Many diverse and complicated objects of nature and math possess the quality of self‐similarity, and algorithms which produce self‐similar shapes provide a way for computer graphics to represent natural structures. For a variety of studies in signal processing and shape‐characterization, it is useful to compare the structures of many different "objects". Unfortunately, large amounts of computer time are needed as prerequisite for rigorous self‐similarity characterization and comparison. The present paper describes a fast computer technique for the characterization of self‐similar shapes and signals based upon Monte Carlo methods. The algorithm is specifically designed for digitized input (e.g. pictures, acoustic waveforms, analytic functions) where the self‐similarity is not obvious from visual inspection of just a few sample magnifications. A speech waveform graph is used as an example, and additional graphics are included as a visual aid for conceptualizing the Monte Carlo process when applied to speech waveforms.


Development of a Short Version of the Dysfunctional Beliefs about Sleep Questionnaire for use with Children (DBAS-C10)
Background: Dysfunctional beliefs about sleep (DBAS) contribute to sleep problems. There is urgent need to develop a questionnaire addressing these beliefs in children. We aimed to develop and assess the psychometric properties of a short version of the DBAS for use with children (DBAS-C10), adapted from the previous child and adult versions. Methods: Data were collected in 134 year 6/7 students [mean (SD) age = 12.73 y (.09y)] who completed the DBAS-C10 twice, either before and after a sleep education intervention (n=91) or before and after curriculum as usual (n=43). Exploratory factor analysis and validity testing were undertaken. Results: Three factors emerged (1) Beliefs about the immediate negative consequences of insomnia (items 1;6;7;9) (2) Beliefs about the long-term negative consequences of insomnia (items 2, 3;5;8) (3) Need to control the insomnia (items 4;10). In effect, only one difference from the adult factor structure resulted, item 2 moved from short term consequences to long term consequences of insomnia. Internal consistency of the scale was good (0.71), and the test retest reliability (when the questionnaire was completed 5-7 weeks apart) suggested consistency of responses. The questionnaire showed small sensitivity to change post intervention. Conclusions: This scale has acceptable psychometric properties and could be used to investigate dysfunctional beliefs in children and potentially detect changes in sleep related cognitions in children in treatment interventions.


This work introduces ATTEMPT (ATTEntional Mixture of Prompt Tuning), a new modular, multi-task, and parameterefficient language model (LM) tuning approach that combines knowledge transferred across different tasks via a mixture of soft prompts while keeping original LM unchanged. ATTEMPT interpolates a set of prompts trained on large-scale source tasks and a newly initialized target task prompt using instance-wise attention computed by a light-weight sub-network trained on multiple target tasks. ATTEMPT is parameter-efficient (e.g., updates 1,600 times fewer parameters than fine-tuning) and enables multi-task learning and flexible extensions; importantly, it is also more interpretable because it demonstrates which source tasks affect the final model decision on target tasks. Experimental results across 17 diverse datasets show that ATTEMPT improves prompt tuning by up to a 22% absolute performance gain and outperforms or matches fully fine-tuned or other parameter-efficient tuning approaches that use over ten times more parameters.1


The principles of pressure-gain combustors based on the wave rotor and pulse-combustor concepts are reviewed. A study, based on experimental data, in which current-technology pressure-gain combustors were applied to three aircraftengine derivative industrial gas-turbines, covering a power range from 275 kW (370 hp) to 29 MW (39,000 hp) showed that engine power increased by 6.5% to 9.6% with corresponding reductions of equal magnitude in specific fuel consumption. It is concluded that pressure-gain combustors appear to offer sufficient improvements in performance without incurring crippling installational penalties, although decreases in engine power/weight ratios are noted, to warrant further research and development.


For iterative x-ray computed tomography (CT) reconstruction, the convex algorithm combined with ordered subset (OSC) [1] is a relatively fast algorithm and has shown its potential for low-dose situations. But it needs one forward projection and two backprojections per iteration. Unlike convex algorithm, the gradient algorithm only requires one forward projection and one backprojection per iteration. Here, we applied ordered subsets of projection data to a modified gradient algorithm. In order to further reduce computation time, the new algorithm, the ordered subset gradient (OSG) algorithm, can be adjusted with a step size. We also implemented another OS-type algorithm called OSTR. The OSG algorithm is compared with OSC algorithm and OSTR algorithm using three-dimensional simulated helical cone-beam CT data. The performance is evaluated in terms of log-likelihood, contrast recovery, and bias-variance studies. Results show that images of OSG has compatible visual image quality to those of OSC and OSTR, but in the resolution and bias-variance studies, OSG seems to reach stable values with faster speed. In particular, OSTR has better recovery in a smoother region, but both OSG and OSC have better recovery in the high-frequency regions. Moreover, in terms of log likelihood with respect to computation time, OSG has faster convergence rate than that of OSC and similar to that of OSTR. We conclude that OSG has potential to provide comparable image quality and is more computationally efficient, and thus could be suitable for low-dose, helical cone-beam CT image reconstruction.


Laser lipolysis is a therapeutic modality that is currently used to treat localized fat and promote cutaneous retraction. Compared to conventional liposuction, removing fat using laser lipolysis has a shorter post-operative recovery time and fewer adverse effects. Applying laser directly to adipose tissue causes fat liquefaction, blood vessel coagulation and collagen denaturation. The thermal damage induces neocollagenesis and skin contraction. The technique's safety is well documented. This study reviews the literature on laser lipolysis and describes its current status.


It is frequently asserted that the ongoing process that is commonly referred to as globalization should bring about wide-spread changes in values. Furthermore, it is hypothesized that the unparalleled increases in the flow of capital, goods, services and information coupled with the revolutionary developments in information and communication technologies should result in a convergence of values.This paper is attempt to assess the direction and the magnitude of value change between 1981, when the first WVS/EVS surveys were conducted, and 2001, the last year for which data are available. Data from some 20 countries are analyzed to follow possible changes in values. Furthermore, the paper offers a test of the convergence hypothesis by examining the standard deviations and the coefficients of variation of a wide-ranging list of values.The conclusion is that cultural value change has been rather limited during this period at least for this sample of countries. Among the dimensions studied, marriage, family and gender relations seem to be the area of most significant change. On the other hand, we have found almost no evidence for even a slow convergence of values.


Residue management is an important agricultural practice for improving soil fertility. To reveal the impact of residue management on soil microbial community, we conducted a field experiment with three treatments: no straw returning (control, CK), straw returning (SR), and straw returning combined with cow manure (SM). Our results indicated that soil organic matter content was significantly higher in SR treatment than CK in both seedling and jointing stages. In seedling stage, the lowest total nitrogen content was observed in CK treatment, and significantly lower than that in SM and SR treatment. Furthermore, soil available phosphorus content was significantly higher in SM and SR treatment than CK in jointing stage. In the seedling stage, the soil microbial average wellcolor development (AWCD) value, microbial McIntosh index, and Shannon index of CK and SM treatments were significantly higher than those in SR treatment. The AWCD value and McIntosh index in the jointing stage showed similar patterns: SM > CK > SR. Permutational multivariate analysis of variance indicated that soil microbial community was significantly affected by growth stage, but unaffected by residue management. The partial Mantel test revealed that the available potassium and the C/N ratio had independent effects on soil microbial community. Overall, our results indicated that straw returning combined with cow manure had a beneficial effect on soil fertility, microbial activity and diversity.


The article integrates several theoretical and practical issues into the general context of the contemporary crisis of the bureaucratic state and a quest for new patterns of governance. Considering the paradox of the positive influence of social distrust on political development, the dependence between trust and corruption, and recent changes in the public management of several leading countries as a kind of administrative response to new situations in the contemporary world, the author devotes the main part of the article to the case of Russia. Several rounds of unsuccessful efforts to create a genuine public service in post-Soviet Russia are described and the reasons for failure are explored. The common denominator of the author's approach is an appraisal of the current condition of bureaucratic state institutions and personnel as unsuited to contemporary pub-


The World Wide Web has gone through many improvements since its birth. The Common Gateway Interface (CGI), client and server-side scripting, form processing, integration of Web components, better security are some of the most notable enhancements which bring higher levels of interactivity and 'intelligence' to the Web, making it more able to meet both educational and business needs. This paper concentrates on the use of Web components in practice. More specifically, to show how a component framework paradigm can be a cost-effective and time-saving solution for developers and users alike, a prototype Internet multimedia authoring tool based on a particular component framework is introduced. In a more general sense, this paper hopes to bring into perspective the viability of the current use of component frameworks on the Internet and how they can also leverage Web application development efforts which need not be restricted only to electronic books.


【This study was conducted to investigate the effect of timing of surgery on outcomes of spine operated patients for lumbar herniated intervertebral disc. The research design was cohort study and based on the data of claims for the medical expenses of health insurance. 21,475 cases who had primary spine surgery between January 1, and December 31, 2003, observed to conservative treatment period in the past two years from preoperative primary diagnosis to timing of primary surgery. According to one and five year follow up monitoring, the probability of occurrence of reoperation was not statistically significant with preoperative duration of symptom. Also one year follow up, the probability of occurrence of complication, was not statistically significant with preoperative duration of symptom. But five year follow up, groups who had one to two month preoperative duration of symptom decreased complication rate than less than a month(95%CI:0.594-0.927). Thus, from the onset of symptoms of back pain before primary surgery with enough and adequate time observation is required. Also, medical consumers or providers to choose surgery in determining prudence is required.】


A total of 130 transitions in H-like, He-like, Li-like and Be-like oxygen have been observed in the wavelength region 7-32 nm using beam-foil excitation. A number of new lines are assigned to transitions in the doubly excited quartet system of O VI. The structure of this term system is derived from theoretical and experimental evidence. It is compared to the doubly excited term systems within the Li isoelectronic sequence.


This report shows that although each state and territory rental support program has similar aims, their operation varies considerably. A number of barriers were identified that undermined the programs, including limits on the amount of support provided and antipathy from some landlords. The consensus among housing and welfare professionals was that the programs would be more effective if accompanied by on-going support mechanisms, but that resources available are not currently sufficient for this mode of operation.


Turbidimetry has proved to be an efficient method for the quantitative study of powder agglomeration for particle sizes in the region of 1 m. This work presents a new application of the technique for the agglomeration of -alumina in water and in n-heptane. The method of determining the kinetic parameters of agglomeration from the initial time-evolution of turbidity is explained. Turbulent flow in the reactor has also been characterised by laser anemometry. From the turbulence intensity, the number of collisions per unit time is calculated and the agglomeration rate can therefore be determined. Good agreement is found between the values obtained respectively from turbidimetric and hydrodynamic measurements. Addition of KOH modifies the zeta potential of alumina in water and influences the agglomeration kinetics. This can also be quantitatively characterised by turbidimetry. The experimental results obtained for alumina particles of diameter 0.3 m and 1 m are interpreted according to the DLVO model of interaction between particles.


UNLABELLED
The concept of spatial cooperation in neoadjuvant chemoradiation (CRT) for locally advanced rectal cancer is attractive. Chemotherapy may, as a component of CRT, not only act as a radiosensitizing agent but also potentially eradicate distant micrometastases. Recent trials have demonstrated that the addition of concurrent 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-based chemotherapy to radiation increases the pathological complete response rate, and reduces local recurrence, but as yet, a survival advantage has not been observed.

AIMS
This review aims to examine the evidence for induction CRT in locally advanced rectal cancer. The endpoints of pathological complete response, a negative circumferential margin, sphincter-sparing surgery, local control, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) are examined, as are acute and late morbidity, surgical complications, and late functional results.

METHODS
The information to produce this review was compiled by searching PubMed and MEDLINE for English language articles published until April 2007. The search term included "induction, neoadjuvant, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, chemoradiation, combined modality" in association with rectal cancer.

CONCLUSIONS
CRT in the European randomized trials of rectal cancer improves tumor downstaging, pathological complete response, and local control over radiotherapy alone, but does not translate into a benefit in terms of longer DFS or OS, or a higher chance of sphincter preservation. Metastatic disease remains a significant problem, which provides a strong rationale for the integration of a second cytotoxic drug, or biologically targeted agents.


A micro-mirror is the key structure of a MEMS optical switch or variable optical attenuator. The torsion angle is an essential parameter of micro-mirror. In this paper, the torsion angle of a silicon based non-silicon optical micro-mirror is measured by using hybrid optical and digital image processing technology. The result shows that the measurement scheme works well and the micro-mirror will rotate more than 15 degrees while the driving voltage is 15 V.


A notion of fundamental group of spectral triples [1] has been introduced. The notion uses a noncommutative analogue of unramified coverings. It was shown that in commutative case this fundamental group is a profinite completion of fundamental group of corresponding Riemann manifold.


Areal interpolation. We use areal weighting to interpolate data from the 1860 U.S. Census onto modern county boundaries (Saporito et al., 2007). While population-weighted interpolation generally produces better estimates of the underlying rates of various sub-populations, we use areal weighting becausewe are interested in interpolating both proportions (enslaved, free, etc) and levels (total population, improve farming acreage, etc), and areal interpolation allows us to use a consistent set of interpolationweights across these disparatemeasures. O'Connell (2012) andReece andO'Connell (2015) use a population-weighting approach to estimate proportion slave in modern county boundaries and our measure correlates with this measure at r = 0.986. For historical county boundaries, we relied on the Newberry Atlas of Historical County Boundaries (Siczewicz, 2011). The areal weighting schemeworks as follows. For a given census year, we create a ns×nt matrixA, where ns is the number of source (1860) counties and nt is the number of target (2000) counties. A is a row-normalized matrix, where each entry aij is the proportion of the area of source county i that is contained in target county j. We follow O'Connell (2012) and set aij = 1 and aij′ = 0 if more than 95% of an 1860 county is contained in a single 2000 county. Let yt be the vector of target values that we are trying to estimate and ys be the observed source vector of values. Then, we construct areal weighted estimated by yt = Ays. Essentially, this distributed the population in each 1860 county is distributed to 2000 counties based on how much of the 1860 county is contained in the 2000 county. Areal weighting assumes that distributions are evenly spread throughout the source counties, which may be false, and many methods exist to incorporate additional information such as roads to correct for these issues. Unfortunately, there is little information about the distribution of individuals or farms within counties in the antebellum period that could be reliably used across the entire country.


This study experimentally examined the influence of patch repair materials on the electrochemical desalination method for reinforced concrete. The experimental parameters are the electrical resistivity and the repair area ratio of the patch repair materials. The evaluation items were the amount of desalination and the current density distribution at the surface of the rebar. In addition, an assessment method to estimate the amount of desalination by using core samples obtained from an existing member was proposed. Experiment results showed that the current density at the surface of a rebar increased near the boundary between the patch repair material and the concrete, and that the distribution of current density depended on the electrical resistivity and the repair area ratio of the patch repair materials. Moreover, the amount of desalination increased as the electrical resistivity of patch repair materials increased.


Nanoparticles conjugated with carbon nanotubes are synthesized using a novel plasma technique combined with introduction of ionic liquids. First, we successfully generate a gas-liquid (discharge plasmasionic liquids) interfacial field under low gas pressures, in which the large sheath electric field is formed on the ionic liquid and the plasma ion irradiation to the ionic liquids with high energy is realized. Second, it is found that the high energy ion irradiation to the ionic liquid is effective for synthesis of metal nanoparticles. Third, owing to the synthesis in nano-spaces of the carbon nanotubes as a template, high-density and monodispersed metal nanoparticles are realized.


An intrinsic plastic Cu(45)Zr(46)Al(7)Ti(2) bulk metallic glass (BMG) with high strength and superior compressive plastic strain of up to 32.5% was successfully fabricated by copper mold casting. The superior compressive plastic strain was attributed to a large amount of randomly distributed free volume induced by Ti minor alloying, which results in extensive shear band formation, branching, interaction and self-healing of minor cracks. The mechanism of plasticity presented here suggests that the creation of a large amount of free volume in BMGs by minor alloying or other methods might be a promising new way to enhance the plasticity of BMGs.


The Mark III is a new general purpose detector being built for SPEAR by a collaboration from Caltech, Illinois, Santa Cruz, SLAC and Washington. The configuration has been optimized for the study of exclusive final states formed by the weak decays of charmed particles or heavy leptons. Some noteworthy aspects of the detector are: (1) A track-finding trigger which finds correlations between drift chamber hits in the non-bend as well as the bending plane. Such a trigger reduces cosmic ray and beam-gas background. (2) A drift chamber cell configuration which resolves the left-right ambiguity and allows an in situ measurement of drift velocity. (3) A group of 384 wires placed close to the interaction region which permits particle separation by dE/dx on the 1/β2 portion of the energy loss curve. This technique yields 2σ π/K separation up to 700 MeV/c over 94% of 4π. Time of flight measurements permit independent separation to higher momenta over 80% of 4π. (4) The shower counters, consisting of 24 layers of 0.5 r.l. lead plates separated by drift chambers, are placed within the solenoid coil, in order that photon efficiency at low energy not be compromised.


Measurements of the root hydraulic conductance (L0) of roots of Arabidopsis thaliana were carried out and the results were compared with the expression of aquaporins present in the plasma membrane of A. thaliana. L0 of plants treated with different NaCl concentrations was progressively reduced as NaCl concentration was increased compared to control plants. Also, L0 of plants treated with 60 mmol/L NaCl for different lengths of time was measured. Variations during the light period were seen, but only for the controls. A good correlation between mRNA expression and L0 was observed in both experiments. Control plants and plants treated with 60 mmol/L NaCl were incubated with Hg and then with DTT. For these plants, L0 and cell-to-cell pathway contributions to root water transport were determined. These results revealed that in control plants most water movement occurs via the cell-to-cell pathway, thus implying aquaporin involvement. But, in NaCl-stressed plants, the Hg-sensitive cell-to-cell pathway could be inhibited already by the effect of NaCl on water channels. Therefore, short periods of NaCl application to Arabidopsis plants are characterised by decreases in the L0 of roots, and are related to down-regulation of the expression of the PIP aquaporins. This finding indicates that the well known effect of salinity on L0 could involve regulation of aquaporin expression.


AIM
To evaluate the clinical manifestations and visual outcome of syphilitic uveitis patients.

METHODS
Case series of three patients with syphilitic uveitis who were managed in Hospital USM.

RESULTS
Three patients were diagnosed to have uveitis secondary to Syphilis. All three patients were not known to have syphilis prior to presentation but have positive history of sexual promiscuity. All patients presented with progressive blurring of vision for average of one-month duration. Two of them have association with fever, ocular pain and floaters. Visual acuity at presentation ranges from 6/12 to hand movement. Mild anterior uveitis (non-granulomatous), vitritis and papillitis were presence in all the patients. First patient has multifocal chorioretinitis with exudative retinal detachment. The second patient presented with exudative retinal detachment while the third patient has chorioretinitis only. All the patients were treated with intramuscular benzyl-penicillin 2.4 MU weekly for 4 weeks and two of them received oral doxycycline 200mg twice daily for 3 months. The uveitis responded well to the treatment and two of them showed dramatic visual improvement from 6/120 to 6/21 and 6/12 to 6/6. The one with worse outcome was confirmed to have positive retroviral.

CONCLUSION
Ocular syphilis presented here as non-granulomatous inflammation associated with exudative retinal detachment. Final visual outcome is generally good despite slow improvement after treatment.


Borneo has been described by Blust as a "hot spot" for linguistic change. The densely forested highlands and river systems are home to numerous communities, and a long history of human occupation has created a complex network of languages and dialects. Recently, Borneo has been the focus of numerous comparative works, many dealing with the Kenyah, Kayanic, Penan, and Sebop language groups of Sarawak and East Kalimantan. This paper addresses the Kayan-Kenyah hypothesis of Antonia Soriente. By carefully considering the linguistic evidence, it is shown that Soriente's hypothesis does not provide a convincing argument for a Kayan-Kenyah subgroup. Rather, there is a significant body of evidence for assuming that Kenyah, Penan, and Sebop form a single subgroup that does not include Kayanic. Furthermore, Soriente's Kayan-Kenyah hypothesis includes an internal subgrouping that places many demonstrably Kenyah languages within the Kayanic subgroup. This paper also addresses these issues, and proposes an updated internal subgrouping based largely on the regular and highly distinctive split in Proto-Austronesian voiced stops shared by all Kenyah, Penan, and Sebop languages.


In the present study, the rate- and state-dependent friction model [Hashiguchi and Ozaki, 2008] is implemented in the dynamic finite element method. The typical rate- and state-dependent frictional contact problems, which are consisted by elastic and rigid bodies having simple shapes, are then analyzed by the present method. The validity of the present method for the microscopic sliding and stick-slip instability is examined under various dynamic characteristics of the system, such as contact load, elastic stiffness, driving velocity and frictional properties. It is shown that the present method can solve simultaneously not only rate- and state-dependent frictional behavior on the contact boundary but also coupling effects with internal deformations, whereas it cannot predicted by the conventional finite element analysis with the Coulomb's friction law.


In N. D. Ainspan, C. Bryan, & W. E. Penk (Eds.). Psychosocial Interventions for Veterans: A Guide for the Non-Military Mental Health Clinician. In press. New York: Oxford University Press.


Why might it be (at least sometimes) beneficial for adults to process fractions componentially? Recent research has shown that college-educated adults can capitalize on the bipartite structure of the fraction notation, performing more successfully with fractions than with decimals in relational tasks, notably analogical reasoning. This study examined patterns of relational priming for problems with fractions in a task that required arithmetic computations. College students were asked to judge whether or not multiplication equations involving fractions were correct. Some equations served as structurally inverse primes for the equation that immediately followed it (e.g., 4 × 3/4 = 3 followed by 3 × 8/6 = 4). Students with relatively high math ability showed relational priming (speeded solution times to the second of two successive relationally related fraction equations) both with and without high perceptual similarity (Experiment 2). Students with relatively low math ability also showed priming, but only when the structurally inverse equation pairs were supported by high perceptual similarity between numbers (e.g., 4 × 3/4 = 3 followed by 3 × 4/3 = 4). Several additional experiments established boundary conditions on relational priming with fractions. These findings are interpreted in terms of componential processing of fractions in a relational multiplication context that takes advantage of their inherent connections to a multiplicative schema for whole numbers.


The extended meniscus and the intermolecular and capillary forces that govern its behavior and connection to change of phase heat transfer have been the subject of an increasing body of research over the past 50 years. We have been fortunate to be at the forefront of this effort starting from the development of a capillary feeder, in Earth's gravity, to stabilize film boiling to running a series of transparent heat pipe experiments aboard the International Space Station hoping to better understand the role of intermolecular forces in microgravity. The use of ellipsometry and interferometry to highlight the location and state of the vapor-liquid interface have been key to these studies and have helped to uncover many new, interesting, and sometimes unexpected, phenomena associated with fluid flow and change-of-phase heat transfer.


Neuroimmune responses remain understudied in people with neck pain. This study aimed to (1) compare a broad range of systemic neuroimmune responses in people with non-specific neck pain (N = 112), cervical radiculopathy (N = 25), and healthy participants (N = 23); and (2) explore their associations with clinical, psychological and lifestyle factors. Quantification of systemic neuroimmune responses involved ex vivo serum and in vitro evoked-release levels of inflammatory markers, and characterization of white blood cell phenotypes. Inflammatory indices were calculated to obtain a measure of total immune status and were considered the main outcomes. Differences between groups were tested using analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) and multivariable regression models. Compared to healthy participants, the ex vivo pro-inflammatory index was increased in people with non-specific neck pain (β = 0.70, p = 0.004) and people with cervical radiculopathy (β = 0.64, p = 0.04). There was no difference between non-specific neck pain and cervical radiculopathy (β = 0.23, p = 0.36). Compared to non-specific neck pain, people with cervical radiculopathy showed lower numbers of monocytes (β = −59, p = 0.01). There were no differences between groups following in vitro whole blood stimulation (p ≥ 0.23) or other differences in the number and phenotype of white blood cells (p ≥ 0.07). The elevated ex vivo neuroimmune responses in people with non-specific neck pain and radiculopathy support the contention that these conditions encompass inflammatory components that can be measured systemically. There were multiple significant associations with clinical, psychological and lifestyle factors, such as pain intensity (β = 0.25) and anxiety (β = 0.23) in non-specific neck pain, visceral adipose tissue (β = 0.43) and magnification (β = 0.59) in cervical radiculopathy, and smoking (β = 0.59) and visceral adipose tissue (β = 0.52) in healthy participants. These associations were modified by sex, indicating different neuroimmune associations for females and males.


This study aims to (1) reveal PAI learning through Google Classroom media in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, (2) find out the supporting and inhibiting factors for PAI learning through Google Classroom media in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, (3) school solutions and efforts and stakeholders to achieve PAI learning goals through Google Classroom media in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. The researcher used descriptive qualitative method. Research data obtained through in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation. The informants in this study were theprincipal, the head of the curriculum, PAI educators, homeroom teachers, class X students and guardians of students. Researchers used data analysis techniques, including data reduction, data presentation, drawing conclusions and checking the validity of the data. The results showed that, (1) PAI learning management in the evaluation of psychomotor aspects has not been implemented, (2) learning supporting factors, namely the existence workshops oflearning Google Classroom, strong signals and internet quotas, students having smartphones, and guardians of students being able to monitor and control students. learn while at home. Meanwhile, the inhibiting factors for learning are bad signals due to natural conditions and the concentration of students is easily disturbed, (3) the application of combined PAI learning, namely 50% face-to-face and 100% online requires good synergy between students, educators, families and communities. in order to achieve PAI learning objectives in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.


In product design, a decomposition of the overall product function into a set of smaller, interacting functions is usually considered a crucial first step for any computer-supported design tool. Here, we propose a new approach for the decomposition of functions especially suited for later solutions based on Artificial Intelligence. The presented approach defines the decomposition problem in terms of a planning problem--a well established field in Artificial Intelligence. For the planning problem, logic-based solvers can be used to find solutions that compute a useful function structure for the design process. Well-known function libraries from engineering are used as atomic planning steps. The algorithms are evaluated using two different application examples to ensure the transferability of a general function decomposition.


Cardiac tumors represent a relatively rare, yet challenging diagnosis. Echocardiography is the main diagnostic tool for the detection of a cardiac tumor. We report a case of congenital giant intra-cardiac tumor, in which echocardiography revealed a large well-defined hyperechoic homogenous intracardiac mass involving interventricular septum which mimicked like asymmetrical septal hypertrophic pattern and another two small masses attached to right ventricular part of interventricular septum.


This paper compares the teaching of proof in geometry at the lower secondary school level in the East (China, Japan) and in the West (UK). The aim is to seek to identify teaching strategies that might inform new pedagogic approaches for teaching deductive proof and proving. In the West, much theory focuses on examining the nature of classroom tasks. In the East, the heuristic nature of teaching and the theory of variation are useful as they focus on the dynamic role of the teacher. The paper suggests that the main need is for deeper thinking on the relationship between teachers' instructional practices and the development of students' mathematical reasoning.


The Asian crisis provides heterodox economists with the opportunity to investigate counterfactually whether the financial policies they have proposed would have averted the crisis. The paper argues that neoliberal financial integration (both a cause and effect of global financialization) introduces distinct risks to emerging economies—currency, flight, fragility, contagion, and sovereignty risks. The paper presents the financial policies endorsed by the heterodoxy—transactions taxes, trip wires-speed bumps, convertibility restrictions, the Chilean model, and a publicly managed mutual fund. The paper considers whether these policies mitigate risks, and whether they could have prevented the Asian crisis (and the transmission thereof). The paper concludes with policies to avert future crises in emerging economies.


Since the first discovery and description of materials, whose structures are not periodic, enormous efforts have been made in studying these aperiodic structures. With these efforts including the development of superspace group theory and structure solution algorithms, numerous incommensurately modulated structures which represent the vast majority of known aperiodic structures have been determined with single crystal X-ray diffraction data. However, the determination of modulated structures remains very difficult for polycrystalline materials. Powder X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy techniques yield remarkable information for polycrystalline materials. By combining these two methods, modulated structures of polycrystalline materials that impede solution by conventional methods can be determined. The power of these methods is illustrated with the examples of the determination of modulated structures of polycrystalline materials.
 Introduction to the international collaboration
 Electron diffraction methods have made enormous progress over the last decade. The determination of some structures using solely electron diffraction (ED) techniques, or in combination with powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) has now become convenient. However, the analysis of complex structures is far from routine even with high-quality single crystal X-ray diffraction (SXRD) data, and the structure analysis of complex structures from ED and/or PXRD data is more challengeable. The international collaborative researching projects of our group and of Lukas focus on synthetizing some new compounds which have some interesting functions and developing routine PXRD and ED methods to simplify the determination of complex structures of these new compounds.


Insertions and deletions (indels) are a major source of genetic variation in evolution and the cause of nearly 30% of Mendelian disease. Despite their importance, indels are left out of nearly every systematic mutational scan to date due to technical challenges associated with making indel-containing libraries, limiting our understanding of indels in disease, biology, and evolution. Here we present a library generation method, DIMPLE, that generates deletions, insertions, and missense at similar frequencies within any gene. To benchmark DIMPLE, we generated libraries within four genes (Kir2.1, VatD, TRPV1, and OPRM1) of varying length and evolutionary origin. DIMPLE produces libraries that are near complete, low cost, and low bias. We measured how missense mutations and indels of varying length impact the potassium channel Kir2.1 surface expression. Across all Kir2.1's secondary structure, deletions are more disruptive than insertions, beta sheets are extremely sensitive to large deletions, and flexible loops allow insertions far more frequently than deletions. DIMPLE's low bias, ease of use, and low cost will enable high throughput probing of the importance of indels in disease and evolution.


The authors report calculations of energies and decay rates for triply-excited 3l3l'3l configurations in Li-like N, N4+, and in B-like N, N2+, using a configuration interaction approach. Triply-excited configurations can be obtained in charge-exchange experiments and might be important in the process of neutralization of slow highly-ionized ions at surfaces but nearly no spectroscopic information is available for such states. They have found that there is a very strong configuration mixing in these systems which makes it difficult to give single-particle labels to the terms. This suggests that a molecular (collective) description might be useful in analogy with the molecular model of the doubly-excited nlnl' configurations in He-like spectra. Watanabe and Lin (1987) have considered a molecular description of the 3l3l'3l configurations in He-. The authors have considered whether this model is useful in the present case where the nuclear attraction is much stronger compared to the interelectronic repulsion but they do not find any compelling evidence for such a description.


A new type of core-shell upconversion nanoparticles which can be effectively excited at 795 nm has been designed and synthesized through spatially confined doping of neodymium (Nd(3+)) ions. The use of Nd(3+) ions as sensitizers facilitates the energy transfer and photon upconversion of a series of lanthanide activators (Er(3+), Tm(3+), and Ho(3+)) at a biocompatible excitation wavelength (795 nm) and also significantly minimizes the overheating problem associated with conventional 980 nm excitation. Importantly, the core-shell design enabled high-concentration doping of Nd(3+) (~0 mol %) in the shell layer and thus markedly enhanced the upconversion emission from the activators, providing highly attractive luminescent biomarkers for bioimaging without autofluorescence and concern of overheating.


Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) is greatly elevated in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) during normoxic daytime wakefulness. Increased MSNA is a precursor to hypertension and elevated cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, the mechanisms underlying the high MSNA in OSA are not well understood. In this study we used concurrent microneurography and magnetic resonance imaging to explore MSNA-related brainstem activity changes and anatomical changes in 15 control and 15 OSA subjects before and after 6 and 12 months of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment. We found that following 6 and 12 months of CPAP treatment, resting MSNA levels were significantly reduced in individuals with OSA. Furthermore, this MSNA reduction was associated with restoration of MSNA-related brainstem activity and structural changes in the medullary raphe, rostral ventrolateral medulla, dorsolateral pons, and ventral midbrain. This restoration occurred after 6 months of CPAP treatment and was maintained following 12 months CPAP. These findings show that continual CPAP treatment is an effective long-term treatment for elevated MSNA likely due to its effects on restoring brainstem structure and function.


The impact of stock disruptions on supply chain performance is analyzed by using system dynamics simulation. Performances of three different supply chains with Internet e-collaboration tools are compared with the assumption that a stock disruption occurs within two echelons in a four-echelon supply chain respectively. Numerical results are shown to reveal the Non-collaborative, Collaborative Forecasting and Collaborative Planning supply chains have completely different response characteristics under certain stock disaster, and Collaborative Forecasting supply chain has outstanding behavior in case of these stock events. Finally some conclusions to resist supply chain stock disruptions are concluded.


The trinuclear nickel complex [{Ni(dadt(Et))}(2)Ni](NiBr(4)) (dadt(Et) = N,N'-diethyl-3,7-diazanonane-1,9-dithiolate) (1a), prepared by the reaction of Ni(dadt(Et)) and Ni(EtOH)(4)Br(2), was found to serve as a useful synthetic precursor of various dinuclear nickel complexes modeling the active site of acetyl-CoA synthase (ACS). The reactions of 1a with 4 equiv of the potassium salts of arenethiolates in ethanol produced a series of dinuclear nickel thiolate complexes Ni(dadt(Et))Ni(SAr)(2) (Ar = Ph (2a), p-Tol (2b), 2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl (Tip) (2c)) in good yields. The analogous reactions of 1a with Ag(OTf) in the presence of (t)BuNC and (NMe(2))(2)CS (tmtu) generated the dicationic dinuclear nickel complexes [Ni(dadt(Et))Ni((t)BuNC)(2)](OTf)(2) (3) and [Ni(dadt(Et))Ni(tmtu)(2)](OTf)(2) (4), respectively. The molecular structures of 1a, 2a-c, 3, and 4 determined by X-ray analysis compare well with that of A-cluster in ACS.


Aim: The motive of this study is to detect the surface roughness of AA 6063 samples using the AlTiN coated HSS drill and Uncoated drill machined in the (Super Jobber) Novel CNC drilling center. The surface roughness formed on the drilled surface was tested in a surface roughness tester. Materials and Methods: The AA 6063 with a diameter of 25 mm and length of 20 mm was used for this research. The experiments were conducted for two groups namely the samples are drilled using AlTiN coated HSS drill (intervention group) and the samples are drilled using an Uncoated drill (control group). The surface roughness test for machined samples was performed according to ASTM standards in the (SJ410-Mitutoyo) surface roughness tester. The sample count calculated by G-POWER software was 80% and a total of 20 samples per group was derived. Results: According to this study, the obtained Surface roughness for AA 6063 samples machined using AlTiN coated drill was 1.1336 μm and the samples machined using an Uncoated drill were 1.9502 μm. By considering the one-way ANOVA test in SPSS software, the significance value was p= 0.025 (p <0.050) indicating the tool efficiency while drilling. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this research, the samples drilled with AlTiN coated HSS drill has lower surface roughness than samples drilled with an Uncoated drill.


The purpose of this study is to establish the proper view of history and the spirit of times, and to suggest conceptualization and space structuralization for People park construction as a site of dark tourism. Dark tourism is tourism involving travel to sites associated with death and suffering. New park type related with dark tourism is being developed in the world. Among them, People park what is called is produced recently. But it leaves much to be desired for this new type of park development includes establishment of definition and expansion of debate. People park is valuable place where we can discuss about people`s history of fetters as a sites of dark tourism. This article has a meaning as a trial research for conceptualization of Peoples park as a site of dark tourism. Because of the lack of related literature this study was performed as exploratory research by case study.


Abstract The knowledge acquisition bottleneck in the development of large knowledge-based applications has not yet been resolved. One approach which has been advocated is the systematic use of Machine Learning (ML) techniques. However, ML technology poses difficulties to domain experts and knowledge engineers who are not familiar with it. This paper discusses Consultant-2, a system which makes a first step towards providing system support for a " pre- and post-processing " methodology where a cyclic process of experiments with an ML tool, its data, data description language and parameters attempts to optimize learning performance. Consultant-2 has been developed to support the use of Machine Learning Toolbox (MLT), an integrated architecture of 10 ML tools, and has evolved from a series of earlier systems. Consultant-0 and Consultant-1 had knowledge only about how to choose an ML algorithm based on the nature of the domain data. Consultant-2 is the most sophisticated. It, additionally, has knowledge about how ML experts and domain experts pre-process domain data before a run with the ML algorithm, and how they further manipulate the data and reset parameters after a run of the selected ML algorithm, to achieve a more acceptable result. How these several KBs were acquired and encoded is described. In fact, this knowledge has been acquired by interacting both with the ML algorithm developers and with domain experts who had been using the MLT toolbox on real-world tasks. A major aim of the MLT project was to enable a domain expert to use the toolbox directly; i.e. without necessarily having to involve either a ML specialist or a knowledge engineer. Consultant's principal goal was to provide specific advice to ease this process.


OBJECTIVES
To clinically evaluate the prevalence of buccal caries and white spot lesions (WSLs) at debonding in governmental and private orthodontic patients, using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS-II) and the DIAGNOdent Pen, and to study the correlation between the two methods.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
A cross-sectional study was carried out on the nonextracted premolars and anterior teeth of 89 orthodontic patients. They were recruited into two groups based on the treatment center they attended: governmental group (G; n=45) and private group (P; n=44). Immediately after debonding, the examination of buccal caries and WSLs on premolars and anterior teeth was carried out using the ICDAS-II and the DIAGNOdent Pen. Cross-tabulation was applied to study the correlation between the ICDAS-II index and the DIAGNOdent Pen by calculating the Spearman correlation coefficient.

RESULTS
The G group showed a significantly higher (P<.0001) prevalence of WSLs and/or buccal caries compared to that of the P group based on evaluation by the two methods. Based on ICDAS-II, 43% of the patients in the P group and 9% in the G group were free from any WSLs. In the G group, 22% of the patients had ≥16 LESIONS, whereas there were none for the P group. The Spearman correlation coefficient between the two methods was .71.

CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of caries and/or WSLs at debonding was significantly higher in the G group compared to the P group. The clinical index (ICDAS-II) showed a good correlation with the DIAGNOdent Pen.


DECi-hertz Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (DECIGO) is a future Japanese space gravitational-wave antenna. The most important objective of DECIGO, among various sciences to be aimed at, is to detect gravitational waves coming from the inflation of the universe. DECIGO consists of four clusters of spacecraft, and each cluster consists of three spacecraft with three Fabry–Perot Michelson interferometers. As a pathfinder mission of DECIGO, B-DECIGO will be launched, hopefully in the 2020s, to demonstrate technologies necessary for DECIGO as well as to lead to fruitful multimessenger astronomy. B-DECIGO is a small-scale or simpler version of DECIGO with the sensitivity slightly worse than that of DECIGO, yet good enough to provide frequent detection of gravitational waves.


A high-pressure inductively coupled thermal plasma (ICTP) system was developed; it can modulate the amplitude of the induction coil current periodically with a cycle of several hundred hertz by switching a metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor inverter power supply. This type of ICTP was named a `pulse-modulated induction thermal plasma (PMITP)'. The PMITP in different gases of Ar, Ar–H2, Ar–N2 and Ar–O2, was successfully generated at an input power of 30 kW under atmospheric pressure conditions. Shimmer current level (SCL), which is the ratio of lower to higher levels of coil current in modulation, can be reduced from 100% to 40% to sustain the Ar PMITP. The influence of SCL and diatomic molecular gas-inclusion on the PMITP behaviour was investigated. Temperature variation of PMITP was evaluated by the two-line method. The minimum value of the temperature measured during a modulation cycle proved to decrease drastically with a reduction of SCL by over 1000 K, especially with inclusion of the diatomic molecular gas, with the maximum temperature value almost unchanged. The inherent response time of the PMITP was found to have a magnitude of several milliseconds; it increases with decreasing SCL and with the inclusion of a diatomic molecular gas.


Three carboxylated cyanine dyes, 2-[(1-butyl-3,3-dimethyl-5-carboxylindoline-2-ylidene)propenyl]-[1-butyl-3,3-dimethyl-7-(1-ethyl-1 H -1,2,3-triazole-4-yl]-1 H -benz[e]indolium iodide ( Cy1 ), 2-[(1-butyl-3,3-dimethyl-5-carboxyl-indoline-2-ylidene)propenyl]-{1-butyl-3,3-dimethyl-7-[(4-piperidine- N -ethyl-1,8-naphthalimide)-1 H -1,2,3-triazole-4-yl]}-1 H -benz[e]indolium iodide ( Cy2 ) and 2-[(1-butyl-3,3-dimethyl-5-carboxyl-indoline-2-ylidene)propenyl)-[1-butyl-3,3-dimethyl-7-{(4-piperidine- N -butyl-1,8-naphthalimide)-1 H -1,2,3-triazole-4-yl}]-1 H -benz[e]indolium iodide ( Cy3 ), have been synthesized and characterized with regard to their structures and electrochemical properties. Upon adsorption onto a TiO_2 electrode, the absorption spectra of the three cyanine dyes are all broadened to both red and blue sides compared with their respective spectra in an acetonitrile and ethanol mixture. Cy2 and Cy3 , containing a naphthalimide group, have stronger absorption intensities and broader absorption spectra than Cy1 , which consequently leads to better light-to-electricity conversion properties. Among the three cyanine dyes, Cy3 generated the highest photoelectric conversion yield of 4.80% ( J _sc = 14.5 mA cm^-2, V _oc = 500 mV, FF = 0.49) under illumination with 75 mW cm^-2 white light from a Xe lamp.


Abstract. The South Pole Ice Core (SPICEcore), which spans the past 54,300 years, was drilled far from an ice divide such that ice recovered at depth originated at a location upstream of the current core site. If the climate is different upstream, the climate history recovered from the core will be a combination of the upstream conditions advected to the core site and the temporal changes we seek to recover. Here, we evaluate the impact of ice advection on two fundamental records from SPICEcore: accumulation rate and water isotopes. We determined the past locations of ice deposition based on GPS measurements of the modern velocity field spanning 100 km upstream where ice of ~ 20 ka age would likely have originated. Beyond 100 km, there are no velocity measurements, but ice likely originates from Titan Dome, an additional 90 km distant. Shallow radar measurements extending 100 km upstream from the core site reveal large (~ 20 %) variations in accumulation but no significant trend. Water isotope ratios, measured at 12.5 km intervals for the first 100 km of the flowline, show a decrease with elevation (and distance upstream) of -0.008 ‰ m−1 for δ18O. Advection therefore adds approximately 1 ‰ for δ18O to the LGM-to-modern change. Assuming a lapse rate of 10 °C per km of elevation, the LGM-to-modern temperature change is ~ 1.5 °C greater than if the ice had been deposited at a fixed location.


To evaluate uncertainty in mass measurements with accuracy and in accordance with recent international documents, a general model is developed, which takes account of the various contributing quantities in a multivariate context. On this basis, the variance-covariance matrix of the in-vacuo mass differences is constructed in its general form and tailored for application to some of the most commonly adopted weighing methods. The usual assumption of equal-variance, uncorrelated observations is shown to be inappropriate for mass comparisons.


A modal interferometer was built with tapered large-mode-area microstructured optical fiber (MOF). The tapering was introduced by slowly stretching the fiber while it was heated with a high temperature flame torch. With this "slow-and-hot" tapering process, the MOF air holes collapse and the taper waist is transformed into a solid unclad multimode fiber. This allows the coupling between the fundamental HE11 MOF mode and the HE1m modes of the solid fiber. The beating of the HE1m modes makes the transmission spectra of the taper to exhibit an oscillatory pattern. The influence of the taper geometry and wavelength on the interference pattern is discussed. The interferometer can be used for diverse applications


The foodservice delivery aspects of the federally-funded Elderly Nutrition Program (ENP) were examined via an original survey instrument sent to a random sample of nutrition projects nationally. In comparison to a similar survey conducted a decade ago, projects were more apt to rely on a combination of foodservice mechanisms including caterer contracts, on-site preparation, and use of central kitchens.


Purpose To investigate whether hydrogen sulfide provide protective effects on atmosphere particulate matter (PM)-induced emphysema and airway inflammation and its mechanism. Methods Wild type C57BL/6 and Nrf2 knockout mice were exposed to PM (200 µg per mouse). Hydrogen sulfide or propargylglycine were administered by intraperitoneal injection respectively 30 min before PM exposure, mice were anesthetized 29th day after administration. Mice emphysema, airway inflammation, and oxidative stress were evaluated, the expression of NLRP3, active caspase-1, and active caspase-3 were detected. Alveolar epithelial A549 cells line were transfected with control small interfering RNA (siRNA) or Nrf2 siRNA and then incubated with or without hydrogen sulfide for 30 min before exposed to fine particulate matter for 24 h, cell viability, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay, the secretion of interleukin (IL)-1β, ASC speck formation, the expression level of NLRP3, active caspase-1, and active caspase-3 were measured. Results PM significantly increased mice emphysema and airway inflammation measured by mean linear intercept, alveolar destroy index and total cell, neutrophil counts, cytokines IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, CXCL1, IL-1β in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. PM-induced mice emphysema and airway inflammation was greatly attenuated by hydrogen sulfide, while propargylglycine aggravated that. PM-induced oxidative stress was reduced by hydrogen sulfide as evaluated by 8-OHdG concentrations in lung tissues. The expression of NLRP3, active caspase-1, and active caspase-3 enhanced by PM were also downregulated by hydrogen sulfide in mice lung. The protective effect of hydrogen sulfide on emphysema, airway inflammation, inhibiting oxidative stress, NLRP3 inflammasome formation, and anti-apoptosis was inhibited by Nrf2 knockout in mice. Similarly, hydrogen sulfide attenuated the secretion of IL-1β, NLRP3 expression, caspase-1 activation, ASC speck formation, and apoptosis caused by fine particulate matter exposure in A549 cells but not in Nrf2 silenced cells. Conclusion Hydrogen sulfide played a protect role in PM-induced mice emphysema and airway inflammation by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome formation and apoptosis via Nrf2-dependent pathway.


The neck-tongue syndrome (NTS) is a rare clinical entity characterized by paroxytic episodes of intense pain in upper cervical or occipital area associated with disorders of ipsilateral hemi-tongue presenting as numbness, pseudoathetosis, dysarthria, and lingual paralysis aggravated with neck movement1,2. We describe a case of NTS with an unusual etiology.

A 74-year-old woman presented with severe pain at the back of the neck that improved spontaneously within 2 weeks. During this time she developed dysarthria and was observed to have a left-sided lingual paralysis. Systemic enquiry was unremarkable. No other focal neurological abnormality was detected. She had marked nodal osteoarthritis in her hands and her cervical …

Address reprint requests to Dr. S. Wig, Department of Rheumatology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK. E-mail: surabhiwig{at}gmail.com


beta-Aminopropionitrile (beta-APN), a lathyrogen, alters the physical characteristics of fibrous scar tissue and as such may have potential clinical use in treatment of injured spinal cord and peripheral nerve by reducing the physical barrier to axon regeneration. For beta-APN to exert its lathyrogenic effect, it must permeate the injury site and gain access to the developing collagenous scar. To investigate the diffusion characteristics, beta-[14C]APN solution was applied as an immersion bath to rat sciatic nerve using both in vivo and in vitro preparations for intervals of 15 to 90 min. The four experimental groups studied were (a) intact nerve, (b) hemisected nerve, (c) nerve with epineurium removed, and (d) nerve with both epineurium and perineurium removed. The isotope labeling index determined by autoradiography and scintillation counting indicated the perineurium as the primary barrier to significant diffusion of beta-APN in normal nerve. When perineurium was incised or removed, beta-APN entered the endoneurial matrix. beta-APN concentration in the epineurium and perineurium increased with increasing bathing time in vitro; but it decreased markedly after 15 min of in vivo bathing. These findings indicate that topical application of beta-APN to injured peripheral nerve would be a successful method of exposing fibrogenic intraneural tissue to the inhibitory effect on lysyl oxidase enzymes. Continuous application, however, will be necessary because of the rapid beta-APN removal documented in the vivo preparation.


Since the initial description in the 1960s of patients with seemingly inherited disorders characterized by hypokalemia and metabolic alkalosis, the pathophysiologic processes underlying Bartter and Gitelman syndromes have generated tremendous study and speculation. Recently described mutations in genes encoding transport proteins important in sodium and chloride reabsorption in the thick ascending limb of Henle and distal convoluted tubule have confirmed these processes as the proximate defects in Bartter and Gitelman syndromes, respectively. Basic understanding of the role of these proteins in normal sodium and chloride homeostasis, and review of the secondary mediators stimulated by loss of their function provide insight into the clinical manifestations and response to treatment observed in these disorders.


Handoff is the mechanism that transfers an ongoing call from one cell to another as a user moves through the coverage area of a cellular system. Handoff is the key operation in cellular mobile communication system, which is accomplished by the system and is unperceptible for the user. In this paper, the received signal strength from the two base stations is calculated and plotted with respect to distance. Different path loss models for macrocells have been used and then the received signal strength is calculated to determine the model that can be adopted to minimize the number of handoffs and avoid ping pong effect


Traceability is a key factor for the agri-food sector. Radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology, which is widely adopted for supply chain management, can be used effectively for the traceability management. In this paper, a framework for the evaluation of a traceability system for the agri-food industry is presented, and the automation level in an RFID-based traceability system is analyzed and compared with respect to traditional ones. Internal and external traceabilities are both considered and formalized, in order to classify different environments, according to their automation level. Traceability systems used in a sample sector are experimentally analyzed, showing that, by using RFID technology, agri-food enterprises increase their automation level and also their efficiency, in a sustainable way.


Paul Mason has delivered a compelling analysis in which he argues that digital technologies, knowledge work and the corresponding failure of mechanisms of capital valorisation would undermine capitalism while implying a gradual emergence of social relations beyond capitalism. In our view, however, this proposal for a new transformation strategy is flawed because Mason underestimates tendencies of marketisation that grasp new forms of labour and overestimates the possibilities. In particular, we first criticize Mason's understanding that valorisation in a knowledge-based, digitized capitalism is impossible. Second, we reject the idea that digital commons and valorisation are mutually exclusive by tracing processes of commodification in this field. Third, we offer a critique of Mason's strategy for transformation, which we deem one-sided. He does not undertake a sober account of societal power relations and overstretches post-capitalistic potentials. Subjectivities are perceived as inherently capable of being emancipated and universally educated, which neglects the mutual dependence of structure and subjectivities and the way in which class relations and class struggle affect their constitution.


Purpose
The need for assuring correctness of business processes in enterprises is widely recognised in terms of business process re-engineering and improvement. Formal methods are a promising approach to this issue. The challenge in business process verification is to create a formal model that is well-aligned to the reality. Process mining is a well-known technique to discover a model of a process based on facts. However, no studies exist that apply it to formal verification. This study aims to propose a methodology for formal business process verification by means of process mining, and attempts to clarify the challenges and necessary technologies in this approach using a case study.

Design/methodology/approach
A trading company simulation model is used as a case study. A workflow model is discovered from an event log produced by a simulation tool and manually complemented to a formal model. Correctness requirements of both domain-dependent and domain-independent types of the model are checked by means of model-checking.

Findings
For business process verification with both domain-dependent and domain-independent correctness requirements, more advanced process mining techniques that discover data-related aspects of processes are desirable. The choice of a formal modelling language is also crucial. It depends on the correctness requirements and the characteristics of the business process.

Originality/value
Formal verification of business processes starting with creating its formal model is quite new. Furthermore, domain-dependent and domain-independent correctness properties are considered in the same framework, which is also new. This study revealed necessary technologies for this approach with process mining.


We screened all head-injured trauma patients admitted to Lehigh Valley Hospital during a 2-year period. From 725 screened patients, 69 patients in a coma on the second day after trauma were entered into this study. During the first week, these patients underwent electroencephalography (EEG), evoked potentials, ocular pneumoplethysmography, and transcranial Doppler (TCD) sonography. Clinical examinations were undertaken 2 and 7 days after trauma. Test results were correlated with functional clinical outcome at 6 months. In a multiple regression analysis, EEG was the major independent variable that significantly predicted 6-month outcome based on Glasgow Outcome Scale score. Transcranial Doppler sonography contributed a small additional component. Though EEG was the most significant predictive factor in this neurophysiological battery, it did not add significantly to the predictive power of Glasgow Coma Scale score determined at day 7. These findings suggest that in neurophysiologic testing in this type of patient is not useful in improving predictive outcome data.


Industry 4.0 is a set of technologies that companies require to promote innovation strategies and obtain a rapid response in dynamic markets. It focuses mainly on interconnectivity, digital technology, predictive analytics and machine learning to revolutionize the way companies operate and develop. Therefore, this article proposes and motivates the implementation of Industry 4.0 in organizations. Studying the state of the art and reviewing the current situation of business intelligence (BI) technology, the way it has positively impacted organizations at the economic and business level in terms of decision-making and some success stories implemented in different business, academic, social and governmental environments. Moreover, it addresses the future expected for Industry 4.0 primarily in BI and how companies should face this revolution. This article provides knowledge contribution about the current state and positive consequences of Industry 4.0, and high development in technology when implemented in the organization and the harmonization between production and intelligent digital technology.


Recent theoretical research on spatiobiologically integrated radiotherapy has focused on optimization models that adapt fluence-maps to the evolution of tumor state, for example, cell densities, as observed in quantitative functional images acquired over the treatment course. We propose an optimization model that adapts the length of the treatment course as well as the fluence-maps to such imaged tumor state. Specifically, after observing the tumor cell densities at the beginning of a session, the treatment planner solves a group of convex optimization problems to determine an optimal number of remaining treatment sessions, and a corresponding optimal fluence-map for each of these sessions. The objective is to minimize the total number of tumor cells remaining (TNTCR) at the end of this proposed treatment course, subject to upper limits on the biologically effective dose delivered to the organs-at-risk. This fluence-map is administered in future sessions until the next image is available, and then the number of sessions and the fluence-map are re-optimized based on the latest cell density information. We demonstrate via computer simulations on five head-and-neck test cases that such adaptive treatment-length and fluence-map planning reduces the TNTCR and increases the biological effect on the tumor while employing shorter treatment courses, as compared to only adapting fluence-maps and using a pre-determined treatment course length based on one-size-fits-all guidelines.


Background/aims: To report the clinical significance of late geographic hyperfluorescence (LGH) on indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) in cases of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). Methods: The medical records of 43 eyes with PCV, all of which had undergone at least 12 months of follow-up, 40 eyes with exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and 20 eyes of age-matched normal subjects were retrospectively analysed. The incidence of LGH, defined as a well-demarcated geographic hyperfluorescent lesion on late phase ICGA, was compared in each respective group. The natural course of the LGH and its changes after photodynamic therapy (PDT) were analysed. Results: LGH was noted in all of the eyes with PCV, whereas LGH was noted in three eyes (7.5%) of the eyes with exudative AMD and was not noted in any of the normal subjects (p<0.01). Of the 27 eyes (62.8%) with PCV, LGH was matched to the total area of the branching vascular network and polyps. The extent of LGH was enlarged over time in approximately one-half of the cases. As compared with the eyes demonstrating persistent LGH after PDT, the eyes with fading or disappearing LGH evidenced a lower recurrence of active PCV (p<0.05). Conclusion: LGH is a highly sensitive and specific ICGA finding for the diagnosis of PCV. Increased surveillance should be implemented in eyes in which LGH persists after PDT.


A facile one-pot synthesis of 2,4,5-triaryl-1H-imidazoles with better yields and shorter reaction time from the condensation of benzil, ammonium acetate and aromatic aldehydes using the catalyst phosphomolybdic acid is described


Consideration is given to the calculation of the rate coefficient of processes of the type A+ + B + C → AB+ + C. Classical mechanics is used. The impulse approximation is adopted and hard-sphere interactions are taken to describe C – A+ and C – B collisions. Formulae are derived for the rate coefficients of binary collisions giving specified changes in the internal energy of the associating pair (without reference to their orbital angular momentum) and also of binary collisions giving specified changes in both the internal energy and in the square of the orbital angular momentum. By using quasi-equilibrium statistical theory, the rate coefficient for three-body ion-neutral association is expressed in terms of either set of binary rate coefficients. Computations are carried out only Hg+ + Hg + He → Hg+2 + He. As expected, the predicted rate coefficient is too high if specific account is not taken of the orbital angular momentum. If such account is taken excellent agreement is obtained with a measurement at 370 K made by Biondi (1953, 1972, private communication). The rate coefficient falls off slowly as the temperature is increased.


This paper presents a framework of the distributed concurrent multi-port-testing test system (CMPT-TS) for IP routers under development at Sichuan Network Communication Key Laboratory. Having analyzed the actuality of concurrent testing for routers, this paper develops a distributed architecture of CMPT-TS and discusses its functional components in detail. Moreover, a new test definition language, CMPT definition language, is also introduced simply.


Recent developments in deep reinforcement learning have enabled the creation of agents for solving a large variety of games given a visual input. These methods have been proven successful for 2D games, like the Atari games, or for simple tasks, like navigating in mazes. It is still an open question, how to address more complex environments, in which the reward is sparse and the state space is huge. In this paper we propose a divide and conquer deep reinforcement learning solution and we test our agent in the first person shooter (FPS) game of Doom. Our work is based on previous works in deep reinforcement learning and in Doom agents. We also present how our agent is able to perform better in unknown environments compared to a state of the art reinforcement learning algorithm.


We commend Arbib for his original proposal that a mirror neuron system may have participated in language origins. However, in our view he proposes a complex evolutionary scenario that could be more parsimonious. We see no necessity to propose a hand-based signing stage as ancestral to vocal communication. The prefrontal system involved in human speech may have its precursors in the monkey's inferior frontal cortical domain, which is responsive to vocalizations and is related to laryngeal control.


Objective: To determine the frequency, causes and outcome of patients with morbidly adherent placenta. Study Design: Descriptive case series. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at Gynae Unit-I of Aziz Fatima Medical And Dental College from March 2012 to March 2013. Methodology: One hundred patients with previous uterine operations; like caesarean section, myomectomy, hysterotomy or diagnostic curettage, patients with placenta praevia or those patients with retained placenta removed with difficulty under anesthesia; were included in the study. All the primigravidas and cases with retained placenta due to uterine abnormalities were excluded. The admitted patients meeting the inclusion criteria were registered for the study after taking informed consent. Patients were clinically examined and appropriate investigations were done. All relevant information was recorded on a proforma especially designed for this study. All the data was entered and analysed through SPSS version 10. Results: Only 6 patients out of 100 selected cases had morbidly adherent placenta, all cases were booked. Five cases were between 25-30 years and one was 20 years of age. Their parity range from 1-6. Five patients had previous history of caesarean section. Placenta was found in lower uterine segment in all cases. One patient presented with preterm labour and one with antepartum haemorrhage. Prior to surgical intervention, proper work up of the patients was done. Colour Doppler of all the patients was done. All the patients had caesarean section done. Three of the latter had placenta accreta, 2 had placenta percreta and one had placenta increta. The placenta was removed piece meal in 4 cases. In one case a conservative approach i.e (segmental resection of the portion of the lower uterine segment where placenta was adherent) was done. In one case, caesarean hysterectomy was done. Blood transfusion was required in all cases ranging from 3-8units. Duration of hospital stay was 510 days and maternal mortality was nil. Conclusion: Morbid Adherence of placenta is an obstetrical emergency, which carries an increased risk of perinatal and maternal mortality and morbidity. Antenatal care needs to be improved and morbid adherence of placenta should be diagnosed at the earliest possible time. Previous caesarean section and placenta previa in current pregnancy were the major risk factors observed in 5(83%) of the cases. Previous history of dilatation and curettage was present in 1(16.6%) case.


Thick subfoveal hemorrhage after blunt trauma in patients with angioid streaks associated with pseudoxanthoma elasticum usually yields significant subfoveal fibrosis and photoreceptor loss. Intravitreal perfluorocarbon gas with temporary face-down positioning may allow for rapid hemorrhage compaction, improving oxygen diffusion, reestablishing the foveal external limiting membrane and ellipsoid zone, and preventing significant subretinal fibrosis and photoreceptor shearing. Purpose: To report a case of photoreceptor restitution and vision improvement with pneumatic compaction treatment of acute subfoveal hemorrhage in a patient with angioid streaks associated with pseudoxanthoma elasticum, observed by sequential fundus photography, spectral domain optical coherence tomography, and fundus autofluorescence. Methods: Findings on initial and sequential clinical examinations, fundus autofluorescence, and spectral domain optical coherence tomography are presented, before and after pneumatic compaction, demonstrating the course of compaction and resolution of subfoveal hemorrhage and status of the foveal ellipsoid zone and external limiting membrane. Sequential improvements in oxygen and nutrient diffusion are calculated using Fick's law of diffusion. Findings are compared with previous reports regarding the natural history of similar patients. Results: Rapid compaction of subfoveal hemorrhage occurred, resulting in an 89% improvement in oxygen diffusion in 15 days. No centrifugal movement of subfoveal hemorrhage occurred, potentially minimizing photoreceptor-shearing injury. Ultimately, resorption of all hemorrhage occurred with reestablishment of the foveal ellipsoid zone and external limiting membrane and minimal juxtafoveal subretinal fibrosis; best-corrected visual acuity improved to 20/40: an advantage over natural history based on published reports. Conclusion: Pneumatic compaction in patients with acute subfoveal hemorrhage secondary to angioid streaks associated with pseudoxanthoma elasticum compacts subfoveal hemorrhage, therefore improving oxygen and nutrient diffusion. This potentially spares foveal photoreceptors of ischemic and shearing injury, theoretically reducing subfoveal fibrosis and improving vision prognosis in these patients.


Ionic liquids with intermediate nonpolar cationic side-chain lengths are known to have nanoscale spatial heterogeneities with nonpolar tail domains separated by a continuous polar network. In this work, we use coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to show that, when the nonpolar cationic side chain is sufficiently long, due to the stronger van der Waals interactions between the side chains, the structure of ionic liquids goes through a transition from spatially heterogeneous to liquid crystalline-like. For XMIm(+)/NO(3)(-) ionic liquids, change occurs when the number of carbon groups on the cationic side chain varies from 14 to 16. In the liquid crystal-like phase, the cationic side chains tend to be parallel to each other, while the cationic head groups and anions, although being mostly layered perpendicularly to the direction along the side chains, still form a continuous polar network.


Ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir ± dasabuvir ± ribavirin (OBV/PTV/r ± DSV ± RBV) regimens show high efficacy and good tolerability in clinical trials for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes (GT) 1 or 4. To evaluate whether these results translate to clinical practice, data were pooled from observational studies across 13 countries. Treatment‐naïve or ‐experienced patients, with or without cirrhosis, received OBV/PTV/r ± DSV ± RBV according to approved local labels and clinical practice. Sustained virologic response at post‐treatment Week 12 (SVR12), adverse events (AEs) and comedication management were assessed for patients initiating treatment before 1 June 2017. The safety population included 3850 patients who received ≥1 dose of study drug. The core population (N = 3808) further excluded patients with unknown GT or cirrhosis status, or who received off‐label treatment. Patients had HCV GT1a (n = 732; 19%), GT1b (n = 2619; 69%) or GT4 (n = 457; 12%). In 3546 patients with sufficient follow‐up data at post‐treatment Week 12, the SVR12 rate was 96% (n/N = 3401/3546 [95% CI 95.2‐96.5]). In patients with or without cirrhosis, SVR12 was comparable (96%). In patients with HCV GT1a, GT1b or GT4, SVR12 rates were 93%, 97% and 94%. In GT1b‐infected patients with planned treatment for 8 weeks, SVR12 was 96%. In patients with ≥1 comorbidity (67%), SVR12 was 95%. 58% of patients received ≥1 comedication, and there was minimal impact on SVR12 rates using comedications for peptic ulcers and gastro‐esophageal reflux disease, statins, antipsychotics or antiepileptics. Most comedications were maintained during treatment although 58% of patients changed their statin medication. AEs and serious AEs occurred in 26% and 3% of patients. Post‐baseline Grade 3‐4 laboratory abnormalities were rare (<3%), and discontinuation rates were low (<4%). Real‐world evidence confirms the effectiveness of OBV/PTV/r ± DSV ± RBV in patients with HCV GT1 or GT4, regardless of common comorbidities or comedications, and is consistent with clinical trial results. Adverse safety outcomes may be limited by underreporting in the real‐world setting.


Featured Articles (FA) are considered to be the best articles that Wikipedia has to offer and in the last years, researchers have found interesting to analyze whether and how they can be distinguished from "ordinary" articles. Likewise, identifying what issues have to be enhanced or fixed in ordinary articles in order to improve their quality is a recent key research trend. Most of the approaches developed to face these information quality problems have been proposed for the English Wikipedia. However, few efforts have been accomplished in Spanish Wikipedia, despite being Spanish, one of the most spoken languages in the world by native speakers. In this respect, we present a breakdown of Spanish Wikipedia's quality flaw structure. Besides, we carry out studies with three different corpora to automatically assess information quality in Spanish Wikipedia, where FA identification is evaluated as a binary classification task. Our evaluation on a unified setting allows to compare with the English version, the performance achieved by our approach on the Spanish version. The best results obtained show that FA identification in Spanish, can be performed with an F1 score of 0.88 using a document model consisting of only twenty six features and Support Vector Machine as classification algorithm.


It is important to make the droplet formation in the printable area for a design of an inkjet device. One of the important variables for the inkjet is an ejecting velocity which can be controlled by the inkjet device. When the drop-on-demand inkjet nozzle is used, unless the ejecting velocity exceeds the minimum velocity, the droplet may not be ejected or the nozzle surface can be wet, thus the next droplet formation may fail. On the other hand, if the droplet velocity is too fast, splashing may happen when the drop impacts on a substrate, which makes the undesirable printing error. The falling velocity of the inkjet droplet changes by the drag force of air along the falling distance. Therefore, it is required to estimate the exact ejecting, falling and terminal velocity of the inkjet droplet. We measured the inkjet droplet velocity ejecting from the nozzle of a piezoelectric drop-on-demand inkjet device with a push mode. The nozzle diameter was 70 μm and polyethylene glycol aqueous solution was used as ink. The inkjet droplets were generated within a range of 500 to 10,000 Hz of frequencies at a reference piezoelectric input voltage. The successive inkjet droplets were captured by the high-speed camera with 100,000 fps, then the inkjet droplet velocities were analyzed visually at each falling location. The initial to terminal velocity changes of the droplets were calculated theoretically to be compared with the experimental results according to the diameter of the droplet, the drag coefficient, and the Reynolds number. The general terminal velocity of the droplet is determined by the density and diameter of the droplet. However, this study confirmed that the terminal velocity of the continuously ejected droplets by the drop-on-demand inkjet was determined by the interval of the droplets which depended on the frequency. The inkjet droplet in the low frequency has the long interval that is enough to consider as an independent droplet so that it can follow the terminal velocity curve of the general droplet. However, with increasing the frequency, the inkjet droplets are generated frequently and its interval gets shorter, and then its terminal velocity is relatively high not following the general terminal velocity curve. It is considered that each droplet gets into the wake field of the former droplet so that its drag force can decrease and the velocity can increase. We analyzed the velocity change of the inkjet droplet according to its diameter and frequency based on the experimental and numerical results.


The restraint weld cracking test was conducted to investigate the hydrogen cracking in duplex stainless steels which contain various ferrite/austenite ratio. The gas tungsten arc (GTA) welding was applied with the argon shielding gas containing 10% hydrogen. The effects of preheating or post weld heat treatment (PWHT) on the hydrogen cracking were also tested.The hydrogen cracking occurred in the weld metal with the ferrite ratio higher than 60% using the 10% hydrogen containing shielding gas under the severe restraint condition. The higher ferrite ratio of weld metal produced larger amount of diffusible hydrogen bacause the hydrogen can dissolve in the austenite phase. It was effective for the prevention of cracking to apply the preheating at 473K of the solution treatment at 1373K or to reduce the ferrite ratio by the adjusting the nickel and nitrogen content in the weld metal.


Rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have attracted significant attention in large-scale energy storage systems due to their unique merits, such as intrinsic safety, low cost, and relatively high theoretical energy density. However, the dilemma of the uncontrollable Zn dendrites, severe hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and side reactions that occur on the Zn anodes have hindered their commercialization. Herein, a state-of-the-art review of the rational design of highly reversible Zn anodes for high-performance AZIBs is provided. Firstly, the fundamental understanding of Zn deposition, with regard to the nucleation, electro-crystallization, and growth of the Zn nucleus is systematically clarified. Subsequently, a comprehensive survey of the critical factors influencing Zn plating together with the current main challenges is presented. Accordingly, the rational strategies emphasizing structural design, interface engineering, and electrolyte optimization have been summarized and analyzed in detail. Finally, future perspectives on the remaining challenges are recommended, and this review is expected to shed light on the future development of stable Zn anodes toward high-performance AZIBs.


It is well established that the plastidic isoform of glutamine synthetase (GS2) is the enzyme in charge of photorespiratory ammonium reassimilation in plants. The metabolic events associated to photorespiratory NH4 + accumulation were analyzed in a Lotus japonicus photorespiratory mutant lacking GS2. The mutant plants accumulated high levels of NH4 + when photorespiration was active, followed by a sudden drop in the levels of this compound. In this paper it was examined the possible existence of enzymatic pathways alternative to GS2 that could account for this decline in the photorespiratory ammonium. Induction of genes encoding for cytosolic glutamine synthetase (GS1), glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) and asparagine synthetase (ASN) was observed in the mutant in correspondence with the diminishment of NH4 +. Measurements of gene expression, polypeptide levels, enzyme activity and metabolite levels were carried out in leaf samples from WT and mutant plants after different periods of time under active photorespiratory conditions. In the case of asparagine synthetase it was not possible to determine enzyme activity and polypeptide content; however, an increased asparagine content in parallel with the induction of ASN gene expression was detected in the mutant plants. This increase in asparagine levels took place concomitantly with an increase in glutamine due to the induction of cytosolic GS1 in the mutant, thus revealing a major role of cytosolic GS1 in the reassimilation and detoxification of photorespiratory NH4 + when the plastidic GS2 isoform is lacking. Moreover, a diminishment in glutamate levels was observed, that may be explained by the induction of NAD(H)-dependent GDH activity.


A classroom demonstration is described that shows a method for detecting nonmagnetic metals. The demonstration uses the simple and sensitive beat oscillations technique and employs off-the-shelf equipment usually available in most physics laboratories. More than 80 years ago, the beat oscillations technique was used to design the first electronic musical instrument, the famous Theremin. The demonstration set-up also serves as a Theremin. Metal detection and the Theremin are attractive topics for student projects.


An obese woman in her thirties with a history of fibromyalgia syndrome, depression, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and diabetes mellitus presents to her local emergency department with 1 week of gradually worsening midline back pain. What do these images show?


Purpose
Previous sales control research has limited the definition of outcome controls exclusively to sales outcomes in an outside sales context. In addition to sales outcome controls, inside sales managers use phone operational outcomes to influence inside sales agent performance, supporting the need to expand the broader definition of outcome controls. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to explore the need to bifurcate outcome controls into two distinct variables: sales and phone operational controls. Researchers know little about the application of sales outcome controls beyond sales-only outcomes, which, in turn, limits the definition of outcome controls.

Design/methodology/approach
Through the utilization of survey, secondary operational data and sales manager's feedback, this paper demonstrates that the definition of outcome controls needs to be divided into two distinct areas, sales and phone operational controls for inside sales agents, which, in turn, acts collectively to impact an inside sales agent's job performance and satisfaction.

Findings
This research demonstrates that inside sales managers depend on both sales and phone operational outcome controls to drive sales agent performance, varying in degrees by industry. Even as inside sales managers focus on creating an employee-centric autonomous motivational work culture, the overarching controlling factors associated with phone operational outcomes dampen an inside sales agent's performance and job satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications
To the best of the authors' knowledge, as the first sales control research to examine an inside sales context, this study provides support to further study sales controls in an inside sales context. This research can be enhanced by examining business-to-consumer inside sales environments, behavior controls, greater sample size and additional work outcomes such as turnover and tenure.

Practical implications
The findings have important implications because they can help practitioners understand the effect that both sales and phone operational outcomes have on sales agent performance. It also illuminates the need for inside sales managers to be less controlling in their focus on phone operational outcomes, as such a practice has a negative influence on key sales agent job outcomes.

Originality/value
To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first to triangulate multiple data sources to illustrate the need to evaluate both sales and phone operational outcomes as broader components of sales outcome controls. The study of sales controls in a different sales context suggests that sales management controls may differ by sales context, opening the door to extend the vast sales control literature beyond its current context of outside sales.


Kerala reported the first three cases of coronavirus in India in late January. Kerala, one of the India's most densely populated states, which makes its success in fighting the Covid-19 all the more commendable. Moreover, an estimated 17% of its 35 million population employed or lives elsewhere, more than 1 million tourists visit each year, and hundreds of students study abroad, including in China. All of this mobility makes the state more vulnerable to contagious outbreaks. What is the strategy behind the success story? This paper compares the situation of COVID-19 pandemic in major states and Kerala by the different phase of lockdown, and also highlights Kerala's fight against the pandemic. We used publicly available data from https://www.covid19india.org/ and Covid-19 Daily Bulletin (Jan 31-May 31), Directorate of Health Services, Kerala (https://dashboard.kerala.gov.in/). We calculate the phase-wise period prevalence rate (PPR) and the case fatality rate (CFR) of the last phase. Compared to other major states, Kerala showed better response in preventing pandemic. The equation for the Kerala's success has been simple, prioritized testing, widespread contact tracing, and promoting social distance. They also imposed uncompromising controls, were supported by an excellent healthcare system, government accountability, transparency, public trust, civil rights and importantly the decentralized governance and strong grass-root level institutions. The "proactive" measures taken by Kerala such as early detection of cases and extensive social support measures can be a "model for India and the world".


Nine cases of unilateral renal tuberculosis (functionless) with the concomitant opposite side calculus of the upper urinary tract and hydronephrosis were analysed. We first removed urinary tract obstruction from the side of calculi, and then perform resection of renal tuberculosis within two weeks as soon as possible. The diagnosis and treatment were also discussed.


The method of registration of the detailed informa tion in the experiment of the regular balloon monitoring of cosmic rays in the Earth's at mosphere is described. The use of the detailed information both for improving the results of the e xp riment and for obtaining further insight into these results as well as the perspectives of the me thod are discussed.


Background The assessment of food consumption data using harmonized methodologies at the European level is fundamental to support the development of public policies. Portugal is one of the countries with the most outdated information on individual food consumption. Objective The objective of this study was to describe the design and methodology of the National Food, Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey, 2015-2016, developed to collect national and regional data on dietary habits, physical activity (PA), and nutritional status, in a representative sample of the Portuguese general population (3 months-84 years). Methods Participants were selected by multistage sampling, using the National Heath Registry as the sampling frame. Data collection, during 12 months, was harmonized according to European guidelines (EU-MENU, European Food Safety Authority [EFSA]). Computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) was performed on a specific electronic platform synchronized with nutritional composition data and considering the FoodEx2 classification system. Dietary assessment was performed using 24-hour recalls (two nonconsecutive, 8-15 days apart) or food diaries in the case of children aged <10 years, complemented with a food propensity questionnaire; PA data (International Physical Activity Questionnaire [IPAQ], the Activity Choice Index [ACI], and 4-days PA diaries); sociodemographic data, and other health-related data were also collected. Results A sample of 6553 individuals completed the first interview, and 5811 participants completed two dietary assessments. The participation rate among eligible individuals was 33.38% (6553/19,635), considering the first interview, and 29.60% (5811/19,635) for the participants with two completed interviews (about 40% in children and adolescents and 20% in elderly individuals). Results of the survey will be disseminated in national and international scientific journals during 2018-2019. Conclusions The survey will assist policy planning and management of national and European health programs on the improvement of nutritional status and risk assessment related to food hazards, and the enhancement of PA. The infrastructures and data driven from this Survey are a solid basis to the development of a future national surveillance system on diet, PA, and other health behaviors reproducible over time.


The omega-atracotoxins are a family of 36 to 37-residue peptide neurotoxins that block insect but not mammalian voltage-gated calcium channels. The high phylogenetic specificity of these toxins recommends them as lead compounds for targeting insects that have developed resistance to chemical pesticides. We have begun to examine structure-function relationships in the omega-atracotoxins in order to explore the molecular basis of their activity and phylogenetic specificity. By probing the venom of the Blue Mountains funnel-web spider, Hadronyche versuta, for insecticidal toxins with masses close to that of omega-atracotoxin-Hv1a (omega-ACTX-Hv1a), we have isolated and sequenced five additional omega-atracotoxins. Five of the six omega-atracotoxins isolated from the venom of H. versuta (omega-ACTX-Hv1a to -Hv1e) differ from one another by only 1-3 residues and have similar insecticidal potencies. In contrast, omega-ACTX-Hv1f differs from the other toxins by up to 10 residues and it has markedly reduced insecticidal potency, thus providing information on key functional residues. The new atracotoxin sequences have revealed that the three N-terminal residues are highly conserved. Despite the fact that these residues are structurally disordered in solution we show here, by a series of N-terminal truncations, that they contribute significantly to insecticidal potency. However, loss of activity does not correlate with deletion of highly conserved residues, which leads us to propose that the disposition of the N-terminal charge, rather than the chemical properties of the N-terminal residues themselves, may be critical for the activity of omega-atracotoxin on insect calcium channels.