ABSTRACT We have previously demonstrated that human gingival fibroblasts rescue butyric acid-induced T-cell apoptosis via proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 6 (IL-6) and IL-11, which are produced by fibroblasts stimulated with butyric acid. In this study, we determined if T-cell adhesion to human gingival fibroblasts influenced the susceptibility of T cells to butyric acid-induced apoptosis. We have shown that the number of Jurkat T cells adherent to gingival fibroblasts (Gin-1 cells) was significantly increased by the addition of butyric acid. All Jurkat cells that adhered to Gin-1 cells remained viable, while the nonadherent Jurkat cells dropped into apoptosis. The increase in T-cell adhesion to fibroblasts was also observed when Jurkat cells, but not Gin-1 cells, were pretreated with butyric acid. The expression levels of CD44, very late antigen 2 (VLA-2) and VLA-5 but not of leukocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) and VLA-4 on Jurkat cells were increased following treatment with butyric acid. Furthermore, pretreatment of butyric acid-sensitized Jurkat cells with monoclonal antibodies against CD44, VLA-2, and VLA-5, but not LFA-1 and VLA-4, followed by coculture with Gin-1 cells inhibited T-cell adhesion to fibroblasts and increased apoptosis of nonadherent T cells after coculture of gingival fibroblasts and Jurkat cells. These results indicate that T-cell adherence to fibroblasts is enhanced by butyric acid and that butyric acid-induced T-cell apoptosis is down-regulated by T-cell adhesion to gingival fibroblasts through an interaction with the adhesion molecules CD44, VLA-2, and VLA-5 expressed on T cells stimulated with butyric acid.


Background: Patients with gliomas generally present cognitive, neuropsychiatric and functional deficits, which may consequently deteriorate the quality of life of their caregiver. However, few studies have investigated patients' social cognition impairments and no study has to our knowledge focused on its impact on caregiver. Hence, this study aimed to better understand social cognition deficits in patients with glioma and to evaluate their impact on caregivers' outcomes.

Method: Three groups of participants had been recruited: 9 patients with gliomas, 11 caregivers and 6 control participants. Patients and control participants completed social cognition tasks (faux-pas detection, facial emotional expression recognition) and questionnaires (IRI, TEIQue), classic cognitive tasks as well as questionnaires about their affective distress. Caregivers completed questionnaires about their affective distress (HADS), quality of life (CarGOQoL), burden (CRA), as well as their perceptions of patients' social, cognitive and affective disorders since the illness.

Findings: Means comparisons revealed that compared to control participants, patients reported greater attribution of faux-pas in both faux-pas (p=.035) and no faux-pas scenarios (p=.035), reported lower trait emotional competencies (p=.043), and had better recognition of fearful facial expressions (p=.05). Among caregivers, their quality of life was positively correlated with their perceptions of patients' empathic concern (p<.05) and negatively correlated with patients' acquired social deficits (p<.05). Finally, caregivers' psychological distress was positively correlated with their own perception of patients' social deficits (p<.05).

Discussion: These preliminary results highlight the importance of social cognition deficits in patients on their caregiver's quality of life and mental health.


Southern Africa is experiencing a rapidly growing HIV epidemic, and this small region currently accounts for a disproportionately large segment of the global burden of new HIV infections. In this region, HIV is spreading predominantly through heterosexual contact and clade C is the predominant subtype. In 1996, the reported HIV prevalence among antenatal clinic attenders from the southern African countries of Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Botswana were 40%, 30%, and 30% respectively. Before 1987 HIV infection in South Africa was rare. Annual, anonymous, national HIV seroprevalence surveys conducted among first time antenatal clinic attenders provide an indication of the emergence and trends in the progression of HIV infection in South Africa. In the past 10 years HIV seroprevalence has risen from 0.76% in 1990 to 10.44% in 1995 to 22.8% in 1998, with no signs of having reached a plateau. It is estimated that there are currently 3.5 million South Africans infected with HIV. This rapidly growing HIV epidemic in South Africa is best described as explosive. An HIV incidence of 11.9% in 1997 in women between the ages of 15 and 30 years derived from repeat antenatal seroprevalence surveys (each with a sample size of approximately 1000) conducted in Hlabisa, a rural community on the east coast of South Africa, from 1992 to 1997, illustrates the explosive nature of the HIV epidemic. Even in the relatively low incidence year of 1993, 3.8% of HIV negative women became infected. Young women in the general population in South Africa are experiencing HIV infection rates previously seen only in high risk sex worker populations. 7 HIV is spreading most rapidly in young women in South Africa; HIV prevalence grew from 6.9% in 1992 to 21.1% in 1995 in the 20–24 year old age group, highlighting the importance of youth in the South African HIV epidemic. Community based, HIV seroprevalence surveys conducted in one rural area of South Africa in 1990 and 1992 demonstrated that HIV infection was four times more prevalent among women (1.6%) than men (0.4%) and that women become infected at an earlier age than men. A repeat survey in 1994 demonstrated a 2.3-fold sex diVerence in HIV prevalence, showing a narrowing of the sex gap as the epidemic progresses. Migrant labour is a major factor in the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases in South Africa. Despite the demise of apartheid, migration is still part of the reality of many South African lives. A woman's risk of HIV infection is substantially increased if her partner is a migrant worker. A study from rural South Africa found that women whose partners spent 10 or fewer nights per month at home had an HIV prevalence of 13.7% compared with 0% in women who spent more than 10 nights in a month with their partners. Using crude measurements of mobility/migration, population based surveys from rural KwaZulu-Natal found about 2.5 times more infections among mobile adults compared with adults resident in the area continuously for more than a year. Among women, migration was associated with an age adjusted 2.4-fold higher risk of HIV infection compared with a 7.3-fold higher risk among men. The patterns of migration and sexual networking are fairly complex and implications for the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases are elaborated further in a paper by Lurie et al. The associated epidemic of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is also a major contributor to the burden of disease in South Africa. On any given day about one in every four of the approximately 60 000 women aged 15–49 years in Hlabisa is infected with at least one STI. Of these, 48% are asymptomatic, 50% are symptomatic but not seeking care, and only 2% seek care during an illness episode. Of these handful of women who seek care, only two out of three women are adequately treated for the STI. A policy of syndromic management of STIs as well as the integration of STI services into the general primary healthcare services, adopted in 1995, have been steps in the right direction in terms of managing the huge burden of STIs; however, its success at the health facilities level has been impeded by poor drug supplies, low condom use, inability to encourage partner referral for treatment, and the social stigma associated with seeking STI treatment. The most common HIV/AIDS presenting opportunistic infection in South Africa is tuberculosis. The progression from asymptomatic HIV to early disease is best reflected in the rise in new tuberculosis cases and the number of co-infections with HIV. New tuberculosis cases have a similar age and sex profile to that seen in the HIV epidemic. In Hlabisa, co-infection with HIV in adult tuberculosis rose from 36% in 1993 to 59% in 1995 and 65% in 1997. What makes the South African HIV epidemic a new and emerging explosive epidemic? Compared with other countries in eastern and central Africa, HIV infection in South Africa is a new phenomenon. Despite the late introduction of the virus it has been experiencing an intensely rapid growth and progression of the HIV epidemic. Having already reached high levels of infection there is no indication of stabilisation or plateauing of the epidemic. The migrant labour system and high levels of other sexually transmitted diseases are factors that are enhancing the transmission of HIV and fuelling this explosive epidemic. Of concern is the high HIV incidence rates in young people, and young women in particular. Sex Transm Inf 1999;75:139–147 139


Pre-hydrolysis-kraft of Eucalyptus globulus by autohydrolysis (batch) and with dilute acid hydrolysis (flow-through reactor) were explored in this study, to examine the recovery of xylooligosaccharides (XOs) from the pre-hydrolysis treatment. The results of this work support the potential reuse of the hydrolysate to increase the recovery yield of added value compounds. The pH of the dilute acid hydrolysis was maintained at 3.5 with acetic acid, to mimic the conditions of the batch reactor medium (autohydrolysis). An increase of XOs recovered was evident when the pre-treatment was in the flow-through reactor instead of the batch reactor. In the latter, a high concentration of furfural was recovered, showing the influence of time in XO conversion through hydrolysis. The total yield of pulp was higher in the flow-through reactor (36.4%) in comparison with the batch system (34.5%) after kraft pulping, which was expected, given the increasing time that the hydrolysate was present in the reactor; however, the difference was small and could have been the result of precipitated compounds in the latter, so this needs further analysis.
Keywords: cellulose, Eucalyptus globulus, pre-hydrolysis kraft, xylooligosaccharides


This paper presents a technique to generate optimal results during resource allocation. The whole procedure is discussed and solved. A new integer programming (IP) model is presented that supports the optimal allocation of useful resources in a university environment during the process of daily timetable generation keeping in view the priorities of both the teachers and administration. The time consuming task of time table generation in any organization can be performed easily by properly formulating a mathematical model. No matter how complex is the process of resource allocation of an organization, if we formulate the mathematical model in an efficient manner avoiding the redundancy the desired result can be achieved easily


This essay focuses on first-person narratives from Nepali Muslims directly before and after their journeys from Kathmandu to Mecca, for the Hajj pilgrimage, in 2005-2006, collected and translated by the author. To date, studies and public representations of Muslims in Nepal in the period of Nepal's long transition to secularism have focused predominantly on the population's mobilization of religious identity and its religio-political aspirations, productions, and experiences that help to constitute it as a collective. These representations have been key in affirming Muslims' rights as a minority in a newly secular federal republic of immense ethnic and religious diversity and a history of Hindu hegemony. Through the Hajj narratives of Nepali Muslim presented in this chapter, a contrasting portrait to these dominant representations is offered. This portrait offers a view into the interior religious worlds of Muslims in Nepal during this period. In them we get a glimpse of the every-day ness of their religious endeavors and the interior dimensions of piety that pilgrimage can cultivate, including a notion of collectivity that is based in faith and practice.


Abstract– We performed micro‐Raman spectroscopic analyses of the carbon vein in five ureilites: Allan Hills (ALH) A77257, Northwest Africa (NWA) 3140, Shişr 007, Yamato 790981 (Y‐790981), and Yamato 791538 (Y‐791538). The graphite peaks showed that the graphite structure in ureilite is well developed, especially compared with the carbonaceous material in carbonaceous chondrite. The domain sizes of the graphite were 45–110 Å. We observed shifts in the diamond peak positions to higher wave numbers with a large full width at half maximum (FWHM), especially for NWA 3140. Although the FWHM of a diamond peak is not a crucial diagnostic test for a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) origin of diamond, the shift of the diamond peaks to higher wave numbers could be a strong indicator that supports the CVD origin as these shifts have only been observed in CVD diamonds. We discuss the origin of diamond from various aspects, and confirm that the CVD model is the most plausible. We conclude that all carbon material (graphite, amorphous carbon, diamond, etc.) condensed on the early condensates in the primitive solar nebula.


The accumulation of free radicals and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in the skin plays a very important role in skin aging. Both are known to interact with each other. Therefore, natural compounds or extracts that possess both antioxidant and antiglycation activities might have great antiageing potential. Akebia quinata fruit extract (AQFE) has been used to treat urinary tract inflammatory disease in traditional Korean and Chinese medicines. In the present study, AQFE was demonstrated to possess antioxidant and antiglycation activity. AQFE protects human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) from oxidative stress and inhibits cellular senescence induced by oxidative stress. We also found that AQFE inhibits glycation reaction between BSA and glucose. The antiglycation activity of AQFE was dose-dependent. In addition, the antiglycation activity of AQFE was confirmed in a human skin explant model. AQFE reduced CML expression and stimulated fibrillin-1 expression in comparison to the methyglyoxal treatment. In addition, the possibility of the extract as an anti-skin aging agent has also been clinically validated. Our analysis of the crow's feet wrinkle showed that there was a decrease in the depth of deep furrows in RI treated with AQFE cream over an eight-week period. The overall results suggest that AQFE may work as an anti-skin aging agent by preventing oxidative stress and other complications associated with AGEs formation.


One major problem facing organizational managers all over the world and in all sectors of every economy, be they private or public, is how to obtain optimum performance from employees. This is possible when an employee on individual and/or group level is highly recognized and rewarded for performance. It is therefore relevant to explore the effects of reward systems on the performance of construction workers in Ghana. This is what has been done and reported in this paper. Contractors with D1K1 classification, working or undertaking projects in the Northern part of Ghana and had elaborate and distinct system of rewarding employees were involved in the survey. A combination of interview and questionnaire administration was used to gather data. Respondents were chosen, based on their level of exposure to site administration of construction projects, and involvement] of the construction project. Through hypothesis testing, the Pearson chi-square results indicate a significant positive association between reward systems and performance with asymptotic significance level of less than 0.05. The findings indicate non-financial rewards were as important as financial rewards to improve the performance of employees. This paper recommends a multiple function and integration of framework which seeks to attract, retain and motivate employees to induce higher performance.


This is the first study to evaluate the efficacy of an autodissemination approach, as suggested by WHO. Therefore, the efficacy of an autodissemination approach in small-scale field trials against wild Aedes sp. population was evaluated in an urbanized setting, Malaysia. Lethal ovitraps enhanced with pyriproxyfen were used to control Aedes sp. populations at treatment sites, with the autodissemination activity was assessed using the WHO larval bioassays. Lethal ovitraps enhanced with pyriproxyfen effectively reduced of Aedes sp. population. All autodissemination stations were shown to be visited by Aedes sp. mosquitoes with 100% complete inhibition against eggs and larvae development. In the larvae bioassay, pupae mortality ranged from 14 to 40%. Statistically, a significant reduction of Aedes sp. population in the treatment sites compared to the untreated areas. The study proved for the autodissemination of pyriproxyfen to breeding habitats by wild Aedes sp. This technique is highly potentially for vector control activities. Future evaluation should focus on large-scale field trials. Author Summary Since 2012, Dataran Automobil, Seksyen 15, Shah Alam, was declared as one of the dengue hotspot areas. Major vector control activities were conducted by government, NGOs, social communities, and local authorities, but the number still rising. We conducted a new invention of autodissemination concepts in this area by an entomological study on mosquito populations reduction and dispersal abilities of the technique. We found that the technique has proven to control mosquito populations, but the other factors such as epidemiology link still unclear and need further clarification. Our finding highlighted the effectiveness of autodissemination strategies that can be considered as one of the alternative tools in vector control programme.


In the twenty-first century, only those metropolitan areas with good physical environment adapt to global economic trends and provide the infrastructure and services that support knowledge-based and technology-driven industries will remain geographic nodes of worldwide business transactions. Unfortunately not all cities have the abilities of that. In the developing countries cities the majority of urban population lives in informal settlements without adequate sanitation, water, transport or health services; and the rapid growth of cities aggravate these situations. So while these cities have been struggling to alleviate these problems, they are also facing new challenges posed by globalization, which is forcing them to restructure their inner situations. This paper try to find a proposal strategy to help developing economy cities to contained their unaccompanied situations and to start their ambitions to convoy real time cities.


It was determined that amounts of chlorogenic acid, tyrosine, and tryptophan in potato tubers depend on meteorological conditions, farming type, individual properties of a variety, and interaction of these factors (P<0.05). It was noted in 2011 that organically grown potato tubers accumulated significantly higher amounts of chlorogenic acid, tyrosine, and tryptophan derivatives than conventionally grown tubers, while in 2012 the opposite was observed (P<0.01). Such results are due to the different meteorological conditions during the survey years.


Distance metric learning has attracted much attention in recent years, where the goal is to learn a distance metric based on user feedback. Conventional approaches to metric learning mainly focus on learning the Mahalanobis distance metric on data attributes. Recent research on metric learning has been extended to sequential data, where we only have structural information in the sequences, but no attribute is available. However, real-world applications often involve attributed sequence data (e.g., clickstreams), where each instance consists of not only a set of attributes (e.g., user session context) but also a sequence of categorical items (e.g., user actions). In this paper, we study the problem of metric learning on attributed sequences. Unlike previous work on metric learning, we now need to go beyond the Mahalanobis distance metric in the attribute feature space while also incorporating the structural information in sequences. We propose a deep learning framework, called MLAS (Metric Learning on Attributed Sequences), to learn a distance metric that effectively measures dissimilarities between attributed sequences. Empirical results on real-world datasets demonstrate that the proposed MLAS framework significantly i mproves the performance of metric learning compared to state-of-the-art methods on attributed sequences.


Objectives We aimed to develop and internally validate a measure of multimorbidity burden using data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA). Design Data from 40 264 CLSA participants (52% men) aged 45–85 years (a mean of 63 years) were analysed. We used logistic regression models to predict overnight hospitalisation in the last 12 months in the development dataset (random two-thirds of the total) and used these to construct 10 multimorbidity indices (5 models, each treated with and without an age interaction term). Thirty-five chronic conditions were considered for inclusion in these models, in addition to age and sex. We assessed predictive and convergent validity for these 10 different multimorbidity indices in the validation dataset (remaining one-third of the total). Results The absolute count of chronic conditions plus an interaction with age, displayed strong calibration properties, outperforming other candidate indices. Discrimination was modest for all of the indices that we internally validated, with C-statistics ranging from 0.66 to 0.68. The indices showed weak correlations (ie, convergent validity) with satisfaction with life, functional disability and mental health (absolute Pearson's correlation coefficients ranging from 0.11 to 0.30) but generally moderate correlations with self-rated general health (0.32–0.45). Conclusions We investigated alternative methods to measure the multimorbidity burden of individuals, tailored to the CLSA. Our findings show that an absolute count of conditions, along with an age interaction term, has the strongest calibration for overnight hospitalisation in the last 12 months. The utility of an age interaction term in measuring multimorbidity burden may be applicable to the study of chronic disease in cohorts other than the CLSA.


Abstract Physical storm characteristics during the operational period of the Santa Barbara Cloud Seeding Project have been studied. It is shown that the vertical storm structure, particularly the depth of the low-level convective layer, is of importance in determining (1) the area distribution of precipitation, (2) the transport of seeding material from the ground to the nucleation levels, and (3) the existence of supercooled liquid water at nucleation levels. Item (1) above influences the correlation between target and control precipitation amounts, and items (2) and (3) influence the effective seeding of the storm. The seeded and unseeded storms of the Project have been treated using these concepts in order to investigate their influence on the inconclusive statistical results of the Project. On the basis of qualitative seedability criteria, it is estimated that approximately one-half of the precipitation in the Project period occurred under relatively poor seeding conditions. This was determined by cla...


Recent experiments have suggested that enzymes and other small molecules chemotax toward their substrates. However, the physical forces driving this chemotaxis are currently debated. In this work, we consider a simple thermodynamic theory for molecular chemotaxis that is based on the McMillan-Mayer theory of dilute solutions and Schellman's theory for macromolecular binding. Even in the absence of direct interactions, the chemical binding equilibrium introduces a coupling term into the relevant free energy, which then reduces the chemical potential of both enzymes and their substrates. Assuming a local thermodynamic equilibrium, this binding contribution to the chemical potential generates an effective thermodynamic force that promotes chemotaxis by driving each solute toward its binding partner. Our numerical simulations demonstrate that, although small, this thermodynamic force is qualitatively consistent with several experimental studies. Thus, our study may provide additional insight into the role of the thermodynamic binding free energy for molecular chemotaxis.


OBJECTIVE
The evaluation of the Sensititre YeastOne and Etest methods for determining susceptibility to amphotericin B and itraconazole by comparing the MICs obtained by these methods at different times of reading with those of the M38-A broth microdilution method.

METHODS
Sixty-three clinical isolates of Aspergillus spp. (23 Aspergillus flavus, 24 Aspergillus fumigatus, nine Aspergillus niger, three Aspergillus glaucus, two Aspergillus terreus and two Aspergillus flavipes) were assayed. Two itraconazole-resistant strains (NCPF7100 and 7099) were also included.

RESULTS
Itraconazole MICs for the two resistant strains were >4 mg/L by the three methods. The overall agreement (+/-2 log2) between M38-A (48 h) and colorimetric (48 h) method was 93.4% for amphotericin B and 90.2% for itraconazole. By the Etest, the best agreement with M38-A was obtained when readings were made at 24 h: 88.5% for amphotericin B and 67.2% for itraconazole. Etest MICs were higher for all species except A. niger.

CONCLUSIONS
The colorimetric method appears to be a suitable alternative procedure for antifungal susceptibility testing of Aspergillus spp. and is able to detect resistance to itraconazole. The range of MICs for amphotericin B by Etest is wider and for some strains is >16 mg/L, suggesting that this method could be useful for detecting resistant strains as occur in yeasts.


Method and device for conditioning weights of adhesives for vehicle tires compensation. The process is characterized in that the shaping of the web material weight adhesive compensation is determined according to the scanned radio, and a section of web material is cut into a length corresponding to the determined weight. The device comprises a storage medium (1) of web material (3) to the adhesive weight compensation (4), a transport device (5) for transporting the web material (3) on the device, a computer forming (12) for adapting the shape of the balancing weight (4) to the shape of the rim in the plane of compensation provided, and cutting equipment (5) for cutting a balancing weight (4) Material band (3) in a predetermined length corresponding to the weight.


The inheritance of resistance to head bug (Eurystylus oldi) was studied in ten populations of sorghum derived from crossing three susceptible sorghum elite varieties (ICSV 111, ICSV 112 and ICSV 400), and two resistant sorghum varieties (Malisor 84-7 and KSV 4). Parental lines, F1 and F2 populations were sown on a Randomized Complete Block Design in two replications. Artificial infestation of head bugs on sorghum was employed in carrying out the experiment. Samples of 5 panicles each from every artificially infested plot were observed. Resistance to head bug in sorghum seems to be controlled by a single pair of recessive genes in Malisor 84-7 x ICSV 400 and Malisor 84-7 x ICSV 111. The cross, KSV 4 x ICSV 112 appeared to be controlled by double recessive pair of genes. Head bug population affects quality of grains rather than the yield produced. There is a negative correlation (-0.095) between head bug population and the germination percentage of the grain. Positive relationship exists between glume size and head bug population, which suggests that longer glumes harbour more head bug.
(African Journal of Biotechnology: 2003 2(7): 202-205)


The authors show for a simple problem where analytical calculations can be performed, the time evolution of the wavefunction describes the motion in phase space, first through the time evolution of a density pulse and secondly by considering the Wigner distribution function. In the classical limit this last distribution exhibits a very complex physically meaningless structure but by smoothing with a double gaussian kernel, the correct limit is obtained.


Rationale: The source of Ca2+ to activate pathological cardiac hypertrophy is not clearly defined. Ca2+ influx through the L-type Ca2+ channels (LTCCs) determines "contractile" Ca2+, which is not thought to be the source of "hypertrophic" Ca2+. However, some LTCCs are housed in caveolin-3 (Cav-3)–enriched signaling microdomains and are not directly involved in contraction. The function of these LTCCs is unknown. Objective: To test the idea that LTCCs in Cav-3–containing signaling domains are a source of Ca2+ to activate the calcineurin–nuclear factor of activated T-cell signaling cascade that promotes pathological hypertrophy. Methods and Results: We developed reagents that targeted Ca2+ channel-blocking Rem proteins to Cav-3–containing membranes, which house a small fraction of cardiac LTCCs. Blocking LTCCs within this Cav-3 membrane domain eliminated a small fraction of the LTCC current and almost all of the Ca2+ influx-induced NFAT nuclear translocation, but it did not reduce myocyte contractility. Conclusions: We provide proof of concept that Ca2+ influx through LTCCs within caveolae signaling domains can activate "hypertrophic" signaling, and this Ca2+ influx can be selectively blocked without reducing cardiac contractility.


The attachment of bacteria ( Serratia marcescens , Staphylococcus aureus , Streptococcus faecalis , Salmonella arizonae , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , and Listeria monocytogenes ), to lean muscle tissue and fat tissue was investigated. The number of cells attached to the meat was directly proportional to the initial cell concentrations present. There was no significant difference in the number of cells attached between the lean muscle tissue and fat tissues among the organisms tested. All bacteria tested except P. aeruginosa proliferated better on the lean muscle tissues than on the fat tissue at ambient temperature for 72 h. No significant attachment competition to tissue samples was seen between L. monocytogenes and P. aeruginosa , however, the numbers of P. aeruginosa were greater than L. monocytogenes (after 24 h). Similarly, no competitive attachments between S. aureus and S. marcescens , S. faecalis and S. arizonae were observed; but the numbers of S. marcescens were greater than S. aureus , and S. arizonae were greater than S. faecalis , when the inoculated meat was incubated at room temperature for 24 h.


We define and study extensions of Artin's representation and braid monodromy representation to the case of topological and algebraical generalisations of braid groups. In particular we provide faithful representations of braid groups of oriented surfaces with boundary components as (outer) automorphisms of free groups. We give also similar representations for braid groups of non oriented surfaces with boundary components and we show a representation of braid groups of closed surfaces as outer automorphisms of free groups. Finally, we provide faithful representations of Artin-Tits groups of type $\mathcal{D}$ as automorphisms of free groups.


As the Global Polio Eradication Initiative progresses towards its conclusion inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) is increasingly being used on a routine basis to ensure that any re-introduced viruses do not spread. However the current administration of conventional IPV (cIPV) includes a risk of wild seed viruses escaping from manufacturing facilities. To address this risk IPVs could instead be prepared from Sabin live attenuated strains. However Sabin IPV (sIPV) type 2 has been found to induce a lower level of antibodies than type 2 cIPV. The reason (s) for this difference is not clear as little is known about the molecular mechanisms that underpin the formaldehyde inactivation process. To investigate the process of inactivation and its consequences, this study has analysed the effect of inactivation on different aspects of poliovirus biology. As serotype 2 shows the greatest differences between sIPV and cIPV, a range of type 2 poliovirus strains with varied antigenic and biological properties have been inactivated using formaldehyde and alternative chemicals. The effect of inactivation on the viral antigenicity and immunogenicity of the poliovirus strains has been assessed using methods for the pre-release control of vaccine batches and various novel techniques including a biosensor-based technique and immunisation-challenge experiments in transgenic mice. Both the virus strain and inactivation chemical affected the potency of inactivated preparations. The effect of inactivation on the functionality of the viral RNA and the ability of inactivated virus to bind and undergo the conformational changes necessary to enter the target cell have been investigated using real-time RT-PCR and FACS flow cytometry. Inactivation modified the viral RNA and prevented poliovirus virions from undergoing necessary conformational changes. This research will contribute to better understanding the differences between sIPV and cIPV and will help to develop new/modified inactivation protocols to produce IPVs with improved immunogenicity.


A high performance liquid chromatographic assay for the quantitation of acetazolamide in both tablet and injection form is described. Acetazolamide is extracted with 0.005 M NaOH solution containing 0.3 mg/mL sulphadiazine (internal standard). A commercially available mu-Bondapak C18 cartridge column was used for the separation together with a mobile phase made of acetonitrile, methanol and sodium acetate buffer mixture (10:2:88) (pH 4) at a flow-rate of 4 mL/min. Retention times of about 2.50 and 3.36 min were obtained for the drug and the internal standard, respectively.


Participatory techniques for data gathering have been known to agriculturists for some years. However, it is only relatively recently that these techniques have been adopted by veterinarians for use in the discipline of epidemiology. Their use has been effective, and the techniques are being further developed and refined by veterinary epidemiologists in various parts of the world. Participatory appraisal methods show great promise in developing regions and, with the Global Rinderpest Eradication Programme (GREP) in an advanced stage, the publication of this manual is particularly timely. An appendix has therefore also been included, dealing specifically with rinderpest and the stomatitis-enteritis complex of diseases. It is hoped that the material in this publication will both advance disease control and eradication efforts and stimulate further application of these innovative techniques.


A cross-sectional survey design was used to investigate the prevalence of asthenopic symptoms among 354 computer users with respect to the level of EMF radiation from computer monitor screens. The results of the study revealed a significant association between the risks and the radiation level as well as a significant increase in angle of gaze between those affected and unaffected users. It was found that frequent/severe headache (59.1%) was the most complained symptom followed by chronic eye irritation (41.5%). The findings in this work, if properly taken into consideration, will help to create social awareness and also help relevant authorities as well as individuals in the policy formulations regarding their ergonomics.


We address the classical issue of appropriate choice of the regularization and discretization level for the Tikhonov regularization of an inverse problem with imperfectly measured data.
We focus on the fact that the proper choice of the discretization level in the domain together with the regularization parameter is a key feature in adequate regularization.
We propose a discrepancy-based choice for these quantities by applying a relaxed version of Morozov's discrepancy principle.
Indeed, we prove the existence of the discretization level and the regularization parameter satisfying such discrepancy. We also prove associated regularizing properties concerning the Tikhonov minimizers. We conclude by presenting some numerical examples of interest.


The bulk rheological properties, such as shear viscosity and storage & loss moduli of perfluoropolyether (PFPE) with different molecular weights and endgroup functionalities were examined via a rotational rheometer. Equilibrium and non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations were performed to provide a molecular visualization tool to clearly understand the intrinsic nanostructure as well as to predict the bulk shear viscosity, which reveals a strong dependence on temperature and PFPE molecular architecture.Copyright © 2005 by ASME


The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of using the reciprocal teaching model on student learning activeness in moral subjects. The research method used is quantitative research Quasi Experiment and research design used nonequivalent control group design. The sample was determined as many as 70 students consisting of 35 students for the control class and 35 for the experimental class. Data collection techniques using the test. The study was conducted at Madrasah Tsanawiyah Pipitan Walantaka, Serang City. The results showed that the use of the reciprocal teaching model had a positive effect on student learning activeness in the subjects of Islamic Morals.


A study of the anisotropy of cosmic rays is presented and evidence is found for an enhancement of particles from the general direction of the galactic plane. Previous work in this field was concerned largely with data from extensive-air-shower detectors in the northern hemisphere and was interpreted in terms of an excess of particles from the south, namely a Galactic gradient. The authors show that a galactic-plane enhancement gives an equally good explanation of these results but when combined with southern hemisphere observations from the Chacaltaya array (Anda et al., 1981) and Sydney (Horton et al., 1983) the evidence favours galactic-plane enhancement rather strongly. The argument is strengthened by a detailed analysis of the amplitudes and phases of the harmonics from all the available experiments. At energies above several times 1019 eV the model fails and here the authors can see no objection to the commonly advanced idea of a preponderance of extragalactic particles.


Review of a program for the development of advanced fluidic components and the application of these components to general aviation instrumentation and control. The major project in this category has been the development of a simple, reliable, two-axis autopilot for light aircraft, using a fluidic inertial rate sensor for stability and roll attitude control, and a simple magnetometer for azimuth reference. This autopilot has been succesfully flight-tested. Fluidic hardware developed for this autopilot is described, and projected improvements and extensions are discussed. Application of fluidic components to such flight instruments as turn coordinators, artificial horizons, and true airspeed indicators is explored.


The objective of master thesis is to analyze the technical and economic potential of electrical battery energy storage systems to increase of renewable energy capacity in power system and their effect on costs of electricity generated. For this purpose an electricity system model shall be created for the analysis and evaluation of the impact of different shares of renewables scenarios on different types of power systems, identification of optimal portfolio of generation and battery systems and visualization of model results. The model shall be applicable to the simulation of energy systems at scales ranging from islands to small size national levels, that will be simulated, focusing on the use of battery storage to cost-effectively manage day-night and other short-term variations in supply. The master thesis encompasses the following activities: 1) literature review 2) theoretical work, including mathematical formulation of the problem 3) model implementation 4) case studies, evaluation and interpretation of results and 5) written presentation. Model complexity shall be as low as possible to reduce the solving computational speed. Simplified representations of generation system components shall be used. A copperplate (no restrictions on power flow) approach will be used to model transmission. Short-term period (one year) will be simulated, while using an appropriate temporal resolution for operational decisions such as unit generation commitment or battery storage state of energy. Trade-offs between timestep resolution, simulation times and accuracy could be investigated as part of the research work. The energy system optimization model shall be based on a deterministic optimisation of the system parameters (assuming perfect knowledge of renewable energy generation and demand) solved through Linear Program. The optimization criteria shall be to minimize discounted, levelized costs of electricity production across the study period (one year). The model shall simulate the system economic dispatch of all generation, battery storage and interconnection capacities, taking into account forecasted demand, generation plant characteristics and fuel prices as well as for the given set of constraints including ramp rates and minimum generation levels. The focus of the model is on the reliability of supply in terms of balancing electricity generation and consumption. Other criteria of security of supply like grid stability will not be investigated. The developed model shall be applied for the analysis of a specific case study. Scenarios without and with different renewables share and battery storage combinations (and optionally different demand scenarios) shall be analyzed. Optimal generation and battery storage capacities for the different scenarios, system dispatch and the resulting levelized cost of electricity generation shall be estimated. The model can be created by adjusting an existing model. As an example, the following energy modelling systems available under open source could be evaluated as basis for implementation: • SWITCH: http://switch-model.org/ • Calliope: http://www.callio.pe • Oemof: https://oemof.org


In many gonochoristic taxa, sex is influenced by developmental environment, a system that can lead to temporal fluctuations in offspring sex ratio. Demographic models suggest that only short‐lived species with environmental sex determination (ESD) are negatively impacted by sex‐ratio fluctuations, yet these models fail to account for the potential mutation load associated with reductions in genetically effective population sizes. In this study, we developed a series of individual‐based simulation models that explore the fixation rates of mildly deleterious alleles under different sex‐determining systems and examine the impacts of variation in lifespan and offspring sex ratio. Populations with ESD exhibited increases in fixation rates in both short‐ and long‐lived populations, but substantial increases were limited to populations characterized by a combination of high sex‐ratio variation and short lifespan. Fixation rates were negatively associated with effective population size, indicating that purifying selection operates less efficiently under ESD relative to genotypic sex determination. Reductions in effective population size could be attributed to both intragenerational forces (unequal sex ratio) and intergenerational forces (variable census population sizes). Levels of temporal sex‐ratio variation calculated from wild populations of ESD species were capable of yielding large increases in fixation rates, although this relationship was strongly mediated by lifespan. Our results may help to explain the limited phylogenetic distribution of ESD in short‐lived taxa.


A bidentate ligand based on N-monoaryl 4,4'-bipyridinium undergoes self-assembly to dinuclear rectangular metallocycles upon coordination to palladium(II) and platinum(II) centers. These metallocycles form a very stable complex with pyrene in aqueous solution and in the solid state. A crystal structure of the pyrene inclusion complex is presented. The association constants between pyrene and metallocycle 3a in organic solvents and water (K(a) = 2.3 x 10(6)) were determined.


Information need is an individual or group's desire to locate and obtain information to satisfy a conscious or unconscious need. Although we know the potential of rural sector, we have not given due importance to rural information services. Now the time is ripe when we can no longer ignore the information needs of the rural people. Rural people are not only in need of the information regarding agriculture and animal husbandry but they are also interested in all kinds of information which can help them in their development. To bridge the gap between the elite and the poor, it is necessary to put emphasis on the information need fulfilling development messages. Mass media like T.V., Radio, Newspaper and Magazines can play very important role in communicating need based messages to rural masses. There is no doubt that mass media can bring development in rural area provided media personnel produce and transmit need based information. Media can be made more effective if background information of rural people, media availability with rural people and media utilization pattern of rural people is known to the media managers and development agencies.


After 30 years reform, the development of China's rural areas is still in a lower level. The reason is that logistics system supporting rural development is still far from being set up. This article from a new perspective approach in rural financial sector, new thing - bank of village and town as breakthrough, study construction problem of logistics system in rural areas base on bank of village and town, hope to provide new ideas for the development of logistics in rural areas, promote the upgrading of rural consumption, promote rural economic and social to develop well and faster.


Automatically switched circuit establishment is a big step for the operators towards the automation of transport services. The aim is to reduce OPEX while improving service capabilities through a distributed generalized multi-protocol label switching (GMPLS) control plane. Nevertheless, the control plane may not operate on its own and, hence, network operators need a holistic service production platform where intensified traffic engineering (TE) capabilities exist when operating the control plane. The aim of this paper is to point out and discuss issues to be addressed and to provide guiding principles as well as a policy-based management (PBM) solution pertaining to enhanced TE related to the GMPLS control plane protocols and the corresponding network management issues.


A new method is developed to solve the exhaust noise problem. Aiming at studying on the exhaust noise of car, firstly initial analysis is made on the flow field of exhaust muffler of car by Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software Fluent in this paper. Then structure optimization solution is brought forward and simulation analysis is made on the solution. The CFD method and experimental results show good agreement through test, which proves that the optimization solution is effective. The noise level of the end of exhaust muffler is decreased. Thus it improves the overall acoustic performance.


In this paper, we study the joint price and power allocation in spectrum sharing macro-femtocell networks. The proposed game theoretic framework is based on bi-level Stackelberg game where macro base station (MBS) works as a leader and underlaid femto base stations (FBSs) work as followers. MBS has fixed data rate and imposes interference price on FBSs for maintaining its data rate and earns revenue while FBSs jointly adjust their power for maximizing their data rates and utility functions. Since the interference from FBSs to macro user equipment is kept under a given threshold and FBSs compete against each other for power allocation, there is a need to determine a power allocation strategy which converges to Stackelberg equilibrium. We consider two cases for MBS power allocation, i.e., fixed and dynamic power. MBS can adjust its power in case of dynamic power allocation according to its minimum data rate requirement and number of FBSs willing to share the spectrum. For both cases we consider uniform and nonuniform pricing where MBS charges same price to all FBSs for uniform pricing and different price to each FBS for non-uniform pricing according to its induced interference. We obtain unique closed form solution for each case if the co-interference at FBSs is assumed fixed. And an iterative algorithm which converges rapidly is also proposed to take into account the effect of co-tier interference on interference price and power allocation strategy. The results are explained with numerical simulation examples which validate the effectiveness of our proposed solutions.


Vital statistics are presented for 38 marine species of Vanuatu based on previous studies conducted in the area, with parameters describing growth (6 species, 13 sets of parameters), mortality (estimates of M for 6 species), length-weight relationship (32 species), and reproduction (length at first maturity for 26 species, months of reproduction for 18 species). The species covered belong mainly to the family Lutjanidae.


This article considers musicological consequences of recent proposals by climate researchers to date the beginning of the Anthropocene—the geological epoch in which human activities define the Earth system—to the period immediately following New World colonization. Colonial decimation of Indigenous communities in Central and South America led to land abandonment and a reforestation event. In 1610, this reforestation triggered carbon dioxide sequestration and a planetary low point of CO2, a climatic signal that geologists call the "Orbis Spike." I explore how colonization's Orbis Spike alters the historiographical horizons for approaching musical and aural documents of the early modern to nineteenth-century Atlantic. The Orbis Spike proposal challenges musicological inquiry into the Anthropocene to be not only ecologically and musicologically sensitive, but also decolonial, antiracist, and critical of global capitalism. Accordingly, I develop Anthropocenic recontextualizations of Purcell's Indian Queen (1695), eighteenth- and nineteenth-century musical and ethnographic representations of Native American "death songs," and two practices of Indigenous resurgence via song: psalmody and Ghost Dance ceremonies. Recognizing how the lethality of colonization shaped the Anthropocene confronts the time of musical history with geological time, centering Anthropocene climate change as a background analytical framework for music seemingly far-removed from familiar ecomusicological themes. Ultimately, this article demonstrates Anthropocene stakes for early modern music studies and foregrounds the colonial underpinnings and contemporary racial asymmetries of ecological precarity as urgent questions for musicology's emerging engagement with the Anthropocene.


Take an experimental middle school of rural-distance education projects in the west area of China as an example, The paper constructs and implements a rural-distance education model based on Moodle. Although the study found that the model does not significantly improve the achievement of students, it can reduce the gap anong the students and improve students' interest in learning, and it can also save expenses for school.


Thin films of symmetric diblock copolymers self-assemble into multilayered structures, due to the strong interactions of one of the blocks with the substrate and/or free surface. If the film thickness, t, is not an integral or half-integral multiple of the bulk period L 0 , depending upon the boundary conditions, then islands or holes form on the free surface with a step height of L 0 to relieve the frustration imposed by the film thickness. It is shown here, however, that a well-ordered multilayer can form prior to hole formation, with a period L that deviates significantly from L 0 . This structure can be stable for weeks. Topographic features eventually appear on the surface, however, allowing the period to attain its equilibrium value. This indicates that free surface confinement is a kinetic, rather than equilibrium, effect. Confinement of compressed periods is much more effective than for expanded periods, indicating that the activation barrier for the nucleation of holes is larger than that for islands.


Results from large-scale theoretical cross section calculations for the total photoionization (PI) of the 4f, 5s, 5p and 6s orbitals of the neutral tungsten atom using the Dirac Coulomb R-matrix approximation (DARC: Dirac-atomic R-matrix codes) are presented. Comparisons are made with previous theoretical methods and prior experimental measurements. In previous experiments a time-resolved dual laser approach was employed for the photo-absorption of metal vapours and photo-absorption measurements on tungsten in a solid, using synchrotron radiation. The lowest ground state level of neutral tungsten is 5 p 6 5 d 4 6 s 2 5 D J ?> , with J = 0, and requires only a single dipole matrix for PI. To make a meaningful comparison with existing experimental measurements, we statistically average the large-scale theoretical PI cross sections from the levels associated with the ground state 5 p 6 5 d 4 6 s 2 5 D J ?> (J = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4) levels and the 5 d 5 6 s 7 S 3 ?> excited metastable level. As the experiments have a self-evident metastable component in their ground state measurement, averaging over the initial levels allows for a more consistent and realistic comparison to be made. In the wider context, the absence of many detailed electron-impact excitation (EIE) experiments for tungsten and its multi-charged ion stages allows current PI measurements and theory to provide a road-map for future EIE, ionization and di-electronic cross section calculations by identifying the dominant resonance structure and features across an energy range of hundreds of eV.


Isoniazid is a bactericidal antituberculosis drug, used commonly for treatment and prophylaxis of tuberculosis. Acute isoniazid intoxication is characterized by a clinical triad consisting of metabolic acidosis with a high anion gap resistant to treatment with sodium bicarbonate, seizures which may be fatal and refractory to standard anticonvulsant therapy, and coma. Pyridoxine, in a dose equivalent to the amount of isoniasid ingested, is the only effective antidote. Here, we reported a 14 years old female patient with the diagnosis of isoniasid intoxcication, successfully treated in our intensive care unit.


The human modification of lake hydrology is widespread in the industrial era; however, anthropogenic impacts have occurred for thousands of years in regions of the world with long histories of human occupation. Here, we use geochemical analyses of lake sediment to document the isotopic and geochemical response of Cheng Lake (Chenghai) in southwestern China to catchment modification, including the construction of a downstream dam. The Chenghai record indicates that land-use changes affected the lake/catchment by at least AD 1150 as evidenced by an increased flux of terrestrial organic matter, sediment with high concentrations of sorbed metals, and variations in stable isotopes of oxygen in precipitated aragonite. Decreases in magnetic susceptibility and metal concentrations after AD 1360 indicate a change in sediment basin dynamics. The construction of a downstream dam between AD 1573 and 1620 caused positive shifts in the isotopic composition of aragonite, indicative of increased evaporative loss and a longer water residence time. A lake-level drop by AD 1779 is accompanied by a decrease in organic carbon and a lighter nitrogen isotopic composition that suggests the oxidation of organic matter and/or reduced primary productivity. These changes closely coincide with shifts in climate variability (such as the termination of the 'Little Ice Age') inferred from other, regional paleoclimate records, highlighting the challenges in distinguishing between natural and anthropogenically driven environmental variations. This study demonstrates the importance of historical and cultural context in the interpretation of lake sediment records with substantial human settlement proximal to the lake system.


Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a controversial procedure used in the management of depression. Whilst it may be administered under mental health legislation, it is usually given to people who voluntarily consent. At the practice level, the consent process for ECT requires a detailed explanation of the procedure. The person consenting must have capacity to make this decision, and consent must be given freely and without coercion. Research using a feminist narrative approach unexpectedly highlighted the issue of potential coercion in the context of explaining the procedure. In-depth interviews were used to understand seven women's accounts of deciding to receive ECT. A thematic analysis of their narratives uncovered a shared concern with how they consented to the treatment. Four subthemes were identified that related to the way in which they provided their consent: (i) 'Not enough information'; (ii) 'I had no other choice'; (iii) 'Just go along with it'; and (iv) 'Lacking capacity'. A consent process that includes elements of passive coercion and a lack of timely and appropriate information influences the way some women make decisions. These factors can disempower women at the point of decision-making. A practice shift is needed where women are enabled to have control over decisions. Further, there is a need to adhere more rigorously to noncoercive practice when obtaining consent.


A novel atmospheric pressure glow microdischarge system coupled with chemical vapor generation was applied to the optical emission spectrometry determination of Hg in samples of mosses (Pleurozium schreberi) from parks and surrounding forests of Wroclaw (Poland). The design of experiment (DOE) was used to optimize the operating parameters of the microdischarge system combined with a reaction/separation unit used for chemical vapor generation. Seven experimental factors were examined, i.e., concentrations of NaBH4 and HCl, the discharge current and flow rates of reagents, the jet-supporting gas, the shielding gas and the liquid cathode solution on the intensity of the Hg I 253.7 nm emission line and the standard deviation of the background in its vicinity. The optimized operating conditions allowed us to obtain a detection limit of 0.066 μg L−1 for Hg, which was close to the predicted value with a fitted model. To separate Hg species from moss samples, a 2-step extraction procedure with a 5.0 mol L−1 HCl solution was carried out instead of complete wet digestion with concentrated HNO3. To validate the reliability of results, the spike-and-recovery experiment was performed. The obtained results were close to 100% proving the good accuracy of the methodology proposed. The average concentration of Hg in mosses in the urban area of Wroclaw was high (0.37 μg g−1) but no specific source of contamination was found.


In recent survey articles Bell and Farquhar and Machina have brought to the attention of decision scientists an alternative to the expected utility model called weighted expected utility. Developed by MacCrimmon, Chew and Fishburn, this is the simplest alternative to expected utility that permits an interpretation and rationalization of Allais' famous paradox. This paper identifies the two crucial parameters of weighted expected utility -- risk aversion and eccentricity -- by studying demand for insurance. The first of these is a measure that generalizes the Arrow-Pratt risk aversion measure of expected utility. The other, which we call a measure of eccentricity, has no counterpart in expected utility theory. Risk aversion is a concept with which decision analysts are quite comfortable, but eccentricity is simultaneously a new concept and one whose predictions are more subtle than those of risk aversion. In essence, eccentricity is a measure of how susceptible the decision maker is to Allais' paradox or how much he differs from expected utility maximization. Together risk aversion and eccentricity completely determine weighted expected utility and provide insight into the behavior of decision makers under uncertainty, behavior that can be quite different from that predicted by expected utility. Explanations are given of the impact of increases in risk aversion.and eccentricity on demand for insurance. Perhaps the most striking difference is that when the decision maker is eccentric, the standard analysis of decision trees by "averaging out and folding back" provides suboptimal decisions and the losses are magnified as the degree of eccentricity grows.


This is a pre-publication draft of my contribution to a forthcoming collection, Law under a Democratic Constitution:Essays in Honour of Jeffrey Goldsworthy (forthcoming, eds. L.Crawford, P.Emerton, & D.Smith, Hart Publishing, 2019). A persistent concern with constitutional judicial review of legislation is based on its necessary interference with democratic government.Various responses have been made but almost all take for granted the presumption that the decisions of elected legislatures ought to be respected and that any deviation from such decisions requires special justification. I raise some questions about the assumed desirability of democratic decision-making.These questions arise from evidence casting doubt on the competence of average voters, a problem which may have been exacerbated by changes in the way information is transmitted and received. At the same time, constitutional rules and institutions that prevented popular preferences from being translated into public choices have been progressively abandoned.
Numerous academic commentators have plausibly challenged the conventional understanding of the function of constitutional judicial review -- i.e. the enforcement of rules entrenched in a governing constitution. They argue that, either intrinsically or as a matter of experience, constitutional judges review state action according to their personal views of the public good. If that characterization is accepted, it is easy to see judicial review as a version of the ancient concept of mixed government. While, historically, that idea was seen as a way to check the power of monarchs, in its modern iteration, judges supply the aristocratic element that guards against dangers inherent in democracy. In the American constitutional system, this means that the judiciary would take over the role that the Senate was expected to take in the mixed government designed by the founders.
Endorsement of the "mixed government" picture of constitutional judicial review necessarily involves giving up as impractical the "rule of law" values of the conventional view. In this respect, it may have more in common with European type judicial review -- in which constitutional tribunals have a deliberately political role in public decision-making -- than with the American model in which such review is just a by-product of the judicial duty to apply governing law. While the mixed government view interferes with the directly influence of popular preferences on public policy-making, it maintains a situation whereby persistent and deeply held public opinion is likely to prevail. In that sense, it is consistent with democratic government broadly conceived.


Based on the review of three perspectives of language development, this paper is aimed to focus on interactionalist's position and provides insights into the influences of it on English as a foreign language teaching (EFLT).


Endobronchial ultrasound with real-time guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) sedation are available in two modes: sedation with midazolam (MID) and general anesthesia with propofol (PRO). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the tolerance according to sedation. This is a prospective, two-center, observational, non randomized study. The aim of the study is to evaluate the safety of patients according to the method of sedation. The main objective primary endpoint is to evaluate the tolerance on the one hand with the pain on a VAS from 0 (no pain) to 100 (unbearable pain). On the other hand, a questionnaire is given to the patient at the end of the investigation on cough, worst time of the examination, the pain during the move of the ultrasound endoscope through the mouth, the desire to repeat the examination under the same conditions. The secondary endpoint of the trial is evaluating the stress according to hemodynamic parameters (CF and AT). Results: Over a period of three months, 40 patients were included in the study: 20 in the MID group, 20 patients in the PRO. Among the 40 patients included, 34 were male (85%) and 6 women (15%). The average age was 61 years + / - 12 (27-81). Tolerance of ultrasound bronchoscopy is considered better under general anesthesia with propofol sedation as midazolam. EVA and all other parameters are the best in the PRO group. Hemodynamic parameters were similar. No complications were noted. The informativeness of punctures, the failure rate, the average number of punctures and the exam duration is comparable in the two groups.


We investigate approaches for the automated configuration of distributed Grid services. In particular, we implement several approaches for combining configuration information specified by a group of collaborating institutions (a Virtual Organization or VO) with local configuration parameters. We describe our implementation of merging strategies for configuring the Globus Replica Location Service. Based on our initial work, we describe outstanding issues for merging local and VO configuration policies and for resolving conflicting policies.


John Wyclif claims that there are relations of essential identity and formal distinctness connecting universals, complexly signifiables, and individuals. In some respects Wyclif's position on complexly signifiables coincides with what I call the advanced res theory, the view that complexly signifiables are really identical with but formally distinct from worldly individuals. But there is no question in Wyclif's treatment of a reduction of complexly signifiables to individuals. I argue that Wyclif populates his most fundamental ontological level with propositionally structured entities both individual and universal, and that this approach is superior to that of its nominalist rivals. But Wyclif shares with other versions of the advanced res theory an implausible theory of identity, and this affects the coherence of the claimed real identity between individuals and complexly signifiables.


An area in southwestern Middle Park, Colorado, has been studied in the field. Mapped principal structural features include the Williams Range thrust and a major normal fault east of the thrust. Direct observation of a cross section of the thrust surface, data on its elevation and its trace, an observation of its dip, and an observation on rotation of strata in the overblock show that the thrust surface is curved, being nearly horizontal in its westernmost exposures with progressively steeper eastward dips to the east. The mapped structural features postdate deposition of the Pierre Formation, and the thrust is known to have experienced recurrent movement. This paper explains the development of the mapped principal structural features in terms of a system of stresses acting on the boundaries of the area. Because east-west cross sections are similar, an explanation is offered for an average cross section of, specifically, height equal to 6500 feet and length equal to 32,500 feet. Analysis is treated as a two-dimensional problem. The system presented consists of a combination of two systems of stresses. One is characterized by a step displacement of the midpoint of the lower boundary, the other by a cosine displacement of the lower boundary. The analysis assumes that stress within the body is describable by methods of theory of elasticity and that faults and stress are related by the Mohr criterion. The analysis also assumes that faulting does not affect the orientation of principal stresses as described at the instant prior to inception of faulting and that it tends to increase the magnitudes of stress near its tip and decrease them where faulting has transpired. The system accounts for the attitude of faulting in the average cross section and predicts fault development where faulting has occurred. The explanation is compatible with lesser structural features of the overblock of the area, including high-angle faulting at the north and synclinal development in the youngest Tertiary rocks between the thrust and major normal fault. The explanation is compatible with the regional structural geology and is geologically practicable.


This paper reframes the hospice service system from a systemic design perspective and considers it as an extreme case of the wicked problem in the healthcare field. Through literature review, we first derive the feasibility of using systemic design thinking to analyze and intervene in hospice services from a theoretical level. Then, a multi-case comparative analysis was conducted to identify the commonalities in existing service system models. Next, we further explore the correspondence between these commonalities and system design features to confirm the presence of systemic design in hospice service systems. Also, the highlights and omissions of the existing cases are analyzed under the lens of systemic design, providing a reference for subsequent related research and system construction.


Background The opportunity arose to develop and facilitate end of life education to the paramedic service within the regional locality in response to the specific learning needs identified by the service and as part of a commissioning commitment. Aim The purpose of providing this education was to share specialist palliative care knowledge to improve the care and support offered to those patients and their families who utilise the paramedic service, across the region. This unified approach promotes the quality of person-centred care provision and increased confidence within the paramedic service staff with the emphasis on a shared vision to enhance seamless end of life care. Method The curriculum that was developed and delivered focused on the agenda of the learners. The education was delivered during three evening workshops over a period of three months by a combination of specialist hospice staff. The topics covered included: Recognition of the dying process and communication Advance care planning including resuscitation discussions Symptom control issues and the role of the out of hours service. Results The workshops were delivered through some elements of didactic presentation, interactive group discussion and examples of case studies that were provided by the paramedics themselves from past experience with the focus on experiential learning with a high uptake. To date, two workshops have been delivered and with a total of 40 staff participating. Conclusion As a consequence of this education, the feedback thus far has been of a positive and enquiring manner with a yearning to continue to address further learning needs. Further analysis is required following delivery of the final workshop in July 2018. An early outcome from this initiative is the commitment to deliver yearly workshops between both specialities to promote a more cohesive approach in working cross discipline to enhance the quality of end of life care.


This paper reports two advanced Electro-Static Discharge (ESD) protection structures suitable for RFIC's and a comparison study of influences of ESD parasitic capacitance (C/sub ESD/) on high-speed circuits. For a 4 GHz ring-oscillator and a low-power high-speed op-amp circuit, it was observed that C/sub ESD/ may corrupt high-speed performance significantly and new ESD structures can recover the corruption by 80%.


While probabilistic methods have been applied extensively to quantify uncertainty of sea environments and estimate reliability of naval vessels under normal seaway loads, their extension to surface ships subjected to extreme dynamic loads due to collision, grounding, and weapon effects has not been well explored. Under these extreme loads, the structural response behaves nonlinearly. In addition, the complexity of fluid-structure interaction phenomena may render the assumptions on the loading process (stationary and Gaussian) invalid. In this study, we develop probabilistic analysis tools to assess the response uncertainty and variance in vulnerability assessment due to known variability in materials properties, geometric configuration, failure criteria, and loading parameters.


Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are associated with an increased risk of metabolic comorbidities. There is a lack of data regarding the relationship between lifestyle and metabolic diseases in IBD patients. A cross-sectional study on consecutive IBD outpatients was conducted. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) was assessed using a 14-item questionnaire from the PREDIMED study, and physical activity was evaluated using the GODIN-Leisure score. Body composition was studied based on body mass index and waist–hip ratio (WHR), while quality of life was assessed using a nine-item short questionnaire. Among the 688 evaluated IBD patients, 66% were overweight or obese, 72.7% did not lead an active lifestyle and 70.1% did not adhere to the MD. Metabolic syndrome was associated with age (OR = 1.07, p = 0.019), overweight/obesity (OR = 12.987, p < 0.001) and the inflammatory behavior of Crohn's disease (OR = 6.172, p = 0.001). Type 2 diabetes mellitus or prediabetes was associated with age (OR = 1.063 p = 0.016), overweight/obesity (OR = 3.861, p < 0.001) and the inflammatory behavior of Crohn's disease (OR = 4.716, p = 0.001). Overweight /obesity (OR = 5.494, p < 0.001), a high WHR (OR = 2.564, p = 0.005) and a non-active lifestyle (OR = 2.202, p = 0.0003) were associated with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. Lifestyle, body composition and not solely systemic inflammation might exert a significant influence on the emergence of metabolic comorbidities such as MASLD, type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome in patients with IBD.


Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is the key pathogen for Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) and can result in severe neurological complications and death among young children. Three inactivated-EV71 vaccines have gone through phase III clinical trials and have demonstrated good safety and efficacy. These vaccines will benefit young children under the threat of severe HFMD. However, the potential immunization-related compatibility for different enterovirus vaccines remains unclear, making it hard to include the EV71 vaccine in Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI). Here, we measured the neutralizing antibodies (NTAbs) against EV71, Coxsackievirus A16 (CA16) and Poliovirus from infants enrolled in those EV71 vaccine clinical trials. The results indicated that the levels of NTAb GMTs for EV71 increased significantly in all 3 vaccine groups (high, middle and low dosages, respectively) post-vaccination. Seroconversion ratios and Geometric mean fold increase were significantly higher in the vaccine groups (≥7/9 and 8.9~228.1) than in the placebo group (≤1/10 and 0.8~1.7, P < 0.05). But no similar NTAb response trends were found in CA16 and 3 types of Poliovirus. The decrease of 3 types of Poliovirus NTAb GMTs and an increase of CA16 GMTs post-EV71-vaccination were found in vaccine and placebo groups. Further animal study on CA16 and poliovirus vaccine co-immunization or pre-immunization with EV71 vaccine in mice indicated that there was no NTAb cross-activity between EV71 and CA16/Poliovirus. Our research showed that inactivated-EV71 vaccine has good specific-neutralizing capacity and can be included in EPI.


Pancreatic cancer has a dismal prognosis, and treatment options for patients with locally advanced or metastatic disease are limited. Early tumor progression after standard chemo- and or radiotherapy remains a major concern in managing these patients. Treating pancreatic cancer patients with the Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR-3) agonist rintatolimod (Ampligen®) was effective in boosting the immune response. Rintatolimod acts via the TLR-3 receptor on several immune cells. However, the TLR-3 expression pattern in pancreatic cancer cells and how rintatolimod affects pancreatic cancer cells have not yet been investigated. The TLR-3 protein and mRNA expression were evaluated in thirteen PDAC tissue samples as well as in the human PDAC (hPDAC) cell lines CFPAC-1, MIAPaCa-2, and PANC-1 using immunohistochemistry and multiplexed gene expression analysis, respectively. The direct anti-tumor effects of rintatolimod were investigated using a proliferation and migration assay after different incubation time points with increasing concentrations of rintatolimod (ranging from 0.05 to 0.4 mg/ml). The TLR-3 protein and mRNA expression were heterogeneous between the PDAC tissue samples and the three hPDAC cell lines. TLR-3 protein and mRNA expression were high in CFPAC-1, moderate in MIAPaCa-2, and undetectable in PANC-1. Rintatolimod three-day treatment resulted in significantly reduced proliferation of CFPAC-1 cells compared to vehicle-treated control cells. In addition, after 24 hours, rintatolimod-treated CFPAC-1 cells showed less cell migration compared to vehicle-treated control cells, although this difference was not statistically significant. Lastly, we identified fifteen genes, altered with a Log2 FOC > |1.0| in rintatolimod-treated CFPAC-1 cells, which were significantly related to three transcription factors (NFKB1, RELA, and SP1) regulating the TLR-3 signaling pathway. In conclusion, we propose that rintatolimod treatment might have a direct TLR-3-dependent anti-tumoral effect on pancreatic cancer cells expressing TLR-3.


In this paper we present a P300-hased Brain Computer Interface (BCI) for the remote control of a mechatronic actuator, such as wheelchair, or even a car, driven by EEG signals to be used hy tetraplegic and paralytic users or just for safe drive in case of car. The P300 signal, an Evoked Related Potential (ERP) devoted to the cognitive brain activity, is induced for purpose by visual stimulation. The EEG data are collected by 6 smart wireless electrodes from the parietal-cortex area and online classified by a linear threshold classifier, basing on a suitable stage of Machine Learning (ML). The ML is implemented on a μPC dedicated to the system and where the data acquisition and processing is performed. The main improvement in remote driving car by EEG, regards the approach used for the intentions recognition. In this work, the classification is based on the P300 and not just on the average of more not well identify potentials. This approach reduces the number of electrodes on the EEG helmet. The ML stage is based on a custom algorithm (t-RIDE) which tunes the following classification stage on the user's "cognitive chronometry". The ML algorithm starts with a fast calibration phase (just ∼190s for the first learning). Furthermore, the BCI presents a functional approach for time-domain features extraction, which reduces the amount of data to be analyzed, and then the system response times. In this paper, a proof of concept of the proposed BCI is shown using a prototype car, tested on 5 subjects (aged 26 ± 3). The experimental results show that the novel ML approach allows a complete P300 spatio-temporal characterization in 1.95s using 38 target brain visual stimuli (for each direction of the car path). In free-drive mode, the BCI classification reaches 80.5 ± 4.1% on single-trial detection accuracy while the worst-case computational time is 19.65ms ± 10.1. The BCI system here described can be also used on different mechatronic actuators, such as robots.


Unilaterally adrenalectomized and bilaterally adrenalectomized mongrel dogs with both normal and denervated spleen were made hypercapnic by inhalation of 30% CO2 in oxygen in order to determine the mechanism of the resulting splenic contraction. The results obtained indicate that splenic contraction in dogs breathing 30% CO2 is mediated by both the splenic nerves and by the adrenal glands. The nerves appear to act more rapidly but contraction still occurs in the absence of all innervation. Neither bilateral adrenalectomy nor splenic denervation alone completely blocked the splenic response in all animals, but of the two procedures the former appeared to be much more effective in this respect. In order to completely block splenic response to inhalation of 30% CO2, both denervation of the spleen and bilateral adrenalectomy were necessary.


The dynamic cross‐correlation Map(DCCM) technique has been used extensively to study protein dynamics. In this work, we introduce the use of the method of correlation of probability of recurrence (CPR) as a complementary method to detect correlations between protein residue atoms. Time series of the distances of the Cα atoms of the β‐lactamase inhibitory protein (BLIP) from a reference position are analyzed using CPR and mutual information (MI). The results are compared to those provided by DCCM. In comparison to MI, CPR is found to detect more of the correlations present in DCCM. It is also able to detect a small number of significant correlations between distant residues that are not detected by DCCM. Proteins 2014; 82:2180–2189. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


The Federal Emergency Management Agency9s loss-estimation model, HAZUS, is a powerful tool in emergency management. Its accuracy, when used immediately following an earthquake to estimate likely damage and effects, can be partially evaluated with sensitivity analysis by varying input parameters within expected uncertainties. For earthquakes, uncertainties in location (epicenter and depth) and magnitude are major factors contributing to uncertainties in HAZUS results. In this investigation, three factors from HAZUS outputs (total economic loss, numbers of buildings with major damage, and numbers of fatalities) are compared for various permutations of epicentral location, depth, and magnitude. Given the typical uncertainties in these earthquake parameters, this analysis indicates that HAZUS estimates will generally be within a factor of five relative to likely actual values. Uncertainties in the location of epicenters, depths, and magnitude, when combined with changing population, uncertainties in building stock, and uncertainties in local effects (soil and rock types, assumptions about attenuation, basin geometry, liquefaction potential, and directivity), make loss estimates generally consistent within one order of magnitude.


The possibility of the "rebound effect" to technological progress has triggered a debate in energy economics concerning the usefulness of the promotion of efficiency progress. Until now, a multitude of empirical evidence has been gathered so to assess the magnitude of the effect in the first place. Progress in theoretical research has been rather modest, however. In this paper, we argue for a broadening of the theoretical basis beyond neoclassical consumer theory. We more specifically suggest turning toward consumption theories that deal with consumer needs and learning processes. We postulate that the rebound effect to energy efficiency progress is a special case of behavioral reactions to technological change more in general. Our central hypothesis is that rebound effects will only occur as long as the consumer needs appealed to by the product are not yet satiated. We exemplarily illustrate how to apply these arguments for the case of energyefficient washing machines.


In this article we study two different generalizations of von Neumann regularity, namely strong topological regularity and weak regularity, in the Banach algebra context. We show that both are hereditary properties and under certain assumptions, weak regularity implies strong topological regularity. Then we consider strong topological regularity of certain concrete algebras. Moreover we obtain the following non-commutative analog of a result of Kaplansky. A bounded operator T on a Banach space X whose point spectrum σp (T) contains a nonzero complex number, is weakly regular.


The overuse of antibiotics in food animals has led to the development of bacterial resistance and the widespread of resistant bacteria in the world. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) in food animals are currently considered emerging contaminants, which are a serious threat to public health globally. The current situation of ARB and ARGs from food animal farms, manure, and the wastewater was firstly covered in this review. Potential risks to public health were also highlighted, as well as strategies (including novel technologies, alternatives, and administration) to fight against bacterial resistance. This review can provide an avenue for further research, development, and application of novel antibacterial agents to reduce the adverse effects of antibiotic resistance in food animal farms.


The band structure of the short period zinc-blende (GaN)n/(AlN)n (001) superlattices has been calculated by means of semi-empirical tight-binding sp3s* method. The superlattices energy gap dependence on layer number n is given out. On the basis of the calculated eigenfunctions and eigenvalues of the superlattices (SL), the imaginary parts of the dielectric function ϵ2(ω) of (GaN)n/(AlN)n (001) superlattices were obtained. In order to compare with the optical properties of bulk zinc-blende GaN and AlN, we also calculated ϵ2(ω) of the two compounds. It is shown that there are some discernible effects due to confinement and superlattice periodicity.


Change, or impending change, can often inspire the creation of myths, for it both threatens and promises. It threatens the security of the established, while providing hope to the disestablished. Change thus produces anxiety and discomfort on the one hand, euphoria and optimism on the other. Those in a position to be harmed by the change often create "negative" myths about the potential implications of that change; those not, glorify it. To misquote Claude Levi-Strauss, myths are created to control the present, hence, by implication, also the future (Levi-Strauss 1979).


Multiple beam interference of light in a wedge is considered when the wedge is filled with an absorbing medium.The aim is to examine a method that may give values of both the real and the imaginary parts of the refractive index of the absorbing medium. We propose here a method to determine these quantities from simple techniques like fringe counting and interferometry, by using as the incident wave either a single Gaussian beam or two parallel Gaussian beams.


Abstract This study investigates the link between the cost of capital, and both share book values and market prices on Qatari Stock Exchange. The rational of this test suggested that their relationship between the published financial data and decision making as result of complying with transparent disclosure, in capital markets which suggested that this data has lost its value relevance to shareholders. Ohlson (1995) basic equity valuation model applied in this research, which linked to the firm's equity market value to book values adjusted for abnormal returns. Data used in this study represent all listed firms on Qatari Stock Exchange, to test this assumption for the period from 2010 to 2019. The result indicated a negative correlation among cost of capital and both firms book values and share market prices. Firms bearing higher risks are predicted to earn higher returns. According to the study's findings, statistical evidence supports the claim that raising the amount of leverage raises the risk for equity shareholders. Because of an increase in leverage results in a higher expected return on investment to compensate equity shareholders for the increased risk.


Due to the low hydraulic slope of the Kızılırmak River, the water flow rate is slow. For this reason, mostly fine-grained materials are transported and stored. Since the foundation rock is at lower altitudes, the building foundations near Kızılırmak River are mostly built on fine-grained material. Structural foundations that are not constructed mostly according to the Basic Engineering criteria, cannot exhibit solid-rigid behavior if exposed to excessive water effects in events such as precipitations and riverbed flood. If the drainage conditions are not provided, the negativity increases even more. In this case, the fine-grained base material saturated with water shows more plastic behavior. Due to the plastic behavior, the building's foundation and walls lose their primary feature and are caused to cracks, decomposition and then deformations. In this study, soil material parameters and drainage conditions are tried to be explained in laboratory conditions for the deformations on the structures in the village of Karabucak near the Kızılırmak river. In case of interaction of fine-grained cohesion materials with water and drainage conditions are not met, it was observed that the pore pressure increased when the liquid limit exceeded 50%. In cases where the liquid limit exceeds 60% and the plasticity index exceeds 20%, the potential for swelling and compression increases. It has been observed that a high rate of damage occurs in these types of structures due to increasing volume changes up to 13% with increasing swelling pressures. Similarly, in terms of shear strength, it has been determined that there is a loss of stability in cohesion below 20 kpa and internal friction angle below 30 °.


With the increase of power consumption in compact electronic devices, passive heat transfer cooling technologies with high heat flux characteristics are highly desired in microelectronics industries. Carbon nanotube (CNT) cluster/forest has high effective thermal conductivity, nano pore size and large porosity, which can be used as wick structure in a heat pipe heatspreader and provides high capillary force for high heat flux thermal management. In this research, investigations of high heat flux cooling of the CNT bi-wick structure are associated with the development of a reliable thermometer and high performance/interface free heater. A 100nm thick and 600μm wide Z-shaped platinum wire resistor is fabricated on the backside of a CNT sample substrate to heat a 2×2mm2 wick area. As a heater, it provides direct heating effect without thermal interface and is capable of over 800°C high temperature operation. As a thermometer, reliable temperature measurement is achieved by calibrating the resistance variation with temperature after the annealing process is applied. The CNT sample substrate is silicon. The backside of the silicon substrate is thermally oxidized to create a 2μm thick and pinhole-free SiO2 layer so that the platinum heater and thermometer can survive from the server CNT growth environments and without any electrical leakage. For high heat flux cooling, the CNT bi-wick structure is composed of 250μm tall, 100μm wide stripe-like CNT clusters and 50μm empty space. Using 1×1cm2 CNT bi-wick samples, experiments are completed in both the open and saturated environments. Testing results of CNT bi-wick structure demonstrate 600W/cm2 heat transfer capacity and good thermal & mass transport characteristics in the nano level porous media.© 2009 ASME


An ad hoc network is a collection of mobile nodes that dynamically form a temporary network and are infrastructure less. Due to Open Medium, dynamic topology, Distributed Cooperation, Constrained Capabilities ad hoc networks are vulnerable to many types of security attacks. This paper is about the prevention of impersonation Attack. The proposed system is based on authentication system. In which cryptographic signature matching is performed between the mobile station and the base station. we have used Diffie-Hellman based cryptography approach to perform the secure transmission over the network. The system is implemented in ns2 with AODV protocol and analysis is presented using Xgraph.


Quinidine has been reported to reduce clearance and the distribution volume of digoxin. Data are presented indicating that serum digoxin concentration (SDC) is increased throughout the coadministration of quinidine. This strongly suggests that the quinidine-induced reduction of digoxin clearance is the main mechanism underlying this drug interaction. It has been suggested that beside renal clearance quinidine also reduces non-renal clearance of digoxin. Direct evidence is provided by a study in patients with impaired renal function. Irrespective of the degree of renal impairment, quinidine increases SDC to about the same amount as found in patients with normal renal function. Since quinidine does not interfere with plasma protein binding of digoxin, this implies a decrease in non-renal clearance. In all patient groups the incidence of this drug interaction is rather high; however, pronounced interindividual differences occur as regards the extent of the increase in SDC. Regardless of the state of renal function careful monitoring of digitalized patients is mandatory once quinidine therapy is initiated. Since it may take a week or more until a new steady state is established in patients with impaired renal function, this period of close monitoring should be extended correspondingly.


The title compound, [Cu2(C20H14N2O2)2]·2C3H7NO, consists of a centrosymmetric dimer composed of two copper(II) ions and two tetradentate salphen ligands {H2salphen is 2,2′-[o-phenylenebis(nitrilomethylidyne)]diphenol}, and two dimethylformamide solvent molecules. The CuII atom is bonded to two N imino atoms and three phenolate O atoms of salphen. One deprotonated phenol group of each ligand bridges two Cu atoms, forming the dimer. The geometry about the five-coordinate Cu atom can best be described as slightly distorted rectangular pyramidal. The crystal structure is stabilized by π–π interactions [centroid-centroid distance 3.779 (2) Å] and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds.


Objective To initially explore the antihepatocarcinoma effect of Cynanchum paniculatum aqueous extract. Methods In vitro cultured HepG-2 cell strains was used in the experiment for observing the antihepatocarcinoma effect of Cynanchum paniculatum aqueous extract influencing the growth curve. Results It was observed that Cynanchum paniculatum aqueous extract could inhibit the growth of HepG-2 cell strains in vitro when it's concentration was 60g/L and 30g/L.When the concentration was 15g/L and 7.5g/L,it had no conspicuous inhibition. Conclusion Cynanchum paniculatum aqueous extract had better inhibition on cell multiplication of HepG-2 cell strains in vitro.


In Ethiopia, the demand for soybean product is increasing as a result of increasing population growth, agro-processing and urbanization. Research needs to provide farm level evidence that could guide informed production decision-making. This research was conducted to assess costs and patterns of input use and determine the profitability of soybean production in Assosa zone of Benishangul-Gumuz region. Data for the study were collected from 59 randomly selected soybean farmers using a well-structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and enterprise budgets are used to analyze the data. Results of the gross margin analysis showed that total gross revenue of Birr 10566.38 ha-1 is generated from sales of soybean grain. The average variable cost incurred is 6634.43 Birr/ha. The gross margin and net-farm income was estimated to be 3931.956 and 3629.956 Birr/ha, respectively. The benefit cost ratio amounted to 1.52 which implies for every Birr incurred in costs, the farmer can expect a benefit of 1.52 Birr. Moreover, the sensitivity analysis indicated that profitability of soybean production is more sensitive to reduction in price than to increases in yield. The study therefore concluded that soybean production in Assosa Zone of Benishangul-Gumuz region is profitable enterprise. It is suggested that consistent government policies that would favor soybean production and market linkage between producers and soybean agro-industries in the area would attract investors and small-scale farmers would gain reasonable economic benefits from soybean production in Assosa zone.

 Key words: Soybean, production, profitability, costs, returns, Benishangul-Gumuz.


Traditionally, indirect restorations are expected to have better longevity than direct restorations. The introduction of adhesive dentistry and the minimally invasive approach of restorative treatment has changed this. In this article, the differences in longevity between direct and indirect restorations in the posterior dentition are explained. In addition, the advantages and disadvantages of direct and indirect restorations placed in a minimally invasive way and using a proper adhesive technique are described.


Flip chip packaging technology has been utilized more than 40 years ago and it still experiencing an explosives growth. This growth is driven by the need for high performance, high volume, better reliability, smaller size and lower cost of electronic consumer products. Wafer bumping is unavoidable process in flip chip packaging, thus, picking the correct bumping technology that is capable of bumping silicon wafer at high yield and a high reliability with lower cost is challenging. This paper discusses the available wafer bumping technologies for flip chip packaging. The discussion will be focused on process assembly, solder ball compatibility, design structure and lastly cost which translated to overall product costs.