Trace elements (As. Cd, Cu, Hg, Se and Zn) were determined in liver and kidney of pilot whales Glob~cephala melas Traill, 1809 collected from 7 schools caught at different seasons around the Faroe Islands. These and other biological data at our dlsposal enabled us to confirm and to define more accurately the relations shown prev~ously between age, sex and trace element concentrations in marine mammals. The most striking features were: (1) the elevated levels of Cd and Hg in pilot whales compared to other marine mammals and to minimum adverse-effect levels established for humans; (2) the biocumulative behaviour of Cd and Hg; (3) the high correlations between Hg and Se, predominantly influenced by age; and (4) the high correlations between Cd and Zn, the levels of which appear to be mainly dependent on the school to which the specimens belong. This last may be tentatively attributed to the fact that the schools sampled correspond to different sub-populations with different genetic charactenstics. The apparent metal tolerance of pilot whales and the health consequences to consumers of flesh of marine mammals are discussed.


Author(s): Yang, Janet Gloria | Advisor(s): Narlikar, Geeta J | Abstract: Chromatin structure regulates the accessibility of DNA in several crucial nuclear processes, including transcription, replication and recombination. The ISWI-family of chromatin remodeling complexes translationally repositions histone octamers on DNA. One member of this family, the ATP-dependent chromatin assembly factor (ACF), generates regularly spaced nucleosomes in vitro and is required for transcriptional silencing in vivo. To dissect ACF mechanism, we used a FRET based approach to follow the movement of DNA with respect to the histone octamer in real time. We find that ACF generates at least one transient intermediate in which part of the DNA has moved across the histone octamer. The rate of ACF remodeling is sensitive to the length of the linker DNA such that shortening the linker DNA below 60 bp progressively slows down both ATP hydrolysis and remodeling. As a result, ACF generates and maintains nucleosome spacing by constantly moving nucleosomes towards longer flanking DNA faster than shorter flanking DNA. ACF thus creates a dynamic equilibrium between different nucleosome positions such that the centered position is most highly populated. To understand how ACF can rapidly sample both sides of a nucleosome to accomplish bidirectional movement, my collaborators and I employed a myriad of techniques to conclude that ACF functions as a dimeric molecular motor. We found that ACF binds nucleosomes in a cooperative manner, and that this oligomeric state is required for back and forth remodeling of the nucleosome. Additionally, the ATPase subunit energetically couples different nucleotide states with distinct reaction intermediates, and thus we observe that the physical interactions with the nucleosome change as a function of the ATP reaction cycle. Lastly, we found that ACF utilizes ATP in three distinct ways, and that translocation is characterized by distinct pauses during movement of DNA relative to the histone octamer. In summary, these data provide a mechanistic basis for the directionality of nucleosome repositioning and explain the centering activity of ACF. Futhermore, the dimeric architecture of ACF allows for the rapid and processive bidirectional nucleosome movement required for nucleosome spacing.


: Object detection can be difficult due to challenges such as variations in objects both inter- and intra-class. Additionally, variations can also be present between images. Based on this, research was conducted into creating an ensemble of Region-based Fully Convolutional Networks (R-FCN) object detectors. Ensemble strategies explored were firstly data sampling and selection and secondly combination strategies. Data sampling and selection aimed to create different subsets of data with respect to object size and image quality such that expert R-FCN ensemble members could be trained. Two combination strategies were explored for combining the individual member detections into an ensemble result, namely average and a weighted average. R-FCNs were trained and tested on the PASCAL VOC benchmark object detection dataset. Results proved positive with an increase in Average Precision (AP), compared to state-of-the-art similar systems, when ensemble members were combined appropriately.


We consider an electromagnetic perturbation in the external spacetime of a black hole with a deficit angle, and describe the perturbation equation. Approximate analytic formulae for the quasi-normal frequencies have been provided, which may play a significant role in the continuing search for gravitational radiation and black holes. These frequencies can be distinguished from the ordinary quasi-normal frequencies of the Schwarzschild black hole.


The case of an 85-year-old woman with a malignant lymphoma of the uterine cervix is reported, and the pertinent literature is reviewed. The patient was found to have vaginal bleeding and abnormal cytological smears. According to the Working Formulation, the histological diagnosis was a malignant lymphoma with diffuse, small, cleaved cells. As her condition was determined as being in FIGO's Stage I b, the patient was only given a hysterectomy, and she remains in complete remission 1 year after the initial diagnosis. This is the 21st reported case in Japan of a primary malignant lymphoma in the uterus. Such patients typically present vaginal bleeding and a cervical cytological examination is reliable way to achieve a diagnosis. From the small number of reports that exist, it appears that radiation therapy is proper curative method of procedure as some Stage I b patients who underwent surgery were found to have positive nodes.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical effect of fetoscopic laser occlusion of chorioangiopagous vessels (FLOC) for monochorionic diamniotic twins (MCDA) pregnancies complicated with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome(TTTS).

METHODS
The clinical data of 33 consecutive cases of TTTS from Mainland China, who had FLOC in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Prince of Wales Hospital (The Chinese University of Hong Kong) from November 2003 to December 2010, were reviewed and analyzed for peri-operative complications, perinatal outcomes and fetal survival rate. Clinical stage of TTTS was according to the Quintero staging system.

RESULTS
(1) Pregnancy characteristics: the mean maternal age was 30; the median gestational age at FLOC was 23(+4) weeks; according to the Quintero staging system, 3 cases were Quintero staging I, 14 cases were Quintero staging II, 7 cases were Quintero staging III and 9 cases were Quintero staging IV. For the 3 stage I cases, FLOC was performed for severe maternal symptoms of polyhyramnios or severe fetal cardiac dysfunction. (2) COMPLICATIONS: intraoperative complications occurred in 5 patients including four uterine bleedings at the puncture site, one placental vascular anastomosis bleeding. Postoperative complications occurred in 6 patients including 2 abortions and 1 intrauterine death within one week after operation, 2 abortions and 1 amniotic band syndrome occurred from two to four weeks after operation. (3) Perinatal outcome and fetal survival rate: the median interval of 33 patients between FLOC and delivery was 9(+4) weeks; the median gestational age at delivery was 31(+6) weeks; the gestation at delivery was less than 24 weeks in 6% (2/33), 24 to 28 weeks in 21% (7/33), 28 to 32 weeks in 18% (6/33), 32 to 37 weeks in 55% (18/33). The mean birth weight of the donor was 1600 g (350 - 2520 g); the mean birth weight of the recipiert was 1930 g (400 - 3040 g). The overall survival rate, the double infant survival rate, the single survival rate and survival rate for at least one twin was 59% (39/66), 52% (17/33), 15% (5/33) and 67% (22/33), respectively. The overall survival rate dropped from 61% (17/28) in Quintero staging II to 9/18 in Quintero staging IV.

CONCLUSIONS
FLOC for MCDA complicated with TTTS is associated with an overall survival of about 60%. Major complications are rare. The outcome is not only related to Quintero staging but also the close monitoring and timely termination of pregnancy.


The combination process of UV/ S2O82-/Al2O3 leads to the production of radicals and radical hydroxyls, which could decompose and remove various pollutants, such as phenol. The present study aimed to investigate the photocatalytic efficiency of aluminum oxide nanoparticles and persulfate compilative processes in the removal of phenol. This experimental study was conducted in a discontinuous reaction chamber with a useful volume of one liter. In this process, we assessed the effects of the initial pH parameters (3, 5, 7, and 9), initial concentration of phenol (10, 20, 30, 50, and 100 mg/l), concentration of persulfate anions (20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 mg/l), reaction time (5 and 120 minutes), and dose of Al2O3 nanoparticles (10, 20, 30, and 40 mg/l). The applied pilot was composed of a low-pressure mercury lamp (55 Watt), which was inside the steel chamber. The obtained data were fitted to the pseudo-first- and pseudo-second-order reaction kinetics. According to the findings, the process had high efficiency in the removal of phenol. In optimal conditions (pH:5, persulfate concentration: 50 mg/l, nanoparticle dose: 40 mg/l, reaction time: 60 minutes), the efficiency of the process was determined to be 95% at the initial phenol concentration of 10 mg/l, which was fitted with first-rate kinetics (R2=0.98). Furthermore, the highest efficiency was observed in the photocatalytic process of aluminum oxide nanoparticles and persulfates in the optimal conditions of exploitation. Therefore, persulfate could be used as an appropriate oxidizer with aluminum oxide nanoparticles for the removal of phenol.


Plasma levels of secretin, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), somatostatin (SRIH), motilin, and/or pancreatic polypeptide, as well as serum estradiol, progesterone, PRL, LH, FSH, and/or GH were measured during the follicular phase, midcycle, and luteal phase of a spontaneous menstrual cycle in eight women and during ovarian stimulation with clomiphene citrate/human menopausal gonadotropin and hCG for in vitro fertilization in nine women. Plasma SRIH concentrations were significantly (P less than 0.02) higher in the luteal phase of spontaneous menstrual cycles than in follicular phase and midcycle. Serum GH levels, however, did not change. Plasma motilin concentrations also were higher in the luteal phase than at mid-cycle (P less than 0.04). Plasma secretin, VIP, and pancreatic polypeptide concentrations did not change during the cycle. Throughout the spontaneous menstrual cycle we found significant positive correlations between plasma SRIH and serum progesterone (P less than 0.007; r = 0.5869), plasma motilin and serum progesterone (P less than 0.02; r = 0.5331), plasma secretin and serum estradiol (P less than 0.04; r = 0.4711), and plasma secretin and serum PRL (P less than 0.02; r = 0.5507). During ovarian stimulation both plasma secretin and VIP gradually increased to a peak on cycle days 0 and 1, respectively (day 0 = the day of hCG injection), whereas plasma SRIH did not change. Serum estradiol and PRL increased significantly, and both peaked on cycle day 1. During ovarian stimulation plasma secretin correlated significantly with serum estradiol (P less than 0.00001; r = 0.9333), serum PRL (P less than 0.03; r = 0.6521), and plasma VIP (P less than 0.03; r = 0.6534). In addition, plasma VIP and serum PRL both correlated significantly with serum estradiol (P less than 0.05; r = 0.6024 and P less than 0.04; r = 0.6384, respectively). These results indicate 1) a possible effect of progesterone on the release of SRIH and motilin during the spontaneous menstrual cycle; 2) the unaltered serum GH concentrations in the luteal phase of the spontaneous menstrual cycle despite elevated plasma SRIH levels are probably due to a stimulatory effect of both progesterone and motilin on GH release; and 3) the increase in plasma secretin and VIP concentrations during ovarian stimulation is probably secondary to the concomitant increase in serum estradiol and/or PRL. We suggest that estradiol and/or PRL beyond a certain threshold level stimulate the release of secretin, and possibly also VIP, into plasma.


Abstract Introduction: Sex is one of the demographic characteristics that better differentiates the independence of the elderly, despite this distinction not being consensual. Objective: To know the differences in functioning associated with sex in elderly people aged ≥ 65 years according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF). Methods: This was an analytical and cross-sectional observational study with a sample of 451 subjects. The instruments were a sociodemographic questionnaire identical to a ICF checklist and the Biopsychosocial Assessment Method. The student t, Mann-Whitney, chi-square, and Spearman correlation tests were used considering p < 0.05. Results: The average age was between 79.5 ± 7.5 years with a female prevalence (62.1%). Of the 43 variables studied, sex differences were found in 17 (39.5%). In the personal factors, women showed greater vulnerability in conjugality (p ≤ 0.001), cohabitation (p = 0.037), and economic income (p = 0.002). Nonetheless, they showed healthier behaviors in all health-related habits. As for environmental factors and body functions, greater fragility was once again observed in women: the need for assistive devices (p ≤ 0.001) and urinary incontinence (p = 0.021). In activities/participation, differences were found in mobility, where women experienced more restrictions, whereas men were more dependent on washing/drying clothes in domestic life (p = 0.022). Conclusion: Women are more unprotected in social and economic areas, while men showed more vulnerability in habits related to health. These differences are linked to demographic issues related to longevity, cultural differences, and socialization, and differences regarding activities/participation tend to dilute between sexes.


Bacteria of the genus Brucella are widespread in many countries. These microorganisms can infect humans and many wild and domestic animal species. These bacteria have zoonotic potential, and can cause economic and public health problems since they can be transmitted by direct contact with sick animals, through consumption of contaminated milk, raw meat and its derivatives (Soares et al., 2015). Brucellosis is considered a chronic evolving disease, unusual in horses, predominantly caused by Brucella abortus. However, it is not characterized by reproductive disorders in horses, but primarily by abscess in the cervical region, bursa, tendons, and joints. Transmission is likely to occur via ingestion of contaminated water and pastures, especially in areas endemic for bovine brucellosis (Ribeiro et al., 2008). The slaughterhouse is a strategic point for obtaining information about the animal and animal products, edible or not. This study investigated the presence of anti-Brucella spp. immunoglobulins in the serum samples from horses slaughtered in a slaughterhouse in southern Brazil, to estimate the frequency of Brucella spp. antibodies and determine the spatial distribution of the cases.


PurposeThe construction industry has actively attempted to tackle the low-productivity issues arising from inefficient construction planning. It is imperative to understand how construction practitioners perceive technology integration in construction planning in light of emerging technologies. This study intended to uncover unique experimental findings by integrating 4D-building information modelling (BIM) to virtual reality (VR) technology during construction planning among construction professionals at light steel framing (LSF) projects.Design/methodology/approachThe building industry participants were invited to provide inputs on two different construction planning methods: conventional and innovative methods. The conventional method involved the participants using traditional platforms such as 2D computer-aided design (CAD) and physical visualisation of paper-based construction drawings for the LSF assembly process with a Gantt Chart tool to complete construction planning-related tasks for the targeted project. Comparatively, participants are required to perform the same tasks using more innovative platforms like 4D-BIM in a VR environment.FindingsA Charrette Test Method was used to validate the findings, highlighting an improvement in usability (+10.3%), accuracy (+89.1%) and speed (+30%) using 4D BIM with VR compared to the conventional paper-based method. The findings are also validated by a paired t-test, which is supported by the rationality of the same findings. This study posits positive results for construction planning through the utilisation of modern practices and technologies. These findings are significant for the global construction industry facing low productivity issues, delays and certainty in terms of building delivery timelines due to poor construction planning.Originality/valueThis new blend of technologies—combining 4D BIM and VR in industrialised construction projects—potentially directs future initiatives to drive the efficiency of construction planning in the building lifecycle. The interactive BIM-based virtual environment would purposefully transform construction planning practices in order to deliver modern and more certain building construction methods with a focus on prefabrication processes.


In this commentary, I raise several issues of method and presentation and suggest a number of follow-up experiments associated with some of these issues. Broad suggestions are also made (or rather preached): the need to deal empirically with musical emotions subtler than the oft-investigated basic emotions, and the role that interactions between musical variables may play in shaping subtle musical expression, as exemplified by some well-known xylophone soli from the orchestral repertory. Submitted 2008 August 31; accepted 2008 September 2.


Humour relies on dominant cultural values and outlooks in its environment in enacting its comic content. However, since humour sometimes encompasses global experiences, it often transcends artificial human barriers. Its transcendence has been facilitated through online digitized content, in the present case—Internet memes. In exploring transnationalization, fifty purposively selected memes are culled from the Facebook group Robert Mugabe Quotes and subjected to critical linguistic analysis. In the evaluation of the data which is achieved through the linguistic examination of cross-cultural themes in the formulation of identity, didactics, and ideology, sixteen memes, representative of the overarching tripartite concerns, are used as exemplifications. Reliant on the bipartite postulations of Critical Linguistic Stylistics—a linguistic theory that examines the style and peculiarities of linguistic data—and Relief Theory of Humour—which considers humour as a platform for the assuagement of tension and emotions, the memes are testamental of prevailing concerns— politics, technology, social/international relations, sex, male–female relations, etc.—in the human society at large. Linguistic markers such as oppositional expressions, capitalization, and other graphological features are annexed in meaning-formation. I conclude that although humour is generally regarded as a light-hearted routine geared towards the provision of momentary relief, a close scrutiny reveals that deep messages targeted at stimulating consciousness and social transformation find provenance in these artefacts.


Software for an automated film-reading system that uses personal computers and digitized shadowgraphs is described. The software identifies pixels associated with fiducial-line and model images, and least-squares procedures are used to calculate the positions and orientations of the images. Automated position and orientation readings for sphere and cone models are compared with those obtained using a manual film reader. When facility calibration errors are removed from these readings, the accuracy of the automated readings is better than the pixel resolution, and it is equal to, or better than, the manual readings. The effects of film-reading and facility calibration errors on calculated aerodynamic coefficients is discussed.


Abstract Background Early-onset group B streptococcal disease (EOGBS) occurs in neonates (days 0–6) born to pregnant women who are rectovaginally colonized with group B Streptococcus (GBS), but the risk of EOGBS from vertical transmission has not been systematically reviewed. This article, the seventh in a series on the burden of GBS disease, aims to estimate this risk and how it varies with coverage of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP), used to reduce the incidence of EOGBS. Methods We conducted systematic reviews (Pubmed/Medline, Embase, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS), World Health Organization Library Information System [WHOLIS], and Scopus) and sought unpublished data from investigator groups on maternal GBS colonization and neonatal outcomes. We included articles with ≥200 GBS colonized pregnant women that reported IAP coverage. We did meta-analyses to determine pooled estimates of risk of EOGBS, and examined the association in risk of EOGBS with IAP coverage. Results We identified 30 articles including 20328 GBS-colonized pregnant women for inclusion. The risk of EOGBS in settings without an IAP policy was 1.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], .6%–1.5%). As IAP increased, the risk of EOGBS decreased, with a linear association. Based on linear regression, the risk of EOGBS in settings with 80% IAP coverage was predicted to be 0.3% (95% CI, 0–.9). Conclusions The risk of EOGBS among GBS-colonized pregnant women, from this first systematic review, is consistent with previous estimates from single studies (1%–2%). Increasing IAP coverage was linearly associated with decreased risk of EOGBS disease.


PPUPIK Business Unit Muhammadiyah University Certified Plant Seed Production Center Makassar is a science and technology-based business unit that aims to develop campus entrepreneurship based on research results. The main product of this business unit is hybrid corn seeds, but in the process of producing corn seeds in addition to producing economically valuable corn seeds also produce corn waste which can cause problems if not handled. PPUPIK developed various waste corn compost products for the development of new business units. The production activities of various corn waste into compost products aim to make corn waste as a product of economic value and also as a place of practice for students in the application of science and technology and science-based entrepreneurial activities. The method of implementing the activity is divided into 5 stages, namely: 1) Production of various waste corn compost; 2) Analysis of nutrient content of compost; 3) Product label design; 4) Compost packaging; 5) Promotion and marketing of products. This activity involved students of the Faculty of Agriculture, the University of Muhammadiyah Makassar in the production, label design and promotion and marketing of products. The results obtained from this activity include; 1) students have experience in compost production, label design and product promotion and marketing; 2) the formation of a new business unit in PPUPIK activities; 3) produce economic value products from waste; 4) potential to get IPR.


The guarantee is regarded as the most common instrument used in the business of commercial banks. Being simplest and least expensive, it is regarded as the most acceptable form of security in the banking lending transactions. However, due to the 'unfettered discretion' that the law
gives to the creditor banker upon defaults, the reception of the instrument has decreased. This paper seeks to discuss the above issue in the light of Islamic legal point vis-a-vis the current position of Malaysian law of guarantee. The paper suggests that amendments should be made to the existing laws and this could be made through the process of harmonization of Islamic and Malaysian laws.


Folate, Vitamin B12, Homocysteine Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase C667T Polymorphism to Bone Mineral Density in Saudi Postmenopausal Women
.. Ardawi, A. Qari, M-S, Rouzi, A.
Objectives: To assess the relationship between plasma folate, vitamin B12 and total homocysteine (t-Hcy), together with methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C667Y polymorphism with bone mineral density (BMD) in Saudi postmenopausal women.
Subjects and Methods: A total of 576 Saudi postmenopausal women (50-67 years) who were randomly selected and living in Jeddah area were studied. Restriction fragment length polymorphism was used for genotyping of MTHFR polymorphism. Plasma levels of folate vitamin B12 and t-Hcy were measured together with BMD of the spine (L1-L4) and hip (determined by DXA technique) and other clinical characteristics among MTHFR genotypes (CC, CT and TT) were also examined. Pearson's correlations were used to assess the correlation between BMD values with variables including MTHFR genotypes, vitamin B12, log plasma t-Hcy, age, years since menopause, BMI and PTH. Women were classified into three groups according to CC, CCT and TT genotypes. Chi-square statistics were applied. ANOVA was used for comparison of variables among the MTHFR genotypes.
Results: BMD of the spine (L1-L4) (r = - 0.37, P < 0.001) and that of hip (r = 0.35, P < 0.001) exhibited significant negative correlations with log plasma tHcy and positive correlations with plasma folate [r = 0.26, P < 0.001 for spine (L1-L4); r = 0.29, P < 0.001 for hip], with no evident correlations between MTHFR polymorphism and BMD values studied. Adjustment for folate and vitamin B12 removed the relationship. Age (7.3%) and plasma folate18.8%) contributed significantly to the prediction of variation in plasma tHcy. Plasma folate contributed significantly to the variation in BMD of the spine (L1-L4) and that of the hip.
Conclusions: Hyperhomocysteinemia related to folate deficiency but without significant contribution by MTHFR polymorphism, independently was associated with decreased BMD values which may contribute to the pathogenesis of osteoporosis in Saudi postmenopausal women


SD in premenopausal obese women is frequent but the association with OSA has not been well recognized. We enrolled 35 women (age 41.4±7.7 yrs; BMI 42.8±5 kg/m2, waist circumference 130.6±10.3 cm) that were evaluated by means of Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), as well as hormonal and metabolic assessment. The presence of OSAS was assessed by a full standard polysomnography. The FSFI total score was 24.2±11.1 with 10 women scoring 15. Mean GHQ score was 4.3±3.7 and PSS median score 21.3±8.4, suggesting psychological distress. Mean LH, FSH and Estradiol values were in the normal range for the age. 22 women meet the criteria for OSAS diagnosis and 15 showed excessive daytime sleepiness. A statistically significant difference between women with abnormal or normal FSDS score was found for AHI (39.4±38 vs 18.8±15, p=0.03), GHQ (5.9±3.5 vs 2.9±3.3, p<0.01) and PSS (25.1±8.4 vs 18.1±7, p<0.01), respectively. A statistically significant correlations was found between AHI and FSDS (r=0.48, p=0.003), GHQ (r=0.42, p=0.01), or PSS score (0.39, p=0.02) but not with FSFI score that was only correlated to BMI (r=0.4, p=0.01). We conclude that obese women with OSAS showed an high prevalence of SD. Sexual function seems to be related to obesity itself while the sexual distress to the severity of OSA.


A Landau theory for surface enhanced ordering in free-standing smectic-A films is described, based on a generalization of de Gennes's "presmectic" model to systems which undergo a first-order smectic-isotropic transition in bulk. As found in related work on phase transitions in thin films, the system exhibits three phases, an isotropic liquid, a bulk-like ordered (smectic-A) phase, and a surface-ordered ("quasismectic") phase. Over much of its range, the temperature-thickness boundary between the bulk-ordered and surface-ordered phases is effectively characterized by a power-law relation similar to those observed for layer-thinning transitions in overheated free-standing smectic-A films.


The following questions are addressed in this study using an array of data and statistical methods: 1) does the North American monsoon region have a single dominant monsoon system; 2) if it has more than one, what are they; and 3) what are major causes of interannual monsoon rainfall variations in these systems? Results showed two dominant summer monsoon systems in the region: one in south-central Mexico, south of the 268N, and the other in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Monsoon rainfall variations in these regions are usually opposite to each other and have different causes. The interannual variations in monsoon rainfall in south-central Mexico were highly affected by interannual variations in the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) in the eastern tropical Pacific. A northern (southern) position of the ITCZ, often related to cooler (warmer) than normal sea surface temperatures in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, corresponded to strong (weak) monsoon. The ''land memory effect'' was evident in interannual variations of monsoon rainfall in the southwestern United States, shown by strong correlations of the summer rainfall variation versus antecedent winter precipitation anomalies in the western United States. However, the effect was not robust but varied fairly regularly. It was strong from approximately 1920 to 1930 and disappeared from 1931 to 1960. It regained its strength from 1961 to 1990 but has weakened again since 1990. The forcing of this variation was identified as a multidecadal variation in atmosphere circulations in the North Pacific‐North American sector and the land memory effect was part of this variation. This multidecadal variation has to be included in prediction methods in order for them to correctly describe seasonal and interannual variations in summer rainfall in the North American monsoon region.


We report on the study of a new plasma process for precise surface micromachining of polysilicon. The principle is based on the adaptation of the well-known Bosch process to polysilicon, alternating etch and passivation steps under inductively coupled plasmas (ICPs). However, instead of using ICPs for both steps, we chose to keep a C4F8-based ICP for the passivation step, while using a standard RF plasma with SF6 chemistry during etching. The effect of ICP power and gas flux over etch rates, etch profiles and selectivity was studied. It showed the ability to easily control the anisotropy angle using very few parameters, and was dedicated to the realization of micromechanical structures.


In vitro interaction of the pigeonpea wilt pathogen Fusarium udum and a biocontrol strain of Bacillus subtilis AF 1 showed that the fungus forms chlamydospore-like structures and increases vacuolation, when both cultures are simultaneously inoculated into potato dextrose broth. If B. subtilis AF 1 was inoculated after 24 h of growth of F. udum, chlamydospores were not formed and regular conidiation was observed. The growth of F. udum was significantly affected in the presence of AF 1 in terms of dry weight. Extracellular proteins of B. subtilis AF 1 reduced the growth of F. udum in proportion to the concentration of the protein precipitate. Cell-free filtrates of B. subtilis AF 1 prepared from chitin-containing medium showed chitinase activity. The formation of chlamydospore-like structures and vacuolated portions in mycelium of F. udum in the presence of AF 1 suggests that F. udum has a mechanism to tolerate mycolytic activity and grows slowly with regular conidiation.


Prognosis of uncontrolled Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a major reason of secondary complications. Which are eventually increasing the morbidities and mortalities in all over the world. The correct dose and protocols most probably reduce the chances of secondary complications. Therefore; we have aimed this case report to rationalize the antihyperglycemic drugs. A 51 years old woman with frequent chest pain, headache, neckache, sweating and radiating pain in left arm was presented in clinical setup. She has diabetes since the last 10 years and hypertensive since 5 years. Initially she tried to manage her disease by controlling her diet and then started Tab. Glucophage (Metformin) 250 mg in morning, 500 mg at bed time and Herbesser Tablet (Diltiazem) as antihypertensive agent. Afte some time her medications were changed; Tab Lowplat (Clopidogrel) Tab. Ulcenil, Tab Disprin CV 300 mg, Tab Herbesser 30 mg tid, Tab Nitromint, tab Vastarel MR bid and Atorvastatin 20 mg for 4 weeks. After 6 months, angioplastic report showed the same results. She was admitted again in same hospital for clinical support of her uncontrolled glucose, fluctuating blood pressure and development of secondary complications. It is thus inferred from this case report that the aggressive and irrational medications may develop the secondary complications. The patient with family history of diabetes and hypertension need more care. Thus it is understood that hypertension and diabetes should be treated seriously to avoid the complications.


Abstract Objective Attentional problems are common and have been associated with multiple psychiatric disorders. This study examined problems of sustained attention across a range of psychiatric disorders using a validated computerized trans-diagnostic attentional paradigm (a continuous performance task). We hypothesized that multiple psychiatric disorders, particularly attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), would be associated with pronounced attentional problems. Methods Totally, 576 non-treatment seeking participants (aged 18–29 years) were enrolled from general community settings, provided demographic variables, and underwent clinical assessments to detect mental health disorders. Each participant underwent the rapid visual information processing task, a validated computerized test measuring sustained attention. The two measures of sustained attention were the sensitivity index and target detection (proportion of targets detected). The profile of attentional deficits was examined across different disorders using z-scores relative to controls. Results Participants with social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), bulimia nervosa, and intermittent explosive disorder showed the greater impairment in target sensitivity, all with effect sizes of at least 0.8. Target detection was impaired across multiple disorders, with OCD and binge eating disorder exhibiting the most pronounced impairment. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and compulsive sexual behavior were associated with particularly spared performance on both measures. Discussion These data indicate that impaired attention is non-specific for ADHD and in fact several other disorders are associated with markedly larger deficits. Instead of clinicians assuming sustained attention problems are due to ADHD, a variety of disorders should be screened for when people report attentional problems. Future work should examine the contribution of comorbidities and psychoactive substances (prescribed or illicit) to the profiles identified.


Salmonellosis caused by bacterial genus Salmonella is associated with a high morbidity and mortality rate. Salmonellae can be divided into typhoidal serotypes (S. enterica ser. Typhi and S. enterica ser. Paratyphi A) and nontyphoidal Salmonella (NTS) serotypes. The two most common NTS serotypes isolated from human sources were S. enterica ser. Typhimurium and S. enterica ser. Enteritidis. NTS infection can present with diverse clinical manifestations, including gastroenteritis, bacteraemia, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, and endovascular infection. Intestinal perforation is an extremely rare and potentially fatal complication of severe salmonella infection. Herein, we report a case of invasive S. Enteritidis infection complicated by colonic perforation and pancytopenia. Following a colonic resection, the patient received a prolonged course of antimicrobial therapy and eventually recovered.


Solar power has a huge potential in electrifying rural communities, particularly in the developing world. It offers the possibility of a clean, affordable energy source which may reduce the environmental impact of existing, fossil fuel based sources. The life-cycle carbon emissions resulting from off-grid solar powered lighting solutions are an important factor influencing the environmental impact of implementing such solutions. This issue is particularly relevant when assessing the case for carbon financing for such a project. However, few studies have addressed the carbon saving potential of such off grid systems. Here, we analyse a distribution model known as a Solar Charging Kiosk which enables access to photovoltaic electricity for rural, off-grid communities. Using a kiosk which has been established in the Bugesera region of Rwanda as a model system, the carbon savings avoided from reduced use of kerosene based lighting are calculated based on real system performance and usage data of customers of the kiosk. Strategies to further increase the emissions mitigation potential of the system are proposed.


Structural optimization has received increasing attention in several different areas of engineering and has been identified as the most challenging and economically rewarding task in the field of structural design. In this context, the current paper proposes a methodology based on Evolutionary Structural Optimization (ESO) that corresponds to an evolutionary procedure applied for topological optimization in which the finite elements with the lowest stress levels are progressively removed from a structure. The optimization studies are applied for structures subjected to a transient dynamic response where different damping ratios are applied in the physical models, since its determination is extremely hard and can even change the structural stiffness in case of elastoplastic regime. Thus, a nonlinear behavior is considered to evaluate the effects for each damping ratio, and elastoplasticity theory for small strains is extended for a von Mises material with linear, isotropic work-hardening. For this purpose it is possible to evaluate a combination of different optimal topologies for the different damping ratios through an algorithm developed in the Python programming language. The stress levels present such a difference for each linear and nonlinear response, which characterizes a marked change in the structural stiffness of each analyzed model.


Cereal rye has recently gained attention as a winter cover crop in corn-soybean production systems. Seeded in the fall, cereal rye will grow before going into winter dormancy and resume growth early the following spring. Because cereal rye is harvested for grain in mid- to late-July, field management options for the remainder of the season are numerous. These include establishment of a perennial forage or summer cover crop, as well as an opportunity for mid-season manure application. In 2019, the average cereal rye yield for Minnesota was 39 bushels/acre and for Wisconsin was 34 bushels/acre, according to the USDA-National Agricultural Statistics Service (no such recent data is available for Iowa). Recent cereal rye variety trials conducted by the University of Minnesota, however, reported an average yield of 77 bushels/acre.


Aim To estimate trends in the prevalence of asthma, asthma-related symptoms and risk factors such as allergic rhinitis and smoking. Methods Three surveys were carried out on general population samples living in Pisa, Italy, in 1985-88 (PI1,n=3267), 1991-93 (PI2,n=2604) and 2009-2011 (PI3,n=1619). Subjects filled in standardized questionnaires on respiratory symptoms, asthma, rhinitis and smoking habits. In PI1 and PI2 the same questionnaire was administered, whilst in PI3 the IMCA2 questionnaire, with different wording of the questions (particularly about rhinitis), was used. To compare the diseases/symptoms prevalence within the samples the same age range (18-97 yrs) was selected. Comparison of variables across studies was performed by Pearson Chi-squared test. Results Both the prevalence of asthma diagnosis and current asthma attacks show a trend to increase. Current rhinitis increased from PI1 to PI2 and doubled from PI2 to PI3. Current smoking significantly decreased among the three surveys. * Subjects n =3250; • Estimation Conclusions Our results highlight a trend to increased prevalence rates of asthma, and especially rhinitis, among Italian adults. Despite the prevalence of rhinitis is consistent with recent literature (Bjerg, A. et al PLOS ONE, 2011), we underline that a different wording of the question might have determined an overestimation.


A hierarchical view of niche relations reconciles the scale-dependent effects of abiotic and biotic processes on species distribution patterns and underlies most current approaches to distribution modeling. A key prediction of this framework is that the effects of biotic interactions will be averaged out at macroscales - an idea termed the Eltonian noise hypothesis (ENH). We test this prediction by quantifying regional variation in local abiotic and biotic niche relations and assess the role of macroclimate in structuring biotic interactions, using a non-native invasive grass, Microstegium vimineum, in its introduced range. Consistent with hierarchical niche relations and the ENH, macroclimate structures local biotic interactions, while local abiotic relations are regionally conserved. Biotic interactions suppress M. vimineum in drier climates but have little effect in wetter climates. A similar approach could be used to identify the macroclimatic conditions under which biotic interactions affect the accuracy of local predictions of species distributions.


Pathogen R. solanacearum causes bacterial wilt disease in many crops. There is no chemical bactericide that can control bacterial wilt disease. ABSTRACT Bacillus amyloliquefaciens WH1 produces multiple antibiotics with antimicrobial activity and can control bacterial wilt disease caused by Ralstonia solanacearum. Antibacterial substances produced by WH1 and the regulation mechanism are unknown. In this study, it was found that difficidin, and to a minor extent bacillibactin, exhibited antibacterial activity against R. solanacearum. Lipopeptides, macrolactin, bacillaene, and bacilysin had no antibacterial activity. Ferric iron uptake transcriptional regulator Fur bound the promoter region of the dhb gene cluster of bacillibactin biosynthesis. Mutant Δfur showed a higher bacillibactin production and its antibacterial activity increased by 27% than wild-type WH1. Difficidin inhibited R. solanacearum growth and disrupted the integrity of the cells. Lack of transcription factor Spo0A abolished difficidin biosynthesis. Spo0A bound the promoter region of the dfn gene cluster of difficidin biosynthesis. Changing phosphorylation levels of Spo0A via deletion of phosphatase gene spo0E and histidine kinases genes kinA and kinD affected the biosynthesis of difficidin. Deletion of spo0E increased the phosphorylation level of Spo0A and consequently improved the difficidin production. The antibacterial activity of mutant Δspo0E and ΔkinA increased by 12% and 19%. The antibacterial activity of mutant ΔkinD decreased by 28%. Collectively, WH1 produced difficidin to disrupt the cell of R. solanacearum and secreted siderophore bacillibactin to compete for ferric iron. Spo0A regulated difficidin biosynthesis. Spo0A regulates quorum-sensing responses and controls the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in B. amyloliquefaciens. This study has important findings in the regulation mechanism of antibiotic synthesis and helps to improve antibiotic yield in Bacillus. IMPORTANCE Pathogen R. solanacearum causes bacterial wilt disease in many crops. There is no chemical bactericide that can control bacterial wilt disease. It is vital to find antagonistic microorganisms and antibacterial substances that can efficiently control bacterial wilt disease. B. amyloliquefaciens WH1 could inhibit the growth of R. solanacearum. Via genetic mutation, it was found that difficidin and to a minor extent bacillibactin produced by WH1 acted efficiently against R. solanacearum. The transcription factor Spo0A regulated the synthesis of difficidin. Phosphorylation of Spo0A affected the production of difficidin. Increasing the phosphorylation level of Spo0A improved the difficidin production and antibacterial activity. In-depth analysis of the regulation mechanism of antibiotic difficidin is meaningful for enhancing the control efficiency of WH1. B. amyloliquefaciens WH1 and the antibacterial substances have vast application potential in controlling bacterial wilt disease.


Blurb: To achieve educational objectives priority should be given to minimize the scarcity of finance and inefficiency of management practices. Accordingly, the teaching learning process can be more successful in educational institutions where resources are well managed. In contrast educational institutions with poor management practices tend to be unsuccessful. In most organizations materials consume the largest expenditures of the organizations' annual budget. Very little academic literature exists on this crucial issue. This book, therefore, provides useful information and shares the experience of Bahir Dar University/an Ethiopian higher education institution so that others can learn from this experience to improve their own practices. This analysis should help shed some lights on materials management in general and educational materials management in particular. The book should be especially useful for professionals and practitioners in education management and materials management fields or anyone else who may be considering the management and utilization of their material resources to successfully achieve their organizational objectives.


We have investigated the hot carrier (HC) reliability of nMOSFETs with an ultrashallow source/drain (S/D) extension, and found that lightly doped drain (LDD)-type HC degradation is accelerated. The lifetime strongly depends on the extension implantation dose or the implantation angle. A reduced overlap region between the gate electrode and drain diffusion seemed to exaggerate the LDD-type HC degradation. Angled implantation at over 10/spl deg/ effectively suppressed the degradation.


Background & Objective: In recent decades, there have been substantial changes in the design and delivery of medical education in congruence with the higher demand for improved professional competencies of medical graduates. Task-based learning is an integrated system and a multidisciplinary teaching and learning approach. In task-based learning, the focus of learning is a set of tasks addressed by a doctor in clinical practice. In this method, subjects are taught through the performance of tasks and understanding of concepts and mechanisms underlying the tasks. The aim of this study was to review articles on task-based learning in medical education. Methods: Electronic databases and publishers such as ScienceDirect, PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, SID, and Magiran were reviewed in 2014. All articles on task-based learning in medical education without consideration of publication date were collected. Studies which had the inclusion criteria (relevant to the field of medicine, having objectives, method, sample size, analysis, a specific conclusion, and availability of the full text) were selected. In total, 10 qualitative, quantitative, or mixed studies were selected for analysis. Results: Although task-based learning had been used in different levels and situations, evidence suggested that, in comparison to the traditional training method, it has more efficiency and effectiveness. Task-based learning is an important tool in medical education with positive effects on faculty members, students, and patients. Conclusion: This study has shown that task-based learning is a powerful educational strategy and has been accepted as an appropriate tool in teaching and learning activities in most medical schools. Therefore, it is recommended for the promotion of knowledge, skills, and professional competency. Key Words: Task-based learning, Medical education, Knowledge, Performance


This paper discusses data quality challenges in the context of eBusiness Transformation. It presents the major differences between traditional and eBusiness as they relate to business models, organizations, processes and technologies, and then outlines the differences with respect to data quality approaches. The scenarios described pose significant data quality (and other) challenges, and the paper discusses work in progress to construct a data quality strategy and implementation methodology.


A new light scattering facility utilizes a laser particle levitation technique to measure the angular distribution of light scattered by solid particles of size range 10-100 microm, over a- range of scattering angles between 16 and 167 degrees . The performance of the facility is illustrated by an excellent match between the observed scattering from a 33 microm-diam sphere and Mie theory prediction.


ABSTRACT Aim/Purpose This article offers a conceptual summary and critique of existing literature on doctoral writing and emotion. The article seeks to intervene in current debates about doctoral writing by re-positioning it as an affective-political practice Background Over recent decades public interest in the doctorate has expanded as it has become re-framed as a key component of national success in the global knowledge economy. It is within this context that the practice of doctoral writing has crystallised as an object of interest. While researchers have examined the increased regulation, surveillance, and intensification of doctoral writing, often this work is motivated to develop pedagogies that support students to meet these new expectations. At this point, there has been limited attention to what broad changes to the meanings and practices of doctoral writing feel like for students. Methodology The paper offers a conceptual review that examines the ways in which doctoral writing tends to be understood. A review of literature in the areas of doctoral writing, doctoral emotion, and critical studies of academic labour was undertaken in order to produce a more comprehensive understanding of the political and emotional dynamics of doctoral writing. Contribution It is intended that this conceptual research paper help researchers attend to the emotional context of doctoral writing in the current university context. Critical studies of academic work and life are identified as a possible platform for the development of future doctoral education research, and the conceptual tool of "affective-politics" is advanced as a novel frame for approaching doctoral writing research. Keywords affect, affective-politics, doctoral writing, doctoral education, emotion, neoliberalism INTRODUCTION It is the purpose of this article to re-frame doctoral writing as an affective-political practice. By talking about 'doctoral writing' I am referring to the production of a broad number of texts - from dissertations to funding applications and annual progress reports. Rather than adding to the body of empirical knowledge about doctoral education, this article pursues a different goal. It seeks to offer conceptual tools that can assist researchers to think about the practice of doctoral writing in alternative ways. The article extends an expanding body of research on the social practice of doctoral writing (Barnacle & Dall'Alba, 2014; Bosanquet & Cahir, 2015; Hopwood & Paulson, 2012; Kamler, 2008; Kamler & Thomson, 2006, 2008, 2014; A. Lee & Aitchison, 2009, Starke-Meyemng, 2011), as well as studies that have taken doctoral education as an emotionally and politically implicated phenomenon (Burford, 2014a, 2014b, 2014c, 2015a, 2016a; Devine & Hunter, 2016; Nutov & Hassan, 2011). While a group of researchers (myself included) have been advancing conversations about neoliberal change to universities and its impact on doctoral emotions, to date there has been no conceptual review published which critically analyses relevant literature, nor has there been any term available to group together this body of work. It is into this gap that this article enters by offering a review of relevant literature and advancing the framework of affective-politics. This article begins by characterising recent transformations to higher education and the impacts these have had on doctoral students and doctoral writing. Following this analysis, it is positioned in relation to two key debates in the postgraduate writing literature. …


Many pathologic and physiologic changes occur after brain injury. Many genes control these changes. Caspase plays an important role in neuron cell apoptosis and has concern with secondary brain injury. It is of great significance in the forensic science.


Sentiment classification is the task of labeling a review document according to the polarity of its prevailing opinion (favorable or unfavorable). In approaching this problem, a model builder often has three sources of information available: a small collection of labeled documents, a large collection of unlabeled documents, and human understanding of language. Ideally, a learning method will utilize all three sources. To accomplish this goal, we generalize an existing procedure that uses the latter two.We extend this procedure by re-interpreting it as a Naive Bayes model for document sentiment. Viewed as such, it can also be seen to extract a pair of derived features that are linearly combined to predict sentiment. This perspective allows us to improve upon previous methods, primarily through two strategies: incorporating additional derived features into the model and, where possible, using labeled data to estimate their relative influence.


This thesis discusses Ireland's rapid economic growth in the 1990s, in order to place in in the context of contemporary globalization debate. A great deal of the growth has been cited to stem from the state's encouragement of globalization, in terms of increasing exposure to global markets. I investigate the interactions between the state and market, in order to determine of the economic growth was a direct result of a hands-off policy, or if the state intervened with active policies. I found that there are four prominent areas where the state intervened to spur on growth; macroeconomic policies, industrial policy, EU-membership and the shaping of the social partnership agreements. I also compare the two most cited models said to characterize Ireland in the 1990s, the developmental state where in the state acts as a midwife to the industry, and the competition state model where market pressures restrains state power and results in social inequality. My findings are that Ireland shows characteristics of both models.


Abstract For a long time many of us have been writing books and papers and giving lectures on the best way to investigate accidents. This paper discusses some of the worst errors that investigators make. 1. The worst error: they think of a possible cause and then look for evidence that supports it.2. They quote human error as a cause.3. They blame individuals though many people have opportunities to prevent most accidents.4. They report that such an event has never occurred before.5. They keep the report secret6. They do not realise that the actions are the most important part of a report.7. They say that an accident will never happen again.8. They interview witnesses in the head office.


Abstract The unaccompanied or separated minor is, according to the European Union body of legislation regarding asylum and migration, one of the extremely vulnerable categories of persons, and the risk of vulnerability is amplified in the case of the unaccompanied or separated minor - asylum seeker. Ever since the EU pre-accession period Romanian legislation reconciled, according to the European model, the requirements of the rules on migration with humanism provisions in the field of child rights. The images in the media about the migratory flows in recent years have revealed a system that requires imperatively legislative changes, adapting procedures, innovative work tools, including the case of the unaccompanied minor asylum seeker. In this article I intend to analyze the existing legislative framework in Romania, highlighting the positive aspects of the law and those which I believe that should be reconsidered so that the interests of the minor in the asylum procedure to be properly protected.


Abstract : Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in Canadian women. To metastasize, cells must move through the stroma of the breast, enter the circulation, survive transit, exit the circulation, and form a secondary tumor. It is not fully understood how breast cancer cells gain the ability to move or what signaling pathways mediate these events, and identification of critical components of these pathways would represent potential targets for anti-metastatic therapies. The MUC1 glycoprotein is expressed on the apical membrane of normal breast epithelia. In many human breast carcinomas, MUC1 is overexpressed and loses apical polarization, events that correlate with increased metastasis. Several critical steps of the metastatic cascade require cell adhesion, and it has been reported that MUC1 is a ligand for ICAM-1, which is expressed throughout the migratory tract of a metastasizing breast cancer cell. It was subsequently reported that MUC1/ICAM-1 binding initiates calcium oscillations, cytoskeletal reorganization, and cell migration, suggesting that binding could be important in metastasis. Here, we investigate the mechanism of MUC1/ICAM-1 binding induced signaling. We show that MUC1 forms constitutive dimers which are required for Src recruitment and ICAM-1 binding induced signaling. We show that MUC1 dimers are not covalently linked and do not require cytoplasmic domain cysteine residues. These results reveal information on the mechanism of MUC1/ICAM-1 signalling, which can be used to identify novel targets and combinational strategies for anti-metastatic therapy in breast cancer.


The paper describes a distributed simulation system developed for evaluation of physical security systems. The work extends previous work by extracting several system components that were previously integrated into the simulation model and creating distributed modules that interact directly with the system database. This allows the modules to incorporate arbitrarily complex logic and to be developed without detailed knowledge of the structure or language to implement the principal simulation component.


The aim of the present work is to represent graphically the structures of a specific area of knowledge, from data extracted from the Web. The recent development of Internet network has facilitated the access to new resources, which has contributed to create new disciplines that try to exploit these resources. The main problems for their use are their location and processing. Through this work we will combine techniques of extraction, analysis and visualization of data, in order to define an architecture to solve the problems of processing resources. We will specifically explore two of the most important structures that define a scientific community, the subjects that generate a greater interest and its social network. As an example of the application of the architecture and the techniques used, we will present a study on the community of the JISBD using data extracted from the Web.


BACKGROUND
Osteoarthritis is a common, localized joint disease that causes pain, stiffness and reduced mobility. The effects of osteoarthritis on the extensional rheology of synovial fluid in the knees are not fully understood and consequently require further study.

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this work is to study the extensional rheology of osteoarthritic synovial fluid and to investigate a possible correlation between synovial fluid protein concentration and extensional rheology. The study will also investigate possible correlations with the shear rheology.

METHODS
21 osteoarthritic synovial fluid samples were studied under extensional flow with a capillary breakup extensional rheometer. Extensional rheological properties were correlated with protein concentration and with shear rheological properties measured in a prior study. Viscosupplement was also studied under extensional flow for comparison.

RESULTS
Extensional rheological properties were found to vary widely between samples, but in general were found to agree with previous studies. No statistically significant correlation was identified between extensional rheological properties and protein concentration. Positive correlations were identified between zero shear viscosity and terminal extensional viscosity (R-squared = 0.73), zero shear viscosity and extensional relaxation time (R-squared = 0.84), and shear relaxation time and extensional relaxation time (R-squared = 0.75).

CONCLUSIONS
Appropriate CaBER operating parameters for study of osteoarthritic synovial fluid were identified. No statistically significant correlation was found to exist between protein concentration and extensional rheological parameters. Positive correlations were identified between several shear and extensional rheological parameters. The reported values for extensional viscosity and relaxation times for synovial fluid were found to be within one order of magnitude with a recent study of post mortem synovial fluid.


On the behalf of the organizing and program committees, it is our pleasure to welcome you to the 2015 International Conference on Principles and Practices of Programming on the Java platform: Virtual machines, Languages, and Tools (PPPJ'15) in Melbourne, Florida. PPPJ'15 is the twelfth conference in the PPPJ series. It continues a tradition as a forum for researchers, practitioners, and educators to present and discuss novel results on all aspects of programming in the Java platform, including virtual machines, languages, tools, methods, frameworks, libraries, case studies, and experience reports.


Analysts often are interested in learning how much an exchange system has changed over time or how two different exchange systems differ. Identifying structural difference in exchange matrices can be performed using either 'directed' or 'undirected' methods. Directed methods are based on the computation and comparison of column- or row-normalizations of the matrices. The choice of row or column for the normalization implies a specific direction of the exchanges, so that the column-wise normalized results should not be compared to the row-wise normalized results. In this category fall the simple comparison of coefficient matrices and the causative method. Undirected methods do not impose such underlying constraints on exchanges. Hence, I present a set of undirected methods that can be used to compare structural matrices: the biproportional ordinary filter, the biproportional mean filter and the bi-Markovian filter. While doing so, I recall why the bicausative method must be dismissed. I then classify the methods according to their orientation and data needs, and illustrate how the results can differ from one method to the next using French tables for 1980 and 1997.


For aircraft and rocket engines there is a strong need to measure the pressure in the propulsion system at high temperature (HT) with a high local resolution. Miniaturized sensor elements commercially available show decisive disadvantages. With piezoelectric-based sensors working clearly above 500°C static pressures can not be measured. Optical sensors are very expensive and require complex electronics. SiC sensor prototypes are operated up to 650°C, but require high technological efforts. The present approach is based on resistors placed on top of a 2 mm diameter sapphire membrane (8 mm chip diameter). The strain gauges are made either of antimony doped tin oxide (SnO2 :Sb) or platinum (Pt). This material combination allows for matching the thermal coefficients of expansion (TCE) of the materials involved. The morphology of the SnO2 :Sb layer can be optimized to reduce surface roughness on the nanometer scale and hence, gas sensitivity. Antimony doping increases conductivity, but decreases the gauge factor. With this nanotechnological knowledge it is possible to adjust the material properties to the needs of our aerospace applications. Tin oxide was shown to be very stable at HT. We also measured a 2.5% change in electrical resistivity at room temperature at maximum membrane deflection. The maximum temperature coefficient of resistivity (TCR) is less than 3.5·10−4 K−1 in the temperature range between 25°C and 640°C. In addition to the device related research work, a novel reusable packaging concept is developed as housing is the main cost driver. After the chip is destroyed the functional device can simply be replaced — housing and contacts can be reused. The MEMS device is electrically contacted with a miniaturized spring mechanism. It is loaded from the harsh environment side into the HT stable metal housing. A cap is screwed into the housing and compresses the inserted seal ring against the chip. The part for electrical contacting on the opposite housing side is not disassembled. The MEMS device is not in direct contact with the housing material, but embedded between two adaptive layers of the same material as the device (sapphire) to decrease thermally induced mechanical stress. Overall weight is 46 g. This packaging concept has been successfully optimized so that the whole assembly can withstand 800°C and simultaneously provides sealing up to 250 bar! After testing in such harsh environment, the small packaging can still be unscrewed to exchange the MEMS device. Due to the reutilization, the packaging can be used far beyond the lifetime of HT MEMS devices.Copyright © 2006 by ASME


The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) are requesting comments on: (1) Whether to make the methadone regulations concerning narcotic addiction more flexible to accommodate more readily changes in medical practice while at the same time providing quality care and protecting against illicit diversion; and (2) whether to revise or eliminate the recordkeeping, reporting, and other requirements that may be unnecessary and/or overly burdensome as a result of changes in the state-of-the-art. The agencies will use information received in comments to determine appropriate changes to the methadone regulations. This action is the result of a retrospective review of the methadone regulations as required by law and by directive of the Office of Management and Budget.


The incidence of bone sarcomas among 3055 female radium-dial workers who entered the dial industry before 1950 was used to determine dose-response relationships for the induction of bone sarcomas by radium. Two subpopulations were analyzed: all measured cases who survived at least 5 yr after the start of employment and all cases who survived at least 2 yr after first measurement. The first constituted a group based on year of entry; it contained 1468 women who experienced 42 bone sarcomas; the expected number was 0.4. The second comprised a group based on first measurement; it contained 1257 women who experienced 13 bone sarcomas; the expected number was 0.2. The dose-response function, I = (C + alpha D + beta D2)e-gammaD, and simplifications of this general form, were fit to each data set. Incidence (I) was in units of bone sarcomas per person-yr; (D) was the quantity (muCi) of radium that entered the blood. Two functions, I = (C + alpha D + beta D2)e-gammaD and I = (C + beta D2)e-gammaD, fit the data for year of entry (p greater than or equal to 0.05); both these functions and I = (C + alpha D) fit the data for first measurement. The function I = (C + beta D2)e-gammaD was used to predict the number of bone sarcomas in all other pre-1950 radium cases (medical, laboratory and other exposures); fewer were actually observed than the fit of this function to the female dial workers predicted.


Purpose Mesoporous silica (MS) have been considered as a biocompatible compound and found to have various pharmaceutical applications. Recently, novel approaches in applications of MS as antidote agents were introduced. In this study, the capacity of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid modified mesoporous silica (MS-EDTA) was evaluated in in vitro and in vivo adsorption of copper (Cu). Methods The MS-EDTA was characterized by fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and X-ray diffraction, while surface area was determined by N2 adsorption–desorption technique. Morphological studies were observed by high resolution-transmission electron microscopy and field emission-scanning electron microscopy and the sizes were determined by dynamic light scattering. The capacity of these particles for copper adsorption was investigated in vitro in both 1.2 and 7.2 pH. In in vivo animal study, the Cu adsorption efficiency of MS-EDTA in Cu-overdosed mice was evaluated. In this case, an animal model of acute copper poisoning was prepared. Results The MS-EDTA with surface area of 352.35 was synthesized. Scanning electron microscope showed spherical particle formation with less than 500 nm in size. Transmission electron microscope images showed porous and honeycomb structure. FT-IR spectroscopy showed an appropriate formation of functional groups. Particle efficiency was investigated for Cu adsorption. MS-EDTA in both media showed a high adsorption capability for Cu (II) adsorption in pH=1.2 and pH=7.2. In addition, the study of Langmuir, Freundlich, and Redlich–Peterson adsorption models showed that copper adsorption by MS-EDTA followed the Freundlich model with multi-layer adsorption. In vivo evaluation showed that MS-EDTA could alleviate the symptoms of acute copper poisoning by lowering Cu plasma levels. Conclusion Structural evaluation showed successful formation of MS-EDTA. In vitro analysis demonstrated that supreme Cu adsorption occurs in both pH conditions (7.2 and 1.2), and was especially more favorable in simulated intestinal pH (7.2). The in vivo studies in animal models with acute Cu poisoning showed that MS-EDTA could be a potent antidote agent.


Summary form only given. For the industrial electroporation of plant cells it is of advantage to set up the electroporation reactor in a bipolar configuration. With the electrodes pulsed simultaneously with the same voltage of opposite polarity, in order to achieve the same electric field strength, less effort for the insulation to ground is necessary than for an unipolar reactor. The required voltage can be delivered by a bipolar Marx generator. For a reliable operation of such a configuration, the way the generator and the load are grounded is essential. To prevent the power supply from an over-voltage in the case of an undesired Hash-over inside the electroporation reactor, a good ground connection at the center of the generator keeps the potential at the supply clamps low. But this measure has an influence on the coupling of the two sides of the generator during the switching process and might require an additional capacitive coupling path. A transient insulation to ground by means of a coil fosters a better switching behavior, but in the case of a flash-over the generator potential may float resulting in an over-voltage. Here, an additional over-voltage protection for the power-supply is required. In the work the different approaches for the ground connection are discussed.


Abstract Objective: Evidence about the role of nutritional status (NS) on functional outcomes (FO) after rehabilitation in older adults is scarce. Our aim was to analyze the association between NS and FO in older adults admitted to geriatric rehabilitation units. Methods: The Sarcopenia And Function in Aging Rehabilitation (SAFARI) multicenter study enrolled patients aged ≥65 years admitted to geriatric rehabilitation units in Italy and Spain. FO were absolute and relative functional gain (AFG-RFG) in Barthel Index (BI) at 1 and 3 months after admission. The association between NS (Mini Nutritional Assessment–Short Form) and FO was explored using linear regression and mixed models, adjusted for potential confounders. Analyses were then stratified for diagnosis at admission. Results: We included 415 patients (mean age 81.4 years [SD: 7.7]; 67% female; 9.4% malnourished [MN], 42.7% at risk of malnutrition [RM], and 48% well nourished [WN]). Admission diagnoses were hip fracture (39.5%), elective orthopedic surgery (EOS) (29.5%), and stroke (31%). In an adjusted linear mixed model, MN and RM participants had lower BI compared to WN (MN: β: −8.47, p = 0.023; RM: β: −5.22, p = 0.031), and differences between groups remained stable over time. After stratification for admission diagnosis, only MN patients admitted after EOS had worse FO, both at 30 days (AFG: β adjusted: −13.54, p < 0.001; RFG: β: −32, p < 0.001) and 3 months (AFG: β adjusted: −17.79, p < 0.001; RFG: β: −26.77, p = 0.002). Conclusions: In our sample, poor NS is associated with worse BI in older adults admitted to geriatric rehabilitation units; in patients undergoing EOS, MN is associated with worse FO. Our results documented for the first time the importance of assessing nutritional status before EOS.


Epilepsy is one of the most complex medical and social problems [2]. The high prevalence of the disease in the children's population of Uzbekistan (10 cases per 1000 population) determines the need to develop effective measures for early diagnosis, the search for new approaches to the correction of clinical manifestations and the prevention of complications of epilepsy [1]. MRI and CT are, in essence, representatives of structural neuroimaging, that is, they identify exclusively organic disorders, leaving any functional shifts beyond the boundaries of recognition. Meanwhile, it is functional disorders that are the area of special interest in epileptology [7]. The immense sensitivity of MRI allowed us to create a special type of MP studies capable of identifying significant changes in the functional state of the brain - primarily in aspects of regional cerebral blood flow and metabolic activity. This type of tomography is called functional MRI. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.


The renal arteries are a pair of branches from abdominal aorta. Variations are very common in the anatomy of renal arteries because of their complex embryological development. During routine dissection in a 60 year old adult male cadaver, multiple variations were found in the right renal artery and the hilar vascular architecture of the right kidney. The origin of right testicular artery was different from the normal anatomy. Knowledge regarding such variations is very important for the urologists and interventional radiologists.


A standard stringent strain of Escherichia coli makes little or no ribosomal ribonucleic acid (RNA) during starvation for an essential amino acid, whereas the isogenic relaxed strain makes both ribosomal and messenger RNA. A third class of strains was found which continues to make ribosomal RNA during starvation, but the RNA made is apparently unstable. There is little accumulation of RNA in the third class of strains, and few complete newly formed chains of 3H-ribosomal RNA are observed in sedimentation analyses, even after long labeling times.


Objective: The aim of this study was to assess ER, PR and HER2-neu expression in the specimens obtained by core needle biopsies (CNB) and to correlate the findings with some clinicopathological parameters such as (age, family history, side of breast lump, histological type and grade).
Methods: This cross- sectional study was conducted on 62 female patients complaining of palpable breast lumps. All were subjected to the triple assessment test. Patients with mammography or ultrasonography results signifying BI-RADS 4 or   BI-RADS 5 were selected for core needle biopsy using freehand automated gun instrument. Twenty –three out of 52 malignant cases (44.2%) were with positive scores for ER. Twenty-six (50%) of cases were positive regarding PR expression. HER2/neu overexpression revealed positive scores in 22 cases (42.3%).
Results: The correlation between expression of ER, PR and HER2/neu with family history, the side of breast lump and pathological type of carcinoma were statistically not significant. On the other hand, a significant correlation was noted between HER2neu expression and women's age; the positive expression was more demonstrated among younger aged women (mean age 45 year), nevertheless, this correlation was not significant with ER,PR expression.  Significant correlation was also found between HER2/neu over expression in breast cancer specimens and the histopathological grading, while that association was not maintained for ER and PR expression.
Conclusion: Immunohistochemical assessment of hormone receptors and HER2/neu expression  in  specimens of  breast cancer tissues obtained by CNB technique can indicate tumor aggressiveness and further  need for neoadjuvant therapy before surgical intervention.


In the modern world, organizations are considered as intelligent systems. Increased Organizational Intelligence (OI) helps organizations to effectively analyze their data, store results, and use outcomes for making professional decisions. The purpose of this study was to measure OI in Agriculture- Jihad Organization in Guilan. A sample of 201 out of personnel was selected from in Agriculture- Jihad Organization in Guilan (N=1296) through a proportional cluster sampling technique. The instrument of the study included 7 intelligence constructs measured against 49 items. Results indicated a medium level of OI in the Guilan Agricultural- Jihad Organization. Among the intelligence components, 'shared fate' received highest ratings and 'appetite for change' received the lowest ratings. The confirmatory factor analysis indicated that of the seven intelligence components, the 'heart' explained highest proportion of variance for describing OI. Findings have implication for designing policies and developing programs for enhancing the OI. It is recommended that Agriculture- Jihad Organization in Guilan should examine and measure their OI and identify strategies to achieve a high level of OI needed for professional success.


ABSTRACT This study examines how Korean learners of Chinese perceive Chinese native speakerism, especially in relation to Choseonjok, or Korean-Chinese people. In-depth individual interviews were conducted with 47 Korean learners of Chinese who attended private Chinese language institutes or in-company Chinese programmes. The transcribed interviews were examined using grounded theory. The findings demonstrate that Chinese native speakerism in South Korea is highly contextualised and intertwined with notions of model pronunciation, ethnicity, nationality and identity. Most participants believed that the Chinese pronunciation of Choseonjok would be less standard than that of native Chinese speakers living in Beijing. Although the participants considered Choseonjok Chinese speakers to be less competent than native Chinese, they categorised Choseonjok as Chinese, pointing out that being able to speak Korean is not enough to become Korean, and that Choseonjok lack emotional loyalty towards Korea. The participants also considered Choseonjok to be unsuited to work as Chinese language teachers and more suited to certain jobs that Korean nationals avoid. This study critically demonstrates how native speakerism can be instantiated in accordance with sociocultural constructs and how this can contribute to a reconceptualisation of native speakerism, especially in a non-English case.


ABSTRACT In the context of water management, designing and implementing bottom-up governance regimes that are more sensitive to local knowledge and provide for the direct participation of local actors is of growing interest. Mechanisms that facilitate the successful devolution of authority to local actors remain a challenge, however. This article seeks to understand whether the 'Rights of Nature' approach could be a used as a mechanism for transferring decision-making responsibility to local actors. A case study of the Whanganui River, Aotearoa New Zealand, suggests that granting legal rights to nature does help foster more bottom-up governance by using the social norms, customs, traditions, beliefs, and values of individuals within the community to shape the decision-making framework. The analysis highlights the role that local beliefs and customs play in enabling the transfer of decision-making responsibility to lower levels of an institutional arrangement when implementing the 'Rights of Nature' approach.


Objective: At present, the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is causing a major pandemic. COVID-19 is caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-2 (SARS-COV-2). In COVID-19, the patient generally presents with fever, dry cough, and respiratory and signs and symptoms. Other system involvement has also been reported. Abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea are the predominant gastrointestinal symptoms, underlined in the literature. In this article, we summarized the important GIT characteristics of the disease. Methods: We conducted a literature search using four databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Clinicaltrials.gov). Our search strategy included MeSH terms and keywords for COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, and gastrointestinal system from inception to December 2020. After excluding review articles, duplicates, and non-relevant, we included 60 studies out of 558 articles reporting gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Using the 'meta' package (Schwarzer et al.) in the R programming language, version 4.0.2, a compute pooled analysis using the random effect model was performed. Results: The overall prevalence any GI signs and symptoms in affected patients with COVID-19, was 27% (95% CI: 21-35) (p<0.05) (I2 =94%).GI as an initial presentation was reported in five studies with prevalence of 34% (95% CI: 05-83) (p<0.01) (I2 =88%), diarrhea 16% (95% CI: 12-19) (p=0.01) (I2 =94), anorexia 29% (95% CI: 22-38) (p<0.01) (I2 =96%), abdominal pain 16% (95% CI: 11-20) (p<0.01) (I2 =95%), and nausea/vomiting 17% (95% CI: 13-22) (p<0.01) (I2 =88%). Severe COVID-19 with GI symptoms were reported with prevalence of 25% (95%CI: 19-31) (p<0.01) (I2 =90%). Haptic abnormality was reported with prevalence of 22% (95% CI: 14-33) (p<0.01) (I2 =97%). Conclusion: We perceive that COIVD-19 may have several gastrointestinal manifestations, and in many cases, GI involvement may precede typical upper respiratory tract symptoms. Holistic knowledge of the spectrum of the COVID-19 GI consequences is crucial to get a hold of the virus spread.


Renewable energies including solar energy requirements for refrigeration and air conditioning are increasingly gaining interest due to the refrigerants friendly to the environment. However, it was found that these technologies have some limitations like the low performance and their high cost. This paper proposes a comparative study of a solar adsorption refrigeration machine. The study consists in determining the influence of thermodynamic parameters of operation on the performance of the system. This is based on a thermodynamic model using different types of adsorbent / adsorbate pairs. The main parameters considered in this study are: temperature of generation, evaporation, maximum heating temperature, condensation pressure as well as the type of the pair used: activated carbon / methanol and zeolite / water. Simulations for different thermodynamic parameters show that the COP is very sensitive to the generation and evaporation temperatures as well as the maximum heating temperature, on the other hand it was slightly influenced by the condensation pressure. The results obtained have shown that the AC / methanol pair is more profitable than the zeolite / water pair.


Ischemic s troke has been classified as a merely thrombotic disease, so the main goal of its treatment is the recanalization of the occluded vasculature. However, despite fas t res toration of blood circulation, progressive s troke s till develops in many patients, which has led to the concept of reperfusion injury. The underlying mechanism is only partly known. Though, it is accepted now, that thrombotic and inflammatory pathways are key contributors to ischemic s troke, leading to the concept of thrombo-inflammation. In the acute phase after s troke, thrombo-inflammation occurs at the site of ischemic vascular injury, where platelets bind to von Willebrand factor and become activated. Downs tream cascades lead to the activation of the contact-kinin sys tem, resulting in endothelial cell damage, expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, recruiting immune cells to the side of damage, and supporting immune cell migration into the brain. Activated platelets, the damaged vasculature and attracted immune cells conspire together inducing secondary thrombotic events. In our s troke s tudies, we significantly improved the s troke outcome in rodents after blocking members of the thrombo-inflammation sys tem (e. g. platelet receptors (GP1b), blood coagulation proteins (Kinin, F12), or immune cells (T cells)) in the acute phase. Therefore, anti-thrombo-inflammatory s trategies could become novel treatment approaches in the future.


Al-Qur'an is guidance for mankind, loaded with content and very comprehensive orientation. According to Said Nursi, though it's words are limited, but actually the content of the meaning is no limits. The firmament capacity has very broad scope, covering various dimensions of life. In this article, before concluding Nursi's perspective on maqāsid al-Qur'an , the writer sets forth some mufassir to compare and analyze the views of Nursi began from Fakhruddin al-Razi, al-Ghazali, al-Syatibi, Muhammad Abduh and Ibn Ashur. In the end, Nursi asserts there are at least four fundamental contents of al-Qur›an, that is monotheism, prophethood, resurrection and justice. The more admirable according to Nursi, four of this al-Qur›an contains are often found together in one sura, or together in a single verse (unity of the Qur›an). That is why, these four have a strong influence on al-Qur›an is I'jaz . And of the last four issues, the only one that can be proofed in human life is the justice, which includes not only in religious aspect of the shari'ah , but has a broad spectrum in human real life, begining from economic aspect, social, political, legal and other humanitarianism. In this point, moral values accentuate seemed very strong, as the basis of valuable and meaningful life, because the peak of morality is the principle of altruism, or khidmah to another person or party.


In 1951, the American Library Association (ALA) Council approved new standards for accrediting library education programs. These standards shifted accreditation from the bachelor's degree to the master's degree, making the master's degree in library science the professional credential for entry into the profession. At the time, librarians believed this change would transform the practice of librarianship, the nature of library education, and the social standing of librarianship as an occupation. In The MLS Project: An Assessment after Sixty Years, Boyd Keith Swigger examines the reasons the American Library Association enacted the change and looks at the consequences of this decision. Reviewing the last several decades, Swigger addresses a number of concerns: What were librarians' and library educators' arguments for changing the system of library education? What problems were they trying to solve? What were their objectives? Did the change in the structure of library education solve the problems perceived in the late 1940s? Have the objectives set then been accomplished in the half century since? What have been the intended and unintended outcomes of the change? In his review, Swigger draws general conclusions about the MLS Project, the perception of librarianship, libraries, the developments of curriculums in library schools, and how librarianship compares to the new information professions. The MLS Project is an informative and critical evaluation that every librarian should read.


Objectives. The Association of Philippine Medical Colleges (APMC) responded to the global call for transformative learning by conducting a series of Faculty In-service Training. This study was commissioned to determine faculty trainees' perceptions of the program in terms of relevance, comprehensiveness, and quality. It also described their applications of the program in their delivery of instruction, assessment, organization, and management skills.
Methods. This is a sequential explanatory mixed-method research. The quantitative phase refers to the analysis of the rating scale accomplished by participants as feedback. The qualitative phase includes analysis of focus group discussion results and actual course syllabi used by selected participants, including medical schools' documents. Both data were integrated using a combination of descriptive statistics, measures of central tendency and dispersion, as well as joint displays.
Results. APMC conducted six in-service trainings from 2015 to 2018. Themes focused on medical teachers' roles as instructional designers, facilitators, assessors of learning, and as leaders and managers. Respondents perceived the programs as most relevant, comprehensive, and interesting. The syllabi, instructional resources, and assessment instruments and practices were consistent with the standards of the Commission on Higher Education. Medical teachers showed that they use innovative teaching and assessment strategies, and are dealing with medical education's continuous challenges.
Conclusion. Faculty participants perceived the APMC in-service training programs most favorably for capacitating them to enhance their teaching skills and inculcate the culture of quality in medical schools. APMC's training also reflects the organization's commitment to social accountability.


In this study, the influence of long-term annealing at intermediate temperatures on oxygen transport of Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3 d (BSCF) and 3 mol% Zr-doped BSCF (BSCF-Z3) ceramics with different grain sizes was studied by means of in situ electrical conductivity relaxation (ECR) measurements. Ceramics with different grain sizes in the range of 3–80 mm were obtained by varying the temperature and dwell time during sintering. For both compositions, the apparent values of the chemical diffusion coefficient Dchem and surface exchange coefficient kchem extracted from the data of ECR measurements are found to decrease with the time of annealing. The strongly correlated decreases in Dchem and kchem, being greater in magnitude at a lower grain size and temperature, are observed significantly more pronounced for BSCF than for BSCF-Z3. The results from microstructural analysis provide a clear rationale for the observations from ECR. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images recorded before and after annealing under pure oxygen at 700 C for 13 d show excessive formation of hexagonal and plate-like lamellar precipitates at the grain boundaries and in the interior of grains of BSCF ceramics during the annealing process, whilst secondary phase formation is restricted solely to the grain boundary regions in BSCF-Z3. The possible importance of grain boundaries in determining the oxygen surface exchange kinetics is emphasized.


Bill de Blasio ran for mayor of New York City in 2013 on the promise of providing free preschool to every 4-year-old in the city. After he won, his administration went looking for a high-quality prekindergarten math curriculum, one vetted by researchers, that has improved the math skills of young children in other cities. In short, the mayor wanted something that "worked." In the end, school officials settled on Building Blocks, a program developed by mathematics education professors Douglas Clements and Julie Sarama, which had boosted student achievement in several other cities. But Building Blocks has a dismaying feature that is common to other preschool interventions: Children using it chalk up glowing initial results, only to see the gains fade over the next few years. The fade-out phenomenon has raised questions about how researchers and policymakers should evaluate interventions like Building Blocks, and whether they are asking the right questions.


Data on 75 567 ejaculates from 1 417 boars of the breeds Czech Large White and Czech Landrace collected in 23 AI centres between 2000 and 2007 were analyzed. Fixed effects were estimated from a four-trait animal model for semen volume, sperm concentration, motility and percentage of abnormal spermatozoa and from single-trait animal models for the total number of spermatozoa and the number of functional spermatozoa. Both the total number of spermatozoa and the number of functional spermatozoa were highest in winter and lowest in summer. Boar's age had a strong influence on semen volume, the total number and the functional number of spermatozoa; these traits increased especially in the first phase. The percentage of abnormal spermatozoa also increased with age. An interval between successive collections of 7 to 10 days yielded the best values for all semen traits. As semen traits are of direct economic importance for AI centres, it can be expected that the estimation of breeding value for semen traits will become important and that AI centres will choose among top boars for production and female reproduction traits the boars with better semen production.


This article describes an acoustic system to visualise the location of partial discharges in electric power equipment. The system consists of an acoustic sensor array, a signal acquisition system, and signal-processing algorithms. The final result is an acoustic image of the sources of partial discharges that can be superimposed over an optical image. This study describes the characteristics of the sensor array, the processing algorithms used to locate sources of partial discharges, and the experimental performance results.


This study was carried out on the behaviour of two species of sympatric fiddler crabs on Abi estuary, Bandar Abbas, Iran. Species differences in activity level, grooming, burrowing, muddy structure construction and feeding were all related to their habitat and food source. The more common Uca annulipes lives in low muddy areas along the edges of small streams while Uca sindensis lives in small patches on the higher areas with sandier sediment. At low tide, both species spent most of their time feeding, while at high tide they retreated into their burrows. Both species frequently walked while feeding and interacted aggressively. There were similarities in the feeding behaviour of these species: they fed at the same times of the tidal cycles, they were more likely to engage in courtship and mating behaviour during February–September and were least aggressive at this time. In both species, crabs excavated mud balls from their burrows and placed them away from their burrow entrances. There were, however, also differences between the species. Uca annulipes constructed mud hoods at the entrance to their burrows while U. sindensis did not; and the species differed in feeding rate.


A one-dimensional hybrid analytical-numerical global model of atmospheric pressure, radio-frequency (rf) driven capacitive discharges is developed. The feed gas is assumed to be helium with small admixtures of oxygen or nitrogen. The electrical characteristics are modeled analytically as a current-driven homogeneous discharge. The electron power balance is solved analytically to determine a time-varying Maxwellian electron temperature, which oscillates on the rf timescale. Averaging over the rf period yields effective rate coefficients for gas phase activated processes. The particle balance relations for all species are then integrated numerically to determine the equilibrium discharge parameters. The coupling of analytical solutions of the time-varying discharge and electron temperature dynamics, and numerical solutions of the discharge chemistry, allows for a fast solution of the discharge equilibrium. Variations of discharge parameters with discharge composition and rf power are determined. Comparisons are made to more accurate but numerically costly fluid models, with space and time variations, but with the range of parameters limited by computational time.


This book is about the study on factors affecting completion rates in the Open Universities in the developing countries. It uses Open University of Tanzania (OUT) as a case. It presents the completion rates in the Open Universities for the developing countries which have been low, particular at (OUT), which records completion rate of 23%, comparing to the University of South Africa, recording 54% by 2006. It uses the Tinto Model to guide the inquiry.The mixed method design was used to generate data. It presents the findings about the students who failed to complete their studies in the said countries particularly at (OUT). The problems found were shortage of study materials, students' low commitment in studies, financial difficulties, and supervision delays for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. The book further, presents the findings indicating that the students could be helped to complete their studies if they were using the Open Educational Resources (OERs). The strategies that could be used by the Open Universities to facilitate completion on time were, the use of peer coaching, e-counseling, face to face with tutorials and on demand examinations.


Tuberculosis can involve almost any organ of the body. In the central nervous system (CNS) it can cause meningitis, tuberculoma, abscess, or other manifestations. Around 10% of all patients with tuberculosis have CNS involvement. Tuberculosis is rampant in the developing world and has reemerged as a major public health menace with the HIV pandemic. Compared with HIV-negative individuals, HIV-positive individuals with TB are 5 times more likely to have CNS involvement. We review the CNS manifestations of tuberculosis here in this article.