This paper focuses generally on the role of the mass media in Nigerian electoral process as it pertains to overall development of Nigeria. The background is the recognition of the central role of the media in political and social affairs as a natural outcome of its unlimited communicative strength and outreach. The statement of problem is anchored on the wide spread negative image of the media in electioneering campaigns in Nigeria's political history. The objective of this paper is to readdress media practice in Nigeria to its fundamental ethical journalistic foundation as basis for positive contribution to national integration. It is also aimed at the examination of both external (official) and internal obstacles that hinder the realization of the goal. This paper uses the method of comparative phenomenological analysis to examine the performances of the media in Nigerian electoral process with regard to its fundamental roles to inform, educate, entertain and monitor in the electoral process. UJAH: Unizik Journal of Arts and Humanities vol 14 (2) 2013


BACKGROUND AND AIMS
It is unclear whether fat digestion is required for the induction of gastrointestinal sensations and whether different fats have different effects. We investigated the effect of fat digestion and of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs; C < 12) and long-chain triglycerides (LCTs; C > 16) on gastrointestinal sensations.

METHODS
In a double-blind study, 15 healthy subjects were studied on 5 occasions during which LCT or MCT emulsions (2 kcal/min), with or without 120 mg tetrahydrolipstatin (THL, lipase inhibitor), or sucrose polyester (SPE, nondigestible fat) were infused intraduodenally in randomized order. After 30 minutes, the proximal stomach was distended in 1 mm Hg steps/min. Intensity of gastrointestinal sensations (on a 0-10 visual analog scale), plasma cholecystokinin (CCK) levels, and gastric volumes were assessed throughout.

RESULTS
LCT and MCT increased gastric volume at baseline pressure compared with SPE, and LCT more than MCT. THL entirely abolished this effect (volumes [mL]: LCT, 213 +/- 19; LCT-THL, 39 +/- 3; MCT, 155 +/- 12; MCT-THL, 43 +/- 5; SPE, 44 +/- 5). Only LCT increased plasma CCK levels (pmol/L per 30 minutes: LCT, 21 +/- 2; LCT-THL, 9 +/- 1; MCT, 9 +/- 1; MCT-THL, 11 +/- 1; SPE, 9 +/- 1). During distentions, intragastric volumes were greater during infusion of LCT and MCT than during the respective THL conditions or SPE, but plasma CCK levels did not change. The intensity of sensations increased (hunger decreased) more with LCT than with MCT. During infusion of THL or SPE, the effects were smaller than during LCT or MCT.

CONCLUSIONS
Fat digestion is required for the modulation of gastrointestinal sensations during gastric distention. The effects of fat depend on the fatty acid chain length and are not entirely explained by release of CCK.


ABSTRACT CRISES of the cardiovascular system in the pediatric age group occur most often in the infant, whose size makes monitoring blood pressure difficult and the dosage of fluids and medications critical. Therefore, some general comments about monitoring and drug dosage may serve well as an introduction to the critical care of infants and children.Blood Pressure Determination The blood pressure determination is crucial to the diagnosis as well as to the treatment of circulatory shock. No matter whether auscultation or ultrasonic or other electronic methods are employed, the cuff size is of enormous significance. A cuff that is too small will indicate systolic pressures higher than the true value of the intra-arterial pressure, and a cuff too large will produce readings that may suggest shock in the presence of a normal circulatory state.The width of the air bladder in the cuff should be 20% to 25% wider than the


Background: Spinal 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and adenosine have been shown to display an antinociceptive effect. The authors evaluated the characteristics of this drug interaction after the concurrent delivery of 5-HT and adenosine in combination at the spinal level. Methods: Catheters were inserted into the intrathecal space of male Sprague-Dawley rats. Nociception was induced by subcutaneous injection of formalin solution (5%, 50l) into the hindpaw. Fixed dose analysis and isobolographic analysis were used to determine the properties of the interaction. Results: Intrathecal 5-HT dose-dependently suppressed the flinching response during phase 1 of the formalin test, whereas adenosine failed to affect the phase 1 flinching response. Both drugs attenuated the phase 2 flinching response in a dose-dependent manner. The intrathecal combination of 5-HT with a fixed dose of adenosine in phase 1 increased the antinociception of 5-HT alone, and isobolographic analysis in phase 2 revealed a synergistic interaction between intrathecal 5-HT and adenosine. Conclusions: Intrathecal 5-HT reduced the facilitated pain state and acute pain. In contrast, intrathecal adenosine alone did not affect acute pain significantly, but attenuated the facilitated pain state. Furthermore, 5-HT interacted synergistically with adenosine at the spinal level. Thus, this combination may offer a potential remedy for the treatment of tissue injury pain.


According to efficiency- wage model, the firms instead of paying the market clearing wages will pay the real wages which enhance the productivity of their workers. In this approach wage is an independent variable which will influence the performance of the firms. On the other hand, one can say that when productivity and efficiency increase the firms will be induced to pay higher wages to their workers. In this study we have investigated the relationship between the wages and the productivity for the period 1984-2004. The results show that the causality is from wages to efficiency and productivity. Among the variables which are expected to have influence on productivity and efficiency, oil revenue is the dominant factor. Real wages also had a positive and significant effect which is consistent with efficiency- wage theory; even though its effect is very small.


Mode choice behavior is a fundamental element of travel behaviour. It is the demand for activities that produces the demand for travel. In other words the need or desire to engage in an activity at a different location generates a trip. Primary objective of this paper is to study the importance of activity based approaches in travel demand models. An attempt is also made to develop a mode choice model for the rural middle class residents by activity based approach. The study area selected was a village in Ernakulam district of Kerala, India. The data collection was done by using the questionnaire form prepared, by interviewing every member of a household, giving emphasis for the previous day's travel pattern. Preliminary analysis was done using excel to study the socio economic characteristics of the study area. Trip characteristics were analyzed using SPSS. Four wheeler and three wheeler ownerships, license ownership, walking time, waiting time, cost and duration of total trip were found to be the influencing variables. These variables were used for the model preparation which was a trial and error process. Model development and its validation were also done by using SPSS. Mode choice model was developed by applying the multinomial logit model based on maximum utilization theory.


Four gene fragments of S1 strain of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus were amplified by RT-PCR and cloned into the pCR-XL-TOPO vector for sequencing. Authentic 5′ and 3′ terminal fragments of S1 strain were obtained by 5′ -Full RACE Core Set and 3′ -Full RACE Core Set and cloned into the pMD-18T vector and sequenced. The complete nucleotide sequence of S1 strain genome was obtained by sequential splicing of each fragment. The results showed that the genome of S1 strain was 15441 bp in length, containing nine open reading frames (ORFs), with 189 nt in the 5' UTR and 181 nt in the 3' UTR, including 30 nt poly (A) tail. The genome of PRRSV S1 strain showed 99.5%, 99.6% and 90.8% of nucleotide identity with ATCC VR-2332, BJ-4 and CH-1a, respectively.


The Northern Ireland conflict was one of the most bloody, protracted, and bitter campaigns of terrorist violence in modern history. Rooted in the partition of Ireland in 1921, over 50,000 people were killed or seriously injured because of the hostilities between Catholic nationalists and Protestant unionists. Despite the landmark Good Friday Agreement in 1998, violent incidents are still rife and new paramilitary groups are becoming ever more emboldened. This landmark introduction uses the latest archival material to chart the history of "The Troubles" and to examine the possible factors behind the political compromise of Sinn Fein and the DUP. Exploring the legacy of sectarian violence and inconsistent British intervention, the authors assert that, unfortunately, Northern Ireland is perhaps as fiercely segregated as ever.


BACKGROUND
Bone mineral density (BMD) in adult patients with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) might be low due to high bone turnover.

OBJECTIVES
The objective of the study was to investigate bone mass in a group of adult PWS subjects and study the effects of GH treatment on BMD and markers of bone turnover.

DESIGN
Forty-six adults with genetically verified PWS were randomized to GH or placebo for 12 months, followed by open prospective GH for 24 additional months. BMD at the lumbar spine (LS) L1-4, the total hip, and the total body was assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry at baseline and every 12th month thereafter. Markers of bone turnover were measured at baseline and at the end of the controlled study.

RESULTS
In this cohort of adult subjects with PWS, baseline BMD was reduced in all compartments compared with the reference (Z-scores). Men had lower Z-scores BMD than women in LS and total body (P < .05). With 12 months of GH, LS-BMD was significantly reduced compared with placebo. No changes in BMD were observed with continuous GH treatment for 24 months. The bone formation markers increased with GH therapy compared with placebo, whereas the resorption marker did not change.

CONCLUSIONS
Adult PWS subjects, especially the men, have low bone mass that was not improved with GH treatment for 2 years. Because PWS subjects are short, BMD might be underestimated and should be adjusted for. Further studies, with adequate GH and sex hormone replacement throughout puberty and early adult life, are needed to better characterize PWS.


Multi-user detection (MUD) techniques have the potential to provide significant capacity and quality of service benefits for DS-CDMA systems such as UMTS. To date, most studies have focussed on the link level performance of MUD techniques, involving a limited number of users. This study assesses the system capacity benefits provided by multi-user detection for the uplink, which forms the limiting factor in many scenarios. A W-CDMA system level simulator has been developed (see Lister D., et al., IEE Int Conf. on 3G2000 Mobile Commun. Technologies, p.218-23, 2000) to determine the potential gain in uplink capacity obtained by employing multi-user detection. The evaluation is performed for a dense urban macrocellular environment, based on realistic GSM site and traffic density distributions.


Itaipu Lagoon is located near the mouth of Guanabara Bay and has great importance for recreation to the city of Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. Several studies have documented foraminiferan diversity at Guanabara Bay, but none in Itaipu Lagoon. Therefore, this study lists and provides images of foraminiferal species collected from Itaipu Lagoon. A total of 35 species belonging to 23 genera were collected, grouped in 17 families and four orders. Ammonia tepida was the species with the highest occurrence. This study represents a baseline work for future investigations.


In the following article, the restorative potential of the environment in a cancer rehabilitation programme is analysed and discussed. The programme was developed as a transdisciplinary cooperation of psychologists, theologians, philosophers, and artists. To investigate the importance of environments, six qualitative focus group interviews were performed with 36 Danish cancer patients (30 females; six males) who attended the programme either at The Danish Knowledge Centre for Rehabilitation and Palliative Care (REHPA), a former hospital building adapted for rehabilitation, or at Løgumkloster Refugium, an old monastery, used as a place for retreat. The data were analysed using a content analysis that took a psychodynamic and hermeneutic approach as its point of departure. Outcomes associated with the environment that enhanced the well-being of the patients were feelings: a) of being close to nature, b) of being protected, c) of the spirit of place, and d) of experiencing narratives of peace. Our programme supports the idea, that environments in which cancer rehabilitation takes place can trigger different emotions and fulfil different existential needs. Aesthetic, historical, and spiritual aspects of an environment can help individuals to respond to existential challenges and can induce hope. Our study contributes knowledge about the interplay between existential well-being and aspects of the environment.


Over the last 15 years, exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS) have seen increased use on U.S. Army facilities. Although some use has been for new construction, most of the applications have been to retrofit the exterior walls of existing masonry buildings. Most of these applications have been relatively trouble free. However, some critical problems and failures (e.g., catastrophic system delamination) have also occurred. Contractor deficiencies accounted for a significant number of the observed failures. This paper presents a history concerning the use of EIFS on Army facilities describing both successful and not-so-successful performances of the system. Solutions to the experienced problems are discussed. Future uses of EIFS on Army facilities are addressed. The development of several guidance documents for EIFS including a revised Corps of Engineers Guide Specification for EIFS and an Engineer Technical Manual on EIFS Design are also described.


Previous efforts have shown that the laser/light based NDE systems do generally provide sufficiently accurate measurements for validating MFL ILI. However, the specific samples studied lack metrics associated with large metal loss areas or areas of interacting metal loss. It is generally accepted that the performance would deteriorate in such conditions, but a comprehensive evaluation has not been performed. This project aims to provide an insight into the performance of these technologies as pertaining to the measurement of larger or interacting areas of metal loss on pipelines.


This research is motivated by the difficulty of children aged 3-4 years in recognizing five vowels that is often children fnd it difficult to mention and distinguish vowels such as the letter "e", "u" and "o". While the letters that are always emembered by children are the letters "i" and the letter "a". This study aims to describe the learning process by using letter ball media in order to improve the ability to recognize five vowels in children aged 3-4 years and to find out the increased ability to recognize five vowel letters the use of lette ball media in children aged 3-4 years. The method used in this research is classroom action research. This research consisted of pre cycle, cycle I, cyle II, cyle III. Data collection techniques in this study used observation, interviews, non-test assessment, and documentation. The analysis technique in this study uses quantitative descriptive analysis, the results of this study are the se of letter ball media developed very well in cycle III by using letter ball media plus media decorating plastic cups.


Objective: This study was undertaken to formulate a floating drug delivery system of theophylline hydrochloride using different concentrations of a chosen polymer and then investigate how polymer concentration affects buoyancy and drug release properties of the tablets. Methods: Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) at different concentration levels of 15% (F1), 20% (F2) and 30% (F3) was used to form the three formulation batches of floating tablets. Wet granulation method was used for the granule preparation while Sodium bicarbonate and citric acid were used as the gas generating agent. The physical properties of the granules and the floating tablets were evaluated. Also determined were the physicomechanical properties, buoyancy and swelling characteristics of the tablets. The in vitro drug release study was carried out according to the USP I (basket method) for 8h in 900 ml 0.1N HCl at 50 rpm. Samples withdrawn at the regular predetermined time were analyzed spectrophotometrically at a wavelength of 271 nm and data obtained statistically analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The differences between means were considered significant at P<0.05. Results: The result showed that polymer (HPMC) concentration significantly (p>0.05) increased swelling index and improved floating lag time, it had no significant effect on the total floating time. Percentage drug release at the end of 8 h was 100%, 98.2% and 96.13% for formulation F1, F2 and F3, respectively. All three formulations followed the Higuchi drug release kinetics model and the mechanism of drug release was the non Fickian diffusion with exponents of 0.46, 0.51 and 0.56 for the respective batch. Conclusion: Batch F3 gave a better-controlled drug release and floating properties in comparison to batch F1 and F2 thus Polymer concentration influenced the onset of floating and controlled the release of Theophylline.


Theoretical and empirical works have emphasized that executive stock option plans play an important role in compensation management and corporate governance owing to the incentives to increase firm stock price and volatility levels. This study not only proposes models of executive stock options and constructs value-matched financial variables for comparing the incentive effects towards these options, but also develops an empirical study exploring the characteristics of executive stock options and suitable compensation management for companies. This investigation examines the daily value and compares incentive effects of six kinds of executive stock options with the empirical data of TSMC, the world's largest dedicated semiconductor foundry, which is listed on the TSE and NYSE. Empirical results indicate that purchased options would be the best choice for companies that are unsuitable to undertake risky investments, while the relative indexed options are appropriate for bear markets and good for companies whose executives are highly risk averse. Repriceable options are not recommended due to their high costs and weak incentive effects.


PURPOSE
Epicardial fat is the adipose tissue between the serosal pericardial wall layer and the visceral layer. It is distributed mainly around the atrioventricular groove, atrial septum, ventricular septum and coronary arteries. Studies have shown that the density, thickness, volume and other characteristics of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) are independently correlated with a variety of cardiovascular diseases. Given this association, the accurate determination of EAT volume is an essential aim of future research. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to establish a framework for fully automatic EAT segmentation and quantification in coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) scans.

METHODS
A set of 103 scans are randomly selected from our medical center. An automatic pipeline has been developed to segment and quantify the volume of EAT. First, a multi-slice deep neural network is used to simultaneously segment the pericardium in multiple adjacent slices. Then a deformable model is employed to reduce false positive and negative regions in the segmented binary pericardial images. Finally, the pericardium mask is used to define the region of interest (ROI) and the threshold method is utilized to extract the pixels ranging from -175 Hounsfield units (HU) to -15 HU for the segmentation of EAT.

RESULTS
The Dice indices of the pericardial segmentation using the proposed method with respect to the manual delineation results of two radiology experts were 97.1% ± 0.7% and 96.9% ± 0.6%, respectively. The inter-observer variability was also assessed, resulting in a Dice index of 97.0% ± 0.7%. For the EAT segmentation results, the Dice indices between the proposed method and the two radiology experts were 93.4% ± 1.5% and 93.3% ± 1.3%, respectively, and the same measurement between the experts themselves was 93.6% ± 1.9%. The Pearson's correlation coefficients between the EAT volumes computed from the results of the proposed method and the manual delineation by the two experts were 1.00 and 0.99 and the same coefficients between the experts was 0.99.

CONCLUSIONS
This work describes the development of a fully automatic EAT segmentation and quantification method from CCTA scans and the results compare favorably with the assessments of two independent experts. The proposed method is also packaged with a graphical user interface which can be found at https://github.com/MountainAndMorning/EATSeg.


Born in Ludhiana, Saadat Hasan Manto was opposed to his family tradition; aristocracy and study of Law. He grew up less educated, profligate, wayward and whimsical; smoking charas and other narcotics, drinking and gambling. Prone to frustration and dissipation he had no particular aim in life till he came to Bombay. Flowing through the stream of writing, mainly short stories, throughout his life he became a master story teller in Urdu. 'Manto's oeuvre' made him immortal writer of short stories in a short life span of less than 43 years. He left India for Pakistan and settled in his familiar town, Lahore, in 1948. His partition stories only have been discussed here. He never becomes partial in his dealing with woman. All his qualifications and disqualifications have been discussed here.


The CISA Review Questions, Answers & Explanations Manual 2014 Supplement features 100 new sample questions, answers and explanations to help candidates effectively prepare for the CISA exam. These new questions are designed to be similar to actual exam items. The questions are intended to provide CISA candidates with an understanding of the type and structure of questions that have typically appeared on past exams, and were prepared specifically for use in studying for the CISA exam. This publication is ideal to use with the:CISA Review Manual 2014CISA Review Questions, Answers & Explanations Manual 2013.To help candidates maximize study efforts, questions are presented in the following two ways:Sorted by job practice area, allowing CISA candidates to focus on particular topicsScrambled as a sample 100-question exam, enabling candidates to effectively determine their strengths and weaknesses and allowing them to simulate an actual exam


Objective. The primary objective of this study was to validate a novel method of assessing hand hygiene compliance using ultrasound transmitters in patient zones and staff tagged with receivers. The secondary objective was to assess the impact of audio reminders and quantified individual feedback. Design. An observational comparison against manual assessment followed by assessment using an open-label randomized control method. Setting. Patient zones were established in 3 wards of 2 large teaching hospitals, including 88 general and 18 intensive care unit ward beds. Participants. Consented regular ward nursing, medical, and allied health staff. Methods. Concordance between 40 hours of manual observation using trained hand hygiene auditors and automated measures of opportunities and compliance. Subsequent measured interventions were reminder beeps and written individual feedback. Results. When compared with manual observations, ultrasound monitoring underestimated percentage compliances by a nonsignificant mean (95% confidence interval [CI]) difference of 5.2% (−20.1% to 9.8%; P = .491). After the intervention, adjusted multivariate analysis showed mean (95% CI) overall compliance in the intervention arm was 6.8% (2.5%−11.1%; P = .002) higher than in the control arm. Results stratified by compliance at entry and exit showed that the effect of intervention was stronger for compliance at exit than at entry. Conclusions. Our automated measure of hand hygiene compliance is valid when compared with the traditional gold standard of manual observations. As an interventional tool, ultrasound-based automated hand hygiene audits have significant benefit that can be built upon with enhancements and find increasing acceptance with time.


A detailed kinetic study of the reaction of aquacobalamin [H2OCbl(III)] with hydrogen sulfide in water at pH 1 to 10 was carried out using conventional spectrophotometric, stopped-flow, and high-pressure stopped-flow techniques. The reaction proceeds in three steps: formation of the complex between aquacobalamin and hydrogen sulfide, inner-sphere electron transfer, and addition of a second molecule of hydrogen sulfide to the reduced cobalamin. Kinetic parameters for the different reaction steps of the studied process were determined. The final products of the reaction between aquacobalamin and hydrogen sulfide were found to depend on pH. The main reaction product is five-coordinate base-on reduced cobalamin(II) [B12r, Cbl(II)] in alkaline medium and six-coordinate cobalamin(II) with the anion-radical SSH2– in acidic medium.


Fibrinolytic activity was measured in a 14-day placebo-controlled study of propranolol and the calcium antagonist isradipine in 20 mildly hypertensive patients (diastolic blood pressure 95–115 mm Hg) compared with 24 healthy volunteers. The parameters under study included euglobulin clot-lysis time, and tissue-plasminogen activator activity and its inhibitor (PAL). The two drugs exerted equal antihypertensive effects in the patients who had raised blood pressure, but had markedly different actions on the fibrinolytic system. Propranolol substantially reduced the fibrinolytic activity in both the hypertensive and healthy control groups. Isradipine, on the other hand, had no effect on fibrinolytic activity in the controls, but augmented the activity in the hypertensive subjects. The possible mechanisms for the different actions of the two agents may he related to the vascular endothelium.


Recently, a distinction between bridging and bonding networks has been made in the social capital literature. Bridging groups are often expected to have greater effects on democratic norm development and to generate more positive externalities on society than bonding networks.To allow application of these theoretical constructs in practice, however, an adequate measurement of bridging versus bonding networks is crucial. One approach builds on connections between voluntary associations through individuals with multiple memberships. However, simply counting the number of members' additional memberships in other associations, as in previous work, is inappropriate. Indeed, we illustrate that this is biased towards finding that large associations are more bonding.We then propose a technique to alleviate this bias and illustrate that the proposed correction is crucial to avoid erroneous conclusions in tests of the hypothesis that membership in bridging or bonding associations is differently related to individuals' civic attitudes.


We study existence, uniqueness and computability of solutions for a class of discrete time recursive utilities models. By combining two streams of the recent literature on recursive preferences---one that analyzes principal eigenvalues of valuation operators and another that exploits the theory of monotone concave operators---we obtain conditions that are both necessary and sufficient for existence and uniqueness of solutions. We also show that the natural iterative algorithm is convergent if and only if a solution exists. Consumption processes are allowed to be nonstationary.


An analytical study was carried out to investigate the performance of an oil supplying system of a variable speed compressor using a commercial CFD program. The simulations for the oil supplying system with the oil and air mixture were performed by varying compressor speed from 40 Hz to 90 Hz. Comparing the predicted with the measured data on the modified scroll compressor validated the simulation model. The predicted results were consistent with the test data with a maximum deviation of 12.8%. The oil flow rate significantly increased with a rise of compressor speed due to a higher oil flow rate from the swing pump and a greater centrifugal force on the oil gallery. This analytical method was proved to be very useful to determine the oil flow rate through the oil gallery and to design an optimized oil gallery for a variable speed scroll compressor.


ABSTRACT Aim: This study inquires into identity alteration among college students and its relationship to borderline personality disorder (BPD) and/or dissociative disorders (DDs). Methods: Steinberg Identity Alteration Questionnaire (SIAQ), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), and self-report screening tool of the BPD section of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-BPD) were administered to 1301 college students. Participants who fit the diagnostic criteria of BPD (n = 80) according to the clinician-administered SCID-BPD and 111 non-BPD controls were evaluated using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV DDs (SCID-D) by two psychiatrists blind to the group membership and scale scores. Results: Test-retest evaluations and internal consistency analyses suggested that SIAQ was a reliable instrument. Of the participants, 11.3% reported a SIAQ score 25 or above alongside some impairment. SIAQ scores differentiated participants who fit the diagnostic criteria for a DD from those who did not. While self-report identity alteration was correlated with all childhood trauma types, clinician-assessed identity alteration was correlated with childhood sexual abuse only. Those who fit criteria for both disorders had the highest identity alteration scores in self-report and clinician-assessment. Although both syndromes had significant effect on self-report identity alteration total scores, in contrast to DD, BPD did not have an effect on the clinician-administered evaluation. Conclusion: An impression of personality disorder rather than a DD may seem more likely when identity alteration remains subtle in clinical assessment, notwithstanding its presence in self-report. Lack of recognition of identity alteration may lead to overdiagnosis of BPD among individuals who have a DD.


Finding new optical probes to detect and track amyloid protein aggregates is key to understanding and defeating the myriad of neurodegenerative and other diseases associated with these misfolded proteins. Herein we report that a series of fluorescent, soluble oligo(p-phenylene ethynylene)s (OPEs) are able to detect amyloids in vitro by massive binding-activated superluminescence, with low micromolar affinity and high selectivity for the amyloid conformer. The OPEs track the kinetics of amyloid fibril formation from native hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) similarly to thioflavin T (ThT), and the dependence of binding affinity on OPE length supports the theory of a linear binding groove. We hypothesize, based on spectral properties, induced circular dichroism, and previous work in analogous systems, that the fluorescence turn-on mechanism is a combination of the reduction of static solvent-mediated quenching at the ethyl ester end groups of the phenylene ethynylene fluorophore and the formation of chiral J-type aggregates templated on the amyloid fibril surface.


The symplectic approach to obtaining fluxes of gravitational energy-momentum and angular momentum given by Ashtekar and Streubel (1981) is completed by giving explicit expressions for the charge integral associated with an arbitrary BMS vector at a given retarded time. The expressions are obtained by weakening the definition of angular momentum given by Penrose (1982) into a map dual to the entire BMS group.


A novel process has been developed which uses reversed micelles to isolate denatured protein molecules from each other and allows them to refold individually. These reversed micelles are aqueous phase droplets stabilized by the surfactant AOT and suspended in iso‐octane. By adjusting conditions such that only one protein molecule is present per reversed micelle, it was possible to achieve independent folding without encountering the problem of aggregation due to interactions with neighboring molecules. The feasibility of this process was demonstrated using bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A as a model system. It was shown that denatured and reduced ribonuclease can be transferred from a buffered solution containing guanidine hydrochloride into reversed micelles to a greater extent than native enzyme under the same conditions. The denaturant concentration can then be significantly reduced in the reversed micellar phase, while retaining most of the protein, by means of extractive contacting stages with a denaturant‐free aqueous solution. Denatured and reduced ribonuclease will subsequently recover full activity inside reversed micelles within 24 h upon addition of a mixture of reduced and oxidized glutathione to reoxidize disulfide bonds. Extraction of this refolded enzyme from reversed micelles back into aqueous solution can be accomplished by contacting the reversed micelle phase with a high ionic strength (1.0 M KCI) aqueous solution containing ethyl acetate. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


Replacing conventional gear-boxes with continuously variable transmissions (CVT's) can reduce the fuel-consumption of spark ignition engines significantly. A possible approach to the control of this type of drive-train structures for a specific operating condition ("high-power regime") is discussed in this paper. In the first part the plant dynamics are exactly linearized over the complete operating range using feedback linearization. Much attention is paid to the existence conditions for this nonlinear part. In the second part, as an application of the exact linearization approach, a "kick-down"-controller is designed. Simulations show that combining the two controllers yields good transient behavior and robustness of the closed-loop system. >


Longitudinal studies of adolescent males have shown that absolute maximal aerobic power (VO2max) and distance-running performance improve with age, while VO2max expressed relative to body mass remains stable. These earlier studies used subjects that were engaged in distance-run training; therefore, it was not possible to assess the relative importance of growth and/or run training to improved performance. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to quantify longitudinal changes in VO2max, running economy (RE), and distance-running performance in non-run-trained young males. Six subjects were tested at mean ages of 9.9 (T1) and 16.8 years (T2). Statistical tests of mean values revealed that over the 7-year period, relative VO2max remained unchanged (T1, 48.9 ml.kg-1.min-1; T2, 47.8 ml.kg-1.min-1) and RE improved (T1, 234.2; T2, 202.8 ml.kg-1.km-1), 9-min run distance increased (T1, 1637 m; T2, 2115 m), and the estimated percent of VO2max incurred during the 9-min run increased from 85.8% (T1) to 99.5% (T2). It was concluded that the improvement in distance-running performance observed in adolescent boys was not dependent upon run training. In view of the fact that maximal aerobic power remained stable, this change appears to be attributable to better running economy and an ability in runs of a fixed duration to perform at a higher relative work load.


Real-time applications such as telepresence systems present an opportunity to use embedded GPUs for compute acceleration to meet platform goals. In this paper, we develop a prototype of a portable, standalone telepresence robot that performs real-time attention-directed control using an NVIDIA Jetson TK1 embedded platform. We perform platform-specific optimizations to improve thread occupancy, optimize computation workload and improve accuracy of face detection on the embedded GPU and achieve real-time performance of 30 frames per second on the Jetson TK1 and an overall speedup of 10× compared to the ARM CPU version.


Introduction Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is a leading cause of chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis, with an estimated 170 million patients infected worldwide. The, UKmost common genotype of HCV is Genotype 1. For many years, the 'Standard of Care' has been prolonged therapy with the combination of Polyethylene glycol interferon-α and Ribavirin for one year. The recent approval of drugs such as Telaprevir and Boceprevir has restructured treatment for genotype 1 HCV infection, both for previously treated or treatment-naïve patients. Specific dietary intake is warranted for adequate absorption of the protease inhibitors and this has led to a structured dietary advice being given to patients. We wanted to compare the nutritional impact of antiviral therapy in two groups of patients who underwent either dual or triple therapy. Methods Treatment of hepatitis C patients at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary is undertaken by Hepatology specialist nurses who review these patients at designated time intervals. At each of these clinic visits the MUST score (Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool) is recorded in addition to the weight and BMI of the patient. Any patient who has a MUST score of 2 is referred for specialist dietetic input, which is also available at the clinic. At 4 weekly intervals, the HAD score for anxiety and depression is also recorded for all patients. Results A total of 73 patients with Genotype 1 underwent therapy in the year 2012–2013, including 25 patients with dual therapy of PEG-IFN and Ribavirin and 48 patients on triple therapy of PEG-IFN, Ribavirin and Telaprevir. There was no statistical difference in the initial weight, BMI and MUST scores of these two groups of patients. The mean weight fell from 89.6 ± 17.9 kg to 83.7 ± 15.6 kg by the end of treatment in the dual therapy group with a parallel fall in BMI from 30.7 ± 5.4 to 28.8 ± 4.6 kg/m2. However, in the triple therapy group, the mean weight increased from 82.2 ± 30.5 kg to 82.7 ± 26.0 kg and a stable BMI from 26.4 ± 9.5 to 26.2 ± 8.3 kg/m2. Dietary referral and intervention was needed in 7/25 patients on dual therapy (28%) as opposed to 7/48 patients on triple therapy (14.6%) (p = 0.23) Conclusion Weight reduction is a significant problem in patients undergoing dual therapy for hepatitis C as opposed to those undergoing triple therapy. Referral to the dietician was needed in a larger proportion of cases undergoing standard of care though it did not reach statistical significance. Dietary advice given with respect to protease inhibitors may have had a significant effect in combating the ill effects of the standard treatment of patients with Genotype 1 HCV infection. This specific advice should be extrapolated to all patients undergoing anti-viral treatment. Disclosure of Interest None Declared.


On behalf of the Council of the Association of Dental Anaesthetists we note with interest the editorial by Professor Strunin on intravenous conscious sedation [1] and, in general, agree with his views. Strunin notes the large series (6000 cases) of intravenous sedation in children that was presented at a meeting of the Dental Sedation Teachers Group (DSTG) and published in its Autumn 2005 newsletter. Free papers describing similar techniques were presented at the June 2007 meeting of the Association of Dental Anaesthetists (ADA) held in Sheffield. Strunin describes the disclaimer published by the DSTG in its Autumn 2006 newsletter – to the effect that opinions expressed therein were not necessarily those of the editor nor of DSTG – as 'hardly a vote of confidence' in the paper. We feel that this represents a misunderstanding of the role of specialist societies, which exist principally to promote discussion of professional matters. Presentation at, or publication by, a society does not imply endorsement of a technique. A disclaimer is standard in many publications, not least in Anaesthesia. Whether the techniques described in the review of 6000 cases are safe to practise outside of the hospital setting has yet to be determined. To establish the true incidence of adverse events, very large numbers would need to be studied. Of late, a few cases have emerged where an adverse outcome has resulted. Was this a failure of the practitioners, or a manifestation of an inherently dangerous technique? The solutions are quite different. The same basic principles need to be applied to the treatments of carious teeth in children as with anything else. If the risks of treatment outweigh the benefits, or if they are greater than the risks of the untreated condition, then the condition ought to be left well alone. If this means that some children should go about with their teeth carious because of a lack of co-operation with treatment, so be it. We should not put them at risk of their lives for the sake of dental treatment.


Trust in highly Automated and Autonomous Vehicles (AAVs) is a topic that has been gaining traction in recent years, across academia, the technology industry, and of course, the automotive industry. A number of automotive OEMs and tech companies across the globe are developing AAVs, with the short-term focus being on SAE Level 2 and Level 3 vehicles, and the longer-term focus being on SAE Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles. Alongside the development of the core technology needed for such AAVs, these companies have been grappling with a key question that will influence the uptake and ultimate success of AAVs; How to get people to trust these vehicles? This paper outlines a series of small-scale projects undertaken by Jaguar Land Rover Research between 2016 and 2018 as part of the UKAutodrive project that attempted to address this question. Across this series of user trials, participants experienced a number of autonomous drives in a low-speed (6mph/10kph) prototype SAE Level 4 autonomous 'pod' for up to fifteen minutes at a time, and then asked to rate their trust at the end of each individual drive. Overall, the data shows that Trust is something that can indeed be reliably measured, something that changes/fluctuates over time, and can be undone if the occupant experiences a negative event (e.g. a near miss), with the impact of this event depending on when the occupant experienced it (first trip vs. fifth trip). Finally, we show that it seems to be the number of trips in, or exposures to, an autonomous vehicle rather than the length of time per trip that influences trust, with more, shorter trips (8x4 minute trips) recording higher reported trust compared to fewer, longer trips (4x8 minutes trips).


Two experiments explored the role of ambiguity on context processing by using relative stimulus validity designs in human predictive learning. Two groups of participants were trained with 2 stimulus compounds (XY and XZ). In Group TD (true discrimination), compound XY was always followed by the outcome, whereas compound XZ was never followed by it. In Group PD (pseudodiscrimination) the presentation of each compound was followed by the outcome in half of the trials. Experiment 1 found that pseudodiscrimination facilitated context dependency of reliable predictors regardless of whether they were trained in the same context in which pseudodiscrimination took place or in an alternative context in which true discrimination was conducted. Experiment 2 found context dependency of reliable predictors trained and tested in PD contexts, suggesting that the ambiguity in the meaning of the cues produced by pseudodiscrimination training is at least partially responsible for the context switch effects found in ambiguous situations in human predictive learning.


In this one year's master thesis the aim is to examine discourses and representations within the library field in texts connected to the Swedish award "Library of the Year" between 1986–2006. The questions posted to analyze are: what discourses can be found and what characterises them? Furthermore does the library intentionally or unintentionally mediate representations to the surrounding world? Does the library want to be portrayed in a specific way? The theoretical and methodological approaches in the study is the critical discourse analysis, developed by Norman Fairclough. On the basis of a three-dimensional framework for critical discourse analysis, arguments and articles connected to the Swedish award "Library of the Year", are examined. The results of the analysis reveal six discourses: a market economy discourse, an information technology discourse, an education discourse, an occupational discourse, a user discourse and an experience orientated discourse. The study also reveal that the discourses are due to the surrounding society and that the period between the years 1986–2006 characterizes by a striving for change, improvement and development. The library is portrayed in very positive terms throughout the material. The book is given very little room in the material. The award "Library of the Year" appears to be a forum, which give the libraries the opportunity to mediate their activities. Therefore the forum can be assumed to mediate intentional representations. Finally it is a multifacetted image of the library that is portrayed.


Objective Cervical cancer is the fourth most frequent neoplasm among women in terms of incidence and mortality. Health-related quality of life (HRQL) is an important outcome in oncology. The QLQ-CX24 instrument was developed to measure HRQL in patients with cervical cancer, and its Mexican-Spanish version had not been validated. Methods Between March 2018 and May 2019, Mexican women older than 18, with any-stage cervical cancer were invited to participate in the study. Patients answered the QLQ-C30 and QLQ-CX24 questionnaires. Current tests for psychometric and clinical validation were performed. Results Three hundred and thirty patients with cervical cancer were included in this study. All women invited to participate accepted and were included. The QLQ-CX24 internal consistency test demonstrated adequate convergent (Spearman correlation coefficient 0.001–0.847) and divergent validity (Spearman correlation coefficient <0.0001–0.45). Cronbach's alpha coefficients of the three multi-item scales were >0.7 (minimum 0.76, maximum 0.89). Four scales of the QLQ-CX24 distinguished patients in different clinical stages. The evaluation of responsiveness demonstrated that the peripheral neuropathy scale was sensitive to change over time during chemo-radiation therapy. Six scales of the QLQ-CX24 instrument were associated with survival. Conclusion The Mexican-Spanish version of the QLQ-CX24 questionnaire is reliable and valid for the assessment of HRQL in patients with cervical cancer.


Abstract Huge amounts of cotton and textile ash waste are disposed of by countries all over the world. The majority of cotton wastes and textile ash wastes is expelled in such a way as to cause serious environmental problems. The present study involves experimental research investigating the potential use of cotton and textile ash wastes combination for producing a new and lightweight composite building material with good insulation properties. The results showed that the cotton and textile ash waste bricks fulfill the compressive strength and heat conductivity requirements of the ASTM and Turkish Standards. A cotton and textile ash waste brick house has been found to be superior to a concrete brick house for regulating indoor temperatures. The production process can be easily applied in conventional brick plants. The product is a light weight composite which can be used for making bricks and wall and ceiling panels with good insulation properties.


The RuvAB and RuvC enzymes of Escherichia coli define a molecular pathway for the resolution of Holliday intermediates in recombination and DNA repair. They bind specifically to Holliday junctions, and catalyse their branch migration and cleavage, respectively. In a RuvA(B)-junction complex, the Holliday structure is held in an open (square planar) configuration on the concave surface of a 4-fold symmetrical tetramer of RuvA, whereas in a RuvC-junction complex it is folded in an alternative arrangement as part of the cleavage reaction. Genetic studies have shown that the activity of RuvC in vivo depends on RuvAB, which suggests that the two enzymes act in concert, with junction cleavage by RuvC following from branch migration by RuvAB. We have investigated how RuvC can take over a junction from RuvAB to cleave the DNA. We show that RuvA inhibits junction cleavage by RuvC, probably by sandwiching the junction between two tetramers. The extent of inhibition depends on the reaction kinetics of RuvA binding relative to RuvC binding and cleavage. The presence of RuvB and the concentration of Mg2+ both have a significant effect on cleavage in the presence of RuvA. However, a novel protein-DNA complex can be formed when junction DNA is incubated with both RuvA and RuvC. Its mobility is consistent with a RuvC dimer binding to a junction held in an open configuration on the surface of a RuvA tetramer. We suggest that this arrangement provides RuvC with the means to scan the junction during the RuvAB-mediated branch migration reaction for DNA sequences that it can cleave. We further suggest that recognition of the target may provide a trigger for dissociating RuvA, allowing the junction to be folded and cleaved by RuvC.


A method for a microelectronic wafer comprises a mechanical device for processing, it can form wafer form instead of device to perform all the steps of manufacturing and testing. Prior to completion of device fabrication, the first wafer 20 is mounted on a saw frame 24 of the dicing tape 22, and typically the individual components by the blade 27 is separated, the remaining manufacturing steps during such cutting devices are retained in belt. Some fabrication steps may require 44 to cover the adhesive of the dicing tape with a protective cover. After application of the protective coating comprises a functional test and including all the manufacturing steps are completed, remove the device from the dicing tape and packaged.


This study, from the area of Political Law, aims to analyze the impact on electoral legitimacy of blank votes, null votes and abstentions, understood here as electoral indifference practices, in the conception of Paola Naves Ramos (2009), to whom specific groups try to rebel against the political system through any kind of boycott. Usually these people adopt non-participation behavior. In the light of the theory of civil disobedience, considering episodes in Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais) and São Paulo (São Paulo), the analysis uses the hypothetical-inductive method, elaborated by Karl Popper (1993), according to whom credible hypotheses allow the knowledge of results that can be extended to all universe in question. Along this path, the result is that electoral indifference does not cause impact on the electoral legitimacy, because, as demonstrated in the conclusion, the rebellion practiced by the nonattendance at the polls is within the rules of the game and has low effect, restricted to a symbolic impact, without further damage to the legitimacy of the elected candidates.


Fibromyalgia (FM) is often associated with profound suffering on the part of patients and can be quite challenging to the clinician to treat/manage. This talk will provide demographic information about FM as well as a brief summary of current research supporting putative peripheral and central nervous system mechanisms underpinning this condition. Multiple approaches have been used to diagnose FM and these methods will be reviewed and clarified for a clinical audience. Multi-modal treatment is considered optimal for the long-term management of FM and a variety of pharmacological as well as non-pharmacological options are available. This talk will review some of the evidence supporting these options and will describe how best to craft a logical treatment plan taking into account the needs of the individual patient. Disclosure of Interest D. Williams Consultant for: Health Focus, Inc.


Gastroenterology is the study of the normal function and
diseases of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon and
rectum, pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts and liver.
Gastrointestinal Immunology mainly focus on differentiation of
gut-associated lymphoid tissue, regulation of innate and
adaptive immune cell differentiation and function, genetic and
epigenetic factors regulating immune responses and
inflammation. It also gives idea about the clinical research,
clinical trials and epidemiology studies on gastrointestinal
inflammatory diseases including gluten-ensitive enteropathy,
inflammatory bowel disease, and gastritis, malabsorption
syndromes, diarrhea, gastric and duodenal ulcers and disease of
the salivary glands excluding cystic fibrosis.


OBJECTIVE. The goals of this study were to assess the prevalence of anterior hip dislocation and to highlight the distinctive imaging features of anterior-superior hip dislocation. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A retrospective chart review was conducted of all hip dislocations seen at one university hospital from January 2005 to January 2019. The radiology database was queried for all reports of hip or pelvis radiographs with the word "dislocation." Cases of developmental dysplasia of the hip, infection, tumor, arthroplasty, Girdlestone procedure, surgical dislocation, and prior hip surgery were excluded, leaving 237 traumatic hip dislocations. Electronic medical records of the 18 cases of anterior hip dislocation were reviewed to determine the mechanism of injury, treatment, and subsequent outcomes. RESULTS. Among 237 traumatic hip dislocations, 18 (7.6%) were anterior hip dislocations. Among the 18 were three (17%) anterior-superior dislocations and 15 (83%) anterior-inferior dislocations. All anterior-superior dislocations had poor outcomes. One patient had persistent hip pain and instability and underwent follow-up imaging. In one case, MRI performed at the time of injury and 11 months later showed tears of the superior capsule, iliofemoral ligament, and ligamentum teres. The iliofemoral ligament tear did not heal, resulting in a persistent anterior capsule defect, a finding previously associated with instability in patients who have undergone arthroscopic surgery. CONCLUSION. The incidence of anterior hip dislocation was lower than some studies have suggested. Anterior-superior hip dislocation is a rare injury in which ligamentous defects are visualized at MRI and possibly contribute to anterior hip instability and pain.


This paper presents a method for selecting appropriate synthetic speech samples from a given large text-to-speech (TTS) dataset as supplementary training data for an automatic speech recognition (ASR) model. We trained a neural network, which can be optimised using cross-entropy loss or Arcface loss, to measure the similarity of a synthetic data to real speech. We found that incorporating synthetic samples with considerable dissimilarity to real speech, owing in part to lexical differences, into ASR training is crucial for boosting recognition performance. Experimental results on Librispeech test sets indicate that, in order to maintain the same speech recognition accuracy as when using all TTS data, our proposed solution can reduce the size of the TTS data down below its $30\,\%$, which is superior to several baseline methods.


[reaction: see text] A chiral periodic mesoporous organosilica (ChiMO) was prepared, in which a 1,2-bis-(ureido)cyclohexyl linker (38 wt %) is introduced into the walls of the hybrid organic-inorganic material. This silica was used as a host for 11-formyl-12-methyldibenzobarrelene (2), and the stereoselectivity of the di-pi-methane rearrangement of 2 within this host-guest complex was studied. At low conversions, the only product was the corresponding dibenzosemibullvalene. An enantiomeric excess of 24% at 11% conversion was obtained using the ChiMO as host. These values compare well with those achieved using a system based on conventional faujasites (LiY and NaY) as hosts incorporating a chiral auxiliary. We tested S-phenylglycine, S-proline, S-camphanic acid, and S-mandelic acid as chiral auxiliaries. In contrast to the behavior of the ChiMO material, adsorption of dibenzobarrelene in purely siliceous mesoporous MCM-41 silica (3.2 nm pore size) containing ephedrine failed, a failure that can be explained as arising from the large internal silanol population and high hydrophilicity of the siliceous MCM-41 sample.


Abstruct- When the piezoelectric stiffening matrix is added to the mechanical stiffness matrix of a finite element model, its sparse matrix structure is destroyed. A direct consequence of this loss in sparseness is the significant rise in memory and computational time requirements for the model. For weakly coupled piezoelectric materials, the matrix sparseness can be retained by a perturbation method which separates the mechanical eigenvalue solution from its piezoelectric effects. A perturbation and finite element scheme for weakly coupled piezoelectric vibrations in quartz plate resonators has been developed. Finite element matrix equations were derived specifically for third overtone thickness shear, SC-cut quartz plate resonators with electrode platings. High frequency, piezoelectric plate equations, previously derived by Lee, Syngellakis, and Hou [l], were employed in the formulation of the finite element matrix equation. The equations may be used for modeling third harmonic overtone of thickness shear vibrations. Results from the perturbation method for SCcut quartz plates compared well with the direct solution of the piezoelectric finite element equations. This method will result in significant savings in computer memory and computational time. Resonance and anti-resonance frequencies of a certain mode could be calculated easily by using the same eigen-pair from the purely mechanical stiffness matrix. Numerical results for straight crested waves in a third overtone SC-cut quartz strip with and without electrodes are presented. The steady-state response to an electrical excitation is calculated. The accuracy of the perturbation method is dependent on the magnitude of piezoelectric coupling constant in the mode of vibration. For example, an investigation on the first few modes of vibration in a cube made of lithium niobate, which has high piezoelectric coupling constants, yielded divergent results for the perturbation method. Hence, the method should not be used for materials with high piezoelectric coupling constants.


This study investigated the relationship between share returns and nine variables that had been proven to influence returns in previous research, using a multiple regression analysis. These variables are size, leverage, book-to-market ratio, earnings yield, dividend payout, earnings growth, return on equity, earnings per share and asset growth. The impact of some of the variables on share returns proved to be insignificant, and some collinearity was identified between some of the variables. However, three significant variables were identified and the final regression model included the book-to-market ratio, dividend payout and leverage as the explanatory variables.


The biological effects induced by complete engine emissions in a 3D model of the human airway (MucilAirTM) and in human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) grown at the air–liquid interface were compared. The cells were exposed for one or five days to emissions generated by a Euro 5 direct injection spark ignition engine. The general condition of the cells was assessed by the measurement of transepithelial electrical resistance and mucin production. The cytotoxic effects were evaluated by adenylate kinase (AK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity. Phosphorylation of histone H2AX was used to detect double-stranded DNA breaks. The expression of the selected 370 relevant genes was analyzed using next-generation sequencing. The exposure had minimal effects on integrity and AK leakage in both cell models. LDH activity and mucin production in BEAS-2B cells significantly increased after longer exposures; DNA breaks were also detected. The exposure affected CYP1A1 and HSPA5 expression in MucilAirTM. There were no effects of this kind observed in BEAS-2B cells; in this system gene expression was rather affected by the time of treatment. The type of cell model was the most important factor modulating gene expression. In summary, the biological effects of complete emissions exposure were weak. In the specific conditions used in this study, the effects observed in BEAS-2B cells were induced by the exposure protocol rather than by emissions and thus this cell line seems to be less suitable for analyses of longer treatment than the 3D model.


The design of water retaining structures is mainly based on the serviceability limit state crack control. The allowable crack width depends on the self-healing ability of concrete and the use of supplementary cementitious material like fly ash in concrete mixes might affect it. Therefore, an experimental investigation was carried out to find the influence of fly ash on self-healing process. Water is sent through artificially induced cracks in a specimen for autogenous healing to take place at a constant pressure gradient across the specimen. To determine the level of self-healing, the flow through the crack was measured with time to obtain the sealing time. Fly ash percentages of 20%, 30% and 40% were tested along with a 0% fly ash mix. Insignificant variation was shown for initial drop in flow rate across fly ash percentages used in this study. Significant reduction in sealing time was observed for 20% and 30% fly ash mixes as compared to 0% fly ash whereas higher fly ash percentages (40%) showed insignificant reduction.


Deforestation and land conversion is one of the effects of high nativity rates and urbanizationthat affect the ecological situation.  The imbalance of ecological system become a factor ofincreasing pulmunary Tuberkulosis incidence (TB).  TB is a disease of pulmunary infectionsthat caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and it is spread directly.  Thisresearch was conducted to determine the contribution of land use changes incidence of TB inthe Lampung Province.  Land use changes be resultant through landsat imegeryinterpretation utilize Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software.  Parameter usedstatistical software, used the F test on the real level of 10%.  The result showed that therewere several factors that have real influence, namely; community forest with a coefficient of 1.0314(Pvalue=0.040), Clean and Healthy Lifestyle (PHBS) coefficient of -0.3691 (Pvalue=0.042), density population coefficient of 0.011661 (Pvalue=0.008) and the percentage of poorresident coefficient of 0.6641 (Pvalue=0.006).  While forest, plantation, developed land, healthfacility and healthy house did not have significant effect toward incidence of TB in Lampung Province. Keywords : deforestation, geographic information systems(GIS), incidence of TB, land use.


Aims: This ecological comparison study explored temporal trends since 1985 in age-adjusted suicide and homicide rates for older male adults (over the age of 65) resident in the EU and the Russian Federation. Methods: The data were extracted from the World Health Organization's (WHO) European mortality database. Results: Older men resident in the Russian Federation had a higher risk of dying a violent death (by homicide and by suicide) than their younger compatriots (relative risks (RR) ranging from 1.13 to 1.31). Conversely, in the EU, older men had a higher risk of dying from suicide (RRs of 1.52 for men over the age of 65 and 3.27 for men over the age of 75) and a lower risk of being victims of homicide (RRs ranging between 0.84 and 0.89) than their younger compatriots. Conclusions: The European region is characterized by great inequalities in rates of violent deaths among the elderly.


As one type of non-Newtonian fluid, viscoelastic fluids exhibit unique properties that contribute to particle lateral migration in confined microfluidic channels, leading to opportunities for particle manipulation and separation. In this paper, particle focusing in viscoelastic flow is studied in a wide range of polyethylene glycol (PEO) concentrations in aqueous solutions. Polystyrene beads with diameters from 3 to 20 μm are tested, and the variation of particle focusing position is explained by the coeffects of inertial flow, viscoelastic flow, and Dean flow. We showed that particle focusing position can be predicted by analyzing the force balance in the microchannel, and that particle separation resolution can be improved in viscoelastic flows.


Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) have been widely utilized as a way of tailoring surface chemistry through the adsorption of organic molecules to different materials. SAMs are easy to prepare and offer a wide variety of organic molecules that afford additional or improved properties to the coated material. Spatial control of SAM placement has been achieved over many length-scales, even at the nanoscale. However, nanopatterned SAMs are usually prepared through serial processes utilizing atomic scanning probes or soft-lithography utilizing elastomeric masters. These techniques are expensive or not repeatable. Here we present the use of nanospheres for the creation of nanopatterned Au:Cu films which spatially control the grafting of a thermoresponsive SAM made from poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAM). Chemical characterization validates the presence of PNIPAM and environmental atomic force microscopy showed its response to temperature which was evidenced by a change in stiffness. Our approach represents an affordable large area methodology for repeatable spatial control of SAMs at the nanoscale.


It is well known that reproduction entails an energy cost that translates into a decrease in longevity. In a Perspective, [Reznick and Ghalambor][1] review new findings ([SgrA³ and Partridge][2]) that demonstrate how reproduction affects mortality. The new study looks at the differences in death rates between "young" and "old" lines of flies (selected for a shorter and longer lifespan, respectively), which were able to lay eggs or were rendered sterile. Among egg-laying lines, young flies underwent a wave of mortality at the onset of aging that was not seen in the old lines. Abrogation of egg-laying capabilities resulted in similar mortality rates for the young and old lines.

 [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/286/5449/2458
 [2]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/286/5449/2521


Altered mitochondrial metabolism plays a pivotal role in the development and progression of various diseases, including cancer. Cell lines are frequently used as models to study mitochondrial (dys)function, but little is known about their mitochondrial respiration and metabolic properties in comparison to the primary tissue of origin. We have developed a method for assessment of oxidative phosphorylation in prostate tissue samples of only 2 mg wet weight using high‐resolution respirometry. Reliable protocols were established to investigate the respiratory activity of different segments of the mitochondrial electron transfer system (ETS) in mechanically permeabilized tissue biopsies. Additionally, the widely used immortalized prostate epithelial and fibroblast cell lines, RWPE1 and NAF, representing the major cell types in prostate tissue, were analyzed and compared to the tissue of origin. Our results show that mechanical treatment without chemical permeabilization agents or sample processing constitutes a reliable preparation method for OXPHOS analysis in small amounts of prostatic tissue typically obtained by prostate biopsy. The cell lines represented the bioenergetic properties of fresh tissue to a limited extent only. Particularly, tissue showed a higher oxidative capacity with succinate and glutamate, whereas pyruvate was a substrate supporting significantly higher respiratory activities in cell lines. Several fold higher zinc levels measured in tissue compared to cells confirmed the role of aconitase for prostate‐specific metabolism in agreement with observed respiratory properties. In conclusion, combining the flexibility of cell culture models and tissue samples for respirometric analysis are powerful tools for investigation of mitochondrial function and tissue‐specific metabolism.


Aim. The basis for the optimal development of mountain regions is the regulation of anthropogenic impact on natural land-scapes. The purpose of the study is to assess the state of natural landscapes of the highlands of the Central Caucasus and substantiate effective mechanisms that regulate economic activity in territories adjacent to nature conservation ones. On the example of the Karasu river valley, which is representative of the Northern macro slope of the Greater Caucasus, analyzes the features of anthropogenic impact in the form of recreation, tourism and grazing. Research methods. The key method of this research is the making of maps showing the landscape structure of the area under consideration, the spatial features of the location of exogenous processes and types of nature management. Using the above maps, the features of the geological and geomorphological basis and landscape structure of the Karasu river valley were identified, the features of modern nature management were characterized, the consequences of anthropogenic impact on natural landscapes were assessed, and the management approach were formulated to reduce the negative impact on the nature of mountain areas. To assess the land cover, high-resolution satellite images were used, according to which the difference vegetation in-dex was calculated, which most clearly distinguishes the main types of the cover. Results. Within the boundaries of the study area, the role of shrub-meadow vegetation of the subalpine zone, which performs a water-retaining function, is especially significant. The destruction of land cover due to overgrazing, the construction of capital facilities, and other types of economic activity without the necessary protective engineering and land reclamation measures favors the development of destructive exogenous processes. The border of the reserved and non-reserved territories is smooth (not sharp). Conclusions. The gradual transition from landscapes with a reserved regime to landscapes with different uses requires a revision of the concept of nature protection in the direction of developing measures on the principle of "protection in use." Particular attention should be paid to the conservation of sub-alpine meadows, alpine meadows and wastelands, bog complexes, which have a high species diversity, the presence of endemic species and are small in area. The main environmental measures for these communities are state monitoring and the maximum possible reduction in anthropogenic impact.


This textbook emphasizes a diversity of values from different cultures, religions, and geographical locations. The book is designed to assist students, computing professionals, and faculty members to act in a more professional and ethical manner. Compelling case studies, ethical reasoning, and cultural perspectives will be included throughout the book, and the authors will apply lessons learned over many years of intense involvement in computing ethics. The text is appropriate either as a main text in a stand-alone ethics course or as a supplementary text for other related courses.


SUMMARY A Bayesian modelling approach comparing the occurrence of Salmonella serovars in animals and humans was used to attribute salmonellosis cases to broilers, turkeys, pigs, laying hens, travel and outbreaks in 24 European Union countries. Salmonella data for animals and humans, covering the period from 2007 to 2009, were mainly obtained from studies and reports published by the European Food Safety Authority. Availability of food sources for consumption was derived from trade and production data from the European Statistical Office. Results showed layers as the most important reservoir of human salmonellosis in Europe, with 42·4% (7 903 000 cases, 95% credibility interval 4 181 000–14 510 000) of cases, 95·9% of which was caused by S. Enteritidis. In Finland and Sweden, most cases were travel-related, while in most other countries the main sources were related to the laying hen or pig reservoir, highlighting differences in the epidemiology of Salmonella, surveillance focus and eating habits across the European Union.


Marsypianthes chamaedrys (Vahl.) Kuntze, known as paracari, erva de cobra, boia-caa or betonia brava, is a common herb in Brazil (North and Northeast regions). The aerial parts (leaves and stem) of this plant were used to essential oil extraction. The essential oil obtained was evaluated against Tetranychus urticae showing no significant acaricidal activity. Analysis by GC-MS was performed and 29 compounds were identified and the main compounds were the sesquiterpenes ? -caryophyllene (12.2%), bicyclogermacrene (17.9%) and germacrene D (34.1%). DOI: 10.5935/1984-6835.20160003


BackgroundConsidering work styles especially of solo attending physicians, medical facilities have been required to effectively utilize sufficient human resources in many countries. Therefore, we compared cross-sectionally clinical performance of the single- and the multiple-attending physicians groups in inpatient care. Furthermore, we also qualitatively analyzed physicians' working burden and quantitively assessed advantages / disadvantages of those attending physicians systems.MethodIn this cross-sectional study, we extract electronic health record of patients from a hospital in Japan from April 2017 to October 2018 to compare anonymous statistical data including average lengths of hospital stay and patient outcome between the single-attending and multiple-attending-physicians system. Then, we conducted a questionnaire survey for all physicians of single and multiple-attending physician systems, asking their physical and psychiatric working burden, and their reasons and comments on their working styles.ResultThe average length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in the multiple-attending physicians system than in the single-attending physicians system, while patients' age, gender and diagnoses were similar. From the questionnaire survey, although physical burden in multiple-attending physicians system tended to be lower than that in single-attending physician system, no significant difference was found in all categories. Advantages of multiple-attending physicians system extracted from qualitative analysis are 1) Improvement of physicians ' quality of life (QOL), 2) Lifelong-learning effect, and 3) Improving the quality of medical care, while disadvantages were 1) Risk of miscommunication, 2) Conflicting treatment policies among physicians, and 3) unfamiliar culture with multiple-attending physicians system.ConclusionMultiple-attending-physicians system in inpatient care may reduce physical burden on physicians, and not only improve QOL of physicians but lead to lifelong learning and improving the quality of medical care.


The present study takes 2011 middle school physics curriculum standards in China and the physics field of the 2015 science curriculum standards in South Korea as the research objects, and compares the objectives of science (physics) education and the composition of middle school physics curriculum contents in the two countries. The research results are as follows: 1. In terms of science (physics) education goals, both countries aim to improve scientific literacy, aiming to cultivate students' inquiry ability and innovative consciousness on practical issues in nature and life; The curriculum standards in China stress learning basic physics, basic skills, and research method, while the curriculum standards in South Korea stress understanding the core concepts of science. 2. In terms of the content of middle school physics courses, in a quantitative comparison of the breadth and the depth of the content standards, we found that the middle school physics courses in China are more extensive than those of South Korea, but not as deep than those of South Korea. This result reflects the fact that science education in South Korea does not focus on the quantity of knowledge, but on the development of science core competence by learning an appropriate number of science core concepts. The results of this study provide references for the revision of middle school physics curriculum standards and the development of teaching materials in the future, as sell as useful enlightenment for the further improvement of middle school physics education.


Elevated levels of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) play a major role as a mechanism of resistance to insecticides and acaricides in resistant pest insects and mites, respectively. Such compounds are either detoxicated directly via phase I metabolism or detoxicated by phase II metabolism of metabolites as formed by microsomal monooxygenases. Here we used monochlorobimane (MCB) as an artificial substrate and glutathione to determine total GST activity in equivalents of single pest insects and spider mites in a sensitive 96-well plate-based assay system by measuring the enzymatic conversion of MCB to its fluorescent bimane-glutathione adduct. The differentiation by their GST activity between several strains of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae), with different degrees of resistance to numerous acaricides was more sensitive with MCB compared to the commonly used substrate 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB). Compared to an acaricide-susceptible reference strain, one field population of T. urticae showed a more than 10-fold higher GST activity measured with MCB, in contrast to a less than 2-fold higher activity when CDNB was used. Furthermore, we showed that GST activity can be sensitively assessed with MCB in homogenates of pest insects such as Heliothis virescens, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae), and Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae).


ABSTRACT The sedimentary phosphates from Ceru Colorado ("red hill"), Aruba, are composed of siliciclastic debris (mainly quartz), derived from nearby weathered quartz diorites, and different types of calcareous grains which have an in-basin origin (bioclasts, fetal pellets, intraclasts). Before denudation took place, bird guano had already phosphatized the debris. Fluorapatite and crandallite are the dominant phosphate minerals. Within the depositional basin, reworking by mechanical and biological agents was a common phenomenon. Elevation of the deposit above sea level was followed by a secondary phase of guano-induced phosphatization, which resulted in the generation of minor amounts of monetite, brushite, and leucophosphite.


There is currently an explosion of research activity on food safety, including Salmonella contamination of pork and pork products. Salmonellosis is considered to be one of the most common foodborne illnesses in humans, with worldwide distribution and increased incidence in the United States during the last years (CDC,2000). Reasons for this include; increased public awareness of microbiological hazards of food, widespread distribution of virulent serotypes such as Salmonella typhimurium DT104, improved monitoring, increasing consumption of foods of animal origin, changes in consumer eating habits, and increased number of highly susceptible people (with impaired immune system).


Modern theories of moral judgment predict that both conscious reasoning and unconscious emotional influences affect the way people decide about right and wrong. In a series of experiments, we tested the effect of subliminal and conscious priming of disgust facial expressions on moral dilemmas. "Trolley-car"-type scenarios were used, with subjects rating how acceptable they found the utilitarian course of action to be. On average, subliminal priming of disgust facial expressions resulted in higher rates of utilitarian judgments compared to neutral facial expressions. Further, in replication, we found that individual change in moral acceptability ratings due to disgust priming was modulated by individual sensitivity to disgust, revealing a bi-directional function. Our second replication extended this result to show that the function held for both subliminally and consciously presented stimuli. Combined across these experiments, we show a reliable bi-directional function, with presentation of disgust expression primes to individuals with higher disgust sensitivity resulting in more utilitarian judgments (i.e., number-based) and presentations to individuals with lower sensitivity resulting in more deontological judgments (i.e., rules-based). Our results may reconcile previous conflicting reports of disgust modulation of moral judgment by modeling how individual sensitivity to disgust determines the direction and degree of this effect.


Since the beginning of 1990s, when the first multidimensional concepts of perfectionism were published (see, Frost et al., 1990; Hewitt, & Flett, 1990, 1991) there has been a stable increase in the research of perfectionism and its relationships to wide variety of variables, for example, stress (Smith, Saklofske, Yan, & Sherry, 2017), personality traits (Cruce, Pashak, Handal, Munz, & Gfeller, 2012) coping strategies (Gnilka, McLaulin, Ashby, & Alle, 2017).  It has to be noted that perfectionism researchers have turned their attention to both general and clinical populations, as well as specific groups, for example, individuals with high intellectual abilities or gifted individuals (e.g., Kornblum, & Ainely, 2005; Margot, & Rinn, 2016). The paper aims to review the studies focused on relationship between perfectionism and high intellectual abilities, and to see what variables are involved in this relationship. In the first section of the paper concepts and definitions of high intellectual abilities are described. In the second section of the paper perfectionism concepts are described. An in the third section of the paper the relationship between high intellectual abilities and perfectionism is analysed. The results of literature review will serve as theoretical background for studying individuals with high intellectual ability and perfectionistic personality traits.


Amorphous basic aluminum sulfate (BAS) was synthesized by homogeneous precipitation using an aluminum sulfate solution and ammonium bisulfate as the precipitating agent. A second neutralization in the solid/liquid phase of the BAS with ammonia solution eliminates the sulfate ions of the amorphous structure and obtains pseudoboehmite (PB) at pH 10.3 with fibrousnano-sized morphology. The structure of the PB is transformed to the amorphous structure of the gamma alumina phase (-Al2O3) by thermal dehydroxylation (400°C). Thus, the eliminating water in the form of hydroxides, maintained the fibrous morphology with a high specific surface area 350 m 2 /g. The neutralization of the BAS the second time generates a slight reduction in specific surface area to 338 m 2 /g. The sample of BAS, PB and -Al2O3 was analyzed using the techniques TGA-DTA, XRD, FTIR, EDS, TEM and adsorption/desorption of N2 gas (BET).


Cobalt nanoparticles (CoNPs) are promising nanomaterials with exceptional catalytic magnetic, electronic, and chemical properties. The nano size and developed surface open a wide range of applications of cobalt nanoparticles in biomedicine along with those properties. The present review assessed the current environmentally friendly synthesis methods used to synthesize CoNPs with various properties, such as size, zeta potential, surface area, and magnetic properties. We systematized several methods and provided some examples to illustrate the synthetic process of CoNPs, along with the properties, the chemical formula of obtained CoNPs, and their method of analysis. In addition, we also looked at the potential application of CoNPs from water purification cytostatic agents against cancer to theranostic and diagnostic agents. Moreover, CoNPs also can be used as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging and photoacoustic methods. This review features a comprehensive understanding of the synthesis methods and applications of CoNPs, which will help guide future studies on CoNPs.


Emulsions stabilized by clay particles and sorbitan monooleate (Span 80) were investigated, and an abnormal phase inversion was observed by increasing the concentration of clay particles in the aqueous phase. At a fixed concentration of Span 80 in the oil phase, the emulsions were oil-in-water (o/w) when the concentration of clay particles in the aqueous phase was low. Surprisingly, the emulsion inverted to water-in-oil (w/o) when the concentration of the hydrophilic clay particles was increased. On the basis of the results of rheological measurements and laser-induced fluorescent confocal microscopy observation, we suggest that this phase inversion is induced by the gel structures formed at high concentration of clay particles. The effects of clay concentration on the stability and the droplet size of these emulsions were also investigated.


Shared (electric) mobility is still facing challenges in terms of reaching its potential as a sustainable mobility solution. Low physical and digital integration with public transport, a lack of charging infrastructure, the regulatory barriers, and the public nuisance are hindering the uptake and organization of shared mobility services. This study examines the case of the shared mobility hub, a location where shared mobility is concentrated, as a solution to overcome these challenges. To find ideas informing how a network of shared mobility hubs can contribute to sustainable urban mobility and to overcome the aforementioned challenges, a business model innovation approach was adopted. Focus groups, consisting of public and private stakeholders, collaboratively designed five business model (BM) blueprints, reaching a consensus about the value creation, delivery, and capture mechanisms of the network. The blueprints, defined as first-/last-mile, clustered, point-of-interest (POI), hybrid, and closed mobility hub networks, provide alternative solutions to integrate sustainable transportation modes into a coherent network, enabling multi- and intermodal travel behaviour, and supporting interoperability, sustainable land use, and ensured access to shared (electric) travel modes. However, which kind of network the local key stakeholders need to commit to depends on the local policy goals and regulatory context.


Generic experimentation is at the heart of the major poetic innovations of the Spanish Golden Age. The passage from the sixteenth to the seventeenth century marked a dynamic moment of transition in the evolution of aesthetic forms. This volume of essays, which unites contributions from a cross-section of specialists in the field of Hispanic poetry, presents a comprehensive exploration of the unprecedented flowering of Hispanic culture associated with this period. It not only places aesthetic questions in their broader European context, but looks beyond the confines of Europe to interrogate the key terms of its title, balancing panoramic approaches to questions of genre with the insights afforded by detailed readings of individual texts. The publication examines the aesthetic and ideological criteria on which assessments of artistic importance have been based, considering the relationship between genre and 'major' and 'minor' authors, and exploring the factors which precipitated a text's passage from the periphery to the centre of the canon.


Reported complications rates for the construction of intestinal stomas are high. Many of these complications result from improper construction, improper location, or other technical errors. In order to sample the techniques of stoma construction currently in use, a survey was conducted at the 69th Annual Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons in Atlanta in conjunction with our scientific exhibit "Complications of Intestinal Stomas." A total of 245 surgeons completed the questionnaire with a mean age of 47.8 years. The routine use of fascial-seromuscular tacking sutures and primary maturation of a loop colostomy in the presence of distal obstruction were among the most controversial technical points considered. Many other subtle but important principles of stoma construction were also discussed. In addition, the authors contend that many of the techniques currently in use result from an underemphasis on the importance of proper stoma construction in many surgical training programs.


A new approach to the synthesis of ZnO with a green method has been carried out using the cucurbitaceous aqueous extract in alkaline medium at room temperature. The plant extract is an alternative to toxic chemicals. The synthesised oxide was characterized by UV-visible spectrophotometry, x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and EDX for the structural, morphological and optical properties. Physico-chemical properties of catalyst were determined by the methods of Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area analysis (BET). The XRD, FTIR, SEM and EDX analyses confirmed the structure of isolated ZnO powder. Also, the antibacterial activity is assessed against standard strains of Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027), Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538) using the Mueller-Hinton agar well diffusion. The adsorption potential of the synthesised compound against metribuzin was equally investigated. Batch adsorption tests were performed. The experimental adsorption equilibrium data were fitted to the Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin models. The best fits were obtained for Langmuir isotherm.


ABSTRACT Educational materials focused on spatial data analysis often feature mathematical descriptions of methods and step-by-step instructions of software tools, but infrequently discuss the set of decisions involved in specifying a statistical model. Failing to consider model specification may lead to specification searching, or the process of repeating analyses to obtain results that meet the criteria thought to be required for publication, and the disproportionate reporting of false-positive results in the academic literature. This article proposes that the specification curve – a meta-analytical technique that visualizes the specifications and results from a large set of justifiable and plausible statistical models – be used as a pedagogical tool to teach (spatial) data analysis and explore the geographic uncertainties that arise when specifying and interpreting spatial regression models. An example specification curve that focuses on two common specification decisions in a spatial regression model, specifically selecting predictor variables and constructing the spatial weight matrix, is illustrated. Strategies for using the specification curve in educational contexts to develop analytical plans, reflect on the generalizability of research findings, and highlight issues of replicability and publication bias are proposed.


The authors have made clear that 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'-DFUR), a derivative of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), is activated by thymidine phosphorylase with has a particularly high activity in human malignant tumors. This derivative therefore, has fewer side-effects and can be expected to produce a greater antitumor effect when administered to cancer patients. Blood levels of 5'-DFUR and 5-FU were then observed with time after oral or intravenous 5'-DFUR administration in order to study its clinical effect. First, a method for measurement of 5'-DFUR and 5-FU was devised using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results obtained using this method revealed that for intravenous administration both 5'-DFUR and 5-FU showed rapid drops in blood level while for oral administration both showed blood level peaks after one hour which were maintained of the same level for two hours, decreasing gradually thereafter. 5-FU showed a blood level peak after one hour, decreasing gradually thereafter. From the above results it was proved that a relatively high percentage of orally administered 5'-DFUR was absorbed from the intestine.


Objectives: This study was to identify the relationship between the Menopausal symptoms, Menopausal knowledge, Menopausal attitude and Menopausal management of the Middle Aged Women. Methods: The data was collected from three hundred and five Middle Aged Women whose children are studying in K university which is located in B metropolitan city. Results: The mean score of menopause symptoms, menopause knowledge, menopause attitude and menopause management among subjects were 41.08±8.78, 12.66±2.32, 58.67±8.35 and 46.63±6.91 respectively. There was a positive relation between menopause symptoms and menopause knowledge (r=-.159, p=.006). But, between menopause symptoms and menopause attitude, there was a negative correlation (r=-.130, p=.023). This result showed a significant difference between menopause symptoms and the variables of age, education, job, physical health, and hobby. Also, it showed a significant correlation between menopause management and the variables of religion, income, satisfaction level with life, hobby, exercise, eating habits, eating pattern and regular medical check-up. Conclusion: The present work suggested that it is necessary to develop nursing intervention programs to increase the ability of menopause management through further research on influential factors in menopause symptoms and menopause management.


Long-distance travel, respectively interurban travel, makes up a considerable share in transport performance: nearly half of the passenger transport performance is accounted by trips of more than 100 km. Furthermore passenger long-distance travel is achieving considerable growth while other segments of transport rather remain static. Above that passenger long-distance travel is in the focus of politics and research against the background of energy and climate objectives and due to a dynamic supply development. Despite the relevance of this transport segment, an appropriate depiction of long-distance travel behavior within the framework of a multimodal model is missing in Germany and most other countries. One fundamental reason for that is the heterogeneous data situation, resulting from the fact that the topic is of interest by different institutions that generate relevant data. By means of different survey methods the data on long-distance travel behavior is collected, but mostly with deviant focuses or different objectives. The question arises, whether it is possible to generate a consistent and exclusive data set from the different data sources, which can build the basis for long-distance travel model. The aim is, to apply and enhance statistic and econometric methods, to build a model respectively an instrument for data fusion of long-distance travel data.
 An essential basic work hereby is to clearly differentiate and define the segment of long-distance travel. In the next step the today available data sources are listed and contrasted with each other. Finally I provide a methodological framework on how the available data can enhance the current data basis for long-distance travel behavior.
The work intends to contribute to presently existing fundamental challenges in modelling long-distance passenger travel through combining available data in a creative and innovative manner.


Author(s): Fu, Iris | Advisor(s): Nguyen, Hung D | Abstract: Peptide-polymer conjugates are versatile molecular building blocks that can self-assemble into well-defined nanostructures with customizable biofunctionality and tunable physical properties for a wide range of biomedical applications. In this dissertation, two structural analogues of peptide-polymer conjugates are discussed: peptide amphiphiles and block copolymers with the difference between their respective domains tailored for specific applications. Self-assembly process of these peptide-polymer conjugates into different nanostructure morphologies is examined via molecular dynamics simulations using our recently developed integrated simulation package, called BioModi (Biomolecular Multiscale Models at UC Irvine). This simulation package consists of coarse-grained models that mimic realistic molecules and molecular interactions of amino acids, nucleic acids, and polymers, yet are simplified enough to allow molecular simulation of large systems over long time scales. For peptide amphiphiles, emphasis is placed on achieving a fine balance between the two distinct hydrophobic and hydrophilic domains to attain a supramolecular architecture that can serve as a biomimetic hydrogel scaffold for tissue engineering. The role of different environmental factors (e.g. temperature, pH, solvent) on the self-assembly behavior of peptide amphiphiles is elucidated in detail. Our simulations show that under optimal conditions, spontaneously self-assembly results in the formation of cylindrical nanofibers that can switch into spherical micelles in response to a small pH range as similarly observed by in vitro experiments. Moreover, phase diagrams are constructed to identify morphological transitions, and unique self-assembly kinetic mechanisms are characterized. Chemical modification of the peptide amphiphile sequence is investigated and contrasting structural characteristics are observed to correlate with differences in mechanical behavior of the resulting gel. For block copolymers, the inherent design utilizes a cationic polypeptide conjugated to a synthetic polymer that promotes favorable electrostatic interactions with nucleic acid fragments upon the formation of a polyionic complex as an effective gene carrier. Efficient complexation of block polymers with siRNA is determined via molecular dynamics simulations to be a function of the length of the polymer and the charge density of the system. Implementation of our newly developed coarse-grained models, BioModi, and insight gained from our simulations will provide key parameters to advance computer-aided design and development of innovative smart biomaterials.