Clinical coagulation laboratory tests do not accurately reflect hemostasis and thrombosis in vivo. Thrombin generation in vivo occurs in 3 overlapping phases: initiation, priming, and propagation. During initiation, injury to the vessel wall exposes the cells to tissue factors, which lead to the production of small amounts of thrombin. During priming, the thrombin that is generated initially binds to platelets and activates them through protease-activated receptors. During the propagation phase, factor X is activated by the factor IXa/VIIIa complex that is assembled on the activated platelet surface. Subsequent formation of factor Xa/Va complexes on the platelet surface leads to a burst of thrombin and fibrin formation. Pharmacologic concentrations of a direct thrombin inhibitor, bivalirudin, inhibit thrombin-induced activation of platelets to a greater extent than pharmacologic concentrations of unfractionated heparin.


There is good evidence that viruses may play a role in some animal models of diabetes. Since mumps virus seems to be the most likely candidate, we studied the possible relationship of islet cell antibodies, islet cell surface antibodies and glucose tolerance in 86 children and adolescents in whom mumps infection had occurred 14 months previously. Impaired glucose tolerance was diagnosed in 3.5% (n = 3) but symptomatic diabetes did not appear. No relationship existed between complications of antecedent mumps infection (pancreatitis, orchitis, meningitis) and glucose tolerance. The prevalence of ICA and ICSA was 78% and 36%, respectively. The simultaneous prevalence of ICA and ICSA was 33%. The pathogenetic role of mumps infection and ICA/ ICSA and their possible relation to slow progressive beta cell destruction remains to be elucidated.


In recent years, academics, regulators, and market practitioners have increasingly addressed liquidity issues. Amongst the numerous problems addressed, the optimal execution of large orders is probably the one that has attracted the most research works, mainly in the case of single-asset portfolios. In practice, however, optimal execution problems often involve large portfolios comprising numerous assets, and models should consequently account for risks at the portfolio level. In this paper, we address multi-asset optimal execution in a model where prices have multivariate Ornstein-Uhlenbeck dynamics and where the agent maximizes the expected (exponential) utility of her PnL. We use the tools of stochastic optimal control and simplify the initial multidimensional Hamilton-JacobiBellman equation into a system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) involving a Matrix Riccati ODE for which classical existence theorems do not apply. By using a priori estimates obtained thanks to optimal control tools, we nevertheless prove an existence and uniqueness result for the latter ODE, and then deduce a verification theorem that provides a rigorous solution to the execution problem. Using examples based on data from the foreign exchange and stock markets, we eventually illustrate our results and discuss their implications for both optimal execution and statistical arbitrage.


We report herein the results of antifungal activity of fifteen 1,2,3-triazoles against Candida albicans, Candida krusei, Candida parapsilosis, Candida kefyr, Candida tropicalis, Candida dubliniensis, Tricophyton rubrum, Microporum canis and Aspergillus niger. All of the 1,2,3-triazoles were prepared from 1,3-dipolar cyclizations between aryl azides and alkynes catalyzed by Cu(I), and several of the compounds exhibited antifungal activity with low cytotoxicity. The results demonstrated the potential and importance of developing new 1,2,3-triazoles compounds with antifungal activity.


In this paper, synthesis of ultrafine Al-Cu nano composite and its stable dispersion in base fluid is carried out in two step method. Ultrafine powders were prepared by milling elemental Al and Cu powders for nearly 50 hours in a planetary mill. Powder nano composite is dispersed in de-ionized water to produce nanofluid by ultrasonication method. The prepare powder was studied by using XRD, SEM and TEM techniques, water based nanofluids were prepared and their stability has been studied by nano zeta meter at different pH of nanofluids for constant ultrasonication time and magnetic stirring. The results reveal that dispersion stability of Al-Cu ultrafine nano composite in base fluid is better than their fluids of individual Al and Cu particles. This dispersion stability enhances the thermal conductivity and convective heat transfer of nanofluids.


In this paper, a novel current control technique is proposed to control both active and reactive power flow from a renewable energy source feeding a microgrid system through a single-phase parallel-connected inverter. The parallel-connected inverter ensures active and reactive power flow from the grid with low-current total harmonic distortion even in the presence of nonlinear load. A p-q theory-based approach is used to find the reference current of the parallel-connected converter to ensure desired operating conditions at the grid terminal. The proposed current controller is simple to implement and gives superior performance over the conventional current controllers, such as rotating frame proportional-integral controller or stationary frame proportional resonant controller. The stability of the proposed controller is ensured by direct Lyapunov method. A new technique based on the spatial repetitive controller is also proposed to improve the performance of the current controller by estimating the grid and other periodic disturbances. Detailed experimental results are presented to show the efficacy of the proposed current control scheme along with the proposed nonlinear controller to control the active and reactive power flow in a single-phase microgrid under different operating conditions.


The Russian Federation Customs Development Project (CDP), launched in 2003, has been helping reform and modernizes the country's federal customs service. Reforms under the CDP have resulted in improved performance: both customs clearance times and rent-seeking incidents have been reduced. However, despite major progress in critical areas, global rankings such as the world economic forum's enabling trade index and the World Bank's logistics performance index suggest there is still significant room for further improvement in customs administration.


Role-plays have been almost ubiquitous in foreign language classes and their potential has been widely recognised. In the last decade, the dissemination of Web 2.0 has created a wide range of possibilities for this type of activity, including conducting online role-plays between institutions, the opportunity to combine synchronous and asynchronous communication tools and also articulate online with in which knowledge is emergent resulting from interactions between participants. It is also an activity that mirrors contextualised everyday situations and students autonomy. Within a dialogical and dialectical perspective of English language learning, the following research question was developed: how can online roleplays in English language learning in higher education be integrated in order to enhance the development of communicative competence? In order to answer the research question, an action research project was carried out, according to the model proposed by Stringer (2007), and an online role-play was implemented over six weeks in the English II course unit from the degree in Tourism at the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, Portugal.


`reality present: Peter Gabrial and Cirque du Soleil' is a 12 minute original work directed and produced by Doug Brown, Jean-Philippe Gay & A. Coogan, which showcases creative content applications of commercial stereoscopic video equipment. For production, a complete equipment package including a Steadicam mount was used in support of the Ikegami LK-33 camera. Remote production units were fielded in the time critical, on-stage and off-stage environments of 2 major live concerts: Peter Gabriel's Secret World performance at the San Diego Sports Arena, and Cirque du Soleil's Saltimbanco performance in Chicago. Twin 60 Hz video channels were captured on Beta SP for maximum post production flexibility. Digital post production and field sequential mastering were effected in D-2 format at studio facilities in Los Angeles. The program was world premiered to a large public at the World of Music, Arts and Dance festivals in Los Angeles and San Francisco, in late 1993. It was presented to the artists in Los Angeles, Montreal and Washington D.C. Additional presentations have been made using a broad range of commercial and experimental stereoscopic video equipment, including projection systems, LCD and passive eyewear, and digital signal processors. Technical packages for live presentation have been fielded on site and off, through to the present.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.


A review of the current operation of the air cargo system and a discussion of the prospects for the future indicate that if technological innovations can be brought to maturity and implemented, and if the efficiency of the interface with the surface mode can be improved, the air mode could show an unprecedented growth. This paper provides an assessment of the future of air cargo by analyzing air cargo statistics and trends, by noting air cargo system problems and ineffi-ciencies, by analyzing characteristics of "air-eligible" commodities, and by showing the promise of new technology for future cargo aircraft with significant improvements in costs and efficiency. The paper addresses the following topics: A review of the current operation of the air cargo system and a discussion of the prospects for the future indicate that if technological innovations can be brought to maturity and implemented, and if the efficiency of the interface with the surface mode can be improved, the air mode could show an unprecedented growth. Air cargo demand is forecasted to increase in a dynamic manner. Estimates vary between 11 to 16 percent per year between now and the 1990's. These forecasts conservatively indicate a fourfold increase in air cargo traffic between 1975 and 1985. Dedicated, advanced terminals will be required to support the air cargo system of the future. A synergetic approach is imperative. Intermodal containers, automated handling systems, and computerized control and billing may be key ingredients. Farsighted planning for tomorrow's air freight center is in evidence; the town of Coalinga, California is studying the system requirements and the potential benefit of serving as a worldwide aerial trade center. Other nations, particularly in Europe, are seriously considering a freight distribution network using advanced freighter aircraft. Recent The distributed-load concept benefits from reduced bending material and from commonality.


In this paper, we introduce a new class of models, called ordinal-response stochastic volatility models, by combining an ordinal-response model and the idea of stochastic volatility. Corresponding time series occur in high-frequency finance when the stocks are traded on a coarse grid. For parameter estimation, we develop an efficient grouped move multigrid Monte Carlo sampler. This sampler is based on a scale transformation group, whose elements operate on the random samples of a certain conditional distribution. Also volatility estimates are provided. For illustration, we apply our new model class to price changes of the IBM stock. Dependencies on covariates are quantified and compared with theoretical results for such processes.


Experiments were conducted in two series for 1, 7, 15 and 30 days. In the first series, fish were exposed to 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 5.0 ppm of copper and in the second series to 0.1 + 0.05, 0.5 + 0.1, 1.0 + 0.5 and 5.0 + 1.0 ppm of copper and cadmium mixtures. No mortalities were observed during the experimental period. Accumulation of copper in the tissues and organs increased with increasing concentrations of copper and with longer exposure periods. Copper accumulation associated with copper + cadmium mixtures in the gill, liver, kidney and muscle tissues varied with the concentration, exposure period and tissue type.


Extracellular vesicles (EVs) represent cell-specific carriers of bioactive cargos that can be of importance in either physiological or pathological processes. Frequently, EVs are seen as intercellular communication vehicles, but it has become more and more evident that their usefulness can vary from circulating biomarkers for an early disease diagnosis to future therapeutic carriers for slowing down the evolution of different afflictions and their ability to restore damaged tissue/organs. Here, we summarize the latest progress of EVs classification, biogenesis, and characteristics. We also briefly discuss their therapeutic potential, with emphasis on their potential application in regenerative medicine.


Progressive fibrogenesis in chronic liver injury is often associated with cancer development. Beta-arrestin-2 (ARRB2) is a regulator of the profibrotic Angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AGTR1). The role of ARRB2 in liver fibrosis and in the transition from fibrosis to cancer is not fully understood and was investigated in this study. This study demonstrates that upregulation of the retinoic acid receptor responder 1 (RARRES1) in HSC mediated by ARRB2 leads to fibrosis. This process is driven by exosomal ARRB2 transfer to HSC, major fibrosis contributors, from injured hepatocytes, which highly express ARRB2. By contrast, downregulation of RARRES1 in hepatocytes induces malignant transformation and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. Consequently, Arrb2-deficient mice show higher number and size of liver tumors than wild-type mice in a hepatocellular carcinoma model with fibrosis. The identified relationship between ARRB2 and RARRES1 was observed in at least two species, including human cells and tissues in fibrosis and HCC and has a predictive value for survival in cancer patients. This study describes the discovery of a novel molecular pathway mediating the transition from fibrosis to cancer offering potential diagnostics and therapeutics.


Background: TH-302 is a 2-nitroimidazole triggered hypoxia-activated prodrug of the DNA cross-linker bromo-isophosphoramide mustard (Br-IPM). Checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1) plays a key role in the activation of the DNA damage checkpoint in the cell cycle. We investigated the association between Chk1 inhibitor AZD7762′s-mediated modulation of select downstream pharmacodynamic (PD) biomarkers and potentiation of TH-302 efficacy in the HT29 xenograft model. Material and methods: HT29 ectopic human colorectal xenograft model was employed. Six animals per group were treated with Vehicle (V), TH-302 (T) at 150 mg/kg on Day 1, AZD7762 (A) at 25 mg/kg on Day 1 and 2, or T + A. Two dosing schedules were used in the combination: 1), A was given first, and 4 h and 24 h later, T and A was dosed, respectively (ATA); and 2), T was given first, and 4 h and 24 h later, A was dosed (TAA). The PD biomarkers were evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) on the samples collected on Day 3. In a separate efficacy study, ten animals per group were treated with V, T at 100 mg/kg on Day 1, 4/wk x 2wks, A at 20 mg/kg on Day 1, 2, 4 and 5/wk x 2wks, ATA or TAA combination. Antitumor activity was assessed by tumor growth inhibition (TGI). Results: The biomarker study showed phosphorylated Chk1 (Ser345), γH2AX-positive cells (DNA damage), and Caspase-3 positive cells (apoptosis), were significantly increased in ATA, compared with V, A, T or TAA (p Conclusion: The results suggest that the Chk1 inhibitor A potentiates the efficacy of T in a dose schedule-dependent manner, consistent with dose schedule dependent modulations of PD biomarkers. The detailed mechanistic analysis indicates that the sensitization is due to both disruption of the Chk1 mediated DNA damage checkpoint of the cell cycle and the induction of apoptosis. These studies provide additional support to the preclinical translational rationale for combining TH-302 with Chk1 inhibitors in the clinical trial setting. Citation Format: Jessica D. Sun, Fanying Meng, Qian Liu, Dharmendra Ahluwalia, Wenwu Li, Yan Wang, Deepthi Bhupathi, Charles P. Hart. Association between Chk1 inhibitor AZD7762-mediated modulation of pharmacodynamic biomarkers and potentiation of hypoxia-activated prodrug TH-302 antitumor efficacy in a human tumor xenograft model. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 2424. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-2424


We propose a novel dual-band resonator nanoantenna array based on fence-shaped nanoparticles for infrared detection applications. Here, we demonstrate that the proposed antenna has a dual-band spectral response, and the locations of these resonances can be adjusted by varying the geometrical dimensions. To enable further discussions on the physical origin of the dual-band resonance behavior of the structure, we determine the parameter dependence of this nanoparticle-based nanoantenna array. Furthermore, we analyze the field distributions of the structure at the corresponding resonance frequencies. Finally, we show the sensitivity of the resonant behavior to the refractive index and thickness of the dielectric load by embedding the structure in different cladding media. Owing to the dual-band spectral response and enhanced near-field distributions, the proposed resonator nanoantenna array with adjustable spectral responses can be useful for infrared detection applications.


In this paper we consider the Dirac spinor field in interaction with a background of electrodynamics and torsion-gravity; by performing the polar reduction we acquire the possibility to introduce a new set of objects that have the geometrical status of non-vanishing tensors but which seem to contain the same information of the connection: thus they appear to be describing something that seems like an inertial force but which is also essentially covariant. After a general introduction, we exemplify these tensors in the very well known instance of the orbital of minimal energy for an electron in the case of the Hydrogen atom: we will see that the invariants built with these tensors remain different from zero even for free field configurations. An outlook regarding possible interpretations of such a set of tensors will be sketched. A few final comments will eventually be given.


IN ENGLISH Many researchers argue that grit a non-cognitive skill is important for students to perform better academically and to improve their skills. It is also believed that once students have grit, they will be able to overcome their setbacks and cope up with failure, because they believe that they can improve their abilities and succeed. However, being a new scientific study there has been a few studies in this field. The purpose of this thesis is to draw the attention to the importance of grit as a non-cognitive skill that enables students to overcome setbacks and cope with failure. Also, grit enables students to believe in their abilities that they can improve and succeed. This can be considered important for educational policy makers to focus on grit as an equal to cognitive skill, in order to develop grit in students to become high achievers. The data which was collected and analysed from Emirati tertiary level students both male and female in Dubai attempted to give an idea about the level of grit in the Emirati sampleif they are gritty or notand the way they overcome setbacks and failure. The samples in this study are male and female Emirati students studying at a tertiary institution in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). These include students studying at different majors and are at different levels or years of study. The methodology used in this study is mixed methods and is an explanatory sequence, which starts with a quantitative method with an online questionnaire to find if there is a relationship between grit and academic performance in Grade Point Average (GPA). The second part of the methodology is the qualitative method, which uses a semi-structured interview and the approach being narrative. The narrative approach is used to understand the meaning of the participants' experience regarding grit. The findings of this study have slightly the same findings and results to similar studies conducted by Duckworth and other scholars and researchers, which is that there is a relationship between grit and academic performance, where this study focused on students' current GPA. However, the participants of this study are Emirati tertiary level students both male and female studying in different majors and levels and this is the difference with other major studies conducted in this field.


This paper presents a zero-voltage and zero-current soft-switching (ZVZCS) PWM three phase inverter with a single auxiliary resonant commutation cell. All of the main switches in the three-phase inverter side can be turned on and turned off under zero-voltage and zero-current condition. The operating principle of proposed commutation cell is described, and the procedure to determine the optimum circuit parameters from the resonant equations is discussed. The performances of proposed ZVZCS three-phase inverter are discussed from the experimental and simulation points of view


Preston's method of measuring skin friction, which makes use of a Pitot tube resting on the surface, depends upon the assumption of a region of flow similarity, adjacent to the wall, common to fully developed turbulent pipe flow and the turbulent boundary layer. Experiments performed elsewhere have cast considerable doubt on the validity of this assumption, and the present investigation was undertaken to establish whether or not it is justified. Experiments were carried out in a short length of large-diameter pipe which could either form part of a very much longer pipe, giving fully developed turbulent pipe flow, or could be preceded by a conventional contraction and screens, giving a developing turbulent boundary layer. Final results showed that for a given skin friction the Pitot tube reading was the same for both boundary layer and pipe flows, thus vindicating Preston's method and confirming the existence of a universal region of wall similarity. Initial experimental difficulties were found to be due to unexpectedly large circumferential variations in skin friction in the growing boundary layer.


Nitrogen (N) at 100, 200, 300, and 400 kg ha-1 was applied to Tanzania grass swards to evaluate the animal response and relationships between sward characteristics and the performance of young Nellore bulls (Bos indicus) under continuous stocking. A completely randomized experimental design was used with two replications between 11 November 2001 and 15 April 2002 when the sward heights were maintained at 60 cm by using different stocking rates. The average daily gain (ADG) (0.73 kg d-1) was not affected by N doses while the number of animal days ha-1 increased linearly from 515 to 1267. On the other hand, the linear increase in the animal yield was 399, 653, 755, and 895 kg ha-1 for N at 100, 200, 300, and 400 kg ha-1, respectively, while the ratio between the liveweight gain (kg) and N (kg ha-1) decreased. Correlation coefficients between ADG and herbage mass, green leaf mass, green herbage mass, proportion of green leaf and leaf:culm ratio were low and nonsignificant. Under the conditions in Northwestern Parana, the application of N to swards of Tanzania grass is a management option for increasing beef cattle production.


BACKGROUND
Preoperative criteria to establish the need for intensive care unit (ICU) admission after major liver surgery have not been yet precisely defined and are often left to the anesthesiologist's judgment. The ICU bed shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged healthcare systems around the world. We sought to determine its impact on early outcomes of elective major liver surgery.

METHODS
We performed a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients undergoing major oncological liver surgery from a single institution. Two time periods were compared considering a complete ban on ICU beds during the pandemic (index period, from November 2020 to May 2021), and the smoothly running ICU facility before the pandemic (control period, from November 2018 to October 2020). The main outcomes were 30-day morbidity and mortality, length-of-stay, and 30-day readmission rates.

RESULTS
Overall, 57 consecutive patients were identified, of whom 18 (32%) in the index period, and 39 (68%) in the control period, with 24 (62%) patients in the latter group admitted to ICU. No significant differences were found in terms of ASA score, P-POSSUM morbidity and mortality, operative times, and red blood cells transfusions between groups. The morbidity rate, as classified by the Clavien-Dindo system, was also similar. A slightly longer length-of-stay has been observed in the index period (mean difference of 1.12 [95%CI, -9.19;11.42] days; P=0.829) after controlling for age, gender, ASA score, and P-POSSUM. The 30-day readmission rate was comparable between the index and control periods (5.0% vs. 4.8%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS
The ICU bed shortage in response to the COVID-19 emergency did not negatively impact on the early postoperative outcomes of major liver surgery.


PURPOSE
To investigate the antitumor effects of madecassic acid and to investigate the mechanism by which madecassic acid treatment functions in malignancies.

METHODS
Mouse colon CT26 cancer cells injected in mice subcutaneously and intraperitoneally were used to evaluate the tumor growth inhibition by madecassic acid administration. The immunomodulation, cell apoptosis and mitochondrial membrane potential change were evaluated by flow cytometry, cell immunostaining and JC-1 staining, respectively.

RESULTS
Madecassic acid inhibited tumor growth in tumor- bearing mice. CT26 cell apoptosis rate and of the cells from ascites was increased after madecassic acid treatment. Mitochondrial membrane potential in CT26 cells also decreased after madecassic acid treatment. CD4(+) and CD8(+) T- lymphocytes subpopulations increased, while the ratio of CD4(+)/ CD8(+) decreased in after madecassic acid administration.

CONCLUSIONS
Madecassic acid inhibits in vivo CT26 cell-induced tumor growth by facilitating cell apoptosis and increasing immune defense mechanisms.


The aim of this study was to reassess the clinical and radiographic findings in a series of patients with gastric bezoars. Radiology files revealed 19 patients with bezoars; 10 patients had CT and 10 had endoscopy before or after the barium studies. 11 patients (58%) had risk factors for gastroparesis and 6 (32%) had had previous gastric surgery, including 3 having had a gastric bypass or vertical banded gastroplasty. 18 patients (95%) had symptoms; in 10 of those patients, symptoms were present for 1 week or less (53%). On barium studies, the bezoars were round or ovoid in 17 patients (89%) and irregular in 2 (11%); mottled in 10 (53%) and homogeneous in 9 (47%); and mobile in 15 (79%) and immobile in 4 (21%). Gastroparesis was observed at fluoroscopy in 8 (62%) out of 13 patients without gastric surgery. Symptoms improved/resolved in 12 (67%) out of 18 patients. Follow-up CT or endoscopy showed resolution of the bezoars in 8 (80%) out of 10 patients; the mean interval to resolution was 12 days. Our experience suggests that gastroparesis is the single most common cause of bezoars, accounting for the majority of cases. Partial gastric resection or bariatric surgery should also be recognized as a cause of bezoar formation. These lesions may be manifested on barium studies by a spectrum of findings, appearing as mottled or homogeneous, mobile or immobile masses, sometimes filling the gastric pouch after bariatric surgery. Affected individuals often have an acute clinical presentation with symptoms for 1 week or less, and some bezoars resolve rapidly on conservative medical treatment.


The Dixmier-Douady invariant is the primary tool in the classification of continuous trace C∗-algebras. This expository note explores its properties from the perspective of classical algebraic topology. version 4-29-09


houses. etc., which in fact encourage a low level of instrumental role performance in the patients. They believe that on his discharge a patient should be returned to a home where high expectations are held of him, or to some alternative area where equally high expectations are held. They find no evidence that these high expectations correlate with the high rate of readmission to hospital, rather the reverse. They suggest that in what is considered the better type of patient. with high self-expectations and high expectations in the family, severance of contact with the hospital is more desirable than in the reverse type of case. It is on these latter that more money and effort should be expended in the direction of rehabilitating them into areas of high expectation of behaviour.


The effects of photographic negatives on face recognition are often studied in two different ways—faces are learned and tested in photographic negatives (NN) or the contrast is reversed between learning and testing, ie they are learned in positives and tested in negatives (PN) or vice versa (NP). We have examined recognition performance for faces under these three conditions along with a control condition where faces were learned and tested in positives (PP). Using multi-tone face images, we found that the effect of photographic negatives was more pronounced in PN and NP than in NN. No differences were found between PN and NP or between NN and PP. When two-tone face images were used, recognition performance was worse in all conditions, except PP, when compared to the multi-tone counterparts. Our results show that contrast incongruency between learning and testing is the predominant factor affecting performance and that deficits in sensory coding or retention of negative face images are unlikely to be major factors. The advantage of multi-tone over two-tone negatives can be attributed to preserved facial information carried by the high-spatial-frequency components of the image.


ABSTRACT

The purpose of this research is to identify: (1) whether Four Square
Writing Method can improve st ; (2) the class condition when
writing lesson using Four Square Writing Method is carried on.
The method used in this research was classroom action research. The
research was conducted in two cycles at the eleventh grade students of SMAN 1
Ngemplak Boyolali from July to October 2012. There are two techniques of
collecting data: qualitative and quantitative data. The qualitative data were
collected by using observation, questionnaire, interview, and field notes. The
quantitative data were collected by using test (pre-test and post-test). There were
five steps to analyze qualitative data based on Burns. They were assembling the
data, coding the data, comparing the data, building meaning and interpretation,
and reporting the outcome. Meanwhile, the quantitative data were analyzed by
based on ESL Composition Profile of Writing. The result of mean score in pre-test
is compared to the result of mean score in post-test to know the improvement.
The research findings show that Four Square Writing Method could
Related to the
improvement of (1), it includes: (a) The students had fewer difficulties in
exploring ideas to write (b) They also made fewer mistakes in constructing new
sentences using simple present tense (c) Their word choice got richer after the
research (d) They were able to differentiate the generic structure of report text and
use the appropriate word transition (e) They were able to use the appropriate word
order in their sentences. Concerning on the improvement of (2), it comprises: (a)
the students improved their activity and creativity in writing a report text and (b)
the students improved their confidence in writing a report text.
Keywords: writing, four square writing method, classroom action research


For a given sequence α = [α 1 , α 2 , . . . , α N +1 ] of N + 1 positive integers, we consider the combinatorial function E(α)(t) that counts the non-negative integer solutions of the equation α 1 x 1 + α 2 x 2 + · · · + α N x N + α N +1 x N +1 = t, where the right-hand side t is a varying non-negative integer. It is well-known that E(α)(t) is a quasi-polynomial function in the variable t of degree N . In combinatorial number theory this function is known as Sylvester's denumerant. Our main result is a new algorithm that, for every fixed number k, computes in polyno-mial time the highest k + 1 coefficients of the quasi-polynomial E(α)(t) as step polynomials of t (a simpler and more explicit representation). Our algorithm is a consequence of a nice poset structure on the poles of the associated rational generating function for E(α)(t) and the geometric reinterpretation of some rational generating functions in terms of lattice points in polyhedral cones. Our algorithm also uses Barvinok's fundamental fast decomposition of a polyhedral cone into unimodular cones. This paper also presents a simple algorithm to predict the first non-constant coefficient and concludes with a report of several compu-tational experiments using an implementation of our algorithm in LattE integrale. We compare it with various Maple programs for partial or full computation of the denumerant.


The results of the study on optimization of the process of nisin isolation from the cultural liquid are presented. Different adsorbents, streptococcal cells, medium solid particles (biomass fermentalysates) and silica gel, were used for antibiotic adsorption.


The electrodeposition of Ni-Mo-W alloys and composites with TiO2 are examined with a rotating Hull cell to better understand the influence of the particle on the deposition composition and morphology. The addition of the TiO2 particle to the electrolyte and deposit, significantly affected the deposit composition when the electrolyte temperature was 650C. Both Ni and Mo composition in the deposit was enhanced, but not due to higher reaction rates. The enhancement was a result of an apparent inhibition by the hydrogen evolving side reaction. The W partial current density was most significantly inhibited. The deposit morphology changed with the addition of TiO2 with a reduction of microcracks compared to the particle-free deposit. The results suggest that the adsorption of the hydrogen intermediate from the side reaction is influenced by the particle, hindering hydrogen desorption, and indirectly affects the partial current densities of the nickel, molybdate and tungstate ion reduction and the morphology.


The goal of this study was to examine the social influence on music liking with respect to individual musical taste. To measure musical taste, participants (N = 95, mean age 20.4 years) filled in the STOMP scale. They were then asked individually to listen to 16 musical excerpts from different genres using a computer program and rate how much they liked them. They were divided into three groups that were shown different information about other participants' ratings of the same excerpts. The first group was shown ratings allegedly based on others' positive judgments, the second group was shown ratings allegedly based on others' negative judgments, and the third group was given no information. The results showed that the participants' ratings were susceptible to social influence, i.e., they conformed towards the shown group norm. As expected, musical taste was related to the ratings of the music excerpts, but did not moderate the effect of social influence. Thus, the results show that social comparison, which has been confirmed by research in various areas of human judgment, also exists in rating music.


The EU has gradually developed during the past years, various mechanisms to prevent the spread of the crisis. The article briefly presents the many mechanisms used to establish economic governance and analyzes the impact of these on the institutional balance.


To determine which parameters are useful for the risk assessment of man-made mineral fibers (MMMFs), we examined the gene expression of interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS) in mineral fiber-exposed alveolar macrophages (AMs). Male Wistar rats were intratracheally exposed to saline or mineral fibers suspended in saline (2 mg of crocidolite, chrysotile, alumina silicate refractory fiber (RF1) or potassium octatitanate whisker (TW)). Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed 4 weeks after the fiber-instillation, and the recovered AMs were stimulated by lipopolysaccharide for 2 or 6 hours. Expression of IL-1 alpha, TNF alpha, IL-6 and iNOS from AMs was observed using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The levels of IL-1 alpha and IL-6 mRNA induced by mineral fiber exposure were greatest in AMs exposed to TW, crocidolite, chrysotile and RF1 in that order. However, both gene expression of iNOS and TNF alpha were not elevated in both crocidolite and TW exposure, despite their high pathological potential. These data suggested that IL-1 alpha and IL-6 may be useful indicators for the risk assessment of MMMFs.


The terminal steps in the biosynthesis of the monoterpenoid indole alkaloids vindoline and minovincinine are catalyzed by separate acetyl coenzyme A-dependent O-acetyltransferases in Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus G. Don). Two genes were isolated that had 63% nucleic acid identity and whose deduced amino acid sequences were 78% identical. Active enzymes that were expressed as recombinant His-tagged proteins in Escherichia coli were named minovincinine-19-O-acetyltransferase (MAT) and deacetylvindoline-4-O-acetyltransferase (DAT) because they catalyzed the 19-O-acetylation of indole alkaloids such as minovincinine and hörhammericine and the 4-O-acetylation of deacetylvindoline, respectively. Kinetic studies showed that the catalytic efficiency of recombinant MAT (rMAT) was very poor compared with that of recombinant DAT (rDAT), whose turnover rates for Acetyl-coenzyme A and deacetylvindoline were approximately 240- and 10,000-fold greater than those of rMAT. Northern-blot analyses showed that MAT is expressed in cortical cells of the root tip, whereas DAT is only expressed in specialized idioblast and laticifer cells within light exposed tissues like leaves and stems. The coincident expression of trytophan decarboxylase, strictosidine synthase, and MAT within root cortical cells suggests that the entire pathway for the biosynthesis of tabersonine and its substituted analogs occurs within these cells. The ability of MAT to catalyze the 4-O-acetylation of deacetylvindoline with low efficiency suggests that this enzyme, rather than DAT, is involved in vindoline biosynthesis within transformed cell and root cultures, which accumulate low levels of this alkaloid under certain circumstances.


Leptospires are naturally aquatic organisms and are found in fresh water, damp soil, vegetation, and mud. Flooding may spread the organism because, as water saturates the soil, leptospires pass directly into surface waters. [1] The principal source of human infection is the rat but other sources include dogs, cattle, pigs, and other wild animals. Infected animals carry the bacteria in their kidneys, often without becoming unwell. They can excrete leptospires in their urine for some time. The spirochaetes are shed from the urine and can survive in the environment for several months in moist, warm conditions. Disease is acquired through contact with contaminated water or soil, or through contact with urine or tissues of infected animals. They enter the bloodstream through abraded skin or the mucosa from contaminated water or soil. Water-borne transmission has also been documented. Infection occurs as two syndromes: anicteric (which is self-limiting) and icteric leptospirosis (Weil's disease).


A class of discrete-state probabilistic models is discussed that allow for the separate assessment of the effects of both self-regulatory processes, including predispositions, and interactive processes on the complementary, reciprocal, and reinforcing tendencies of observable responses. In most of these models, the two responses made at Time t + 1 by members of an interacting dyad are statistically independent, given the pair of responses made at Time t. For each model, estimable parameters are denned in terms of state transition probabilities and are labeled, for the most part, as measures of bias or of sensitivity to previous own and other behavior. The models are applied to data collected by other researchers on the self-fulfilling nature of social stereotypes, on aggression in a natural setting, and on parent-infant interactions, and the resulting parameter estimates are discussed. Possible applications of the models for as sessing the effects of small group interaction are also mentioned.


Sepsis is a serious global health problem. In addition to a high incidence, this syndrome has a high mortality and is responsible for huge health expenditure. The pathophysiology of sepsis is very complex and it is not well-understood yet. However, it is widely accepted that the initial phase of sepsis is characterized by a hyperinflammatory response while the late phase is characterized by immunosuppression and immune anergy, increasing the risk of secondary infections. Granzymes (Gzms) are a family of serine proteases classified according to their cleavage specificity. Traditionally, it was assumed that all Gzms acted as cytotoxic proteases. However, recent evidence suggests that GzmB is the one with the greatest cytotoxic capacity, while the cytotoxicity of others such as GzmA and GzmK is not clear. Recent studies have found that GzmA, GzmB, GzmK, and GzmM act as pro-inflammatory mediators. Specially, solid evidences show that GzmA and GzmK function as extracellular proteases that regulate the inflammatory response irrespectively of its ability to induce cell death. Indeed, studies in animal models indicate that GzmA is involved in the cytokine release syndrome characteristic of sepsis. Moreover, the GZM family also could regulate other biological processes involved in sepsis pathophysiology like the coagulation cascade, platelet function, endothelial barrier permeability, and, in addition, could be involved in the immunosuppressive stage of sepsis. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview on the contribution of these novel functions of Gzms to sepsis and the new therapeutic opportunities emerging from targeting these proteases for the treatment of this serious health problem.


Two experiments simulated identification of suspects from CCTV recordings: Expt 1 simulated identification from whole body shots while Expt 2 showed close-up pictures of targets' faces. The results are consistent with those of Bruce el al. (1999) and Kemp, Towell, and Pike (1997) in showing surprisingly high rates of error in person identification from CCTV material. In Expt 1, participants (N = 80) searched for a suspicious incident in a 25-minute surveillance film which was shown either in colour or monochrome. They then attempted to describe and identify the persons involved. Accuracy of identification was just 15% from memory with a 60% false alarm rate. When judgments were made with access to a still frame image of the target, accuracy rose to 30%, with a 65% false alarm rate. Colour did not improve identification, but did prompt more description of the targets' clothing. In Expt 2, participants (N = 80) observed video-clips which included close-up pictures, of four targets before identifying each in target present or absent arrays. Identification errors were lower on this occasion, averaging 21% when judgements were made from memory and 13% with continuous reference to the recording. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.


Robots are equipped with an increasingly wide array of sensors in order to enable advanced sensorimotor capabilities. However, the efficient exploitation of the resulting data streams remains an open problem. We present a framework for learning when and where to attend in a sensorimotor stream in order to estimate specific task properties, such as the mass of an object. We also identify the qualitative similarity of this ability between simulation and robotic system. The framework is evaluated for a non-prehensile "topple-and-slide" task, where the data from a set of sensorimotor streams are used to predict the task property, such as object mass, friction coefficient, and compliance of the block being manipulated. Given the collected data streams for situations where the block properties are known, the method combines the use of variance-based feature selection and partial least-squares estimation in order to build a robust predictive model for the block properties. This model can then be used to make accurate predictions during a new manipulation. We demonstrate results for both simulation and robotic system using up to 110 sensorimotor data streams, which include joint torques, wrist forces/torques, and tactile information. The results show that task properties such as object mass, friction coefficient and compliance can be estimated with good accuracy from the sensorimotor streams observed during a manipulation.


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Blood flow within the middle cerebral artery can be monitored by transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonography. Arterial stenosis can produce turbulent flow, but controversy remains regarding the degree of stenosis needed to cause TCD-detectable turbulence. Furthermore, cerebral emboli and turbulent flow may coexist in the same patient. The current study was designed to study the relationship between stenotic degree and TCD-detectable turbulent flow and its differentiation from cerebral emboli.

METHODS
A stenotic middle cerebral artery model was constructed to allow the study of different degrees of stenosis. TCD was used to detect the turbulent flow and embolic materials in the circulation model, and signal intensities were analyzed.

RESULTS
Turbulent flow was generated with a series of short, asymmetric stenoses in this test. Transition of turbulence from laminar flow began to occur at a moderate degree of stenosis (55% reduction of cross-sectional area) but became dampened at the high degrees of stenoses (>/=75%). Turbulence caused a notable increase in average Doppler signal intensity. However, the degree of stenosis was not associated with signal intensity at the region where turbulence existed, but rather was related to the mean flow velocity measured at the narrowed region. Embolic materials such as air bubbles (30 micro m) and platelet-rich clots (100 micro m) had notably higher Doppler signal intensity than that produced by turbulence.

CONCLUSION
TCD-detectable turbulence predominantly developed at a moderate arterial stenosis and its acoustic signature with TCD is different from that caused by air bubbles and platelet-rich clots.


This article describes screening of fine granular materials, including minerals. The first part of the study presents a description of screening and an analysis of resulting conclusions. The second part describes screens that have been developed in Lodz Technical University labs. From a number of screens only three have been chosen and described in this article. Additionally, results of some pilot-plant-scale tests involving these screens made at Lodz Technical University are discussed. Experimental tests covered first motion of the sieves, and then the process of screening on these sieves. Results are presented both in a graphic form as diagrams and in the analytical form as correlations.


Hysteresis poses a challenge for control of smart actuators. A fundamental approach to hysteresis control is inverse compensation. For practical implementation, it is desirable for the input function generated via inversion to have regularity properties stronger than continuity. In this paper, we consider the problem of constructing right inverses for the Preisach model for hysteresis. Under mild conditions on the density function, we show the existence and weak-star continuity of the right-inverse, when the Preisach operator is considered to act on Holder continuous functions. Next, we introduce the concept of regularization to study the properties of approximate inverse schemes for the Preisach operator. Then, we present the fixed point and closest-match algorithms for approximately inverting the Preisach operator. The convergence and continuity properties of these two numerical schemes are studied. Finally, we present the results of an open-loop trajectory tracking experiment for a magnetostrictive actuator.


In this Letter we report on room temperature continuous wave laser operation in the red (639 nm, (3)P(0)→(3)F(2)) and orange (604 nm, (3)P(0)→(3)H(6)) spectral regions of Pr(3+)-doped LiYF(4) planar waveguides fabricated by liquid phase epitaxy. Output powers of 25 and 12 mW and slope efficiencies of 5% and 6% were achieved at 639 and 604 nm, respectively, by pumping with an optically pumped semiconductor laser operating at 479.2 nm.


ii ABSTRACT Most eukaryotic genes undergo splicing to remove introns and join exons sequentially to produce protein-coding or non-coding transcripts. Post-transcriptional Exon Shuffling (PTES) describes a new class of RNA molecules, characterized by exon order different from the underlying genomic context. PTES can result in linear and circular RNA (circRNA) molecules and enhance the complexity of transcriptomes. Prior to my studies, I developed PTESFinder, a computational tool for PTES identification from high-throughput RNAseq data. As various sources of artefacts (including pseudogenes, template-switching and others) can confound PTES identification, I first assessed the effectiveness of filters within PTESFinder devised to systematically exclude artefacts. When compared to 4 published methods, PTESFinder achieves the highest specificity (~0.99) and comparable sensitivity (~0.85). To define sub-cellular distribution of PTES, I performed in silico analyses of data from various cellular compartments and revealed diverse populations of PTES in nuclei and enrichment in cytosol of various cell lines. Identification of PTES from chromatin-associated RNAseq data and an assessment of co-transcriptional splicing, established that PTES may occur during transcription. To assess if PTES contribute to the proteome, I analyzed sucrose-gradient fractionated data from HEK293, treated with arsenite to induce translational arrest and dislodge ribosomes. My results showed no effect of arsenite treatment on ribosome occupancy within PTES transcripts, indicating that these transcripts are not generally bound by polysomes and do not contribute to the proteome. To investigate the impact of differential degradation on expression levels of linear and circRNAs, I analyzed the PTES population within RNAseq data of anucleate cells and established that most PTES transcripts are circular and are enriched in platelets 17-to-188-fold relative to nucleated tissues. For some genes, only reads from circRNA exons were detectable, suggesting that platelets have lost >90% of their progenitor mRNAs, consistent with timedependent degradation of platelets transcriptomes. However, some circRNAs exhibit read density patterns suggestive of miRNA induced degradation. Finally, a linear PTES from RMST locus has been implicated in pluripotency maintenance using limited RNAseq data from human embryonic stem cells (hESC). To identify other PTES transcripts with similar expression patterns, I analyzed RNAseq data from H9 ESC differentiation series. Statistical analyses of PTES transcripts identified during cellular differentiation established that PTES expression changes track with that of cognate linear transcripts and accumulate upon differentiation. Contrary to previous reports, the dominant transcript from RMST is circular and increases in abundance during differentiation. Functional


For American politicians, big government is a perennial issue. Scholars, however, have neglected it. In fact, systematic knowledge about the causes of government growth in the United States is virtually absent. Here we first formulate a "hybrid" model of government growth, borrowing from popular theories of public policy. Then, we estimate the model using annual time series data, 1932-80. In general, government size in the United States is viewed as a function of group demands, elite preferences, and mass support. In particular, government in the United States seems to have expanded in response to the influences of national defense commitment, foreign trade, economic hardship, demographic change, Democratic politicians, and a risk-aversive public. Of these influences, the international ones appear especially important. Overall, the ensemble of variables manages to predict the pattern of government growth in twentieth-century America quite well.


Results The degree of concentration has been estimated by counting the number of parasites seen, under the 1/12 objective, in an equal number of fields, usually 100, in both the plain and the concentrated films. In the last 22 positive bloods the average degree of concentration has been x 15.8-mace up of 426 parasites in the plain, as against 6.718 in the concentrated films. The concentration has varied from x 5 to x 56. Eleven of these lay between x 10 and x 24; others were x 5, x 6 (twice), and x 9. There were also specimens with x 56, x 50, x 35, and x 33 concentration. In a total of 52 positive bloods examined 5 were positive in the concentrated films only. These figures would seem to compare favourably with those obtained in the thick-smear method. Schuffner granules do not appear to stain well in the concentrated preparations made by me. Since the technique was evolved only two cases of falciparum infection have been concentrated. The first was diagnosed as an M.T. infection on a thin smear provided on July 20, 1945; the hospital was informed by telephone and warned to apply intensive therapy, as a heavy infection with trophozoites was present. The patient had the following treatment:


Background Proficiency testing (PT) is part of a comprehensive quality assurance programme, which is critical to ensuring patients receive accurate and reliable diagnostic testing. Implementation of the Cepheid Xpert® MTB/RIF assay to aid in the diagnosis of tuberculosis has expanded rapidly in recent years; however, PT material for Xpert MTB/RIF is not readily available in many resource-limited settings. Objective To develop an accurate and precise PT material based on the dried tube specimen (DTS) method, using supplies and reagents available in most tuberculosis culture laboratories. Methods Dried tube specimens were produced at the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 2013 to 2015 by inactivating liquid cultures of well-characterised mycobacterial strains. Ten percent of DTS produced were tested with Xpert MTB/RIF and evaluated for accuracy and precision. Results Validation testing across eight rounds of PT demonstrated that DTS are highly accurate, achieving an average of 96.8% concordance with the Xpert MTB/RIF results from the original mycobacterial strains. Dried tube specimen testing was also precise, with cycle threshold standard deviations below two cycles when inherent test cartridge variability was low. Conclusion Dried tube specimens can be produced using equipment already present in tuberculosis culture laboratories, making Xpert MTB/RIF PT scale-up more feasible in resource-limited settings. Use of DTS may fill the gap in tuberculosis laboratory access to external quality assessment, which is an essential component of a comprehensive continuous quality improvement programme.


A quantitative method for the study of the kinetics of immune hemolysis is described. In the presence of excess C' and limited amounts of antibody the kinetics of hemolysis resemble those of enzymatic processes. Assays of hemolytic antibody should therefore be based on velocity measurements rather than end point titrations.


OBJECTIVES
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a complex syndrome whose hallmark features are chronic widespread pain, sleep disturbances, fatigue and cognitive dysfunctions. However, it is still difficult to apply validated diagnostic criteria. The aim of this study is to examine the accuracy of a previous diagnosis/diagnostic hypothesis of FM according to the 2016 ACR diagnostic criteria.

METHODS
All of the patients newly referred to a private rheumatological clinic with the specific request for a consultation because if FM over an 18-month period were evaluated by means of a standardised protocol in order to determine whether they fulfilled the 2016 ACR diagnostic criteria for FM. They were initially divided into three groups: those with a previous diagnosis of FM (group 1), those with a physician's diagnostic hypothesis of FM (group 2) and those who personally hypothesised FM (group 3). They were subsequently classified as having FM, IFM (borderline scores) or not having FM (non-FM) on the basis of the 2016 ACR diagnostic criteria.

RESULTS
The study involved 216 patients (25 males and 191 females): 112 in group 1, 49 in group 2, and 55 in group 3. Only 89 patients (41.2%) fulfilled the ACR criteria; 42 (19.44%) met the study protocol-defined scores for IFM; and 85 (39.35%) were diagnosed as not having FM. Only 50% of the patients with a previous diagnosis of FM fulfilled the ACR criteria, and just under 25% did not have FM. Almost 50% of the patients with a physician's diagnostic hypotheses of FM did not have FM, whereas 20% of the patients who personally hypothesised FM fulfilled the ACR criteria. GP scores and TPCs were significantly different (FM > IFM, FM > non-FM, and IFM > non-FM) as were WPI, SSS and PSD scores for FM > IFM group. Rheumatologists made the previous diagnosis in 92.85% of patients, 53.84% of whom met the ACR criteria and about 20% did not have FM; and as many as 37.5% of the patients with a previous diagnosis made by a non-rheumatologist did not have FM. The non-FM patients were given 84 alternative diagnoses, 78.5% of which referred to rheumatic diseases. One hundred and thirty-one patients had 86 closely pain-related co-morbidities, 94.1% of which were rheumatic diseases.

CONCLUSIONS
Our findings confirm the inaccuracy of FM diagnoses and highlights the possibility that in everyday clinical practice, they are not always made with reference to very specific criteria and that there is a high risk of classifying non-FM patients as having FM. They also underline the importance of an accurate differential diagnosis. Separately classifying as IFM those patients who do not meet the ACR criteria, but have clinical findings indicating FM, may help to prevent their exclusion from specific treatment(s).


This work introduces a new space of 'vertex-smooth' states for use in the loop approach to quantum gravity. Such states provide a natural domain for Euclidean Hamiltonian constraint operators of the type introduced by Thiemann (and using certain ideas of Rovelli and Smolin). In particular, such operators map into itself, and so are actual operators in this space. Their commutator can be computed on and compared with the classical hypersurface deformation algebra. Although the classical Poisson bracket of Hamiltonian constraints yields an inverse metric times an infinitesimal diffeomorphism generator, and despite the fact that the diffeomorphism generator has a well-defined nontrivial action on , the commutator of quantum constraints vanishes identically for a large class of proposals.


Pneumocystitis may cause fatal pneumonia in premature, seriously ill infants at intensive care units. The present study evaluated the routine treatment applied at Sohag pediatrics department for neonatal and infantile pneumonia (in NICU & PICU) on PCP and to compare between the stained slides and real time-PCR in diagnosing Pneumocystis jirovecii. Sucked sputum from 21 pneumonic infants was collected, some for Giemsa stain and microscopic examination and the rest for PCR. The same procedure was done after regression of the symptoms and before release from the units. Serum samples were also collected on admission and discharge for CRP readings which was also used as an indicative of the healing process. Out of 21 pneumonic neonates and infants examined, 12 (57.1%) showed P. jirovecii in sputum samples with a significant difference between both groups (p=0.2). 10 of them (83.3%) became negative for P. jirovecii under the routine regimen of treatment. Also 2 cases were infected with microspora, both improved at the end of treatment. While real time PCR was negative in all cases pre and post treatment. CRP levels regressed after treatment in all cases except 2 as one showed post treatment P. jirovecii in the sputum.


We present the INTREPID web server for predicting functionally important residues in proteins. INTREPID has been shown to boost the recall and precision of catalytic residue prediction over other sequence-based methods and can be used to identify other types of functional residues. The web server takes an input protein sequence, gathers homologs, constructs a multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic tree and finally runs the INTREPID method to assign a score to each position. Residues predicted to be functionally important are displayed on homologous 3D structures (where available), highlighting spatial patterns of conservation at various significance thresholds. The INTREPID web server is available at http://phylogenomics.berkeley.edu/intrepid.


Abstract : The US dependence on space has continued to grow in military, intelligence, and commercial circles, and the market for space services has grown commensurate with this demand; the world community, to include both our allies and potential adversaries, has noted this dependence. Due to US interest in the services provided by satellites, various initiatives to protect space systems have been given significant attention over the past decade, but have lacked a consistent vision and have not always fared well when competing for limited budget resources. This paper will briefly discuss the threat posed to US space systems, review stakeholder equities, explore the schools of thought regarding defense of space assets, pose possible solutions, and culminate in a recommendation for a way ahead to protect US space equities. The 2001 Report of the Commission to Assess United States National Security Space Management and Organization stated that the United States is an attractive candidate for a Space Pearl Harbor, and cited several vulnerabilities, to include satellite malfunctions, ground station equipment failures, hackers, and the threat posed by Chinese anti-satellite efforts. Nine years later in 2010, the National Space Policy of the United States of America (NSP) reiterated several principles seen in the 2006 NSP, including one which states that the United States will employ a variety of measures to help assure the use of space for all responsible parties, and deter others from interference and attack. While certainly an important goal, this is a complex and multi-faceted task with several hurdles impeding its realization, including assignment of a party responsible for space protection and surveillance, establishment of a US strategy for space control, and development of a comprehensive operational space picture that provides sufficient granularity to deter or respond to an attack.


Background Lesinurad is a novel URAT1 inhibitor that has been well tolerated in humans, with dose-dependent reductions of serum urate (sUA). In vitro experiments and in vivo human absorption, metabolism, and mass balance (AME) studies indicated that hepatic metabolism, renal excretion, and biliary uptake all contributed to the elimination of lesinurad. Drug-drug interaction (DDI) studies with drugs commonly used by gout patients have been conducted. Projections of DDI potential with drugs in different therapeutic areas have also been generated using established preclinical models. Objectives To evaluate the potential inhibitory effect of lesinurad upon initiation of lesinurad once daily dosing or the potential induction effect of lesinurad following multiple doses of lesinurad on pharmacokinetic (PK) of commonly used drugs such as atorvastatin (OATP1B1 and CYP3A), tolbutamide (CYP2C9 and CYP3A), repaglinide (CYP2C8 and CYP3A), or amlodipine (CYP3A) in healthy subjects, as well as PK and sUA lowering of febuxostat (FBX; CYP2C9) or oxypurinol (URAT1), the active metabolite of allopurinol (ALLO), following once daily (qd) dosing of lesinurad in gout patients with hyperuricemia. Methods A total of 70 healthy subject volunteers were enrolled across 4 DDI studies with drugs commonly used by gout patients including atorvastatin (N=28), tolbutamide (N=14), repaglinide (N=14), and amlodipine (N=14), given with concurrent administration of first dose or qd doses of lesinurad ranging between 200 and 400 mg. Full PK profiles of these drugs were obtained without coadministration with lesinurad, following first dose, or following at least 10 days of qd doses of lesinurad. A total of 41 gout patients were enrolled across 2 multiple-dose DDI studies with FBX and ALLO. In the ALLO DDI study, patients were administered ALLO 300 mg qd in week 1, a combination of ALLO and lesinurad 400 or 600 mg in week 2, then lesinurad alone in week 3. In the FBX DDI study, patients received FBX 40 or 80 mg qd in week 1, a combination of FBX and lesinurad 400 mg and 600 mg in week 2 and week 3, respectively. Results In healthy subjects, lesinurad showed minimal inhibitory effects (10-30%) on plasma exposure of atorvastatin, tolbutamide and repaglinide upon first dose of 400 mg lesinurad, the highest dose planned for Phase 3 evaluations. Following 400 mg qd doses of lesinurad, plasma exposure of tolbutamide and repaglinide were unaffected, while plasma exposure of atorvastatin, and amlodipine were minimally decreased. In gout patients, although co-administration of lesinurad 400 mg resulted in 26% decrease in oxypurinol plasma exposure, additive reduction in sUA was observed. Coadminstration of lesinurad 400 mg resulted in minimal (<20%) increases in FBX plasma exposure, and synergistic reductions in sUA. Neither allopurinol nor FBX had any effect on the PK of lesinurad. Preclinical DDI modeling of the most commonly used drugs by gout patients identified few potential interactions Conclusions Potential drug-drug interactions are limited to mild reductions in oxypurinol (expected due to URAT1 activity) and mild induction of CYP3A4 at the doses being evaluated in Phase 3. No clinically meaningful drug interactions are anticipated with lesinurad Disclosure of Interest L.-T. Yeh Employee of: Ardea Biosciences, Z. Shen Employee of: Ardea Biosciences, B. Kerr Consultant for: Ardea Biosciences, D. Wilson Employee of: Ardea Biosciences, C. Yang Employee of: Ardea Biosciences, S. Squier Consultant for: Ardea Biosciences, V. Hingorani Consultant for: Ardea Biosciences, D. Hagerty Employee of: Ardea Biosciences, K. Manhard Employee of: Ardea Biosciences, B. Quart Employee of: Ardea Biosciences


Section 203 (e) of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended (40 U.S.C., sec. 484 (e)), is amended by striking out "June 30, 1953" and inserting in lieu thereof "June 30, 1954."


An attempt has been made to interpret the entropy of adsorption of benzene, toluene and n-heptane on mercury. These investigations have indicated with fair accuracy the amount of translational and rotational freedom possessed by the substances on the surface of mercury. The most striking result was obtained with benzene, where by denying all rotation except in the plane of the ring and denying the third degree of translational freedom, the calculated entropy of adsorption agreed closely with the experimental value. The surface mobility of toluene was found to be considerably hindered, and the entropy of adsorption of n-heptane confirmed the view that the molecules were partially rolled up. An attempt has been made to derive the theoretical heat of adsorption of benzene from various relations for the attractive and repulsive potentials for the van der Waals forces near a metal surface. The values obtained were of the same magnitude as the experimental value. The calculations gave some evidence of the ranges of intermolecular distance over which the different equations for the attractive potential were accurate.


ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the antileishmanial effects of topical liposomal paromomycin sulfate (PM) in Leishmania major-infected BALB/c mice. Liposomes containing 10 or 15% PM (Lip-PM-10 and Lip-PM-15, respectively) were prepared by the fusion method and were characterized for their size and encapsulation efficiency. The penetration of PM from the liposomal PM formulations (LPMFs) through and into skin was evaluated in vitro with Franz diffusion cells fitted with mouse skin at 37°C for 8 h. The in vitro permeation data showed that almost 15% of the LPMFs applied penetrated the mouse skin, and the amount retained in the skin was about 60% for both formulations. The 50% effective doses of Lip-PM-10 and Lip-PM-15 against L. major promastigotes in culture were 65.32 and 59.73 μg/ml, respectively, and those against L. major amastigotes in macrophages were 24.64 and 26.44 μg/ml, respectively. Lip-PM-10 or Lip-PM-15 was used topically twice a day for 4 weeks to treat L. major lesions on BALB/c mice, and the results showed a significantly (P < 0.001) smaller lesion size in the mice in the treated groups than in the mice in the control group, which received either empty liposomes or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Eight weeks after the beginning of the treatment, every mouse treated with LPMFs was completely cured. The spleen parasite burden was significantly (P < 0.001) lower in mice treated with Lip-PM-10 or Lip-PM-15 than in mice treated with PBS or control liposomes, but no significant difference was seen between the two groups treated with either Lip-PM-10 or Lip-PM-15. The results suggest that topical liposomal PM may be useful for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.


A subject with a septal perforation was studied rhinometrically to confirm that the congested choana did not limit airflow when the anterior nose was decongested. It did not. This suggests that in an undefined proportion of patients with swollen diseased mucosa, surgery to the anterior nose may be sufficient to relieve nasal obstruction.


The works on the developments of the numerical scheme for multi-phase flows in porous media and the adaptive mesh refinement in numerical simulations of heavy oil thermal recovery by steam injection are introduced. First, a finite analytic method was developed to deal with a challenging problem in numerical simulations in the case of strong geological heterogeneity, which cause the upscaling permeability to have a rapid change cross the grid interfaces and therefore the nodal flow effects will lead the flow fingering to the high permeability region. With the traditional numerical scheme, refining the coarse grid enough is the only manner to describe the flow pattern accurately. Second, for the incompressible two-phase flows, a numerical scheme, which could avoid the grid orientation effects efficiently, was proposed. Next, the adaptive mesh refinement technique was applied to the numerical simulations for the processes of thermal recovery by steam injection, where the different heterogeneous cases of the reservoir were considered, like the reservoir with the permeability variations, the different rock-types, the fractured porous media, the complex faulted reservoir or complex boundary reservoirs. The proposed AMR technique is fast and can give good accuracy. At last, on the basis of above theoretical research, a software package for the reservoir simulations, where the AMR technique was included, was developed.


HN Healthy Meals to U, a new comer in Malaysia health food industry, the company providing healthy food delivered directly to customers located in Klang Valley, was facing difficulty in retaining sales within the market. As a start-up company, HN Healthy Meals to U had to face a number of barriers to entering the healthy food market also consumers' behaviour toward healthy food. Top management of HN Healthy Meals to U was very concerned whether the company would be able to meet the sales target. Increasing pressure in market competition had made HN Healthy Meals to U struggle to secure profits. This had forced HN Healthy Meals to U to undergo a series of aggressive activities in response to stiff healthy food market conditions, which most of it involve promotion in marketing expenses. A market survey was conducted in 2009. Survey result revealed a significant increase in healthy food market. From the study, the root causes of sales problem encountered by HN Healthy Meals to U could be summarized into following: a) Lack of marketing development and opportunity for advancement, b) Lack of healthy lifestyle promotion, c) Uncompetitive sales system, d) Lack of recognition and appreciation of customers, and e) Dysfunctional performance marketing system. Marketing Mix program is suggested as a short-term solution for HN Healthy Meals to U. 4P's is one of program that can targeted to solve sales problem that is due to uncompetitive marketing system, lack of promotion and appreciation of customers, as well as dysfunctional performance marketing system. As a long-term solution, the company is highly recommended to develop second strategy for the marketing development of its customers. Marketing strategy is recommended to solve sales problem due to lack of market development and opportunity for advancement, as well as lack in consumer's awareness of healthy lifestyle. Marketing Mix is an ongoing process. Four key components: the product availability, promotion, pricing and placement must be committed to the success of this process to ensure mutual benefits for all parties.


In this study adiffusion based mathematical model was developed to compare the performance of amine-grafted adsorbents with that of 13X zeolite in a fixed-bed adsorption tower which is used to capture CO 2 from both humid and dry nitrogen stream under industrial conditions. The results show that the performance of amine-grafted adsorbent and 13X zeolite is almost the same in the dry conditions. However, amine grafted adsorbents show better outcome when the gas stream is humid. Using amine-grafted adsorbents can reduce the expenses as a result of eliminating the pre-drying unit. Also the results of this simulation indicate that the economical breakthrough time is less than 30 minutes. This breakthrough time indicates that traditional TSA (Thermal Swing Adsorption) processes are uneconomical for regeneration of the adsorbents. Thus, a modified version of TSA process with lower regeneration time, i.e. RTSA (Rapid Thermal Swing Adsorption), must be employed for this case.


Most patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) were diagnosed in advanced stage and the prognosis is poor. Therefore, early detection and prevention of CRC are very important. As with other cancers, there is also the tertiary prevention for CRC. The primary prevention is etiological prevention, which is mainly the treatment of adenoma or inflammation for preventing the development into cancer. The secondary prevention is the early diagnosis and early treatment for avoiding progressing to advanced cancer. The tertiary prevention belongs to the broad category of prevention, mainly for advanced CRC, through surgical treatment and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy for preventing tumor recurrence or metastasis. This consensus is based on the recent domestic and international consensus guidelines and the latest progress of international researches in the past five years. This consensus opinion seminar was hosted by the Chinese Society of Gastroenterology and Cancer Collaboration Group of Chinese Society of Gastroenterology, and was organized by the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology & Shanghai Institute of Digestive Disease, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University. The consensus opinion contains 60 statement clauses, the standard and basis of the evidence‐based medicine grade and voting grade of the statement strictly complied with the relevant international regulations and practice.


Recently, due to the application of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and small molecule inhibitor, the survival of acute leukemia is prolonged. However, the 5 year survival rate remains low due to a high incidence of relapse. Immunotherapy is expected to improve the prognosis of patients with relapsed or refractory hematological malignancies because it does not rely on the cytotoxic mechanisms of conventional therapy. In this paper, the advances of immunotherapy in acute leukemia are reviewed from the aspects of Antibody including Unconjugated antibodies, Antibody-drug conjugate and Bispecific antibody, Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CARs), Immune checkpoint, Natural killer cells. The immunological features, mechanisms and limitation in clinic will be described.


This October 2020 issue contains five technical papers, the third paper of our education series, as well as three editorial notes.


A nonlinear navigation filter for biomimetic robot using analytic approximation of mean and covariance of state variable is proposed. The approximations are performed at the time update step in the filter structure. The mean is approximated to the 3rd order of Taylor"s series expansion of true mean and the covariance is approximated to the 3rd order either. The famous EKF is a nonlinear filtering method approximating the mean to 1st order and the covariance to the 3rd order. The UKF approximate them to the higher orders by numerical method. The proposed method derived a analytical approximation of them for navigation system and therefore don"t need so called sigma point transformation in UKF. The simulation results show that the proposed method can be a good alternative of UKF in the systems which require less computational burden.


Several major European countries, such as France and Germany, have included CPO in the list of non-environmentally friendly products. Some countries impose additional import duties because CPO is considered as damaging as alcohol. This research is descriptive and uses a normative juridical approach. There are several demands put forward by the European Union for palm oil entering its territory, these demands include the importation of palm oil, either for food or for industrial purposes. Hence, the European Union requires sustainable palm oil production. Besides, the European Union believes that the use of palm oil for fuel production will endanger the sustainability of other foodstuffs, especially for the poor. The European Union's accusation of environmental threats is considered impure as environmental protection. Many argue that the accusation is only a political step by the European Union in anticipating the development of exports of Indonesian CPO products to Europe.


In this paper we examined the continuous motions of a near-Earth neutral line during the recovery phase of the 5 October 2000 substorm. Estimation was based on the PSBL ion beam model proposed by Onsager (1991) and the Geotail observations. Estimated distances from the Earth ranged from 20 to 60 R E and retreated tailward at velocities of 250 and 300 km/s. This event initiated with the arrival of solar wind discontinuity. Simultaneous observations of electromagnetic field and electrons indicate the existence of earthward propagating waves associated with field-aligned currents. Based on these observations, we suggest that the source of the PSBL ion beams was the retreating near-Earth neutral line formed by the compression of the magnetosphere. Two scenarios of near-Earth neutral line motion in the tail dynamics are also proposed. One is the formation of plural neutral lines to create a long plasmoid. The other is the oscillation of one neutral line between the near-Earth region and the mid-tail stagnant plasmoid.


This study aims to investigate the performances of widely used anode materials in the treatment of intermediate landfill leachate treatment by electrooxidation (EO) process. The raw leachate was collected from an 8‐year‐old landfill facility and had a chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 4660 mg/L, biological oxygen demand (BOD5) of 1370 mg/L, and total organic carbon (TOC) of 2260 mg/L. TOC and COD removal efficiencies of Boron‐Doped Diamond (BDD), Pt, and four different Ti‐based mixed metal oxide (MMO) anodes ((RuO2–TiO2, RuO2–IrO2, PtO2–IrO2, and IrO2–Ta2O5) were compared at the current densities of 25 mA/cm2, 75 mA/cm2, and 125 mA/cm2. At the highest current density, the BDD achieved 100% TOC and COD removal efficiencies in 240 min. BDD was followed by the Pt anode, which achieved 95.53% COD and 92.74% TOC removal efficiencies. The Pt electrode also had the lowest SEC values at all current densities. Although the performances of four MMO electrodes were very close, RuO2–TiO2 achieved a slightly higher performance than the others. It was concluded that Pt anode can be a promising alternative to BDD, which was 18 times more expensive, with its comparable pollutant removal performance and low specific energy consumption.


We present the design and control of a hyper-articulated robot arm comprising just a few active joints driving a multitude of passive joints. This underactuated arm design was motivated by the need for a compact snake-like robot for assembly operations inside an aircraft wing. The interior of the wing is accessible only through small access portholes distributed along the length. Currently, such assembly operations are performed by human operators who crawl into the wing through its access portholes. The working conditions are ergonomically challenging and result in frequent injuries. The conflicting requirements of small form factor and high payload carrying capacity have been the primary bottlenecks in the development of assembly robots. We propose a nested-channel serial linkage structure for the hyper-articulated arm. When fully contracted, the arm is extremely compact and can access the interior of the wing through its access porthole. Once inside the wing, the arm may be expanded to access distal assembly locations. However, it is impossible to package current actuator technology to meet the payload requirements within the limited size of the robot arm. The joints of the hyper-articulated arm have no dedicated actuators. Instead, they are deployed by modulating gravitational torques. By tilting the base link appropriately, the gravitational torque drives each unactuated link to a desired angular position. With simple, compact locking mechanisms, the arm can change its configuration using the actuated base placed outside the wing. We analyze the system dynamics to gain physical insight into the interaction between the actuated and unactuated degrees of freedom. We make important approximations to capture the dominant effects in the system dynamics so as to facilitate control design. The dynamics (actual, as well as approximate) of the unactuated links are essentially 2 nd order non-holonomic constraints, for which there are no general control techniques. We present several motion planning algorithms for sequential positioning of the free joints of the robot arm. The motion planning algorithms are formulated as parameterized non-linear two point boundary value problems. These algorithms demonstrate reasonable performance in the absence of disturbances. However, the end-effecter requires accurate positioning to perform assembly operations. To address this issue, we present a sequential closed-loop control algorithm for accurate positioning of the free joints. We synthesize a Lyapunov function to prove the convergence of this control scheme and to generate estimates of the domain of convergence. For faster deployment of the robot arm, multiple free links must move concurrently. We also present several motion planning algorithms to address this problem. We built two prototypes to illustrate the design and actuation concepts. The first prototype has 3 links and has a fixed axis of tilt in the horizontal plane. The second prototype has 4 links and may be tilted about an arbitrary axis in the horizontal plane. The motion planning and closed-loop control algorithms were implemented on both prototypes. The experimental results indicate the efficacy of such control schemes. Thesis Supervisor: H. Harry Asada Title: Ford Professor of Mechanical Engineering


In this study, the orientational order of two important transition metals, nickel and copper, are simulated by using a molecular dynamics (MD) simulation with a semi-empirical potential energy function based on the embedded atom model for systems. The local order of atomic structures is investigated by using bond order parameters at slow and fast cooling rates during the crystallization process. In addition, the radial distribution function (RDF) is calculated to determine the structural properties of the systems. All these physical parameters are analysed under 0 and 5 GPa pressures.


It is a rare event for Wilson Disease to have onset in geriatric age with neurological symptoms. And it is even rarer for such a condition to occur in the absence of Kayser-Fleischer Ring. We present a case of 63 year male who present with neurological symptoms of Wilson Disease without Kayser-Fleischer Ring which was confirmed by raised urine copper levels and Magnetic Resonance Imaging features classical of Wilson Disease.


Objectives: This study explores the nexus between low self-control and legal cynicism among a recent sample of at-risk youth while accounting for various features of direct and vicarious police stops. Methods: Analyses are based on data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, which employs a national sample of urban-born, at-risk youth. Results: A uniquely potent association between low self-control and legal cynicism emerged across samples with and without exposure to vicarious or direct police stops. Furthermore, among youth exposed to police stops, the link between low self-control and legal cynicism was largely robust to perceptions/features of these stops, including the degree of officer intrusiveness, arrest, perceptions of procedural justice, and youth feelings of social stigma following the stop. Conclusions: Programmatic efforts that both enhance the early development of self-control through mindfulness and curriculum-based interventions (e.g., Promoting Alternative THinking Strategies) and facilitate trauma-informed policing may be beneficial in curtailing the development of legal cynicism.


The objective of the research presented was to reliably compute induced electric fields and currents in a realistic human model with a high resolution for exposures to 60 Hz electric and magnetic fields. All computations were for an anatomically-derived human full-body model discretized into a set of 3.6 mm cubes. For electric field induction a hybrid method was used. In this method a new quasi-static FDTD formulation was used to compute the fields with the lower resolution of 7.2 mm. The electric field at the body surface was then used to compute the surface charge density. The charge densities from the FDTD were interpolated onto a 3.6 mm grid and used as the source of the body interior potentials and electric fields in the scalar potential finite difference method (SPFD). For magnetic induction the SPFD method was used with the magnetic vector potential as the source. Organ average, organ maximum and spatial maps of the induced electric and current density fields were obtained. These dosimetric data for 30 different organs and tissues can be analyzed from various perspectives.


mTn 10 transposon mutagenesis of Escherichia coli producing K88 fimbria was carried out in order to identify host factors involved in the regulation of the fae (K88) operon and the production of K88 fimbriae. Five independent chromosomal insertion mutants were obtained which showed an increased expression of K88 fimbriae. Inverse PCR and nucleotide sequencing were carried out to characterize the mutations. One insertion affected the Ipp gene, encoding the major outer membrane lipoprotein. Another mutation was found to be located in the Irp gene, encoding the 'global' regulatory protein Lrp (leucine responsive regulatory protein). A third mutant was found to affect the expression of rfaF, encoding heptosyltransferase II, which resulted in a partially wild-type and partially Re-Rd1 type of LPS. A fourth mutation affected sseB, a gene involved in serine-sensitivity of E. coli cells. Another mutant contained an insertion in an unknown region of the E. coli genome. The mutants were further characterized with respect to K88 as well as K99 fimbriae production.


Abstract. The microstructure of polycrystalline ice with a threading solution of brine controls its numerous characteristics, including the ice mechanical properties, ice-atmosphere interactions, sea-ice albedo, and (photo)chemical behavior in/on the ice. Ice samples were previously prepared in laboratories to study various facets of ice-impurities interactions and (photo)reactions to model natural ice-impurities behavior. We examine the impact of the freezing conditions and solute (CsCl used as a proxy for naturally occurring salts) concentrations on the microscopic structure of ice samples via an environmental scanning electron microscope. The method allows us to observe in detail the ice surfaces, namely, the free ice, brine puddles, brine-containing grain boundary grooves, individual ice crystals, and imprints left by entrapped air bubbles at temperatures higher than −25 °C. The amount of brine on the external surface is found proportional to the solute concentration and is strongly dependent on the sample preparation method. Time-lapse images in the condition of slight sublimation reveal sub-surface association of air bubbles with brine. With rising temperature (up to −14 °C), the brine surface coverage increases to remain enhanced during the subsequent cooling and until the final crystallization below the eutectic temperature. The ice recrystallization dynamics identifies the role of surface spikes in retarding the ice boundaries propagation (Zeener pining). The findings thus quantify the amounts of brine exposed to incoming radiation, available for the gas exchange, and influencing other mechanical and optical properties of ice. The results have straightforward implications for artificially prepared and naturally occurring salty ices.


A numerical method is developed for solution of the full nonlinear equations governing irrotational flow with a free surface and variable bed topography. It is applied to the unsteady motion of non-breaking water waves of arbitrary magnitude over a horizontal bed. All horizontal variation is approximated by truncated Fourier series. This and finite-difference representation of the time variation are the only necessary approximations. Although the method loses accuracy if the waves become sharp-crested at any stage, when applied to non-breaking waves the method is capable of high accuracy. The interaction of one solitary wave overtaking another was studied using the Fourier method. Results support experimental evidence for the applicability of the Korteweg-de Vries equation to this problem since the waves during interaction are long and low. However, some deviations from the theoretical predictions were observed - the overtaking high wave grew significantly at the expense of the low wave, and the predicted phase shift was found to be only roughly described by theory. A mechanism is suggested for all such solitary-wave interactions during which the high and fast rear wave passes fluid forward to the front wave, exchanging identities while the two waves have only partly coalesced; this explains the observed forward phase shift of the high wave. For solitary waves travelling in opposite directions, the interaction is quite different in that the amplitude of motion during interaction is large. A number of such interactions were studied using the Fourier method, and the waves after interaction were also found to be significantly modified - they were not steady waves of translation. There was a change of wave height and propagation speed, shown by the present results to be proportional to the cube of the initial wave height but not contained in third-order theoretical results. When the interaction is interpreted as a solitary wave being reflected by a wall, third-order theory is shown to provide excellent results for the maximum run-up at the wall, but to be in error in the phase change of the wave after reflection. In fact, it is shown that the spatial phase change depends strongly on the place at which it is measured because the reflected wave travels with a different speed. In view of this, it is suggested that the apparent time phase shift at the wall is the least-ambiguous measure of the change.


We have constructed and characterized a 5 micron radius optical micro-ring resonator in AlGaAs. The device displays an enhanced nonlinear phase response at a length scale 100 times smaller than an ordinary AlGaAs waveguide


Construction industry is an important part of the economy in most countries; often seen as a driver of economic growth especially in developing countries. Typically, construction industry contributes significantly to gross domestic products in most developing countries[3]. However, the construction site in Wolaita zone continues to fail to fulfill this fundamental role due to the increased accidents and health hazards. This paper explores the various safety and control measures (SCM) of accidents in building site to minimize accidents' occurrence and consequent waste generation. A research thesis, consisting of a literature review and a field study were used to achieve the research objectives. The field survey involves a designed questionnaire that was administered through convenience sampling technique within Wolaita zone and descriptive analysis tools were used for the analysis. The field survey reveals different control measures in place and their rate of usage on building site. On the other hand, the literature survey sheds light on the types of accidents on building site and their respective control measures with methodologies for accidents' preventions. Recommendations based on the findings of the two surveys are outlined in the paper. accidents are caused by a wide range of factors, some of which are: -Lack of awareness of safety regulations; Lack of enforcement of safety regulations; Poor regard for safety by people involved in construction projects; Engaging incompetent personnel; non-vibrant professionalism; Mechanical failure of construction machinery/equipment; Physical and emotional stress; and Chemical impairment Major causes of accidents identified in this research associated with construction projects include inadequate supervision, use of incompetent personnel and use of inappropriate construction techniques. Among the recommendations made for minimizing and/or avoiding re-occurrence of accidents are review of the existing regulations, enforcement, sensitization and training.


This work deals with the use of organic systematic nomenclature in scientific literature, its quality, and computerized methods for its improvement. Criteria for classification of systematic names in terms of quality/correctness are discussed and applied to a sample set of several hundred names extracted from the literature. The same structures are named with three popular state-of-the-art nomenclature programs - AutoNom 2000, ChemDraw 10.0, and ACD/Name 9.0. When comparing the results, all nomenclature tools show a significantly better performance than 'average chemists'. One program allows the generation not only of IUPAC names but also of CAS-like index names that are compared with the officially registered names. The scope and limitations of nomenclature software are discussed and a comparison of the programs' actual capabilities is given.