Objectives : The purpose of the research is to measure Dental Hygiene students` level of musculoskeletal pain before and after receiving scaling training which involves repetitive operations and examine effects the operations have on the students` grip and pinch strength. Methods : 15 subjects in Dental Hygiene at Y university located in Chungbuk were tested on November 2, 2011. Results : 12 students had a musculoskeletal pain before receiving scaling training. However, all the 15 students had a musculoskeletal pain after the training. Body part the largest number of the students complained of the pain on was shoulders(37.9%) followed by neck(20.8%), waist(13.9%), wrists(10.3%), then back(6.9%) before receiving the training. Then the result showed that shoulders are where the largest number of students(24.1%) felt the pain, followed by neck(17.2%), wrists and fingers(13.8%), waist(12.1%), back and lower arms(6.9%), then palms(5.2%) after the training. Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) increased to after receiving the training from and this shows statistically significant difference(p from after receiving the training and this shows statistically significant difference(p to , key pinch from to , and tripod pinch from to . Conclusions : The result showed that scaling training has effects on Dental Hygiene students` musculoskeletal subjective symptoms and their grip and pinch strength changes after receiving the training.


In this paper, we investigate the parallel reliable computational model and propose a parallel interval evolutionary algorithm that integrates interval arithmetic and Mind Evolutionary Computation method. The major aim is to explorer the new parallel interval decomposition scheme can solve computation intensive problem and can determine the all optimal solution reliably. The proposed algorithm is experimentally testified on the ZiQiang 3000 cluster of Shanghai High Education Grid-e-Grid Computational Application Platform with a test suit containing 6 complex multi-modal function optimization benchmarks.


The system architecture of a small business must also provide financial management, personnel, procurement, manufacturing, sales, etc. Due to the fact that in small and medium-sized businesses there are combined functions of ownership and management, information management system must provide accurate and up-to-date information about finance and manufacturing resources. We have reviewed the structure of the Russian market of software products for small and mediumsized businesses and explained the leading position of some companies. We conducted a survey of SEOs of SME and employees of the companies ERP systems vendors, who showed quite a symmetric assessment of development informatization of SME.


This paper argues that contemporary conservatives push two major economic ideas: the use of markets rather than government to guide resource allocation and the avoidance of governmental actions to redistribute income. Although the first is subject to several caveats, the author accepts that it embodies an important truth. The second, in contrast, is apparently motivated by a desire not to have one's own income reduced ("greed"), rather than any philosophically defensible position. If the two are politically associated there is a danger that they will be seen as part of the same position, which will lead to tarring the market by associating it with greed.


The photopic spectral sensitivity of the rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri, was determined using a two choice appetitive training method. The resulting curve had three maxima at around 391-473, 490-573 and 650-669 nm. Maximum sensitivity was reached with short wavelength stimuli. Thresholds for white light were also obtained. The results show that the rainbow trout has an action spectrum that is similar to that of other fresh water teleosts in similar circumstances, and that it most likely has the ability to distinguish monochromatic stimuli on the basis of wavelength. Using thresholds to white light and typical freshwater visual pigments, the form of the spectral sensitivity curve was found to be best fitted by independent receptor action at the short wavelengths and by inhibitory interaction between the green and red receptors at the longer wavelengths.


A new, simple, rapid and novel spectrophotometric method has been developed for simultaneous estimation of cefixime trihydrate and linezolid. For this, simultaneous equation method is used. The method involved measurement of absorbance at two wavelengths, 250 nm and 286 nm, λ max of linezolid and cefixime trihydrate respectively. This method obeys Beer's law in the employed concentration ranges of 2-12 μg/ml for both cefixime trihydrateand linezolid. The proposed method is recommended for routine analysis since it is rapid, simple, accurate, specific and also sensitive. This paper describes the development and validation of UV spectroscopic method for simultaneous estimation of cefixime trihydrate and linezolid in Tablet dosage form.


This paper reports on preliminary results of a qualitative research project looking at staff perceptions of student plagiarism within a post-1992 UK University. Analysis of data from 26 open and semi-structured interviews with staff from a range of subject areas and departments across the University suggests that variability in the definition of plagiarism occurs, both in terms of activities that constitute plagiarism and its place in the broader category of cheating or academic misconduct. Personal definitions were informed by, amongst other things, the policy, emotional and professional experience of cases, and staff members' own previous educational experiences. For many staff there is a strong emotional aspect to dealing with plagiarism. The way in which these emotional aspects interact with notions of professionality and University regulations are complex and varied, leading to a variety of formal and informal strategies being employed.


Because modern GPGPU can provide significant computing power and has very high memory bandwidth, and also, developer-friendly programming interfaces such as CUDA have been introduced, GPGPU becomes more and more accepted in the HPC research area. Much research has been done to help developers to better optimize GPU applications. But to fully understand GPU performance behavior remains a hot research topic.
 We developed an analytical tool called TEG (Timing Estimation tool for GPU) to estimate GPU performance. Previous work shows that TEG has good approximation and can help us to quantify bottlenecks' performance effects. We have made some improvement to the tool and in this paper, we use TEG to analyze the GPU performance scaling behavior. TEG takes the dis-assembly output of CUDA kernel binary code and instruction trace as input. It does not execute the codes, but try to model the execution of CUDA codes with timing information. Because TEG takes the native GPU assembly code as input, it can estimate the execution time with a small error and it allows us to get more insight into GPU performance result.


SCARs are rare and life-threatening hypersensitivity reactions. In general, the increased duration of hospital stays and the associated cost burden are common issues, and in the worst-case scenario, they can result in mortality. SCARs are delayed T cell-mediated hypersensitivity reactions. Recovery can take from 2 weeks to many months after dechallenging the culprit drugs. Genetic polymorphism of the HLA genes may change the selection and presentation of antigens, allowing toxic drug metabolites to initiate immunological reactions. However, each SCARs has a different onset latency period, clinical features, or morphological pattern. This explains that, other than HLA mutations, other immuno-pathogenesis may be involved in drug-induced severe cutaneous reactions. This review will discuss the clinical morphology of various SCARs, various immune pathogenesis models, diagnostic criteria, treatments, the association of various drug-induced reactions and susceptible alleles in different populations, and the successful implementation of pharmacogenomics in Thailand for the prevention of SCARs.


The telemedicine department of a hospital is an emerging branch in upcoming hospitals and may become an essential component of every hospital. It basically utilizes the information technologies along with telecommunication systems in order to provide clinical care and assistance. Furthermore, the branch of telemedicine offers significant opportunities for the process of developmental freedom from illness, early death, and preventable diseases. It advances development by providing relevant drugs and the necessary care aimed to alleviate patient suffering. It is also beneficial for patients in rural remote areas who usually do not have adequate access to advanced hospitals. Telemedicine in these remote areas allows for timely treatment of emergency cases. Thus, it contributes towards remote emergency critical care in order to save lives in crucial cases. Additionally, the emerging advances have now enabled telemedicine to transfer large amounts of clinical informatics data including images, and test reports to the specifically specialized health professionals in some serious cases. However, as in the case of many emerging technologies, organizing information and understanding the field has significant challenges. The present review article aimed to discuss important aspects of the field with regard to the better management of patients in clinical settings.


Cowpea is an important source of food and income for small scale farmers in Uganda. Production is, however, affected by both biotic and abiotic stresses. Drought stress has recently emerged as a serious concern due to the effects of climate change. This study was therefore undertaken to estimate the general and specific combining ability effects of parents and crosses as well as estimate the heritability of delayed leaf senescence, seed yield and its components under drought stress. Five drought tolerant genotypes were crossed with four drought sensitive genotypes in a North Carolina II mating design. The study revealed that drought tolerance is conditioned by both additive and non-additive genetic effects with the predominance of non-additive genetic effects for seed yield, 100 seed weight and number of pods per plant. Delayed leaf senescence was however, controlled by additive genetic effects, implying that progenies performance could be predicted from parents General Combining Ability (GCA) effects. The cultivars SECOW 5T, IT93K-452-1 and IT98K-205-8 were good combiners for drought tolerance. The F2 families: SECOW 3B x IT98K-205-8, SECOW 5T x IT98K-205-8, SECOW 4W x IT98K-205-8 and SECOW 1T x IT98K-205-8 had positive Specific Combining Ability(SCA) effects in seed yield, number of pods per plant and 100 seed weight, implying that they performed better than what was predicted by their parents GCA effect. As such, they are promising cross combinations that can be advanced for later generation selection.

 Key words: Drought stress, combining ability, water use efficiency.


The overall goal of this research is to acquire a more complete picture of the neurological processes of visual influences on speech perception and to investigate effects of hearing status on AV speech perception. More specifically, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to investigate the brain activity underlying audio-visual speech perception in three groups of subjects: (1) normally hearing, (2) congenitally deafened signers (American Sign Language) who do not use hearing aids, and (3) congenitally hearing impaired individuals with hearing aids. FMRI data were collected while subjects experienced three different types of speech stimuli: video of a speaking face with audio input, audio speech without visual input, and video of a speaking face without audio input. The cortical areas found to be active for speechreading included: visual cortex, auditory cortex (but not primary auditory cortex), speech motor network areas, supramarginal gyrus, thalamus, superior parietal cortex and fusiform gyrus. For hearing impaired subjects, in addition to the areas listed above, Heschl's gyrus, right angular gyrus (AG), cerebellum and regions around right inferior frontal sulcus (IFS) in the frontal lobe were also found to be active. Results from our study added to existing evidence of the engagement of motor-articulatory strategies in visual speech perception. We also found that an individual's speechreading ability is related to the amount of activity in superior temporal cortical areas, including primary auditory cortex, preSMA, IFS and right AG during visual speech perception. Results from effective connectivity analyses suggest that posterior superior temporal sulcus may be a potential AV speech integration site; and that AG serves a critical role in visual speech perception when auditory information is absent for hearing subjects, and when auditory information is available for hearing impaired subjects. Also, strong excitatory projections from STS to inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and premotor/motor areas, and a strong inhibitory projection from IFG to STS seem to play an important role in visual speech perception in all subject groups. Finally, correlation analyses revealed that in hearing aid users, the amount of acoustic and speech signal gained by using hearing aids were significantly correlated with activity in IFG. Thesis Supervisor: Frank H. Guenther Title: Associate Professor


Systematic monitoring of rotational vibration (both torsion and swivelling) of guyed mast shafts has been performed in ITAM since 2005. The occurrence of this phenomenon is conditioned by the fact that the guy ropes are attached to the construction of the shaft, i.e. out of its axis. The simple static calculation model serves for making the proof of the occurrence of the torsional moment, affecting the shaft, which is guyed by three ropes. The exact theoretical solution of the real phenomenon assumes the introduction of dynamics of guy ropes, which vibrate in 3D shapes during the shaft's movement along the orbit and it's torsion (swivelling).


Estimating the magnitude based on P waves is important to issue early messages to the general public for earthquake early warning (EEW) purposes. First, we reviewed part of the magnitude estimation results of the current EEW system deployed in Yunnan and found that the magnitude of the mainshock of the Yangbi earthquake sequence (Ms 6.4, as formally determined by the Yunnan Seismic Network) is severe underestimated by 0.9, whereas a number of small earthquakes are overestimated. Then, we determined the reason for this phenomenon and improved the magnitude estimation precision in Yunnan by introducing the fixed effect regression technique, adopting a flexible time window and deriving the magnitude estimation equation strictly. Finally, we examined the deficiencies of this magnitude estimation approach and demonstrated that it is possible to provide instant and reliable parameters of an earthquake through numerous inexpensive accelerometers on the ground.


Limited cell numbers in umbilical cord blood (UCB) grafts present a major impediment to favorable outcomes in adult transplantation, largely related to delayed or failed engraftment. The advent of UCB transplantation (UCBT) using two grafts successfully circumvents this obstacle, despite the engraftment of only one unit. Preclinical models suggested that the addition of UCB T cells at the time of transplant can enhance engraftment. We tested whether ex vivo activation by CD3/CD28 costimulation and expansion of T cells from a single UCB graft would be safe and feasible in adults with advanced hematologic malignancies, with an overall objective of optimizing engraftment in single unit UCBT. In this phase 1 study, recipients of single UCB units were eligible if the unit was stored in two adequate fractions. Dose limiting toxicity was defined as grade 3 or grade 4 GVHD within 90 days of UCBT. Four patients underwent UCBT; all were treated at the first dose level (105cells/kg). At the 105cells/kg dose level two subjects experienced grade 3 intestinal GVHD, thus meeting stopping criteria. For three subjects, neutrophil engraftment was early (12, 17, and 20 days), while one subject experienced primary graft failure. We observed early donor T cell trafficking and found that expanded T cells produced supraphysiologic levels of cytokines relevant to engraftment and to lymphoid differentiation and function. Taken together, these preliminary data suggest rapid engraftment in recipients of a single UCBT combined with relatively low doses of activated T cells, though potentially complicated by severe GVHD. Am. J. Hematol. 91:453–460, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


Purpose of review This review summarizes and discusses the current knowledge about the physiological roles of the sweet taste receptor in oral and extraoral tissues. Recent findings The expression of a functional sweet taste receptor has been reported in numerous extragustatory tissues, including the gut, pancreas, bladder, brain and, more recently, bone and adipose tissues. In the gut, this receptor has been suggested to be involved in luminal glucose sensing, the release of some satiety hormones, the expression of glucose transporters, and the maintenance of glucose homeostasis. More recently, the sweet taste receptor was proposed to regulate adipogenesis and bone biology. Summary The perception of sweet taste is mediated by the T1R2/T1R3 receptor, which is expressed in the oral cavity, wherein it provides input on the caloric and macronutrient contents of ingested food. This receptor recognizes all the chemically diverse compounds perceived as sweet by human beings, including natural sugars and sweeteners. Importantly, the expression of a functional sweet taste receptor has been reported in numerous extragustatory tissues, wherein it has been proposed to regulate metabolic processes. This newly recognized role of the sweet taste receptor makes this receptor a potential novel therapeutic target for the treatment of obesity and related metabolic dysfunctions, such as diabetes and hyperlipidemia.


In this paper, the main objective is to show how to obtain precise pile design by using an information systems and artificial intelligence (ISAI) applied in the numerical design stage of a deep foundation system. In this system, real parameters of soil layers are used. Axial effect and then all effects coming into the pile are taken into account in given examples. In this paper, a numerical solution is determined according to the principles of pile design by using an electronic interior control subsystem. In this deterministic approach, intelligent object (IO) with a dz thickness moves forward through the soil layers. This Diameter, length and steel ratio are determined by the system through numerical solution. As a result, a precise solution for pile diameter, pile length and steel ratio can be determined directly. The system incorporates ISAI technology.


Why dissenters can be an organization's most valuable asset and how to transform dissent into innovation Innovation is essential to competitive survival in today's global marketplace. But in the majority of traditional organizations, innovators are perceived as counter-productive dissenters, single-minded troublemakers who are difficult to manage and politically naive. Written by a leading international expert on change management, this groundbreaking book explores the vital link between the need for innovation in the e-business world and the new role of dissenters as agents for constructive change. With the help of numerous case examples and anecdotes, Frances Horibe helps managers appreciate the value that dissent can bring to an organization, and she provides proven strategies and hands-on advice on how to encourage innovation and manage creative dissent, while avoiding paralyzing conflicts. Readers learn about the new role of managers as political handlers who help develop and support new ideas and sell them to senior management, and much more.


ABSTRACT Glucose concentration is closely related to the metabolic activity of cells and it is the most important substance as the energy source of a living body which plays an important role in the human body. This paper proposes an optical method that can measure the concentration of glucose. The change in glucose concentration was observed by using CIE diagram, and wavelength and purity values were detected. Also, even small changes in glucose concentration can be evaluated through mathematical modeling. This system is simple, economical, and capable of quantifying optical signals with numerical values for glucose sensing. This method can be applicable to the clinical field that examines diabetes mellitus or metabolic syndrome.


Abstract Severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) currently has spread all over the world. However, the dynamic characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infections have not previously been described in detail. Here, we report a cured patient in West China Hospital, and describe the dynamic detection of SARS-CoV-2-RNA in different specimens and viral specific IgM and IgG antibodies in blood. The findings suggest that the fecal SARS-CoV-2-RNA negativity may be considered as a new standard for de isolation. Serum IgM and IgG antibodies detection were helpful for early diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection and judgment of patients in recovery stage, respectively.


OBJECTIVE
Osteomyelitis may complicate diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). As a new inflammation-based prognostic factor, CRP:albumin ratio's significance is not known in osteomyelitis among patients with or without diabetes.

METHOD
Patients with type 2 diabetes and DFUs were divided into two groups: group 1 (n=47) comprised patients without osteomyelitis, and group 2 (n=50) comprised patients with osteomyelitis.

RESULTS
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (88.5±23.0 versus 42.0±22.2), white blood cell count (WBC) (14.7±6.9x103 versus 10.0±4.4x103), C-reactive protein (CRP) level (15.6±9.9 versus 2.4±3.3) and CRP:albumin ratio (6.6±4.9 versus 0.7±1.0) were significantly higher, and albumin level was significantly lower in group 2 compared to group 1 (p<0.001 for all). The presence of osteomyelitis was significantly and positively correlated with ESR (r=0.721; p<0.001), WBC (r=0.380; p<0.001), CRP (r=0.667; p<0.001) and CRP:albumin ratio (r=0.638; p<0.001), and negatively correlated with albumin (r=-0.590; p<0.001). A CRP:albumin ratio of 1.74 or above could predict osteomyelitis with 92.0% sensitivity, 80.9% specificity, and the best area under the curve (AUC) score (AUC=0.957; 95% CI: 0.924-0.991). ESR (odds ratio (OR): 1.071 (1.025-1.119); p=0.02) and CRP:albumin ratio (OR: 2.65 (1.437-4.885); p=0.002) were independent predictors in the final model for stepwise linear regression analyses for the estimation of osteomyelitis.

CONCLUSION
CRP:albumin ratio is a cheap and repeatable inflammatory marker and can successfully detect osteomyelitis in patients with DFU.


On April 7, 2021, after 5 weeks' use of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine under the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), CDC received reports of clusters of anxiety-related events after administration of Janssen COVID-19 vaccine from five mass vaccination sites, all in different states. To further investigate these cases, CDC interviewed vaccination site staff members to gather additional information about the reported events and vaccination site practices. Four of the five sites temporarily closed while an investigation took place. Overall, 64 anxiety-related events, including 17 reports of syncope (fainting), an anxiety-related event, among 8,624 Janssen COVID-19 vaccine recipients, were reported from these sites for vaccines administered during April 7-9. As a follow-up to these interviews, CDC analyzed reports of syncope shortly after receipt of Janssen COVID-19 vaccine to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), the vaccine safety monitoring program managed by CDC and FDA. To compare the occurrence of these events with those reported after receipt of other vaccines, reports of syncopal events after influenza vaccine administered in the 2019-20 influenza season were also reviewed. Syncope after Janssen COVID-19 vaccination was reported to VAERS (8.2 episodes per 100,000 doses). By comparison, after influenza vaccination, the reporting rate of syncope was 0.05 episodes per 100,000 doses. Anxiety-related events can occur after any vaccination. It is important that vaccination providers are aware that anxiety-related adverse events might be reported more frequently after receipt of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine than after influenza vaccination and observe all COVID-19 vaccine recipients for any adverse reactions for at least 15 minutes after vaccine administration.


This paper describes the design and implementation of a real time on- line collaboration tool, EDUCO. The main focus is to demonstrate how the tool is applied to a real life on-line distance-education course, discuss the preliminary research findings of qualitative empirical study, and propose directions for future work and implications. The preliminary results show that some of the features used in this tool can be directly applied to a wider context of modern computer-based learning environments.


Objectives: To study the safety profile of live JE vaccine. To analyse the possible risk factors for development of adverse events.
Methods: 1500 children aged 1 year to 15 years, vaccinated with live JE vaccine during a mass vaccination campaign, were followed up for a period of 6 months from the time of vaccination. Outcome measures were major and minor adverse events during the first two weeks and any neurological events thereafter.
Results: No serious adverse reactions were noted in the 1st two weeks following vaccination. 22.3% reported minor events like fever, headache, upper respiratory symptoms, vomiting, rashes and local reactions. Those with a personal or family history of atopy showed an increased risk of adverse events. No significant correlation between age, sex, or nutritional status and risk for development of adverse events were noted. None of the vaccine recipients experienced any major neurological events within next 6 M.
Conclusion: Live attenuated JE vaccine is safe in children below 15 years. Those with a history of atopy have a higher risk of developing minor adverse events following the vaccine.


This paper presents an analysis and a comparative study between three new proposed Energy Management Strategies oriented to Fuel Cell-Hybrid Vehicles (FCHVs). The vehicle in study is powered by a fuel cell and a supercapacitor bank that can be charged both from the fuel cell and from the load trough regenerative braking.
The proposed strategies were tested using a FCHV model elaborated employing ADVISOR toolbox in Matlab. A comparative of the hydrogen consumptions is performed with respect to the optimal case, which is estimated assuming that the entire future driving load demand is known. The results indicate that it is possible to achieve a
performance close to the optimal case without knowing the driving cycle a priori. In addition to the hydrogen economy improvement, the strategies allow reducing the fuel cell stack dimension with the consequent reduction in the production costs.


Cost-benefit analysis is fast becoming--if it is not already--an essential tool in decision making. It is, however, a complex subject, and one in which few doctors have been trained. This paper offers practical thoughts on the art of cost-benefit analysis, and is written for clinicians and other medical specialists who, though inexpert in the techniques of accountancy, nevertheless wish to carry out their own simple analyses in a manner that will enable them, and others, to take effective decisions.


Due to mobility, spontaneous networks composed of nodes following similar group mobility patterns are likely to overlap. Previous solutions invariably considered overlapping as a permanent state where the networks combine to form a new network. In this paper, we propose a more realistic model where merging is either permanent or transient. Our contributions are twofold. First, we introduce a methodology to identify transient merging and detect implicit permanent merging. Second, we propose an efficient routing protocol between merging networks while in the transient state. Our approach is completely distributed and incurs low routing control overhead. We also investigate a solution to prevent respective intra-network communications from interfering.


This study is a critical appraisal of managerial capture of employee voice in unionised and nonunionised employee representation (NERs) setting, by empirically gauging how employees' voice is marginalised/suppressed via the instrumentality of managerialism, which underpins motive for such nature and process of employer-employee relationship and engagement. Using the lens of selected firms in Nigeria's petroleum and banking sectors, this study hopes to deepen insights into ''critical turn'' to employment relations practices (and employee voice literature) as proposed by Karen Legge via critical discourse analysis (CDA) of empirical data gathered from interviews with managerial and non-managerial staffs across three organisations from the above sectors. Essentially, CDA enables relational analysis to locate association existing amongst lexical elements, organisational discourses (such as employee engagement, voice and empowerment) and broader cultural, institutional, political and social issues including patrimony, corruption, lack of collegiality and poor corporate-stakeholder relations, which are antithetical to employee voice in Nigeria. Consequently, this study demonstrates that the motives underpinning how Nigerian organisations engage employees in employment relations are rather self-seeking (organisational economic and strategic interests), nonparticipatory and exclusive, which finds expression in managerial capture of employees' voice, a metonymy for disengagement, disempowerment and lack of representation.


This paper presents a body-fixed-sensor-based approach to assess potential sleep apnea patients. A trial involving 15 patients at a sleep unit was undertaken. Vibration sounds were acquired from an accelerometer sensor fixed with a noninvasive mounting on the suprasternal notch of subjects resting in supine position. Respiratory, cardiac, and snoring components were extracted by means of digital signal processing techniques. Mainly, the following biomedical parameters used in new sleep apnea diagnosis strategies were calculated: heart rate, heart rate variability, sympathetic and parasympathetic activity, respiratory rate, snoring rate, pitch associated with snores, and airflow indirect quantification. These parameters were compared to those obtained by means of polysomnography and an accurate microphone. Results demonstrated the feasibility of implementing an accelerometry-based portable device as a simple and cost-effective solution for contributing to the screening of sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome and other breathing disorders.


A study of television was conducted in Chile in 1971. There is a discontinuous aspect in the requests of the public, especially in times of crisis and rupture with the traditional order. In order to measure the various levels of appreciation and critique raised by the television in various areas of the working class in Chile, the poblaciones (peripheric residential zones) were chosen as the place for the study. 100 interviews were conducted. 60% of the people questioned were sympathizers or militants of the various left wing parties; the other 40% were sympathizers or militants of the opposition (Christian democracy, National party and right wing of the radical party). Television does not make any distinction between the publics, but the public makes distinctions between the effects of television. Melodramas and detective programs have the largest adhesion in the popular public of Latin America.


A headspace single-drop microextraction (SDME) based on ionic liquid (IL) has been developed for the gas chromatographic determination of phenols. The volume of IL microdrop used was 1 microL. After extraction, the analytes were desorbed from the drop in the injection port and the involatile IL was withdrawn into the microsyringe. To facilitate the withdrawal of IL the upper diameter of the split inlet liner was enlarged to some extent. Some parameters were optimized for the determination of phenols. Under the selected conditions, i.e., desorption for 100 s at 210 degrees C after extraction for 25 min at 50 degrees C in solutions (pH 3) containing 0.36 g/mL sodium chloride, the LODs, RSDs, and the average enrichment factors of phenols were 0.1-0.4 ng/mL, 3.6-9.5% (n=5), and 35-794, respectively. The proposed procedure was applied to the determination of phenols in lake water and wastewater samples, and the spiked recoveries were in the range of 81-111% at a spiked level of 0.4 microg/mL. This method is a promising alternative for the sensitive determination of phenolic compounds.


Primary systemic light chain amyloidosis or immunoglobulin light-chain amyloidosis (AL) is the most common type of systemic amyloidosis.AL is a proteotoxic clonal plasma cell disease, a hematological malignancy, characterised by overproduction of immunoglobulin light chains that form characteristic abnormally folded and aggregated, insoluble fibrillar deposits in various organs, including kidneys, heart, liver, and autonomic and peripheral nerves, etc, these processes lead to organ dysfunction and death. Systemic amyloidosis have various types with different causes, thereby its clinical diagnosis and treatment are more difficult. Recent developments on studies that have significantly aided the management of patients with AL include diagnostic techniques for definitive typing of amyloid deposits by using flow cytometry and immunophenotype analysis. These methods can detect abnormalities of bone marrow plasma cell clones, such as CD38(+), CD138(+), CD56(+), CD19(-) in AL patients. The monitoring abnormal plasma cells with immunoglobulin light chain restriction and abnormal plasma cell phenotypic characteristics contributes to the early diagnosis of AL and detection of minimal residual disease after treatment, which greatly improved AL treatment and prognosis. In this review the diagnosis and typing, clinical characteristics, flow cytometry, immunophenotyping of bone marrow cells, immunoglobulin light chain restriction and phenotypic characteristics of abnormal plasma cells of AL are briefly summarized.


Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) are the foundation of worker right-to-know legislation for chemical hazards. Suppliers can use product test data to determine a product's classification. Alternatively, they may use evaluation and professional judgment based on test results for the product or a product, material, or substance with similar properties. While the criteria for classifying products under the new Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) are different, a similar process is followed. Neither the current Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) nor GHS require suppliers to test their products to classify them. In this project 83 samples of products classified as flammable or combustible, representing a variety of industry sectors and product types, were collected. Flash points were measured and compared to the reported values on the MSDSs. The classifications of the products were then compared using the WHMIS and GHS criteria. The results of the study indicated that there were significant variations between the disclosed and measured flash point values. Overall, more than one-third of the products had flash points lower than that disclosed on the MSDS. In some cases, the measured values were more than 20°C lower than the disclosed values. This could potentially result in an underestimation regarding the flammability of the product so it is important for employers to understand the limitations in the information provided on MSDSs when developing safe work procedures and training programs in the workplace. Nearly one-fifth of the products were misclassified under the WHMIS system as combustible when the measured flash point indicated that they should be classified as flammable when laboratory measurement error was taken into account. While a similar number of products were misclassified using GHS criteria, the tendency appeared to be to "over-classify" (provide a hazard class that was more conservative). So the transition to GHS may potentially decrease the possibility of "under-classifying" flammable and combustible products where no test data on the product are available.


Since most authors use the reversible pulpitis and irreversible pulpitis classification, however, many dentists still do not implement these new classifications. Research was made using a descriptive method by proposing questionnaire to dentists from various dental clinics. The numbers of the dentists participating in this research are 22 dentists. All respondents use the diagnosis sheet during their examinations on patients. Nonetheless, it can't be known what diagnosis card used and most of the dentists are still using the old classification. Concerning responses given towards the new classification: a) the new classification had been heard, however, it was not clear (36.3%); b) the new classification has never been heard at all (63.6%). Then, responses concerning whether a new development is important to be followed-up or not: a) there are those who think that information concerning new development is very important (27.2%); b) those who feel that it is important to have new information (68.3%); c) those who think that new information is not important (8%). It concluded that information concerning the development of classification of pulp inflammation did not reach the dentists.


Background: Diabetes mellitus is a pathological condition whose worldwide prevalence is growing, particularly in Africa, contrasting with an inadequacy of screening and diagnosis. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of this ailment in an urban environment of Burkina-Faso, as well as the prevalence of cardiovascular comorbid risk factors, such as arterial hypertension and obesity. Patients and methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study based on the compilation of clinical and biological data randomly collected from participants to a diabetes screening day organized at Ouagadougou (Burkina-Faso) in December 2012. Participants aged <25 years were excluded. The evaluated parameters were age, gender, waist circumference, body mass index, blood pressure, and random (non) fasting capillary plasma glucose measurement, and presence of a metabolic syndrome. Results: There were overall one hundred and sixty five participants: 107 women and 58 men (sex ratio F/H = 1.84). The mean age (±1 SD) of participants was 42.81 ± 11.7 years. The prevalence of screened diabetes was 7.27%, with a prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes of 4.97%. The prevalence of arterial hypertension was 34.55%. The prevalence of obesity was 15.15% (obesity class 1), 5.45% (obesity class 2) and 1.21% (obesity class 3). About 27% of women were obese versus 19.44% of men (p = 0.01). The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 6.06%, and its presence was significantly associated with the female gender (9.35% in women vs 0% in men, p = 0.005). 50% of subjects screened with diabetes also had a metabolic syndrome versus 2.61% in non-diabetic subjects (p < 0.01). Conclusion: (Un)diagnosed diabetes was highly-prevalent in this urban environment of Burkina Faso undergoing the nutritional transition phase currently prevailing in sub-Saharan Africa. Its presence was significantly co-morbid with the metabolic syndrome, as well as with other major cardiovascular risk factors such as arterial hypertension and obesity.


The efficacy of a novel synbiotic drink in the complex therapy of patients withchronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and concominant intestinal dysbacteriosis was investigated in a randomized trial. The synbiotic drink contains a probiotic strain of bifidobacteria and Fucus evanescens polysaccharides with prebiotic activity and broad spectrum of the biological action on the patients. The use of the synbiotic drink provided more evident reduction of the clinical symptomes, more efficient recovery of the intestinal microflora and higher percentage of the patients cure vs. the routine therapy and the therapy with inclusion of sour milk bifidobacterin.


The ability to culture human stem cells long term, and possibly indefinitely, and to control how such cells specialise to form the different tissues of the body offers the possibility of major advances in healthcare. Stem cells have been isolated and cultured, but a great deal of research is required to develop cell lines which can generate replacement cells and tissues to treat many diseases.Stem cells have arisen in policy debates and a lack of universal agreement on their use, safety and morality suggests these debates will become more widespread and impassioned. Issues that have arisen with the evolution of stem cells include patient safety, the exploitation of desperate patients, and distribution of resources. Developing science and growing hype warrant ethical scrutiny to ensure the nonmaleficence of patients and a balance between patient safety and scientific progress. A conservative approach combining domestic control with international regulation is recommended to simultaneously monitor and foster the promising, but perilous world of stem cells.

Keywords: Ethical, Stem Cell Therapy.


As I write, word comes that the new National Health Service contract for consultants, negotiated by the BMA, has been rejected by large majorities in England and Wales, though accepted in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Government's efforts to increase efficiency, and the hopes of the nation for an adequate NHS, have suffered a blow.

Some of the papers in this month's JRSM relate to efficiency in the Service, and I looked again at a BMJ paper that generated much agitation last January. Feachem and co-workers1 compared the costs and performance of the NHS with those of a health maintenance organization in California, the Kaiser Permanente, which has been running for about the same time. Their conclusion—shocking for those who believed that the NHS was generally efficient even though underfunded—was that the costs of the two systems were similar but Kaiser members were better served, with superior primary care and faster access to specialist care and hospitals. The reasons for the better performance of Kaiser, they suggested, were real integration, through partnership between physicians and administration; treatment of patients at the most cost-effective levels of care (hospital stays for Kaiser patients were much shorter); competition and choice (consumerism) in a population with high expectations; and good information technology. The data required ingenious statistical adjustments for population and other differences, and many commentators simply rejected the authors' interpretation that the troubles of the NHS are due more to inefficiency than to underfunding. But the message about inefficiency stuck.

Let's turn to the papers in this issue. On p. 580 Dr Gibson and Dr Frank take up the theme of rehabilitation, a neglected discipline in the NHS2,3. Their subject, multiple sclerosis, typifies conditions resulting in static as well as progressive disability; and the article spells out the great benefits to be achieved when health and rehabilitation professionals work closely with the voluntary sector—in other words, integration. (In a recent Lancet, Bent et al.4 conclude that, in young people with physical disabilities, multidisciplinary teams promote greater participation in society than does the usual ad hoc approach, at no greater cost.) Next, the paper on p. 604 by Mr Patel and his colleagues neatly illustrates the inefficiencies that result from missing data in outpatient clinics: over the past thirteen years, though the time allocated to each patient has lengthened, time spent with the patient has actually shortened. As they say, an obvious remedy is information technology. After this, try the robust Book of the Month review (p. 623) by Dr Julian Tudor Hart. Here you will find no support for the consumerism/competition component of the Kaiser-Permanente regime: instead he calls for 'an NHS pursuing rational goals set by public health, with patients developing themselves as informed and responsible citizens with our professional assistance'; in Wales at least, he thinks, a socialized NHS could survive. Finally, there is the intriguing report by Mr Ramchandani and colleagues (p. 598), who sought the views of consultant ophthalmologists, general practitioners and patients on pooling of waiting lists for cataract surgery. The consultants were 2 to 1 against (partly because they valued the continuing doctor—patient relationship), whereas the GPs and patients were at least 4 to 1 in favour. So, here at least, the views of consultants seem contrary to the mood out in the community.

Why was the new consultant contract rejected? According to the Chairman of the Central Consultants and Specialists Committee it offered rich prizes—a time-limited contract, recognition of emergency work, payment for being on-call, extra payments for working beyond 40 hours a week, protected time for teaching, research and audit, and big increases in pay and pensionable salary. Managers would not have gained any extra powers but would have been able to work more efficiently by obtaining greater control over deployment of the labour force. The rejection came down largely to a lack of faith. According to a BMA statement, the referendum revealed relations between NHS managers and doctors to be deeply unhappy. Doctors feared that they would come under unreasonable pressure to meet performance targets and that they would be forced into working unsocial hours as a routine. So, no respite from existing stresses, and the vision of a well-managed (Kaiser-Permanente-style) NHS retreats a little further. Cui, as the late Sir Douglas Black put it, bono?5 To what good purpose?


We propose, as part of an agent architecture, a system where contracts are represented as first-class entities to allow the relationships between agents to be specified and developed separately from their built-in capabilities. The contracts allow the agent's problem-solving ability to be augmented by the potential of outsourcing tasks and obligations to other agents. The contracts also allow the agent's response to requests from other agents to be formally defined. The contracts are represented as event calculus rules which dictate the evolution of obligations and permissions on the agents concerned. The event calculus is used deductively to infer current and past obligations and permissions, and abductively to make plans to fulfil obligations subject to any restrictions imposed by the contracts.


The present study sought to determine the validity of Draw-A-Person Test as a measure of Anxiety and Aggression Indices among Schizophrenics of Hospicio de San Juan de Dios in Bocaue, Bulacan. The Draw a Person Test as a psychological tool took an integral part in revealing the anxiety and aggression indices as showed through the details of the parts of the drawing. It showed that most of the Male Schizophrenics have high aggression indices compare to anxiety indices. The researcher also comes up with an Action Plan for an intervention program for patients with Schizophrenia which includes Art Therapy, Interactive Group Activities and Psychotherapy which is very beneficial for them to achieve continuous stability. This study also serves as awareness and provides understanding to situations of schizophrenics which are sometimes, have not been prioritize by the society. It also serves as a guide to the future researchers who will develop a related study.


The world community is constantly and rapidly moving toward the search for
 alternative and ecologically clean energy sources, including for transport, and
 Russia's war against Ukraine only intensified and accelerated such processes.
 This trend in transport is reflected in the spread of battery-powered electric
 vehicles (BEVs) with zero emission of harmful gases.

Electric cars are experiencing a rapid increase in numbers, accompanied by the
 emergence of lesser-known risks. Among these hazards are the occurrence of fires
 in electric vehicles, primarily caused by component failures, notably the widely
 prevalent lithium-ion batteries.

Fires of such cars have a different character compared to fires of vehicles
 powered by an internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV). In this study, using
 the fire dynamics simulator developed by the National Institute of Standards and
 Technology, a BEV fire was simulated on the example of the Tesla Model S. For
 this, a description of the objects and their physical characteristics were
 carried out, the input parameters of the BEV and environmental parameters were
 set, and a mathematical model of the development dynamics of fire was formed.
 According to the modeling results, it was found that the minimum fire protection
 distance from a BEV to the wall of buildings of various functional purposes
 should be at least 3 m, provided that the free fire development time is 600
 s.


Early diagenesis in Leg 126 forearc and backarc sands/sandstones is characterized by the dissolution of intermediate to mafic brown glass, the alteration of colorless rhyolitic glass to clay minerals, precipitation of thin clay-mineral rim cements, and minor precipitation of clinoptilolite cements. Later, more intense diagenesis is restricted to Oligocene forearc basin sediments at Sites 787,792, and 793. In these sections, the effects of early diagenesis have been intensified and overprinted by later diagenetic effects including (1) large-scale dissolution of feldspar and pyroxene crystals, (2) further dissolution of vitric components, (3) precipitation of minor carbonate cements, and (4) pervasive, multiple-staged zeolite cementation. Zeolite minerals present include analcite, mordenite, natrolite, heulandite, wairakite, chabazite, erionite, herschelite, and phillipsite. The latest diagenetic events appear to be the minor dissolution of zeolite cements and the precipitation of minor carbonate and potassium feldspar(?) cements. Observed porosity types include primary interparticles; primary intraparticles in vesicular glass and foraminifers; primary interparticles reduced by compaction and cementation; secondary intraparticles produced by dissolution of feldspar, nonopaque heavy minerals, volcanic glass, and foraminifer tests; and secondary interparticles produced by the dissolution of zeolite cements. Within forearc Oligocene sections at Sites 787 and 792, diagenetic effects appear to decrease with depth in the Oligocene section; however, at Site 793 the majority of samples are intensely altered.


OBJECTIVES
Portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) is a diagnosis made based on endoscopic findings in the appropriate clinical setting. Biopsy may be taken during endoscopy for correlation, but the pathologist may encounter a myriad of nonspecific histologic findings. We undertook this study to evaluate contexts where a histologic diagnosis of PHG might be rendered on biopsy.

METHODS
Two cohorts were established: stomach biopsy specimens from patients with cirrhosis or undergoing varices screening (n = 188) and stomach biopsy specimens with findings interpreted as PHG in the pathology report (n = 29).

RESULTS
In the first cohort, cases with endoscopic varices more frequently displayed foveolar hyperplasia and acute inflammation, with no other histologic differences between cases with and without endoscopic PHG, clinical varices, and clinical cirrhosis. Cases from the second cohort showed no histologic differences when stratified for endoscopic PHG, endoscopic varices, and clinical cirrhosis. Our second cohort displayed the majority of charted histologic findings more frequently than the first. Our results indicate that neither an endoscopic appearance of PHG nor particular clinical diagnoses associated with PHG translate into specific histologic findings.

CONCLUSIONS
Although the histologic findings charted displayed increased frequency in pathology reports with an interpretation of PHG, histology should not be used reliably in the diagnosis of PHG.


This paper examines the concept of industrial citizenship and explores how collective bargaining laws have been used in Australia in an attempt to enhance worker participation. Utilizing negotiation theory, this paper argues that there is a high level of convergence between a mutual gains approach to negotiation and legislated codes of collective bargaining based on principles of good faith. In conclusion this paper suggests that establishing a legal framework of collective bargaining that incorporates a mutual gains approach to negotiating remains an important foundation for shaping the way institutional actors interact with each other.


Background and Aim: Seagrasses are an excellent and potential bioresource to discover new natural bioactive compounds such as antioxidants that have beneficial effects on health. Natural antioxidants have many functions in biological systems, primarily for defense against oxidation which produces free radicals in food, chemicals, and living systems. This study aimed to discover new natural antioxidant agents, Enhalus acoroides (L.f.) Royle was evaluated for phytochemical constituents and the antioxidant activity against superoxide dismutase (SOD) was assessed. Materials and Methods: Sample specimens of E. acoroides (L.f.) Royle collected from two different areas, Manembo-Nembo, Bitung (SG-A) and Bahoi, Likupang Barat (SG-B) waters, were extracted with methanol and solutions were prepared in a concentration series. Results: Extracts of the seagrass E. acoroides (L.f.) Royle cultivated in different areas have different phytochemical constituents and SOD activities. The secondary metabolites of phenols, flavonoids, and steroids contained in the ethyl acetic extracts of E. acoroides were linearly correlated with their antioxidant activity, whichexhibited an IC50 of 7 ppm. Conclusion: E. acoroides (L.f.) Royle samples cultivated in the two areas contained different phytochemical constituent profiles, indicating an effect of environmental factors, and both can be used as potential natural sources of antioxidant compounds.


The -analogues of modified Bessel functions and Macdonald functions are defined in this paper. As in the case of -Bessel functions introduced by Jackson, there are two kinds of these functions. Like their classical prototypes, they arise in harmonic analysis on quantum symmetric spaces. The definition is based on the power series expansion. Recurrence relations, difference equations, and -Wronskians are obtained, as well as analogues of asymptotic expansions, which are convergent series if . Some relations for basic hypergeometric series, which result from this, are given.


Those I have known well who have occupied this podium before me have confessed to considerable agonizing about this particular moment. The members of this association have been the molders of American medicine as we know it today. Those of you present will have a major say in what medicine will be like tomorrow. Thus the desire to say something important and timeless from this privileged office is very strong indeed. In preparing for it, I started, as I believe many others have, by browsing through the presidential addresses of past years. They give a fascinating glimpse of the important issues of the day as perceived by a particular physician. I must confess, however, to not reading them all, for I soon happened again on Dr Francis Wood's delightful address of 1966. 1 In his opening remarks, he told of his similar temptation to review what presidents had said in


Important peatland issues developed were how to restore peatlands and followed by increasing rural livelihoods. This research aimed to analyze how peatlands can be utilized to alleviate poverty? and how to integrate peatland restoration with poverty alleviation. This research has been conducted in peatlands of OKI district, South Sumatra Indonesia in 2017. Data about bio geophysical aspects of peatlands, social, economic and political institutions of farmers were surveyed in the fields, performed in qualitative and quantitative approach, and analyzed in forms of tables and descriptions. Important themes have been discussed in formulating popular policies for peat restoration based on livelihoods of local farmers, among others poor groups; characteristics of farmers from the socio-political aspect; concept of peatland restoration and other lessons-learnt; compatibility of peat-based poverty alleviation; and need to improve policy making. The chronic poor sites tend to overlap with peatland degradation; it is more important to cultivate peatlands to prevent farmers from falling into deeper poverty than to reduce farmers out of poverty, and the intrinsic quality of peatlands and their contents tends to conflict with poverty alleviation goals, but there are some possible trends to minimize peatlands degradation and to alleviate poverty simultaneously. The best approach is to apply the 'win-lose' or 'lose-win' approach, even though we are not able to avoid peatland degradation at a zero level, but at least it can be inhibited. Cooperation between investors and farmers in managing peatlands is needed, so that the peatland resources are not completely degraded.


Aim of the research is to model the system for cataloguing in the UNIMARC format which does not require specific knowledge of cataloguing formats. The Unified Modeling Language (UML 2.0) is used for the specification of both the information requirements and the architecture model of system for cataloguing. The research finding is a model of system for cataloguing in UNIMARC format by which authors themselves can process their bibliographic entries without knowing UNIMARC format. Bibliographic records formed in this way can be further processed according to adopted standards by librarians. Limitation of research results lies in the additional modeling of graphic user interface for the purpose of changing input data set of library documents. This limitation can be surpassed by specifying the input data set which would be used for automatic generation of appropriate user interface. The specification could be realized by means of XML Schema language. Practical usage of the research findings is the basic for the implementation of a Web application intended for the creation of electronic catalogues and bibliographies of researchers and scientific institutions. Integration of the catalogue into BISIS makes it publicly available through a standard user interface for searching bibliographic records on the Internet. In addition that application could be integrated into various librarian software systems. The contribution of this work is in the model architecture of the system for cataloguing in the UNIMARC format. User interface (described by use case diagrams) is connected with object model of UNIMARC format. According to that, any change or addition of new input data set of library documents requires only the change of use case diagrams which describe user interface while the rest of the model remains the same.


In this paper, a low-profile dual-band stacked microstrip monopolar patch antenna is proposed. By utilizing a stacked-patch configuration, a dual-band property is achieved. A coupled annular ring and a set of conductive vias are loaded into the antenna structure to widen the impedance bandwidth. In order to verify the performance of the proposed antenna, a fully functional prototype was fabricated and measured. The measured results demonstrate that the antenna can achieve impedance bandwidths from 2.24 to 2.53 GHz in the low band and from 5.42 to 5.98 GHz in the high band, separately. Within the operating frequency, omnidirectional radiation patterns are also observed. Besides, the proposed antenna possesses a low-profile structure with a height of 4.175 mm or 0.057λ0 (where λ0 is the free-space wavelength of 4.1 GHz), which can be easily hidden on the top of a vehicle. With these merits, the proposed design is very appropriate for wireless local area network (WLAN) (2.4-2.48 GHz, 5.75-5.825 GHz) and car-to-car (C2C) (5.85-5.925 GHz) communications.


A retrospective study was done on the MMPI responses of 120 inpatient drug abusers, comparing the standard MMPI with a short form composed of the first 168 items. Scores "predicted" by the short form were highly correlated with actual scores, and the predicted and actual profile configurations were very similar. Regression equations derived from the data were comparable to those presented by other authors using different diagnostic groups; this suggests a rather stable relationship between the MMPI--168 and the standard MMPI. The use of the short form for drug-abuse patients is encouraged.


This paper extends recent work in the geography of youth and childhood with an exploration of the ways that indigenous Māori teenagers who have grown up in regional tribal environments deploy land narratives as they construct a range of fluid socio-spatial cultural identities. The discussion is based on the findings of a multi-tribal study undertaken in the aftermath of government legislation that had led to widespread Māori political protest. Data generated in the course of the study took the form of digital photographs taken by the participants coupled with their explanations about the images. It is argued that Māori young people who are immersed in these environments draw on an extensive repertoire of tropes about the land which in turn influences a territorialized politics of belonging. These politics of belonging become particularly evident during periods of heightened political tension between indigenous peoples and the Crown.


The purpose of this study was to compare the EMG activity of blood flow restricted (limb) and nonrestricted (trunk) muscles during multi-joint exercise with and without KAATSU. Twelve (6 women and 6 men) healthy college students [means (SD) age: 24.1 (3.5) yrs] performed 4 sets (30, 15, 15, and 15 reps) of flat bench press exercise (30% of a predetermined one repetition maximum, 1-RM) during two different conditions [with KAATSU and without KAATSU (Control)]. In the KAATSU condition, a specially designed elastic cuff belt (30 mm wide) was placed at the most proximal position of the upper arm and inflated to a pressure of 100% of individual's resting systolic blood pressure. Surface EMG was recorded from the muscle belly of the triceps brachii (TB) and pectoralis major (PM) muscles, and mean integrated EMG (iEMG) was analyzed. During 4 sets of the exercise, gradual increases in iEMG were observed in both TB and PM muscles for the KAATSU condition. The magnitude of the increases in iEMG in the TB and PM muscles were higher (P<0.05) with KAATSU compared to the Control condition. In the first set, the mean exercise intensity from normalized iEMG was approximately 40% of 1-RM in both Control and KAATSU conditions. However, the mean exercise intensity of both muscles were 60-70% of 1-RM for the KAATSU condition and only about 50% of 1-RM for the Control condition, respectively, during the fourth set. We concluded that increases in iEMG in the trunk muscle during KAATSU might be an important factor for KAATSU training-induced trunk muscle hypertrophy.


Boy, am I confused. I am married and love my wife dearly. We have had a great sex life and do everything together. Recently, I have had thoughts about another woman joining us during sex. I didn't tell my wife this, however. Just a short time ago, my wife said that she thought that I would like to make love to her and another woman. I thought she was joking. She wasn't. I have responded that I felt that she probably wouldn't like that. She responded that she didn't know about that.


разрешения, биохимические исследования. Результаты. Показано, что комплекс рефлексотерапии и дозированной ходьбы в обеих группах действием, достоверным ABSTRACT Physical rehabilitation a promising approach in the treatment of idiopathic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation which is a important medical problem. Study objective: To develop and scientifically substantiate reflexology and physical training methods for the treatment and prevention of regulatory functional cardiac disorders in idiopathic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Materials and methods . The study involved 90 patients with idiopathic atrial fibrillation (IAF), who were divided into 2 groups: 45 patients with adrenergic (AAFF) and 45 patients with vagotonic (VAFF) forms. The patients re ceived a complex treatment consisting of reflexology and dosed walking. The treatment efficacy evaluation involved clinical, functional and instrumental examinations, psychological tests, psychophysiological stresstest, 24h ECG monitoring to identify the standard deviation of the normaltonormal RR intervals (SDNN); echocardiography, highdefinition oscillometry, and biochemical tests. Results . We found that the complex of reflexology and dosed walking in both groups produced an antiarrhythmic effect resulting in reliable normalization of the cardiovascular system autonomic regulation. Con-clusions . The complex normalizes the heart rate autonomic regulation and hemodynamic parameters, improves the psychological and emotional state and the quality of life. The proposed treatment demonstrated high efficiency.


The TWIST gene maps to 7p21 and mutations in the gene have been reported in the Saethre-Chotzen form of craniosynostosis. The position of the Saethre-Chotzen gene has previously been refined by FISH analysis of four patients carrying balanced translocations involving 7p21 which suggested that it was located between D7S488 and D7S503. We report here that the breakpoints in four translocation patients do not interrupt the coding sequence of the TWIST gene and thus most likely act through a positional effect. Twelve Saethre-Chotzen cases were found to have TWIST mutations. Four of these families had been used as part of the linkage study of the Saethre-Chotzen locus. The mutations detected included missense and nonsense mutations and three cases of a 21 bp duplication. Although phenotypically diagnosed as having Saethre-Chotzen syndrome, three families were found to have a pro250arg mutation of FGFR3.


Objective: To determine the incidence of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) among patients visiting the gynaecology Outpatients Department (OPD) of Shalamar Hospital.
Material & Methods: A cross sectional study was performed and 300 patients were recruited. Patients aged 40 to 60 years, visiting the Gynaecology OPD at Shalamar Hospital, Lahore were enrolled from 1st February 2018 to 30th September 2018. The participants were categorized in to two sets: Premenopausal (n=187) and Post-Menopausal (n=113). They were asked to fill the international Consultation and Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-UI Short Form).
Results: Increased urinary frequency was found to be the most commonly reported symptoms (48%).Stress incontinence and urge incontinence were reported by 58% subjects amongst postmenopausal category and 42% in the premenopausal category. Presence of LUTS was observed to be directly proportional with age.
Conclusion: A high incidence of LUTS was observed among patients visiting gynaecology OPD of Shalamar Hospital, Lahore. Risk factors of LUTS and incontinence, like obesity and multiparity were frequency reported. Further studies are required to understand the magnitude of this problem in general population of Pakistan.


Auto face annotation is an important technique for many real-world applications, such as online photo album management, new video summarization, and so on. It aims to automatically detect human faces from a photo image and further name the faces with the corresponding human names. Recently, mining web facial images on the internet has emerged as a promising paradigm towards auto face annotation. In this paper, we present a demonstration system of search-based face annotation: FANS - Face ANnotation by Searching large-scale web facial images. Given a query facial image for annotation, we first retrieve a short list of the most similar facial images from a web facial image database, and then annotate the query facial image by mining the top-ranking facial images and their corresponding labels with sparse representation techniques. Our demo system was built upon a large-scale real-world web facial image database with a total of 6,025 persons and about 1 million facial images. This paper demonstrates the potential of searching and mining web-scale weakly labeled facial images on the internet to tackle the challenging face annotation problem, and addresses some open problems for future exploration by researchers in web community. The live demo of FANS is available online at http://msm.cais.ntu.edu.sg/FANS/.


This document is a source of frequently used global change data. This first issue includes estimates for global and national CO{sub 2} emissions from the burning of fossil fuels and from the production of cement, historical and modern records of atmospheric CO{sub 2} and methane concentrations, and several long-term temperature records. Included are tabular and graphical presentations of the data, discussions of trends in the data, and references to publications that provide further information. Data are presented in a two-page format, each dealing with a different data set. All data are available in digital form from the Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center.


In Systems Biology, it is usual to use a set of ordinary differential equations to characterize biological function at a system level. The parameters in these equations generally reflect the reaction or decay rates of a molecular species, while states characterize the concentration values of species of interest, e.g. mRNA, proteins and metabolites. Often parameter values are estimated from in vitro experiments which may not be true reflections of the in vivo environments. With internal states, some may not be accessible for experimental measurement. Hence there is interest in estimating parameter values and states from noisy or incomplete observations taken at inputs/outputs of a system. This thesis explores several probabilistic inference approaches to do this. The study starts from a thorough investigation of the effectivenesses of the most commonly used one-pass inference methods, from which the non-parametric particle filtering approach is shown to be the most powerful method in the sequential category. After this study, the family of Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) methods, also known as likelihood-free batch approach, is reviewed chronologically and its advantages and deficiencies are summarized via a statistical toy example and two biological models. Additionally, a novel ABC method coupled with the sensitivity analysis technique has been developed and demonstrated on three periodic and one transient biological models. This approach has the potential to solve problem in high dimension by selectively allocating computational budget. In order to assess the capability of the proposed method in real-world problems, we have modeled the polymer pathway and conducted quantitative analysis via the proposed inference approach.


The paper deals with the application of a systems approach to developing products of medical engineering. The components of the approach are shown through the development and running-in of the Spiron-type artificial respiration devices.


Unintentional ingestion of foreign objects is especially common in children. In adults, foreign bodies are often swallowed with food spontaneously. Abdominal pain may be the main symptom. Endoscopy enables successful extraction without complications. We report extraction of esophageal foreign bodies including a chicken bone penetrating the esophageal walls bilaterally. A 84 y old female was admitted to our division with the chief complaint of retrosternal pain for 3 d. Upper endoscopy was performed at our center and a chicken bone was found penetrating the esophagus bilaterally. We removed this foreign body endoscopically and closed the perforations with a transparent cap and two titanium clips. We administered intravenous antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors and parenteral nutrition. The patient was discharged and fully recovered few days later. Perforation by foreign bodies is rare, but associated with lethal complications. Diagnosis of foreign body ingurgitation must be followed by emergency evaluation. Any perceived risks of aspiration and perforation warrant emergency intervention. Briefly, no foreign objects or food bolus should be allowed to remain in the esophagus 24 h after diagnosis. Our case study reveals that titanium clip is an inexpensive, safe and tolerable intervention for patients with perforation. We demonstrate the use of this method to treat small esophageal perforations caused by foreign bodies within 5 d of injury.


RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES
For use as magnetic resonance imaging reference standards, the optimal set of phantoms should cover a wide range of T1 values, with each phantom having a T1 that is stable over time and is independent of temperature and magnetic field strength. To date, no set of phantoms fulfilling these four requirements has been prepared. In the current work, the construction of such optimal phantom standards is attempted.

METHODS
Two linear gadolinium DTPA polymers are used: the first with relaxivities that are independent of temperature and magnetic field strength, and the second with relaxivities that are independent of magnetic field strength, but have an opposite temperature dependence from that of the 1/T1 of the diamagnetic matrix (agarose gel or water). Depending on the desired T1, either one or a combination of the two agents is used.

RESULTS
Phantom standards were constructed with 1/T1 values that are independent of temperature (20-35 degrees C) and magnetic field strength (0.47-1.2 T) over a wide range of 1/T1 values (> or = 0.95 s-1). Phantom standards prepared in water were found to be stable with respect to 1/T1 for at least 18 months.

CONCLUSIONS
Stable phantoms standards have been constructed covering a wide range of T1 values, where the T1 of any particular phantom is independent of temperature and magnetic field strength for magnetic resonance imaging conditions.


Background Rhinovirus (HRV) is associated with the large majority of virus-induced asthma exacerbations in children and young adults, but the mechanisms remain poorly defined. Methods Asthmatics and non-asthmatic controls were inoculated with HRV-A16, and nasal epithelial samples were obtained 7 days before, 36 hours after, and 7 days after viral inoculation. RNA was extracted and subjected to RNA-seq analysis. Results At baseline, 57 genes were differentially expressed between asthmatics and controls, and the asthmatics had decreased expression of viral replication inhibitors and increased expression of genes involved in inflammation. At 36 hours (before the emergence of peak symptoms), 1329 genes were significantly altered from baseline in the asthmatics compared to 62 genes in the controls. At this time point, asthmatics lacked an increase in IL-10 signaling observed in the controls. At 7 days following HRV inoculation, 222 genes were significantly dysregulated in the asthmatics, whereas only 4 genes were dysregulated among controls. At this time point, the controls but not asthmatics demonstrated upregulation of SPINK5. Conclusions As judged by the magnitude and persistence of dysregulated genes, asthmatics have a substantially different host response to HRV-A16 infection compared with non-asthmatic controls. Gene expression differences illuminate biologically plausible mechanisms that contribute to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of HRV-induced asthma exacerbations.


The paper describes how the maximum surface voltages on cleanroom garments in practical use can be predicted from measurements on local areas of garment fabric.The surface voltage arising when materials are rubbed depends upon the speed and pressure of the rubbing action and on two features of fabric performance: the time for charge dissipation and the capacitance experienced by surface charge. These two features can be easily measured on sample areas of garment fabrics using corona charging with measurement of the quantity of the transferred charge. The paper describes how these measurements are made and the results of studies carried out to establish the relationship between the performance of inhabited garments and measurements on fabrics.


A facile method for the preparation of Te- and Se/Te-doped anatase TiO2 nanorods (NRs) with exposed {100} facets, which provides high photocatalytic and antibacterial activity under irradiation with visible light, is developed. Sodium titanate nanotubes are formed from commercial TiO2 nanoparticles (P25) in NaOH through a hydrothermal reaction. The as-prepared Na-titanate nanotubes are then used to form Te-TiO2 nanotubes in the presence of tellurite (TeO32−) ions and NaBH4. Upon further hydrothermal reaction, the Te-TiO2 nanotubes are transformed to form Te-TiO2 NRs that further form Sen/Te-TiO2 NRs through a reduction of selenite (SeO32−) ions with NaBH4. The Te-TiO2 NRs and Sen/Te-TiO2 NRs have highly active {100} facets and thus provide the photocatalytic activities for the generation of ⋅OH at 2.5 and 4.5 times higher than that of commercial P25, respectively. The Te-TiO2 and Sen/Te-TiO2 NRs exhibit higher antibacterial activities against E. coli and S. aureus than P25 when activated by visible light. These stable and biocompatible Te-TiO2 and Sen/Te-TiO2 NRs hold great potential as potent antibacterial agents.


Many functional elements associated with traits and diseases are located in non-coding regions and act on distant target genes via chromatin looping and folding, making it difficult for scientists to reveal the genetic regulatory mechanisms. Capture Hi-C is a newly developed chromosome conformation capture technology based on hybridization capture between probes and target genomic regions. It can identify interactions among target loci and all other loci in a genome with low cost and high resolution. Here, we developed CaptureProbe, a user-friendly, graphical Java tool for the design of capture probes across a range of target sites or regions. Numerous parameters helped to achieve and optimize the designed probes. Design testing of CaptureProbe showed high efficiency in the design success ratio of target loci and probe specificity. Hence, this program will help scientists conduct genome spatial interaction research. CaptureProbe and source code are available athttps://sourceforge.net/projects/captureprobe/.


Objective. To determine the oxidative stress/inflammation behavior in patients with/without acute graft dysfunction (AGD) with Tacrolimus. Methods. Cross-sectional study, in renal transplant (RT) recipients (1-yr follow-up). Patients with AGD and without AGD were included. Serum IL-6, TNF-α, 8-isoprostanes (8-IP), and Nitric Oxide (NO) were determined by ELISA; C-reactive protein (CRP) was determined by nephelometry; lipid peroxidation products (LPO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined by colorimetry. Results. The AGD presentation was at 5.09 ± 3.07 versus 8.27 ± 3.78 months (p < 0.001); CRP >3.19 mg/L was found in 21 versus 19 in the N-AGD group (p = 0.83); TNF-α 145.53 ± 18.87 pg/mL versus 125.54 ± 15.92 pg/mL in N-AGD (p = 0.64); IL-6 2110.69 ± 350.97 pg/mL versus 1933.42 ± 235.38 pg/mL in N-AGD (p = 0.13). The LPO were higher in AGD (p = 0.014): 4.10 ± 0.69 µM versus 2.41 ± 0.29 µM; also levels of 8-IP were higher in AGD 27.47 ± 9.28 pg/mL versus 8.64 ± 1.54 pg/mL (p = 0.01). Serum levels of NO in AGD were lower 138.44 ± 19.20 µmol/L versus 190.57 ± 22.04 µmol/L in N-AGD (p = 0.042); antioxidant enzyme SOD activity was significantly diminished in AGD with 9.75 ± 0.52 U/mL versus 11.69 ± 0.55 U/mL in N-AGD (p = 0.012). Discussion. Patients with RT present with a similar state of the proinflammatory cytokines whether or not they have AGD. The patients with AGD showed deregulation of the oxidative state with increased LPO and 8-IP and decreased NO and SOD.


To solve the problem of poor corrosion and wear resistance of Mg-Li alloys, Fe-based amorphous coatings were prepared by high velocity oxygen-fuel spraying technology (HVOF) on the LA141 magnesium alloy substrate with a Ni60 intermediate layer. The microstructure and performance of Fe-based amorphous coatings with different oxygen flow and kerosene flow were characterized and analyzed. The results demonstrate that there is an optimal oxygen/kerosene ratio where the porosity of Fe-based amorphous coating is the lowest. Moreover, the amorphous content increases with the decrease in the oxygen/kerosene ratio. In particular, when the oxygen flow is 53.8 m3/h and the kerosene flow is 26.5 L/h, the Fe-based amorphous coating possesses the lowest porosity (0.87%), the highest hardness (801 HV0.1), the highest bonding strength (56.9 MPa), and an excellent corrosion and wear resistance. Additionally, it can be seen that the Fe-based amorphous coating is composed of amorphous splats and amorphous oxides, but the Ni60 intermediate layer exhibits an amorphous and crystalline multi-phase structure. The high bonding strength of the coating is attributed to the low porosity of Fe-based amorphous coating and the localized metallurgical bonding between different layers. Finally, the mechanisms on corrosion and wear of Fe-based amorphous coatings are also discussed.


Summary

Within the DEKORP project (DEKORP: Deutsches Kontinentales Reflexionsseismisches Programm) a joint deep seismic reflection venture with the BELCORP (Belgian Continental Reflection Seismic Programme) group of the Belgian Geological Survey was carried out in 1987 across the Rhenish Massif, a part of the mid-European Variscides. This orogenic belt developed in the Upper Devonian/Carboniferous. Mostly Devonian rocks crop out at the surface. The Rhenish Massif is bordered by two sedimentary troughs: the sub-Variscan Foredeep in the north and the Permo-Carboniferous Saar-Nahe Basin in the south. In the east-west direction it is subdivided by the axial depression of the Eifel Nord-Sud Zone.

The aim of the survey which totals almost 220 km of seismic profiling, was to investigate the crustal structure of the western part of the Rhenish Massif and to compare it with the line DEKORP 2-N which crosses the eastern portion of the massif. The results indicate the presence of NW-vergent tectonics of various styles that can often be traced down to deep parts of the crust. Horizontal Variscan compression plays a dominant role in the northern part while post-Variscan extension seems to dominate in the Saar-Nahe Basin, although even there traces of Variscan compression seem to be preserved in the middle crust. Common characteristics of the pre-Palaeozoic basement, differences between the western and eastern parts of the Rhenish Massif, and the deep extension of the Aachen Thrust (Faille du Midi) have been clearly observed. This prominent thrust in the north with its characteristic ramp and flat structure has been followed over 100 km length down


The authors present superconducting single photon detectors (SSPDs) based on parallel nanostrips with an area up to 40 × 40 μm2. The SSPDs presented here are based on 100 nm wide ultrathin NbN nanostrips with a filling factor of 40%. The devices are fabricated by extending the standard electron beam lithography (EBL) patterning process to those densely structured large areas. By a thorough characterization it is shown that the electrical properties of the parallel SSPDs are comparable with those of smaller devices, as expected, proving in this way that the extended EBL process results in uniform nanostrips also in large area detectors. Furthermore, the estimated maximum count rate of the 40 × 40 μm2 parallel SSPDs was 33 MHz, showing that the parallel nanostrip configuration is much faster when compared with standard meandered serial SSPDs. The successful extension of parallel SSPDs to a large area coverage opens a new route to the use of such detectors also with multimode fibers.


OBJECTIVE
To compare efficacies of 2 active programs in the management of chronic low back pain (CLBP).

METHODS
This prospective, stratified, randomized single-blinded controlled study was conducted in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, King Abdullah University Hospital, Irbid, Jordan, between February and December 2010. A total of 100 patients were randomized to either 6-weeks of multidisciplinary rehabilitation (group A) or therapist-assisted exercise (group B). At baseline and 6 weeks, the visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score was estimated, as a primary outcome measure. McGill pain score, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), trunk forward flexion and extension, left and right lateral bending, were applied before and after treatment and were employed as secondary outcome measures.

RESULTS
All outcome measures significantly improved in group A after treatment, compared with group B. The VAS, McGill, ODI scores, left and right lateral bending decreased significantly, whereas forward and backward bending increased. A significant number of patients returned to work in group A at the end of 6 weeks, compared with group B. These effects were maintained over 12 and 24 weeks of follow-up.

CONCLUSION
Multidisciplinary rehabilitation improved functional indices and pain scale scores in group A compared with B. This would be an effective strategy in CLBP management.


"For the seventh year in a row, the Society was invited to hold its annual weekend of flint knapping at Butser Ancient Farm, south of Petersfield, Hampshire. In contrast to last year's storm-curtailed event, the weather turned out to be perfect with sunshine throughout both days (1–2 August). . . ."


Isotopic analyses for U 234 were made on 30 samples from 5 vertical suites of ore-grade uranium-bearing sandstone from the Ambrosia Lake district, McKinley County, New Mexico. U 238 , U 235 , and U 234 were measured by mass spectrometry, and U 234 /U 238 ratios were verified by alpha spectrometry. No U 238 /U 235 isotopic variations were found above the 1/2 percent level of accuracy of these measurements. Uranium-234 variations were as great as 58 percent deficient and as much as 36 percent enriched as compared to the radioactive equilibrium value attained in a reference sample of Republic of Congo pitchblende. The pattern of U 234 fractionation found for both primary ore (classified as prefault) and redistributed ore (post-fault) samples generally shows an enrichment just above the ore and a large relative deficiency near the richest uranium ore. Samples taken above the water table show another enrichment in U 234 at the bottom boundary of the ore but samples taken below the water table do not. This pattern of U 234 fractionation can be explained by assuming that the uranium was redistributed and U 234 was gradually enriched at the boundaries of mineralization except where the lower boundary is below the water table. Samples from two vertical suites believed to be redistributed ore show the greatest deficiency in U 234 with respect to the reference standard.Radiochemical analyses of Th 230 and Pa 231 indicate a complicated history of uranium migration in the deposit, significant redistribution of uranium having occurred during the last 200,000 years. The distribution of Th 230 and Pa 231 indicates that interphase isotopic exchange of uranium was the predominant mechanism producing U 234 enrichment, although deposition of U 234 enriched uranium from solution can be a contributing factor. Leaching of uranium apparently prevails more commonly where U 234 is relatively deficient, but uranium deposition is indicated in a few samples that have a deficiency of U 234 .


This paper aims to introduce the «Archaeology of Architecture
and Household Archaeology in Early Medieval Europe» dossier,
the object of which is to explore the different approaches,
methodologies and themes analysed in the study of early
medieval architecture in western Europe. More specifically, in
what follows, analysis is undertaken of the contexts which explain
the recent development of studies on this topic, as well as the
main contributions of the seven papers which form this dossier.
In addition, the main historical and archaeological problems
raised by the analysis of this material record are also discussed.


Simultaneous multi-element graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometric analysis of solids prepared as slurries is investigated. Slurries were prepared using 5–10 mg of sample and 5 ml of dilute nitric acid. Analyses were performed on a simultaneous multi-element atomic absorption spectrometer with a continuum source (SIMAAC) using platform atomisation, integrated absorbance measurements, 20-µl sample volumes and calibration standards prepared in 5% HNO3. As many as seven elements were determined simultaneously in a total of ten different National Bureau of Standards (NBS) reference materials representing a wide variety of sample matrices. Ultrasonic agitation of the slurry preparations proved useful in avoiding setting of the particles. Typically, average accuracies of 100 ± 12% were observed.


Time-scale uncertainties between paleoclimate reconstructions often inhibit studying the exact timing, spatial expression and driving mechanisms of climate variations. Detecting and aligning the globally common 20 cosmogenic radionuclide production signal via a curve fitting method provides a tool for the quasi-continuous synchronization of paleoclimate archives. In this study, we apply this approach to synchronize 10 Be records from varved sediments of Lakes Tiefer See and Czechowskie covering the Maunder-, Homericand 5500 a BP grand solar minima with 14 C production rates inferred from the IntCal13 calibration curve. Our analyses indicate best fits with 14 C production rates when the 10 Be records from Lake Tiefer See were shifted for 8 (-12/+4) (Maunder 25 Minimum), 31 (-16/+12) (Homeric Minimum) and 86 (-22/+18) years (5500 a BP grand solar minimum) towards the past. The best fit between the Lake Czechowskie 10 Be record for the 5500 a BP grand solar minimum and 14 C production was obtained when the 10 Be time-series was shifted 29 (-8/+7) years towards present. No significant fits were detected between the Lake Czechowskie 10 Be records for the Maunderand Homeric Minima and 14 C production, likely due intensified in-lake sediment resuspension since about 2800 a BP, transporting 'old' 10 Be to 30 the coring location. Our results provide a proof of concept for facilitating 10 Be in varved lake sediments as novel synchronization tool required for investigating leads and lags of proxy responses to climate variability. However, they also point to some limitations of 10 Be in these archives mainly connected to in-lake sediment resuspension


This study presents the theoretical background, development, and psychometric properties of the German and English versions of the Experience in Personal Social Systems Questionnaire (EXIS.pers). It assesses how the members of a personal social system experience their situation within that system. It is designed as a research tool for interventions in which only one member of the system participates (e.g., Family Constellation Seminars). The EXIS.pers was created to measure change on the individual level relating to one's own important personal social system. In Study 1, we used exploratory factor analysis (EFA) for latent variable identification of the original German EXIS.pers (n = 179). In Studies 2 and 3, we used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to examine the dimensionality of the German (n = 634) and English (n = 310) EXIS.pers. Internal consistencies and cross-cultural structural equivalence were assessed. EFA indicated that a four-factor model provided best fit for the German EXIS.pers. For both the German and English EXIS.pers, CFA provided the best fit for a five-factor bi-level model that included a general factor (Experience In Personal Social Systems) and four dimensions (Belonging, Autonomy, Accord, Confidence). Good internal consistencies, external associations, and cross-cultural structural equivalence were demonstrated. This study provides first evidence for the German and English EXIS.pers as an economical and reliable measure of an individual's experience within his or her personal social systems.


A pixel is regarded as an edge pixel if there is either a sharp change in the intensity values on either side of the pixel like a step function, yielding a so-called step edge or the texture on either side of the pixel is different, yielding a so-called texture edge. A two stage generate-and-confirm paradigm for detecting all the edge pixels in the scene is used. In the first stage, a directional derivatives approach for determining all potential edge pixels and the direction of the edge is employed. At this stage some of the edge pixels could be spurious, typically caused by either the noise in the image or the microedges inside a texture. In the second stage, each candidate pixel is subjected to two separate tests to confirm whether the edge pixel is a step edge or texture edge. The texture edge is confirmed by a likelihood-ratio test. The likelihood function is computed by fitting a nonsymmetric half-plane random-field model to the texture in a rectangular strip where the dominant direction is perpendicular to the estimated edge direction. Only the edge pixels that pass at least one of the two tests is accepted. The validity of the method is demonstrated by testing four different images. >


The meeting at Tamarron illustrated the multiplicity of molecular changes found in breast cancer and concluded with the disquieting sense that, so far, there is no simple unifying molecular model to explain the etiology of the disease. Perhaps the complex nature of breast cancer precludes formulation of a simple model. The biologic heterogeneity of breast cancers may reflect the fact that, at the molecular level, there is more than one way to accomplish each of the phenotypic changes necessary for malignant growth. At this point in time, it is difficult to evaluate which molecular changes will be important to understanding and subsequently interfering with the disease process. Additional studies correlating molecular and biochemical changes in human breast tumors with clinical disease characteristics and patient outcome should help to clarify these issues.


We have developed a novel osteotropic prodrug of estradiol (E(2)) conjugated with L-Asp-hexapeptide (E(2).3D(6)), which has very low affinity for estrogen receptors, and in this study, we examined its pharmacokinetic behavior and pharmacological potential. After a single iv injection of E(2) x 3D(6) to mice, the half-time for elimination from plasma was about 100 min; however, E(2) was selectively delivered to the bone and eliminated very slowly, declining to the endogenous level at about 7 days. After a single iv injection of E(2), the half-time in plasma was about 70 min, whereas E(2) was highly distributed to the uterus, and the bone concentration of E(2) was only slightly increased at 6 h. When E(2) (0.37 micromol/kg, sc, every third day) or E(2) x 3D(6) (0.11 to 1.1 micromol/kg, sc, every seventh day) was administered to OVX mice for 4 weeks, E(2) increased the bone mineral density (BMD) together with weights of liver and uterus, whereas E(2) x 3D(6) increased only the BMD, in a dose-dependent manner. E(2) x 3D(6) enhanced the expression of messenger RNAs of bone matrix proteins (osteopontin, bone sialoprotein, type I collagen alpha) of OVX mice at 4 h after administration, but E(2) did very slightly. These results indicate that the E(2) prodrug was delivered to the bone, where it gradually released E(2), thereby ameliorating bone loss. This acidic oligopeptide appears to be a good candidate for selective drug delivery to bone.


We study confidence intervals based on hard-thresholding, soft-thresholding, and adaptive soft-thresholding in a linear regression model where the number of regressors k may depend on and diverge with sample size n. In addition to the case of known error variance, we define and study versions of the estimators when the error variance is unknown. In the known-variance case, we provide an exact analysis of the coverage properties of such intervals in finite samples. We show that these intervals are always larger than the standard interval based on the least-squares estimator. Asymptotically, the intervals based on the thresholding estimators are larger even by an order of magnitude when the estimators are tuned to perform consistent variable selection. For the unknown-variance case, we provide nontrivial lower bounds and a small numerical study for the coverage probabilities in finite samples. We also conduct an asymptotic analysis where the results from the known-variance case can be shown to carry over asymptotically if the number of degrees of freedom n − k tends to infinity fast enough in relation to the thresholding parameter.


This community-based epidemiological survey is concerned with relationships between social and environmental factors and atypical depression in a Finnish population aged 60 years or over. The occurrence of atypical depression was related to older age, widowed or divorced marital status, having moved during the previous few years, living in a small dwelling near the local population center, having neighbors living in the same building, living alone, being frequently alone, a low number of hobbies and many long-standing or current social stress factors. In addition, the atypical depressive persons felt that elderly people were not appreciated. The log-linear model constructed for atypical depressive persons revealed five subgroups. The first was characterized by living alone and being widowed or divorced, the second by living alone and having a low number of hobbies and a high incidence of long-standing social stress factors, the third by being frequently alone and being widowed or divorced, the fourth by a low number of hobbies and a low incidence of actual social stress factors, and the fifth by living alone and having a high incidence of long-standing social stress factors and a low incidence of actual social stress factors.