Abstract. Deformable mirrors (DMs) have wide applications ranging from astronomical imaging to laser communications and vision science. However, they often require bulky multi-channel cables for delivering high power to their drive actuators. A low-powered DM, which is driven in a contactless fashion, could provide a possible alternative to this problem. We present a photomagnetically actuated deformable mirror (PMADM) concept, which is actuated in a contactless fashion by a permanent magnet and low-power laser heating source. We present the laboratory demonstration of prototype optical surface quality, magnetic control of focus, and COMSOL simulations of its precise photocontrol. The PMADM prototype is made of a magnetic composite (polydimethylsiloxane + ferromagnetic CrO2) and an optical-quality substrate layer and is 30.48  mm  ×  30.48  mm  ×  175  μm in dimension with an optical pupil diameter of 8 mm. It deforms to 5.76  μm when subjected to a 0.12-T magnetic flux density and relaxes to 3.76  μm when illuminated by a 50-mW laser. A maximum stroke of 8.78  μm before failure is also estimated considering a 3  ×   safety factor. Our work also includes simulation of astigmatism generation with the PMADM, a first step in demonstrating control of higher order modes. A fully developed PMADM may have potential application for wavefront corrections in vacuum and space environments.


Industrialization and the emergence of new industrial centers of Russia led to the emergence of workers communities and emergence of seasonal work ( otkhodnichestvo ) phenomenon. Analyzing the distribution of Tatar workers by the country's enterprises, the author notes that most of them did not work in non-Muslim factories, forming there a local Muslim groups. Muslim workers faced to the need to transform traditional social institutions in the new environment. The article addresses such issues as an arrangement of religious life, introduction of religious holidays to the working schedule, the establishment of the official religious community and the right to build the mosque, fulfillment of funeral rites. Particular attention is paid to the issue of election of a Muslim cleric ( mullah ) in such communities and his salary.


This work presents a software tool for modeling of mass transfer physicochemical processes occurring in the atmosphere. The implemented algorithms provide an efficient theoretical frame for the interpretation of the results obtained from Coated Wall Flow Tube (CWFT) reactor experiments, which is one of the most adequate techniques to study heterogeneous kinetics. The numerical simulations are based on the fundamental Langmuir adsorption theory by ordinary differential equations and the second Fick's law described by partial differential equations. The main application of the system is to estimate the basic parameters that characterize the processes. The best parameter estimation is found by minimizing the difference between experimental signals from the CWFT reactors and the obtained numerical simulations. A numerical example for an experimental data fit is given.


Biotype (BT) 1A Yersinia enterocolitica is considered a group of organisms that is harmless given the lack of classical virulence factors, characteristic of pYV bearing strains. BT 1A Y. enterocolitica strains are common in the environment and in livestock, particularly the pig, with no adaption to specific niches. However, several studies have reported that some BT 1A strains are opportunistic pathogens, causing gastrointestinal disease in humans, with symptoms resembling those caused by Y. enterocolitica pathogenic strains. Furthermore, some BT 1A strains were found to be able to persist inside human macrophages and epithelial cells, and colonise mouse organs, in a mouse model of infection. Currently, no clear virulence factors are identified that might be associated with the pathogenic potential of some BT 1A strains. Recently, a novel Type III secretion system (TTSS) has been discovered named YGT; this was present in the chromosome of Y. enterocolitica non-pathogenic BT, but it is not yet characterised. Considering that TTSSs are essential for the pathogenicity of many bacteria, this piece of work aimed to study the potential role of YGT in BT 1A strains through YE53/03, the BT 1A reference strain. Bioinformatic analysis performed during the early stage of this project uncovered a high level of similarity between YGT and SPI-2 TTSS in Salmonella spp. YGT is found intact in YE53/03, the non-pathogenic BT 1A strain. Through the in silico analysis of YGT, 15 structural apparatus, 5 effectors, 2 chaperones and 3 regulator proteins were identified. Gene expression studies of YGT using RT-PCR showed that YGT is expressed in YE53/03 BT 1A strain, and induced in minimal media. Preliminary proteomics study of YGT suggested that YGT island is transcribed in YE53/03 and that proteins were being secreted from YGT. The mutation of a YGT apparatus encoding gene, ygtV, resulted in attenuation of YE53/03 strain in its ability to survive within cultured human macrophages, U937 and THp-1, being completely cleared after 24h, whilst the wild type persisted for 48h following infection. Furthermore, YGT mutant was also attenuated in its ability to reside in HEp-2 cells, although this was not the case at the adhesion level. Conversely, YGT was found to be dispensable for Galleria mellonella killing, and surviving simple innate immunity. This study also showed tentative evidence regarding the role of YGT in virulence of the BT 1A YE53/03 strain, in a mouse model of infection. Our data provide a new insight into the importance of YGT to BT 1A Y. enterocolitica group.


A phototransient technique, previously described by Das Gupta and Tindell (1972), has been used to investigate trapping centres in low-density polyethylene in the energy range 0.05-0.25 eV. Trapping centres were found with activation energies of 0.19 eV and 0.08 eV at temperatures of 20 degrees C and -130 degrees C respectively. A linear change in activation energy with applied electric field was observed and was initially analysed using a linear Stark-effect-type shift. However, a more useful approach was found by determining the mobilities of carriers associated with a hopping process. These mobilities were calculated according to a theoretical model proposed by Mott and Gurney (1940), using trap densities described by McCubbin (1962).


Abstract Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are used in many dijjerent patient populations. The indications for use vary and include infusions of hyperalimentation, chemotherapeutic agents, hyperosmolar solutions, antibiotics, or long-term rehydration. However, on occasion, there are clients who do not fit the typical criteria for PICC insertion. This includes, but is not limited to, those individuals who are receiving frequent intravenous (IV) "sticks" or even short-term infusions of irritating drugs. The behavioral health client is one who may not be the typical PICC or IV patient but who may benefit from the placement of a PICC for certain treatment modalities.


The contribution of this work is introducing a multi-objective optimization method based on finite element (FE) numerical simulation to simultaneously control the curing time and cure-induced defects of C-shaped composites during a curing cycle. Thermochemical and thermomechanical coupled analysis is performed and validated experimentally to understand the evolution details of temperature, degree of cure and curing deformation. Aiming to achieve the simultaneous control of manufacturing cost and composite quality, the curing profile is optimized by employing the critical factors including the total curing time, the maximum degree of cure difference, and the curing deformation. The optimization result shows that the designed curing profile can effectively reduce the curing time and guarantee the curing quality. The total curing time of the optimization is reduced by 19%. The verification experiment is also conducted to prove the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed optimization method.


Niemann-Pick Type C (NPC) disease is a fatal, neurodegenerative disorder, caused in most cases by mutations in the late endosomal protein NPC1. A hallmark of NPC disease is endosomal cholesterol accumulation and an impaired cholesterol homeostatic response, which might affect cholesterol transport to mitochondria and, thus, mitochondrial and cellular function. This study aimed to characterize mitochondrial cholesterol homeostasis in NPC disease. Using wild-type and NPC1-deficient Chinese hamster ovary cells, stably transfected with a CYP11A1 complex to assess mitochondrial cholesterol import by pregnenolone production, we show that cholesterol transport to the mitochondrial inner membrane is not affected by loss of NPC1. However, mitochondrial cholesterol content was higher in NPC1-deficient than in wild-type cells. Cholesterol transport to the mitochondrial inner membrane increased markedly upon exposure of cholesterol-deprived cells to lipoproteins, indicating transport of endosomal cholesterol to mitochondria. Reduction of endosomal metastatic lymph node protein 64 (MLN64) by RNA interference decreased cholesterol transport to the mitochondrial inner membrane and reduced mitochondrial cholesterol levels in NPC1-deficient cells, suggesting that MLN64 transported cholesterol to mitochondria even in the absence of NPC1. In summary, this study describes a transport pathway for endosomal cholesterol to mitochondria that requires MLN64, but not NPC1, and that may be responsible for increased mitochondrial cholesterol in NPC disease.


ABSTRACT Monitoring of the susceptibility of Mycoplasma bovis field isolates to antibiotics is important for the appropriate choice of treatment. However, in vitro susceptibility testing of mycoplasmas is technically demanding and time-consuming, especially for clinical isolates, and is rarely performed in mycoplasma diagnostic laboratories. Thus, the development of methods allowing rapid real-time detection of resistant strains of M. bovis in clinical samples is a high priority for successful treatment. In this study, a novel TaqMan single-nucleotide-polymorphism (SNP) real-time PCR assay, which enables the rapid identification of M. bovis strains with different susceptibilities to fluoroquinolones, was developed and evaluated. The TaqMan SNP real-time PCR assay is based on the amplification of a 97-bp fragment of the parC quinolone resistance-determining region (QRDR) and allows the specific detection of four possible genotypes: GAC or GAT (susceptible to fluoroquinolones) and AAC or AAT (resistant to fluoroquinolones). Four TaqMan minor groove binder (MGB) probes identifying 1-base mismatches were designed and applied in a dual-probe assay with two reaction tubes. The TaqMan SNP real-time PCRs developed are highly specific for M. bovis, with a detection limit of 5 fg/μl (about 5 M. bovis genomes). In addition, all four SNP real-time PCR tests have almost the same efficiency (97.7% [GAC], 94% [AAC], 99.99% [GAT], and 98% [AAT]). Taken together, the data suggest that this SNP real-time PCR assay has potential as a routine diagnostic test for the detection of decreased susceptibility of M. bovis to fluoroquinolones.


Complex equilibria in methanol/chloroform/dichloromethane solutions containing Zeise's anion, [PtCl(3)(C(2)H(4))](-) (1), the solvento species, trans-[PtCl(2)(C(2)H(4))(MeOH)] (2), and the dinuclear complex, trans-[PtCl(2)(C(2)H(4))](2) (3), have been studied by UV-vis, (1)H, and (195)Pt NMR spectroscopy, giving average values of K(Cl) = (1.6 +/- 0.2)10(3) M(-)(1) and K(S) = (0.16 +/- 0.02) M(-)(1) for the equilibrium constants between 2 and 1 and 3 and 2, respectively. The bridged complex 3 is completely split into monomeric solvento complexes 2 in methanol and in chloroform or dichloromethane solutions with [MeOH] > 0.5 M. Ethene exchange at the mononuclear complexes 1 and 2 was studied by (1)H NMR line-broadening experiments in methanol-d(4). Observed overall exchange rate constants decrease with an increase in free chloride concentration due to the displacement of the rapid equilibrium between 1 and 2 toward the more slowly exchanging parent chloro complex 1. Ethene exchange rate constants at 298 K for complexes 1 and 2 are k(ex1) = (2.1 +/- 0.1)10(3) M(-)(1) s(-)(1)and k(ex2) = (5.0 +/- 0.2)10(5) M(-)(1) s(-)(1), respectively, with corresponding activation parameters DeltaH(1)() = 19.1 +/- 0.3 kJ mol(-)(1), DeltaS(1)() = -117 +/- 1 J K(-)(1) mol(-)(1), DeltaH(2)() = 10.2 +/- 0.4 kJ mol(-)(1), and DeltaS(2)() = -102 +/- 2 J K(-)(1) mol(-)(1). The activation process is largely entropy controlled; the enthalpy contributions only amounting to approximately 30% of the free energy of activation. Ethene exchange takes place via associative attack by the entering olefin at the labile site trans to the coordinated ethene, which is either occupied by a chloride or a methanol molecule in the ground state. The intimate mechanism might involve a two-step process via trans-[PtCl(2)(C(2)H(4))(2)] in steady state or a concerted process via a pentacoordinated transition state with two ethene molecules bound to the platinum(II).


Abstract : 1.1 Multi-Sensor Correlation Overview- Multi-Sensor Correlation is a method of integrating P-3 sensor data during Anti-Surface Ship Warfare (ASuW) and Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) missions. ASuW and ASW missions involve detecting, localizing, tracking and collecting intelligence on surface and subsurface targets. The problem can be complicated by a number of factors: The target of interest can be masked by noise, frequently including noise generated by surface vessels of non-interest. Valid detections can be sparse and can contain ambiguous information. The aircraft must sometimes fly at a stand off distance or minimize the number of passes in order to remain covert. Time may be limited due to a long transit, a large search area or a hostile environment. The aircraft crew must develop a clear tactical picture, as quickly as possible. Current mission avionics do not support integration of sensor data to achieve a concise tactical plot. This deficiency levies a burden on the aircrew, requiring that they analyze separate contact reports from each sensor for each target, and extract and maintain a usable picture. This is time consuming and diverts attention from primary objectives. To address this situation, Boeing Aircraft Company, was contracted to include algorithms in the Update IV operational program which calculate and monitor correlations of contact reports or tracks with other contact reports or tracks. This capability is known as Multi-Sensor Correlation.


Since 1995 the number of experiments with complementary currencies in Japan has exploded. Not only is Japan the country in the world with the most systems in operation today, but also the nation with the greatest diversity of such experiments. The aim of this paper is to bring to light the strata of the heterogeneous Japanese schools of complementary currencies, and describe how they relate to each other. It provides a description of the different models used in each school, as well as their numbers and locations. Finally, the most original models are highlighted, and the relevance of these experiments for the rest of the world is evaluated. International Journal of Community Currency Research. Vol.8, pp.1-23 3 Complementary Currencies in Japan Today: their history, originality and relevance.


Architectural monitoring and adaptation allows self-management capabilities of autonomic systems to realize more powerful adaptation steps, which observe and adjust not only parameters but also the software architecture. However, monitoring as well as adaptation of the architecture of a running system in addition to the parameters are considerably more complex and only rather limited and costly solutions are available today. In this paper we propose a model-driven approach to ease the development of architectural monitoring and adaptation for autonomic systems. Using meta models and model transformation techniques, we were able to realize an incremental synchronization between the run-time system and models for different self-management activities. The synchronization might be triggered when needed and therefore the activities can operate concurrently.


The cytoarchitectural defects of schizophrenia are predominantly "mild" alterations of dendrites and cell positioning, which are subtle in comparison to those in the lissencephalies and many presentations of mental retardation. Moreover, they are studied in adult brains and, thus, subject to the many potentially confounding effects of such things as medication history, substance abuse, lifestyle variables and stress. Thus, the ability to identify subtle fetal brain abnormalities in utero, such as operationally-defined mild lateral ventricular enlargement as an isolated finding, and longitudinally follow this genotyped cohort, some of whom may be at increased risk for neurodevelopmental disorders including schizophrenia, will be informative. The demonstration of co-segregation of genetic variation (e.g., within the DISC1 gene) and mild lateral ventricular enlargement, and the opportunity to seek linkages in parents and sibs would be extremely persuasive that genetic variations (e.g., in DISC1) cause or contribute to mild lateral cerebroventricular enlargement, which may be a risk factor and anatomic intermediate phenotype of schizophrenia.


The construction of randomly shifted rank-1 lattice rules, where the number of points n is a prime number, has recently been developed by Sloan, Kuo and Joe for integration of functions in weighted Sobolev spaces and was extended by Kuo and Joe and by Dick to composite numbers. To construct d-dimensional rules, the shifts were generated randomly and the generating vectors were constructed component-by-component at a cost of O(n2d2) operations. Here we consider the situation where n is the product of two distinct prime numbers p and q. We still generate the shifts randomly but we modify the algorithm so that the cost of constructing the, now two, generating vectors component-by-component is only O(n(p+ q)d2) operations. This reduction in cost allows, in practice, construction of rules with millions of points. The rules constructed again achieve a worst-case strong tractability error bound, with a rate of convergence O(p−1+δq−1/2) for δ > 0.


Both obesity and strenuous outdoor work are known risk factors for heat-related illness (HRI). These risk factors may be compounded by more and longer periods of extreme heat in the southeastern U.S. To quantify occupational risk and investigate the possible predictive value of a GIS-based tool, a weighted occupation-based metabolic equivalent (MET) index was created. The correlation between current MET-weighted employment rates or obesity rates and 2012 HRI report rates in Alabama were then determined. With the current dataset, results indicate occupational and obesity rates may explain some of the geographical variation seen in HRI report rates, although results are not statistically significant with this limited dataset. Mapping occupational and physiological risk factors with HRI rates may be useful for environmental and occupational health professionals to identify "hotspots" that may require special attention.


This paper considers the problem of predicting the rainfall over East Asia from multimode outputs. For this purpose, we propose a new multimode ensemble method based on regularized regression approach, which consists of two steps, the pre‐processing step and the ensemble step. In the pre‐processing step, we improve prediction from each model output using regularized regression, and in the ensemble step, we apply regularization‐based regression method to combine the result from the pre‐processing step. The main benefits of the proposed method are that it improves prediction accuracy, and it is capable of solving the singularity problem so that it can integrate many climate variables from multimode outputs for a better prediction. The proposed method is applied to monthly outputs from nine general circulation models (GCMs) on boreal summer (June, July, and August) over 20 years (1983–2002). The prediction ability of the proposed ensemble forecast is compared with the observations and the outputs (prediction) from each GCM. The results show that the proposed method is capable of improving forecast accuracy by adjusting each model before combining.


Pro-gastrin-releasing peptide (ProGRP) is a neuropeptide associated with tumors of neuroendocrine lineage which has been used to differentiate small cells from non small cells lung carcinomas.

Objective: To evaluate the ProGRP in pleural fluid (PF) of patients with malignant pleural effusion (MPE).

Methods: ProGRP was quantified by chemiluminescence immunoassay with microparticles (CMIA, Architect, Abbott) in PF (collected in EDTA tubes) from 49 patients with MPE (45) and benign effusions (4). Malignant samples corresponded to pleural metastasis of: neuroendocrine lung carcinoma (3), breast (7), lung adenocarcinoma (20), lung poorly differentiated carcinoma (4), bronchioloalveolar adenocarcinoma (1), and others (10). Benign cases corresponded to parapneumonic (3) and lupus-related effusions (1).

Results: Considering 4 levels, we obtained: 0 to 46 pg/mL: 37 (75%); 47 to 100 pg/mL: 4 (8.2%); 101 to 200 pg/mL: 2 (4.1%) and > 200 pg/mL: 6 (12.2%) of cases. The benign cases and most of the metastatic effusions were in level 1. All cases in level 2 corresponded to lung adenocarcinoma. In level 3, one case corresponded to a poorly differentiated lung carcinoma and one to bronchioloalveolar adenocarcinoma. In level 4, two cases were poorly differentiated lung adenocarcinoma, and one was a sarcoma of the omentum with pleural metastasis; the remaining 3 cases corresponded to tumors of neuroendocrine lineage. In these cases, the concentration of ProGRP was higher than 30,000 pg/mL.

Conclusion: PF ProGRP can be useful in identifying pleural metastasis of undifferentiated tumors. Although a greater number of cases should be studied, it seems unequivocal its importance in recognizing neuroendocrine lineage tumors.


Background: Evidence suggests that poorly controlled asthma during pregnancy is hazardous for both the mother and foetus. Some pregnant women with asthma may have few symptoms, but their lung function may be abnormal, putting the health of mother and foetus at risk. Forced expiratory volume in six seconds (FEV₆) has been shown to be equivalent to Forced vital capacity (FVC). Telehealth has the potential to improve asthma management through regular monitoring of lung function and/or asthma symptoms. This research aimed to develop and evaluate the application of a telehealth program for supporting asthma management in pregnant women. Methods: In phase 1, a systematic review of the literature was carried out to evaluate the non-pharmacological health care interventions for asthma management in pregnant women. In phase 2, a prospective cohort study was conducted to investigate the changes in lung function and the role of objective measures of lung function (forced expiratory volume in one second [FEV₁ ], FEV₆ and FVC) for monitoring asthma during pregnancy in healthy (n = 20) and pregnant women with asthma (n = 20). Lung function (pre-bronchodilator) was measured three times at gestational weeks 11 – 20, 21 – 28, and 29 – 40. The results from phase 2 informed phase 3, which was a randomised controlled trial evaluating a telehealth program for asthma management during pregnancy. Phase 3 evaluated Management of Asthma with Supportive Telehealth of Respiratory function in Pregnancy (MASTERY©) compared to usual care in 72 pregnant women with asthma. The intervention group (MASTERY) was provided with the handheld COPD-6 device to measure lung function (FEV₁ and FEV₆) daily, Breathe-easy© application installed on a loaned mobile phone and an individualised written asthma action plan (WAAP). The control group (usual care) received standard antenatal care provided by their health care professionals. Both groups were followed prospectively and their asthma control scores were compared using Juniper's Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) at 3 and 6 months. Key findings: Phase 1: Significant improvements in maternal asthma control (lung function and quality of life) and neonatal outcomes (birth weight) were found in those who received interventions involving progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) and Fraction of exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) guided algorithm. Interventions that enable pregnant women to be monitored regularly using objective measures of lung function or asthma symptoms appear to be effective in reducing asthma exacerbations during pregnancy. Phase 2: During pregnancy, lung function declined both in healthy women and women with asthma at weeks 21 – 28 (more markedly in those with asthma) but then improved at weeks 29 – 40 (more markedly in those with asthma ). In those with asthma, asthma control scores increased, while quality of life scores declined at weeks 21-28; whilst at weeks 29 – 40 these changes were in the opposite direction. The correlation between FEV₆ and forced vital capacity (FVC) in women with asthma was high (Pearson's r = 0.88, p < 0.01). Phase 3: The demographic, maternal and clinical characteristics were similar in both groups at baseline. At 6 months, compared to the usual care group, the intervention (MASTERY) group had significantly greater improvement in their asthma control (p = 0.02) and asthma-related quality of life (p = 0.002) scores. At the end of the study, the MASTERY group had significantly higher proportion of participants with well controlled asthma, and more participants with an improvement in ACQ scores greater than 0.5, the minimum clinically important difference (MCID). There were no significant differences between the two groups in lung function, unscheduled healthcare visits, days off work/study, oral corticosteroid use and perinatal outcomes. No significant differences between groups were found at 3 months. Conclusions: The findings from this research confirm that asthma management involving regular monitoring of lung function and asthma symptoms is feasible and could potentially improve asthma control in pregnant women. In pregnant women with asthma, FEV₆ may be a suitable alternative to FVC. A telehealth program (Breathe-easy©) in conjunction with a handheld COPD-6 device for monitoring lung function (FEV₁ and FEV₆) and assessing asthma symptoms and a WAAP can promote asthma self-management during pregnancy and lead to better asthma control.


OBJECTIVE
To assess adherence to screening mammography guidelines and examine predictors of having a mammogram in the past 2 years among immigrant Asian Indian women (AIW) aged > or = 40 years.

METHODS
Face-to-face surveys of 418 AIW in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area were conducted. Subjects were recruited through Asian Indian (AI) religious and other community-based organizations.

RESULTS
Of the 418 AIW surveyed, 83% had ever had a mammogram, and 70% had obtained a mammogram within the past 2 years. AIW who had lived in the United States for > 10 years had a higher rate of obtaining a mammogram (75.4%) within the past 2 years than did those who had lived in the United States for < or = 10 years (24.6%). In multiple logistic regression analysis, length of stay in the United States, marital status, knowledge of mammogram guidelines, age, having health insurance, physician recommendations, and number of relatives who had a mammogram were positively associated with having a mammogram within the past 2 years. Physician ethnicity and not having a healthcare provider were negatively associated with having a mammogram within the past 2 years.

CONCLUSIONS
This study lays a foundation for designing guidelines for interventions to improve mammography screening behaviors among AIW women. Increasing the use of mammogram to the levels recommended by guidelines will require a two-pronged approach directed at both AIW and AI physicians.


Concerns about the Hutchinson and Kennedy (H&K) encroachment data used as the basis for AASHTO's Roadside Design Guide (RDG) procedures for computing guardrail runout length have led to proposed revised guidelines based on more recent data collected by Cooper in Canada. The revised guidelines result in guardrail lengths that are approximately 35 percent shorter. Data from the original H&K and Cooper studies were analyzed to determine why the two studies seem to have inconsistent findings. The concerns about the H&K data expressed by the authors who proposed the revised guidelines were found to be invalid. However, team-by-team comparisons of the Cooper data revealed inconsistencies in encroachment rates, lengths, and departure angles for highways with similar speed limits. Documented data collection problems and unanswerable questions about the methodology used to measure encroachment lengths and departure angles make it impossible to validate the accuracy of the Cooper data. Adjustments were made to the Cooper data to compensate for possible data irregularities to examine the consistency between them and the H&K data. No evidence indicating that the encroachment lengths reported by H&K are inconsistently high compared with the encroachment lengths reported by Cooper was found. The findings suggest that reducing guardrail runout lengths from current RDG guidelines for highways with high speed limits [112 km/h (70 mph)] may not be prudent.


Plants belonging to Vitis vinifera varieties are usually grafted on different rootstocks to enhance the plant defenses against pathogens and increase productivity under harsh environmental conditions. Particularly, in Emilia-Romagna region (Italy), Vitis vinifera cultivar Lambrusco can be grafted on a hybrid of V. berlandieri × V. riparia (5BB) or V. berlandieri × V. rupestris (1103P). However, the latter shows potassium absorption problems, with a consequent reduction in grapevine production. Since it has recently been demonstrated that the rootstock has the potential to select for different microorganisms at the root-soil interface, here we hypothesized that the potassium deficiency of 1103P could be partially accounted for by the peculiarities of the rootstock microbiome. We thus employed 16S rRNA sequencing to compare root and rhizosphere microbiomes in plants of V. vinifera cultivar Lambrusco grafted on the two aforementioned rootstocks. According to our findings, 1103P shows a reduced diversity in root and rhizosphere microbiomes, including members of potassium-solubilizing microorganisms, possibly explaining the inadequate potassium absorption of this hybrid. Besides confirming the importance of the rootstock as a determinant of the composition of plant microbiomes, our data indicate the relevance of rootstock-selected microbiomes as possible regulators of potassium absorption by V. vinifera.


Conventional and commonly held wisdom with respect to the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) is that they lead to improved financial reporting quality and comparability and thereby favorable economic consequences. There are however contradicting evidences disproving this conventional wisdom or rejecting its gross generalization over the entire jurisdictions harmonizing on IFRS. Driven by this fact, quests for knowledge about the dynamics and contexts that lead to differential effects of IFRS get momentum. In an attempt to explore the insight into the effects of international accounting harmonization by way of IFRS adoption, this paper reviews selected literatures on consequences of IFRS adoption. This review discusses some empirical evidences that have been reported in various countries that include Europe, USA, United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Norway, Greece, Poland, Belgian, France, Italy, Turkey, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Jordan, China, Malaysia, Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Kenya and Nigeria. Our review focuses on the aspects of value relevance, disclosure quality, cost of capital, earning management and financial statement impact due to the IFRS adoption. This review reveals that economic consequences of IFRS adoption significantly differ across jurisdictions though being its impact reported to be positive in majority of cases. There are also notable number of studies that report indifferent and or negative effects of IFRS adoption. When IFRS studies report mixed evidence with respect to value relevance of book value of equity and earing, book value of equity supersedes the earning parameters. IFRS are found to supersede many other domestic financial reporting standards in terms of volume and quality of disclosures in financial statements. This review also obtains that IFRS' impact on the reduction of cost of capital depends on financial reporting incentives, law enforcement, types of legal systems and various other country and capital market specific characteristics. Further, though there are some evidences to the contrary, the quality of earnings reported under IFRS has been established to be superior to that under other local standards.


Many economists and analysts claim that extended use of pollution charges in environmental policy will have substantial efficiency advantages in transition economies. This article challenges this view and argues instead that the proposed policy presumes the existence of an already-functioning institutional framework. By focusing on the Russian case, the article discusses a number of reasons why it is difficult to implement pollution charges in an economic system in which Communist behavioral patterns and jurisdictions are still prevalent. The article identifies a number of institutional obstacles related both to enterprise behavior and to environmental regulation and enforcement. These obstacles suggest that it is appropriate to view environmental problems in transition economies primarily as the results of institutional inertia in the economic and political systems. The article ends by discussing alternative ways of controlling pollution in Russia and stresses the importance of improving the legitimacy and basic trust for environmental legislation.


ABSTRACT

This study aims to examine the model's formation that can reduce the problem of unemployment and poverty. In accordance with these objectives,  there are several principal problems studied in this research that are; (1) how the approach to poverty reduction programs should be made, (2) how the potential of local institutions' resources are able to act as virtuous circles to reduce the poverty, (3) how the community empowerment model system based on the potential of local wisdom resources and institutions local communities should be conducted in order to be able to significantly reduce the number of local poor community, independent and sustainable.
This research was conducted at Muntuk Village due to it is classified as a backward village and it still has the good local wisdom potential to be developed further. This research applies participatory research method to the craftsmen group chosen as pioneer in forming the community empowerment model. The main subjects in this research are; craftsmen group and socio economic community societies at Muntuk Village. The subjects of this study are determined by purposive sampling. Data collection techniques are done through interview, FGD, and analytical descriptive analysis.
The result of the research shows that the link and the integration among the bamboo handicraft industry, the local institution's role, the entrepreneurship spirit and the work ethic of the craftsmen group through the entrepreneurial skills development and social entrepreneurship culture are able to be a virtuous circle or the virtue circle to cut the poverty problem, more independent and sustainable, from the original still powerless to be powerful. The strengthening of empowerment model supported by the strength of human capital, social capital, and also citizens participate actively, were increasingly able to produce a form of community empowerment model. Furthermore, the empowerment model is more strongly built through six pillars namely; industrial structure, entrepreneurship spirit, human capital and social capital factors, local institution, infrastructure and conductive environment. All sub-systems in each of these pillars are interconnected in a system namely community empowerment system model through the development of an entrepreneurial culture to alleviate unemployment and poverty.
Keywords : Empowerment Model, Enterpreneur Culture, Unemployment and Poverty


The present research sought to distinguish the role of socio-cultural negativity and social identification underlying gay men's implicit attitudes towards sexual orientation. Fifty gay men completed two Implicit Association Tests. In both cases, the task required categorizing, as quickly as possible, pictures of gay vs. straight couples, but these stimuli were either classified using normative categorical labels (homosexual vs. heterosexual couple) or in terms of their self-relevance (similar vs. dissimilar to me). Participants also completed the Reactions to Homosexuality Scale and the Outness Inventory. As expected, the pro-gay attitude was more pronounced when implicit attitudes were assessed in terms of self-relevance than based on normative categorical labels. In addition, these two facets of implicit attitudes overlapped more strongly among gay men who were less inclined to publicly affirm their sexual identity than among individuals who strongly identified publicly with being gay. The present findings extend our understanding of the sources and functions of implicit attitudes among members of a sexual minority group.


Abstract There are ca 1,492 thousand tractors currently used in Poland, with the average power of 45.3 kW. There are 9.8 ha of agricultural land per one tractor, their average age is ca 25 years and the degree of wear 77%. There are between 20 to 30 thousand tractors newly registered per year, however, these are both new and used tractors imported from abroad. These new registrations, which also reflect new purchases, are diverse depending on the region. Based on the 2018 records of the Central Register of Vehicles and Drivers (CEPiK), the paper establishes essential parameters of the registered tractors, such as price, power, age, depending on the region. There were 25,422 records under analysis, as some of the original records were dismissed as errors after verification. It was established that in the western part of Poland, with farms twice or three times bigger than in the rest of the country, the purchased tractors were characterized by higher power and lower age and, consequently, higher prices (81-95 kW, 14-18 years, PLN168-186 thousands). In contrast, the tractors in south-east Poland, where the dominant farms are of agricultural land below 10 ha, had worse parameters (76-86 kW, 14-18 years, PLN76-86 thousands).


We examined the activation of transcription from the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) promoter by the viral Tat protein in a transient expression system. Plasmids contained a HIV-reporter gene cassette and a simian virus 40 origin of DNA replication. Run-on assays of transcription complex distribution and analysis of cytoplasmic RNA accumulation confirmed that Tat is able to activate transcription by two mechanisms: by increasing the rate of transcriptional initiation and the efficiency of transcriptional elongation. The degree to which Tat stimulated initiation is determined by the basal level of HIV-directed transcription, which is influenced by the presence [corrected] of the simian virus 40 replication origin. Tat functions primarily to increase the efficiency of elongation when the origin is present and the basal level of transcription is high [corrected]. On the other hand, Tat functions primarily to increase the rate of initiation when the origin is absent [corrected] and the basal level of transcription is 10-fold lower. These studies suggest that the site of integration of the virus into the cellular genome may significantly affect the level of expression from the HIV promoter and consequently the pathobiology of the virus.


Anthropogenic nutrient inputs into native ecosystems cause fluctuations in resources that normally limit plant growth, which has important consequences for associated foodwebs. Such inputs from agricultural and urban habitats into nearby natural systems are increasing globally and can be highly variable. Despite the global increase in anthropogenically-derived nutrient inputs into native ecosystems, the consequences of variation in subsidy amount on native plants and their associated foodwebs are poorly known. Salt marshes represent an ideal system to address the differential impacts of nutrient inputs on ecosystem and community dynamics because human development and other anthropogenic activities lead to recurrent introductions of nutrients into these natural systems. Previously, we have found in manipulative experiments that arthropod abundance increases in response to nutrient enrichment, with predators being the trophic group most strongly affected. We conducted a survey of Atlantic coastal Spartina marshes to test whether such local responses are indicative of responses at a landscape level. We examined the most abundant arthropod species associated with Spartina coastal marshes that receive variable amounts of anthropogenic nitrogen, and tested how this response varied across different arthropod functional groups (herbivores, epigeic feeders, and predators). Similar to what we found at a local scale, nutrient subsidies alter the trophic structure of the arthropod assemblage by changing the relative abundances of various feeding groups. Variable responses among predators to nitrogen density could be partly explained by diet breadth (e.g. generalists vs. specialists). Herbivores had a negative response to increasing plant nitrogen density; specialist predators tracked their herbivore prey and thus also responded negatively to nitrogen density. However, generalists were not negatively affected by nitrogen density and indeed some generalist predators responded positively to nitrogen density. Thus, the overall predator-to-herbivore ratio was also positively associated with nitrogen density. Our research helps us to understand how long-term nutrient enrichment of native ecosystems by human activities affects arthropod assemblages and foodweb dynamics.


In recent years, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have gained importance for education and training at all levels. In this context, with the use of ICT, the learning method called E-learning is empowered. There are several modalities of E-learning, but when one of these modalities focusses on companies and institutions that wish to improve the training of their employees it is called E-Learning in the workplace. E-Learning in the workplace, as an emerging approach to improving the skills of employees, has been chosen by some organizations for the advantages it offers. However, implementing E-Learning in the workplace is a challenge due to several barriers that limit its success. This work focuses on one of the barriers, which is the lack of relevance of learning resources for the tasks that employees carry out in their workplace. For this work, a learning resource is considered as relevant for training when the resource contains or refers to elements in the description of a task that is performed in an organizational process. As a solution to the problem of lack of relevant resources, this paper proposes a method that consists of generating learning resources in the form of Web services from a business process model. Revised works propose to use business processes to produce E-learning resources, however none of them specifies the task-resource relation. One of the main findings is that the granularity of the Learning Web Services may be defined by using the tasks as specified in the business process document.


This article provides a historical analysis of the role of the accounting academia in influencing Italian accounting regulation from the 1942 Civil Code to the present. It builds on the theory of social order to investigate the evolution of accounting regulation in accordance with the rise, dominance, and decline of the sources of social order and finds that academia has progressively lost its influence. The declining role of academia is interpreted in light of its inability to evolve from a vibrant community to a more structured association, which contributed to the lack of a unified position and of a formally acknowledged representation in the Italian standard setter. The progressive exclusion of academics also parallels the growing role of professional associations in the increasingly structured governance of standard setting. Moreover, this work highlights a progressive fading of the typical features of community and the collective identity originally characterizing Italian accounting academia.


OBJECTIVE
According to the JNC7 report, prehypertension category includes subjects with systolic blood pressure between 120 and 139 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure between 80 and 89 mmHg that would be at risk for developing hypertension and its untoward sequelae as myocardial infarction and cerebrovascular disease. Moreover, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring made it possible to detect subjects with masked hypertension, who are at risk of greater target organ damage than those with normal ambulatory or home blood pressure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of cardiac, cerebral and vascular events in a group of prehypertensive subjects, with and without masked hypertension.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
We studied 204 consecutive asymptomatic prehypertensive subjects without history and signs of cardiovascular disease or diabetes. All the subjects underwent clinical evaluation, electrocardiogram, routine laboratory tests and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. They were followed-up for a maximum of 237 months or until a cardiovascular event occurred.

RESULTS
Twenty-seven cardiovascular events (13.2%) occurred, including 4 abdominal aortic aneurysms. Age (p<0.0001), total cholesterol (p=0.004), smoking (p=0.03) and clinically overt hypertension development (p=0.011) were related to cardiovascular events. Prognosis was not related to masked hypertension.

CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest that, in subjects with prehypertension, followed for 20 years, traditional cardiovascular risk factors and development of clinically overt hypertension could be more relevant than ambulatory hypertension in the prediction of an adverse outcome.


Mobile phone data have been extensively used in the recent years to study social behavior. However, most of these studies are based on only partial data whose coverage is limited both in space and time. In this paper, we point to an observation that the bias due to the limited coverage in time may have an important influence on the results of the analyses performed. In particular, we observe significant differences, both qualitatively and quantitatively, in the degree distribution of the network, depending on the way the dataset is pre-processed and we present a possible explanation for the emergence of Double Pareto LogNormal (DPLN) degree distributions in temporal data.


The AlGaN/GaN nanowire omega-shaped-gate FinFET have been successfully fabricated demonstrating much improved performance compared to conventional AlGaN/GaN MISHFET. The AlGaN/GaN omega-shaped-gate FinFET exhibited the remarkable on-state performances, such as maximum drain current of 1.1 A/mm, low on-resistance, and low current collapse compared to that of the conventional device structure. In addition, the excellent off-state performances were measured: low off-state leakage current as low as -10(-10) mA, the theoretical SS value of -62 mV/dec, and high I(ON)/I(OFF) ratio (-10(9)). Improved dc performances were obtained for omega-shaped-gate structure due to the fully depletion of the active fin body and perfectly separation of the depleted fin from the underlying thick GaN buffer layer. Furthermore, the additional reason for the enhanced device performance of the proposed device is the improved gate controllability compared to the conventional MISHFET. The proposed nano-structure device is very promising candidate for the steep switching device applications.


This study investigated the relationship between English speaking performance and foreign language anxiety before and after an online peer learning program at the college level. A total of 59 students enrolled in a one-semester English Speaking Communication course at a university in central Taiwan participated in the study. The course entailed a 7-week online peer learning program. The participants took a computer-based speaking proficiency test and completed the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale questionnaire before and after the program. The collected quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient. The results revealed that the participants experienced a moderate level of anxiety when taking the computer-based speaking test before and after attending the online peer learning program. A negative correlation was observed between foreign language anxiety and computer-based speaking performance before the online peer learning program. However, after the online peer learning program, a positive correlation was noted between anxiety and speaking performance. On the basis of these findings, this study provides pedagogical suggestions for second-language practitioners.


Purpose: To assess the potential benefit of trajectory modulated arc therapy (TMAT) for treatments of small benign intracranial tumor, pituitary adenoma. Methods: A TMAT planning platform that incorporates complex source motion trajectory involving synchronized gantry rotation with translational and rotational couch movement was used for the study. The platform couples an interactive trajectory generation tool with a VMAT algorithm that performs multi-resolution, progressive sampling MLC optimization on a user-designed trajectory. A continuous couch rotation of 160° angular span with ±20° mini gantry arcs was used to emulate a non-coplanar horizontal arc-like trajectory. Compared to conventional non-coplanar gantry arcs (60°-100° gantry rotation with couch kicks), TMAT limited the unnecessary low to medium dose spread in the anterior and posterior directions, where primary OARs (e.g., brainstem, optic chiasm, optic nerves, and lens) are in close proximity to the targeted pituitary tumor volume. For 5 standard fractionation pituitary adenoma cases (50.4Gy/28fractions), TMAT and non-coplanar VMAT plans were generated and compared under equivalent objectives/constraints. TMAT delivery was implemented and demonstrated on Varian TrueBeam via XML scripts. Results: Both techniques showed good target coverage while OARs were able to meet the constraints on QUANTEC guidelines. Notably, TMAT decreased the dose deposition in the anterior-to-posterior direction surrounding PTV. TMAT significantly reduced the mean doses on brainstem, optic nerves, eyes and lens by 47.29%±13.17%, 28.51%±8.68%, 80.82%±8.71% and 65.38%±19.99% compared with VMAT, all p≤0.01. Percentage reductions of maximum point dose in eyes and lens were 75.68%±10.30% and 70.72%±18.62% respectively for TMAT versus VMAT, all p≤0.01. A representative isocentric TMAT pituitary plan was delivered via an XML script with 200 control points and 282 MUs. Conclusion: Deliverable TMAT plans were achieved in developer mode in TrueBeam. TMAT was shown to be superior for pituitary adenoma irradiation in terms of OARs sparing.


The cytotoxic activity of As2O3 in leukemia and myeloma has been shown to be mediated in part by ROS. We determined the mechanism of cytotoxicity of As2O3 in HL and NHL cell lines. Ramos, HF-1, SUDHL4 (NHL lines), and L428 (HL line) cells were cultured with increasing clinically relevant As2O3 concentrations (1.0mm-10mm) at 24-72 hours with and without the oxidizing agent, buthionine sulfoxime (BSO, 100mm), and with and without caspase inhibitors Z-VAD-FMK and Z-IETD-FMK. Apoptosis was measured by Annexin-V/propidium iodide (PI) staining and detected by flow cytometry (FACS). ROS was measured by oxidation of 2′7′ dichlorofluorescein diacetate (H2DCFDA) to Dichlorofluorescein (DCF) and analyzed by FACS. Immunoblots were performed for bcl-2, PARP, cleaved caspases 3, 8, 9, and mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways (ERK, JNK, and p38 activation). As2O3 alone at 10mM resulted in dose- and time-dependent apoptosis in all cell lines (HL and NHL) with >75% annexin+/PI+ between 48 and 72 hours. In Ramos and L428 cells, a combination of As2O3 (2 mM) and BSO 100mM resulted in >80% annexinV+/PI+, while either agent alone resulted in <15% apoptosis (p=0.001). A four-fold increase in ROS was seen in all four cell lines with As2O3/BSO, but not with As2O3 alone. Both ROS production and apoptosis induced by As2O3/BSO and As2O3 alone were reversible with the anti-oxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) (10mM). Furthermore, As2O3/BSO induced PARP cleavage and caspase-3 activation in all NHL cell lines, but not in L428. In Ramos, Z-VAD-FMK and Z-IETD-FMK blocked As2O3-induced apoptosis (suggesting a caspase-dependent mechanism), but had no effect on As2O3/BSO-induced cell death (caspase-independent). To investigate the signaling pathways involved, we performed western blot analysis for phospho-p38 (p-p38), phospho-JNK and phospho-ERK (p-ERK) in Ramos and L428 cells following As2O3 alone and As2O3/BSO. We found up-regulation of p-p38 in Ramos cells, while in L428, p-ERK was activated following As2O3 and As2O3/BSO. Inhibitors of p-38 in Ramos cells resulted in up-regulation of ERK. In summary, As2O3 induced dose- and time-dependent apoptosis in HL and NHL cell lines was significantly enhanced with the addition of BSO, and inhibited by NAC, suggesting that apoptosis was in part ROS-dependent. In Ramos, As2O3 alone resulted in caspase-dependent apoptosis, while addition of BSO resulted in caspase-independent apoptosis. As2O3 alone and combined with BSO resulted in activation of MAPK pathways in HL and NHL lines. These data provide a basis and a mechanism for As2O3-induced cell death in HL and NHL and have therapeutic implications.


The objective of the present study was to determine the total content of phenolics and flavonoids in extracts of Thalictrum foetidum. The total phenolic content was estimated spectrophotometrically using Folin Ciocalteu method. The total content of flavonoids was determined by spectrophotometric analysis, based on the measurement of the absorption of the complex of aluminum chloride with flavonoids. The antioxidant effects of the extracts Thalictrum foetidum were investigated.


We present a next generation of multi-particle Monte Carlo (MC) Event generators for LHC and ILC for the MSSM, namely the three program packages Madgraph/MadEvent, WHiZard/O'Mega and Sherpa/Amegic++. The interesting but difficult phenomenology of supersymmetric models at the upcoming colliders demands a corresponding complexity and maturity from simulation tools. This includes multi-particle final states, reducible and irreducible backgrounds, spin correlations, real emission of photons and gluons, etc., which are incorporated in the programs presented here. The framework of a model with such a huge particle content and as complicated as the MSSM makes strenuous tests and comparison of codes inevitable. Various tests show agreement among the three different programs; the tables of cross sections produced in these tests may serve as a future reference for other codes. Furthermore, first MSSM physics analyses performed with these programs are presented here.


Three kinds of point defects, SiE' center (≡ Si·), unrelaxed oxygen deficiency center (ODC (II)) and non-bridging oxygen hole center (≡ Si−O·, NBOHC), have been generated in hydroxyl fused silica by ultrashort pulsed laser irradiation. Hydroxyl is proved to be a decisive component for defect producing: NBOHC originates directly from hydroxyl; Hydroxyl facilitates the generation of SiE' in an indirect way; No obvious relevance could be built between ODC (II) and hydroxyl. By improving hydroxyl content to 1000 ppm, NBOHC becomes the dominant defect species and its red luminescence is hence discernible to naked eye. Intended for application, high hydroxyl fused silica is screened out as the desired candidate, and NBOHC becomes the final interested defect. NBOHC's intrinsic features of lifetime and temperature stability and extrinsic properties of laser condition dependence are specifically and systematically investigated. Prospective use of defect manipulation and fabrication in one-chip exploited for anti-counterfeiting and lab-on-a-chip is also discussed.


Colonic necrosis is an unusual complication after treatment of hyperkalemia with sodium polystyrene sulfonate (SPS, Kayexalate) in sorbitol. To increase awareness of this complication, we report a case of necrosis of the transverse colon in a patient given oral and rectal SPS-sorbitol for hyperkalemia. Colonic necrosis was manifested as an acute abdomen within 24 hours of initial administration. Prompt surgical resection of the necrotic transverse colon permitted rapid recovery of bowel function. Although SPS crystals are seen microscopically in the necrotic bowel, experimental evidence implicates the sorbitol component of the SPS-sorbitol in the pathogenesis of colonic necrosis. A high index of suspicion for the unusual complication of colonic necrosis after oral or rectal administration of SPS-sorbitol may allow prompt recognition and surgical cure.


Indigenous bacteria isolated from a crude oil sample from a deep water reservoir in the Pampo Sul Oilfield (Campos Basin-RJ, Brazil) were previously classified as strains of B. pumilus. However, their enzymatic activities with fluorogenic probes and rates of petroleum biodegradation were completely different. Some of the bacteria depleted n-alkanes, whereas others did not. Aromatic compounds reported to be recalcitrant were also biodegraded by some of these Bacillus strains, revealing their outstanding ability to deplete petroleum. Further classification using matrixassisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) followed by statistical analysis revealed that these strains could be clustered into three different groups, consistent with their enzymatic activity evaluation. A more accurate phylogenetic analysis using gyrB gene sequences confirmed the MALDI-TOF MS classification of three groups of strains and identified them as Bacillus safensis, B. cereus and B. thuringiensis.


Commercially prepared polyclonal antisera to Legionella pneumophila are known to cross-react with organisms of the genus Pseudomonas. To determine whether a commercially available monoclonal antibody reagent specific for L. pneumophila would also cross-react with pseudomonads, a two-laboratory study was undertaken to test both monoclonal and polyclonal reagents against 33 isolates of Pseudomonas spp., including 25 Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 4 P. putida, 2 P. maltophilia, 1 P. fluorescens, and 1 P. alcaligenes. Four antisera were tested; polyclonal anti-legionella antisera pools A and B (Centers for Disease Control [CDC], Atlanta, (Ga.), polyclonal 1-6 antisera (BioDx, Inc., Denville, N.J.), and a monoclonal antibody reagent produced by Genetic Systems Corp., Seattle, Wash. All reagents were labeled with fluorescein. Cross-staining reactions were found with the BioDx L. pneumophila antisera and 10 isolates of Pseudomonas. Four of these isolates demonstrated cross-staining with CDC pool A. When tested with individual serotype-specific reagents (CDC), three of four cross-reacted with L. pneumophila serotype 1 antisera; the fourth cross-reacted with serotype 3. No cross-staining reactions were noted with the monoclonal reagent and any of the pseudomonads tested, demonstrating that the Genetic Systems Corp. monoclonal reagent is the most specific of the four reagents tested.


This paper describes the implementation of a multi-vehicle supervisor to prevent collisions at intersections. The experiments are performed on an intersection testbed consisting of three RC cars. Here, we account for uncertainty in car dynamics and state measurement, and the presence of an uncontrolled car, which is human-driven. The supervisor overrides the controlled cars only when necessary to avoid a possible future collision. From the experiments, we demonstrate that intersection collisions are averted, that is, the cars continuously and safely run on the paths without stopping 92.8% of the times.


The mitochondrial RNA polymerase from Xenopus laevis oocytes was partially purified by heparin-Sepharose chromatography and phosphocellulose chromatography. This RNA polymerase preparation specifically initiated the transcription of X. laevis mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from two bidirectional promoters contained within a 123-base-pair segment of the mtDNA between the heavy-strand replication origin and the rRNA cistrons. Transcription in vitro initiated from precisely the same start sites previously mapped as initiation sites for transcription in vivo. At each of the four sites, initiation occurred within a conserved nucleotide sequence, ACPuTTATA. This consensus sequence is not related to promoters for transcription of human mtDNA.


The present note is to confirm the feasibility of the present machining technology of the RDDS1 disks. Diamond turned fifteen 2D-shaped disks were inspected both by mechanical dimension measurements and by the RF measurements with electrically shorted at both ends. The consistency among the precisely calculated frequencies, the RF measurements and the dimension measurements were studied. Dimensions such as "OD", "2a" and "2b" were found to agree with the design values within ±1 μm, while frequencies within ±0.5MHz to the calculated values. Based on the studies described in the present note, we conclude that a process such as a moderate feed-forward process is enough to control the average frequency of the accelerating mode over a whole structure. Furthermore, we estimate that the higherorder mode frequencies are to be controlled within ±1 MHz or so. Then we conclude that the fabrication based on the present technology can produce disks, meeting the requirement of the RDDS1. Feasibility Study of 2D Machining of RDDS1 disks T. Higo, T. Suzuki and N. Toge Y. Funahashi, Y. Higashi, N. Hitomi, T. Takatomi and Y. Watanabe KEK, The High Energy Accelerator Organization 1-1, Oho, Tsukuba, Iaraki, 305-0801, Japan Y. Iwashita Accelerator Laboratory, Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University Gokanosho, Uji, 611-0011, Kyoto, Japan J. Wang, Z. Li and R. Miller SLAC, Stanford Liner Accelerator Center 2575, Sand Hill Rd., Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA Abstract The present note is to confirm the feasibility of the present machining technology of the RDDS1 disks. Diamond turned fifteen 2D-shaped disks were inspected both by mechanical dimension measurements and by the RF measurements with electrically shorted at both ends. The consistency among the precisely calculated frequencies, the RF measurements and the dimension measurements were studied. Dimensions such as "OD", "2a" and "2b" were found to agree with the design values within ±1 μm, while frequencies within ±0.5MHz to the calculated values. Based on the studies described in the present note, we conclude that a process such as a moderate feed-forward process is enough to control the average frequency of the accelerating mode over a whole structure. Furthermore, we estimate that the higherorder mode frequencies are to be controlled within ±1 MHz or so. Then we conclude that the fabrication based on the present technology can produce disks, meeting the requirement of the RDDS


Despite of its title, this book is not a compendium of a young entomologist's research on new exotic species of colorful butterflies. In the pages of this book you will not find the story of a hunter determined to catch unknown specimen of enigmatic multicolored insects living in the forest in the heart of Africa or South America. The unwary reader, possibly intrigued by the title, should be somehow surprised to realize that this work is about Mathematical Physics. Nevertheless, this ambiguity hides some truths. Mathematical ideas fly light with butterfly wings in the mathematician's mind. They are painted with the gaudy colors of the intuition and imagination. The mathematician spends his time hunting for new problems just like the entomologist does for his preys. The tools he uses to get his hunting trophy are theories, theorems, proofs, ... Keeping in mind this analogy, the reader may consider this book as the story of my personal hunt aimed at capturing the secret of the quantum butterflies. Well, It is time to cry aloud: - let the hunt begin!


Background: The face mask has been used to protect against airborne diseases throughout history. We conducted a historical review of the literature on the origin of the face mask, the scientific evidence of its benefits, and its implications for domestic and international politics. Material and Methods: We performed a comprehensive search for peer- and nonpeer- reviewed literature published between 1905 and 2020. Results: Face mask wearing in hospital settings to prevent disease transmission from health care workers to their patients originates with the first use of the mask in surgery in 1897 by German surgeon Johann von Mikulicz. During the first half of the 20th century, various scientific investigators focused on determining the most effective type of medical mask. The role of the face mask in the general population as a preventive intervention during public health emergencies is supported by historical reports spanning from the European Bubonic Plague in 1619, to the Great Manchurian Plague of 1910-1911, the influenza pandemic of 1918, and the current coronavirus disease in 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Although the face mask has helped against airborne disease transmission, its benefits during pandemics have been filtered through the prism of political leanings and geopolitical interests. Conclusions: Our review suggests that while face mask alone cannot stop pandemics, in conjunction with other nonpharmacologic interventions it can be useful in mitigating them. When cooperation rather than division becomes the norm in the global response to pandemics, the face mask can then unite rather than divide us.


Aims and background A former study evaluated the roles of four multidrug resistance-related proteins, namely multidrug resistance protein 1 (MDR1), breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), multidrug resistance-related protein (MRP1), and lung resistance-related protein (LRP), in the MDR mechanism of the multidrug resistant hepatoma HepG2/ADM cell line and proposed that up-regulated MDR1 and BCRP are responsible for the MDR of hepatocellular carcinoma. This work aims to confirm that assumption in vivo and in clinical specimens. Methods First, the chemotherapeutic resistance of subcutaneous HepG2/ADM tumor and hepatocellular carcinoma samples post-transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) was determined by MTT, contrary to subcutaneous HepG2 tumor and hepatocellular carcinoma samples without TACE, respectively. Then, the mRNA and protein differential expression of the four genes between the MDR tissues and drug-sensitive tissues were quantitatively investigated by real-time RT-PCR and enhanced chemiluminescence western blot analysis, respectively. Results 1) mRNA expression of BCRP and MDR1 was respectively amplified 38.3 and 20.1 fold in tumors of HepG2/ADM mice compared to those of HepG2 mice, whereas they were respectively augmented for 14.6 and 9.3 times in TACE samples, contrary to the tumor tissues without TACE. 2) The protein presence of MDR1 and BCRP in MDR tumors was also significantly higher than those in the control group in vivo and in clinical specimens. 3) The mRNA expressions of MDR1 and BCRP were correlated to their protein levels. Conclusions The study showed that MDR1 and BCRP may be the most important factors for drug resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma. Moreover, the positive correlation between their mRNA and protein expression indicates the easy prediction of HCC MDR and possible inhibitive target of drug resistance at multi-levels.


The analysis of thorium in the workplace can be achieved using a variety of metrological techniques. The uncertainty on the final measured values will include components that arise from the uncertainties in the nuclear data that are used. These data include half-lives, branching ratios and gamma ray emission probabilities. It is important that a common, consistent and reliable data set is used in order to minimise the potential differences between analytical results. With particular reference to the problems associated with thorium analysis, some of the various sources of nuclear data are discussed and a recommended set of data is proposed.


Ba0.6Sro.4(YTa)yTi 1_2yO 3 has been shown to have properties which are promising for tunable applications requiring low dielectric constant [1]. Ba0.6Sr0.4 (YTa)yTi1_2yO 3 with y < 0.10 has been synthesized and well-characterized using x-ray diffraction, EDAX, and Raman Spectroscopy. The dependence of the dielectric properties on concentration, y, of Y and Ta are discussed along with implications for improved performance in device applications.


Risk of wound infection is increased in morbidly obese surgical patients, in part because a major determinant of wound infection risk, tissue oxygenation, is marginal. Unlike in lean patients, supplemental inspired oxygen (Fio2) only slightly improves tissue oxygenation in obese patients. Mild hypercapnia improves tissue oxygenation in lean patients but has not been evaluated in obese patients. We thus tested the hypothesis that mild hypercapnia markedly improves tissue oxygenation in morbidly obese patients given Fio2 80% during major abdominal surgery. Thirty obese patients (body mass index 61.5 ± 17 kg/m2) scheduled for open gastric bypass were randomly assigned to normocapnia (n = 15, end-tidal Pco2 35 mm Hg) or hypercapnia (n = 15, end-tidal Pco2 50 mm Hg); Fio2 was 80%. Anesthetic management and other confounding factors were controlled. Tissue oxygen tension was measured subcutaneously at the upper arm using a polarographic probe in a silastic tonometer. Demographic characteristics, cardiovascular measurements, and Pao2 (222 ± 48 versus 230 ± 68 mm Hg in normocapnic versus hypercapnic; mean ± sd; P = 0.705) were comparable in the groups. Tissue oxygen tension, however, was greater in hypercapnic than in normocapnic patients (78 ± 31 versus 56 ± 13 mm Hg; P = 0.029). Mild hypercapnia increased tissue oxygenation by an amount believed to be clinically important and could potentially reduce the risk of surgical wound infection in morbidly obese patients.


We study a deterministic two‐machine flowshop scheduling problem with an assumption that one of the two machines is not available in a specified time period. This period can be due to a breakdown, preventive maintenance, or processing unfinished jobs from a previous planning horizon. The problem is known to be NP‐hard. Pseudopolynomial dynamic programming algorithms and heuristics with worst case error bounds are given in the literature to solve the problem. They are different for the cases when the unavailability interval is for the first or second machine. The existence of a fully polynomial time approximation scheme (FPTAS) was formulated as an open conjecture in the literature. In this paper, we show that the two cases of the problem under study are equivalent to similar partition type problems. Then we derive a generic FPTAS for the latter problems with O(n5/ε4) time complexity. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2004.


The electromagnetic field radiated by an arbitrary source is represented as the multipule expansion of the left-hand circularly polarized and of the right-hand circularly polarized modal fields. In particular, the multiarm log-spiral antennas have been investigated using such an approach. With approximated current distributions, the multipole coefficients and the circularly polarized field patterns for a few typical log spirals are computed and compared with the measured results. Generally, only a few dominant modes are sufficient to describe the major radiating characteristics of the log spirals; therefore, a better insight as to the polarization and the angular dependence can be gained through the modal-field point of view.


Abstract Engineers work in an increasingly complex entanglement of ideas, people, cultures, technology, systems and environments. Today, decisions made by engineers often have serious implications for not only their clients but for society as a whole and the natural world. Such decisions may potentially influence cultures, ways of living, as well as alter ecosystems which are in delicate balance. In order to make appropriate decisions and to co-create ideas and innovations within and among the complex networks of communities which currently exist and are shaped by our decisions, we need to regain our place as professionals, to realise the significance of our work and to take responsibility in a much deeper sense. Engineers must develop the 'ability to respond' to emerging needs of all people, across all cultures. To do this requires insights and knowledge which are at present largely within the domain of the social and political sciences but which need to be shared with our students in ways which are mean...


In search of ligand platforms, which can be used to remotely control the catalytic activity of a transition metal, we have investigated the coordination noninnocence of ambiphilic L2/Z-type ligands containing a trifluorostiborane unit as a Lewis acid. The known dichlorostiboranyl platinum complex (( o-(Ph2P)C6H4)2SbCl2)PtCl (1) reacts with TlF in the presence of acetonitrile (MeCN) and cyclohexyl isocyanide (CyNC) to afford the trifluorostiborane platinum complexes 2 ((( o-(Ph2P)C6H4)2SbF3)Pt-NCMe) and 3 ((( o-(Ph2P)C6H4)2SbF3)Pt-CNCy), respectively. Formation of these complexes, which results from a redistribution of the halide ligands about the dinuclear core, affects the nature of the Pt-Sb bond. The latter switches from covalent in 1 to polar covalent (or dative) in 2 and 3 where the trifluorostiborane moiety engages the platinum center in a Pt → Sb interaction. The polarity of the Pt-Sb bond can be modulated further by abstraction of an antimony-bound fluoride ligand using B(C6F5)3. These reactions afford the cationic complexes [(( o-(Ph2P)C6H4)2SbF2)Pt-NCMe]+ ([5]+) and [(( o-(Ph2P)C6H4)2SbF2)Pt-CNCy]+ ([6]+) which have been isolated as [BF(C6F5)3]- salts. These complexes possess a highly Lewis acidic difluorostibonium moiety, which exerts an intense draw on the electron density of the platinum center. As a result, the latter becomes significantly more electrophilic. In the case of [5]+, which contains a labile acetonitrile ligand, this increased electrophilicity translates into increased carbophilicity as reflected by the ability of this complex to promote enyne cyclization reactions. These results demonstrate that the coordination noninnocence of antimony Z-ligands can be used to adjust the catalytic activity of an adjoining metal center.


Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) is the 400–700 nm portion of the solar radiation spectrum that photoautotrophic organisms including plants, algae, and cyanobacteria use for photosynthesis. PAR is a key variable in global ecosystem and Earth system modeling, playing a prominent role in carbon and water cycling. Alongside air temperature, water availability, and atmospheric CO2 concentration, PAR controls photosynthesis and consequently biomass productivity in general. The management of agricultural and horticultural crops, forests, grasslands, and even grasses at sports venues is a non-exhaustive list of applications for which an accurate knowledge of the PAR resource is desirable. Modern agrivoltaic systems also require a good knowledge of PAR in conjunction with the variables needed to monitor the co-located photovoltaic system. In situ quality-controlled PAR sensors provide high-quality information for specific locations. However, due to associated installation and maintenance costs, such high-quality data are relatively scarce and generally extend over a restricted and sometimes non-continuous period. Numerous studies have already demonstrated the potential offered by surface radiation estimates based on satellite information as reliable alternatives to in situ measurements. The accuracy of these estimations is site-dependent and is related, for example, to the local climate, landscape, and viewing angle of the satellite. To assess the accuracy of PAR satellite models, we inter-compared 11 methods for estimating 30 min surface PAR based on satellite-derived estimations at 33 ground-based station locations over several climate regions in Europe, Africa, and South America. Averaged across stations, the results showed average relative biases (relative to the measurement mean) across methods of 1 to 20%, an average relative standard deviation of 25 to 30%, an average relative root mean square error of 25% to 35% and a correlation coefficient always above 0.95 for all methods. Improved performance was seen for all methods at relatively cloud-free sites, and quality degraded towards the edge of the Meteosat Second Generation viewing area. A good compromise between computational time, memory allocation, and performance was achieved for most locations using the Jacovides coefficient applied to the global horizontal irradiance from HelioClim-3 or the CAMS Radiation Service. In conclusion, satellite estimations can provide a reliable alternative estimation of ground-based PAR for most applications.


Abstrak – This research explores the development and the implementation of damage tolerance analysis on weld joints. Two geometry types of weld joint are investigated subject to cyclic loadings. The experimental results are used for establishing residual strength diagram and crack growth diagram for both of types. The results show that the strength behavior may be quite different for different geometry types, even if the materials are the same.


The search for efficacious, minimally invasive neurosurgical treatment has led to the development of the operating microscope, endovascular treatment, and endoscopic surgery. One of the most minimally invasive and exciting discoveries is the use of targeted, high-dose radiation for neurosurgical disorders. Radiosurgery is truly minimally invasive, delivering therapeutic energy to an accurately defined target without an incision, and has been used to treat a wide variety of pathological conditions, including benign and malignant brain tumors, vascular lesions such as arteriovenous malformations, and pain syndromes such as trigeminal neuralgia. Over the last 50 years, a tremendous amount of knowledge has been garnered, both about target volume and radiation delivery. This review covers the intense study of these concepts and the development of linear accelerators to deliver stereotactic radiosurgery. The fascinating history of stereotactic neurosurgery is reviewed, and a detailed account is given of the development of linear accelerators and their subsequent modification for radiosurgery.


Learning domain-invariant representations is a major task of out-of-distribution generalization. To address this issue, recent efforts have taken into accounting causality, aiming at learning the causal factors with regard to tasks. However, extending existing generalization methods for adapting non-stationary time series may be ineffective, because they fail to model the underlying causal factors due to temporal-domain shifts except for source-domain shifts, as pointed out by recent studies. To this end, we propose a novel model DyCVAE to learn dynamic causal factors. The results on synthetic and real datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed model for the task of generalization in time series domain.


this paper clarifies, by reference to and development of work which has been published elsewhere, some of the myths and misconceptions surrounding the need for central city parking. it concludes that the market does not, and is unlikely to, produce socially-optimal levels of parking availability, but that the tools available to governments are often unsuited to the task of rectifying market imperfections. the major contributor to market imperfection is tenant parking. the solution, however, lies not in discriminating against tenant parking, but in ensuring that all parking meets the externality costs it causes through its physical provision and the associated demands on the road system (a). for the covering entry of the conference, please refer to irrd number 831112.


Student mobility and school discipline are two prominent challenges in urban school districts. The interaction of gender with school discipline in shaping patterns of student mobility has received little attention. This article examines student mobility patterns across gender and the timing of school changes in Clark County, Nevada. The findings draw attention to discipline-related mobility or the placement of students in alternative schools, especially during the school year. Male students are more likely to switch schools mid-year than female students, and the disproportionate rates of student mobility between male and female students can be explained by disciplinary incidents. Gender is a significant predictor of the destination school quality of discipline-related movers. Policy implications and areas for future research are discussed.


Introduction Discrimination of tuberculosis (TB) from latent infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (LTBI) by immunodiagnostic assays remains challenging. This study compares the performance of a novel two color FluoroSpot with an established interferon-γ (IFNγ) release assay (IGRA) EliSpot. We hypothesize that additional information of Mtb-specific interleukin (IL)-2 release will improve the immunodiagnosis of different stages of Mtb-infection. Methods Immune responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells were assessed using EliSpot and FluoroSpot test systems in 18 culture confirmed pulmonary TB cases, 41 healthy controls (24 - LTBI), and 10 persons with known cured TB. The number of IFNγ spot forming cells in EliSpot was compared with IFNγ in FluoroSpot, furthermore IL2 + or IFNγ + IL2 + producing T-cells were determined. Results IFNγ response in EliSpot and FluoroSpot showed a good correlation (ESAT6 r 2 =0,67; CFP10 r 2 =0,73). Against to expectations, the analysis of IL2 + and IFNγ + IL2 + cells did not improve differentiation between TB, LTBI and cured TB substantially. The number of single IFNγ + IL2 - producing cells was significantly higher in patients with TB compared with LTBI controls (ESAT6-induced p=0,013) as well as in patients with TB compared with former TB patients (CFP10-induced p=0,006). However a big overlap of test results hampers to distinguish between the cohorts. Conclusion EliSpot and FluoroSpot results correlate well with each other, however separate analysis of IL-2 and IFNγ secretion by antigen specific T-cells does not allow differentiation of TB from LTBI in clinical practice.


Kinesin-2s are major transporters of cellular cargoes. This subfamily contains both homodimeric kinesins whose catalytic domains result from the same gene product and heterodimeric kinesins with motor domains derived from two different gene products. In this Minireview, we focus on the progress to define the biochemical and biophysical properties of the kinesin-2 family members. Our understanding of their mechanochemical capabilities has been advanced by the ability to identify the kinesin-2 genes in multiple species, expression and purification of these motors for single-molecule and ensemble assays, and development of new technologies enabling quantitative measurements of kinesin activity with greater sensitivity.


ABSTRACT First Person is a series of interviews with the first authors of a selection of papers published in Disease Models & Mechanisms, helping early-career researchers promote themselves alongside their papers. Madelyn Jackstadt is first author on ' A multidimensional metabolomics workflow to image distribution and evaluate pharmacodynamics in adult zebrafish', published in DMM. Madelyn is a PhD student in the lab of Gary Patti at Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA, and is interested in utilizing metabolomics, particularly isotope tracing, in zebrafish to investigate biological questions including drug effects and disease states.


Abstract Objectives The cut off values for serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), ferritin, interleukin 6 (IL-6) and plasma D-dimer could be of profound help in detecting COVID-19 patients at risk of adverse outcomes. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to determine the cut off values of the serum hsCRP, ferritin, IL-6 and plasma D-dimer in predicting mortality in COVID-19 patients. Methods Four hundred RT-PCR confirmed cases of COVID-19 were sub divided into two groups based on their outcome during hospitalisation. Group I consisted of survivors and Group II consisted of non-survivors. The survivors were further divided into three sub-groups: mild, moderate and severe based on the severity of infection. The laboratory data of serum hsCRP, ferritin, IL-6 and plasma D-dimer for all these patients was retrieved from the Medical Record Section of the Hospital. Results Mean serum hsCRP, ferritin, IL-6 and plasma D-dimer levels were significantly higher in non-survivors as compared to survivors of COVID-19. The levels of these biomarkers correlated with the severity of COVID-19 illness. ROC curve analysis revealed that plasma D-dimer is having a better predictive value as compared to other parameters in predicting mortality in COVID-19. Conclusions The serum hsCRP, ferritin, IL-6 and plasma D-dimer levels could be used in risk stratification of COVID-19 patients. The optimum cut off given by the current study could be considered in predicting adverse outcome in these patients. Amongst the many studied biomarkers, plasma D-dimer might be the best early biomarker to predict mortality in COVID-19 patients.


The effects of halothane, isoflurane and epidural anesthesia combined with isoflurane on hemodynamic and metabolic changes caused by hepatic ischemia and reperfusion were studied in 16 pigs. Hepatic arterial and portal venous blood flows were measured electromagnetically. Lactate pyruvate ratio (L/P) and arterial ketone body ratio (AKBR) were calculated as markers of hepatic aerobic metabolism. Total hepatic blood flow (THBF), cardiac output (CO) and THBF/CO showed no significant differences among three anesthetic methods in ischemic and reperfusion period. In the group with epidural anesthesia combined with isoflurane, L/P was significantly lower and AKBR was significantly higher compared with the data obtained in ischemic period. However, hepatic metabolism was severely disturbed after the reperfusion of the liver in all three groups. Especially, halothane group showed the most remarkable decrease in AKBR. In summary, epidural anesthesia will be useful for aerobic hepatic metabolism because of inhibition of the release of endogenous cathecolamines, but hepatic metabolism will not be maintained following hepatic ischemia and reperfusion.


The biosorption of hexavelent chromium from saline solutions by Posidonia oceanica, a marinebiomass, was studied as a function of pH, initial chromium (VI) and salt (NaCl) concentrations in batchsystem. The sorbent exhibited the maximal chromium (VI) uptake at pH 2 regardless of the presence ofincreasing salt concentration. Equilibrium uptake increased with chromium (VI) concentration up to 250 mg/l and decreased slightly in the presence of increasing salt concentrations of salt up to 50 g/l. The biomassadsorbed 14.48 mg of metal per gram of biomass at 100 mg/l initial chromium concentration in the absence ofsalt. When 50 g/l salt concentration was added to the solution, the value diminished to 11.49 mg/g under thesame conditions (i.e. a 20.6% decrease in the biosorption capacity). The equilibrium sorption data wereanalyzed using Freundlich, Langmuir and Redlich-Peterson models. The Langmuir equation was the mostsuitable adsorption model for describing the biosorption equilibrium data of chromium (VI) both in salt freeand loaded media. The pseudo-second-order type kinetic model depicted the biosorption kinetics accuratelyat all chromium concentrations in absence and presence of increasing concentrations of salt.


Background: The presence of perceived stigma hinders epilepsy patients from help-seeking behavior and diminishes adherence to medical follow up. Despite this, the limitation of aggregate evidence regarding the prevalence and associated factors of perceived stigma existed in Ethiopia. Methods: Our search for eligible articles was accompanied in the databases of PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, and African Index Medicus. An additional manual search by the enumeration of the reference list of other articles was done. We used stata-11 and random-effects models to obtain the average prevalence of perceived stigma. Heterogeneity was assured with the Higgs I2 test and Cochran's Q- statistic. Sensitivity analysis and sub-grouping analyses were done. Qualitative checks for symmetry in funnel plot and quantitative description of Egger's test were done to check a publication bias.Results: Of 1524 articles identified by the electronic and manual search, only 10 articles fulfilled the eligibility criteria and included in the analysis. The average prevalence of perceived stigma was found to be 43.79% (95% CI: 31.84, 55.75). The prevalence of perceived stigma varies across the measurement tool used, study location, and year of publication. The average prevalence of perceived stigma in studies measured with the modified FIS scale was 76.3%; higher than those studies measured with the Kilifi stigma scale; 33.63% and three-item stigma scale; 39.5%. Besides, the average prevalence of stigma was higher in Amhara (53.2 %) and the Oromia region (52.2%). Studies published before 2016 provide higher perceived stigma (56.26 %) than studies published after 2016 (35.47%). Our qualitative analysis revealed that rural residence, low level of education and income, age groups of 18 to 24 years, frequent seizure occurrence, contagion believe regarding epilepsy, duration of epilepsy from 1-10 years, depression and anxiety co-morbidity were among the associated factors with perceived stigma in people with epilepsy.Conclusion: The average prevalence of perceived stigma in people with epilepsy was high and varies across study location, measurement tool, and study's publication year. Management of epilepsy should focus on the stigma component besides the biological intervention.


Limited-stage small cell lung cancer remains one of the more frustrating malignancies to treat. Current standard of care typically includes platinum-based chemotherapy with thoracic radiation, and although response to therapy is high, most patients will ultimately experience relapse and die of recurrent disease. No high-level data exist supporting surgical resection of early-stage disease; however, several retrospective reviews and small single-arm studies suggest surgery may benefit patients with very limited extent of disease. This article reviews the available literature, and proposes guidelines for including potentially curative resection in the management of patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer.


ABSTRACT Domestic violence (DV) is an issue of global concern, which has been subject to public health and criminal justice reforms for decades. Much attention has been paid to legal responses to DV, specifically the policing of this social issue. Police responses have frequently been scrutinised for not taking DV seriously, not placing sufficient emphasis on perpetrator accountability and not recognising and acknowledging victim survivor preferences sufficiently. The current study examines police responses to DV in an Australian jurisdiction that has been subject to substantial DV-focused policy and law reforms in recent years. Drawing on focus group data from 19 police officers and prosecutors, this article examines the factors that shape police decision making when responding to DV. Findings identify a shift towards more proactive and protective policing of DV, guided by a strong emphasis on operational policies and procedures, risk perceptions and aversity. Findings further reveal limited room for victim preferences in police responses to DV, highlighting the need for specialist DV units to provide holistic and nuanced responses to families affected by DV.


The preparation of Au/TiO2(110) planar catalysts and the low temperature (LT) oxidation of CO (in H2) were investigated by Scanning Tunnelling Microscopy (STM), Auger-electron Spectroscopy (AES) and Thermal Programmed Reaction (TPR). The distribution and the mean size of the Au particles were modified by different pretreatments of the support: (A) Ar+ bombardment; deposition to (B) 0.05 ML of K or (C) 0.5 ML of Mo. It was shown that the mean size of the Au particles formed at RT is 3-4 nm on the clean TiO2(110) surface and this value deacreased to 1.5-2 nm for all pretreated supports. These 2D catalysts were tested in the LT oxidation (PROX) of CO. The same reaction conditions were kept for all experiments: the reaction chamber was filled up to 0.5 hPa O2, 0.5 hPa CO and 9 hPa H2 and the temperature of the catalyst was increased from 310 K to 400 K, 450 K or 500K for 60 minutes. The clean, Ar+pretreated, K or Mo preexposed oxide surfaces exhibited no activity in the PROX reaction. By the deposition of Au of 1-3 monolayer on to these surfaces, however, an enhancement of CO2 in the gas phase was clearly detected. The clean TiO2(110) surface prooved to be the best support for gold, any modification of the support resulted in a loss of the activity. For all cases dependently on the pretreatments, the mean size of the Au particles increased significantly up to 4-8 nm in the PROX at 500 K.


Copper corroles are known for their unique multiconfigurational electronic structures in the ground state, which arise from the transfer of electrons from the π orbitals of the corrole to the d-orbital of copper. While density functional theory (DFT) provides reasonably good molecular geometries, the determination of the ground spin state and the associated energetics is heavily influenced by functional choice, particularly the percentage of the Hartree-Fock exchange. Using extended multireference perturbation theory methods (XMS-CASPT2), the functional choice can be assessed. The molecular geometries and electronic structures of both the unsubstituted and the meso-triphenyl copper corroles were investigated. A minimal active space was employed for structural characterization, while larger active spaces are required to examine the electronic structure. The XMS-CASPT2 investigations conclusively identify the ground electronic state as a multiconfigurational singlet (S0) with three dominant electronic configurations in its lowest energy and characteristic saddled structure. In contrast, the planar geometry corresponds to the triplet state (T0), which is approximately 5 kcal/mol higher in energy compared to the S0 state for both the bare and substituted copper corroles. Notably, the planarity of the T0 geometry is reduced in the substituted corrole compared with that in the unsubstituted one. By analyzing the potential energy surface (PES) between the S0 and T0 geometries using XMS-CASPT2, the multiconfigurational electronic structure is shown to transition toward a single electron configuration as the saddling angle decreases (i.e., as one approaches the planar geometry). Despite the ability of the functionals to reproduce the minimum energy structures, only the TPSSh-D3 PES is reasonably close to the XMS-CASPT2 surface. Significant deviations along the PES are observed with other functionals.


Waste oil, such as waste engine oil, the leftover oil from tanker ships is usually of a high viscosity, low quality and includes water. The recycling and effective use of waste materials are regarded as very important from resources saving view point. The purpose of this study was to develop a waste oil com-bustion burner, which is able to atomize high viscous waste oil using low energy and is able to reduce pollutant emissions. The waste oil combustion burner consists of an internal mixing twin-fluid atomizer and a flame holder. We investigated the effects of geometric shapes of atomizer and flame holders on the combustion characteristics of waste oil. The results indicated that high effective and stable combustion of waste oil were achieved with low energy. Moreover, the flame is mainly luminous, blow-off of the flame takes place hardly, smoke emission is little and simultaneously reduction of NOx and CO exhaust emissions was achieved independent of the fuel mass flow rate under low atomizing air mass flow rate.