We develop a model for the cosmological role of mergers in the evolution of starbursts, quasars, and spheroidal galaxies. By combining theoretically well-constrained halo and subhalo mass functions as a function of redshift and environment with empirical halo occupation models, we can estimate where galaxies of given properties live at a particular epoch. This allows us to calculate, in an a priori cosmological manner, where major galaxy-galaxy mergers occur and what kinds of galaxies merge, at all redshifts. We compare this with the observed mass functions, clustering, fractions as a function of halo and galaxy mass, and small-scale environments of mergers, and show that this approach yields robust estimates in good agreement with observations, and can be extended to predict detailed properties of mergers. Making the simple ansatz that major, gas-rich mergers cause quasar activity (but not strictly assuming they are the only triggering mechanism), we demonstrate that this model naturally reproduces the observed rise and fall of the quasar luminosity density from z = 0 - 6, as well as quasar luminosity functions, fractions, host galaxy colors, and clustering as a function of redshift and luminosity. The recent observed excess of quasar clustering on small scales at z ∼ 0 . 2 - 2 . 5 is a natural prediction of our model, as mergers will preferentially occur in regions with excess small-scale galaxy overdensities. In fact, we demonstrate that quasar environments at all observed redshifts correspond closely to the empirically determined small group scale, where major mergers of ∼ L ∗ gas-rich galaxies will be most efficient. We contrast this with a secular model in which quasar activity is driven by bars or other disk instabilities, and show that while these modes of fueling probably dominate the high-Eddington ratio population at Seyfert luminosities (significant at z = 0), the constraints from quasar clustering, observed pseudobulge populations, and disk mass functions suggest that they are a small contributor to the z & 1 quasar luminosity density, which is dominated by massive BHs in predominantly classical spheroids formed in mergers. Similarly, low-luminosity Seyferts do not show a clustering excess on small scales, in agreement with the natural prediction of secular models, but bright quasars at all redshifts do so. We also compare recent observations of the colors of quasar host galaxies, and show that these correspond to the colors of recent merger remnants, in the transition region between the blue cloud and the red sequence, and are distinct from the colors of systems with observed bars or strong disk instabilities. Even the most extreme secular models, in which all bulge (and therefore BH) formation proceeds via disk instability, are forced to assume that this instability acts before the (dynamically inevitable) mergers, and therefore predict a history for the quasar luminosity density which is shifted to earlier times, in disagreement with observations. Our model provides a powerful means to predict the abundance and nature of mergers, and to contrast cosmologically motivated predictions of merger products such as starbursts and AGN.


【1. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to report one case of the Taeumin Hangwol Syndrome diagnosed as Upper Respiratory Infection with unknown cause. 2. Methods: The patient had the symptoms including chilling sensation, general weakness and fatigue. We diagnosed him as Taeeumin Hangwol Syndrome. So we treated him by Handayeolso-tang(寒多熱少湯), and acupuncture. The serial changes of his symptoms were evaluated in hospital. 3. Results and Conclusions: After treated by Handayeolso-tang(寒多熱少湯), his symptoms were improved.】


PURPOSE
The purpose of the current paper was to report the surgical technique of combined anatomic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and anterolateral ligament (ALL) reconstruction as well as the short term clinical results after this surgical procedure.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
The current prospective study included 32 patients (5 females and 27 males) with combined ACL and ALL reconstruction performed between December 2015 and July 2016. The patients were included in the study taking into consideration the following criteria: chronic ACL lesion, high grade rotational instability (pivot shift grade II and III) and participation in high grade pivoting sports. Patient evaluation followed an established clinical and imaging protocol both preoperatively and at 6 and 12 weeks postoperatively. This included clinical knee stability testing (Lachman test, Pivot shift test), Rolimeter differential laxity testing, subjective and objective IKDC scores and Lysholm score and Tegner score.

RESULTS
Postoperative stability at 6 weeks and 12 weeks as tested with Lachman test (p=0.02 and 0.01, respectively), pivot shift test (p=0.03 and 0.01, respectively) and the Rolimeter arthrometer (p=0.008 and 0.006, respectively) showed a statistically significant difference as compared to preoperative values. Postoperative scores at 6 weeks and 12 weeks as measured using objective IKDC form (p=0.008 and 0.006, respectively), subjective IKDC form (p=0.04 and 0.03, respectively) and Lysholm form (p=0.02 and 0.01, respectively) were statistically significant improved as compared to preoperative values. All patients had a negative Lachman test at 6 and 12 weeks postoperatively. One patient had a positive grade I pivot shift test at 6 weeks postoperatively and two patients had a positive grade I pivot shift test at 12 weeks postoperatively. Differential anteroposterior laxity as measured with the Rolimeter arthrometer improved from 7.19±1.96 mm preoperatively to 0.28±0.45 mm and 0.13±0.34 mm, at 6 weeks and 12 weeks postoperatively, respectively. According to the objective IKDC form, 29 patients were normal or nearly normal (grade A and B) at 6 weeks postoperatively and 31 patients were normal or nearly normal at 12 weeks postoperatively. Subjective IKDC score improved from 47.72±17.18 preoperatively to 56.52±11.74 and 73.38±14.28 at 6 and 12 weeks postoperatively, respectively. Lysholm score improved from 63.44±23.01 preoperatively to 80.41±11.94 and 90.47±8.22 at 6 and 12 weeks postoperatively, respectively. Improved Tegner activity scores were present at 12 weeks postoperatively as compared with 6 weeks postoperatively, but still lower as compared to pre-traumatic scores. No significant complications were present in the current study group.

CONCLUSIONS
Combined ACL and ALL reconstruction is an effective surgical procedure, with improved postoperative clinical results and no significant short term complications. Longer follow-up is necessary in order to better evaluate the results of this procedure.


The previously monotypic genus, Paramyiolia Shiraki, is redefined based on the type species, P. takeuchii Shiraki, plus three species formerly known as Anomoia cornuta Ito, Myoleja rhino Steyskal, and Myoleja nigricornis (Doane). A key to the species, descriptions and illustrations are presented, and their phylogenetic relationships are analyzed. Paramyiolia is here placed in the Chetostoma group (Trypetinae, Trypetini), which includes four additional genera: Anomoia Walker, Chetostoma Rondani, Myoleja Rondani (s. str.), and Montiludia Ito. Hypothesized synapomorphies for the Chetostoma group are also discussed. In addition, the taxonomic status of New World tephritids formerly placed in Myoleja is clarified, resulting in the following nomenclatural changes: transfer of Myoleja limata (Coquillett), Acidia fallax Johnson, and Hamouchaeta ogloblini Blanchard to Parastenopa Hendel and synonymization of Hamouchaeta Blanchard with Parastenopa.


In this article, an analysis has been carried out to study the effects of variable viscosity and variable thermal conductivity on the heat transfer characteristics of a Casson nanofluid over a slender Riga plate with zero mass flux and melting heat transfer boundary conditions. The nonlinear governing equations with the suitable boundary conditions are initially cast into dimensionless form by similarity transformations. The resulting coupled highly nonlinear equations are solved numerically by an efficient second-order finite difference scheme known as Keller Box Method. The effect of various physical parameters on velocity, temperature, and concentration profiles are illustrated through graphs and the numerical values are presented in tables. One of the critical findings of our study is that the effect of variable viscosity on velocity shows reducing nature, but there is an increasing nature in temperature and concentration.


F specific RNA (FRNA) bacteriophages are attractive models for the study of the fate of animal viruses in water treatment processes and pure cultures (MS2, f2) have frequently been used in model experiments. The use of indigenous FRNA phages has been hampered by the lack of selective enumeration methods. Usually, bacteriophages in sewage are enumerated by counting the number of plaques produced in a lawn of an Escherichia coli host strain. Both somatic and F specific phages will contribute to the count. We report the development of a simple and highly selective method, based on a specially constructed host strain of Salmonella typhimurium (WG 49, phage type 3 Nal r (F942 lac :: Tn5)). Counts on this host strain normally originate exclusively from F specific phages, because there are only few somatic Salmonella phages in most sewage samples. FRNA phage counts from natural sewage samples using this host strain are more reliable and higher than those obtained on E. coli hosts. F specific bacteriophages were detected in all sewage samples investigated in numbers ranging from 10 2 − 5 × 10 4 pfu/ml. Data are presented on the number and types of F specific phages in mixed domestic/industrial sewage; in poultry processing wastewater and in hospital wastewater. The potential of F specific phages as water quality indicators is discussed.


The self-consistent field theory (SCFT) complemented with the Poisson-Boltzmann equation is employed to explore self-assembly of polyelectrolyte copolymers composed of charged blocks A and neutral blocks B. We have extended SCFT to dissociating triblock copolymers and demonstrated our approach on three characteristic examples: (1) diblock copolymer (AB) melt, (2) symmetric triblock copolymer (ABA) melt, (3) triblock copolymer (ABA) solution with added electrolyte. For copolymer melts, we varied the composition (that is, the total fraction of A-segments in the system) and the charge density on A blocks and calculated the phase diagram that contains ordered mesophases of lamellar, gyroid, hexagonal, and bcc symmetries, as well as the uniform disordered phase. The phase diagram of charged block copolymer melts in the charge density--system composition coordinates is similar to the classical phase diagram of neutral block copolymer melts, where the composition and the Flory mismatch interaction parameter χ(AB) are used as variables. We found that the transitions between the polyelectrolyte mesophases with the increase of charge density occur in the same sequence, from lamellar to gyroid to hexagonal to bcc to disordered morphologies, as the mesophase transitions for neutral diblocks with the decrease of χ(AB). In a certain range of compositions, the phase diagram for charged triblock copolymers exhibits unexpected features, allowing for transitions from hexagonal to gyroid to lamellar mesophases as the charge density increases. Triblock polyelectrolyte solutions were studied by varying the charge density and solvent concentration at a fixed copolymer composition. Transitions from lamellar to gyroid and gyroid to hexagonal morphologies were observed at lower polymer concentrations than the respective transitions in the similar neutral copolymer, indicating a substantial influence of the charge density on phase behavior.


BACKGROUND
Anger management programmes for offenders typically aim to improve the management of emotion associated with aggressive and antisocial behaviour. Such programmes have been quite extensively evaluated in prison and probation settings, but there is less published research in forensic mental health settings.

AIM
This study aimed to evaluate anger management groups in a high-security hospital.

METHOD
Eighty-six patients were referred for a 20-session anger management intervention. Outcomes were self-reported experiences of anger and changes in institutionally documented incidents of aggression. Incident rates were retrospectively reviewed for all group graduates, where data were available, including a comparison group of graduates who acted as their own controls.

RESULTS
Group graduates reported sustained reductions in feelings of anger and positive changes in their use of aggression in reaction to provocation. Some reduction in incidents of physical aggression was noted when group completers were compared with non-completers. Incidents of verbal aggression were observed to increase for graduates. There was also a trend towards improvement when treated men were compared with men on the waiting list.

CONCLUSIONS
Our findings contribute to the growing evidence for anger management groups for aggressive men, although the low-base rate of incidents, typical of such a containing and therapeutic hospital setting, rendered the analysis of behavioural outcomes difficult.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND RESEARCH
Anger management sessions for male forensic psychiatric patients can be effective in reducing incidents of physical aggression in response to provocation. Evaluation of treatments for anger is particularly difficult in secure and protective settings, where the aim is to keep incidents of actual physical aggression to a minimum. Further research of this kind is needed to test the value of self-reported reduction in angry feelings as an indicator of clinically useful progress.


This article makes a comparative analysis on how the global idea-complex of sustainable development is interpreted and institutionalised on the local level. Local institutionalisation is analysed from the theoretical framework of new institutionalism's theme of policy diffusion and adaptation. From a most different case-study design, the article analyses four Swedish local governments in the region of Örebro: Hällefors, Karlskoga, Lekeberg and Örebro. The results show that the four local governments adapt to sustainable development in quite different ways, from local translation processes (Hällefors and Örebro) to resistance and ignorance (Karlskoga and Lekeberg). This variation is interpreted in relation to the importance of local contexts. There is no intra-regional spreading of ideas leading to convergence among the cases. However, not only the local context matters, but also policy areas and development projects constitute contexts, indicating the importance of intra-local differences.


The GaAs negative electron affinity photoemission mechanism is studied using the full Bloch wave nature of the incident electron. It is found that the experimentally observed anisotropy between A and B faces is a basic result of the heteropolar nature of the GaAs, contrary to previous interpretations. The physical principles behind the numerical results are illustrated and analysed using a simple method for the scattering which illustrates the origin of the very large anisotropy observed.


This paper presents the results of a study of long-time
relaxation (LR) and residual conductivity in n-type gallium phosphide (GaP)
crystals irradiated by 50 MeV electrons. A manifold increase in
photosensitivity and quenching of residual conductivity was found
as a result of irradiation. It is shown that LR in GaP is due to disordered
regions (generated by electron irradiation) which have conductivity close to
self one. The Fermi level in the disordered regions is determined by which
is located deep in the forbidden band (Ее - 1.0 eV). LR
effect is mainly explained by a spatial separation of electrons and holes,
recombination of which is prevented by potential barriers. The observed
increase in conductivity is associated with the increase in the concentration
of minority carriers as well as with increase of the Hall mobility at the
sample illumination.


Fractional differential equations play a major role in expressing mathematically the real-world problems as they help attain good fit to the experimental data. It is also known that fractional order controllers are more flexible than integer order controllers. But when it comes to the numerical approximation of fractional order functions inaccuracies arise if the conversion technique is not chosen properly. So, when a fractional order plant model is approximated to an integer order system, it is required that the approximated model be accurate, as the overall system performance is based on the estimated integer order model. Nitisha-Pragya-Carlson (NPC) is a recent approximation technique proposed in 2018 to derive the rational approximation of fractional order differ-integrators. In this paper, three fractional order plant models having fractional powers 3.1, 1.25 and 1.3 is analyzed in frequency domain in terms of magnitude and phase response. The performance of approximated third and second order NPC based integer model is studied and compared with the integer models developed using other existing technique. The approximation error is calculated by comparing the frequency response of the developed models with the ideal response. It has been found that in all the three examples NPC based models are very much close to the ideal values. Hence proving the efficacy of NPC technique in approximation of fractional order systems.


Of the surviving eighteen folios illustrating the Genesis and Exodus narratives in the late antique manuscript, the Ashburnham Pentateuch ("AP"), all but a few pages are dominated by elaborate cityscapes. Indeed, as a work of art, the city defines much of the narrative space in the miniatures. It provides an immediate visual contact with the Pentateuch stories through a combination of framing the Old Testament figures within an urban perspective which displays both interior and exterior city views. This imagery of the city is arguably one of the most perplexing features of the AP. It does not reflect the pictorial conventions of cities in the art of this period, nor does it accurately represent the wilderness setting of the biblical text. My thesis proposes that the distinct cityscapes in the manuscript represent what architectural historian William MacDonald calls the "urban armatures" of imperial Roman cities. These armatures (thoroughfares, passageways, and civic buildings) are the essential architectural components of imperial urbanism. Transferred onto parchment, the architecture not only guides the viewer's navigation of the AP illustrations, it also highlights the "dominant images and functional associations" of the signs and spaces of the imperial Roman city. I argue that this juxtaposition between the Old Testament imagery and the material form and look of a city familiar to a contemporary Roman viewer constitutes a pictorial argument for a new Christian Roman culture in the manuscript. My interpretation positions the AP as part of an exegetical strategy, which sought to link the biblical past with the imperial legacy of Rome. In this sense, the AP was an ecclesiastical tool used by Roman popes to assert the Church of Rome as the Universal Christian church, and for Church fathers to reconcile the non-Christian, Roman pagan past with Christian Rome in late antiquity. This is vividly illustrated in the AP, where the past represented by the Old Testament is incorporated into the general history of the Roman Empire through the presence of the imperial cityscapes. The resulting effect is a powerful visual expression of Rome's ordained role as the inheritor of the Christian tradition.


Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects have been gaining in popularity in many developing countries along with developed countries. While there has been sufficient research on private sector capacity to make the partnership successful, not much research exists on the importance of the financial health of the public sector in PPP projects. The premise of the current research is that strong public sector finances instil confidence in the private sector of governments' ability to honour PPP commitments and that, in turn, increases the attractiveness of PPP projects. Through a number of case studies relating to government finances of Indian states and other countries, it is seen that governments which have checks and balances to issuance of guarantees and other forms of indirect support for PPP projects are actually able to attract higher levels of PPP investment.


Child labour is pervasive across sub-Saharan Africa. The common assumption is that monetary poverty is its most important cause. This paper investigates this hypothesis with empirical evidence by exploring structural, geographic, monetary, demographic, cultural, seasonal and school-supply factors simultaneously that can influence child labour. It is a first attempt in the literature to combine quantitative with qualitative methods to identify a broader range of potential factors—on the demand- and supply-side and at the micro and macro levels—for why children work in agrarian economies like Ghana. Interviews with the Minister of Education and with children enrich the multivariate regression results. The multiple sources of child labour appear to include, in particular, the structure of the economy, social norms and no returns to rural basic education. Policy responses are outlined especially on the demand side that are needed to help reduce harmful child labour that affects children's education and later opportunities.


Solvate ionic liquids are a relatively new class of liquids produced by combining a coordinating solvent with a salt. They have a variety of uses and their suitability for such depends upon the ratio of salt to coordinating solvent. This work investigates the Kamlet-Taft solvent parameters of, NMR chemical shifts of nuclei in, and thermoelectrochemistry of a selected set of solvate ionic liquids produced from glymes (methyl terminated oligomers of ethylene glycol) and lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide at two different compositions. The aim is to improve the understanding of the interactions occurring in these ionic liquids to help select suitable solvate ionic liquids for future applications.


Between 1965 and 1987 Ayres published eight papers that contain among them 10 multivariate analyses that bear upon her conception of sensory integration. These analyses purport to have identified factors that emerge from the scores of children with learning disabilities but not from the scores of academically nondisabled children. A reappraisal of these analyses in combination finds no support for this claim. As a consequence, these data provide no validity for either the diagnostic procedures or the remedial programs for children with learning disabilities that have been derived from this work.


Optimal scale production of biogas from the anaerobic digestion (AD) of organic wastes (OWs) as substrates has become one of stimulating environment-friendly procedures to foster the replacement of fossil energies by renewable ones. AD of OWs generated from households is desirable as an effective method to fight against environmental pollution effects of the latter in developing countries. Notably in Africa where each year there are more than 600,000 premature deaths following the use of solid biomass energy (especially charcoal). Yet, if assessing the potential of biogas production, that is, biochemical methane potential (BMP) has played a prominent role in the choice of substrates, in the other hand the evaluation of the optimal ratio between the quantity of variety OWs and the amount of energy to be produced has not received several attentions. The latter is valuable not only for energetic productivity but also for profitability. Thus, in this report, an energetic balance between the amount of leaves and stems of Manihot Utilissima (MU) annually produced as well as the energetic potential of their biogas were investigated. Cow manure (CM) was employed as inoculum, under mesophilic conditions of the collection sites: Ngaba and Ndjili in Kinshasa City Province (KCP), Congo DR, where the leaves and stems of MU are among the most generated wastes. Furthermore, we evaluated the         fertilizing potential of digestates from the AD of the leaves and stems by their Carbon/Nitrogen (C/N) ratios.
The annual energetic potentials of biogas produced were estimated to be 1.362 ± 0.028 109 kWh for the leaves and 0.337 ± 0.006 109 kWh for the stems. These were associated to the energy needs for the KCP households corresponding to the use of charcoal. The latter was evaluated to be 166 103 tons for leaves and 41 103 tons for the stems of MU, respectively.
The fertilizing potential of digestates from the AD of the leaves and stems of MU assessed by their C/N ratios were determined to be 5 and 10, respectively; indicating that they are favorable for the cultivation of vegetables and fruit trees in KCP soils (C/N~5) but also optimal for the organisms, soil conditioning and could improve the soils hydraulic conductivity (C/N~10).


Psychiatry is a medical discipline that uses to the equal extent biological sciences as well as humanities and social sciences. Among specialists, the division into the so-called humanistic and biological psychiatrists is still maintained. The paper is an attempt of a paradigmatic approach to contemporary clinical and theoretical psychiatry.The humanistic paradigm of psychiatry presumes that every psychological and behavioral disorder is a social construct. It depends on culture whether the specific phenomenon is classified as a norm or a pathology. In the biological world, we have only certain phenomena, and their pathologization and depathologization are a product of culture.The neurocognitive paradigm of psychiatry assumes that the functioning of the brain is responsible for the development of mental disorders. Such disorders may be neurodevelopmental, functional or neurodegenerative in nature. In addition, psychopathology, although it derives from tradition, benefits nowadays from the apparatus of conceptual cognitive psychology and cognitive science. Our attempt to systematize the paradigmatic fundamentals of psychiatry is the first attempt at systematization of the foundations of modern psychiatry with an indication of its distinctiveness from other medical sciences.


In this article, the combination of silicone rubber (SR) elastomer with synthetic iron montmorillonite (Fe-MMT) to form a kind of new flame-retardant system based on an ethylene–vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer is first reported. Also, the flame retardancy of the EVA/SR/Fe-MMT hybrid are compared with that of EVA/SR/natural sodium montmorillonite. The structures of the nanocomposites were characterized with X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Cone calorimeter tests and thermogravimetric analysis were used to evaluate the flame-retardant properties and thermal stability of the composites, respectively. In addition, tensile tests were carried out with a universal testing machine, and the morphology of the fracture surface was observed with environmental scanning electron microscopy. We found that SR/organophilic montmorillonite (Fe-OMT) was more effective in reducing the primary peak heat release rate of the nanocomposite, and the EVA/SR/Fe-OMT hybrid had a higher thermal stability in the deacetylated polymer than EVA/SR/sodium organophilic montmorillonite. Moreover, the exfoliated EVA/SR/Fe-OMT nanocomposite displayed excellent mechanical properties because of a better dispersion of Fe-OMT in the polymer matrix, and a possible mechanism is discussed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009


Data from the 1975 1982 and 1990 French censuses and the Permanent Demographic Sample were used to analyze the accommodations made in different sectors of industry to age-related difficulties in job performance. The aging of the population the greater economic activity of middle-aged women and changes in the conditions and organization of work may have reduced the feasibility of modes of human resources administration based on reassignment of older workers or those with seniority to less physically demanding jobs. The number of workers in the principal industrial sectors declined considerably between 1975 and 1990. The proportion of young workers declined in almost all industrial sectors except food industries. Reductions through retirement had the effect of concentrating workers in the intermediate age cohorts. Middle-aged workers are increasingly confronted by working conditions that previously affected primarily younger workers. Data from the Permanent Demographic Sample although not directly comparable to the census data indicate that worker turnover within sectors was considerable throughout the period. Over 40% of workers in a given sector in 1975 were no longer working in that sector in 1982 and half to two-thirds of workers in a sector in 1982 were no longer there in 1990. The sectors with the highest rates of departure were generally those with the largest declines in number of workers. It may become necessary in the future to adjust to an older work force through workplace modifications to compensate for their physical deficiencies rather than by adjusting the age structure.


This study deals with energy, exergy and exergoeconomic analysis of an Aircraft Jet Engine (AJE) as named J69-T25A used on T-37B/C model training aircrafts. In the analyses, the engine data measured in the engine test cell at First Air Supply and Maintenance Center of Turkish Air Forces are used. Quantitative exergy and exergoeconomic cost balance equations are derived for each components of the engine and the overall J69-T25A engine. Exergy destructions within the engine components are investigated to determine thermodynamic inefficiencies. Cost balances and auxiliary equations are also applied to each components of the engine for observing cost formation. Additionally, exergy cost rate and unit exergy cost rate of each products of the engine are accounted.


Availability as well as access to drinking water is one of the considerable constraints for achieving sustainable goals in many countries while microbial contamination has exacerbated this issue more significantly. The increasing trend of population and industrialization for economic growth has adversely been affecting fresh water resources that eventually leading to scarcity of available drinking water. Hence, controlling water pollution along with focusing on alternative water sources are important for ensuring access to safe drinking water. This study aimed to determine the biological water quality parameters of rainfall water in the water-scarce areas of Bangladesh. About sixty rainwater samples collected from seven different districts were collected for microbial analysis in particular Total Coliform (TC) and Fecal Coliform (FC) by using membrane filtration and direct counting method. The result found that 70 % of samples were free from total coliform, whereas only 5 % samples showed above 100 colonies. On the other hand, 83% samples were free from fecal coliform, whereas only 2% samples were within the range of 11-100 colonies. This study has also revealed that most of the samples collected from Rangamati and Khulna district were free from total coliform and fecal coliform. This study may also encourage people living in these water scarce areas to come forward for rainwater harvesting system as a prospective tool for achieving sustainable goal in drinking sector of Bangladesh.
Stamford Journal of Microbiology, Vol.8(1) 2018: 24-26


Objective To evaluate the effect of temporary stent graft placement in the treatment of benign anastomotic biliary strictures. Materials and Methods Nine patients, five women and four men, 22-64 years old (mean, 47.5 years), with chronic benign biliary anastomotic strictures, refractory to repeated balloon dilations, were treated by prolonged, temporary placement of stent-grafts. Four patients had strictures following a liver transplantation; three of them in bilio-enteric anastomoses and one in a choledocho-choledochostomy. Four of the other five patients had strictures at bilio-enteric anastomoses, which developed after complications following laparoscopic cholecystectomies and in one after a Whipple procedure for duodenal carcinoma. In eight patients, balloon-expandable stent-grafts were placed and one patient was treated by insertion of a self-expanding stent-graft. Results In the transplant group, treatment of patients with bilio-enteric anastomoses was unsuccessful (mean stent duration, 30 days). The patient treated for stenosis in the choledocho-choledochostomy responded well to consecutive self-expanding stent-graft placement (total placement duration, 112 days). All patients with bilio-enteric anastomoses in the non-transplant group were treated successfully with stent-grafts (mean placement duration, 37 days). Conclusion Treatment of benign biliary strictures with temporary placement of stent-grafts has a positive effect, but is less successful in patients with strictures developed following a liver transplant.


Interest in renewable alternatives to fossil energy has increased. There is also a growing awareness of the impact of greenhouse gas emission on global climate change. Crop biomass can be used to make liquid fuels like ethanol. These cellulosic materials are also potential feedstock for controlled combustion substituting for natural gas or coal. There is a wide range of potential feedstocks: trees, perennial grasses and crop non-grain biomass (or residues). Especially in the Corn Belt, corn stover and other crop straws are a likely feedstock. Long-term and short-term economic and environmental consequences (positive and negative) must be considered. Management recommendations are emerging that consider minimizing soil erosion risks, maintaining soil carbon and managing nutrients. The amount of biomass required to stay on the land to prevent loss of soil organic matter exceeds the amount needed to limit erosion. Biomass harvest removes 11 to 25 lb N, 1 to 4 lb P and 4 to 19 lbs K per ton of biomass removed depending on the crop. Soil tests and crop monitoring are recommended for both macro and micronutrients to avoid deficiencies.


We examine the impact of a desire for social approval on education and occupation choice and model the endogenous determination of perceptions that influence such approval. In a two-sector overlapping generations framework, agents born with ability endowments in both occupations must choose one as their career. An agent's choice is influenced by social approval, which depends upon the community's perception of her ability in her chosen career. The accuracy of a community's perception increases with the fraction of its members performing similar work, because it is easier to assess ability in one's own profession. With positive correlation in skills, the desire for social approval, combined with imperfect assessment of ability, leads to multiple steady states. In all steady states there is overcrowding in the favorably perceived occupation, with misallocation across both occupations. Which sector becomes the favorable occupation depends on the initial occupational composition in the community. When skill distributions differ across sectors, positive correlation in skills can result in a low-education trap as described by Wilson(1987) -- i.e. the entire community opts for the low variance (low-skilled) occupation. The model explains when individual pecuniary incentives may not reduce under-investment in education, and suggests alternative solutions to improve outcomes.


Permanent refractive-index change can be induced by a self-trapped filament of intense ultrashort laser pulses in silica glass. We investigated the dependence of refractive-index change on polarization of incident laser pulses. As the region of refractive-index change can be selectively etched by hydrofluoric acid (HF), we first polished the sample and etched the cross section of the regions. The HF-etched cross section of refractive-index change that was induced by linearly polarized pulses was seen to be elliptical when observed with a scanning-electron microscope. By polarimetric analysis of diffraction from gratings fabricated by polarized ultrashort laser pulses, the index ellipsoid of refractive-index change was confirmed to be uniaxial and negative.


Satellite communications have advanced from the realm of science fiction to the commonplace in a period of less than 40 years. The paper outlines the birth and development of this new industry which was pioneered by the United States and the Soviet Union but has since become increasingly international, with growing capabilities in Western Europe, Japan, China and India. The technological developments which have accompanied the growth of satellite communications have been both diverse and complex. To illustrate the rapid technological advance in communications, three phases have been identified which are linked by major changes in the state-of-the-art. The concept of the sky-hook, the end of the fish-warmers and the era of the hub-cap provide convenient milestones against which this dramatic advance can be calibrated.


Our current understanding of the formation of planetary systems is strongly linked to astronomical observations of gas and dust around young stars. This thesis is dedicated to studying the physical conditions acting in the circumstellar environments of pre-main sequence and early main sequence dusty stars. These early stellar ages correspond to the timescales over which planets are thought to be formed. The first part of this work is dedicated to a search for dusty early A-type stars in the northern galactic plane. Data from the IPHAS Ha survey is first used to select a sample of galactic A-type stars. This sample is then correlated with data from the Spitzer Space Telescope in order to search for 8 microns and 24 microns excesses associated with warm dust orbiting the stars. The improved photometric sensitivities of these new galactic surveys allow the list of known galactic 'Vega-like' sources to be extended to unexplored optical magnitude ranges (13.5 < r < 18.5 mags). Only 1.1% of a sample of 3062 A-type stars with available optical to mid-infrared spectral energy distributions showed detectable excesses at 8 microns. Searching over 1860 stars observed at 24 microns yielded similar statistical results (1.2%). Only 10 stars have both 8 and 24 micron excesses. These results support the idea that warm dust located relatively close to the stars is rare in main sequence systems. Follow-up observations of this new sample of dust-excess stars will provide better insights into the properties of the systems. Resolved images are crucial for understanding the dynamics and evolution of proto-planetary disks. Observing the detailed disk structure requires high-contrast, high-spatial resolution imaging very close to the bright central star. As a consequence, only a handful of these systems have yet been resolved. The second part of this work shows how near-infrared Polarimetric Imaging on the 3.8 meter United Kingdom Infrared Telescope can be used to obtain reflected-light images of dust-disks around dust excess stars. This technique allows one to automatically suppress the unpolarised light from the central star, increasing the dynamic range for detecting polarised light scattered by the dust present in circumstellar discs. The detections of extended disks around the classical T Tauri star TW Hya and the Herbig Ac star HD 169142 are reported, as well as the strong but spatially unresolved polarization signals measured toward two other Herbig Ae stars. Monte Carlo scattering simulations are used to fit the J-, H- and K-band polarization images of the disk around TW Hya, providing new constraints on the geometry of TW Hya's disk. The third part of this thesis is dedicated to studying the gas content and dynamics around dust-excess stars. The evolution of circumstellar gas is thought to be strongly linked to the formation of gaseous giant planets similar to Jupiter, Saturn and most currently known extra-solar planets. However, the timescales over which circumstellar gas discs dissipate remains poorly constrained, mainly due to the observational difficulties associated with detecting small amounts of circumstellar gas. An analysis of high-resolution (R 50 000) optical spectroscopic data of a sample of 'Vega-like' candidates from the catalogue of Mannings & Barlow (1998) is presented. Analysis of the stellar spectra allows one to search for narrow absorption features due to circumstellar gas and possible Falling Evaporating Bodies, similar to the ones seen in the (3 Pictoris system. None of the stars from this sample show emission line activity in either Ha, Ca II or Na I, indicating that accretion of material onto the stars has ceased and suggesting they are true main sequence Vega-like stars. Four stars were found to exhibit narrow absorption features near the cores of the photospheric Ca II and Na I D lines, with HD 110058 being the strongest candidate to host a (3 Pictoris-like gas disk. If confirmed, HD 110058 would represent the Vega-like star with the lowest Lir/L* value (3.7 x 10"4) around which a CS gas disk has been detected.


Low-Mass Stars. Circumstellar PAHS and Carbon Stardust A.G.G.M. Tielens. ISO LWS Observations of Evolved Stars and Nebulae M.J. Barlow. ISO-SWS Spectra of AGB Stars K. Justtanont, et al. Molecules in Envelopes Around AGB-Stars H. Olofsson. Shocks in the Radio Photospheres of Long Period Variable Stars M.J. Reid, K.M. Menten. Silicon and Sulphur in the Inner Envelope of IRO+10216 K. Willacy, I. Cherchneff. Maser Mapping and Dust Properties of Red Supergiant Winds A.M.S. Richards, et al. Chemical Evolution from the AGB to the Planetary Nebula Phase R. Bachiller. Circumstellar Molecular Spectra Towards Evolved Stars E.J. Bakker. Disks Around Post-Main Sequence Binaries M. Jura. Dust Shells Around Carbon Mira Variables M.A.T. Groenewegen, et al. Variability of Circumstellar Emission from Dust Envelopes Around Carbon Stars A. Blanco, et al. Circumstellar Dust Condensation Scenarios E. Sedlmayr. UIR Bands in Carbon Star Spectra A.K. Speck, M.J. Barlow. Non-Spherical Dust Grains in the Envelopes of Late-Type Giants N.V. Voshchinnikov, V.B. Il'in. Modeling the Long-Term Evolution of Dusty Outflows of AGB-Stars M. Steffen, R. Szczerba. Observations of Shells Around mu CEP & CRL2688, and about Episodic Mass Loss N. Mauron. IR-Colors for Models of Post-AGB Evolution R. Szczerba, M. Steffen. Variation of Silicate Dust Features with Phase M.J. Creech-Eakman, R.E. Stencel. Formation of Dust Grains in Circumstellar Envelopes of Oxygen-Rich AGB Stars T. Kozasa, H. Sogawa. Grain Formation in Atmospheres of Cool Dwarfs D.R. Alexander, et al. Observations and Modelling of Spectral Energy Distributions of Asymptotic Giant Branch Stars S. Bagnulo, J.G. Doyle. Backwarming Effect of Molecular Opacities on the Infrared Colours of Very Cool White Dwarfs I. Bues, T. Aslan. Modelling the Dust Envelope in Symbiotic Systems: The Case of CH Cygni R.D.D. Costa, et al. Radiative Transfer in a Turbulent Expanding Molecular Envelope: Application to Mira M. Crosas, et al. OH Maser Lines Variability of Miras S. Etoka, A.M. Le Squeren. Observations of HCCNC and HNCCC in IRC+10216 P.D. Gensheimer. Modelling Software for Dust Processes P. Hall. A Compact Circumstellar Dust Envelope of an Evolved AGB Star IRC-10529 O. Hashimoto, H. Izumiura. Dust Features of Visually Bright AGB Variables As Seen By ISO and IRAS J. Hron, et al. A Model for the Variability of SIOP Masers in Mira Variables E.M.L. Humphreys, et al. Formation of Small Iron Clusters in Circumstellar Envelopes M. John, E. Sedlmayr. Polarization of Evolved Stars Envelopes C. Kahane, et al. A Simulation for a Planetary Nebular Plasma G. Kandemir, S. Boydag. Terminal Outflow Velocities from the Mass-Losing AGB Stars A. Kucinskas. Molecules in Circumstellar Envelopes of Carbon Stars F. Larsen, et al. Stars with Cool Dusty Disks T.L. Evans. Synthetic Spectra of Long-Period Variables: A First Comparison with ISO Observations R. Loidl, et al. 1.3 MM Plateau De Bure Observations of IRC+10216 R. Lucas. MID-IR Imaging and Modelling of AGB Circumstellar Envelopes M. Marengo, et al. Carbon-Bearing Molecules in Oxygen-Rich Circumstellar Envelopes A.J. Markwick, T.J. Millar. Effects of Dust on the Propagation of Shock Waves in Circumstellar Envelopes of Late-Type Variable Stars G.M. Rudnitskij. Models of Circumstellar Maser in Late-Type Variable Stars G.M. Rudnitskij. On the Molecular Line Absorption in the LI I Doublet 67


Abstract In the present work the first direct measurement of hydrolysis products of Pu(VI) was achieved by means of nano-electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass-spectrometry. The results indicate that monomeric PuO2(OH)+ and dimeric (PuO2)2(OH)22+ species are present in solution. A trimeric species does not appear within the detection limit of the experiment, in contrast to U(VI) hydrolysis. The relative abundances of the Pu(VI) hydrolysis species in the ESI mass spectra are in good agreement with the published formation constants.


This study analyses the information and tools for citizen participation on the institutional websites of local bodies to improve participation in the management of local resources in a context following the introduction of Spain's Transparency Law. The method is based on applying 14 indicators to analyse the institutional websites of 605 municipalities that have over 10,000 residents, located in 9 autonomous communities of the Spanish state. The main results show how the institutional information offered on the websites of the councils analysed does not follow journalistic criteria in terms of accountability, meaning that citizens' decisions regarding their local governments cannot be based on precise, reliable information. In this regard, in this study we have confirmed that council websites publish very little information on the activity of the opposition or on the plenary sessions, debates and agreements, but do publish information on the activity of the government. Furthermore, they do not make use of web resources for citizen participation, which impedes the transparent, collaborative management of political processes between leaders and citizens. Nonetheless, the results show how political and technical managers are not averse to change if they have access to guidance and incentives to improve the management of information and participation on municipal websites.


As modular method produces houses in factory, it is able to minimize works in construction sites resulting in reduction of labor cost and good quality of residential performance. Because of this characteristics, our country is also more and more getting interested in modular houses recently. Reduction of construction time, which is a strength of modular method, is a suitable construction method to provide temporary shelters to refugees who are damaged by disasters and this is also required to be researched for activation of modular houses. Although temporary residential house means ones to meet interim residential demand, their follow-up management has been required after their demands are expired. Given that there needs to develop temporary residential houses to meet temporary demands due to refugees, it's required to use those temporary houses continuously rather than disposing them after their initial intention is expired. This study is intended to propose design affording resident's areas by combining units in a way that applies modular method to temporary houses, and to produce test product and finally verify its construction method.


We present a minimalist approach to model-based test generation. Our approach leverages the information provided in the domain and behavioral models of an application under test to produce a small yet effective set of test cases without additional user input. The domain model consists of UML class diagram with invariants, while the behavioral model consists of UML use cases. Each use case flow has an associated guard condition and a set of updates (to the domain object diagram and the output parameters). We treat the model invariants to enable a novel specify once, test everywhere paradigm. Our approach frees the modeler from the responsibility of specifying appropriate alternate flows on use cases affected by each invariant - our analysis augments the specified use cases with appropriate alternate flows. Our approach then produces suitable testing goals which are refinements of the guard conditions on the augmented flows using a set of fault models. Another salient feature of our approach is generation of verification sequences to ensure that the object diagram updates associated with a given flow are implemented correctly. Our technique uses a novel set of fault models to mutate an object diagram and a novel algorithm which distinguishes between the original and the mutated object diagrams. We describe the techniques used in our test generation approach.


Concentrations of ethanol similar to those in the blood of intoxicated patients suppressed phytohemagglutinin- or streptolysin O-induced lymphocyte transformation, and inhibited bone marrow granulocyte colony growth in soft agar. Inhibition of lymphocyte transformation and granulocyte colony growth occurred despite the presence of large concentrations of folate and other vitamins. These in vitro findings may relate to in vivo effects of ethanol on myeloid and lymphoid tissue.


Morphological distinctions between sugar maples and black maples are not consistently evident, and molecular assessment of genetic diversity is lacking for these taxa. We examined restriction-site polymorphisms in the ndhA intron of the chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) in populations of sugar maples and black maples representing their zones of allopatry and sympatry in eastern North America. Restriction-site analysis of the ndhA intron after digestion with HinfI and Sau3AI yielded no polymorphisms. Restriction digestion of the ndhA intron with TaqI revealed two cpDNA haplotypes that were neither geographically localized nor taxon specific. Although testing additional accessions of sugar maples and black maples for cpDNA variation will further elucidate patterns of genetic variation, our initial results suggest that the taxa are either exchanging genes or share an ancestral cpDNA polymorphism.


Language is very important in gymnastics teaching. The paper will discuss about definition and characteristics of language of human being and how to use the language in gymnastics teaching in order to improve the teaching quality in language.


OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate the utility of protein truncation testing (PTT) for rapid detection and sequencing of germline mutations in the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor gene (RB1).

METHODS
We performed PTT, a technique based on the in vitro synthesis of protein from amplified RNA, on 27 probands from 27 kindreds with hereditary retinoblastoma. In 4 kindreds, PTT was also performed on 1 additional affected relative. Ten unrelated patients without retinoblastoma were included as negative control subjects. All PTT-detected mutations were further analyzed by focused sequencing of genomic DNA. When no mutation was detected by PTT, we performed exon-by-exon sequencing, as well as cytogenetic analysis by Giemsa-trypsin-Giemsa banding and by fluorescent in situ hybridization for RB1. The results of proband testing were used for direct genetic testing by polymerase chain reaction and sequencing in 11 relatives from 7 of the 27 kindreds.

RESULTS
Of the probands tested, 19 (70%) of 27 tested positive for germline mutations by PTT. In 1 kindred, the proband had negative PTT results but an additional affected relative had positive PTT results. Focused DNA sequencing of 1 patient with positive PTT results from each of the 20 kindreds with positive PTT results revealed truncating mutations in 19 kindreds. Four demonstrated frameshift deletions, 6 had splice site mutations, and 9 showed nonsense mutations. Further analysis by genomic exon-by-exon sequencing and karyotype analysis of the 8 probands who tested negative for germline mutations by PTT revealed 1 splice site mutation, 2 missense mutations, and 1 chromosomal deletion. Focused sequencing based on positive PTT results was successfully used to confirm shared truncating mutations in additional affected family members in 2 kindreds. Using a multitiered approach to genetic testing, 23 (85%) of 27 kindreds had mutations identified and those detected by PTT received a positive result in as few as 7 days. In control subjects, PTT produced no false-positive results.

CONCLUSIONS
Protein truncation testing is an effective, rapid single-modality screen for germline mutations in patients with retinoblastoma. When used as an initial screen, PTT can increase the yield of additional testing modalities, such as sequencing and chromosomal analysis, providing a timely and cost-effective approach for the diagnosis of heritable germline mutations in patients with retinoblastoma.Clinical Relevance The clinical application of PTT in retinoblastoma will improve detection of germline retinoblastoma mutations, which will supply critical information for prognosis, treatment planning, follow-up care, and genetic counseling.


BACKGROUND Mucinous adenocarcinomas of the buttock are rare and have an uncertain etiology and natural course. They are usually related to chronic anal fistulas, hidradenitis suppurativa, or Crohn's disease. Here, we report a case of mucinous adenocarcinoma associated with hidradenitis and contradictory immunochemistry results. CASE SUMMARY A 62-year-old man complained of recurrent abscesses of the buttock for 3 years. He had several scars and nodules in bilateral buttocks, with purulent discharge. The skin lesions did not appear to originate from the anus. The patient was diagnosed with recurrent abscesses due to hidradenitis suppurativa at the first visit. He showed purulent and subsequent mucin discharge in the first operation and was diagnosed with mucinous adenocarcinoma. Several examinations were performed to determine disease origin and staging. There were no significant findings or evidence of anal fistulas. Hence, he underwent wide local excision and V-Y advancement flap in the second operation. The final diagnosis was mucinous adenocarcinoma without any evidence of anal fistulas. Additional immunochemistry test results were negative for cytokeratin (CK) 7 and positive for CK20 and CDX2, with a colorectal origin. A pathologist suggested that the disease originated from a chronic anal fistula. The patient has remained free of recurrence for 24 mo. CONCLUSION Although the patient with mucinous adenocarcinoma showed an atypical course, immunochemistry helped detect the disease origin.


Ten patients underwent endoprosthetic replacement of the distal humerus for bone tumours over a period of 30 years. There were eight primary and two secondary tumours in four men and six women with a mean age of 47.5 years (15 to 76). The mean follow-up was eight years (9 months to 31 years). Four patients required further surgery, three having revision for aseptic loosening; two of these and one other later needing a rebushing. There were no cases of postoperative nerve palsy, infection, local recurrence or mechanical failure of the implant. Four patients died from their disease, all with the prosthesis functioning satisfactorily. At follow-up the mean flexion deformity of the elbow was 15 degrees (0 to 35) and the mean range of lexion was 115 degrees (110 to 135). The functional results showed a mean Toronto extremity salvage score of 73% of normal. Endoprosthetic replacement of the distal humerus and elbow is a satisfactory method of treating these rare tumours.


GPUs are powerful, massively parallel processors, which require a vast amount of thread parallelism to keep their thousands of execution units busy, and to tolerate latency when accessing its high-throughput memory system. Understanding the behavior of massively threaded GPU programs can be difficult, even though recent GPUs provide an abundance of hardware performance counters, which collect statistics about certain events. Profiling tools that assist the user in such analysis for their GPUs, like NVIDIA's nvprof and cupti, are state-of-the-art. However, instrumentation based on reading hardware performance counters can be slow, in particular when the number of metrics is large. Furthermore, the results can be inaccurate as instructions are grouped to match the available set of hardware counters.


WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW ABOUT THIS TOPIC
Randomized controlled trials evaluating the potential value of statin administration for intensive care unit patients have not observed a benefitHowever, the chronic preadmission use of statins among patients admitted to the intensive care unit has not been robustly studied WHAT THIS ARTICLE TELLS US THAT IS NEW: Single-center retrospective data suggest that preadmission statin use may be associated with decreased 90-day mortality among some intensive care unit patientsSpecific statin agents and noncardiovascular mortality may demonstrate a stronger signal for further study BACKGROUND:: This study aimed to examine the association between preadmission statin use and 90-day mortality in critically ill patients and to investigate whether this association differed according to statin type and dose. We hypothesized that preadmission statin use was associated with lower 90-day mortality.

METHODS
This retrospective cohort study analyzed the medical records of all adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit in a single tertiary academic hospital between January 2012 and December 2017. Data including preadmission statin use, statin subtype, and daily dosage were collected, and the associations between these variables and 90-day mortality after intensive care unit admission were examined. The primary endpoint was 90-day mortality.

RESULTS
A total of 24,928 patients (7,396 statin users and 17,532 non-statin users) were included. After propensity score matching, 5,354 statin users and 7,758 non-statin users were finally included. The 90-day mortality rate was significantly higher in non-statin users (918 of 7,758; 11.8%) than in statin users (455 of 5,354; 8.5%; P < 0.001). In Cox regression analysis, the 90-day mortality rate was lower among statin users than among non-statin users (hazard ratio: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.63 to 0.79; P < 0.001). Rosuvastatin use was associated with 42% lower 90-day mortality (hazard ratio: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.47 to 0.72; P < 0.001). There were no specific significant differences in the association between daily statin dose and 90-day mortality. In competing risk analysis, the risk of noncardiovascular 90-day mortality in statin users was 32% lower than that in non-statin users (hazard ratio: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.60 to 0.78; P < 0.001). Meanwhile, cardiovascular 90-day mortality was not significantly associated with statin use.

CONCLUSIONS
Preadmission statin use was associated with a lower 90-day mortality. This association was more evident in the rosuvastatin group and with noncardiovascular 90-day mortality; no differences were seen according to daily dosage intensity.


Purpose of the article: To explore Genneration Z's and millennials' perceptions of masculinity in advertising and determine which type of masculinity and which masculinity characteristics consumers favour in a masculine character or the advertising message centred around masculinity. This can help advertisers to understand what type of masculine character to focus on and whether advertisers' offered version of masculinity is in alignment with consumer preferences.Methodology/methods: Methods included qualitative video content analysis of advertisements centred around masculinity and quantitative research methods such as survey research and A/B testing of younger consumer segments such as Generation Z and millennials. The empirical results were analysed using the SPSS 23 statistical software.Scientific aim: To see whether social construction and social identity theory can help advertisers and researchers understand consumers' ever-changing perceptions of masculinity. In addition, the research aims to test the essence of congruity theory suggesting that consumers prefer content (advertisement) that aligns with individuals' preconceived notions.Findings: The survey results showed that Latvian Generation Z and millennial men and women are evenly split on whether they like or dislike how masculinity is depicted in advertising. From people who say that they do not like the way masculinity is depicted in advertising, 49.7% of them say that depictions of masculinity in advertising affect their buying decisions. A/B test results showed that consumers give preference to competitiveness as a traditionally masculine characteristic, while heavily preferring the display of affection and love and depicting masculinity less stereotypically in modern masculinity advertisements.Conclusions: Advertisers mainly focus on traditional masculinity as it is the most common masculinity type used in popular advertising in the last decade. On the other hand, consumers tend to approve of modern masculinity in advertising, with women approving of modern masculinity in far more convincing numbers than men. There is a statistically significant difference in men's and women's preferences when it comes to depictions of masculinity in advertising.


OBJECTIVE
Tonsillectomy is one of the most common pediatric surgical procedures performed in the United States. The postoperative period can be particularly painful, and there is currently no consensus on an optimal analgesic regimen. The objective of this study was to evaluate efficacy and safety of the single drug tramadol versus codeine/acetaminophen post-tonsillectomy.

DESIGN
Prospective, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial.

SETTING
Large, Midwestern US pediatric hospital.

PATIENTS
Eighty-four children aged 4-15 years who underwent a tonsillectomy (with or without adenoidectomy) procedure were randomized and 74 were included in the analysis.

INTERVENTIONS
Group 1 received liquid codeine/acetaminophen for 10 days post-tonsillectomy (5 days scheduled, followed by 5 days as-needed). Group 2 received liquid tramadol for 10 days post-tonsillectomy (5 days scheduled, followed by 5 days as-needed).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Efficacy and side effects were evaluated using a 10-day take-home diary that was completed by parents.

RESULTS
Children in both study arms reported adequate post-tonsillectomy pain management without significant differences between groups in pain scores. Oversedation was significantly higher on the day of surgery in the codeine/acetaminophen group, and itching was experienced by significantly more children in the tramadol group during the postoperative period.

CONCLUSIONS
As part of multimodal analgesia, scheduled plus as-needed tramadol may be considered for children in the postoperative setting due to its analgesic properties, low potential for side effects, and good safety profile.


Recently, hybrid perovskite solar cells have attracted great interest because they can be fabricated to low cost, flexible, and highly efficient solar cells. Here, we introduced recent advances of flexible hybrid perovskite solar cells. We introduced research background of flexible perovskite solar cells in introduction part. Then we composed the main body to i) structure and properties of hybrid perovskite solar cells, ii) why flexible hybrid perovskite solar cells are important?, iii) transparent conducting oxide (TCO) based flexible hybrid perovskite solar cells, and iv) TCO-free transparent conducting electrode (TCE) based flexible hybrid perovskite solar cells. Finally, we summarized research outlook of flexible hybrid perovskite solar cells.


Background: Depression as a frequent comorbidity in patients with diabetes requires serious attention, as failure to early detect and treat it can adversely affect the patients' complications. This study was performed to assess the prevalence of depression and quality of life in these patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried-out on adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus referred to the endocrinology hospital clinics affiliated to Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran, during 2018-2019. The presence and severity of depressive symptoms in patients have been assessed by Beck Depression Inventory-II; and the quality of life was measured by SF-36 questionnaire. Results: Totally, 400 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (300 females and 100 males) with mean age of 55.36±11.56 years were recruited. One hundred and thirty (32.5%) had depressive symptoms. Of the patients with depression, 115 (28.8%) had mild and 15 (3.8%) had moderate depression. After entering different variables in logistic regression analysis, gender (P=0.036) and ophthalmic complications (P=0.011) showed a significant association with depressive symptoms. The patients with depression had a worse quality of life compared to those who had not depressive symptoms. Quality of life score in patients with depression was significantly lower than patients without depression (p<0.0001). Conclusion: Nearly one third of the patients with type II diabetes mellitus might have depression. Diabetic patients with depression have a worse quality of life compared to those who have not depression symptoms.


Predictive current control algorithms for permanent magnet synchronous (PMSM) drives rely on an assumption that within short intervals motor currents can be approximated with linear functions. This approximation may result either from discretizing the motor model or from simplifications applied to the continuous-time model. As the linear current approximation has been recognized as inaccurate in case when the drive operates with low inverter's switching-to-fundamental frequency, it is expected that this inaccuracy affects precision of predictive control. This paper investigates the current prediction errors, related to the linear approximation, for an exemplary PMSM drive. Two methods are considered — a model based current prediction and a model-free algorithm. The analysis, carried out by simulation, reveals substantial errors that disqualify both considered prediction methods from applying them to drives operating with low switching-to-fundamental frequency ratio.


Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks remain a major security problem and the mitigation of which is very hard . In computing, a denial-of-service attack (DoS attack) or distributed denial-of-service attack (DDoS attack) is an attempt to make a machine or network resource unavailable to its intended users.The early discovery of these attacks, although challenging, is necessary to(IPSs) located at the Internet service providers (ISPs) level. The IPSs form virtual protection rings around the hosts to defend and collaborate by exchanging selected traffic information.The evaluation of this work using extensive simulations and a real dataset is presented, showing its effectiveness and low overhead, as well as its support for incremental deployment in real networks.As an enhancement to this work the controlling of DDoS attacks are also included by constructing Inter Domain Packet Filters protect end-users as well as the expensive network infrastructure resources. Here, address the problem of DdoS attacks and present the theoretical foundation, architecture, and algorithms of detecting DDoS attacks. The core of this work is composed of intrusion prevention systems.


This paper demonstrates simple and elegant lattice path combinatorial technique for computing transient probabilities concerning M/M/1 bulk arrival queuing model. The results computed are free from generating functions and transforms. As a special case the results for ordinary M/M/1 queues are checked.


The purpose of this study was to examine the relation of frost heave to pore-size distribution of compacted silty soils, and to propose that frost-susceptibility criteria based upon the distribution of porosity are more logical and versatile than those based upon texture and grain size.Rapid freezing laboratory tests were conducted to evaluate the heaving rate. The soils were compacted at different energy levels and water contents, and consisted of three different combinations of silt and kaolin.Mercury intrusion tests were performed to obtain the pore-size distributions of the compacted soils. Since this procedure requires the soil to be free of moisture, the soil samples were freeze-dried. This type of drying minimized the volume change and consequent structural modification expected from air or oven drying.The relation of frost heave to pore size was obtained using the method of linear regression. For a given soil, it is the quantity of interaggregate pores that controls the frost heave. These pores ar...


This is the eighth of a series of articles looking at the available evidence for complementary medicine relating to the theme topic in Australian Family Physician. For patients facing an incurable and life threatening illness such as cancer, decisions that lead to the use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) are often seen as pragmatic and a last resort when mainstream medicine has nothing left to offer.


BACKGROUND
Certain patients experience muscle-related adverse effects after taking atorvastatin. Genetic factors play an important role in the occurrence of statin-induced myopathy.

AIM
We aimed to identify genetic variants associated with statin-induced myotoxicity.

METHODS
We prospectively enrolled 1,102 acute ischemic stroke patients who underwent atorvastatin treatment for the first time after admission. Patients were separated into case and control groups after a follow-up of 3 months. We used a biochemical definition of myopathy consisting of serum creatine kinase values more than ten times the upper limit of normal for the reference laboratory (150 U/L). Fifty single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from seven genes of ABCB1, CoQ2, HTR3B, RYR2, CYP3A5, HTR7 and SLCO1B1 were selected and genotyped. The effects of genetic polymorphisms on myopathy were observed.

RESULTS
61 cases and 110 controls were recruited in the study. Compared with the controls, the cases had a significant higher mutant frequency of the allele A (ABCB1, rs2373588) (OR = 2.01, 95%CI = 1.10-3.67, P = 0.001) and a significant lower mutant frequency of the allele A (SLCO1B1, rs976754) (OR = 1.85, 95%CI = 1.12-3.03, P = 0.042). Genotypes or alleles of the other SNPs had no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION
Our findings reveal that SLCO1B1 and ABCB1 genetic variants are associated with statin-induced myopathy. These are valuable biomarkers for the evaluation of atorvastatin safety.


Abstract The potential for effector functions of therapeutic antibodies, including antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), is a biological activity of interest for characterization, regardless of if ADCC is an intended primary pharmacological effect. The composition of the conserved antibody Fc glycan can vary as a function of post-translational processing which may affect the binding affinity to Fc receptors, leading to a change of effector activity. Ordesekimab (AMG 714 or PRV-015), a fully human immunoglobulin G1-kappa anti-interleukin (IL)-15 monoclonal antibody, is in clinical development for celiac disease. The binding of ordesekimab to IL-15 inhibits the interaction of IL-15 with the IL-2Rβ and common γ chain of the IL-15 receptor complex, but not with the IL-15Rα chain. Therefore, the simultaneous binding of ordesekimab to the Fcγ receptor (R) IIIα expressed on natural killer (NK) cells and to the IL-15/IL-15Rα complex on cells such as monocytes may theoretically enable ADCC toward the IL-15Rα-expressing cells. The high mannose (HM) levels on the Fc glycan were found to vary in different lots of ordesekimab resulting from refinements to the manufacturing process, and the impact on ordesekimab-mediated ADCC activity was evaluated in in vivo and in vitro studies. A review of nonclinical and clinical data found no evidence of ordesekimab-induced depletion of monocytes, or cytotoxicity in organs with wide IL-15Rα expression, suggesting a lack of in vivo ADCC activity. In addition, in vitro peripheral blood mononuclear cells-based ADCC assay did not reveal any cytolytic effect of ordesekimab with various levels of HM content when cocultured with recombinant human IL-15. Taken together, these data demonstrate that ADCC is not a potential liability for ordesekimab and does not contribute to the reduction of IL-15-mediated inflammation, the intended pharmacological effect.


The working memory model for Ease of Language Understanding (ELU) predicts that processing differences between language modalities emerge when cognitive demands are explicit. Previous behavioural and neurocognitive work has shown that cognitive processing differences may be related to the different spatial and temporal processing demands involved in sign language and speech. In a set of working memory experiments with participants who were Deaf Signers (DS), Hearing Signers (HS) or Hearing Nonsigners (HN), we manipulated level of explicit processing required as well as temporal and spatial demands. Easily nameable pictures were used as stimuli to avoid confounds relating to sensory modality. When explicit processing demands were low, performance was largely similar for DS, HS and HN. However, when explicit and temporal processing demands were high, DS did not perform as well as HN. This effect was compounded by oral education. These findings suggest that temporal organization is not as prominent in working memory for sign language as it is in working memory for speech. A general effect of semantic similarity was also found. These findings are discussed in relation to the ELU model.


This inquiry investigates the concept of European values and cultural, philosophical, legal and political presuppositions on which the idea of European values is based. There are two approaches to the idea of European values. The first one is substantive approach (and includes philosophical,
 ethical, religious and ideological understanding of values). The substantive approach defines European values as based on the European heritage (ancient Greece and Rome, Christianity, Renaissance and humanism, Enlightenment and liberal traditions). This conception of European values is fixed.
 Another understanding of European values is represented by legal/political approach (that includes the definition of European values within European treatises, declarations, charters and other documents). Legal and political definition of European values includes: human dignity, freedom, democracy,
 equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights. Most authors consider that only from this second level, from legal and political definition, general features of European values can be achieved, that is, universal rules of the game. This paper shows how these two different approaches
 can be integrated, relying on John Rawls's idea of overlapping consensus. It should be emphasized that the question of European values and European identity is still a topic of debate. There are different definitions and interpretations of these concepts, regardless of the legal definitions
 within the framework of European declarations and treaties. European identity (based on European values) is a polyphonic category, which cannot be founded on monolithic definitions. Otherwise, the entire continent would fall under the rule of one homogeneous culture.


OBJECTIVES
Regional differences in modern human facial features are present at birth, and ontogenetic allometry contributes to variation in adults. However, details regarding differential rates of growth and timing among regional groups are lacking. We explore ontogenetic and static allometry in a cross-sectional sample spanning Africa, Europe and North America, and evaluate tempo and mode in two regional groups with very different adult facial morphology, the Khoisan and Inuit.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Semilandmark geometric morphometric methods, multivariate statistics and growth simulations were used to quantify and compare patterns of facial growth and development.

RESULTS
Regional-specific facial morphology develops early in ontogeny. The Inuit has the most distinct morphology and exhibits heterochronic differences in development compared to other regional groups. Allometric patterns differ during early postnatal development, when significant increases in size are coupled with large amounts of shape changes. All regional groups share a common adult static allometric trajectory, which can be attributed to sexual dimorphism, and the corresponding allometric shape changes resemble developmental patterns during later ontogeny.

DISCUSSION
The amount and pattern of growth and development may not be shared between regional groups, indicating that a certain degree of flexibility is allowed for in order to achieve adult size. In early postnatal development the face is less constrained compared to other parts of the cranium allowing for greater evolvability. The early development of region-specific facial features combined with heterochronic differences in timing or rate of growth, reflected in differences in facial size, suggest different patterns of postnatal growth.


The goal of pathway analysis is to identify the pathways significantly impacted in a given phenotype. Many current methods are based on algorithms that consider pathways as simple gene lists, dramatically under-utilizing the knowledge that such pathways are meant to capture. During the past few years, a plethora of methods claiming to incorporate various aspects of the pathway topology have been proposed. These topology-based methods, sometimes referred to as "third generation," have the potential to better model the phenomena described by pathways. Although there is now a large variety of approaches used for this purpose, no review is currently available to offer guidance for potential users and developers. This review covers 22 such topology-based pathway analysis methods published in the last decade. We compare these methods based on: type of pathways analyzed (e.g., signaling or metabolic), input (subset of genes, all genes, fold changes, gene p-values, etc.), mathematical models, pathway scoring approaches, output (one or more pathway scores, p-values, etc.) and implementation (web-based, standalone, etc.). We identify and discuss challenges, arising both in methodology and in pathway representation, including inconsistent terminology, different data formats, lack of meaningful benchmarks, and the lack of tissue and condition specificity.


Reagents that label specific subsets of cells are broadly useful for the treatment of cancer and modulation of cells of the immune system. Labeling is often achieved through the identification and characterization of proteins specifically expressed on selected cells but not others. Knowledge of cell membrane protein routing dynamics can be leveraged to efficiently deliver cytotoxic or immune stimulating payloads. The most common method for monitoring internalization relies on labeling proteins with antibodies modified with a fluorophore or other tag that can also be used to report on whether the protein of interest has been internalized. This approach requires indirect methods, such as multiple rounds of cell staining, to differentiate extracellular protein from protein that has been internalized and recycled to the cell surface. Here we report a method for the characterization of protein internalization in real time through the sortase-mediated, site-specific labeling of single domain antibodies or viral proteins with a newly developed, cathepsin-sensitive quenched-fluorophore probe. This approach allows quantitative measurement of the movement of proteins into protease-containing endosomes in real time in live cells. This method revealed variation in the rate of internalization for different cell surface receptors and allowed for kinetic characterization of influenza virus internalization. These findings help to explain the utility of certain single domain antibody-antigen conjugates for inducing humoral immune responses. The tools and methods described here should be useful for the identification of proteins expressed on target cells that are ideal for antibody-mediated drug delivery or for promotion of specific types of immune responses. Citation Format: Ross W. Cheloha, Zeyang Li, Djenet Bousbaine, Andrew Woodham, Priscillia Perrin, Jana Volaric, Hidde L. Ploegh. Real-time analysis of cell membrane protein and virus internalization using site-specific conjugation of protease-sensitive probes [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Fourth CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival; Sept 30-Oct 3, 2018; New York, NY. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2019;7(2 Suppl):Abstract nr B149.


To the computer specialist the thoughts of applying his technology to the determination and preservation of his own and society's health by computer is very attractive. To the physician the computer appears as a complex unknown. Depending on his computer-related, experience, it may be a threat or a tool.


A highly luminescent terbium nanoparticle as the biolabel based on the sensitization of a dye molecule was prepared. The luminescent complexes included in the particles were composed of a quinolone-based dye molecule as the light-energy transfer donor and a polyaminocarboxylate-based chelator with excellent water-solubility and a high binding constant for lanthanides. The structure of two functional entities in the single molecule made the complex highly luminescent in aqueous solution. Silica nanoparticles containing terbium complexes were prepared by the reverse microemulsion method. Such a terbium nanoparticle is as bright as about 340 free terbium complexes, and it has a 1.5-ms fluorescence lifetime that enables it to be used in the time-resolved fluorescence assays. The conjugate of the nanoparticle with oligonucleotide was prepared and used to carry out a DNA sandwich hybridization assay based on magnetic microbeads as solid-phase carrier. The experimental results showed that the detection sensitivity with the nanoparticles is more than 100-fold as high as that with dye Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) molecules.


Mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs) have been drawing increasing attention due to the high permeability and high rejection capabilities for highly efficient wastewater treatment applications. Nonetheless, improving the water permeance while maintaining the high rejection capability is still an ongoing challenge for the practically state-of-the-art MMMs. Herein, a new class of poly(ether sulfone) (PES) based MMM containing metal-organic framework (MOF) nanofillers of HKUST-1 and blending with poly(methyl methacrylate- co-methacrylic acid) (PMMA- co-MAA) copolymer, designated as HKUST-1@mPES MMM, were developed for the highly efficient ultrafiltration (UF) process. In this study, the nanosized HKUST-1 nanofillers were removed by water dissolution as sacrificial templating materials, so that the additional nanovoids were deliberately generated throughout the dense polymer matrix. The introduction of PMMA- co-MAA copolymer facilitated the even dispersion of HKUST-1 nanofillers in a polymer matrix, by constructing the bridge connection between inorganic nanofillers and organic matrix. The resultant HKUST-1@mPES MMM exhibited a high pure water permeability (PWP) up to 490 L·m-2·h-1·bar-1, substantially reaching nearly 3 times higher than that of the mPES membrane without HKUST-1 nanofillers loading and maintaining a relatively high BSA rejection rate of 96% without obvious deterioration. The newly developed HKUST-1@mPES MMM thereby exhibited a comparable separation efficiency compared to the cutting-edge UF membranes reported so far. Overall, the nanovoid-generated approach provides new insight into developing advanced MMMs used for highly efficient water treatment applications.


Background : CT-Scan is an imaging modality in the field of diagnostics, especially radiology that produces large radiation, so should pay attention to aspects of protection and radiation safety for radiographers and public. At the CT-Scan examination room at Radiology Installation of RSUD Ir. Soekarno has made door replacement and addition of 2 mm Pb on the window and has not done measurement of exposure rate of re-radiation.This study aims to determine the value of the radiation exposure rate and the safety of the examination room on radiation exposure for radiographers and public reffering to the publication of NCRP no. 147 on the design of protective structures for health facilities
Methods: This type of research is quantitative with survey approach. This research was conducted in May 2018. Data collection was done by observation, documentation, measurement of exposure rate at a number of points. Data analysis was done descriptively by comparing data with NCRP report no 147.
Result: The radiation exposure measurements resulted in excessive radiation exposure in the controlled area at point A (the Pb glass in the operator's room) of 29,5 µSv/h the uncontrolled area at point 1 (patien's entrance) of 1,75 µSv/h. This value exceeds the recommendation value of NCRP no. 147 at controlled area of 2,5 µSv/h and uncontrolled area of 0,5 µSv/h. Radiology Installation Ir. Soekarno Sukoharjo Hospital regency is located at an altitude of 103 mdpl the background radiation exposure value of 1,225 µSv/h, it exceeds the requirements of the background exposure rate value according to UNSCEAR for a height of 0 meters from sea level is 0.03 μGy/h. Leakage of radiation exposure occurring at point
Conclution: point A isa Pb glass in the operator's room and at point 1 is patien's entrance is not safe for radiographers and public because it exceeds the limit of radiation exposure rate value which is allowed


My deepest thanks to Sabine Broda, Antonio Machiavelo, Nelma Moreira, and Rogerio Reis for welcoming the year 2020 with their exciting tutorial, \Analytic Combinatorics and Descriptional Complexity of Regular Languages on Average."


This special issue of the INFORMS Journal on Applied Analytics (formerly Interfaces) is devoted to the finalists of the 47th annual competition for the Franz Edelman Award for Achievement in Advanc...


The increasing prevalence of depressive disorder (also known as major depressive disorder or MDD), especially in the younger generations, has brought urgency upon the importance of good mental health. Moreover, depression has proven to increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, along with the severity of those diseases. Depressive disorders are oftentimes not diagnosed or misdiagnosed, because some of the symptoms are similar to those of other illnesses. Therefore, an electroencephalography-based system that could help diagnose this illness using a more quantitative approach is necessary to be developed. The goal of this study is to make a machine learning-based classification program using EEG signals to aid for the diagnostics of depression. EEG data of 19 channels were obtained from two data sources, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia and Leipzig Study of Mind, Body, and Emotion. The EEG data consisted of 31 depressed subjects and 30 healthy controls during resting conditions. These signals were processed using two different methods, which were wavelet transformation and Power Spectral Density (PSD). Relative power ratio and average alpha asymmetry were calculated for feature extraction. The classifier used was a feedforward neural network with cross validation. The highest achieved results were 83,6% accuracy using the wavelet method and 77,5% accuracy using the PSD method.


The current dissertation sheds light on the difficulties that Syrian refugees and asylum seekers face in acquiring the languages of the countries they had to flee to. To do so, this qualitative research investigated the experience of 45 Syrian refugees and asylum seekers who were hosted by 9 different countries around the world (Germany, Turkey, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, France, Malay, Austria, Romania); it concentrated on the difficulties that these refugees encountered in acquiring the languages of the hosting countries. It also sought to know the possible remedies and solutions for these difficulties from the participants' point of view. Moreover, this research was executed on the Facebook messenger application through interviews and a survey with open-ended questions. The uniqueness of this research lies in the fact that it is studying the experience of refugees of one nationality, that are trying to acquire different languages not only one as it is the norm in the research. Finally, regarding the difficulties faced by asylum seekers and refugees in acquiring a second language, this research found that the main difficulty is caused by the language itself, along with the social, financial, temporal and psychological difficulties faced by the participants. As for the proposed solutions for these difficulties, the participants classified them into two categories: some of them were recommended to be made by the refugees themselves like practicing the acquired language and interacting with the native speakers in all the possible means; while the other solutions were recommended to be done by the governments of the hosting countries to encourage their nations to integrate more with the refugees to help them acquire the target languages.


Study Design. This is a retrospective study of 50 patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with curves measuring 35° to 45° who were treated with a Boston brace. Objectives. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the Boston brace could effectively halt long-term progression in skeletally immature adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis who had a curve between 35° and 45°. Summary of Background Data. The Boston brace has been shown to be effective in preventing curve progression in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, but its efficacy in large curves has not been fully studied. Methods. Fifty adolescents were treated with a Boston brace for idiopathic scoliosis curves of 35–45° (mean, 38.55°). All were judged to be skeletally immature based on menarcheal status (mean, 2.6 months before menarche), Risser sign (mean, 0.90; range, 0–2), and chronologic age (mean, 13 ± 1 years). Patients were recalled for long-term follow-up at a mean of 9.7 years (range, 6.23–13.22 years) after brace discontinuation. Three well-matched patient subsets were then identified based on compliance. Group 1 (n = 24) consisted of patients who were compliant with the brace program and wore the brace 18 or more hours per day, Group 2 (n = 14) contained patients who wore the brace 12–18 hours per day, and Group 3 (n = 12) contained patients who wore the brace 0–12 hours per day. Results. There was a significant difference in the amount of initial correction seen in the brace between the groups: 49%, 45%, and 33% curve correction in the brace for Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (P < 0.05). At long-term follow-up there was a statistically significant difference between Groups 1, 2, and 3 in the percentage of patients in whom the curve had progressed to more than 45° (P < 0.001), who had more than 5° of curve progression (P < 0.05), or who had undergone posterior spinal fusion (P < 0.001). Conclusions. These long-term data confirm that the Boston brace when used 18 or more hours per day is effective in preventing progression of large curves at a mean of 9.8 years after bracing is discontinued.


We describe our non-linear emulation (i.e. interpolation) framework that combines the halo occupation distribution (HOD) galaxy bias model with N-body simulations of non-linear structure formation, designed to accurately predict the projected clustering and galaxy–galaxy lensing signals from luminous red galaxies in the redshift range 0.16 < z < 0.36 on comoving scales 0.6 < rp < 30 $h^{-1} \, \text{Mpc}$. The interpolation accuracy is ≲ 1–2 per cent across the entire physically plausible range of parameters for all scales considered. We correctly recover the true value of the cosmological parameter S8 = (σ8/0.8228)(Ωm/0.3107)0.6 from mock measurements produced via subhalo abundance matching (SHAM)-based light-cones designed to approximately match the properties of the SDSS LOWZ galaxy sample. Applying our model to Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) Data Release 14 (DR14) LOWZ galaxy clustering and galaxy-shear cross-correlation measurements made with Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Data Release 8 (DR8) imaging, we perform a prototype cosmological analysis marginalizing over wCDM cosmological parameters and galaxy HOD parameters. We obtain a 4.4 per cent measurement of S8 = 0.847 ± 0.037, in 3.5σ tension with the Planck cosmological results of 1.00 ± 0.02. We discuss the possibility of underestimated systematic uncertainties or astrophysical effects that could explain this discrepancy.


BACKGROUND
Hirsutism is defined as the presence of terminal hair with male distribution in women, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common etiology of hirsutism.

METHODS
The aim of this study is to review aspects of hair growth that are relevant for the understanding of hirsutism in PCOS, along with current treatment alternatives.

RESULTS
The prevalence of hirsutism in PCOS ranges from 70 to 80%, vs. 4% to 11% in women in the general population. Hirsutism in PCOS is associated with both ovarianderived androgen excess and individual sensitivity of the pilosebaceous unit to androgens. Interventions to decrease hirsutism in PCOS include the suppression of androgen excess by combined oral contraceptives (OCPs). If OCPs are contraindicated, mainly in the presence of insulin-resistance related comorbidities, a second-line option for reducing androgen secretion may be metformin associated with lifestyle changes. Other interventions should be guided by hirsutism severity, determined by the modified Ferriman-Gallwey score, and by the amount of distress hirsutism causes to the patient, and should be maintained for at least 6-12 months. Mild hirsutism is usually treated with a combination of non-pharmacological methods and OCPs, whereas moderate and severe hirsutism may require a combination of antiandrogens and OCPs, or, if OCPs cannot be used, antiandrogens plus a safe contraceptive method. In all cases, strong clinical support is crucial to ensure treatment adherence and success.

CONCLUSION
The understanding of the pathophysiology of hirsutism in PCOS, as well as classifying its severity and the distress it causes to each patient is essential to choose the proper treatment. The presence of metabolic comorbidities and menstrual disturbances will also guide the individualized management of hirsutism in women with PCOS.


Ceramic Thermal Barrier Coatings (TBCs) on superalloy components are being used successfully in land-based gas turbine and aircraft engines. These coatings are generally made by either air plasma spraying (APS) or electron beam physical vapour deposition (EB-PVD). In general, EB-PVD TBCs have superior durability due to the columnar structure, but they are very expensive compared to APS TBCs. EB-PVD TBCs are used primarily in the most severe applications such as turbine blades and vanes in aircraft engines. This paper presents an economical process to make durable TBCs, called Axial Suspension Plasma Spray (ASPS). This technology combines Mettech's axial injection plasma process and automatic suspension feed system. The resulting TBCs exhibit columnar structures with vertical cracks, similar to EB-PVD coatings. Such structures allow the TBC to compensate for thermal expansion differences between it and the base material. The ASPS process presents an economical alternative to EB-PVD to produce durable columnar TBCs.


Mass reduction of the machine tool movable parts is a tool for achieving lower energy demands of the machine tool operation. The realization of lightweight design in machine tool can be achieved by structural lightweight design and material lightweight design. In this study, topology optimization strategy was applied to design optimized structures of movable parts of 5 axis machining center. The weight of ram which has most significant influence on the stiffness of whole machine tool was reduced without stiffness deterioration. The redesigned optimized ram has 24.2% less weight while maintaining the same displacement caused by cutting force.


The coupled wave theory of Kogelnik has given a well-established basis for the comprehension of how light propagates inside a volume hologram. This theory gives a good approximation for the diffraction efficiency of both volume phase holograms and volume absorption holograms. Mixed holograms (phase and absorption) have also been dealt with from the point of view of the coupled wave theory. In this paper we use Kogelnik's coupled wave theory to give quantitative information about the mechanisms which produce mixed gratings in photographic emulsions. In particular, we demonstrate that mixed amplitude-phase gratings are recorded on photographic emulsions when fixation-free bleaching techniques are used to obtain volume holograms. We will prove that the oxidation products of the bleach can give rise to an absorption modulation at high values of exposure and high concentrations of potassium bromide in the bleach bath. We will also give quantitative data regarding the absorption created by these oxidation products.