What is critical theory – and what is it not? This essay attempts a new answer to this old question and examines which normative convictions immanent to social reality can be used to describe, analyse and criticise contemporary, global forms of domination that form blockades of social and political participation. The analysis proceeds in a double step, referring both to the critique of society and to the critique of theory that describes society. The basis of this parallel swing is an analysis in which the author makes revisions to Jürgen Habermas's colonisation thesis and uses the example of housing to show how these revisions which refer to the global perspective, the demarcation between system and lifeworld, the language of critique and, finally, the theoretical mode of an inherent dialectical critique make possible an analysis of the financial and economic sectors as well as everyday interactions. Reading Habermas more dialectically than he probably would himself also allows the identification of potentials for transforming relations of oppression.


We propose a formal definition of backtestable statistic: a backtest is a null expected value involving only the statistic and its random variable, strictly monotonic in the former. We discuss the relationship with elicitability and identifiability which turn out being necessary conditions. The variance and the Expected Shortfall are not backtestable for this reason. We discuss (absolute) model validation in the context of one– or two–sided hypothesis tests, as well as (relative) model selection obtained by ranking realizations of the backtest statistic. We introduce the concept of sharpness which refers to whether a backtest is strictly monotonic with respect to the real value of the statistic and not only to its prediction. This decides whether the expected value of a backtest determines the extent of a prediction discrepancy and not only its likelihood. We show that the quantile backtest is not sharp and in fact provides no information whatsoever on the real value of the statistic. The Expectile is also not sharp; we provide bounds for its real value, which are looser for outer confidence levels. We then introduce ridge backtests, applicable to particular non–backtestable statistics, such as the variance and the Expected Shortfall, which coincide with the attained minimum of the scoring function of another elicitable auxiliary statistic. This allows to produce sharp backtest procedures in which the prediction for the auxiliary variable is also involved but with small sensitivity and known bias sign. The ridge mechanism explains why the variance has always been de–facto backtestable and allows for similar efficient ways to backtest the expected shortfall. We discuss the relevance of this result in the current debate of financial regulation (banking and insurance), where Value at Risk and Expected Shortfall are adopted as regulatory risk measures.


Serum levels of carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP), a marker of matrix degradation, were measured by RIA test, on 184 samples of healthy newborns and children aging from 1 (cord blood) to 90 days of life. We found ICTP values about tenfold higher than the adults', with highly significant variations (P < 0.001) in the whole period studied. During the first three months of life serum levels of the bone marker show a progressive increase from 0 to 7 days, they remain unchanged until the 30th day and then decrease until the 45th day, maintaining similar values from the 45th to the 90th day of life. The authors think that the pattern of ICTP in the first week of life is under the influence of the adapting phenomena following delivery, in which catabolic processes are predominant, while in the second period ICTP modifications are related to growing processes and then to bone turnover.


We introduced a carbon-nanotube (CNT) electron beam (C-beam) for thin film crystallization and thin film transistor (TFT) applications. As a source of electron emission, a CNT emitter which had been grown on a silicon wafer with a resist-assisted patterning (RAP) process was used. By using the C-beam exposure, we successfully crystallized a silicon thin film that had nano-sized crystalline grains. The distribution of crystalline grain size was about 10 ∼ 30 nm. This nanocrystalline silicon thin film definitely had three crystalline directions which are (111), (220) and (311), respectively. The silicon TFTs crystallized by using a C-beam exposure showed a field effect mobility of 20 cm2/Vs and an on/off ratio of more than 107. The C-beam exposure can modify the bonding network of amorphous silicon with its proper energy.


This paper provides plastic limit loads of pipes with constant-depth, circumferential part-through surface cracks under combined pressure and bending. A key issue is to postulate discontinuous hoop stress distributions in the net-section. Validity of the proposed limit load solutions are checked against the results from three-dimensional (3-D) finite element (FE) limit analyses using elastic-perfectly plastic material behaviour.Copyright © 2007 by ASME


It has long been recognized that the region of the parotid gland is the site of a great variety of tumors of complex structure containing, for example, glands of various types lined with squamous, cylindrical, or flattened epithelium, large areas of small undifferentiated cells, which in general are considered to be remnants of aberrant parotid tissue, cartilage, and even, as Prudden has reported, striated muscle. The proportion of the solid and glandular structures varies greatly in different tumors. Some are composed almost wholly of glands lined with high cylindrical epithelium secreting mucus, the so-called cylindromata. In others the glands are lined with a flattened or indifferent epithelium, apparently not secreting much material. In this latter group may be placed the rare lympho-angiomas of the parotid. Another group is composed of the so-called adenolymphomas, containing cysts lined with high columnar epithelium and surrounded by lymphoid tissue (Fig. 1). True sarcomata, both of the lymphoid and spindle-cell type, are seen, and finally carcinomata may occur. Most of the latter are of the squamous-cell variety; some are adenocarcinomas with much mucus both in the primary growth and in metastases; others may repeat the undifferentiated type of cell which so often composes the ordinary mixed or complex tumors of the salivary gland.


Teen dating violence (TDV) affects both males and females, and the negative consequences associated with such violence last into adulthood. This study had three objectives: (a) determine the extent of overlap in TDV offending and TDV victimization, (b) test whether social ties explain the TDV overlap, and (c) assess whether the effects of social ties on teen dating violence are invariant between sexes. This study used data from the 2018 Arizona Youth Study (N = 5,189). The findings confirmed that TDV overlap exists. In addition, social ties appeared to partially explain this overlap. Finally, some social ties appeared more general, predicting TDV for both sexes, whereas others were not. For instance, Paternal Attachment was found to reduce the probability of dating violence among female participants only. The findings lend support to prevention programs that aim to strengthen ties between parents and teens.


Acute iron intoxication in children has now been sufficiently well documented to have become a readily recognized clinical entity; it seems worth while to report this additional case because the number of recorded cases is still small and because this case presents the unusual features of severe hepatic and renal damage. REPORT OF A CASE The patient was a 21-month-old white girl who was admitted to the Charles S. Wilson Memorial Hospital on June 7, 1953, with a history of having ingested a large (but unknown) number of iron-containing capsules about eight hours previously. (The composition of these capsules is given by the manufacturer as dried ferrous sulfate 0.162 gm., liver concentrate N.F., 0.17 gm., and dried yeast.) Before admission the child had been vomiting and having diarrhea and had gradually lapsed into unconsciousness. On arrival at the hospital, she appeared lethargic and dehydrated. She was in shock; no blood


Objective: The present study developed and validated a high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for simultaneous determination of vildagliptin, metformin, and metformin-related compounds (A, B, and C) in tablets. Methods: Chromatographic separations were achieved on a C8 column (150 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm particle size) maintained at 25°C. The isocratic mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile/water/formic acid (20:80:0.1, v/v/v ), eluted at 800 μL/min. The volume of injection was 20 μL and the electrospray source was operated in positive ion mode. Results: Data from validation studies demonstrated that the new method was highly selective, sensitive (limits of detection ≤ 0.6 ng/mL), precise (RSD < 5%), and accurate (RE < 5%). All of the calibration curves showed excellent coefficients of correlation (r ³ 0.99) over the ranges of 5‑150 ng/mL for vildagliptin, 250‑2000 ng/mL for metformin, and 2.5‑25 ng/mL for metformin-related compounds A, B, and C. Quantification of these compounds in tablets showed that they contained from 95.2‑101.2% (vildagliptin) and 97‑104.4% (metformin) of the stated level. No metformin-related compounds were detected using this highly sensitive method. Conclusion: This new method is presented as an alternative approach to the quality control of tablets containing vildagliptin, metformin, and metformin-related compounds.


The Asia Pacific, a region generally recognized for its economic dynamism and geo-strategic importance, contains many on-going and potential conflicts, both at the inter-state and intra-state levels. Instead of yielding peace dividends, the end of the Cold War has brought to the surface traditional rivalries between regional powers, and intensified age-old boundary and territorial disputes. Increasing competition for resources has further complicated the sometime volatile relations between countries in this region. Many inter-state disputes are maritime in nature, both due to the many still unsettled maritime boundaries as a consequence of the enactment of UNCLOS, and the tendency towards a free-for-all exploitation of maritime resources with little regard for territorial jurisdictions. Mutual suspicions have prevented countries in the Asia Pacific from developing region-wide and over-arching security organizations, even at the sub-regional level. Countries in this region have not managed to go beyond confidence-building measures and preventive diplomacy. Fear of regional hegemony by one or more regional powers is likely to hinder support for the establishment of security-oriented ocean governance, particularly among the weaker countries in the Asia-Pacific region.


New interrelations between the distensions of the 5th, 6th and 7th ribs and low back pain were studied in two groups of patients: 1) one hundred out-patients with prevalent pseudoradicular symptomatology and 2) fifty patients hospitalised for graphically verified (CT, PMG) lumbar disc herniation and pronounced radicular symptomatology. We have introduced some measurements to document asymmetrical holding of the body and limbs: the distance between the sternoclavicular joint-spina iliaca ant. sup. and the distance between the acromion and spina iliaca post. sup. We found that in the distension (blockade) of the 5th rib, constant spasms are present in m. abdominis obliquus ext., in the most lateral part of the adductors and in the most medial part of the great gluteal muscle. In 6th rib distension, spasms in the external part of the m. rectus abdominis, and in the mediolateral fascicles of thigh adductors and in the external part of m. glutaeus max. could be palpated. In 7th sternocostal distension there are spasms in the most medial parts of m. rectus abdominis, and of thigh adductors and m. glutaeus medius of the same side. After mobilization, statistically significant improvement of body asymmetry (p less than 0.01), improvement of anteflection, bending to the side, Laségue's and Patric's phenomena were found. Surgery was indispensable only in 6% of our patients suffering from severe lumbar disc hernianion (in 3 out of 50). The CT appearance of the prolapse remained unaltered even after clinical remission. There were some changes before and after mobilization in the CT picture of sternocostal joints. The importance of strengthening of the great pectoral muscles--in which preexistent relative weakness was found--is stressed. The beneficial effect of mobilization of the respective sternocostal blockade on the pain syndrome, body asymmetry and mobility is described.


Effective heat dissipation is crucial to enhance the performance and reliability of the electronic devices. In this paper, the performance of encapsulants filled with carbon fiber was studied and compared with silica filled encapsulants. Encapsulants filled with a mixed combination of fillers for optimizing key properties were also investigated. The thermal conductance and electrical conductance were investigated, and glass transition temperature (Tg), thermal expansion coefficient (TCE), and storage modulus (E') of these materials were studied with thermal analysis methods. The carbon fiber and silica filled composites showed an increase of thermal conductivity three to four times that of silica filled encapsulants of the same filler loading, while maintaining or enhancing major mechanical and thermal properties, respectively.


Hybrid UAV is a new platform of UAV which is integrating fixed wing and multirotor to get vertical takeoff and landing capability with high range and long endurance. Thus it has the benefit of both fixed wing and multirotor platform. The design methodology of hybrid UAV is resembled fixed wing aircraft with modification at some part due to augmentation of multirotor. This Hybrid UAV has been manufactured and on testing phase.


The representation of permafrost and seasonally frozen ground and their projected twenty-first century trends is assessed in the Community Climate System Model, version 4 (CCSM4) and the Community Land Model version 4 (CLM4). The combined impact of advances in CLM and a better Arctic climate simulation, especially for air temperature, improve the permafrost simulation in CCSM4 compared to CCSM3. Present-day continuousplus discontinuous permafrost extent is comparable to that observed [12.5 3 10 6 versus (11.8‐14.6) 3 10 6 km 2 ],but active-layer thickness (ALT) is generallytoo thick and deep ground (.15 m) temperatures are too warm in CCSM4. Present-day seasonally frozen ground area is well simulated (47.5 3 10 6 versus 48.1 3 10 6 km 2 ). ALT and deep ground temperatures are much better simulated in offline CLM4 (i.e., forced with observed climate), which indicates that the remaining climate biases, particularly excessive high-latitude snowfall biases, degrade the CCSM4 permafrost simulation. Near-surface permafrost (NSP) and seasonally frozen ground (SFG) area are projected to decline substantially during the twenty-first century [representative concentration projections (RCPs); RCP8.5: NSP by 9.0 3 10 6 km 2 , 72%, SFG by 7.1 3 10 6 , 15%; RCP2.6: NSP by 4.1 3 10 6 , 33%, SFG by 2.1 3 10 6 , 4%]. The permafrost degradation rate is slower (2000‐50) than in CCSM3 by ;35% because of the improved soil physics. Under the low RCP2.6 emissions pathway, permafrost state stabilizes by 2100, suggesting that permafrost related feedbacks could be minimized if greenhouse emissions could be reduced. The trajectory of permafrost degradation is affected by CCSM4 climate biases. In simulations with this climate bias ameliorated, permafrost degradation in RCP8.5 is lower by ;29%. Further reductions of Arctic climate biases will increase the reliability of permafrost projections and feedback studies in earth system models.


Clustered collaborative architecture brings serious security challenges. One of these collaborative solution is a remote desktop that provides a virtual graphical environment through a network displayed on a thin client. As several thin clients access to the same host, conflicts or non interference problems can raise. Although techniques exist for improving security of a host, few papers present how to secure a remote desktop architecture. This paper describes how to provide for this architecture a good level of security with strong authentication, Single Sign On, anomaly and intrusion detection systems. In particular, a correlation system checks that each remote user session have a valid behaviour. Load balancing aspects are discussed through the study of a new algorithm to distribute the server load generated by remote users.


Bi0.5(Na0.72 K0.28-xLix)0.5TiO3 (BNKLT-1OOx) lead-free piezoelectric ceramics are synthesized by conventional solid state sintering techniques. The dielectric and piezoelectric properties of the BNKLT-1OOx ceramics as a function of Li content are systematically investigated. It is found that not only Li content but also the sintering temperature has a strong effect on the piezoelectric properties of BNKLT. The piezoelectric constant d33 of BNKLT varies from 120 to 252pC/N in the Li content range from 0.03 to 0.16. In the sintering temperature range from 1080 to 1130° C, the d33 value of BNKLT-6 changes from 200pC/N to 252pC/N. The BNKLT-6 sample sintered at 1100° C has the highest piezoelectric constant d33 of 252pC/N, with the electromechanical coupling factors kp of 0.32 and kt of 0.44.


The research objective was to identify the peculiarities of the emergence of resistance to adverse environmental factors (winter period and droughts), the assessment of local and foreign mutant lines and varieties for resistance by means of proven express tests. It has been confirmed that both traits are slightly variable under the effect of gamma irradiation. The lines and varieties with such traits have been identified, the relationship between the grain productivity in winter wheat has been described, the availability of these traits has been established, as well as the need to take them into account at creating an up-to-date variety model for the conditions of insufficient humidification with a harsh continental climate (North Steppe of Ukraine) in the conditions of climate change. It has been shown that drought resistance remains the key trait, but the possible mechanism for the realization of the genetically determined yield potential by a variety can also be the timing of ripeness, which may help avoiding the most critical periods (middle and early ripeness).


A 64-year-old diabetic man was admitted because his general condition had not improved despite the admini stration of voriconazole in another hospital, and his condition had become critical. Chest CT demonstrated a large fungus ball and consolidation around a cavity in the right lung. Aspergillusfumigatus was detected on a sputum culture. Based on these findings, we diagnosed invasive aspergillosis and administered high-dose (5mg/kg) liposomal amphotericin B (L-AMB) for 8 weeks, which resulted in the improvement of his general condition and the disappearance of the fungus ball, without severe adverse events.


This paper describes a Heterogeneous multicore SoC named EVMP-SoC, which is composed of a RISC host processor and two minor-different SIMD synergistic processor that are specially optimized for embedded visual media applications. By using on chip memory and the multi-channel memory access unit, this chip achieved several different level of parallelism, such as Single-Instructionstream-Multiple-Datastream (SIMD) data-level parallelism (DLP), multicore thread-level parallelism (TLP) and memory tile pipeline parallelism. We used an affine transformation framework called PLuTo on code optimization for EVMPSoC and explored multiple level parallelism on this chip. We found that lacking of processor performance model, the general polyhedral affine transformation framework could not generate efficient parallel code for Heterogeneous architectures. Tile scheduling and pipelining techniques are adopted to make a full use of process cores and memory bandwidth. The experiment results showed that tile schedule and pipeline is effective. This chip gained a very good accelerate ratio after all the parallel optimizations1. Finally, the chip was proved to be high efficiency and availability through a case study (a typical application of three dimensional reconstruction from multi images).


We investigate two approaches for estimating formation permeability based on microseismic data. The two approaches differ in terms of the mechanism that triggers the seismicity: pore-pressure triggering mechanism and the so-called seepage-force (or effective stress) triggering mechanism. Based on microseismic data from a hydraulic fracture experiment using water and supercritical CO2 injection, we estimate permeability using the two different approaches. The microseismic data comes from two hydraulic stimulation treatments that were performed on two formation intervals having similar geological, geomechanical, and in situ stress conditions, yet different injection fluid was used. Both approaches (pore-pressure triggering, and the seepage-force triggering) provide estimates of permeability within the same order of magnitude. However, the seepage-force mechanism (i.e., effective stress perturbation) provides more consistent estimates of permeability between the two different injection fluids. The results show that permeability estimates using microseismic monitoring have strong potential to constrain formation permeability limitations for large-scale CO2 injection.


The goals of tertiary education which include the university, are well spelt out in the National Policy on Education. One of the basic characteristic of academic necessity motivating the founding of universities is the need to develop and maintain established academic discipline or areas of knowledge and investigation so as to produce intellectuals, researchers, among others. One way to achieve this was to resist tendencies or development that tends to erode their academic freedom and autonomy. Obviously, universities with predominant academic focus tend to guard their freedom and autonomy very jealously and so remain impervious to new development that tends to erode it. The paper, therefore, examine the concepts of freedom and autonomy. The paper equally examines the indispensability of freedom and autonomy to universities. Also, the paper highlights the issues of erosion of university academic freedom and institutional autonomy in Nigeria. Finally, the paper recommends that government should ensure that universities are managed in line with their statutory laws and acts. In this way each organ of the university such as governing councils, senate, faculties, departments among others will carry out their laid out functions successfully, thus reducing the realities that may have limit university freedom and autonomy.


One application of distributed computing is remote system instrumentation. Such instrumentation programs require good response with low overhead to provide timely results without disturbing the system being measured. A remote procedure call system, such as the Circus system developed at Berkeley, allows programmers to write distributed programs with little more effort than is required to write local programs. This paper compares a Circus-based implementation of a Berkeley UNIX tool (vmstat) with one based on the byte-stream protocol TCP. The Circus version makes for much cleaner code, but it requires more start-up time and higher CPU overhead than the TCP version. We conclude that the present incarnation of Circus is not acceptable for our work, but that future versions of Circus should prove valuable.


This article deals with the problem of arranging extracurricular activities for students at a modern Russian university. Research interest in this issue stems from the fact that extracurricular activities are of great concern in the development of modern students' professionally important qualities and their professional competence. There is a critical need to change the approaches to the organization of extracurricular activities at a university in the light of modern tendencies of higher education development and the opinion of faculty and student community. The authors focus on students' and faculty members' views and expectations of extracurricular activity. The research identified priority tasks of extracurricular activities. The recommendations on the organization of extracurricular activities at the level of the chair (department) were developed. The necessity of searching for a flexible, adaptive model of extracurricular activities at the university level is substantiated considering the specifics of the educational environment of a particular university; promising directions for further research are determined.


The development of effective radioligand therapeutics (RLTs) is frequently hampered by the lack of high-quality targeting agents that selectively deliver radioactive payloads to the site of disease while sparing healthy tissues. Antibodies can have high affinity and specificity to tumor targets, but their large size results in limited tumor penetration and long systemic half-life is frequently causing haematological toxicities. Alternatively, targeting agents with low molecular weight such as small molecules and peptides often suffer from limited affinity and specificity to the tumor target, resulting in off-target effects and limited tumor retention. DARPins (Designed Ankyrin Repeat Proteins) developed by Molecular Partners combine small size (15 kDa) and ideal binding properties. Due to their rigid-body target binding mode DARPins combine very high affinity and specificity and unless engineered accordingly, DARPins have very short systemic half-lives. Thanks to a simple and robust architecture, DARPins can be efficiently coupled with radioactive payloads, even at elevated temperatures; and they can tolerate sequence-engineering approaches, which are not compatible with other protein scaffolds. To establish the DARPin platform for RLT, we have used DARPin candidates against different tumor targets. We have previously shown that increasing affinity to the tumor target correlates with elevated tumor uptake and long tumor residence in preclinical mouse models. We now also show that DARPins exhibit a homogeneous and deep tumor penetration in vivo that is highly superior to antibody benchmarks. Globular proteins below 60 kDa in size are typically cleared from the bloodstream via the renal pathway. This generally results in a strong kidney accumulation of small sized, protein-based targeting agents and their coupled residualizing radionuclides, leading to dose-limiting kidney toxicities. To overcome this limitation, we have undertaken an extensive engineering approach of the DARPin scaffold. Our results show that sequence engineering strongly reduces kidney uptake of DARPins without affecting their tumor uptake. This effect was confirmed with independent DARPin candidates suggesting a general applicability of the approach. Combined with other orthogonal strategies, we are able obtain favourable tumor to kidney ratios in preclinical mouse models. These results show that our proprietary optimized DARPin platform offers an attractive solution to the limitations of protein-based targeting agents for RLT applications. Together with the fact that high-affinity DARPins can be generated against a large variety of tumor targets, we conclude that our platform provides a powerful basis for the development of next-generation RLTs. Several DARPin-RLT programs in indications with high unmet medical need are currently in development.
 Citation Format: Andreas Bosshart, Stephan Wullschleger, Martin Behe, Alain Blanc, Stefan Imobersteg, Alexandra Neculcea, Jacqueline Blunschi, Liridon Abduli, Sarah Schütz, Julia Wolter, Christian Reichen, Amelie Croset, Alessandra Villa, Christian Lizak, Anne Goubier, Roger Schibli, Daniel Steiner. DARPins as powerful targeting agents for radioligand therapeutics. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 5037.


The achievement of the point of view, the mission and the aim of the school that was maintained together by the pupil, was needed by the condition for the conducive school and the harmony between the available educational power in the school including the principal, the teacher, the administrative power, and parents of the pupil, as well as their respective community had the role that was big enough in achieving the aim of the organisation. The teacher's power was one of the educational powers that had the role as the determining factor of the success of the aim of the organisation apart from the other educational power, because of the direct teacher bersinggungan with participants educated, to give the guidance that his estuary will produce the graduate who was hoped for. So the achievement of the teacher must be always increased. Efforts to increase the achievement usually were carried out by means of giving the motivation, held the supervision, gave the incentive, gave the opportunity that was good for developed in the career, increased the capacity, the style of good leadership. While the achievement of the teacher could be increased if that was relevant knew what was hoped for and when could determine hopes that were acknowledged by results of his work. Key word:  motivation,  organisation culture and achievement


While infectious diseases clinicians have been schooled in syphilology for generations, new aspects of syphilis continue to appear. Such is the case in HIV-infected individuals, in whom the clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic implications are quite confusing. Dr. Edward W. Hook III, associate professor of medicine at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, has been one of the front-runners in examining and describing new aspects of this age-old infection. In this AIDS Commentary he discusses the critical clinical questions relevant to syphilis in persons with HIV infection.


Drawing on diverse theoretical perspectives and research, this paper focuses on the significance of settings in qualitative research as well as on associated problems with representations of settings in traditional analyses and reports. The central premise developed is that a deeper analysis of settings requires an unraveling of relations among settings in which individuals or groups participate. In this discussion, setting is defined as a fluid and mutable but bounded environment in which particular situations, interactions, and behaviors accrue to it as normal by virtue of history, cultural values, and beliefs. To represent the complexity of identity and power relations in educational research, author suggests six lenses that offer a multilayered picture of participants' lived experiences across multiple settings. These lenses have the potential to broaden researchers' representations of participants beyond what is often available in traditional analyses and reports of qualitative educational research. These six lenses on settings are not meant to be inclusive but to suggest that finer grained examinations of the social and cultural symbols that permeate settings may yield fresh perspectives on lived experience.


Multilayered cuprates of Ba2Can-1CunO2n(O, F)2 (F-02(n-1)n) with n = 5 - 9 have been synthesized by using high pressure synthesis method in order to investigate the variation of Tc. The temperature dependence of susceptibility showed that the Tc (about 80 K) does not depend on n for n = 5 - 9. This result can be explained using the carrier imbalance model in multilayered cuprates. Charge reservoir layers supply most of the carriers to adjacent CuO2 planes (OP) and the OP keeps the Tc constant even for large n.


Monitoring systems are expected to play a major role in active distribution grids, and the design of the measurement infrastructure is a critical element for an effective operation. The use of any available and newly installed, though heterogeneous, metering device providing more accurate and real-time measurement data offers a new paradigm for the distribution grid monitoring system. In this paper the authors study the meter placement problem for the measurement infrastructure of an active distribution network, where heterogeneous measurements provided by Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) and other advanced measurement systems such as Smart Metering systems are used in addition to measurements that are typical of distribution networks, in particular substation measurements and a-priori knowledge. This work aims at defining a design approach for finding the optimal measurement infrastructure for an active distribution grid. The design problem is posed in terms of a stochastic optimization with the goal of bounding the overall uncertainty of the state estimation using heterogeneous measurements while minimizing the investment cost. The proposed method is also designed for computational efficiency so to cover a wide set of scenarios.


A composite likelihood method is introduced for jointly estimating the intensity of selection and the rate of mutation, both scaled by the effective population size, when there is balancing selection at a single multi-allelic locus in an isolated population at demographic equilibrium. The performance of the method is tested using simulated data. Average estimated mutation rates and selection intensities are close to the true values but there is considerable variation about the averages. Allowing for both population growth and population subdivision do not result in qualitative differences but the estimated mutation rates and selection intensities do not in general reflect the current effective population size. The method is applied to three class I (HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-C) and two class II loci (HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQA1) in the 1000 Genomes populations. Allowing for asymmetric balancing selection has only a slight effect on the results from the symmetric model. Mutations that restore symmetry of the selection model are preferentially retained because of the tendency of natural selection to maximize average fitness. However, slight differences in selective effects result in much longer persistence time of some alleles. Trans-species polymorphism (TSP), which is characteristic of MHC in vertebrates, is more likely when there are small differences in allelic fitness than when complete symmetry is assumed. Therefore, variation in allelic fitness expands the range of parameter values consistent with observations of TSP.


Avatars have become a fundamental part of collaborative virtual environments. They are the visual embodiment of the user and are designed to address key issues in the interaction process between the user and the CVE. Giving avatars expressive abilities has been considered essential in computer-human reaction. Having an avatar, which has the ability to express facial expressions, as a part of the computer interface increases human performance. Researches have provided strong evidence that emotions can be effectively portrayed visually in avatars to represent human users in collaborative virtual environments. These include manipulation of facial expressions as they are efficient carriers of emotions. However, avatars have still only limited variations in their emotional expressions to become believable entities.


Purpose: Thrombosis and thromboembolic occlusions of blood vessels are a major complication in various peripheral vascular diseases. The agents for the inhibition of platelet function are recognized as key tools in the treatment of atherothrombosis. Therefore, it became a mainstay medication for a wide range of vascular diseases. Polyozellin (POZ), a major constituent of an edible mushroom Polyozellus multiplex, was reported to have anti-oxidant, anti-angiogenesis, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory effects. However, anti-platelet effect of POZ has not been investigated yet. Methods: In our study, the anti-platelet activities of POZ were measured by thrombin- or collagen-induced platelet aggregation in vitro, adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation in vivo, and the thrombus formation in vivo. Results: POZ effectively inhibited the platelet aggregation not only in vitro using freshly isolated human platelets, but also in vivo thrombin or collagen-induced platelet aggregation. In accordance with the anti-platelet activities in vitro, POZ enhanced anti-thrombotic effect in vivo pulmonary embolism model and arterial thrombosis model. Conclusion: These results indicate that POZ possesses anti-platelet activities and might be useful for developing the drug candidates or functional foods for treatment of cardiovascular diseases without side effects.


Background Pentobarbital, like propofol and etomidate, produces important general anesthetic effects through GABAA receptors. Photolabeling also indicates that pentobarbital binds to some of the same sites where propofol and etomidate act. Quantitative allosteric co-agonist models for propofol and etomidate account for modulatory and agonist effects in GABAA receptors and have proven valuable in establishing drug site characteristics and for functional analysis of mutants. We therefore sought to establish an allosteric co-agonist model for pentobarbital activation and modulation of α1β3γ2L receptors, using a novel approach to first correct pentobarbital activation data for inhibitory effects in the same concentration range. Methods Using oocyte-expressed α1β3γ2L GABAA receptors and two-microelectrode voltage-clamp, we quantified modulation of GABA responses by a low pentobarbital concentration and direct effects of high pentobarbital concentrations, the latter displaying mixed agonist and inhibitory effects. We then isolated and quantified pentobarbital inhibition in activated receptors using a novel single-sweep "notch" approach, and used these results to correct steady-state direct activation for inhibition. Results Combining results for GABA modulation and corrected direct activation, we estimated receptor open probability and optimized parameters for a Monod-Wyman-Changeux allosteric co-agonist model. Inhibition by pentobarbital was consistent with two sites with IC50s near 1 mM, while co-agonist model parameters suggest two allosteric pentobarbital agonist sites characterized by KPB ≈ 5 mM and high efficacy. The results also indicate that pentobarbital may be a more efficacious agonist than GABA. Conclusions Our novel approach to quantifying both inhibitory and co-agonist effects of pentobarbital provides a basis for future structure-function analyses of GABAA receptor mutations in putative pentobarbital binding sites.


As nations face aging populations, elderly individuals often resist seeking medical care, negatively impacting their physical and mental well-being. Current telemedicine solutions often present unfriendly interfaces, exacerbating seniors' difficulties comprehending these technologies. To address these challenges, we developed a web-based application enabling elderly users to access rehabilitation data on mobile devices, gain insights into their rehabilitation training, and obtain medical guidance.Our methodology combined semi-structured interviews with seniors, on-site observations, and expert consultations to understand user requirements. We then conducted usability task experiments to assess key usability metrics, such as satisfaction, efficiency, and error rates. Finally, we employed a usability questionnaire and semi-structured interviews to evaluate the application's usability and seniors' motivation.Analyzing the completion of five predetermined tasks and the results of the MAUQ questionnaire, our findings demonstrated good overall usability for elderly users, with an average score of 5.20 per question. Using an independent sample T-test, we found that although the total questionnaire score remained unaffected by respondents' education level, significant differences arose concerning ease of use and satisfaction among respondents with distinct educational backgrounds.Our study highlights that the web application enhances older adults' willingness to use mobile devices for rehabilitation. By integrating the application into geriatric rehabilitation training, healthcare providers can facilitate a deeper understanding of seniors' conditions, increase motivation for rehabilitation, and streamline the process, making it accessible, digital, and visually engaging.


Twin roll casting is a process used to produce thin strips of metals by continuously pouring melt on to rotating rolls. In order to make the process more productive and economical, high roll speed is recommended. The numerical simulation of high-speed twin roll casting is performed by analyzing fluid flow, heat transfer, and solidification behavior of Al–Cu hypo-eutectic alloy. The flow field, temperature, liquid fraction distribution, and cooling rate are analyzed by solving governing transport equations of continuity, momentum, energy, and turbulence. The low-Re Turbulence model is used to capture turbulence effects in the process and enthalpy-porosity technique used to account for the rise in viscosity due to phase change. The effect of melt pool height and roll velocity on average cooling rate along the strip surface is investigated. It is found that the increase in melt pool height and roll speed increases the average cooling rate along strip surface due to rise in heat transfer up to certain roll velocity but beyond that process fails due to breakout. The average cooling rate of process affects the microstructure and properties of strips. It is found that higher cooling rates result in a decrement of secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS) of 1 mm thin strip along strip surface results in the fine and homogeneous microstructure.


Aim To determine the risk factors for fatal outcome in patients with opioid dependence treated with methadone at the primary care level. Methods A group of 287 patients with opioid dependence was monitored prospectively from 1995 to 2007. At the beginning of the study, we collected the data on patient baseline characteristics, treatment characteristics, and living environment. At the annual check-up, we collected the data on daily methadone dose, method of methadone therapy administration, and family physician's assessment of the patient's drug use status. Results Out of 287 patients, 8% died. Logistic regression analysis showed that the predictors of fatal outcome were continuation of drug use during previous therapeutic attempts (odds ratio [OR], 19.402; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.659-226.873), maintenance therapy as the planned treatment modality (OR, 3.738; 95% CI, 1.045-13.370), living in an unstable relationship (OR, 9.275; 95% CI, 2.207-38.984), and loss of continuity of care (OR, 12.643; 95% CI, 3.001-53.253). Conclusion The patients presenting these risk factors require special attention. It is important for family physicians to insist on compliance with the treatment protocol and intervene when they lose contact with the patient to prevent the fatal outcome.


Inhaled corticosteroids are most effective drugs currently available for the treatment of bronchial asthma. They have been shown to reduce airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness. The aim of this study was to assess the preventive effect of inhaled steroid therapy in seasonal asthma. In a double-blind study, two groups of 10 allergic asthmatics were randomly assigned to receive inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP), 500 micrograms b.i.d., or a matched placebo, two puffs b.i.d. The patients used inhaled salbutamol as needed. At the beginning of the study, and every month between February and June, the following parameters were assessed: lung function (forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1); airway responsiveness (provocative dose of methacholine producing a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in one second (PD20)), serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP); and blood eosinophil count. All subjects recorded daily asthma symptoms, beta 2-agonist consumption and peak expiratory flow (PEF) values. In the placebo group, all parameters except FEV1 worsened significantly during the pollen season compared with preseasonal values (p < 0.001). BDP produced complete protection, although a slight change from baseline was found for symptom score (p < 0.01), beta 2-agonist consumption (p < 0.01), and eosinophil number (p < 0.05) in May, when the pollen load was highest. These data provide evidence that beclomethasone dipropionate treatment is able to inhibit the seasonal changes occurring during natural exposure in asthmatics. This preventive effect is probably due to the anti-inflammatory action of beclamethasone dipropionate, as documented by its effect on serum markers of airway inflammation.


Abstract:Work as a university teacher post(?)-pandemic must be rethought entirely. Creating better futures—or a future at all—does not mean getting back to some happy place, but it does mean faculty must engage institutions and communities courageously, ethically, and collectively. This essay links conversations about teaching in the pandemic to those about gender, race, class, and disability, and to academic labor and faculty fights for better pay and working conditions, shared governance, and academic freedom.


A guiding system is a specific mechanism that is used for providing key responses or information for the visitors. However, traditional guiding systems certainty have several disadvantages such like without real-time interaction with users and monotonous. This paper presents an intelligent guiding system, which allows a user to real-time interact with it without any additional auxiliaries. At first, a real-time front-view face detection using Harr-like features is used to decide when the guiding system should wake up and become interactive with the user. After system initialization, we keep on finding some feature points within the detected face area. Then we estimate the orientation of user's head via pyramidal Lucas-Kanade optical flow tracking. The performance of vision-based mouse-interaction in our system could be reached to 20 fps and people could get the right response in 1.9 seconds averagely under Pentium IV 1G Hz PC. Compared to the traditional guiding system, our system has more flexibility. Information providers could choose a suitable display equipment according to the surround environment. With the comparison to other non-vision-based input devices such like gloves or markers, our system offers a simple, useful and economical solution for the real-time interaction between the user and computer


Abstract DNAzymes (or catalytic DNA) are cell-free biomolecular recognition tools with target recognition sequences for charged molecules such as metal ions, antibiotics, and pharmaceuticals. In this study, using in vitro selection, large populations (e.g., 1015) of random DNA sequences were used as the raw material for the selection of "catalytic or functional molecules" for Hg2+ and As5+. From a random pool of 45-nt (Pool-A) and 35-nt (Pool-B) templates, we isolated RNA-cleaving catalytic Hg2+- and As5+- active DNAzymes, respectively. After eight cycles of selection and amplification wihin Pool A, sequences were enriched with a 54% cleavage efficiency against Hg2+. Similarly, Pool B was found to catalyze ca. 18% cleavage efficiency against As5+ after 10 cycles of repeated selection and amplification. The M-fold software analysis resulted in sequences in the two active pools being dominated by AATTCCGTAGGTCCAGTG and ATCTCCTCCTGTTC functional motifs for Hg2+- and As5+-based catalysis, respectively. These ...


Abstract Kotzebue Sound comprises a large part of the Northwest Arctic Borough (NAB) shoreline. It has a diverse coastal geomorphology. Natural coastal dynamics and global sea-level rise (SLR) are contributing to changes in the erosion and accretion of beaches. Recently published data from the joint project of the University of Colorado (Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research) and National Park Service (Arctic Network Inventory and Monitoring Program) for the first time makes systematic quantitative analysis of coastal changes along the Northwest Alaskan coast possible. This study is based on shoreline indicators derived from 112 aerial photographs, spanning more than 50 years, from 1950 to 2003, processed by research staff at the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research. The images were used in this study to locate and digitize the shoreline indicators for 1950, 1980, and 2003. Integration of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Digital Ahoreline Analysis System (DSAS) provided quantitative measurements of historical coastal changes. Projections of SLR in the Arctic from climate models and historical erosion data were used to estimate future erosion rates. The results show mean erosion rates of −0.12 to −0.08 m/yr in the region from 1950 to 2003. The northern and southern shorelines showed erosion between 1950 and 1980, but slight accretion/stabilization between 1980 and 2003. These changes possibly correlate with Aleutian low anomaly variations that affected the climate in the area of study. On the basis of the predictions of SLR in the Arctic for 2000–2049 and 2050–2100, mean erosion rates may increase to 0.6–1.65 m/yr. This would translate into an approximately 70–1000-m retreat of the shore, depending on its slope, composition, and geomorphologic type. These results help to assess coastal vulnerability and can contribute to regional planning efforts.


An emerging modus operandi among providers of cloud infrastructures is the one where they share and combine their heterogenous resources to offer end user services tailored to specific scientific and business needs. A challenge to overcome is the discovery of suitable resources among these multiple providers, which all have different resource management policies. We present a novel architecture for distributed resource discovery. Our solution provides inter-operability among heterogeneous resource provider, handles dynamic resources status updates, and supports infrastructure abstraction policies through the use of semantic web technology. We show the applicability of this architecture within the EU-FP7 research project NOVI.


WHO, FAO and OIE unite in their goal to eliminate human rabies and control the disease in animals. See the statement at: http://www.who.int/neglected_diseases/WRD_rabies_2013/en/ Triparte World Rabies Day Statement 2013


The unmet medical need of emerging resistance among Gram-positive pathogens, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant enterococci and penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae, has driven industry towards the identification and development of novel anti-Gram-positive agents. Among the newer agents are improved quinolones, a lipopeptide, an oxazolidinone and novel glycopeptides. Scientific distinctions between these drugs, which impact on the placement, usage and, ultimately, the pharmacoeconomics of several of these new agents, may lead to further consideration despite poor initial observations of minimal improvement. Key differences in the characteristics of these drugs (i.e., spectrum, activity, resistance emergence, efficacy, target, safety) provide a basis for an emerging pharmacoeconomic-based distinction between these newer anti-Gram-positive agents.


For sorghum hybrid development, assessment of parental lines is a pre-requisite. However, information on heterotic performance and combing ability of Ethiopian elite sorghum lines is inadequate. ANOVA revealed mean squares had signifying substantial amount of variability amongst genotypes for most traits. Males 72, 81 and 99 were the best performing parents for yield and related traits. Hybrids, 106 x 94, 106 x 90, 106 x 102, 107 x 99 and 107 x 105 were found maximum heterotic hybrids for yield as compare to check. The estimates of variance of combining ability revealed that σ2gca was found inferior to σ2sca for all traits except plant height and number of heads. The σ2gca/σ2sca ratio revealed preponderance of supremacy gene action for most traits. The degree of dominance was found greater than unity for entire traits except plant height. The estimations of parental GCA effects showed that female 106 and males 79, 96, 94 and 81 were good general combiners for yield and related traits. Based on perse performance, heterotic response, combining ability and nature of gene action for yield and related traits, female parent 106 and male parents 94, 102 and 90 were found most performed. Those parental lines were grouped into dualistic heterotic groups based on their SCA and GCA results.

 Key words: Combining ability, elite line, general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA), heterosis, heterotic group, hybrid, sorghum.


Algorithmic consumer credit scoring has caused anxiety among scholars and policy makers. After a significant legislative effort by the European Union, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) containing provisions tailored to automated decision-making (ADM) was implemented. When the EU Commission and the US Department of Commerce negotiated for US organizations to whom data from EU data controller is transferred to comply with the key principles of EU Data Protection Law under the EU-US Privacy Shield (PS) Framework, the Department of Commerce refused to incorporate the GDPR principles governing ADM in the PS Framework. The EU Commission accepted this refusal reasoning that where US companies make automated decisions with respect to EU data subjects, such as in consumer credit risk scoring, there are laws in the US that protect the consumer from adverse decisions. This view contradicts recommendations for implementing GDPR-Inspired law in the US to tackle the challenges of automated consumer credit scoring.

This article argues that despite the different approaches to the regulation of automated consumer credit scoring in the EU and the US, consumers are similarly protected in both jurisdictions. US consumer credit laws have the necessary flexibility to ensure that adverse automated decisions are tackled effectively. By analyzing statutes, cases, and empirical evidences, the article demonstrates that the seemingly comprehensive legal rules governing ADM in the GDPR do not make the EU consumers better off. In addition, the challenges presented by the increasing sophistication of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning(ML), consumers in both jurisdictions in a similarly vulnerable position as neither jurisdiction is equipped to tackle decisions made by autonomous, unpredictable and unexplainable algorithms. This is consistent with the EU Commission's white paper on AI which acknowledges some of the flaws in the GDPR and envisions legislative reform.

In view of the limits of the existing legal rules in addressing ML decisions and the need to strike a balance between encouraging innovation and consumer protection, the article proposes risk-based approach to regulation and regulatory sandboxing as good starting points.


Professional Identify Formation is regarded as fundamental to medical education. It involves a process of socialisation where knowledge is often acquired unconsciously via social interaction. Concrete teachings to support and mediate this socialisation process are difficult to implement, because of the implicit nature of the transferred knowledge. Before effective reflection can start, the implicit knowledge has to become explicit. The authors argue that training based on the Systemic Constellation method may be a promising way to support Professional Identify Formation among medical students, by increasing students' awareness of their own socialisation process and the implicit knowledge that they have acquired. By visualising their social context with a group of students, the method is effective in making explicit the social context and the values, beliefs, perspectives that are present. This creates the possibility to discuss these values, beliefs, perspectives and explore differences, and stimulates individual and group reflection. The method is already widely used in business settings, but not yet in the medical education setting. This article presents how this new training method was implemented in the undergraduate medical curriculum of the University of Groningen, the Netherlands, and discusses its feasibility, acceptance and perceived usefulness by medical students.


AIM
To report a systematic review, establishing the available data to an unpublished 2a strength of evidence, better handling clinical practice.

METHODS
A systematic review was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, LILACS, Scopus and CINAHL databases. Information of the selected studies was extracted on characteristics of trial participants, inclusion and exclusion criteria, interventions (mainly, mucosal resection and submucosal dissection vs surgical approach) and outcomes (adverse events, different survival rates, mortality, recurrence and complete resection rates). To ascertain the validity of eligible studies, the risk of bias was measured using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. The analysis of the absolute risk of the outcomes was performed using the software RevMan, by computing risk differences (RD) of dichotomous variables. Data on RD and 95%CIs for each outcome were calculated using the Mantel-Haenszel test and inconsistency was qualified and reported in χ(2) and the Higgins method (I (2)). Sensitivity analysis was performed when heterogeneity was higher than 50%, a subsequent assay was done and other findings were compiled.

RESULTS
Eleven retrospective cohort studies were selected. The included records involved 2654 patients with early gastric cancer that filled the absolute or expanded indications for endoscopic resection. Three-year survival data were available for six studies (n = 1197). There were no risk differences (RD) after endoscopic and surgical treatment (RD = 0.01, 95%CI: -0.02-0.05, P = 0.51). Five-year survival data (n = 2310) showed no difference between the two groups (RD = 0.01, 95%CI: -0.01-0.03, P = 0.46). Recurrence data were analized in five studies (1331 patients) and there was no difference between the approaches (RD = 0.01, 95%CI: -0.00-0.02, P = 0.09). Adverse event data were identified in eight studies (n = 2439). A significant difference was detected (RD = -0.08, 95%CI: -0.10--0.05, P < 0.05), demonstrating better results with endoscopy. Mortality data were obtained in four studies (n = 1107). There was no difference between the groups (RD = -0.01, 95%CI: -0.02-0.00, P = 0.22).

CONCLUSION
Three-, 5-year survival, recurrence and mortality are similar for both groups. Considering complication, endoscopy is better and, analyzing complete resection data, it is worse than surgery.


Ninety cases of clinically diagnosed enterotoxemia infection in lambs at AL-Hamdaniya region where studied for isolation of aerobic and anaerobic bacterial causes, faecal samples were collected from all suspected cases during January- June 2008, the results show that 41.6% of the isolates were Cl. perfringens as pure single isolates, while mixed infection of Cl. perfringens with each of Enterococci and staphylococcus in percentage of 26.04%, 20.83% respectively, also mixed infection of Cl. septicum with each of Staphylococcus and E.coli were isolated at the percentage of 5.2%, 6.25% respectively. Highest bacterial isolation was from the faecal samples collected during April. McIntosh jar method show isolation of pure culture of anaerobic bacteria (Cl. perfringens), while Candle jar method show detection of 56 isolates in mixed cultures of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria.


A number of pixel level image fusion schemes have been proposed in the past which combine registered input sensor images into a single fused output image. The two general objectives that underpin the operations of these schemes are a) the transfer of all visually important information form input images into a fused image and b) the minimization of undesirable distortions and artifacts which may be generated in the fused image. Fusion is usually achieved by i) the decomposition of input images into representations of their spectral bands and ii) a selection process which transfers information from input bands to yield the required representation of a single fused output image. Furthermore, decomposition is often based on multi-resolution pyramidal representations and the selection process operates on corresponding input image pyramidal levels using selection templates which focus on local spectral characteristics. The performance of such a multi-resolution pixel level image fusion system depends primarily on the actual decomposition and selection algorithms used. Thus for a given decomposition selection arrangement, fusion performance is dependent on the pyramid size (i.e. number of level) and template size. Pyramid and template sizes on the other hand greatly influence the system's computational complexity. This paper is concerned with the performance optimization/characterization of several multi- resolution image fusion schemes, in general and with performance/ complexity trade-offs in particular. Performance is measured using a subjectively meaningful, objective fusion metric which has been proposed recently by authors and which is based on the preservation of image edge information. Thus fusion systems based on derivatives of Gaussian low-pass pyramid and the Discrete Wavelet transform are examined and their performances versus decomposition/selection parameters are defined and compared. The performance/algorithmic complexity results presented for these multi-resolution fusion systems highlight clearly their strengths and weaknesses.


In this paper, we present an algorithm for fully autonomous exploration and mapping of an unknown indoor robot environment. This algorithm is based on the active SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) approach. The mobile robot equipped with laser sensor builds a map of an environment, while keeping track of its current location. Autonomy is introduced to this system by automatically setting goal points so that either previously unknown space is mapped, or known landmarks are revisited in order to increase map accuracy. Final aim is to maximize both map coverage and accuracy. The proposed procedure is experimentally verified on Pioneer 3-DX mobile robot in real environment, using ROS framework for implementation.


The specific biodiversity of stromatoporoids, tabulates and brachiopods from the Ardennes (707 taxa) has been analyzed stage-by-stage from the Lochkovian up to the Famennian. The diversity of each group may be correlated with external factors (e.g. facies), but it varied individually (e.g. decline of brachiopods in the Givetian). The faunas are discussed at the order level, however some more diversified orders are analyzed at family level. Biodiversity shows a single peak centered on the Givetian for the bioconstructors, and two major peaks (Emsian-Eifelian and Frasnian) for the brachiopods. The most diversified orders are Stromatoporellida (stromatoporoids), Favositida (tabulate corals) and Spiriferida (brachiopods). Stromatoporoids display two, tabulate corals four and brachiopods five stages of renewal of fauna.


Following the rapid and destructive impacts of storm erosion, beach recovery is a key natural process of restoration, returning eroded sand to the subaerial beach and rebuilding coastal morphology to continue to support the needs of present-day coastal communities. While more detailed attention in international literature has been given to understanding and predicting beach behaviour under regimes of storm erosion, beaches are for most of the time by nature accretionary features. This paper presents critically important advanced new insight and quantification of recovery processes of sandy beaches by waves. Durations and rates of recovery are synthesised from over 70 studies worldwide in a range of wave climates (from low to high wave energy) and tidal settings (from micro- to macrotidal), with a focus primarily on sandy beach coastlines. A holistic perspective of the different processes and indicators that constitute beach recovery is presented, including those in the subaqueous beach related to the post-storm onshore migration of sandbars and storm deposits in deeper offshore waters, as well as processes in the subaerial beach related to the recovery of subaerial sediment volume, shorelines, berms, and dunes.


Various scoring systems and cytokines have been cited as predicting disease severity in COVID-19 infection. This study analyzed the link between mortality rate, levels of cytokines, and scoring systems such as the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Acute Physiologic Assessment and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA), and Charlson Comorbidity Index in patients infected with COVID-19. Adult patients infected with COVID-19 were followed up in the intensive care unit (ICU) and analyzed prospectively. We measured serum cytokine levels (Interleukin-10 (IL-10), Interleukin-8 (IL-8), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and High mobility group box 1 (HMGB-1)) and recorded GCS, APACHE II, SOFA, and Charlson comorbidity index scores on admission to the ICU. Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis was performed to predict mortality from IL-1β, IL-6 IL-10, IL-8, TNF-α, and HMGB-1 values. Study participants were grouped as follows: Group A, survivors, and Group B, deceased, during the 28-day follow-up. The mean age was 65.69 (±13.56) in Group A (n = 36) and 70.85 (±10.06) in Group B (n = 27). The female/male ratio was 23/40. Age, sex, body mass index (BMI), comorbid illnesses, GCS, APACHE II, SOFA, and Charlson scores, duration of hospitalization or ICU admission, therapeutic choices, and lymphocyte, PMNL, NLR, platelet, D-dimer, fibrinogen, GGT, CRP, procalcitonin, and lactate levels were similar between the groups. The frequency of acute kidney injury (AKI) was higher in Group B (p = 0.005). Serum IL-10, IL-8, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, HMGB-1, ferritin, and LDH values were higher, and PaO2/FiO2 was lower in Group B than in Group A. ROC analysis showed that there was an association between serum IL-1β (>1015.7), serum IL-6 (>116.7), serum IL-8 (>258.4), serum IL-10 (>247.5), serum TNF-α (>280.7), and serum HMGB-1 (>23.5) and mortality. AKI gave rise to a greater risk of mortality (odds ratio: 7.081, p = 0.014). Mortality was associated with serum IL-10, IL-8, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and HMGB-1 but not with GCS, APACHE II, SOFA, or Charlson comorbidity index scores. AKI increased the risk of mortality by seven times. Our findings suggest that cytokine levels (serum IL-10, IL-8, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and HMGB-1) were predictors of mortality in COVID-19 infection. In addition, our results might give an opinion about the course of COVID-19 infection.


eL-CID (e-Learning by Communicating Iterative Design) demonstrates computer programs' iterative design using computer animation. It translates descriptions of iterative editing into an animated demonstration. An analysis of the work of expert programming trainers shows that successive versions of a program are shown statically. eL-CID attempts to visualise the changes dynamically as if code was being edited in front of the user. Several example demonstrations have been developed. To the author's knowledge, this is the first system designed to visualise the iterative process of program development.


This study examined the perceptions of women college graduates regarding the influence of selected chance and contingency factors upon their career patterns 25 years after graduation. Data were examined to determine influential factors identified by the total sample and also those factors identified by respondents within five career pattern groups. Findings indicated that a significant proportion of the sample perceived eight contingency factors as influential in their career patterns. The chance factor "Unexpected Personal Events," was also perceived as influential by a significant proportion. The Low Participation career pattern group was most dissimilar in comparison to the other pattern groups.


Ionic fluids are essential to energy conversion, water desalination, drug delivery, and lab-on-a-chip devices. Ionic transport in nanoscale confinements and complex physical fields still remain elusive. Here, a nanofluidic system is developed using nanochannels of heterogeneous surface properties to investigate transport properties of ions under different temperatures. Steady ionic currents are observed under symmetric temperature gradients, which is equivalent to generating electricity using waste heat (e.g., electronic chips and solar panels). The currents increase linearly with temperature gradient and nonlinearly with channel size. Contributions to ion motion from temperatures and channel properties are evaluated for this phenomenon. The findings provide insights into the study of confined ionic fluids in multiphysical fields, and suggest applications in thermal energy conversion, temperature sensors, and chip-level thermal management.


OBJECTIVE
There is a debate regarding the use of disease-specific versus generic instruments for health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measures. We tested the psychometric properties of HRQOL measures using the Diabetes-39 (D-39) and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36).

METHODS
This was a cross-sectional study collecting data from 280 patients in Taiwan. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to evaluate construct validity of the two instruments. Known-groups validity was examined using laboratory indicators (fasting, 2-hour postprandial plasma glucose, and hemoglobin A1c), presence of diabetic complications (retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, diabetic foot disorder, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disorders), and psychosocial variables (sense of well-being and self-reported diabetes severity). Overall discriminative power of the two instruments was evaluated using the C-statistic.

RESULTS
Three distinct factors were extracted through factor analysis. These factors tapped all subscales of the D-39, fourphysical subscales of the SF-36, and four mental subscales of the SF-36, respectively. Compared with the SF-36, the D-39 demonstrated superior known-groups validity for 2-hour postprandial plasma glucose groups but was inferior for complication groups. Compared with the SF-36, the D-39 discriminated better between self-reported severity known groups, but was inferior between well-being groups. In overall discriminative power, the D-39 discriminated better between laboratory known groups. The SF-36, however, was superior in discriminating between complication known groups.

CONCLUSIONS
For psychometric properties, the D-39 and the SF-36 were superior to each other in different regards. The combined use of a disease-specific instrument and a generic instrument may be a useful strategy for diabetes HRQOL assessment.


Regulation concerning on limiting campaign funds have not proven to limit campaign funds from donors with binding interests. Therefore, the need to identify various weaknesses in the regulation Regulation concerning on limiting campaign funds to optimize clean campaign funds that prevent conflicts of interest, ensure transparency about origin of donations and ensure independence in making policies post election. Normative legal research methods are used in this study by starting from primary legal materials includes all laws and regulations governing campaign funds in regional head election and literature review which related to regional head election, secondary materials and tertiary material. This research concludes that it is necessary to affirm the limitation of campaign funds the candidate, regulating composition of contributors with the reasonableness ratio, reformulation of sanctions which excess of limit campaign funds, and application of investigative audit.


The photodegradation of pentachlorophenol in water was examined with a high-pressure mercury lamp. A number of photodegradation products of pentachlorophenol, such as less-chlorinated phenols through reductive dechlorination, and catechol and trihydroxylated products via the addition of hydroxyl radicals, were observed as major products. Moreover, polychlorinated biphenylethers, hydroxylated polychlorobiphenylethers and polychlorinated dibenzo- p -dioxins as minor products were also formed by dimerization process during the photolysis of pentachlorophenol. These compounds were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The degradation rate of PCP in water was measured against the UV-irradiation time. After the irradiation for 15 min, 75% of PCP was converted into a number of products through reductive dechlorination and oxidation. On the basis of the identified products, the photodegradation pathways of PCP under UV irradiation were proposed.


3D reconstruction from an incomplete data set is an ill- posed problem. To overcome this drawback, an approach based on constrained optimization is introduced. This approach provides a powerful mathematical framework for selecting a specific solution from the set of feasible solutions; this is done by minimizing some criteria depending on prior densitometric information. We propose a global optimization scheme using a deterministic relaxation algorithm based on Bregman's algorithm associated with half-quadratic minimization techniques. When used for 3D vascular reconstruction from 2D digital subtracted angiography data, such an approach allows reconstructing well-contrasted 3D vascular network in comparison with results obtained by using standard algorithms.


AIMS
To analyse the degree of susceptibility to smoking according to gender in students between 12 and 16 years of age and study the role of factors associated with gender and the extended index of susceptibility to smoking.

DESIGN
Cross-sectional study.

METHODS
Between November 2019 and March 2020, 12- to 16-year-old students were recruited from three educational centres in western Spain. Sociodemographic, environmental, social and personal variables were analysed. The value of the extended index of susceptibility to smoking was calculated, and the associations between the students' genders and smoking susceptibility were studied. Multinomial logistic regression was used to study associations between the independent variables and Expanded Susceptibility Index (ESSI) results. The roles of factors in this association were explored through mediation analysis.

RESULTS
A total of 364 students participated in the study (53% females). A total of 79.3% of females and 61.4% of males presented a medium-high level of the extended index of susceptibility. Females reported greater cigarette use (28% vs. 12.3%), hookah (19.9% vs 9.9%) and alcohol consumption (20.7% risk alcohol consumption). They obtained higher scores on the impulsivity scale in the urgency domain and the negative affect scale. Regardless of other factors, females showed more than double the smoking susceptibility (aOR: 2.05, 95% CI: 1.03-4.07, p = .041). Mediation analysis showed that gender had a total effect on the extended susceptibility index β = .023 (95% CI: 0.07-0.38, p = .01). The effect appeared to be mediated only by having smoking friends (0.08; 95% CI: 0.03-0.15, p = .001).

CONCLUSIONS
The greater susceptibility to smoking found in females may be related to a greater influence of smoking among friends.

IMPACT
These results show that smoking friends have a strong influence among adolescent females; therefore, developing preventive programmes with gender approaches aimed at reducing the influence of these environmental factors would be of interest.


The postnatal period is one of the critical windows for the structure‐function development of the gastrointestinal tract and associated mucosal immunity. Along with other constituent members, recent studies suggest the contribution of gut microbiota in maintaining host health, immunity, and development. Although the gut microbiota's role in maintaining barrier integrity is known, its function in early life development still needs to be better understood. To understand the details of gut microbiota's effects on intestinal integrity, epithelium development, and immune profile, the route of antibiotic‐mediated perturbation is taken. Mice on days 7(P7D), 14(P14D), 21(P21D) and 28(P28D) are sacrificed and 16S rRNA metagenomic analysis is performed. The barrier integrity, tight junction proteins (TJPs) expression, intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) markers, and inflammatory cytokines are analyzed. Results reveal a postnatal age‐related impact of gut microbiota perturbation, with a gradual increase in the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and a reduction in Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. Significant barrier integrity disruption, reduced TJPs and IECs marker expression, and increased systemic inflammation at P14D of AVNM‐treated mice are found. Moreover, the microbiota transplantation shows recolonization of Verrucomicrobia, proving a causal role in barrier functions. The investigation reveals P14D as a critical period for neonatal intestinal development, regulated by specific microbiota composition.


A common property of many physicist-led simulations conducted during the past 50 years is that they deal with individuals (atoms, humans, and so on). This paper summarizes a trend in physics triggered by Daniel Abrams and Steven Strogatz (2003) computer simulations of language competition. The world has thousands of living languages, as well as several dying languages that have just one surviving speaker. Can we explain this language-size distribution ns with simple models? Will we all eventually speak the same language and its dialects (Sutherland, 2003; Stauffer et al., 2006)? Here, we summarize several models and present variants of our own language model in greater detail (Schulze and Stauffer, 2005; Stauffer and Schulze, 2005)


Water vapor sorption isotherms are essential data in models to predict the service life of the cement based structures. The knowledge about sorption isotherms in the presence of supplementary cementitous materials (SCMs) is limited. This study investigates the influence of water to cement ratio (0.4, 0.5 and 0.6), and the presence of two SCMs (70% slag and 10% silica fume) on sorption isotherm in hygroscopic and above hygroscope RH ranges for paste and mortars. Dynamic vapor balance in hygroscopic rang and pressure plates above hygroscopic range are used to generate sorption isotherms. Based on Jennings model (CM-II) for C-S-H structure, desorption isotherms are divided to different parts in which different pores are emptied. The samples with silica fume and slag have higher moisture content than OPC, but, with higher amount of gel pores and lower amount of capillary pores. At low RH intervals all samples have very similar desorption curves and introduction of SCMs induce slightly increase on BET surface area. Above 30% RH, samples have different desorption curves and the initial desorption is higher than following desorption for all samples. (Less)


This paper presents a compact and low power implementation of AES suitable for wireless networks. Since such networks are usually associated with battery-powered devices, power consumption and computation resources are increasingly important constraints. The proposed design uses combinatorial circuits for the implementation of Rijndael s-box transformations where general composite field properties of the Galois field arithmetic are exploited to reduce the area and power consumptions of the implementation. In this design, the complexity of the s-box transformation is reduced by first mapping elements from GF(28) to elements in GF((24)2). Then various architectures for finding suitable inversion in subfield GF(24) are explored and analyzed in terms of area, speed and power consumptions. NIST recommended confidentiality and the authentication modes of operation are implemented and their performances are also compared.


Introduction: Based on high-throughput transcriptional profiling and array comparative genomic hybridization, a three-gene predictor encompassing c-MYC, EGFR and FGFR2 has been identified to predict survival in cisplatin and fluorouracil (FU) – treated metastatic gastric cancer (GC) patients by others (1). The aim of our study was to determine the value of the expression of these three genes to predict response and/or survival for GC patients treated by a platin/5FU based chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant setting. Material and methods: Expression was analyzed in pretherapeutic tumor biopsies of 69 patients treated by platinum/5FU based neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Histopathological response was divided into three grades, tumor regression grade 1 (TRG1) corresponding to complete/major response, TRG2 corresponding to partial and TRG3 corresponding to minimal or no response. mRNA was isolated from manually microdissected formalin fixed and paraffin embedded tumor biopsies. Relative quantification of gene expression was performed by real time PCR using the delta-delta Ct method. As reference genes IPO8 and POLR2A were used and normalization was based on geometric averaging. Analyses were done in triplicates and the mean value was calculated. Fisher`s exact test or χ2-test (two sided) were used to test for an association with response. Overall survival was analyzed by log rank tests and Cox regression analyses. Results: Performing dichotomization of the patients based on median gene expression levels revealed a significant association of high c-MYC expression with minimal or no response (TRG3) (p=0.013). No other associations with response were observed for EGFR or FGFR2 expression in the study as a whole or in a separate analysis of patients with intestinal and nonintestinal type tumors. Testing various combinations of the expression of the three genes did not reveal a stronger association with response when compared to c-MYC expression alone. In the study as a whole, no statistically significant associations with overall survival were found. In the subgroup of nonintestinal-type tumors, univariate Cox regression analysis revealed a significantly increased risk of death for patients with a high expression of c-MYC (HR 59.56, 95%CI 1.28-2776.3; p=0.037). Conclusion: Our results indicate a prominent role of c-MYC expression to predict tumor shrinkage after platin/5FU-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy in GC and they suggest a prognostic relevance of this gene in particular for patients with nonintestinal-type gastric carcinomas. Reference: 1. Kim HK et al.: The Pharmacogenomics Journal (2012) 12: 119-127. Citation Format: Anna Munzig, Lukas Bauer, Julia Slotta-Huspenina, Alexander Novotny, Karen Becker, Alexander Hapfelmeier, Gisela Keller. c-MYC, EGFR, and FGFR2 expression and response and survival in neoadjuvant treated gastric cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Precision Medicine Series: Integrating Clinical Genomics and Cancer Therapy; Jun 13-16, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2016;22(1_Suppl):Abstract nr 12.


Current and future animations seek for realistic motions to create a perception of authentic and human-like animations. A technology widely used for such purposes is motion capture. Therefore, to create such human-like animations, motion capture actors enrich the movements of digital avatars with realistic and believable motions and emotions.Acting for motion capture, as it is performed today, does not provide a natural acting environment. This is mostly because motion capture actors do not see and feel the virtual environment they act for, while acting. In many cases this can result in unnatural motions such as stiff looking and emotionless movements.To investigate ways to solve this, we first identify the challenges actors are facing as well as concepts to support a motion capture actor. Furthermore, we discussed, how the task of supporting motion capture actors was approached and which factors were discovered to provide support when designing and im- plementing a solution. Initial prototypes have been created to address the men- tioned issues and to find suitable solutions to support and immerse motion cap- ture actors during their performance. For this thesis, one goal was to conduct research by focusing on the question: What are the experiential qualities of immersion in an interactive system to create an immersive acting environment that supports motion capture actors.The developed application provides a flexibility to set up and modify digital assets and scenes quickly and with an easy to use interface. Furthermore, the prototype helps to provide an understanding on which hardware and software prototypes can be designed and used to build an immersive motion capture environment. The built prototype allows to investigate user experiences, user tests and the satisfaction of users and their effects on motion capture acting.


Oral–maxillofacial tumor removal can generate critical bone defects and major problems for patients, causing dysfunctionalities and affecting oral competencies such as mastication, swallowing, and breathing. The association of novel biomaterials and cell therapies in tissue engineering strategies could offer new strategies to promote osteomucosa healing. This study focused on the development of a bioengineered construct loaded with human dental follicle cells (MSCs). To increase the bioconstruct integration to the surrounding tissue, a novel and comprehensive approach was designed combining an injectable biomimetic hydrogel and dental stem cells (hDFMSCs) expressing luminescence/fluorescence for semi-quantitative tissue imaging in live animals. This in vivo model with human MSCs was based on an intramembranous bone regeneration process (IMO). Biologically, the biocomposite based on collagen/nanohydroxyapatite filled with cell-loaded osteopontin–fibrin hydrogel (Coll/nanoHA OPN-Fb) exhibited a high cellular proliferation rate, increased bone extracellular matrix deposition (osteopontin) and high ALP activity, indicating an early osteogenic differentiation. Thus, the presence of human OPN enhanced hDFMSC adhesion, migration, and spatial distribution within the 3D matrix. The developed 3D bioconstruct provided the necessary pro-regenerative effect to modulate the biological response, precisely fitting the bone defect with fine-tuned adjustment to the surrounding original structure and promoting oral osteomucosa tissue regeneration. We were also able to track the cells in vivo and evaluate their behavior (migration, proliferation, and differentiation), providing a glimpse into bone regeneration and helping in the optimization of patient-specific therapies.


Abstract This study describes moored salinity time series measurements in a biologically productive equatorial upwelling regime in the Pacific Ocean (0°, 140°W). Data were collected at 26 m and at 100 m for 13 months during 1987–1988 using four SEACAT conductivity and temperature recorders equipped with optional antifouling attachments. Laboratory Pre- and post-deployment calibrations indicate that the instrumental drift in SEACAT salinity measurements was typically <0.015 psu with a maximum of 0.055 psu for sequential 6–7 month long mooring deployments. Root mean square (rms) differences with CTD casts taken within a few nautical miles of the moorings were ∼0.05 psu. These values are an order of magnitude smaller than the observed range of salinity variations. Little biogenic material was found on the SEACAT sensors on recovery. Thus, we infer that the antifouling attachments used were effective and that similar favorable results using SEACATs can be expected at other times and places in equatorial upwel...


NAG-1 (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-activated gene), a member of TGF beta superfamily, is involved in cellular processes such as inflammation, apoptosis/survival, and tumorigenesis and is regulated by p53, Sp1, and Egr-1. In the current study, the regulation of NAG-1 expression in LNCaP human prostate carcinoma cells by TPA (12O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate) was examined. TPA treatment increased NAG-1 protein and mRNA levels in a time and concentration-dependent manner as well as NF-κB binding/transcriptional activity in LNCaP cells. Pre-treatment with PKC (protein kinase C) inhibitor blocked TPAinduced increase in NAG-1 protein levels and NF-κB binding/transcriptional activity while an inhibition of p38, JNK, or MEK activity had no effect on TPA-induced NAG-1 levels and NF-κB transcriptional activity. Expression of constitutively active PKCs induced an increase in NF-κB transcriptional activity and NAG-1 protein levels in LNCaP cells. The expression of NF-κB p65 induced NAG-1 promoter activity and chromatin immunoprecipitaion assay for p65 showed that NF-κB binds NAG-1 promoter in LNCaP cells. Inhibition of TPA-induced NAG-1 expression by NAG-1 Si RNA blocked TPAinduced apoptosis in LNCaP cells, suggesting induction of NAG-1 negatively affects LNCaP cell survival. These results demonstrate that NAG-1 expression is up-regulated by TPA in LNCaP cells through a PKC-dependent pathway involving the activation of NF-κB.


Background: Schizophrenia is one of the most complicated psychiatric disorders, and, although medication therapy continues to be the core treatment for schizophrenia, there is a need for psychotherapy that helps in providing patients comprehensive mental health care. Psychoeducation is one of the most recognized psychosocial interventions specific to schizophrenia. Further knowledge about the impact of this type of intervention on patients diagnosed with schizophrenia needs to be acquired. Aim: This review aimed to explore the effects of psychoeducational interventions on improving outcome measures for patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guideline was used in this systematic review. Two reviewers were involved in screening articles for inclusion and in the data extraction process. The selected studies were assessed for quality using the 'Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trial (CONSORT)' checklist. Out of the 441 records identified, 11 papers were considered for full review (from 2000 to 2018). Results: The psychoeducational interventions showed a consistent improvement in many outcome measures. Most of the reviewed studies focused on outpatients and the method of delivering the psychoeducational interventions was mostly in lecture format. Conclusion: This systematic review of randomized controlled trial studies emphasizes the positive impact of psychoeducational interventions for patients diagnosed with schizophrenia concerning various outcome measures. The findings of this review have important implications for both nursing practice and research, as the information presented can be used by the administrators and stakeholders of mental health facilities to increase their understanding and awareness of the importance of integrating psychoeducational interventions in the routine care of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia.


1. Universidade Estadual do Piauí – Centro de Ciências da Saúde – Teresina/PI –Brazil. 2. Universidade Federal do Piauí – Parnaíba/PI –Brazil. *Correspondence authore: firstname.lastname@example.com Received: Abr. 18, 2018 | Accepted: Jul. 21, 2020 ABSTRACT Objective: To verify interobserver agreement on wound evaluation using the TIME tool. Methods: Exploratory, nonexperimental study with cross-sectional design and quantitative approach. The population consisted of undergraduate students from the eighth, ninth and tenth periods of the baccalaureate nursing course, enrolled in the second semester of 2018. An expositive-dialogued class about the TIME tool was prepared and presented to the participants. The students were directed to the teaching hospital for socialization of clinical cases and individual evaluation of ten skin lesions with different clinical characteristics in the hospitalized patient, using the TIME tool. To identify the agreement between the students, when using the TIME tool, the Kappa agreement coefficient was used. Results: The number of undergraduates who were attending the ninth period of the course (80%), female (80%), and average age (23.2 years) prevailed. Considering the Kappa classification, there was excellence (K = 1.0) in interobserver agreement in all stages of the TIME tool. Conclusion: It is inferred that the TIME tool ensures agreement in the evaluation of wounds among nursing undergraduates who are attending the last course periods, and may contribute to improving the quality of nursing care.


Cloud storage enables users to remotely store their data and enjoy the on-demand high quality cloud applications without the burden of local hardware and software management. Though the benefits are clear, it inevitably poses new security risks toward the correctness of the data in cloud. To address this problem, the proposed design allows users to audit the cloud storage with very lightweight communication and computation cost by utilizing the new cryptographic technique like homomorphic token and distributed erasure-coded data. By introducing the notion of parallel homomorphic encryption (PHE) schemes, which are encryption schemes that support computation over encrypted data via evaluation algorithms that can be efficiently executed in parallel. In addition, we can hide the function being evaluated with the MapReduce model runnable on Hadoop framework for element testing and keyword search. Analysis shows the proposed scheme is highly efficient and resilient against Byzantine failure, malicious data modification attack, and even server colluding attacks and attempting to strike a balance between security, efficiency and functionality using Kerberos protocol and HDFS system.


The feasibility and practicability of isolated ultrafiltration, or extracorporeal evacuation of excessive body fluid, was assessed in patients with severe stable and malignant arterial hypertension, complicated by refractory heart failure. This procedure, added to combined treatment, is a means to overcome resistance to medication, achieve a stable compensation of circulatory insufficiency symptoms, bring down arterial blood pressure and use smaller doses of hypotensive and diuretic drugs. Isolated ultrafiltration proves less effective in patients with cachectic circulatory insufficiency.


BACK TO KOSMOS | In the decades following World War II, the utopia of a future communist state in the Soviet Union became linked to the tech nological conquest of cosmos through space travel. This relation found a primary expression in the heroic myths created in the popular visual culture surrounding the Soviet space program. After the collapse of the Soviet regime, the aesthetics and politics of its space ideology have been subjected to critical evaluation as part of a wider struggle over the legacy of the communist era. This article discusses three recent art works dealing with this issue: Victor Pelevin's novel Omon Ra (1992), Adam Bartos' photo book Kosmos – A Portrait of the Russian Space Age (2001) and Aleksei Fedorchenko's film First on the Moon (2005). The article argues that the three works illustrate a development in the relation to the space myth from critical denunciation and even ridicule to ambivalent nostalgia. It is further suggested that this development is symptomatic for a wider change in the attitude towards utopic projects, which is not only expressed in the changing assessment of the legacy of the Soviet Union in Russia, but also in the aesthetic and political imaginary in our post-political era.


Fifteen male physical education students were studied. The subjects trained for 4-6 weeks, 2-3 days per week, on a mechanically braked bicycle ergometer. A training session consisted of repeated 30-s 'all-out' sprints on a Wingate bicycle ergometer, on which the brake band of the flywheel was loaded with 75 g kg-1 body wt, with rest periods of 15-20 min between consecutive sprints. Thigh muscle biopsies were taken before and after the training period and were analysed for fibre types using a myofibrillar ATPase stain. The proportion of type I fibres decreased from 57 to 48% (P less than 0.05) and type IIA fibres increased from 32 to 38% (P less than 0.05). This study indicates that it is possible to achieve a fibre type transformation with high-intensity training. The effect of two-legged 'sprint' training on muscle fibre type composition may be related to a changed pattern of muscle fibre activation (e.g. an increased stimulation frequency). A change in fibre activation frequency may induce an increased synthesis of type II fibre myosin (fast myosin). Hormonal influences such as enhanced adrenergic stimulation of the muscle fibres cannot be excluded as a contributing factor, however.


The magneto-transport properties of cubic NiMnAs film epitaxied on the GaAs (110) substrate are investigated. The x-ray diffraction measurements reveal that the NiMnAs (111) crystal plane is parallel to the GaAs (110) crystal plane. The temperature dependence of resistivity at high temperature can be described by a thermal activation model, from which the thermal activation energy is obtained and found to be comparable with many other Heusler alloys. By fitting the temperature dependence of resistivity at low temperature, the coefficient of the quadratic temperature term is determined to be 1.34 × 10−3 μΩ cm K−2. This value suggests the possible presence of single-magnon scattering in the NiMnAs film. The negative magnetoresistance is attributed to the suppression of the spin-dependent scattering, which would not take place in a half-metal. The angle dependence of the anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) is measured, and the AMR ratios are positive even at low temperature. These magneto-transport properties indicate that the predicted half-metallicity is destroyed in the NiMnAs film. The absence of the half-metallicity may be attributed to the atomic disorder in the NiMnAs lattice, which needs to be confirmed by further experimental and theoretical studies.