In this paper, a multi-channel MAC protocol, called M&M, with multiple channel reservation is proposed to tackle the channel conflict problem. M&M is fully distributed with no requirements of time synchronization or multi-radio, so it is very practical to implement M&M in resource-constrained sensor nodes. M&M can make nodes to choose one actually idle channel for communications from all assumed idle channels. Therefore, M&M can greatly alleviate, if not completely eliminate, packet collisions resulted by the channel conflict, and thus conserve more energy to prolong the lifetime of WSNs. To investigate the values of multiple channel reservation, extensive simulation and real test bed experiments are conducted. The results show that when the number of channels becomes larger or loads are heavy, M&M improves energy efficiency and throughput significantly.


Immunochromatographic (IC) test for norovirus detection is a rapid and simple detection method. This study evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of a recent version of R-Biopharm RIDA®QUICK Norovirus IC assay for norovirus detection in fecal specimens from children hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis. Fecal specimens were tested by IC kit in comparison with gold standard reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and real-time RT-PCR. The IC kit showed high sensitivity and specificity comparable with PCR-based methods. None of false positive and false negative was found and the assay did not cross-react with other gastroenteritis viruses. The IC assay could detect genogroup I.5 (GI.5) and a wide range of genotypes in the GII noroviruses including GII.3, GII.4, GII.6, GII.7, GII.14, GII.15, GII.21, and also newly emerging GII.17 norovirus. In conclusion, this norovirus IC kit could be an alternative choice for rapid screening or a quick diagnostic tool for norovirus detection in fecal specimens of acute gastroenteritis patients.


PURPOSE
Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) is one of the most important factors inducing angiogenesis in tumors. Nine splice-variant isoforms of VEGF-A have been identified, each having different properties. Recently, we showed that radiolabeled anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody, bevacizumab, accumulates specifically in VEGF-A expressing tumors. In this study, we investigated in a nude mouse model which VEGF-isoforms are responsible for tumor accretion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
The humanized anti-VEGF-A antibody, A.4.6.1. (bevacizumab), was radiolabeled with In-111. The originally VEGF-negative Mel57 tumor was transfected with different VEGF isoforms (VEGF-121, VEGF-165, and VEGF-189). The obtained melanoma xenografts specifically expressing different VEGF-isoforms were used in mice. The bevacizumab uptake was examined in biodistribution studies and by gamma-camera imaging.

RESULTS
The tumor cell line expressing VEGF-121 did not show specific uptake, most likely as a result of the fact that this isoform is freely diffusible. Tumors expressing VEGF-165 and -189 were clearly visualized by using gamma-camera imaging.

CONCLUSION
The accumulation of radiolabeled bevacizumab in the tumor is due to interaction with VEGF-A isoforms that are associated with the tumor cell surface and/or the extracellular matrix. Scintigraphic imaging of the expression of these VEGF isoforms may thus be useful to predict response to angiogenic therapy.


The Quasi-Biennal Oscillation (QBO) and the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) largely modulate the zonal wind in the tropics. Previous studies showed that QBO phases produce changes in deep convection through an increase/decrease in the tropopause height over the tropics and subtropics. This study investigates the combined effects of QBO and ENSO on tropical cyclone activity by modulating tropopause height. We found that tropopause height increases over the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean region, and the Western North Atlantic Ocean during La Niña + QBOW, allowing deeper tropical convection to develop over those regions. As a consequence, TC activity over those regions is not only increased in number but also enhanced in intensity. Conversely, during El Niño + QBOE, most deep tropical convection is inhibited over those same regions due to the decrease in tropopause height over the subtropics. We conclude that QBO effects on TCs and deep convection should be studied in combination with ENSO. Additional comparative studies using long record data at high vertical resolution are needed to fully understand to what extent QBO interacts with ENSO in the lower tropical stratosphere and upper tropical troposphere.


Concurrent Smalltalk is the primary language used for programming the J- Machine, a MIMD message-passing computer containing thousands of 36-bit processors connected by a very low latency network. This thesis describes in detail Concurrent Smalltalk and its implementation on the J-Machine, including the Optimist II global optimizing compiler and Cosmos fine-grain parallel operating system. Quantitative and qualitative results are presented.


Based on the idea of the work by Wilczek and his collaborators, we consider the gravitational anomaly near a weakly isolated horizon. We find that there exists a universal choice of tortoise coordinate for any weakly isolated horizon. Under this coordinate, the leading behavior of a quite arbitrary scalar field near a horizon is a 2-dimensional chiral scalar field. This means we can extend the idea of Wilczek and his collaborators to more general cases and show the relation between gravitational anomaly and Hawking radiation is a universal property of a black hole horizon.


In this provocative work, Thomas Jovanovski presents a contrasting interpretation to the postmodernist and feminist reading of Nietzsche. As Jovanovski maintains, Nietzsche's written thought is above all a sustained endeavor aimed at negating and superseding the (primarily) Socratic principles of Western ontology with a new table of aesthetic ethics - ethics that originate from the Dionysian insight of Aeschylean tragedy. Just as the Platonic Socrates perceived a pressing need for, and succeeded in establishing, a new world-historical ethic and aesthetic direction grounded in reason, science, and optimism, so does Nietzsche regard the rebirth of an old tragic mythos as the vehicle toward a cultural, political, and religious metamorphosis of the West. However, Jovanovski contends that Nietzsche does not advocate such a radical social turning as an end in itself, but as only the most consequential prerequisite to realizing the culminating object of his «historical philosophizing - the phenomenal appearance of the ubermensch.


HBP), increasing the risk of mortality and morbidity due to cardiovascular events. Therefore, early diagnosis of OSA, especially severe OSA, in patients with HBP is optimal. Objectives: This study was planned to evaluate the prevalence of OSA in Vietmanese subjects with newly diagnosed HBP, and to describe its clinical, biological, and polysomnography (PSG) characteristics. Method: This was a cross-sectional study including subjects with newly diagnosed HPB without other associated severe diseases. PSG with Alice PDx device had been performed for each study subject. All anthropological, clinical, biochemical characteristics and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) had been recorded for analyzing. Results: 186 subjects with HBP had been enrolled and studied with PSG. The results were 34 subjects were without OSA (18%; 56 ± 7 years), 28 had mild OSA (15%; 58 ± 12 years), 79 had moderate OSA (43%; 59 ± 14), and 45 had severe OSA (24%; 61 ± 13 years). Suggested findings of OSA patients were snoring at night, hypertriglyceridemia, and large abdominal perimeter. There were significant correlations between these findings and AHI in OSA patients (p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.001). Conclusion: The prevalence of OSA in subjects with systemic HBP is high. The findings of snoring at night, large abdominal girth and hypertriglyceridemia suggest that PSG is warranted. Early diagnosis of OSA in patients with HBP may decrease morbidity and mortality.


During the last seven years, over thirty states have passed at least one social enterprise statute. These social enterprise statutes allow the formation of a plethora of new entity types, including low-profit limited liability companies, benefit corporations, benefit limited liability companies, public benefit corporations, and social purpose corporations. Social enterprises have attracted increasing academic attention, but virtually nothing has been written on if and how states are competing for these entities. This Article attempts to fill that void, while also providing a history of the social enterprise forms, a comparative analysis, and recommendations for states that wish to engage in jurisdictional competition in the social enterprise law market.


RATIONALE
Carbides, including tellurium carbides (TeC), play crucial roles in diverse applications, but TeC synthesis has not been described in the literature. Laser ablation synthesis (LAS) coupled with mass spectrometry was used here for in situ TeC clusters synthesis and identification of the reaction products to better understand TeC formation.

METHODS
Laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LDI-TOFMS) was used to generate the TeC clusters and determine their stoichiometry via computer modeling of isotopic patterns.

RESULTS
A simple one-pot procedure for Te-nanodiamonds nanocomposite preparation was developed. A suspension of fine powdered Te was mixed with a suspension of nanodiamonds (both in acetonitrile), and the resulting precipitated nanocomposite was suitable for the generation of TemCn clusters by LDI. Various unary and binary clusters were formed. The stoichiometry of the novel TemCn clusters, determined via computer modeling of isotopic patterns, is reported here for the first time.

CONCLUSIONS
The Te-nanodiamonds composite was found to be the most suitable precursor for the generation of TemCn clusters. In total 35 binary TemCn clusters were identified, when several of them were not obtained using commercial TeC material.


One basic task of the "Critical Theory of Linguistics" is to develop criteria of epistemological validity for creating and judging linguistic concepts. The German "critical philosophy" of Kant, Hegel and others furnish the main tools for the criticism of the recent expansion of the linguistic object towards modern "cultural sciences", as well as of the reductionism governing current cognitive approaches. A brief summary of the most relevant results of contemporary neural sciences for linguistics follows, focusing mainly on the notions of emergent complexity, dynamics and individuality both at the anatomical level and at the shaping of connectivity. In an appendix a first critical approach to Steven Pinker's cognitivistic theses is presented.


The role of the different components of the corpus cavernosum is very important in the physiopathology of erectile dysfunction. The precise function of collagen fibers in erectile physiology is controversial. We measured the different types of collagen (I, III, IV) in the corpus cavernosum of 26 impotent and potent men using cell image analysis and immunohistochemistry. We found differences in the distribution of collagen I, III, IV in each pathological group (arterial, caverno-venous, psychogenic). The augmentation of collagen I and the light diminution in collagen III makes the corpus cavernosum less compliant which translates clinically as an alteration in the filling of the vascular spaces and by dysfunction of the veno-occlusive mechanism. The diminution in collagen IV shows an alteration in the function of endothelial cells. The fact that in the psychogenic group we found also a diminution in collagen IV content, makes us infer that psychogenic impotence could be the first stage of an organic impotence.


Betel vine is a very important crop of West Bengal. It is one of the most important cash crops and its cultivation has already brought a perceptible and conspicuous change in the livelihood security of farming population of this district. Cultivation of betel vine as one of the most important horticultural crops and is gradually increasing its popularity in the Nadia district. A study was undertaken in Nadia district of West Bengal to assess socioeconomical profile of the betelvine growers and the knowledge level of the farmers about betel vine cultivation covering four blocks Karimpur 1, Karimpur 2, Krishnagang and Chakdaha taking eight villages selected purposively where the crop is grown as a major crop . A total 200 betel vine growers were selected randomly from eight villages .It is observed that almost cent percent growers were using their own traditional planting material since long and growing their crops with their indigenous knowledge, skill and their past experiences. Most of the farmers have medium level of knowledge with clear conception about vine cultivation, but they do not follow scientific recommendations on use of fertilizer and pesticide application. They have little knowledge regarding the improved method of cultivation. Selected salient features of the Betel vine growers such as Age, level of education, occupation, family size, family type, farm size, land under Betel vine area, farming experience, material possession, economic status, media exposure, Social participation and constraints of betel vine growers greatly influenced the farmers to adopt the scientific method of cultivation. Among the selected variables Age, farming experience, scientific orientation, risk management ability and credibility of contact were significantly and positively correlated with knowledge level of the farmers. It is concluded that age had not significant influence in motivating farmers opting for betel vine cultivation and medium educated farmers irrespective to level of education were more involved in betel vine cultivation where as on the study area it is pertinent that low income group farmers preferred betel vine cultivation on the study area.


Recently, there are several routes for COVID-19 vaccine research, yet their weaknesses lie in low efficiency, tolerability, immune adaptability and safety. We describe a new approach to COVID-19 based on engineered human mesenchymal stem cells(hu-MSC), which is like a small protein antigen response device, but will be gradually cleared and degraded by body's immune system among recognization process. The antibody response results show that this is effective and fast. Furthermore, after several antibody response tests, we obtained an injection of a set of cocktail-like modified human mesenchymal stem cell line. This strategy opened a new avenue for vaccine design against COVID-19.


This article discusses how cross-sector partnerships (CSPs) for sustainability manage the paradoxical tension between stakeholder inclusiveness and administrative efficiency. Drawing on qualitative data from a case study of a CSP focused on urban sustainability, we show how the inclusiveness–efficiency paradox unfolded throughout the studied collaboration. We discuss how the paradox reemerged in a different guise within each phase of the partnership and how three practices of paradox management helped actors to cope with the tension: "customized inviting" (during the formation phase), "sequential including" (during the preparation phase), and "tailored instructing" (during the implementation phase). On the basis of these findings, we argue that (a) the paradox reoccurred throughout the phases of the CSP because the three paradox management practices accentuated boundaries, thereby helping to resolve the paradox temporarily while at the same time creating grounds for the paradox to resurface, and (b) that the three paradox management practices can be theorized as a special type of boundary work that "plays up" relevant differences between actor groups and thereby ensures collaboration.


The new electricity reform started in 2015 have issued a series of policy documents that the incremental distribution business is one of the core content. In this paper, a joint planning and operation model of distribution network is established under the condition of the deregulation of the distribution network. Three fictitious distribution networks are used to establish all possible combined planning and operation model. There are 5 possible programming models and the numerical example shows that the cost of the alliance including all the players is the smallest. The profit distribution model of cooperative game based on shapely value is also established in this paper, compared with the average distribution model finding that the Shapely allocation model can make the alliance stable that can optimize the allocation of resources also affect the long-term cooperation among stakeholders.


Dystonia is a movement disorder characterized by sustained muscle contractions, frequently causing twisting and repetitive movements or abnormal postures. Drug-induced dystonia may occur within minutes or hours of exposure to an inciting drug; it is seen with familial pattern and cannot be correlated with blood level of the drug.


Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (IHES) is a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by multisystem dysfunction and persistent, extreme eosinophilia of unknown cause. We describe a 9-1/2-year-old boy whose course included several unusual clinical features and terminated 2 years after diagnosis in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Serial studies suggest that leukemia was not present earlier in his course. We speculate that this child may have had an evolving lymphoproliferative syndrome with a terminal blast crisis to which the eosinophilia was a nonmalignant leukemoid reaction.


This research aims to analyze how the independent variables of Non Performing Financing, Financing  to Deposit Ratio, Capital Adequacy Ratio, and Inflation impact for the Distribution of Working Capital Financing. Data analysis method is multiple regression analysis, data obtained by monthly reports from Islamic Banking Statistics which published by Indonesia Financial Service Authority  (OJK) and Inflation data which published by Indonesia Bank period Jan 2014 until Dec 2018 with the total of 58 data samples. The result of this research shows that Non Performing Financing (NPF) has a significant positif  linear effect on Working Capital Financing, Financing to Deposit Ratio (FDR) and Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) have significant negative linear effects on Working Capital Financing, while Inflasi had no effect on Working Capital Financing. Concurrently, all the variables have significant effects on Working Capital Financing.


The authors discuss a hierarchical control structure from the viewpoints of the degree of information resolution and the fuzziness of the knowledge base at various levels of the hierarchy. In particular, the concept of fuzzy resolution is addressed. The specific control system considered is a workcell for automated mechanical processing of fish. Qualitatively, the required information resolution decreases and fuzziness of the knowledge base increases with the hierarchical level of the system. Correspondingly, the fuzzy resolution will decrease. Also, since the quantity of data increases with resolution, and, furthermore, the duration of event cycles is generally longer at high levels, the bandwidth of information and control will decrease with the hierarchical level. These considerations are equally applicable to control, sensing, and organizational functions within the hierarchical structure. >


PURPOSE
Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) screening by T-cell receptor excision circles (TREC) has been part of Massachusetts routine newborn screening since 2009. Tetratricopeptide repeat domain 7A gene (TTC7A) mutations responsible for hereditary multiple intestinal atresia with combined immunodeficiency (MIA-CID) were also recently identified. We reviewed newborn SCID screening among infants with intestinal failure and correlated results with patient characteristics and outcomes.

METHODS
Records of infants with severe intestinal failure and available newborn screen results treated at a single center 2009-2016 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients with 1 or more positive SCID screens (<252 TREC copies/μL) were compared with those without positive screens. TREC copies/μL were compared with population norms.

RESULTS
Of 70 included infants, 34% had newborn screens with TREC <252 copies/μL, compared with 0.3% of the general population; TREC levels for the cohort were lower than the general population (p<0.001). Of those with positive screens, 42% had prior or subsequent negative screening, 8% had no further workup, and 50% had flow cytometry showing: severe T-cell lymphopenia (absolute CD3+ <1500 cells/mcL) in 8, 3 of whom had TTC7A mutation-associated MIA-CID. Four had CD3+ >1500 cells/mcL. MIA-CID patients had the lowest serum citrulline in the cohort; 4 of the 8 patients with CD3+ <1500 cells/mcL on flow cytometry had newborn screening notable for severe hypocitrullinemia (<3 μM).

CONCLUSION
Infants with intestinal failure have lower TREC copies/μL than the general population; one-third had levels concerning for SCID, and 11% were diagnosed with severe T-cell lymphopenia. The clinical implications and etiology of this phenomenon remain unknown, but may be related to hypocitrullinemia.


The standard beam bending problem has been obtained where the beam height is assumed to have spatial uncertainty. The formulation to determine the response variability of the beam due to randomness of the beam height is given. The concept of variablity response function is extended to beam bending problem where the beam height is considered to be one-dimensional, homogenous stochastic field. The randomness of the beam height has than influence not only on the flexural rigidity of the beam, but also on self-weight load of the beam. Through the proposed formulation it becomes possible for the weighted integral stochastic finite element analysis to consider complete influence of uncertain geometrical property on response variability. The coefficeint variation and variance of the response deflection was calculated as the function of the coefficeint of variation and variance of the beam height as the input quantity. Numerical example shows good agreement of the proposed weighted integral method with solution calculated by Monte Carlo simulation. Keywords—Beam bending, Response variability, uncertain geometrical property, weighted integral method.


BACKGROUND
The importance of the effect of phytochemical accumulation in wheat grain on grain physiology has been recognised. In this study, we tracked phytochemical concentration in the seed coat of purple wheat during the water-imbibition phase and also hypothesised that the speed of germination was only relevant to its initial phytochemical concentration.

RESULTS
The results indicate that the speed of germination was significantly reduced in the darker grain groups within the purple wheat. Total phenol content was slightly increased in all groups compared to their initial state, but the levels of other phytochemicals varied among groups. It is revealed that anthocyanin was significantly degraded during the water imbibition stage. Also, the activities of peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione peroxidase in each grain colour group did not correlated with germination speed. Overall antioxidant activity was reduced as imbibition progressed in each group. Generally, darker grain groups showed higher total antioxidant activities than did lighter grain groups.

CONCLUSION
These findings suggested that the reduced activity of reactive oxygen species, as controlled by internal antioxidant enzymes and phytochemicals, related with germination speed during the water imbibition stage in grains with greater depth of purple colouring. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.


ues rather than destroying them. Still, the result would be the same: the addict no longer has access to authentic values with which to evaluate the option of entering a heroinprescription research program. This conclusion about authenticity worries me because it effectively eliminates the category of the "unwilling [heroin] addict" (Frankfurt 1989, 68). Such an addict has a desire to refrain from using heroin and also a desire to consume it; but she only wants the arst desire to constitute her will (i.e., to motivate her actions). Therefore, arguably, she has authentic desires and may have the capacity to choose rationally. However, on Charland's model of heroin addiction, such addicts are anomalous. The paradigm of the heroin addict is the "wanton," that is, an addict who has no concern for


Objectives: This study was intended to examine the seasonal differences in outdoor activity times and dietary vitamin D intakes, and explicates their relative impact on improving serum 25-(OH) vitamin D status among Korean young women. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 135 free-living women aged 1939 years in Daegu-Kyungbook, Korea. We compared the results from 52 women for the summer and 83 women for the winter. Dietary intake of vitamin D was assessed by 24 hour recall method for non-consecutive three days as well as by food frequency method. Daily outdoor activity times were derived from 24 hour physical activity diary. Results: The average dietary intake of vitamin D of the participants by 24 hour recall method was 3.1 µg during the summer, 3.3 µg during the winter, showing no significant difference between the two seasons. Times spent on outdoor activities (p < 0.01) in the summer (= 23.8 ± 23.6 min) were much longer than that in the winter (= 10.8 ± 13.4 min). The serum 25-(OH) vitamin D levels of participants were 17.5 ± 7.5 ng/mL in the summer and 13.4 ± 4.3 ng/mL in the winter, showing that the latter was significantly lower than that of the former (p < 0.001). The serum 25-(OH) vitamin D levels of subjects were positively related to outdoor activities (r = 0.315, p < 0.05) during the summer, while related to dietary intake (r = 0.252, p < 0.05) during the winter. Conclusions: In order to improve the current vitamin D status of Korean young women, nutrition education programs should focus on increasing more dietary intake especially during the winter, and performing more outdoor activities in other seasons. Korean J Community Nutr 19(3): 231~240, 2014


Wireless technology having an important role in the field of communications and allows users to connect at anywhere and anytime. The users enjoy the features of 3G networks such as more connectivity and IEEE 802.11 Wireless LAN has its own advantages in terms of low cost and its widespread use. In order to get the best services of both technologies, the idea of integrating UMTS with Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) came into existence. The integrated UMTS-WLAN network can be capable of providing ubiquitous connectivity and high data rate to the end user. The work in this paper presets the performance of the wireless integrated network for the rural environment. The combined effect of the packet loss and mobility has been analyzed for the wireless integrated networks. The proposed architecture analyzes the performance of integrated UMTS-WLAN with outdoor to indoor and pedestrian path loss model for the rural environment under varying network conditions.


The cementation of copper ions from aqueous copper sulfate solutions by using spherical aluminum metal particles was examined. The effects of the experimental parameters on copper cementation were investigated and evaluated. Reaction rate increases with increasing copper concentration, reaction temperature, stirring speed and decreasing pH. It was observed that the reaction follows the first-order kinetics, and progresses according to the diffusion controlling step.


In this article, we analyze the appearance of a Hamilton cycle in the following random process. The process starts with an empty graph on nlabeled vertices. At each round we are presented with K = K(n) edges, chosen uniformly at random from the missing ones, and are asked to add one of them to the current graph. The goal is to create a Hamilton cycle as soon as possible. We show that this problem has three regimes, depending on the value of K. For K = o(log n), the threshold for Hamiltonicity is ${1 + o(1) \over 2K}$n log n, i.e., typically we can construct a Hamilton cycle K times faster that in the usual random graph process. When K = ω(log n) we can essentially waste almost no edges, and create a Hamilton cycle in n + o(n) rounds with high probability. Finally, in the intermediate regime where K = Θ(log n), the threshold has order nand we obtain upper and lower bounds that differ by a multiplicative factor of 3. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2010


The materials of clinical observations of 103 patients with pseudarthrosis and unhealing crural fractures, in whom 104 operations of compression-distraction osteosynthesis were accomplished, are analysed. The results of the treatment in various groups of patients are described.


This paper compares and critically analyzes various test methods used to assess stress corrosion cracking susceptibility of the alloy EN AW‐7075 (Al‐Zn‐Mg‐Cu) in various temper conditions. Constant load test in an alternating immersion environment was used as the standard reference test. Constant displacement tests in the form of U‐bend specimens and four‐point loaded bend specimens was conducted in a neutral and acidic salt‐spray fog test environment, an alternating salt‐spray fog environment and alternating immersion environment. A novel incremental step load test was also carried out, in a continuous immersion environment. It was observed that the susceptibility ranking from U‐bend test and the standard constant load test correlated well, while the ranking obtained by the 4‐point loaded bend test, showed lower correlation. The same susceptibility ranking was observed in all the test environments. It was shown that the neutral salt‐spray fog test environments could potentially substitute the alternating immersion test for testing SCC susceptibility. The T4 treated material showed maximum SCC susceptibility followed by T6 treated and the overaged T7 showed least susceptibility.


The effect of the ratoon stunting disease virus was studied on yield of cane and sugar per acre of varieties B. 37161, B. 41227, B. 4362, Co. 421, H. 328560, P.O.J. 2878, P.R. 975, P.R. 980, P.R. 1000, and P.R. 1013. A 3-hour hot water treatment at 50° C. did not eradicate the virus in most varieties, assuming that all were initially infected, but this treatment furnished very good control, except in Co. 421. In the combined crop of plant cane and two ratoons, percent sucrose increase due to inoculation was statistically significant in varieties H. 328560 and Co. 421. Tonnage of cane per acre was significantly reduced by inoculation in seven varieties. The canes affected and the percent yield reductions were, respectively, as follows: B. 37161, 14.6; B. 41227, 11.4; B. 4362, 13.4; Co. 421,13.6; H. 328560,16.9; P.R. 980, 20.4; and P.R. 1013, 11.8. Production of sugar per acre per crop was reduced significantly in seven varieties as a result of reduced tonnage. The varieties affected and the percent yield reductions were, respectively, as follows: B. 37161, 12.1; B. 41227, 12.4; B. 4362, 11.2; H. 328560, 12.0; P.R. 975, 9.6; P.R. 980, 16.9; and P.R. 1013, 10.2. There were significant reductions of cane and sugar per acre per crop in some varieties, especially in B. 41227, B. 4362, and P.R. 1013 although detectable infection in the combined crop of these varieties was only 3.6, 5.7, and 6.0 percent, respectively. The absence of symptoms in these canes suggests the presence of masked infections. The production of sugar per acre per crop of varieties Co. 421 and P.R. 1000 was not significantly reduced in the combined analysis in spite of the high disease incidence (78.8 and 57.9 percent infection, respectively). The lack of significance in Co. 421 was attributable to a significant increase in percent sucrose in inoculated cane in addition to infection of the controls. Varieties P.R. 1000 and P.O.J. 2878 are considered tolerant to the stunting disease. It appears that the disease is not responsible for decline in their yield. Varieties H. 328560, P.R. 975, P.R. 980, and P.R. 1013, in all of which occurred significant reductions in sugar per acre due to the stunting disease, are the only ones of the group tested presently being recommended to growers by the Experiment Station on the basis of other desirable qualities. Variety P.R. 980, which occupies 60 percent of the sugarcane acreage, showed a highly significant yield reduction of 42.4 hundredweights of sugar per acre per crop as a result of inoculation with the stunting disease agent. Had this experiment been a commercial operation, profit to the grower would have been reduced by $170 per acre per crop, estimated at the average liquidation price of $6.23 per hundredweight of raw sugar for the 1964-65 crop, when grower participation was 64.7 percent.


As technology nodes continue to shrink, the impact of radiation-induced soft error on processor reliability increases. Estimation of processor reliability and identification of vulnerable flip-flops requires accurate soft error rate (SER) analysis techniques. This paper presents a proposal for a soft error propagation analysis technique. We specifically examine single event upset (SEU) occurring at a flip-flop in sequential circuits. When SEUs propagate in sequential circuits, the faults can be masked temporally and logically. Conventional soft error propagation analysis techniques do not consider error convergent timing on re-convergent paths. The proposed technique can analyze soft error propagation while considering error-convergent timing on a re-convergent path by combinational analysis of temporal and logical effects. The proposed technique also considers the case in which the temporal masking is disabled with an enable signal of the erroneous flip-flop negated. Experimental results show that the proposed technique improves inaccuracy by 70.5%, on average, compared with conventional techniques using ITC 99 and ISCAS 89 benchmark circuits when the enable probability is 1/3, while the runtime overhead is only 1.7% on average. key words: single event effect, single event upset, soft error propagation, logical masking, temporal masking


The performance of five commercial photochromic dyes applied by screen printing on textiles was evaluated using a colour measurement methodology which has previously been established and validated. Printing as disperse dyes on polyester gives the strongest photochromic effect when the dye is located near the surface. However, the dyes are applied more effectively using an adaptation of a pigment printing method. Several factors influencing the photochromic properties of the printed textiles were evaluated. The ultraviolet reflecting properties of cotton give a higher level of photocoloration than on polyester. In the dyes studied, the spirooxazines show slightly faster colour development and fade much more rapidly than the naphthopyrans, and the latter show a residual colour after fading. The effect of the ultraviolet irradiation wavelength profile on the photochromic response may be correlated with the ultraviolet absorption spectra of the dyes.


Translational energy-loss spectra of OH- charge-inversion products from double collisions of OH+ ions with Xe or NO target particles indicate the presence of metastable OH+(a 1 Delta ) and OH+(b 1 Sigma +) in the beam when the H2O precursor molecules are ionized by high-energy electrons. The principal spectral peaks arise from charge-inversion reactions of ground state OH+(X 3 Sigma -) ions and by using the intensities of these peaks to monitor the current of ground-state ions present in the incident beam the proportion of metastable OH+ ions in the beam formed using 100 eV electrons has been determined to be 0.12+or-0.06. For comparison the proportion of metastable O2+ ions in a beam of ions formed from O2 ionized by 100 eV electrons has been determined to be 0.48+or-0.05 using this technique.


The Paleogene Red Bed deposits in northern Iraq crop out as a narrow northwest-southeast trending belt within the thrust zone in an active foreland basin developed adjacent to the Zagraos orogenic belt. The Red Beds are divided vertically into four units. The lower part (unit 1) is mainly composed of red mudstone and siltstone. The middle part (unit 2) is mainly composed of sandstone with thin interbeds of red siltstone. The upper part is composed of conglomerate (unit 3) covered by 100-120 m of red mudstone, siltstone and sandstone (unit 4). The geochemical stratigraphy shows an increase in transition elements and REEs while LILE and HFSE elements decrease in the lower part of the sequence. These features indicate that a mafic source supplied detritus during the deposition of the lower Red Beds and decreased in importance during the deposition of the middle and upper parts as a result of erosion or tectonic activity.


Purpose The purpose of this study was to develop a realistic patient‐based 4D digital breast phantom including time‐varying contrast enhancement for simulation of dedicated breast CT perfusion imaging. Methods A 3D static phantom is first created by segmenting a breast CT image from a healthy patient into skin, fibroglandular tissue, adipose tissue, and vasculature. For the creation of abnormal cases, a breast lesion model was developed and can be added to the phantom. After defining the necessary perfusion parameters for each tissue (e.g., arterial input function for vasculature, blood volume and blood flow for the other normal tissues) based on contrast‐enhanced dynamic breast MRI data, the corresponding time‐enhancement curves are computed for each voxel in the phantom, according to tissue type. These curves are calculated by convolution between the arterial input function and a shifted exponential function. This exponential depends on the perfusion parameters associated with each tissue voxel, and, to incorporate normal biological variability, a uniform random distribution is used to vary the perfusion parameters on a voxel‐basis. Finally, a 4D array is produced by sampling the continuous time‐enhancement curves at the desired sampling rate. Beside modeling different enhancement dynamics according to the given input perfusion parameters, the phantom also includes the possibility to realistically simulate different spatial enhancement patterns for the breast parenchyma, taking into account the arterial sources supplying the breast. Finally, different patterns of contrast medium uptake can also be simulated for the tumor models (homogeneous and rim enhancement). Results As an example, a typical 4D phantom has dimensions of 426 × 421 × 260 × 559 (x, y, z, t), with a voxel size of 273 μm and a sampling time of 1 s. The characteristics of the tumor model can be modified at will to evaluate perfusion in different types of breast lesions. Results show the expected enhancement of tissues, consistent with the given input parameters. Moreover, the tumor models evaluated in this work show different enhancement dynamics according to the tumor type (defined by different input perfusion parameters), and also present a higher enhancement compared to the other healthy tissues, as expected. Conclusions The proposed digital phantom can model the breast tissue perfusion during 4D breast CT image acquisition, displaying the different enhancement dynamics that could be found in a real patient breast. This phantom can be used during the development of dynamic contrast‐enhanced dedicated breast CT imaging, for optimization of image acquisition, image reconstruction, and image analysis. This modality could provide functional information of the breast, resulting in detection, diagnosis, and treatment improvements of breast cancer with breast CT.


A south Norfolk Council bin crew have waded in to rescue a mother and her children stuck in their car in a flooded ford in Steeple Lane.


beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m) content and distribution in human benign and malignant breast tissues have been investigated by immunohistologic means, and wide differences in the expression of this protein have been observed. The distribution of beta 2m as determined by indirect immunofluorescence was uniform throughout normal human and benign breast tumor tissues, as well as in human tumor xenografts grown in athymic mice, but marked difference in beta 2m content was demonstrated between individual tumors. In breast carcinomas, heterogeneity in beta 2m expression was found to exist within individual tumors. This heterogeneity was evident mainly in moderately well-differentiated tumors; the majority of poorly differentiated tumors did not express beta 2m at all. It is suggested that the expression of surface beta 2m is an indicator of tumor cell differentiation or maturation.


Self-organization and survival are inextricably bound to an agent's ability to control and anticipate its environment. Here we assess both skills when multiple agents compete for a scarce resource. Drawing on insights from psychology, microsociology and control theory, we examine how different assumptions about the behaviour of an agent's peers in the anticipation process affect subjective control and survival strategies. To quantify control and drive behaviour, we use the recently developed information-theoretic quantity of empowerment with the principle of empowerment maximization. In two experiments involving extensive simulations, we show that agents develop risk-seeking, risk-averse and mixed strategies, which correspond to greedy, parsimonious and mixed behaviour. Although the principle of empowerment maximization is highly generic, the emerging strategies are consistent with what one would expect from rational individuals with dedicated utility models. Our results support empowerment maximization as a universal drive for guided self-organization in collective agent systems.


A previous study identified eleven spectral classes present on the surface of the Moon [Tompkins and Pieters, 1999]. Here we model these spectral classes to determine the compositions that define them. We do this by mathematically matching spectral classes to radiative transfer computed spectra using spectral shape, contrast, and excursion parameters as defining characteristics. Model spectra are based upon known mineralogies, mafic-mineral Mg's (molar (Mg/(Mg+Fe))·100), and maturities. We compare these compositional results to a compilation of ~100 Apollo samples to determine plausible representative samples for these spectra. Results indicate that unique mineralogic solutions for several spectral classes can be determined unambiguously, however classes previously interpreted to be pyroxene-rich are compositionally ambiguous. Results suggest these ambiguous mineral assemblages are not random, but correlate with variations in absolute reflectance. These data further suggest absolute reflectance is a compositionally diagnostic spectral parameter that should be used in conjunction with relative reflectance analysis to constrain mineralogy. Although absolute reflectance for the eleven spectral classes is not available to constrain their composition, we detail mineral, chemical (i.e. Mg'), and absolute reflectance variations of matching model relative reflectance spectra to narrow the possibilities. This information is used in a pilot study of Bullialdus crater, for which Clementine absolute reflectance is known. Results indicate Bullialdus' central peak consists of Tompkins and Pieters spectral classes AN, AGN, and N. Bullialdus' spectra that match class N are roughly consistent with previous compositional interpretations, however, matches to classes AN and AGN indicate more mafic assemblages typical of Mg-suite norite/gabbronorite rocks.


The system is modeled as a single-server queueing system having a finite number of each of two types of worker: document user and document entry operator. Worker think times are assumed to be exponentially distributed while job service times are drawn from general distributions; worker think times and job service times are dependent upon worker type. Throughput and waiting times as a function of the number of users of each type are analyzed under a nonpreemptive rule in which document use has priority over document entry. >


Abstract Aim of this paper is to present the properties of carbon preforms for the production of biomorphic composites. Carbon samples were obtained through pyrolysis of paulownia wood, replicating the microstructure of the cellulosic precursor. Many characterization methods such as Raman Spectroscopy, light microscopy, hardness tests and pore size analyzer detection were used to investigate the microstructure of the product as well as the pore size of carbon samples. Obtained results showed that the parts of early or late wood template play an important role in the pore size, specific surface area and pore volume of the product. This review aims to be a comprehensive description of the development of carbon chars: from wood templates and their microstructure to potential applications of biomorphic materials.


This paper describes two- and three-phase relative permeability concepts important for Prudhoe Bay. It includes a three-phase relative permeability correlation that incorporates hysteresis in gas, oil, and water relative permeability as well as the dependence of relative permeability on composition and gas/oil interfacial tension (IFT). The functional forms chosen to correlate the relative permeability data were based on interpretation of the pore-level mechanisms that determine fluid flow. The three-phase correlation reduces to traditional models in various limits and is more consistent with available data and trends in the literature than previous correlations. Although this correlation was developed for Prudhoe Bay, it can be and has been applied to other mixed-wet reservoirs with changes in the input parameters. The correlation is particularly useful in situations where both compositional effects and hysteresis are important.


Visible-light emitting single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs)/organic hybrids have been successfully synthesized and promise to be a photon source to be used in future optoelectronic devices. The nanohybrids are "peapods" having sexithiophene molecules inside the hollow space of SWNTs. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and optical probes show evidence of the encapsulation while density functional theory calculations confirm the experimental findings and provide deeper insight into stability and electronic properties of these systems.


Pollination by insects is a crucial ecosystem service that helps to provide over 70 % of economically important crops worldwide. As the world population and food demands continue to increase, there is a premium for these services. Despite this, pollinating insects, especially bees, are declining due to increased agricultural intensification. However, these declines can be mitigated by developing conservation strategies aimed at protecting landscapes that support healthy and abundant bee communities. In order to develop conservation strategies, it is imperative that we determine which types of landscapes are most suitable to bees. In a 2014 pilot study, we used radio frequency identification (RFID), we tracked common eastern bumblebee (Bombus impatiens) foraging and monitored colony performance in relation to floral resources and a range of landscape types across southern Wisconsin in attempts to determine an empirical relationship between the landscape and colony health and performance. We found no evidence of differences in foraging patterns between locations, but did see a positive response in colony reproductive success in agricultural landscapes, and a negative response in urban landscapes. These data suggest that using behavioural traits such as foraging pattern and performance metrics could be used as a measure of landscape suitability to wild bees. Identifying the most suitable landscapes in terms of the aforementioned metrics could help to guide conservation strategies for these essential ecosystem service providers. Work in 2015 will involve testing these methods in a larger subset of landscapes, as well as in a mass-flowering crop (American cranberry: Vaccinium macrocarpon) to determine how bumblebees respond to resource pulses in agroecosystems.


By running life tests at higher stress levels than normal operating conditions, accelerated life testing (ALT) quickly yields information on the lifetime distribution of a test unit. The lifetime at the design stress is then estimated through extrapolation using a regression model. In constant‐stress testing, a unit is tested at a fixed stress level until failure or the termination time point of test, whereas step‐stress testing allows the experimenter to gradually increase the stress levels at some prefixed time points during the test. In this work, the optimal k‐level constant‐stress and step‐stress ALTs are compared for the exponential failure data under complete sampling and Type‐I censoring. The objective is to quantify the advantage of using the step‐stress testing relative to the constant‐stress one. Assuming a log‐linear life–stress relationship with the cumulative exposure model for the effect of changing stress in step‐stress testing, the optimal design points are determined under C/D/A‐optimality criteria. The efficiency of step‐stress testing to constant‐stress one is then discussed in terms of the ratio of optimal objective functions based on the information matrix. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 00: 000–000, 2013


Author(s): Gray, Michael Francis | Advisor(s): Nilsson, Mikael | Abstract: Components of used nuclear fuel remain more radiotoxic than natural uranium ore for over one hundred thousand years, but advanced fuel recycling could reduce that time to a thousand years. Yet several engineering challenges need to be addressed, including the scale up of certain solvent extraction based separations. To do so, an improved thermodynamic understanding of the chemistry is required since data for many of the chemical components is unreliable. The topic of my work, di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (HDEHP), is one such example: past studies on HDEHP yield inconsistent thermodynamic data. The technique of vapor pressure osmometry was used to address that problem, and extensive validation was carried out. The equation relating the vapor pressure osmometry signal to the solution activity was examined in detail, and its accuracy was demonstrated on aqueous solutions. Analysis of VPO data using the Gibbs-Duhem equation yielded activity coefficients for HDEHP in seven different hydrocarbon diluents. The values for HDEHP at 21°C matched two results from past literature, building a consensus. A second analysis was performed using regular solution theory with entropic corrections. That second result provides qualitative values of the activity coefficient in systems where no experimental data is available. The final section of the report analyzes osmometry data collected for HDEHP metal complex and the activity coefficient of HDEHP obtained with slope analysis. The slope analysis data points to two main reasons for discrepancies between the current VPO activity coefficient results and slope analysis data in the literature. Further analysis of the metal complex data may help resolve that discrepancy. The data on HDEHP presented in this dissertation will improve the accuracy of extraction models, assisting the scale up of advanced separation processes for used nuclear fuel.


SAL1, as a negative regulator of stress response signaling, has been studied extensively for its role in plant response to environmental stresses. However, the role of SAL1 in cadmium (Cd) stress response and the underlying mechanism is still unclear. Using an Arabidopsis thaliana loss-of-function mutant of SAL1, we assessed Cd resistance and further explored the Cd toxicity mechanism through analysis of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response. The loss of SAL1 function greatly improved Cd tolerance and significantly attenuated ER stress in Arabidopsis. Exposure to Cd induced an ER stress response in Arabidopsis as evidenced by unconventional splicing of AtbZIP60 and up-regulation of ER stress-responsive genes. Damage caused by Cd was markedly reduced in the ER stress response double mutant bzip28 bzip60 or by application of the ER stress-alleviating chemical agents, tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) and 4-phenyl butyric acid (4-PBA), in wild-type plants. The Cd-induced ER stress in Arabidopsis was also alleviated by loss of function of SAL1. These results identified SAL1 as a new component mediating Cd toxicity and established the role of the ER stress response in Cd toxicity. Additionally, the attenuated ER stress in the sal1 mutant might also shed new light on the mechanism of diverse abiotic stress resistance in the SAL1 loss-of-function mutants.


The Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia is among the most unstable entities of the Russian federation. Whereas the ideas of radical political Islam enjoy little popularity there, the ethnic structure is exceptionally complex, which is not reflected in the model of territorial administration. The scale of corruption and nepotism of the local elite is enormous. The relations between the two titular ethnicities of Karachay-Cherkessia abound in mutual prejudices and distrust, or even hostility. The current model of a two-nationality republic is an element of the Soviet legacy, originally introduced in order to overcome ethnic particularism. The decline of the Soviet model of state fostered ethnic particularism and separatism, which applied to Karachays and Cherkessians alike at the turn of the nineteen-eighties. At present, Karachay separatism is a marginal phenomenon, while the influence of the Pan-Cherkessian movement has been consistently growing, posing an increasing threat to the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation. The author characterizes various dimensions of ethnic separatism in Karachay-Cherkessia and analyzes the reasons for the weakness of the armed Islamist underground in this Caucasian republic.


When a doctoral student plans to conduct qualitative education research, the aspect of the dissertation that often becomes problematic is determining which theoretical paradigm(s) might frame the study. In this article, the author discusses how he resolved the quandary through eclecticism. The author begins by describing briefly the purpose of his dissertation study, providing a justification for eclecticism in the selection of theories. He follows with a description of the three theories— poststructural theory, critical race theory, and critical theory—that framed his study and discusses briefly the methodology employed. The author concludes with a discussion of likely objections of his study and with an explanation of why his study was positioned within a critical


Because of the clinical impression that hysterical amblyopia, when specifically looked for, is commoner than is generally believed; and because the incidence, as determined by a review of the literature, cannot properly be evaluated in terms of the subtler cases, it seemed that a clinical reexamination of this problem could be profitable. It is the purpose of this study to determine by survey, using perimetric methods, the actual incidence of hysterical amblyopia in a large group of unselected eye patients. There have been many individual reports * of cases of hysterical amblyopia and amaurosis, but series of any size, with statistical studies, are conspicuously lacking in the literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS Eight hundred unselected eye patients, with various complaints and diagnoses, were examined. The routine examination for the purpose of this study was as follows: Visual acuity was taken without and with glasses. If glasses improved the vision by as much


Sows that lie on their young, pig "crushing", is a significant cause of pig mortality in current production systems. Although mortality rates of pigs in farrowing crates are lower than mortality rates of pigs in pens, loss due to crushing is still estimated to be between 4.8 and 18%. During the first few days after parturition, pigs are highly attracted to the odor of their dam's udder. Thus, our research was designed to move the pigs away from the sow by competing with the sow's udder using a "simulated" udder. Fifteen Yorkshire x Landrace sows and their litters (11.4+/-.78 pigs) were assigned to either a control (C, n = 9) or an experimental group (SU, n = 6). The C pigs had access to a heat lamp, whereas the SU pigs' crate had a simulated udder. Data were collected using time-lapse photography (1 frame/.4 s) for a 3-d duration at the initiation of farrowing. When a sow stood, data were recorded by 1-min scan samples to record the number of pigs using either the heat lamp or the simulated udder. In addition, stillborn pigs, pig crushing, and death by other means also were recorded. Data were analyzed by 12-h periods using generalized estimating equations. Results indicate that from 12 to 72 h postpartum, excluding 24 to 36 h postpartum, the estimated probability that pigs were in a safe area (simulated udder or heat lamp) was .89 for SU pigs, compared with only .72 for C pigs (P = .005). During the 24- to 36-h period, it was more probable to find pigs on a simulated udder (.77) than under only a heat lamp (.61, P = .016). Stillborn pigs, pig crushing, and death by other means were not different between treatments (mean = .87, .60, 1.2; P>.20). The simulated udder drew pigs away from the sow's udder better than heat lamps alone. Considering these findings, mortality of pigs due to crushing may be decreased substantially using a simulated udder. These results are promising, but further refinement should be done, including improved udder design and investigation of the attractiveness of various stimuli.


Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a spectroscopic technique that simultaneously combines fingerprint recognition capabilities, typical of vibrational spectroscopies, and very high sensitivity (down to single molecule), owing to the enhancement provided by plasmonic effects. SERS inherits the rich chemical fingerprint information on Raman spectroscopy and gains sensitivity by Plasmon-enhanced excitation and scattering. In particular, most Raman peaks have a narrow width suitable for multiplex analysis, and the measurements can be conveniently made under ambient and aqueous conditions. SERS applications in bio analysis involve the complex interactions of plasmonicnanomaterials with biological systems and their environments. We then introduce the current understanding of the interaction of nanomaterials with biological systems, mainly living cells, to guide the design of functionalized SERS nanoparticles for target detection. In the end, we give an outlook of the key challenges in bio analytical SERS, including reproducibility, sensitivity, spatial and time resolution.  The last section illustrates the applications of SERS in several fields of sensing, like the detection of chemical warfare agents, environmental pollutants, food contaminants, and illicit drugs; the use of SERS in art preservation, forensic science, and medical diagnosis. Keywords: SERS, Plasmon's, Enhancement, Nanoparticles, Resonance, Finger printing


To explore the effect of adding bamboo fiber and steel wire mesh to BFRP bar-reinforced concrete beams on their flexural performance, we designed and fabricated six test beams with different parameters. Through flexural tests and numerical simulations, the effects of bamboo fiber length and steel wire mesh layout on the crack resistance, deformation capacity, and flexural ultimate bearing capacity of BFRP bar concrete beams were assessed. The feasibility of the simulation and the calculation method of flexural capacity of such specimens were considered. The research results showed that the addition of bamboo fiber can increase the cracking load and global stiffness and reduce the deformation of the test beam, but this had little effect on the ultimate flexural bearing capacity of the test beam. The cracking load, global stiffness, and ultimate flexural bearing capacity of the test beams were improved by the addition of steel wire mesh, and the stiffness and ultimate flexural bearing capacity of the test specimens with steel wire mesh in the whole beam were improved. Although the composite effect of bamboo fiber and steel wire mesh showed some improvement in these indicators, the improvement effect was not ideal.


There is a growing literature that aims at assessing the private value of knowledge assets and patents. It has been shown that patents and their quality as measured by citations received by future patents contribute significantly to the market value of firms beyond their R&D stocks. This paper goes one step further and distinguishes between different types of forward citations patents can receive at the European Patent Office. While a patent can be cited as non-infringing state of the art, it can also be cited because it threatens the novelty of patent applications (?blocking citations?). Empirical results from a market value model for a sample of large, R&D-intensive U.S., European and Japanese firms show that patents frequently cited as blocking references have a higher economic value for their owners than patents cited for non-blocking reasons. This finding adds to the patent value literature by showing that different types of patent citations carry different information on the economic value of patents. The result further suggests that the total number of forward citations can be an imprecise measure of patent value.


An approach for solving the excitonic absorption in a semiconductor quantum well driven by an intense terahertz field is presented. The formalism relies on the stationary single-photon Schrodinger equation in the full quantum mechanical framework. The optical absorption dynamics in both weak and strong couplings are discussed and compared. The excitonic absorption spectra show the Autler—Townes doublets for the resonance terahertz field, a replica peak for the non-resonance terahertz field, and the electromagnetically induced transparency phenomenon for modulating the decay rate of the second electron state in the weak coupling. In particular, the electromagnetically induced transparency phenomenon window range is discussed. In the strong coupling region, the multi-order energy level resonance splitting due to the strong optical field is found. There are three (non-resonance terahertz field) or four (resonance terahertz field) peaks in the optical absorption spectra. This work provides a simple and convenient approach to deal with the optical absorption in the exciton system.


In isolated canine cerebral and cutaneous arteries and duodenum, effects of neosurugatoxin (NSTX) on the response to nicotine were compared. Nicotine-induced relaxations are mediated by nitric oxide (NO) from vasodilator nerves in cerebral arteries and by calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in cutaneous arteries treated with NO synthase inhibitors. Duodenal relaxation to nicotine is mediated by NO from inhibitory nerves. Cerebral arterial strips without endothelium responded to nicotine with relaxations that were inhibited by NSTX (3 x 10(-10) to 3 x 10(-9) M) concentration-dependently. Relaxations to nicotine of duodenal strips were attenuated by NSTX and abolished by tetrodotoxin, whereas those induced by K+ and electrical stimulation were not influenced. In cutaneous arteries treated with N(G)-nitro-L-arginine, nicotine-induced relaxations were attenuated by NSTX as low as 10(-10) M, but unaffected by tetrodotoxin. The inhibitory potency of NSTX was in the order of cutaneous artery > duodenum > cerebral artery. It is concluded that NSTX selectively antagonizes actions on nicotinic receptors in nitroxidergic nerves of cerebral arteries, CGRP-mediated sensory nerves of cutaneous artery and ganglionic cells of the duodenum, but the affinity of this toxin to nicotinic receptors in sensory nerves is the highest.


Due to the narrow space and complex structure of spacecraft cabin, the existing asssembly systems can not well suit for the assembly process of cabin products. This paper aims to introduce an assembly auxiliary system for cabin products. A hierarchical-classification method is proposed to re-adjust the initial assembly relationship of cabin into a new hierarchical structure for efficient assembly planning. An improved ant colony algorithm based on three assembly principles is established for searching a optimizational assembly sequence of cabin parts. A mixed reality assembly environment is constructed with enhanced information to promote interaction efficiency of assembly training and guidance. Based on the machine vision technology, the inspection of left redundant objects and measurement of parts distance in inner cabin are efficiently performed. The proposed system has been applied to the assembly work of a spacecraft cabin with 107 parts, which includes cabin assembly planning, assembly training and assembly quality inspection. The application result indicates that the proposed system can be an effective assistant tool to cabin assembly works and provide an intuitive and real assembly experience for workers. This paper presents an assembly auxiliary system for spacecraft cabin products, which can provide technical support to the spacecraft cabin assembly industry.


The current demand for healthy and sustainable foods has encouraged the development of new alternatives even in traditional products. Improved foods may be produced by reducing the amount of some ingredients, adding new ones, or replacing traditionally used ingredients for others. By reformulating their products, manufacturers can offer healthier choices for an ever-growing number of consumers interested in maintaining a balanced diet. In addition, the market demand for more sustainable foods contributes to a lower environmental impact in their production. In this regard, current areas of interest include the production of foods using a lower number of inputs, as well as the utilization of food by-products, to improve the amount and quality of available foods. Another aspect to be considered is that not all consumers are willing to eat foods produced with new ingredients or novel technologies. Hence, the development of innovations in food products should take into account the influence of so-called "consumer food neophobia".


Passivated, hole-selective contacts play important role in reducing surface recombination by lowering the concentration of electrons in the rear side of a solar cell. However, parasitic optical losses in these contacts can still limit the performance of the cell. In this work, the long wavelength optical losses of silicon solar cells featuring hole-selective molybdenum oxide (MoOx) rear contacts are investigated using optical simulations. The potential of these selective contacts for possible enhancement of photogenerated current density was also investigated for their use with nanostructured dielectric layers.


In spectrum-sliced wavelength division multiple access (WDMA) optical communication systems, excess noise due to the thermal nature of the broadband source, such as the superfluorescent fiber source (SFS), limits the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at the photodetector output. If the statistics of the detected signal are Gaussian, a common assumption, then the bit-error rate (BER) performance of the system is predicted to reach a minimum that cannot be improved by increasing the received optical power. The actual performance, however, depends on the true detection noise statistics. We have measured the statistical distribution of the photoelectric current from a PIN photodiode illuminated by a spectrum-sliced, erbium-doped SFS. The histogram of the measurement data is best described by a negative binomial model for the corresponding photoelectron count with thermal light. Consequently, the BER performance of a spectrum-sliced WDMA system using such a superfluorescent fiber source is not limited by the SNR, a fundamentally different result from that predicted using the Gaussian assumption.


The physical spaces we occupy and inhabit are continuously changing and evolving, they are becoming increasingly transient. In response, this research is interested in learning how people occupy and inhabit transient space. Many of the spaces we occupy are affected by invisible systems controlling the amount of time we spend inside a space, and how we occupy a space. Through the study of spatial territorialisation [the creation and inhabitation of territory] this research looks at developing an understanding of behaviours and acts of territorialising in space to understand how transient space is occupied.   This research looks at tertiary students as an example of people who inhabit transient spaces. Through a series of different observational experiments, students' territories are studied to understand how they may be created and inhabited. Different techniques such as space occupation, accumulation of objects, and comfort enhancements are some of the findings of the way people have inhabited space. This thesis is interested in using this understanding of space inhabitation, learned through the different acts of territorialising, to explore how the way we design spaces might be informed from this.   A final design strategy is proposed that uses the master's studio at the Victoria University, Faculty of Architecture and Design as a site. The final design proposal uses research gathered through creative territory experiments by using installation as a tool for testing individual and communal responses to territorialising. The overall design strategy is a series of responses to the current acts of territorialising and spatial occupation occurring in the studio. The design encourages the good habits occurring in the studio such as leaving the studio for a break, and disrupts the less healthy habits, such as the permanent claiming of shared territory.


Among the therapeutic options for achalasia are pneumatic dilatation (PD), an appropriate long-term therapy, and botulinum toxin injection (BT) that is a relatively short-term therapy. This study aimed to compare therapeutic effect of repetitive pneumatic dilation with a combined method (botulinum toxin injection and pneumatic dilation) in a group of achalasia patients who are low responder to two initial pneumatic dilations. Thirty-four patients with documented primary achalasia that had low response to two times PD (<50% decrease in symptom score and barium height at 5 minute in timed esophagogram after 3 month of late PD) were randomized to receive pneumatic dilation (n=18) or botulinum toxin injection and pneumatic dilation by four weeks interval (n=16), PD and BT+PD groups respectively. Symptom scores were evaluated before and at 1, 6 and 12 months after treatment. Clinical remission was defined as a decrease in symptom score > or = 50% of baseline. There were no significant differences between the two groups in gender, age and achalasia type. Remission rate of patients in BT-PD group in comparison with PD group were 87.5% vs. 67.1% (P = 0.7), 87.5% vs. 61.1% (P = 0.59) and 87.5% vs. 55.5% (P = 0.53) at 1, 6 and 12 months respectively .There were no major complications in either group. The mean symptom score decreased by 62.71% in the BT-PD group (P < 0.002) and 50.77% in the PD group (P < 0.01) at the end of the first year. Despite a better response rate in BT+PD group, a difference was not statistically significant. A difference may be meaningful if a large numbers of patients are included in the study.


Deep latent variable models, trained using variational autoencoders or generative adversarial networks, are now a key technique for representation learning of continuous structures. However, applying similar methods to discrete structures, such as text sequences or discretized images, has proven to be more challenging. In this work, we propose a flexible method for training deep latent variable models of discrete structures. Our approach is based on the recently-proposed Wasserstein autoencoder (WAE) which formalizes the adversarial autoencoder (AAE) as an optimal transport problem. We first extend this framework to model discrete sequences, and then further explore different learned priors targeting a controllable representation. This adversarially regularized autoencoder (ARAE) allows us to generate natural textual outputs as well as perform manipulations in the latent space to induce change in the output space. Finally we show that the latent representation can be trained to perform unaligned textual style transfer, giving improvements both in automatic/human evaluation compared to existing methods.


On the basis of accelerated test of food shelf life theory, the changes of acid & peroxide value of military instant rice packaged by PET/AL/PA/PE coextruded film at different storage temperature were studied. The kinetics models of shelf life were obtained at corresponding temperature so as to predict the shelf life of instant rice. The study can be easily applied to predict food shelf life and package design of instant food at different storage temperature.


The rhizome of Kaempferia parviflora or kra‐chai‐dum (in Thai) is used traditionally as a folk medicine. The preliminary cholinesterase inhibitory screening of this plant extract exhibited significant acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory activities. Thirteen known methoxyflavones (1–13) were isolated and their structures were completely elucidated based on NMR analysis and compared with literature reports. Minor compounds 12–13 were reported for the first time from this species. The cholinesterase inhibitory test results showed that the highest potential inhibitors toward AChE and BChE were 5,7,4′‐trimethoxyflavone (6) and 5,7‐dimethoxyflavone (7), respectively, with the percentage inhibitory activity varying over 43–85%. The structure‐activity relationship study led to the conclusion that compounds bearing 5,7‐dimethoxy groups and a free substituent at C‐3 had a significant inhibitory effect at a concentration of 0.1 mg/mL, but those bearing a 5‐hydroxyl group reduced the inhibitory potency. On the other hand, flavones bearing a 3′‐ or 5′‐methoxy group did not influence the inhibitory effect. Interestingly, 5,7‐dimethoxyflavone (7) exhibited strong selectivity for BChE over AChE which may be of great interest to modify as a treatment agent for Alzheimer's disease. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


As the marker density has increased in linkage maps of the food legumes over the last ten
years, many markers closely linked to economic traits, both qualitative and quantitative
inherited, have been identified and published. Typical with other crops, soybean and maize
for example, application of marker assisted selection (MAS) in food legumes has been
aggressively pursued primarily by private institutions, due to costs and the more basic nature
of public institutions research missions. However, developments in recent years have
contributed to increases in both the utility and application of MAS in public and private
institutes breeding and germplasm enhancement programs. These developments include diJ(ectly: (1) the development of PCR -based markers, sequence-tagged sites and co-dominant
microsatellite markers available for pea, chickpea, lentil per se and the development of crosstaxa
markers from Medicago truncatula and Lotus japonicus, (2) the reduction in costs of the
MAS technology, and indirectly (3) increases in genomic tools such as the construction of
legume EST and BAC libraries and sequencing of Medicago truncatula and Lotus japonicus,
along with the elucidation of plant gene functions, particularly from Arabidopsis thaliana.
We will review specific examples of the development status of MAS in pea for biotic stresses,
chickpea for biotic stresses, lentil traits, other food legumes breeding and germplasm
enhancement projects, and conclude with prospects for the future.


The 19th century was an era of social reform, particularly in regard to women. Religious middleto upper-class women joined forces in an effort to end prostitution and immoral crimes. In an attempt to "heal" prostitutes and other delinquents, reformers founded institutions including maternity homes. The Evansville Home for the Friendless was one such maternity home, established in 1870 and operating for almost 100 years. The Home for the Friendless housed unmarried mothers and wrote logbook entries detailing the lives of others whom the women judged to be morally felonious. The matrons in charge of the Home for the Friendless and similar maternity homes wrote descriptions of "inmates," and their records reveal as much about the writers as about the inmates. The judgments and biases shown by matrons toward the "fallen women" are astounding and expose unexpected and unexplored sexism. Evansville's Home for the Friendless serves as a prime example of how female reformers harmed the women they were trying to assist using methods that have transcended time and are still in use today.


The effectiveness of regeneration is provided by normal over exchange and regulatory responses, so the regenerative therapy should be directed at identifying and addressing the causes of dismetabolk influences. Mikrobiocenosis is an integral part of holistic human organism takes part in realization of all metabolic reactions of the media. Correction of disbiosis helps restore regenerative processes, for the development of this direction is necessary to develop a new generation of probiotic preparations.


Chondroid lipoma is a rare, benign, lipomatous soft tissue tumor that manifests as a painless lump. We report the incidental finding of such a tumor at total hip replacement and briefly review the literature regarding the histopathologic features of this recently described neoplasm.


This paper provides a framework for discussing the validity of computer simulation models of market phenomena. It defines functional complexity and derives measures of this for a well known agent-based simulation model and suggests methods to overcome the obstacle of complexity in validating such models.


The maintenance optimization of complex systems is a key question. One important objective is to be able to anticipate future maintenance actions required to optimize the logistic and future investments. That is why, over the past few years, the predictive maintenance approaches have been an expanding area of research. They rely on the concept of prognosis. Many papers have shown how dynamic Bayesian networks can be relevant to represent multicomponent complex systems and carry out reliability studies. The diagnosis and maintenance group from French institute of science and technology for transport, development and networks (IFSTTAR) developed a model (VirMaLab: Virtual Maintenance Laboratory) based on dynamic Bayesian networks in order to model a multicomponent system with its degradation dynamic and its diagnosis and maintenance processes. Its main purpose is to model a maintenance policy to be able to optimize the maintenance parameters due to the use of dynamic Bayesian networks. A discrete state-space system is considered, periodically observable through a diagnosis process. Such systems are common in railway or road infrastructure fields. This article presents a prognosis algorithm whose purpose is to compute the remaining useful life of the system and update this estimation each time a new diagnosis is available. Then, a representation of this algorithm is given as a dynamic Bayesian network in order to be next integrated into the Virtual Maintenance Laboratory model to include the set of predictive maintenance policies. Inference computation questions on the considered dynamic Bayesian networks will be discussed. Finally, an application on simulated data will be presented.


The article presents an attempt to develop alternatives to the dominant planning and design principles used in building and rebuilding the contemporary urban landscape. The basic idea is that the 'forces of modernisation' driving current development might result in a broader and more interesting palette of places and spaces if supplementary principles of design and organisation could be developed. The idea of formulating a normatively oriented theory for practice is based on an 'almost all right' approach but moves beyond the purely 'non-judgmental' attitude to contribute at a generic level to the task of constructing and improving things. With this goal, a set of objectives based in important insights from recent urban theory are formulated constituting the normative spine of the analysis of a number of found situations as basis for formulating eight generic concepts of qualification for contemporary urban landscape design practice.


An estimated 250,000 people in the United States are living with undiagnosed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Those who are unaware they are HIV-infected miss opportunities for early treatment and may unknowingly infect others. Early identification of HIV-infected individuals benefits both the infected individuals and the health of the public. To decrease the number of individuals unaware that they are HIV-infected, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently revised its recommendations for HIV testing in health care settings. Changes in the CDC-recommended HIV testing protocol include expanding the population to be routinely tested and streamlining the testing and consent process. This article discusses the CDC recommendations, current Wisconsin laws regarding HIV testing, challenges associated with reconciling these laws with current CDC guidelines, and ethical concerns surrounding the guidelines. The authors conclude that Wisconsin health care professionals should adopt the CDC recommendations for HIV testing. However, to fully implement the revised CDC testing protocol, Wisconsin law will need to be amended. Adoption of these recommendations would increase the number of people in Wisconsin who are aware of their HIV-positive status and can then receive timely treatment and information about preventing HIV transmission.


30 and 50S ribosomal subunits, released from polysomes upon polypeptide chain termination, possess a high affinity for each other and readily form single ribosomes. Highly purified initiation factor F3(B), acting stoichiometrically, prevents the formation of single ribosomes without promoting their dissociation. These findings are interpreted in terms of a ribosome cycle in which a limiting amount of factor F3(B) controls the number of ribosomes active in protein synthesis, in response to metabolic changes in the cell, by regulating the flow of ribosomal subunits into polysomes or into a sidetrack pool of synthetically inactive single ribosomes. The reported apparent ribosome dissociation activity of F3(B) is explained.


The purpose of this paper is to clarify some of the difficulties that a practitioner may find in implementing the binomial model for valuing a corporate bond with multiple embedded options in emerging markets. Especially, when faced with the dilemma of determining which should be the proxy variables for the risk-free rate, sovereign risk and country specific risk. In order to clarify some of the challenges that the practitioners face, the paper will present the reader a practical example that can serve as a guide through the required steps needed to value a callable bond in an emerging market. The callable bond used in this example is issued by the Transportadora de Gas del Interior International Ltd., which is a company located in Colombia and its economic activity is the transportation of natural gas and has four embedded call options by the issuer until its final maturity in October 3, 2017. Our conclusion is that by using the binomial model to find the option adjusted spread of the bond is also possible to find a more reliable measure of specific or unique risk attributable to the company economic activities.


Non-compartmental pharmacokinetic analysis of diclofenac sodium (DIC) and papaverine hydrochloride (PAP) after oral administration of composed tablets to rabbits was developed. HPLC method for determination of DIC and PAP in rabbit plasma was developed and validated. Chromatographic separation of DIC, PAP and the IS was achieved on a Zorbax SB C18 5-µm column (150 mm x 4.6 mm) using methanol-water (55:45, v/v) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min. Pharmacokinetic analysis showed that oral administration of a tablet composed of DIC and PAP do not change the pharmacokinetic parameters such as MRT, MAT, Cl and bioavailability of the active substances compared with single administration of DIC and PAP after single dose.


The 0-order transmission of a 1D metallic grating, on a high-resistivity silicon wafer in optical contact with a silicon plate, has been characterized by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy with subpicosecond resolution over a 400 ps scan range. Two new long-time-delay, powerful pulses are observed after the second reflected pulse. In the frequency domain, these two strong and fast-ringing structures correspond to the bandwidth ranges between the [0, 1] and [0, 2] surface plasmon modes and the range above [0, 2], respectively. A physical optics ray analysis provides an intuitive understanding of these new four-step (reflection, diffraction, total reflection, and diffraction) pulses, caused by fractional-order surface plasmon type beam coupling.


The justice has been studied in the legal sciences since its beginning. Most jurisdictions have considered throughout history, the justice like the higher value and one of the purposes of the law.This principle and his value are included in most Constitutions of the different States and various international treaties and agreements such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Our Constitution stated in its preamble that the Spanish Nation want to establish justice, freedom and security and promote the good of all its members, and article 3 1 proposes a fair tax system as a means to finance public spending. So it is interesting to see the principle of justice like finality and as means of the Spanish tax law.


Ficus benjamina (Moracaeae subfamily Urostigma, section Conosycea) grows naturally in tropical Asia and in Australia in the north of the Northern Territory and the Cairns region of Queensland. It is widely grown as an ornamental in more temperate regions of Australia. Schistonchus benjamina sp. n. is described from sycones of F. benjamina in Brisbane, and is differentiated from other species of Schistonchus by a combination of morphological characters including having the excretory pore opening near the head, a short post-vulval uterine sac, rose thorn-shaped spicule, lightly sclerotised stylet and spicule, and three pairs of subventral papillae on the tail (one adcloacal, one at mid-tail length and one near the tail tip); and apparent biogeographical range. Phylogenetic analyses based on D3 sequences from collections from both northern and southern Queensland suggest that S. benjamina sp. n. is a species complex, but specimens from the different locations cannot be separated on morphological or morphometric data. Schistonchus benjamina sp. n. is closest to S. microcarpus from F. microcarpa (Urostigma, section Urostigma) in China.


The article considers the educational strategy of Russian history, Russian language and basics of the Russian legislation, implemented among labour migrants in terms of their work permit, citizenship of the Russian Federation after the positive exams. The analysis showed that this important work is conducted in the Russian University of friendship of peoples, which is one of the developers of modules for all the above disciplines and Creator of test tasks, unique methods of teaching foreigners, etc. that will start to be implemented in full since January 2015, This work is connected with the fact that currently the Russian Federation and, in particular, the Moscow region are experiencing difficulties in the field of migration policy. In this situation the state authorities tried to provide possible assistance to people in difficult life situation. In particular, migrants were allocated premises for permanent and temporary residence, land for construction of housing, provided medical care, conducted training and education of children in schools and kindergartens, for seniors and low-income issues were resolved on payment of pensions and allowances, etc. But at the same time, financial opportunities of the Russian regions for solution of all problems of migrants did not increase. Such problems are standing before the authorities practically all subjects of the Russian Federation. With this in mind, the article suggests ways of solving these problems.


This article focuses on analyzing the impact of financial development on employment in Asean countries. This is a topic that is very rare in the previous studies. Therefore, this research result is important not only for Asean countries, but also for other countries in the world. The research data was collected from 6 ASEAN countries during 2004-2017. Using the generalized method of moment (GMM) to estimate the research model, the author has found the first empirical evidence on the impact of financial development on employment in Asean countries. In particular, the domestic credit to private sector has a positive impact on employment. And also, the stock market capitalization has a negative impact on employment, this is a new finding of this research compared to the previous studies. Based on this base, ASEAN countries will have the basis to propose the policies to promote the financial development associated with increased employment more effectively.


Transfer news: A synthetic approach to chiral β-CF(3)-substituted saturated carbonyl compounds has been developed in which ruthenium complexes efficiently catalyze the redox isomerization of CF(3)-bearing allylic alcohols by an intramolecular suprafacial enantiospecific 1,3-hydrogen transfer (see scheme). This method was used for the enantioselective synthesis of (S)-CF(3)-citronellol.


How to Dunk a Doughnut. The Science of Everyday Life. Len Fisher. Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London, 2002. 251 pp. £12.99. ISBN 0-297-60756-1. Fisher uses discussions of the science of everyday phenomena to show how they can open the doors to public understanding and interest as well as attract future scientists.


Today's fast linear algebra and numerical optimization tools have pushed the frontier of model predictive control (MPC) forward, to the efficient control of highly nonlinear and hybrid systems. The field of hybrid MPC has demonstrated that exact optimal control law can be computed, e.g., by mixed-integer programming (MIP) under piecewise-affine (PWA) system models. Despite the elegant theory, online solving hybrid MPC is still out of reach for many applications. We aim to speed up MIP by combining geometric insights from hybrid MPC, a simple-yet-effective learning algorithm, and MIP warm start techniques. Following a line of work in approximate explicit MPC, the proposed learning-control algorithm, LNMS, gains computational advantage over MIP at little cost and is straightforward for practitioners to implement.


The aim of this paper is to critically review the different approaches used to manage mental health care. Underpinning this aim is a literature review carried out using systematic approaches that clarifies how various frameworks are used and experienced. Responding consciously to policy, politics, and economic change there are a number of approaches that coexist without an explicit view as to whether they are useful tools kit or a phenomena that are, in-fact, less positive. Nevertheless experience to date suggests that clear lessons can be learned before practices become more widely adopted across health communities.


Abstract The study of Eurocentrism has become a hallmark of postcolonial International Relations theories. Of particular concern in this literature has been the resilience of Eurocentrism despite conscious efforts to move towards a post-Eurocentric understanding of world politics. This study argues that while existing works have highlighted many of the reasons why Eurocentrism persists today, it has not been sufficiently identified and conceptualised. In particular, why some policy actors, who have a vested interest in moving beyond Eurocentrism, inadvertently reproduce Eurocentrism? This article proposes to distinguish between different types of inadvertent reproductions. In particular it highlights rhetorical critique, deconstruction, decentring and dehierarchising, as different ways to critique, inadvertently reproduce and partially modify Eurocentrism. To illustrate this situation, this article looks at Turkey's migration policies and documents how Turkish governing elites have openly claimed the need to upend the Eurocentric order, yet have reproduced it in practice.


This section of the JOURNAL is published in collaboration with OPHTHALMIC LITERATURE, published by the British Medical Association. The abstracts are divided into the following sections: Syphilis (Clinical, Therapy, Serology, Biological False Positive Phenomenon, Pathology, Experimental). Gonorrhoea. Nongonococcal Urethritis and Allied Conditions. Reiter's Disease and Allied Conditions. Antibiotics and Chemotherapy. Public Health and Social Aspects. Miscellaneous. After each subsection of abstracts follows a list of articles that have been noted but not abstracted.


Since its inception, spread-spectrum clocks have been a valuable technology for the purposes of EMI reduction and EMC compliance. This study evaluates the interference potential of spread spectrum clocks to broadband digital communications such as high definition television (HDTV). This is accomplished by comparing the spread spectrum clock interference susceptibility of digital television (DTV) receivers to the interference susceptibility of analog television receivers. This study shows that DTV receivers are more immune to the same level of interference than existing analog television receivers by 16 dB. Since industry has shown that analog television has had negligible interference from information technology equipment, including spread spectrum clocks, then the digital systems should have even less.


The authors report two patients with AIDS and cytomegalovirus retinitis who developed disc neovascularization. The disc neovascularization regressed spontaneously over several months and did not cause vitreous hemorrhage or visual loss.


We provide an updated Table  2.

The manuscript text has been modified as follows.

Method section 2.4, page 3, line 3, (left column): <2500 was changed into ≤2500.

Result section 3.1, page 3, line 6-7 (right column): …more literate (0.001),…, used less IPT (<0.0001), was changed into more literate (0.0003),…, used less IPT (0.0002).

Discussion, page 8, line 21 (right column): <2500 was changed into ≤2500.

Discusson, page 9, line 22–24 (left column): Of note, significantly fewer primigravidae used IPT as compared to multigravidae (Table  2; G1 = 31.6%, G2-3 = 49.3%, ≥G4 = 55.7%) was changed into Of note, significantly fewer primigravidae used IPT as compared to multigravidae (Table  2; G1 = 31.6%, G2-3 = 49.3%, ≥G4 = 55.9%).

Page 6, line 24,(headline of Table  5): <2500 was changed into ≤2500.

The total number of cases in each gravidity group in Table  2 should be G1 = 196, G2-3 = 142, and ≥G4 = 59. Two cases of G3 were misclassified as G4 giving rise to reduced nr in the G2-3 group and increased nr in the G4 group. The total number of cases as depicted in the first row of the original Table  2 is still correct and should be (G1 = 196, G2-3 = 142, and ≥G4 = 59). The misclassification occurred when a reanalysis of part of Table  2 was performed and the new data was entered in the old table. The headline hence contained the correct total number of cases in each group, but the reanalysed part was based on the misclassified dataset. Since the data was entered as proportions only, the mismatch between the total number of cases in the headline and rest of the table was not detected immediately. In the corrected table, the total number in the G4 group has now decreased by 2 and in the G2-3 increased by 2. In the case of ANC-visit versus gravidity, only one case was shifted between groups as data on the second misclassified case was missing from the start. Of note, the data on placental malaria versus gravidity was not analysed on the same occasion as the other variables in the table and was thus on the correct dataset from the start.


Fibrillary glomerulonephritis is a rare disease of unknown etiology and pathogenesis. In two thirds of cases, it is clinically manifested by the nephrotic syndrome resistant to cytostatic and corticosteroid therapy. Fibrillary glomerulonephritis is diagnosed by electronic microscopy and characterized by the presence of chaotically located fibrils with an average diameter of 18-22 nm in the deposits of immune complexes. Light optical and immunohistochemical studies are of no crucial importance in this disease. Further investigations may answer a number of questions as to the formation of immune complex deposits and ways of their elimination.


In this work, the microstructural description, mechanical properties and dry sliding wear features of NiCrBSiCFe plasma sprayed on AISI 316 austenitic stainless steel (ASS) substrate were examined. Defect-free metallurgically bonded coatings were obtained. Wear tests were carried out at 2 m/s sliding velocity under the load of 20N for 2000 m sliding distance at various conditions like room temperature (35°C), 150°C, 250°C and 350°C using a EN-8 medium carbon steel pin as a counterface material. The properties namely coating density, micro hardness, coefficient of friction (CoF) and wear resistance of the coating were studied. NiCrBSiCFe plasma spray coated steel substrate showed superior wear resistance properties than the uncoated steel substrate in all the temperatures. The sliding wear resistance was improved up to 4.5 times than that of the uncoated material. In wear test carried out at 350oC, the coated substrates showed relatively lesser wear than in other temperatures due to the oxide formation, which acted as a protective layer. In addition, the shallow ploughing mode of wear reduced the severity of material removal at 350°C. Using scanning electron microscope (SEM) pictures, the wear properties of the coated steel substrate were evaluated in terms of plastic deformation, material transfer and abrasion.