In 2003 Michigan Tech received a planning grant from the National Science Foundation to define curricular characteristics for Service Sector Engineering through a Delphi Study. Armed with these characteristics, a workshop was convened at Michigan Tech in August 2006 to define a Service Systems Engineering curriculum. Workshop participants consisted of faculty from several universities as well as industry leaders interested in engineering for the service sector. An additional grant from NSF's Course Curriculum and Laboratory Improvement (CCLI) program was recently awarded for the implementation of this curriculum.


A reproducible and efficient protocol is described for multiple shoot induction of Alpinia purpurata using rhizome bud explants. Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with BA (3.0 mg/l) and Kn (2.0 mg/l) exhibited regeneration rate up to 6.4±0.32 shoots/explants. Spontaneous rooting of shoots occurred in the same concentration of cytokinins. The number of leaves (4.8±0.67) and profuse rooting (8.4±0.70) facilitated 100% of plant recovery on acclimatization. This protocol proves its utility for rapid propagation of A. purpurata to be exploited for pharmaceutical and commercial purposes.


The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of an intentional blending of instructional strategies in an occupational therapy (OT) entry-level master's course. The OT Adult Practice course uses case-based instructional strategies, clinical skills labs, and standardized patient experiences in a dovetailed approach across three progressively complex clinical scenarios involving adult clients. The course is designed to support students in addressing the entire OT Process. Results of quantitative data analysis indicated that the sequential application of case-based instructional strategies, lab experiences, and standardized patient learning opportunities significantly improved students' self-perception of their level of comfort and skill in being able to perform the following components of the OT process for adult clients: occupational profile, OT evaluation, developing an OT treatment plan, implementing OT treatment, and planning for discharge.


Through a qualitative study of 50 dual-career couples, we examine how partners in such couples shape the development of each other's professional identities and how they experience and interpret the relationship between those identities. We found that the extent to which and how partners shaped each other's professional identities depended on the couple's attachment structure, that is, whether one partner—or both—experienced the other as a secure base. Someone comes to regard another person as a secure base when he or she experiences the other as both dependably supportive and encouraging of his or her exploratory behavior. Couples who had a unidirectional secure-base structure experienced conflict between the development of their professional identities. The partner who received a secure base pursued ongoing professional identity development, while the partner who provided a secure base foreclosed it. Couples who had a bidirectional secure-base structure experienced mutual enhancement of their professional identity development. Both partners engaged in it and expanded their professional identity by incorporating attributes of their partner's. Building on these findings, we develop a model of professional identity co-construction in secure-base relationships that breaks new theoretical ground by exploring interpersonal identity relationships and highlighting their roots in the secure-base structure of a dyadic relationship.


Leadership scholars are beginning to understand leadership as a distributed phenomenon, produced in interaction and emerging in social situations. Although this perspective has contributed to understanding leadership processes in more detail, it has also been noted that its proponents have largely neglected power and asymmetrical hierarchical relations. In this paper, I address these issues by drawing on Erving Goffman's notion of frame analysis. Through detailed analysis of the interactions in a core-values session, I show how leadership processes that appear to be distributed and emergent from the participants' framework appear orchestrated when understood from the manager's framework. The analysis reveals how power asymmetries operate in the framing of the situation, and how the experience of leadership differs among participants. Talk, text, tools, and movements in time and space all contribute to establish frameworks, and differences in access to these modalities show power asymmetries. The paper highlights how the experience of leadership is framed and how power asymmetries constitute this framing. It thereby contributes to multimodal, constructivist theories of distributed leadership by showing how leadership is simultaneously emergent, distributed, and orchestrated.


The authors, Cosmin Rus, Răzvan Marcuş and Olimpiu Stoicuța, regret that this article is an accidental duplication of an article that has already been published: https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/52456-analyzing-trafficusing-a-webcam-a-raspberry-pi-and-thingspeak. The duplicate article has therefore been withdrawn. The Guest Editors have given their approval for this decision.


Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the simultaneous effect of the intellectual capital (IC) dimensions (human capital (HC), structural capital (SC), and relational capital (RC)) in enhancing the learning organization (LO) capability, specifically in the health sector.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey data were collected from administrative staff working in a well-known hospital in Paris. In all, 182 observations were used to test the hypotheses. The data were analyzed using multiple regression analysis.

Findings

The results illustrate that only one dimension of IC, namely HC has a positive and significant effect on the LO capability while the other two dimensions namely SC and RC were found to have no significant effect.

Research limitations/implications

The current study highlights the significance of the HC in building and enhancing the LO.

Practical implications

Hospitals' decision makers should play a more decisive role in the process of attracting, maintaining, and training HR. It also confirms the importance of sustaining a sound work environment that motivates HR for continuous learning.

Originality/value

Few studies have examined the impact of IC on the LO capability in hospitals.


A state-of-the-art research laboratory was established to grow and characterize amorphous thin films that are useful in semi-conductor devices. Two film systems, nitride films and silicon dioxide films were studied. Over seventy deposition runs for nitride films were made. The films were deposited on silicon substrate using plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition. It was found that the uniformity of the films were affected by the location of the film on the platen.


It is critical to analyze the performance of enterprises to achieve sustainable agricultural development. Several studies have been conducted to assess farm performance. However, the studies have been criticized for failing to account for farm heterogeneity (which is frequently unobserved) in their evaluation of Norwegian agricultural performance. Technically, a farm is efficient if it can produce a certain amount of output with the fewest possible inputs and no input waste. In this paper, efficiency scores are calculated using a production function with both a random intercept and a random slope parameter, addressing the issue of unobserved heterogeneity in stochastic frontier analysis. Using Norwegian dairy and crop farms as a case study, we demonstrate the viability of improving the agriculture industry and reducing resource waste. The case study was established on data collected from 5884 dairy farms and 1880 crop farms from the years 2000 to 2019. According to the empirical findings of the case study, dairy and crop producers used inefficient technologies and squandered production resources. If all farmers follow a sustainable and efficient path to produce agricultural output, they could increase output by 15–18%. Farmers must follow sustainable paths, and politicians must encourage farm experience exchange so that less efficient dairy and crop-producing farms can learn from the most efficient farms to achieve sustainable development.


We have a range of Fitted Kitchens Dublin special offers packages to suit your individual taste and preferences. Based on your lifestyle and budget, we aim to provide quality kitchens at an affordable price. Visit our Dublin Kitchen Showroom on the Long Mile Road.


I Walters A. Psychogenic regional pain alias hysterical pain. Brain 1%1;84:1-18. 2 Waddell G, McCulloch J, Kummel E, Venner R. Non-organic physical signs in low back pain. Spine 1980;5:117-25. 3 Kramlinger KG, Swanson DW, Toshihiko M. Are patients with chronic pain depressed? AmJ Psychiatty 1983;140:747-9. 4 Tyrer SP, Capon MN, Peterson DM, Charlton JE, Thompson JW. The detection of psychiatric illness and psychological handicaps in a British pain clinic population. Pain (in press). 5 Linton SJ, Melin L, G6testam KG. Behavioral analysis of chronic pain and its management. Progress in BehaviourModification 1984;I8: 1-42. 6 Fordyce WE, Fowler RA, Lehman JR, Delateur BJ, Sand PL, Trieschmann RB. Operant conditioning in the treatment of chronic pain. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1973;S3:399-408. 7 Block AR, Kremer EF, Gaylor M. Behaviour therapy of chronic pain. The spouse as a discriminant cue for pain behaviour. Pain 1980;9:243-52. 8 Fordyce WE. Learning processes in pain. In: Stembach RA, ed. The psychology of pain. New York: Raven Press, 1978:49-72. 9 Waddell G, Main CJ. Morris EW, Di Paola M, Gray ICM. Chronic low back pain, psychological distress and illness behaviour. Spine 1984;9:209-13. 10 Leavitt F, Garron DC. Psychological disturbance and pain report: differences in both organic and non-organic low back pain patients. Pain 1979;7:187-95. 11 Waddell G, Bircher M, Finlayson D, Main CJ. Symptoms and signs: physical disease or illness behaviour? BrMedJ 1984;289:739-41. 12 Fordyce WE. Behavioural methodsfor chronic pain and illness. St Louis: C V Mosby, 1976. 13 Engel G. "Psychogenic" pain and the pain-prone patient. AmJ Med 1959;26:899-918. 14 Gentry WD, Shows WD, Thomas M. Chronic low back pain: a psychological profile. Psychosomatics 1974;15: 174-7. 15 Violon-Jurfest A. The onset of facial pain: a psychological study. Psychother Psychosom 1980;34:1 1-6. 16 Blumer D, Heilbronn M. The pain-prone disorder: a clinical and psychological profile. Psychosomatics 1981 ;22:395-402. 17 Szaaz TS. The psychology of persistent pain. In: Soulairac A, Cahn J, Charpentier J, eds. Pain. London: Academic Press, 1968:93-113. 18 Pilowsky I, Spence ND. Patterns of illness behaviour in patients with intractable pain. Psychosom Res 1975;19:279-87. 19 Keefe FJ, Wilkins RH, Cook WA. Direct observation ofpain behaviour in low back pain patients during physical examination. Pain 1984;20:59-68. 20 Sternbach RA. Pain patents: traits and treatnents. New York: Academic Press, 1974. 21 Turk DC, Meichenbaum D. A cognitive-behavioural approach to pain management. In: Wall PD, Melzack R, eds. Textbook ofpain. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 1984:787-94.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of the cell wall of Streptococcus mutans on the expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), IL-6 and IL-8 in EAhy926 cells (The human endothelial hybridoma of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and the human epithelial cell line A549, characterized by endothelial phenotype and biology).

METHODS
EAhy926 cells were treated with different concentrations of the cell wall of Streptococcus mutans. The proliferation of EAhy926 cells was determined by MTT assay. The mRNA expression of TLR4, IL-6 and IL-8 in EAhy926 cells was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). TLR4 was analyzed by flow cytometry. The production of IL-6 and IL-8 in the cultured supernatants was measured by biochemical method and ELISA respectively. TLR4 blocking assay was used to investigate the relationship between IL-6, IL-8 and TLR4 mRNA expression.

RESULTS
The proliferation of EAhy926 cells was significantly enhanced by the cell wall of Streptococcus mutans at 6 h (P<0.05), and inhibited after 12 h (P<0.05), both time- and dose-dependent. The expression of mRNA and protein for TLR4 in EAhy926 cells was increased after stimulated by the cell wall of Streptococcus mutans, peaking at 16 h (P<0.05), and then decreased. The expression of IL-6 and IL-8 mRNA was significantly induced when exposed to the cell wall, reaching the maximal level at 16 h and 24 h, respectively (P<0.05). Meanwhile, the cell wall of Streptococcus mutans induced the production of IL-6 and IL-8 (P<0.05). The expression of IL-6 and IL-8 mRNA in EAhy926 cells was blocked by anti-human TLR4 antibodies significantly.

CONCLUSION
The cell wall of Streptococcus mutans upregulated the expression of TLR4 and induced the production of inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8, indicating that the expression of TLR4 of EAhy926 cells may elicit a TLR4-mediated innate immune response and contribute to production of inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8.


Interoperability (Q&TI) Specifications. Within these specifications are the
descriptions of the IMS QTI data structures that are used to provide
interoperability between question and test systems used in distributed
learning. The key data structures are: Assessment, the basic test unit;
Section, a container for groups of sections and items which support a
common objective; Item, the fundamental self-contained question/response
block within which the individual questions are contained. These
specifications now provide a mechanism by which the appropriate vendor and
content supplier systems can exchange question and test materials between
each other.


Objectives A growing body of evidence suggests that there is a relationship between impaired lung function and the risk of developing diabetes mellitus (DM). However, it is not known if this reflects a causal effect of lung function on glucose metabolism. To clarify the relationship between lung function and the development of DM, we examined the incidence of newly diagnosed prediabetes (a precursor of DM) among subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) at baseline. Design Primary analysis of an occupational cohort with both cross-sectional and longitudinal data (follow-up duration mean±SD: 28.4±6.1 months). Setting and participants Data were analysed from 1058 men in a cross-sectional study and from 560 men with NGT in a longitudinal study. Outcomes and methods Impaired lung function (per cent predicted value of forced vital capacity (%FVC) or per cent value of forced expiratory volume 1 s/FVC (FEV1/FVC ratio)) in relation to the ratio of prediabetes or DM in a cross-sectional study and development of new prediabetes in a longitudinal study. NGT, prediabetes including impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and increased fasting glucose (IFG) and DM were diagnosed according to 75 g oral glucose tolerance tests. Measurements and main results %FVC at baseline, but not FEV1/FVC ratio at baseline, was significantly associated with the incidences of DM and prediabetes. Among prediabetes, IGT but not IFG was associated with %FVC. During follow-up, 102 subjects developed prediabetes among those with NGT. A low %FVC, but not FEV1/FVC ratio, was predictive of an increased risk for development of IGT, but not of IFG. Conclusions Low lung volume is associated with an increased risk for the development of prediabetes, especially IGT, in Japanese men. Although there is published evidence for an association between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and DM, prediabetes is not associated with the early stage of COPD.


In this ontological research into teaching engagement with a website as a teaching tool we have used the instrument of pronoun grammar analysis (Mühlhäusler & Harré, 1990) to focus more clearly on the production of persons and practices in concrete interactions than is apparent in the 'community of practice' research after Lave and Wegner (1991). This requires a focus on the practical discursive reasoning that people use to perform operations on themselves or on other things to transform their habits or character. The ongoing discursive process is not determinate; it is influenced by the history of interactions and the kinds of storylines that are afforded to grade four students and their teachers in interaction with real-time software images of the earth in space. People act out their perception of their position, in the local moral, which has been shaped by their interpretation of the histories of the site and which creates and contributes to their sense of 'oughtness'. The institutional goals and beliefs are enacted interpretations of the local moral order while the basis for understanding people's agency and intentionality can be found in social rhetoric, and in the practices and conversations of the institution. The ontological phenomenological reality of the lived world can be seen to be formed in these discursive practices and can be better understood by careful consideration of them.


El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) index has been shown as a non-Gaussian and nonlinear stochastic process. Here we assess the statistical significance of non-Gaussianity and non-linearity through the analysis of third-order statistics of El Niño 3.4 index in the period 1870–2018, namely the bicovariance (lagged third-order moments) and bispectrum (its 2D Fourier transform). The analysis of bicovariance reveals a tendency for extreme (weak) ENSO signal in the Boreal Spring to be followed by la Niñas (El Niños) in the forthcoming Boreal Winter, thus contributing for a nonlinear attenuation of the ENSO Spring Predictability Barrier. The bispectrum provides a spectral decomposition of skewness in a similar way of the spectral decomposition of variance. Positive and negative real bispectrum values identify triadic phase synchronizations (at frequencies f1, f2 and f1+f2, mostly in the period range 2–6 years) contributing respectively to extreme El Niños and La Niñas. The known positive ENSO skewness and the main features of the ENSO bicovariance and bispectrum are shown to be well reproduced by fitting a bilinear stochastic model where the influence of non-observed variables is simulated by a delayed multiplicative noise, being able to generate non-Gaussianity and non-linearity. The model shows improved forecasts, with respect to benchmark linear models, up to four trimesters ahead, especially of the amplitude of extreme El Niños. The authors would like to acknowledge MISU (Meteorological Institute at Stockholm University) and the financial support FCT through project UIDB/50019/2020 – IDL and project JPIOCEANS/0001/2019 (ROADMAP: 'The Role of ocean dynamics and Ocean–Atmosphere interactions in Driving cliMAte variations and future Projections of impact–relevant extreme events').


UNLABELLED
The key requirement for successful immunochemical assay is the availability of antibodies with high specificity and desired affinity. Small molecules, when used as haptens, are not immunogenic. However, on conjugating with carrier molecule they elicit antibody response. The production of anti-hapten antibodies of desired specificity largely depends on the hapten design (preserving greatly the chemical structure and spatial conformation of target compound), selection of the appropriate carrier protein and the conjugation method. This manuscript describes a curated database HaptenDB, where information is collected from published literature and web resources. The current version of the database has 2021 entries for 1087 haptens and 25 carrier proteins, where each entry provides comprehensive details about (1) nature of the hapten, (2) 2D and 3D structures of haptens, (3) carrier proteins, (4) coupling method, (5) method of anti-hapten antibody production, (6) assay method (used for characterization) and (7) specificities of antibodies. The current version of HaptenDB covers a wide array of haptens including pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, drugs, vitamins, steroids, hormones, toxins, dyes, explosives, etc. It provides internal and external links to various databases/resources to obtain further information about the nature of haptens, carriers and respective antibodies. For structure similarity comparison of haptens, the database also integrates tools like JME Editor and JMOL for sketching, displaying and manipulating hapten 2D/3D structures online. So the database would be of great help in identifying functional group(s) in smaller molecules using antibodies as well as for the development of immunodiagnostics/therapeutics by providing data and procedures available so far for the generation of specific or cross-reactive antibodies.

AVAILABILITY
HaptenDB is available on http://www.imtech.res.in/raghava/haptendb/ and http://bioinformatics.uams.edu/raghava/haptendb/ (Mirror site).


Iron-deficiency anemia is one of the most prevalent human diseases and is characterized by hypochromic microcytic erythrocyctes (for review, see Fairbanks and Beutler 1983). This observation led to studies in the 1950s, which demonstrated that inorganic iron stimulates the synthesis of hemoglobin in immature erythroid cells (Kruh and Borsook 1956; Kassenaar et al. 1957; Morell et al. 1958). Further studies showed that heme, not iron per se, is required for protein synthesis in reticulocyte lysates, since the iron-chelating agent, desferrioxamine, does not block the stimulatory effect of heme (Bruns and London 1965; Grayzel et al. 1966). During the last step of heme biosynthesis, iron is incorporated into protoporphyrin by ferrochelatase to form heme. Consequently, iron deficiency leads to heme deficiency. Heme-iron accounts for the majority of the iron in the human body, and hemoglobin (the most abundant hemoprotein) contains as much as 70% of the total iron content of a normal adult. Thus, iron and heme play very important roles in hemoglobin synthesis and erythroid cell differentiation. In reticulocytes, iron deficiency causes inhibition of protein synthesis with disaggregation of polysomes, which can be prevented by the addition of iron or hemin (Waxman and Rabinovitz 1965Waxman and Rabinovitz 1966; Grayzel et al. 1966). This shutoff of protein synthesis is a result of the activation of the heme-regulated inhibitor (HRI), which is a heme-regulated eIF2α kinase (for review, see Chen 1993; Chen and London 1995). HRI belongs to the family of eIF2α kinases. This family also includes the double-stranded RNA-dependent eIF2α kinase (PKR) (Chapter...


Background: Hypospadias repair requires an appropriate wound dressing to prevent complications, but there is a lack of studies comparing the efficacy of different dressings. Aim: To compare the clinical outcomes of occlusive hydrocolloid dressing and petroleum-impregnated gauze with zinc oxide adhesive plaster, and recommend an appropriate dressing based on efficacy, availability, and cost-effectiveness. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study on paediatric patients who had undergone hypospadias repair between August 2017 and November 2020 at Dr. Ruth K. M. Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi, Pakistan. All the patients receiving one of the two wound dressings, occlusive hydrocolloid dressing (group A) or petroleum-impregnated gauze with zinc oxide adhesive plaster (group B) during primary or secondary hypospadias repair, operated by the same paediatric surgeon were included in this study. Patients with missing data were excluded. There was only one patient lost to follow up in this study. Results: A total of 64 male hypospadias patients with a mean age of 6.0 ± 3.4 years were included in this study. Group A patients (n=37) received a thick 10 x 10 cm occlusive hydrocolloid dressing whereas, in Group B patients (n=27), a 2.5 x 10 cm petroleum-impregnated gauze with zinc oxide adhesive plaster was applied over the wound. In group A, five patients (13.5%) suffered post-operative fistula and wound dehiscence. Whereas, in group B, the post-operative fistula was seen in three patients (11.1%). This study provides evidence-based information to clinicians and healthcare providers regarding the use of wound dressings for hypospadias repair. By demonstrating the efficacy of a cheaper and more accessible dressing, this study could help improve access to care and reduce costs for patients, especially in resource-limited settings. Conclusion: Occlusive hydrocolloid dressing and petroleum-impregnated gauze are equally effective in the healing of hypospadias repair wounds. The simpler and cheaper petroleum-impregnated gauze may be preferable in resource-limited settings. Keywords: Hydrocolloid dressing; Petroleum impregnated gauze; Paraffin gauze; Hypospadias


Mature, circulating mammalian erythrocytes have a finite lifespan. The molecular mechanism that determines removal of cells from the circulation remains unknown, but probably involves recognition of senescence antigens by phagocytes, either directly or via an antibody/complement-mediated pathway. It has been proposed that the major senescence antigen in aged erythrocytes is derived from the band 3 protein, the main transmembrane glycoprotein in erythrocytes. Other possible mechanisms for red cell aging include mechanical fatigue, ATP depletion, calcium accumulation, and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS, which damage proteins and initiate lipid peroxidation, can be generated either inside erythrocytes through the hemoglobin oxidation pathway or outside (eg, by stimulated macrophages). The ROS theory of red cell aging has been widely accepted, yet it lacks direct supporting evidence. To test this hypothesis, two critical techniques have been established in this laboratory. First, we determine the lifespan of erythrocytes in vivo using a fluorescent cell labeling technique. Second, transgenic mice have been produced which express high levels of the human antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, in their erythrocytes. These two techniques will be very useful for the evaluation of the free radical theory of red cell aging.


This essay focuses on the writings of the architectural historian Manfredo Tafuri, who was at the center of a group of historians and theorists at the University of Venice's School of Architecture. It considers how his works dealing with the avant-garde, especially Architecture and Utopia and The Sphere and the Labyrinth, develop a historical-critical method to identify and explicate the gap between the evolution of ideologies of the avant-garde and their translation into a repertoire of techniques that have divergent histories and social meanings than those posited by avant-garde ideologies. In doing so, Tafuri is not just offering an "ideology-critique" of modernism, revealing the way that the avant-garde failed to fulfill its postulated social and aesthetic goals; he is also arguing metahistorically, that via a dialectic of the avant-garde, twentieth-century capitalist modernity weaves an ideological fabric of modernism and interleaves it into the effective structure of reality, for instance through the practices of architecture and urbanism. Thus, "modernism" becomes a relevant term of periodization, not because of the historical veracity of any orthodox art historical narrative of the succession or progressive evolution of modernist forms, but insofar as "modernism" designates the symptomatic tension between the progressive history of avant-garde forms and the heterogeneous technical history that represents how the avant-garde's formal programs were actualized.


This paper presents the fabrication and characterization of a flexible gas sensor based on TiO2 nanotubes membrane, onto which array interdigitated gold electrodes in one side and a common heater in the backside were obtained using conventional microfabrication techniques. This was used to detect hydrogen sulphide within a concentration range of 6–38 ppm. The response to low concentrations of H2S at low temperature and good stability make the sensor a promising candidate for practical applications. These results support the proposal that the TiO2 nanotubes membrane flexible sensors are promising in portable on-site detection based on low cost nanomaterials.


In the theory of the interaction of radiation with atoms, the concept of a dressed atom is well known. In this paper we explore aspects of the antithesis of this, the concept of a dressed field, that is, a field dressed by the atoms of the medium. In particular we use the concept to study the quantum mechanical action of a retarding plate. This simple physical process has fundamental implications on the quantum theory of phase. Although it is usually accepted that a retarding plate will shift the phase of light fields, including weak fields in the quantum domain, whether or not this happens depends on what quantum phase actually is. Conversely, if we assume that a retrading plate is a quantum, as well as a classical, phase shifter, then the known quantum mechanical action of the plate imposes restrictions on possible descriptions of quantum phase. We find that accepting the plate as a phase shifter supports the notion of complementarity of photon number and phase in that a field in a photon number state, including the vacuum, must have a completely random phase. This result, although simple, is non-trivial because while some recent attempts to provide a quantum mechanical description of the phase of light are consistent with the complementarity of phase and photon number, others are not.


Background:Services to diagnose early infant HIV infection should be offered at the 6-week immunization visit. Despite high 6-week immunization attendance, the coverage of early infant diagnosis (EID) is low in many sub-Saharan countries. We explored reasons for such missed opportunities at 6-week immunization visits. Methods:We used data from 2 cross-sectional surveys conducted in 2010 in South Africa. A national assessment was undertaken among randomly selected public facilities (n = 625) to ascertain procedures for EID. A subsample of these facilities (n = 565) was revisited to assess the HIV status of 4- to 8-week-old infants receiving 6-week immunization. We examined potential missed opportunities for EID. We used logistic regression to assess factors influencing maternal intention to report for EID at 6-week immunization visits. Results:EID services were available in >95% of facilities and 72% of immunization service points (ISPs). The majority (68%) of ISPs provide EID for infants with reported or documented (on infant's Road-to-Health Chart/booklet—iRtHC) HIV exposure. Only 9% of ISPs offered provider-initiated counseling and testing for infants of undocumented/unknown HIV exposure. Interviews with self-reported HIV-positive mothers at ISPs revealed that only 55% had their HIV status documented on their iRtHC and 35% intended to request EID during 6-week immunization. Maternal nonreporting for EID was associated with fear of discrimination, poor adherence to antiretrovirals, and inadequate knowledge about mother-to-child HIV transmission. Conclusions:Missed opportunities for EID were attributed to poor documentation of HIV status on iRtHC, inadequate maternal knowledge about mother-to-child HIV transmission, fear of discrimination, and the lack of provider-initiated counseling and testing service for undocumented, unknown, or undeclared HIV-exposed infants.


A think tank was convened at the third ICI‐RS meeting held in the UK, June 2011, to consider the best outcome measures when assessing treatments for lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD). Given the vast array of measures available a focus on questionnaires was decided upon, which continued to highlight a plethora of available tools. The decision was therefore taken to approach this topic from an alternative perspective and instead ask the audience of gathered experts in this field to consider, "What we need to ask as a minimum in order to capture the most fundamental parameters when evaluating new treatments for LUTD?" Discussions highlighted the need for inclusion of a global measure in all outcome evaluations in order to increase comparability between different treatment evaluations and different populations. More specific categories of evaluation identified were: treatment satisfaction, symptom quantification, health related quality of life and adverse events. Further optional components were identified for inclusion where relevant, such as health economic, goal setting and psychosocial evaluation. A "Minimum Outcome Set for Testing (MOST)" was therefore proposed by selecting a health outcome measure from each category while not being prescriptive about specific outcome measurement selection. The 'MOST' toolkit is therefore proposed to promote standardized evaluation in this field and represents a useful starting point for further consideration of this concept. Neurourol. Urodynam. 31:400–403, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


Abstract During operation, aircraft (AC) are subject to use, maintenance, repair and disposal. Each of those processes requires adequate quality. This study presents requirements related to quality management with which an AC maintenance and repair sub-system ought to comply. Documents containing requirements pertaining to both management and technical aspects have been analysed. Applicable standards and regulations affecting the AC repair process quality assurance have been presented. A description of standards observance of which is required to ensure effective operation of modern AC maintenance and repair subsystems significantly affecting maintenance of the AC required airworthiness has been included. Complexity of the decision-taking process pertaining to AC maintenance and repair within the airworthiness maintenance sub-system has been presented


Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) is a polymodal receptor channel, which plays an important role in pain transduction. It is important to understand the functional expression of this channel under neuropathic pain (NP) conditions. A novel method was used to investigate the dynamics of functional expression of this channel on regenerated neurons under NP conditions following trigeminal nerve injury using a combination of a permanently charged sodium channel blocker (QX-314) and a TRPV1 agonist (capsaicin; QX-CAP). The combination was originally introduced as a local anesthetic. Synchronization between the local anesthetic effect of QX-CAP and TRPV1 expression on regenerated neurons was observed following the nerve injury. QX-CAP had no local anesthetic effect under NP conditions 2 weeks after the injury when TRPV1 expression on regenerated neurons was low. However, this combination was effective under NP conditions 3 and 4 weeks following injury when TRPV1 expression in regenerated neurons was moderate to high. The current review, discusses the potential of QX-314 as a local anesthetic and a novel approach of using QX-CAP to reveal the dynamics of functional expression of TRPV1 on regenerated neurons following trigeminal nerve injury.


Mouse allergen (MA) exposure is a well-known risk factor for allergic sensitization and is implicated in the pathogenesis of pediatric asthma. Although previous studies report high prevalence of MA sensitization in inner-city asthmatic children, no data exist on its comparison with either suburban or rural children with asthma. We did a retrospective cohort study by chart review of all children (≤18 years of age) who underwent allergy testing during a 6-month period in a tertiary care referral center. Patients were divided geographically into suburban, rural, and inner-city groups based on their zip codes. MA was tested using the standard allergy test panel by skin prick/puncture. Positive skin test reactivity was defined as wheal diameter ≥3 mm and erythema ≥5 mm. A total of 989 patients underwent allergy testing and 349 children were tested for MA with the overall positivity rate of 18.6% (65/349). In children with asthma (mean age, 12.8 years; SD ± 3.19) who had MA testing (n = 166), the rate of positive skin test reactivity was 18% (n = 30). Inner-city asthmatic children had significantly greater MA sensitization compared with either suburban or rural children. MA sensitization is highly prevalent among children with asthma, especially in inner-city populations but also among suburban and rural children. Although most allergists do not routinely test for MA sensitization during the initial evaluation, it may be useful to include it in the allergy testing for children with asthma.


According with the advancement of aged society, the further improvement in function of the welfare apparatus for an aged person is required. Although various medical equipments, such as a mat to prevent bedsore begin to be used commercially, the function of prevention of bedsore seems not enough. Moreover, it is require for such a nursing equipment to have the flexibility and safety since it contacts with human directly. In the highly advanced aged society, the nursing people is also aged one and it is necessary to decrease their physical burden. In this study, we have developed a mat which has a function to prevent bedsore. In order to distribute the pressure applied to the body, we have proposed a body pressure distribution strategy by using 24 mats driven independently. And the effectiveness of the proposed method is confirmed through some experiments. In this paper, first of all, the structure of the proposed medical care mat is shown. After-wards, its effectiveness is confirmed through experiments.


In this article we present the results obtained applying the multiple scale expansion up to the order $\varepsilon^6$ to a dispersive multilinear class of equations on a square lattice depending on 13 parameters. We show that the integrability conditions given by the multiple scale expansion give rise to 4 nonlinear equations, 3 of which are new, depending at most on 2 parameters and containing integrable sub cases. Moreover at least one sub case provides an example of a new integrable system.


For many years, laparoscopic cholecystectomy remains the method of choice for both the treatment of symptomatic cholelithiasis, and chronic and acute cholecystitis (1). The experience of the surgeon grows with each laparoscopic procedure, which enables to operate in case of difficult anatomical conditions and associated anatomical variants. The aim of the study was to present a case of a 47-year old male patient with total situs inversus and several months history of recurrent left epigastric pain, radiating to the left scapula, being accompanied by nausea and vomiting. The study presented the operative technique of laparoscopic cholecystectomy and postoperative period data. In conclusion, laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a patient with total situs inversus is possible and safe, providing relevant precautions. The main issues certainly include a good and feasible plan of the operation, discussion concerning the possible intraoperative and postoperative complications, a good plan considering the localization of the trocars, as well as an experienced surgical team. One should also not forget that early conversion to classical cholecystectomy is not considered as failure, but might prevent accidental damage of the biliary ducts and long-term complications.


Abstract Background GLP-1 agonism have the potential to affect gastric emptying (GE), yet the reports for subcutaneous semaglutide, currently the most effective GLP-1 RA approved for weight management, remain inconclusive. It has been demonstrated that once-weekly semaglutide either had no effect on GE or it delayed GE only within the first hour, without late phase retention. Notably, those conclusions were made by an indirect method of estimation of GE through ingestion, absorption and determination of plasma level of paracetamol. Furthermore, in most previous studies with once weekly semaglutide, GE has been evaluated as a part of the composite outcome. The indirect method with paracetamol was shown to be appropriate for evaluation of kinetics of liquid meals, whereas it might lead to inaccurate estimation of late phase GE. Scintigraphic evaluation is considered as a reference method for the purpose. Aim This is the first study that evaluates the effect of once weekly subcutaneous semaglutide on late phase GE of a solid meal by scintigraphy in obese women with PCOS without other comorbidities as a primary outcome. Materials and Methods A single-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in 20 women with PCOS and obesity, without diabetes and other comorbidities, randomized to once weekly subcutaneous semaglutide 1 .0 mg (S) or placebo (P) for 8 weeks. Gastric emptying was assessed by scintigraphy after ingestion of 99mTC colloid in pancake labelled with radiopharmaceutical that maintained a stable binding within gastric environment by scintigraphy using sequential static imaging and dynamic acquisition. Estimation of GE was obtained by repeated imaging of remaining 99mTC activity (RA) at fixed time intervals over 4 hours and the half time (T1/2) of gastric emptying had been calculated. Additionally, we evaluated anthropometric, metabolic, hormonal and appetite parameters. Results At 30 min after ingestion significant difference in RA was observed between semaglutide group and placebo (92.5% in S vs. 89% in P (p=0,05)) and persisted throughout the observation period up to 4 hour (37% in S vs. 0% in P (p=0,002)). T1/2 was significantly longer in S as compared to P (171 min vs 118 min, respectively (p<0.001)). In addition, semaglutide led to significant decrease in weight, waist and neck circumference, HbA1c and androgen levels. Subjective ratings of appetite suppression correlated with T1/2. Conclusion Once weekly semaglutide 1.0 mg resulted in a significant late-phase retention of solid meal measured by repeated scintigraphic imaging. This effect correlated with appetite suppression and likely contributed to weight loss. Presentation: Sunday, June 12, 2022 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m., Sunday, June 12, 2022 1:18 p.m. - 1:23 p.m.


This article focuses on the issue of valuation and discusses the role and textual properties of irony in the light of speech act theory. The research material used for the analysis comes from the novel by Philip Kerr "March Violets", which is a representative of the historical detective novel genre. The article does not aim to criticize the book's translations, but focuses on the message itself, which, through them, reaches the recipient and makes a specific impression on him/her. This specific impression, evoked by said speech acts and thoughtfully encoded in the text, is subject to the analysis here. Sociolinguistic assumptions have been adopted as the basis for these considerations, which seems to be justified in so far as language within such analytical framework can be treated as a binder across social groups, nations, communities, and may, therefore, play a significant role both in shaping them, shaping their collective beliefs, ideas, and cultural norms.


The history education literature is replete with a call to help teachers understand that history should be taught as being inquiry-based and interpretive. We are encouraged, and rightfully so, to do history, to perform history, to do democracy, and to motivate students for inquiry and action by using primary sources. The authors developed a unit of study for history and social studies teacher candidates that would address several issues: (a) motivate and inspire future teachers to use inquiry as a tool to build K-12 students' historical understanding and facilitate purposeful utilization of artifacts with ease; (b) help future teachers increase their knowledge of local history; and (c) present a unit that could be easily used in a secondary history course and, with some modifications, could be adapted for elementary and middle school history classrooms. The assignment was named Pay it Forward: Invigorating Instruction through Local History. This multifaceted assignment included the development of a lesson plan that would (a) demonstrate a robust understanding of engaging students in historical inquiry and local history, and (b) focus on an artifact that the teacher candidate would find as part of the investigation. The majority of the teacher candidates in this study did show evidence of, albeit limited at times, designing curriculum that encouraged K-12 students to engage in historical inquiry. Making the bridge between theory and practice, or showing evidence of learning from the methods courses, was clearly evident across the lesson plans.


A word formation pattern in which use is made of a particular affix can thus be conceived of as a morphological construction in which it is only the affix that is specified whereas the slot for the stem is variable. That is, each affixation pattern is a constructional idiom (in the sense of Jackendoff, 2002). Such affixation templates give direct expression to the fact that affixes are not lexical items by themselves: they only exist as parts of complex words, and as parts of abstract schemas for these complex words. Thus, this form of representation is in line with the basic idea of lexeme-based morphology that it is words that form the basis of morphological knowledge and productivity The traditional notion of construction and its importance for theories of linguistic structure have recently received renewed attention within the theoretical framework of Construction Grammar. The basic idea of Construction Grammar can be summarized as follows:


In wireless self-organized network (WSON), AOW clustering algorithms can achieve better performance and high adaptability, but having limitations in certain circumstances. In this paper, working procedure and shortcomings of AOW are introduced and analyzed firstly. Then, several modified algorithms based on AOW are designed according to system requirements. Simulation experiments are conducted to compare modified algorithms and original AOW algorithm and simulation results show modified algorithms can improve overall performance of clustering network further in specific scenarios.


To study electron microscopically intracortical connections between areas 18 and 19 in the visual cortex of the cat brain, the distribution of synaptic terminals in every lamina of these areas was investigated after dissection of their border as deep as the grey matter. Mainly axo-dendritic synapses in large, small dendrites and in spines degenerated according to "light" and "dark" types were subjected to degeneration. All the laminae of the cortex were stated to participate in the formation of overlapping intracortical connections of areas 18 and 19. The greatest nember of altered synaptic buds, however, were detected in the middle layers, that correlated the data of the light optic method (A. S. Iontov, 1961, 1962). To obtain more objective data on the number of intracortical fibrils connecting these areas, normal and altered synapses up to 100 units were counted in every layer. Uneven localization of intracortical connections in every layer and their different functional importance were demonstrated.


With the study of the 3rd conference hall of Dalian International Conference Center, test and relevant calculation are applied to the structural natural frequency and floor vibration due to human excitations. The Monte Carlo stochastic analysis is applied to the cases in which the comfort for vibration due to crowd excitations may exceed the limit. The results show that the Monte Carlo stochastic method and load curves of excitations are reliable, but in the actual test the high-order harmonic effect of walking excitation is not obvious. In the stochastic analysis with the closer frequency and phase of crowd excitations or the greater population density, the discreteness of results is smaller. Compared with the population density, the differences of frequency and phase of crowd excitations lead to a bigger discreteness of results. With the bigger discreteness of frequency and phase of excitations, the peak accelerations of stochastic model are significantly smaller than the simplified model with the same frequency and phase.


In a world of fast changing environments for business, the need for innovation is one of the most stable items. On the other hand, innovation is influenced by more and more factors, like increasing products and service complexity ore growing numbers of partners, involved into a single product innovation. This paper introduces interoperability problems related to simultaneous business and product development. Experiences from a benchmarking study carried out between four major companies in Germany will underline the described problems. A new research project "IsyProM"., national funded, just started to analyse interoperability issues in this. An overview about the IsyProM approach will conclude this paper.


From the Publisher:
Coauthored by the lead architect for the VisiBroker Java ORB, this is the authoritative guide to programming with VisiBroker for Java. Designed to help Java developers quickly master the skills they need to develop more powerful and sophisticated distributed, object-oriented, client/server systems from scratch or by combining existing components, it covers all the crucial bases in the life cycle of a VisiBroker implementation.


Political strategists decide daily how to market their candidates. Growing recognition of the importance of implicit processes (processes occurring outside of awareness) suggests limitations to focus groups and polling, which rely on conscious self-report. Two experiments, inspired by national political campaigns, employed Internet-presented subliminal primes to study evaluations of politicians. In Experiment 1, the subliminal word "RATS" increased negative ratings of an unknown politician. In Experiment 2, conducted during former California Governor Gray Davis's recall referendum, a subliminal photo of Clinton affected ratings of Davis, primarily among Independents. Results showed that subliminal stimuli can affect ratings of well-known as well as unknown politicians. Further, subliminal studies can be conducted in a mass media outlet (the Internet) in real time and supplement voter self-report, supporting the potential utility of implicit measures for campaign decision making.


Background: Health Information System in low income countries at all level has an important role to support Ministries of Health and other government agencies for informed decision making at all level. However, its utilization is a challenging task currently confronted by countries throughout the developing world in general and Ethiopia in particular. The main objective of this study was to assess the utilization of health information at district level in East Wollega Zone. Methods : A facility based cross-sectional study with quantitative and qualitative methods was conducted in nine randomly selected districts in east Wollega zone from March 1 to April 15, 2015.  Data were collected using semi structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Both bivariate and multivariate methods of data analysis used to determine the predictors. Results: All of the respondents had training on Health Management Information System, only 36 (11.8%) had in service training.  Based on the criteria 140(45.8%) were not utilized Health Information system, 202 (66.0%) of them utilized Health Information system to prepare plan of action. The independent predictors affecting utilization of Health Information were feedback from respective supervisor [AOR=14.5(6.9-30.3)], types of the decision [AOR= 3.9(1.9-7.8)] and, type of the organization [AOR= 3.5(1.5-8.1)]. The proportion quarterly completeness & timeliness of report were 86% and 89% respectively however data accuracy were not 100% maintained as per guideline. Conclusion and Recommendation : The utilization rate of Health Information at district level in east Wollega zone was found to be very low and training on HMIS was not adequate to implement the new system in line with Health Management Information System standard. Efforts should be made by the Zonal health department to strengthen supportive supervision at all levels and ensure availability of standard reporting formats& registers to maximize the utilization of Health Information. Keywords: Utilization, health information system


We retrospectively reviewed 190 patients with germ cell tumors of testis or extragonadal origin who were treated in our hospital between 1980 and 2007. Five (2.6%) of them had brain metastasis. We studied the clinical features and treatment outcome of these patients. Median age was 30 years old (23-48). The clinical stage was III in all the patients, except one with stage I disease. Two patients had brain metastasis at the initial presentation. All patients underwent multiple regimens of chemotherapy. As local therapies for brain metastases, surgical resection was done in 4 and gamma knife was in 1. Whole brain irradiation was added to surgery in 2 patients. All patients died of the disease within one year after brain metastasis development, except 1 patient who was free of disease 47 months after the presentation. The long survivor had solitary brain metastasis at the initial presentation and received 4 regimens of chemotherapy, 2 surgical resections of brain metastases and whole brain irradiation. Finally, chemotherapy consisting of irinotecan and nedaplatin resulted in normalization of the tumor markers and complete remission was proved by the subsequent surgical resection. Although most patients with brain metastasis have a poor clinical outcome, aggressive local treatment and employment of novel anticancerous agents may contribute to improve clinical course of selected patients with germ cell tumors and brain metastasis.


In this thesis a critique of Baudelaire's translation of Poe's short fiction will be presented by applying the method of Translation Criticism proposed by Antoine Berman in Pour une critique des traductions: John Donne (Berman 1995). The post-structuralist theory ofmeaning which underlies Berman's approach is elaborated, and its appropriateness for the description of translation products is explained by its perspective on translation as a form of rewriting, and by its recognition of the importance of para-text as a tool in Translation Criticism. The specific questions which Berman proposes for Translation Criticism are then applied to an analysis of the translatio of Poe's short fiction by Baudelaire. The story of these translations is first told through a series of pre-analytical enquiries which form a hermeneutic construct of data concerning Baudelaire's position as a language user and as a (re)writer, his stance as a translator, his project for the translation of Poe and the literary and translational horizon in which he was working. These pre-analytical enquiries are followed up by a detailed analysis of two stories in translation, "La chute de la Maison Usher" and "Le scarabee d'or," which are assessed and compared to the originals in terms of the different readings which they produce. The divergences that can be observed are explained, whenever possible, with the data gathered during the pre-analytical enquiries. Baudelaire's translation of "The Gold Bug" is also compared with a contemporary translation by Amedee Pichot, in order to help place the Baudelaire translations in their nineteenth-century context. This para-textual critique of the Baudelaire translations thus tells the story of these translations at a level of fine detail which provides a solid basis for the broader theoretical conclusions which will be drawn, including an assessment of the value ofBaudelaire's texts in the 21st century.


In his article "Power and Representation in Anglo-American Travel Blogs and Travel Books about China" Stefano Calzati presents a comparative analysis between two travel books and two travel blogs written by Anglo-American travellers about China. The assumption is that travel books and travel blogs, being two differently mediated forms of travel writing, share some similarities: they are "autodiegetic narratives" and they bear a (cross)cultural potential. Through a Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis I investigate how Anglo-American travel writers represent themselves and Chinese people as to what extent the definition of travel writing is medially affected; 2) to what extent the cross-cultural potential of travel writing is medially affected; and 3) how differences and similarities in appear in which Anglo American travellers represent themselves and the other. Stefano Calzati, "Power and Representation in Anglo-American Travel Blogs and Travel Books about China" page 2 of 10 CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture 14.5 (2012): <http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/clcweb/vol14/iss5/20> Special issue New Work about the Journey and Its Portrayals. Ed. I-Chun Wang


Ants are a hugely diverse family of eusocial insects that dominate terrestrial ecosystems all over the planet. Did mutualistic gut microbes help ants to achieve their diversity and ecological dominance? Initial studies suggested the potential for widespread convergence in ant gut bacterial communities based on dietary niche, but it now seems possible that dedicated bacterial symbionts are restricted to a minority of ant lineages (Russell et al., 2017). Nevertheless, as most ants are omnivores, the evidence so far has suggested a broad, positive correlation between the evolution of dietary specialization and ant investment in nutrient‐provisioning gut bacteria. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Sapountzis et al. (2019) and Rubin et al. (2019) examine the evolution of gut bacterial communities in two iconic ant taxa—the attine fungus farmers and the Pseudomyrmex plant bodyguards, respectively—in a comparative context. By comparing gut bacteria between ant species of differing dietary specialization within each taxon, these studies demonstrate a hint of convergence in the midst of widespread apparent constraints. These results raise numerous interesting questions about the nature of these apparent constraints and whether they are causes or consequences of varying investment by ants to mutualism with their gut microbes.


The theoretical prediction of a negative coefficient on positively correlated peer performance underlies much of the empirical literature on relative performance evaluation. This prediction is commonly obtained from a single period model where the variance–covariance matrix of available performance measures is exogenously restricted to be independent of the evaluee's action. Using the dynamic approach of Holmström and Milgrom (1987), I study the properties of contracts that optimally condition an agent's compensation both on his own performance and on how well he fares relative to a peer (group) when these restrictions are not imposed. I show that if the covariance is nonzero, the optimal contract is linear in own and peer performance as well as in their correlation. Significantly, and in line with the preponderance of the empirical evidence, in its simplest and perhaps most reasonable form, the model predicts that the expected coefficient on peer performance is exactly zero.


The use of smart antennas in extending coverage range and capacity of wireless LANs dictates the employment of novel media access control (MAC) schemes, with which the access point (AP) provides access to users by learning their spatial signatures. This paper puts forward an exact approach to analyze the performance of the schemes in terms of required time so that the AP becomes aware of user locations and grants access to the system. The numerical results show that the scheme which distinguishes the users residing in or out of broadcasting coverage range of the AP can provide rapider media access. In addition, the simulation results verify the theoretical approach.


An algorithm for estimating motion parameters of a rigid body from range data is presented. The best correspondence between two three-dimensional point sets is established using a Hopfield neural network. Once the correspondence is built, the δ-bound matching concept is introduced to discard the matched noise pairs and to estimate motion parameters. The method is tolerant to noise and missing points. It is easily extended to plane and surface matching. Simulation results are given for noisy synthetic data


Measurements of viscoelasticity in the microscopic regime are of interest in polymer solutions as well as in microscopic structures such as cells. Viscoelasticity can be studied using a localized microrheometer based on optical tweezers. We rotate a birefringent micron-sized calcium carbonate sphere crystallized in a vaterite structure. By applying a time-dependent torque or using the time-dependent thermal torque, viscoelasticity can be measured. The torque can be measured purely optically, by measuring the polarization state of the trapping beam after passing through the particle. We control the torque by controlling the relative amplitudes of two orthogonally circularly polarized components of the trapping beam with two acousto-optic modulators. This allows a wide range of oscillation frequencies to be used. We demonstrate applications of the methods on several systems.


Our aim was to evaluate the effect of starvation on the paternal and maternal inheritance of the leucocyte telomere length (LTL) in three birth cohorts: before, during, and after the Chuvashian famine of 1922–1923. This retrospective cohort study comprised native Chuvash men (n= 678) and women (n=647) born between 1909–1980. Data were gathered during three expeditions: 1994, 1999, 2002, enabling us to treat age and birth year as independent variables. LTL was measured by a quantitative polymerase chain reaction technique. A significant difference in LTL values (χ2 d.f=2=79.04, p<0.0001) was observed between the sexes. In a pedigree-based variance component analysis, ~67.4% of the LTL variation was explained by an additive genetic component. In the entire sample, a significant correlation was observed between the LTL of the parents and offsprings. Fathers born between 1924–1928 demonstrated a significantly stronger LTL correlation with their offsprings. The LTL correlation between mothers and offspring in this group and between parents and offspring in those born after 1928 did not differ from the entire population. We believe that the increased correlation between the LTL in the father-offspring pairs born after starvation in Chuvashia can be explained by differences in the processes of oogenesis and spermatogenesis in humans.