ABSTRACT Purpose: This paper sought to evaluate patients receiving assistance from resident speech-language therapists at a school hospital emergency room. Methods: Both adult and elderly patients were included in this study. In total, 150 individuals of both genders, including adults between the ages of 20-59 years and elderly individuals over 60 years of age, who were hospitalized from March 2010 to March 2012 were studied. Results: The patients were predominantly male and elderly, with in-complete elementary school education and a low income, and originated from the capital city and metropolitan region. The medical diagnoses predominantly revealed circulatory diseases, digestive disorders, and ner-vous system disorders. The speech-language therapy diagnoses showed normal swallowing function, neurogenic oropharyngeal dysphagia, and esophageal dysphagia. Conclusion: The prevalence of age-related sys-temic disorders may lead to swallowing disorders, which could trigger complications such as longer hospital stays. Therefore, the presence of a speech-language therapist in an emergency room is important to assess, diagnose, and treat swallowing disorders.


The Ego and Analysis of Defense, by Paul Gray, without a doubt represents a major advance in analytic technique. How therapists listen and what they do with what they hear must be the primary issues that any technical approach addresses. Paul Gray shows how technique has, until now, lagged far behind theory in addressing these and other important questions. This book is essential reading for every practicing clinician.


: Global or international liquidity has moved to centre stage in recent international policy, research and market discussions. Contrary to the approach of major international organisations, which focus particularly on cross-border credit, this paper discusses five dimensions of international liquidity that are all of interest to central banks and should be subject to appropriate surveillance. It describes how they have evolved before, during and after the financial crisis. No general shortage of liquidity is found for the recent past and diverse developments can be explained, in part, by a small number of factors. The paper also raises salient policy issues related to these international liquidity developments. For example, financial regulation needs to be designed in a way that preserves incentives for market-making in major international assets. Data need to be made available for properly analysing to which extent global collateral re-use "lubricates" the financial system and to which extent it may act as a conduit for contagion. Ways need to be found how soaring corporate cash hoarding can be brought back into real investment. International spillovers of unconventional monetary policies suggest revisiting the current consensus on international monetary policy coordination. As the economic recovery in advanced economies strengthens consolidating public finances may be a more sustainable approach to re-increasing the availability of liquid and safe international assets than the further issuance of sovereign bonds by large countries that have already high levels of debt.


AIM
To investigate the role of overexpression of beta2-adrenoceptor on contraction in cardiac myocytes isolated from failure hearts of rats and primarily analyses its mechanisms.

METHODS
Primarily cultured cardiac myocytes were infected with adenovirus containing the sequence for human beta2-adrenoceptors. The expression of beta2-adrenoceptors was tested by Western blot. The contraction amplitudes induced by isoprenaline stimulation were measured.

RESULTS
Overexpression of beta2-adrenoceptor increased the content in failure cardiac myocytes. The contraction amplitudes in failure cardiac myocytes were lower than that in the control (P < 0.01). Overexpression of beta2 adrenoceptor improved the contraction of failure cardiac myocytes (P < 0.01, Failure+ Adv.Beta2 group vs. Failure group). Selective beta2-adrenoceptor antagonist ICI 118,551 partially reversed the effects (P < 0.05, Failure+ Adv.beta2 + ICI group vs Failure + Adv.beta2 group), but the contraction amplitudes in this Failure +/- Adv.beta2 + ICI 118,551 group were still higher than that in only heart failure group (P < 0.05). Selective beta1 adrenoceptor antagonist CGP20712A completely inhibited the effects of overexpression of beta2 adrenoceptor on contraction amplitude in failure cardiac myocytes.

CONCLUSION
Overexpression of beta2-adrenoceptors improves the contraction of cardiac myocytes isolated from failure hearts of rats. The effect is related to beta1-adrenoceptor.


The article results of this study explain the activities of assistance, facilitation and promotion as the essence and orientation of poverty alleviation activities, and explain the prototype model of poverty alleviation strategies based on community empowerment programs. The research method used was descriptive-qualitative with a case study approach. Data is collected through observation, interviews, documentation. Data were analyzed descriptivelyqualitatively following the stages of "Interactive Models" which included data collection, data condensation, data verification, conclusion drawing. The results of the study found that the strategy of poverty alleviation based on community empowerment programs carried out through assistance, facilitation and promotion activities was not optimal. To optimize the implementation of the program, a prototype model of the "Ideal" poverty alleviation strategy was implemented based on community empowerment programs through revitalizing the duties, functions and roles of the Pohuwato Regency Poverty Reduction Coordination Team (TKPKD) with stakeholders (government, private, community) in communicating, coordinating, collaborating and cooperating based on the consciousness (5C approach) of the poor to be empowered and independent. Similarly, the activities of assistance, facilitation and promotion are based on the principle of public entrepreneurship in the implementation of community empowerment programs.


This study investigated the beliefs and practices of primary school English language teachers in eastern Malaysia with regards to the country's School-Based Assessment (SBA) reform. The study also investigated the contextual factors affecting the teachers' beliefs and practices, aiming to understand the effects of these beliefs on their practice of SBA in order to extend our understanding of teachers' interpretations of SBA, the challenges influencing these interpretations and thus, what affects the implementation process.
After preliminary interviews with seven teachers, the study selected three who had an understanding of and knowledge about SBA and examined their claims to be implementing it. The study conducted classroom observations and then, using post-observation interviews, explored the reasons behind the teachers' practices. The teachers interpreted and implemented SBA using their pedagogical knowledge and beliefs and incorporating existing teaching–learning practices, and they showed awareness of the goals and aims of the SBA initiatives. However, contextual factors affected their implementation process, and thus, their practices deviated from some of the underlying principles and objectives of the SBA policy. The study pointed to a limited uptake of the SBA policy and provided evidence of the importance of studying both the teachers' prior or existing beliefs about assessment and the contextual factors, to understand the motives behind the teachers' actual assessment practices and their attitudes towards assessment reforms.


Exposure to reduced gravity during space travel profoundly alters the loads placed on bone and muscle. Astronauts suffer significant losses of muscle and bone strength during weightlessness. Exercise as a countermeasure is only partially effective in remedying severe muscle atrophy and bone demineralization. Similar wasting of muscles and bones affects people on Earth during prolonged bed rest or immobilization due to injury. In the absence of weight bearing activity, atrophy occurs primarily in the muscles that act in low power, routine movements and in maintaining posture. Hormonal disfunction could contribute in part to the loss of muscle and bone during spaceflight. Reduced levels of human Growth Hormone (hGH) were found in astronauts during space flight, as well as reduced GH secretory activity was observed from the anterior pituitary in 7-day space flight rats. Growth hormone has been shown to be required for maintenance of muscle mass and bone mineralization, in part by mediating the biosynthesis IGF-I, a small polypeptide growth factor. IGF biosynthesis and secretion plays an important role in potentiating muscle cell differentiation and has been shown to drive the expression of myogenin, a myogenic specific basic helix-loop-helix factor. IGF-I has also been shown to have an important role in potentiating muscle regeneration, repair and adult muscle hypertrophy.


A case of squamous cell carcinoma of the limbus with intraocular invasion is described. The tumour penetrated the eye at the limbal region, involved the anterior chamber angle, iris and ciliary body and extended as far as the choroid.


In the paper we describe genezis of decentralisation and corporatisation of airport sector in the Slovak Republic to reveal circumstances influencing expected decision about Bratislava airport privatisation in 2011. Special attention is devoted to unmasking the political umbrella of process in which - as it is known from other privatisation cases worldwide - there is not sufficient space for expert opinions and judgment. We confront various attitudes regarding to Bratislava Airport privatisation. We also explain Bratislava Airport privatisation in light of overall privatisation status of Slovakian airports. In quantitative way we compare Bratislava Airport performance with the main competitor Vienna Airport that is very often seen as the key problem of Bratislava Airport privatisation with regard to overlapping catchment areas of the airports. Comparison of economic performance, as well as airport charges of both airports is made in the paper. The paper does not try to identify the best privatisation arrangement for Bratislava Airport as it is primarily focused on documenting perplexity and intricacy of privatisation of a small airport that could be a big problem and fiscalized matter.In the paper also some considerations are made with regard to some airports competition issues.


Background: Endocrine resistance is a common problem in estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer, particularly in the advanced setting. Beyond the anticipated effects of endocrine resistance, recent evidence points towards some ER+ cancers exhibiting a counterintuitive, adverse response to endocrine treatments, particularly in the setting of E-cadherin deficiency. Here the effects of adverse cell response to endocrine therapy is explored, including responsible cellular mechanisms. The ER co-receptor PELP-1, found to be of importance in mediating a pro-invasive response to endocrine treatments, was further explored in relation to its function in ER+, as compared to triple negative breast cancer (TNBC).
Methods: The effects of endocrine treatments on the proliferative and invasive/migratory capacity of ER+ and TNBC cells, in the presence or absence of functional E-cadherin and/or PELP-1, were determined using cell counting and trans-well Boyden chamber-based assays respectively. For TNBC cells, studies were extended into 3D culture models. Mechanistic studies on endocrine-mediated modulation of cell signalling were determined by Western blotting.
Results: Tamoxifen and fulvestrant induced a pro-invasive/pro-migratory phenotype in ER+ MCF-7 cells that displayed a high basal expression of PELP-1. This effect was augmented in the setting of E-Cadherin suppression and regulated in a Src-dependent manner. In contrast, no adverse phenotype was observed with cells cultured in estrogen-deprived conditions. PELP-1 suppression reduced endocrine-induced invasion/migration in MCF-7 cells, whilst PELP-1 knockdown in TNBC cells inhibited endogenous invasion in 2D and 3D culture.
Conclusion: ER-targeting anti-estrogens may be responsible for inducing an adverse cell phenotype in ER+ breast cancers that highly express PELP-1; this effect may be more apparent in tumours that are also E-cadherin deficient. Such tumours may benefit from treatment with aromatase inhibitors as opposed to ER-targeting agents. PELP-1 may be an important target for future therapy, and act as a biomarker, predicting response to treatment in ER+ and TNBC.


Metastable β-type Ti–38Nb–0.2O alloy was subjected to cold rolling (CR) and solution treatment (ST), and the effects of initial microstructure on the aging behavior and subsequent mechanical properties were investigated. High density of dislocations and grain refinement were introduced by CR, which suppressed the ω phase and promoted the α phase in the subsequent aging process. Upon aging at 573 K, the CR specimen consisted of α  +  β phase and high density of dislocations, while the ST specimen showed homogeneous precipitation of ω phase. Upon aging at 773 K, the CR specimen exhibited ultrafine equiaxed α phase without obvious β grain boundary, while the ST specimen contained acicular α precipitates nonuniformly distributed in the internal grain and grain boundary, and precipitate-free zone near grain boundaries were observed. The different initial microstructures led to large difference in strength and Young's modulus between the aged specimens. Graphical abstract


A segment-based speech recognition scheme is proposed. The basic idea is to model explicitly the correlation among successive frames of speech signals by using features representing contours of spectral parameters. The speech signal of an utterance is regarded as a template formed by directly concatenating a sequence of acoustic segments. Each constituent acoustic segment is of variable length in nature and represented by a fixed dimensional feature vector formed by coefi- cients of discrete orthonormal polynomial expan- sions for approximating its spectral parameter contours. In the training, an automatic algorithm is proposed to generate several segment-based reference templates for each syllable class. In the testing, a frame-based dynamic programming pro- cedure is employed to calculate the matching score of comparing the test utterance with each reference template. Performance of the proposed scheme was examined by simulations on multi- speaker speech recognition for 408 highly confus- ing isolated Mandarin base-syllables. A recognition rate of 81.1% was achieved for the case using 5-segment, 8-reference template models with cepstral and delta-cepstral coefficients as recognition features. It is 4.5% higher than that of a well-modelled 12-state, 5-mixture CHMM method using cepstral, delta cepstral, and delta- delta cepstral coefficients.


Abstract Sixty five methanolic extracts of Sumatran rainforest plants representing 63 species of 21 families were assayed in vivo for antinematodal activity against Bursaphelenchus xylophilus using our cotton ball-fungal mat method. Extracts of 27 plants species from 14 families exhibited antinematodal activity, while 37 species were inactive. Among them, three extracts of Bischofia javanica, Knema hookeriana and Areca catechu exhibited very strong activity at minimum effective dose (MED ) of 0.7 mg/cotton ball (mg/bl.). Eight extracts from Allamanda cathartica, Ervatamia corymbosa, Hoya diversifolia, Bischofia javanica, Derris malacensis, Melastoma melabathricum, Ophiorriza konsteleary and Brucea sumatrana also showed strong activity (MED, 5 mg/bl.).


Background: The genomic spectrum of biliary tract carcinoma (BTC) has been characterized and is associated with distinct anatomic and etiologic subtypes, yet limited studies have linked genomic alterations with personalized therapies in BTC patients. Methods: This study analyzed 803 patients with BTC:164 with gallbladder cancer, 475 with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and 164 with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. We determined genomic alterations, mutational signatures related to etiology and histopathology and prognostic biomarkers. Personalized targeted therapies for patients harboring potentially actionable targets (PATs) were investigated. Results: The median tumor mutation burden (TMB) was 1.23 Mut/Mb, with 4.1% of patients having hypermutated BTCs. Unlike the results obtained from the Western population, the most frequently altered cancer-related genes in our cohort included TP53 (53%), KRAS (26%), ARID1A (18%), LRP1B (14%) and CDKN2A (14%). Germline mutations occurred mostly in DNA damage repair genes. Notably, 35.8% of the ICCs harbored aristolochic acid related signatures and an elevated TMB. TP53 and KRAS mutations and amplified 7q31.2 were demonstrated to negatively affect patient prognosis. Moreover, 19 genes were proposed to be PATs in BTCs, with 25.4% of patients harboring these PATs. Forty-six patients received PAT-matched targeted therapies, achieving a 26.1% objective response rate; the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 5.0 months, with 56.8% of patients obtaining PFS benefits. Conclusions: Extensive genomic diversity and heterogeneity were observed among BTC patients, with contributions according to potential etiology exposures, anatomical subtypes and clinicopathological characteristics. We also demonstrated that patients with refractory BTCs who have PATs can derive considerable benefit from receiving a matched therapy, initiating further prospective clinical trials guided by molecular profiling among this aggressive cancer.


We present a feature learning model that learns to encode relationships between images. The model is defined as a Gated Boltzmann Machine, which is constrained such that hidden units that are nearby in space can gate each other's connections. We show how frequency/orientation "columns" as well as topographic filter maps follow naturally from training the model on image pairs. The model also helps explain why square-pooling models yield feature groups with similar grouping properties. Experimental results on synthetic image transformations show that spatially constrained gating is an effective way to reduce the number of parameters and thereby to regularize a transformation-learning model.


A new procedure for determining the structural heterogeneity of microporous solids is presented. Applying the concept of a general adsorption isotherm equation, a method for solving this equation for adsorption in micropores is developed, and the applicability of a new simple algorithm for determining the parameters of microporous structure of two commercial carbons is shown. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.


In May 2007, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) released a report investigating the links between discriminatory views against women in Botswana and Swaziland and sexual risk-taking and, in turn, extremely high HIV prevalence in those countries. The report also examines the role of women's lack of political and economic power in those countries, and the connection to HIV infection.


The benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is the most common disease in the group of peripheral vertigo. It's characterized by vertiginous sensation triggered by the positional changes of the head and usually lasts less than one minute. It is most frequently seen in middleaged patients (40-50 years old) and in up 50% of cases we do not know the cause, so we refer to them as idiopathic benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Because of the high incidence of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in general population, it is of utmost importance to be aware of the differential diagnosis and to be able to treat this pathology with efficacy, because in most cases we can achieve excellent results performing specific and simple maneuvers. © 2013 Sociedad Espanola de Medicos de Atencion Primaria (SEMERGEN). Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L. All rights reserved. ∗ Autor para correspondencia. Correo electronico: email@example.com (C. Carnevale). 1138-3593/$ – see front matter © 2013 Sociedad Espanola de Medicos de Atencion Primaria (SEMERGEN). Publicado por Elsevier Espana, S.L. Todos los derechos reservados. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.semerg.2014.01.001 Documento descargado de http://www.elsevier.es el 17/12/2016. Copia para uso personal, se prohibe la transmision de este documento por cualquier medio o formato.


Importance
Cigarette smoking is a common environmental exposure and addiction, which has severe health consequences. Smoking is a risk factor for multiple sclerosis (MS); also, smoking has been associated with disease activity and overall prognosis for patients with MS.

Observations
Cigarette smoking is an irritative agent on the lungs, in which a proinflammatory cascade starts that culminates in autoimmunity. Inflammation may increase the risk of MS in some individuals, in a process driven by antigen cross-reactivity between lung antigens and myelin antigens. Genetics plays a central role in the individual predisposition to mounting an autoimmune reaction. Also, free radicals, cyanates, and carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke may be directly toxic to neurons. Patients with MS who smoke have higher rates of disease activity, faster rates of brain atrophy, and a greater disability burden. Some of the outcomes of smoking were found to be reversible, which makes counseling key.

Conclusions and Relevance
The pathways involved in cigarette smoking should be further analyzed to understand the mechanisms whereby smoking worsens MS prognosis. The proinflammatory and neurotoxic outcomes of cigarette smoking may be shared by other environmental exposures, such as pollution and organic solvents. From a global perspective, efforts should be made to diminish the prevalence of cigarette smoking in patients with MS.


Introduction Reperfusion injury is a recognized but fairly uncommon consequence of revascularization of anterior circulation large vessel occlusion. It has not been described in the posterior circulation, perhaps because of the lower incidence of posterior circulation occlusive disease and because many of these lesions were not historically amenable to revascularization. We describe two cases of brainstem hemorrhage following revascularization of vertebrobasilar arterial occlusion. Methods The medical records and images of patients who underwent revascularization of the posterior circulation were reviewed. Cases were identified from our institutional neuroendovascular database. Results Two patients with brainstem hemorrhages following angioplasty and stent placement in the posterior circulation were identified. The first patient was a 68 year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus and multiple, recurrent posterior circulation strokes. She had bilateral vertebral artery occlusion with poor angiographic collaterals. She underwent uneventful placement of a balloon mounted stent in the left vertebral artery, and a good angiographic result was obtained. Thirty minutes later, she became comatose and a massive pontine hemorrhage was discovered. The second patient was a 78 year-old woman with recurrent syncope and scattered cerebellar strokes. She had flow limiting basilar artery stenosis and required systolic blood pressures >180 mm Hg to maintain consciousness. She could not be maintained without vasopressors and endovascular treatment was performed. She underwent successful angioplasty and stent placement. She was in good neurological condition initially, but 12 hours later she became comatose with a large pontine and midbrain hemorrhage. Both patients expired. Conclusion Because all other causes seemed implausible, we concluded that both patients died of brainstem reperfusion injury. Because of the improved ability to treat vertebrobasilar occlusive disease, reperfusion injury in the posterior circulation may be increasingly recognized and characterized. Disclosures T. Higashimori: None. J. Kim: None. D. Sandhu: None. C. Streib: None. R. Tummala: None.


Abstract

Determining the optimal number of topics to retain in the conduct of topic modeling (TM) has received much attention over the last decade. Despite this work, issues remain regarding the best methods to use for making such determinations. Approaches involving the use of relatively simple statistics, most notably perplexity, have proven to be somewhat inconsistent. Recently, researchers have suggested the use of change in perplexity scores as a useful heuristic for determining the optimal number of topics to retain. The current study builds on this earlier work by assessing the utility of several methods borrowed from factor analysis and applied to statistics commonly used in topic modeling, including perplexity and Alpha. These new approaches are applied to several textual datasets and compared with more traditional methods for determining the number of topics to retain. Results of these analyses demonstrate that application of these methods borrowed from factor analysis does appear to be effective for identifying the number of topics to retain.


The TISO‐10‐kW plant, installed in Lugano (Switzerland) in 1982, is the first grid‐connected PV plant in Europe. In a joint publication (part 1), we presented the results of the electrical characterization performed in 2017—after 35 years of operation—of the 288 Arco Solar modules constituting the plant. Power degradation rates were different among modules and two groups could clearly be distinguished: group 1, with a remarkably low mean degradation rate of −0.2% per year, and group 2, with a mean degradation of −0.69% per year. After 35 in a temperate climate, approximately 70% of the modules (considering a ±3% measurement uncertainty) still exhibit a performance higher than 80% of their initial value. In this paper, when possible, we attempt at correlating module performance losses to specific failure mechanisms. For this sake, an extensive characterization of the modules was performed using visual inspection, IV curve measurements, electroluminescence, and infrared imaging. We remarkably find that module degradation rates are highly correlated to the aging pattern of the encapsulants used in module manufacturing. In particular, a specific formulation of the encapsulant (PVB), which was used only in a minority of the modules (approximately 10%), leads to degradation rates of −0.2% per year, which corresponds to a loss in performance below 10% over 35 years. Potential safety threats are also investigated, by measuring the frame continuity, the functionality of the bypass diodes, and the module insulation. Finally, we discuss how the analysis of a 35‐year‐old PV module technology could benefit the industry in order to target PV module lifetimes of 40+ years.


The objective of this study was to analyse the genetic relatedness of Clostridioides difficile polymerase chain reaction ribotype 017 (RT017) strains from patients with hospital-acquired C. difficile infection (HA-CDI) in a hospital with a high RT017 prevalence. From 2009 to 2013, 200 RT017 strains (26.8%) were collected from 745 HA-CDI patient isolates. They comprised 64 MLVA types, and 197 (98.5%) strains were genetically related to 5 clonal complexes (CCs). The largest cluster, CC-A, included 163 isolates of 40 MLVA types. CC-A accounted for 20% of RT017 strains in 2009 and sharply increased to 94.9% in 2010, 94% in 2011, 86.2% in 2012, and 73.5% in 2013. The other 4 CCs included 20 isolates with 7 MLVA types. The resistance rates of antimicrobials were as follows: clindamycin 100%, moxifloxacin 99%, rifaximin 88.5%, and vancomycin 1%. All isolates were susceptible to metronidazole and piperacillin/tazobactam. Comparing antibiotic resistance among CCs, the geometric mean of the minimum inhibitory concentrations of moxifloxacin, vancomycin, and piperacillin/tazobactam were significantly higher for CC-A isolates than for the other CCs. RT017 clones constantly evolved over the 5 years studied with regard to genetic relatedness. The levels of antibiotic resistance may contribute to the persistence of organisms in the institution.


Successful Boston lawyer, active member of the Sons of Liberty, and noted political essayist, Josiah Quincy Junior (1744-1775) left a lasting impression on those he met - for his passion in the courtroom as well as his orations in the Old South Meeting House, and for his determination to live fully, despite being afflicted with a disease that would cut his life short. Gathered in this, the sixth and final volume of the Quincy Papers, are Quincy's surviving correspondence, his essays for the Boston Press written between 1767 and 1774, and his 1774 pamphlet Observations, which was the culmination of his thinking and writing about the problem of balancing imperial authority and colonial liberty. He represented, as well as any of his longer-lived contemporaries, the difficulty of protesting British policy without turning on Britain itself, the uneasy blending of reasoned political discourse with a desire to denounce perceived injustice, and the quest to find a peaceful solution and yet reserve the right to use force if all else failed. In his attempt to define and defend American rights, he borrowed as readily from classical sources as modern, drawing on a rich philosophical and legal tradition that served him well throughout his public life. He well understood the power of the ideas that he mustered for political debate. That understanding also shows through in Quincy's other writings, from his law commonplace book and Latin legal maxims (in volume 2) to the journal of his 1773 southern journey (in volume 3) to his still-cited reports for cases argued in the Massachusetts Superior Court from 1761 to 1772 (in volumes 4 and 5). This last volume stands as a companion piece to the first. There, Quincy's political ideas are discussed and traced, in part through Quincy's political commonplace book, compiled between 1770 and 1774. Here, readers can follow how Quincy expressed those ideas in the newspaper pieces and pamphlet that became an essential part of the debate over rights in the empire. Here too can be found his deep concern, expressed in letters from London to his beloved wife, Abigail, that he serve Massachusetts - "my country," as he called it - well, that he give his last full measure of devotion, if necessary, to the patriot cause.


Two bacterial strains, Alcaligenes feacalis and Alcaligenes sp. 11SO isolated from the phyllosphere of four ornamental plant species, Ixora chinensis, Ervatamia divaricata, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and Amaranthus cruentus found in five highly polluted sites in Sri Lanka, showed a higher level of phenanthrene and naphthalene degradation ability. Both these strains harbor plasmids conferring them resistance to ampicillin. Curing of these strains of their plasmid drastically reduced the ability to degrade the hydrocarbons. Upon transformation of these plasmids into E.coli JM109 enable it to degrade the two hydrocarbons efficiently. Plasmid encoded phenanthrene and naphthalene degradation suggested the presence of required catabolic genes in these plasmids. PCR amplification with degenerate primers and comparison of their nucleotide sequences with Genbank sequences indicated that plasmids of those bacterial strains harbor the genes nahR, nahU involved in naphthalene degradation and phnG for phenanthrene degradation. RFLP and nucleotide sequence comparison of nahU and nahR amplicons revealed that both of these genes in two bacterial strains are homologous. But, phnG gene copies of two bacterial strains exist as two distinct alleles.


Kidney diseases lead to the failure of urinary excretion of metabolism products. In the Munich ethylnitrosourea (ENU) mouse mutagenesis project, which is done on a C3H inbred genetic background, blood samples of more than 15,000 G1 offspring and 500 G3 pedigrees were screened for alterations in clinical-chemical parameters. We identified 44 animals consistently exhibiting increased plasma urea concentrations. Transmission analysis of the altered phenotype of 23 mice to subsequent generations led to the establishment of five mutant lines. Both sexes were affected in these lines. Urinary urea levels were decreased in the mutants. In addition, most mutants showed increased plasma and decreased urinary creatinine levels. Pathological investigation of kidneys from the five mutant lines revealed a broad spectrum of alterations, ranging from no macroscopic and light microscopic kidney alterations to decreased kidney weight-to-body weight ratio, dilation of the renal pelvis, and severe glomerular lesions. Thus screening for elevated plasma urea levels in a large-scale ENU mouse mutagenesis project resulted in the successful establishment of mouse strains which are valuable tools for molecular studies of mechanisms involved in urea excretion or which represent interesting models for kidney diseases.


abstract In this paper, novel coordinated control strategies are presented for control and analysis of multi-agents with point mass dynamics to achieve leaderless and leader-following flocking motions. Four control laws are proposed for a group of agents to achieve flocking formations. Two of them are for leaderless flocking and two for leader-following flocking relative to two different centers (mass center and geometric center) of the flock, respectively. A distance-dependent adjacency matrix is used to quantify the way agents influence each other. Stability analysis of the control systems is conducted based on the classical Lyapunov theory to indicate the flocking behaviors (cohesiveness, collision avoidance and velocity matching) of the systems. Finally, simulation examples are given to validate the theoretical results.


Abstract—An implementation of an algorithm for near-optimal ordering of sparse network equations is described. Such ordering can result in considerable savings in computer time and may be applied to various types of analysis programs. A sample problem demonstrates a saving in computer time in excess of 50 percent.


We present a case of a 68-year-old woman with 6 months of chronic unilateral posterior thigh pain after a total knee arthroplasty. The patient's pain was refractory to various treatments. After appropriate diagnostic tests, a genicular nerve block and subsequent radiofrequency ablation were performed. These procedures provided substantial pain relief of her thigh pain at 3 months follow-up.


Recently, there has been a vigorous interest in community ecology about the structure of mutualistic networks and its importance for species persistence and coevolution. However, the mechanisms shaping mutualistic networks have been rarely explored. Here we extend for the first time the neutral theory of biodiversity to a multi trophic system. We focus on nestedness, a distinctive pattern of mutualistic community assembly showing two characteristics, namely, asymmetrical specialization (specialists interacting with generalists) and a generalist core (generalists interacting with generalists). We investigate the importance of relative species abundance (RSA) for the nested assembly of plant–animal mutualistic networks. Our results show that neutral mutualistic communities give rise to networks considerably more nested than real communities. RSA explains 60–70% of nested patterns in two real communities studied here, while 30–40% of nestedness is still unexplained. The nested pattern in real communities is better explained when we introduce interaction-specific species traits such as forbidden links and intensity of dependence (relative importance of fruits for the diet of a frugivore) in our analysis. The fact that neutral mutualistic communities exhibit a perfectly nested structure and do not show a random or compartmentalized structure, underlines the importance of RSA in the assembly of mutualistic networks.


A novel method of indirect deposition by means of a focused ion beam (FIB) is utilized to develop metal/insulator/semiconductor nanowire core–shell structures. This method is based upon depositing an annular pattern centered on a nanowire, with secondary deposition then coating the wire. Typical cross-sectional deposition area increments as a function of ion doses are 1.3 × 10−2 µm2 nC−1 for Pt and 3.5 × 10−2 µm2 nC−1 for SiO2. The structures are examined with a transmission electron microscope (TEM) using a new nanowire TEM sample preparation method that allows direct examinations of individually selected core–shell nanowires fabricated under different indirect FIB deposition conditions. Elemental analyses by means of energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy and electron energy filtered TEM imaging verify the deposition of SiO2 and Pt layers. Relatively uniform Pt and SiO2 coatings on individual GaP nanowires can be achieved with overall thickness deviation of about 10% for deposition up to 25–30 nm thick Pt or SiO2 shells. It should be possible to extend this approach to any nanowire/nanotube system, and to a wide range of coatings in any desired layer sequences.


Background The comparative efficacy and tolerability of methylphenidate (MPH) and neurofeedback (NF) in individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) remains uncertain. This study aimed to fill this gap by means of a systematic review/meta-analysis. Methods PubMed, OVID, ERIC, Web of Science, ClinialTrials.gov and a set of Chinese databases were searched until 22 August 2018. Standardised mean differences (SMD) were pooled using comprehensive meta-analysis software. Results 18 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were included (778 individuals with ADHD in the NF arm and 757 in the MPH group, respectively; 13 studies in Chinese, five in English). At the study first endpoint, MPH was significantly more efficacious than NF on ADHD core symptoms (ADHD symptoms combined: SMD=−0.578, 95% CI (−1.063 to –0.092)) and on two neuropsychological parameters (inattention:−0.959 (-1.711 to –0.208); inhibition:−0.469 (-0.872 to –0.066)). Dropouts were significantly lower in NF versus MPH (OR=0.412, 0.186 to 0.913). Results were robust to sensitivity analyses, with two important exceptions: removing Chinese studies and non-funded studies, no differences emerged between MPH and NF, although the number of studies was small. At the study follow-up, MPH was superior to NF in some outcomes, but results were inconsistent across raters. Conclusions Due to the risk of bias of included studies, the results of the sensitivity analysis excluding Chinese and non-funded studies, and the mixed findings on at the follow-up endpoint, further high quality studies are needed to assess the comparative efficacy and acceptability of NF and MPH in individuals with ADHD. Trial registration number CRD42018090256.


Quality of 3D reconstructed roads strongly depends on input data and following processing steps. Quality analysis is essential for building up a reliable reconstruction process and for a proper use of 3D data. It is therefore of interest to analyse which error sources influence the final result, and what is the sensitivity of each of these error sources. In this paper we explicitly describe quality of 3D reconstructed roads as a function of input data. These 3D roads have been reconstructed automatically by a fusion process of two input data sets: topographic map data and airborne laser data. Heights of map points are calculated by least squares plane fitting through a selection of neighbouring laser points. We determine the precision of map point heights by using error propagation techniques and properties of least squares adjustment. Map points heights have been calculated with a precision varying from a few centimetres to a few decimetres, depending on the point density and distribution of laser data. Even more important is that independent reference data showed the correctness of predicted quality by testing the actual quality against the predicted quality.


Experts of education introduce various theory of learning, so that learning  can run effective and effiient, and it is no needs many times. In fact,  there is no any theory that shows strategy of learning completely. There  are many factors that must be considered, both of internal and external  factors. The most inflential of external factors is teacher. Whether students able to receive material well or not is inflenced by teacher. At  home, the responsibility of student in the hand of parents, but at school  the responsibility of student taken by teacher. In the daily activity, society  put high expectation to teacher, since they want their children experience  positive -constructive changes. Keywords: profession, competence, teacher.


Sex allocation according to local resource competition suggests that investment and offspring sex ratio should be biased toward the dispersing sex to limit the competition among the natal philopatric sex. Conversely, when competition over resources is low, parents should allocate more resources toward the philopatric sex. In this study, this reciprocal scenario of sex allocation is tested. More specifically, the effect of breeding territory availability on primary sex ratio is studied in the collared flycatcher, a migratory passerine bird, where males are the natal philopatric sex. As predicted, primary sex ratios were biased toward males in areas where available territories were abundant (estimated from population growth). No relationship between sex ratio adjustment and adult phenotypes as well as date of first egg was found. We discuss potential explanation for the male-biased broods in areas with many vacant territories and low levels of competition. We suggest that sex ratio adjustment in relation to breeding territory quality and availability could be relatively common in birds. Copyright 2009, Oxford University Press.


The accuracy in the dosimetry for radionuclide therapy shows a great contrast to that obtained in external beam radiotherapy. The dosimetry for [(90)Y-DOTA(0), Tyr(3)] octreotide is evaluated in patients to see whether the accuracy of the dosimetry is high enough to distinguish the probability for radiation nephropathy. The 5% threshold for late end-point nephropathy at 23 Gy with external beam radiotherapy becomes with (90)Y therapy at least 30-35 Gy, when it is given in three or more fractions. More accurate linear-quadratic (LQ) model parameters are, however, needed to predict a more precise threshold for renal damage in this dose rate region. The average MIRD-based dose to the kidneys was 27 +/- 4 Gy (N = 52) with no evidence for renal damage. The variance in the dose is only caused by the high variability in renal uptake kinetics of the compound. Using the actual kidney volumes instead of the phantom values lowered the kidney dose considerably, but the variance in the dose greatly increased. As the peptide specifically localizes in the kidney cortex, the dose to the cortex increased up to a factor 1.5 compared to the MIRD whole kidney dose. Both the sum of uncertainties of ? 40% in the actual dose to the kidneys and the unknown maximum tolerable kidney dose for internal therapy make that a fixed injected activity of 13.32 GBq together with a patient-averaged dosimetry is as good as patient-kinetics specific dosimetry using the MIRD method.


The prevalence of minor psychiatric morbidity (MPM) was investigated in 523 adults presenting to the casualty section of an Australian public hospital. Relationships between subject characteristics and the level of MPM were also examined, together with the acceptability of an offer of short-term intervention and the effectiveness of this intervention in reducing distress. Threshold morbidity on initial presentation to casualty was 41% (using the GHQ-12 with the customary 1/2 cut-off point) and the probable prevalence was estimated to be about 27%. The intervention was initially offered to a random sample of those identified as being 'under stress' (GHQ of three or above), but as there was a 90% rejection rate, it was offered to all symptomatic subjects. Overall, 26% accepted our offer of intervention. Those who accepted intervention and those who rejected it did not differ in their improvement in MPM during the subsequent six months. However, these groups improved slightly more than the group that was eligible for intervention but to whom it was not offered. Forty-seven per cent of subjects who were 'under stress' on initial presentation to casualty fell below the GHQ-12 threshold at the six-month follow-up; this compared with a shift of only 26% in the opposite direction (i.e., non-stressed to stressed). Regression to the mean offered the most parsimonious explanation for these GHQ changes.


This paper examines a number of solution methods for decision processes with non-Markovian rewards(NMRDPs). They all exploit a temporal logic specification of the reward function to automatically translate the NMRDP into an equivalent Markov decision process (MDP) amenable to well-known MDP solution methods. They differ however in the representation of the target MDP and the class of MDP solution methods to which they are suited. As a result, they adopt different temporal logics and different translations. Unfortunately, no implementation of these methods nor experimental let alone comparative results have ever been reported. This paper is the first step towards filling this gap. We describe an integrated system for solving NMRDPs which implements these methods and several variants under a common interface; we use it to compare the various approaches and identify certain problem features favouring one over the other.


A frequency converter based on the generation in a ferrite of magnetization at the required difference frequency between input and output signals to provide an alternating environment for the input signal has been operated, and is compared with theory. The principles of the device are those of the amplifier/oscillator proposed by Suhl. Theory and experiment on the converter agree within the expected error of the latter. The support thus provided for the theory is pertinent to the present case and the original amplifier/oscillator.


The objective of this paper is to examine a deficit in surface for the lower reaches of the Yellow River. The methods suggested in this paper to diagnose water shortage problems are simple and practical. The results show that the lower reaches of the Yellow River are areas without sufficient water to meet the needs of irrigation, domestic, and industrial uses. The completion of the Sanmenxia reservoir and Xiaolangdi reservoir relax the conflict between water need and supply. However, if the hydrologic status becomes pessimistic with an exceedence probability of over 80 percent, then the water supply is still severe in the lower reaches of the Yellow River. The water resources in the lower reaches of the Yellow River to Tianjin and Qingdao cities are very limited and unstable. The most feasible options to offset the water deficiency in the lower reaches of the Yellow River are: (a) to obtain water from the Yangtzi River; (b) to obtain more water from middle and upper reaches through regulation; (c) to conduct a comprehensive water saving program.


Wilhelm Krelle (1916-2004) had two careers; one before 1945 as an officer in the German Army (Wehrmacht), and a second after 1945 as an economist in West Germany. After retirement, he was honored as the economist who brought modern modeling techniques, Lawrence Klein's macro-econometrics in particular, from the U.S. to West Germany. After his engagement in the reform of East German economics, however, his person was discredited as his early career became public. This essay reconstructs Krelle's career in his attempt and struggle to maintain moral integrity in and between the various domains of his troubled life as officer, economist, political adviser, father, and husband.


The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of music therapy on pain and anxiety in pediatric burn patients during nursing procedures. Nine subjects were randomly selected to participate in this study. Qualitative and quantitative data was collected on the patients' pain, anxiety, heart rate, blood oxygenation, and engagement level through measurement tools and interviews. The results from the qualitative and quantitative data indicated that music therapy reduced pain, anxiety, and behavioral distress. The quantitative data were analyzed and an inverse relationship between engagement in music therapy and lower behavioral distress scores was noted. Additionally, a linear relationship between engagement and behavioral distress was noted; significance was found but was moderated by the age of the child. However, no significant relationship was found between heart rate and behavioral distress. The results from the qualitative data from the interviews with the patients, parents, nurses and music therapist indicated that music therapy reduced pain and anxiety, and that engagement in music therapy enhanced relaxation. In addition, music therapy positively affected patients' mood, compliance, and the relaxation level. Finally, parents/guardians and nurses involved in the study reported that music therapy helped them to feel more relaxed as well.


The effect of NH 4 NO 3, Ca(H2 PO 4 ) 2 , CaCO3 , MgCO3 , ZnSO4, and organic material applications to soils, and of changes in soil pH, on the availability of zinc in soils was studied in three short-term pot experiments. Effects were measured in terms of Zn content of Japanese millet seedlings which accurately reflect the Zn status of the soil. ZnSO 4 applications significantly increased the Zn content of millet seedlings at all pH values. The magnitude of the effect decreased with increasing soil pH. NH 4 NO 3 applications significantly increased the availability of Zn in soils. This was a secondary effect, however, attributable to shifts in soil pH. When divorcedfrompHchanges ??.,??, did not affect Zn availability. Ca CO 3 and MgCOs applications effected marked reductions in Zn availability primarily through soil pH changes. There was no evidence that the pH effect was altered by the nature of the liming material. Increasing soil pH values between 5.0 and 7.0 sharply reduced Zn availability. Increasing pH values above 7.0 did not, however, further reduce Zn availability. Ca(H2P04 ) 2 applications significantly reduced the availability of Zn. The effect increased progressively between soil pH values 4.7 to 6.5, but diminished progressively as the pH rose above 6.5. The application of finely-ground maize leaves to soils resulted in an initial increase in Zn availability. With longer decomposition periods, the availability decreased, in certain soils to a level less than that in the untreated soil. It is suggested that the Zn contained in the maize leaves dissolves rapidly in the soil solution, and thereafter becomes complexed by organic decomposition products in an unavailable form.


Many scientific fields study data with an underlying structure that is non-Euclidean. Some examples include social networks in computational social sciences, sensor networks in communications, functional networks in brain imaging, regulatory networks in genetics, and meshed surfaces in computer graphics. In many applications, such geometric data are large and complex (in the case of social networks, on the scale of billions) and are natural targets for machine-learning techniques. In particular, we would like to use deep neural networks, which have recently proven to be powerful tools for a broad range of problems from computer vision, natural-language processing, and audio analysis. However, these tools have been most successful on data with an underlying Euclidean or grid-like structure and in cases where the invariances of these structures are built into networks used to model them.


Phosphorus (P) flow from deposits through agriculture to waterways leads to eutrophication and depletion of P reserves. Therefore, P must be recycled. Low and unpredictable plant availability of P in residues is considered to be a limiting factor for recycling. We identified the determinants for the plant-availability of P in agrifood residues. We quantified P in Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) and in field soil fractions with different plant availabilities of P as a response to manure and sewage sludge with a range of P capture and hygienization treatments. P was more available in manure and in sludge, when it was captured biologically or with a moderate iron (Fe)/P (1.6), than in NPK. Increasing rate of sludge impaired P recovery and high Fe/P (9.8) prevented it. Anaerobic digestion (AD) reduced plant-availability at relevant rates. The recovery of P was increased in AD manure via composting and in AD sludge via combined acid and oxidizer. P was not available to plants in the sludge hygienized with a high calcium/P. Contrary to assumed knowledge, the recyclability of P in appropriately treated residues can be better than in NPK. The prevention of P sorption in soil by organic substances in fertilizers critically enhances the recyclability of P.


ABSTRACT: China is now the world's leading creditor nation, while the United States is the world's largest debtor. Beijing is the largest foreign holder of US government debt – passing Japan in 2008 to become, in effect, the US government's largest foreign creditor. While some claim this gives Beijing unprecedented power over the United States, others claim that China's power is in fact greatly circumscribed. This paper shows that although current patterns of economic interdependence between the two economies invariably pushes each towards cooperation, China is deeply concerned about the future trajectory of the US economy and is already engaged in loosening the bonds of interdependence. This has profound implications for Sino-US relations and the global economy.


The study was aimed to evaluate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity (by both in-vitro and in-vivo) of both chloroform and methanol root extracts of Andrographis serpyllifolia (Rottl. Ex Vahl.) Wt. Methods used for the studies were In-vitro 5-Lipoxygenase inhibition assay and In-vivo measurement of rat paw edema and ear edema in rats, acetic acid induced writhing response and hot plate method in albino mice. Chloroform and methanolic extracts of A. serpyllifolia root have shown moderate potency in inhibiting 5-LOX and shown significant anti-inflammatory activity. Despite the IC 50 values are little higher, anti-inflammatory efficacy of these extracts possibly due to other mechanisms apart of 5-LOX inhibition. However, In-vivo anti-inflammatory studies revealed that A. serpyllifolia methanolic extract has shown higher degree of efficacy when compared to the chloroform extract. In terms of analgesic activity in writhing test, methanolic extract has shown more efficacy than chloroform extract. Hence, it is important to isolate the active principles for further testing the anti-inflammatory efficacy. DOI:  http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/icpj.v1i8.11250 International Current Pharmaceutical Journal 2012, 1(8): 199-204


Here, we present the so-called "Vollmer retractor", which can be fixed on to the operating table. It allows an optimal transference of the traction force on to the border of the wound, both in upper and lower abdominal interventions. In this way, as shown by our recent experience, we gain an optimal view of the subdiaphragmatic area and into the small pelvis.


Hierarchical switching networks connecting hundreds to thousands of servers are common in most large corporations. The state-of-the-art switches used in those networks are usually implemented by interconnecting a set of line cards that connect to hosts with a set of fabric cards that connect to other switches. This paper presents a new approach to implementing those switches using innovative packaging techniques that permit the 3-dimensional line/fabric card structure to be flattened into a 2-dimensional array of switch chips packaged on a PCB. The result of this flattening is a non-hierarchical network topology that we call a "flat tree". This new approach reduces cost and complexity while improving performance and signal integrity.Copyright © 2009 by ASME


In this note, we give self-contained proofs of the following
three theorems:
Theorem A (Auslander-Buchsbaum formula) The depth of a
Noetherian local ring A is equal to the sum of the
depth and the projective dimension of a nitely
generated A-module M with nite projective dimension.
Theorem B (Serre theorem) A Noetherian local ring is regular
if and only if its global dimension is nite.
Theorem C A regular local ring is a unique factorization domain.


The failure of earthen embankments is associated with erosion, overtopping, seepage, piping, slope failures, and slides. Precursory evidence for certain failures can be identified by visual inspection; however, others are not so easily detected. Seismic imaging and monitoring may provide unique and valuable precursory information about the onset of piping, seepage, and anomalous pore pressures to assist in the evaluation of the integrity of an earthen embankment.


For InP-based QDs, the current technology does not outperform CdSe-based QDs in many respects, one of which is stability. The optical stability of QDs is closely related to their surface properties, so QDs often use organic ligands for surface protection. These organic ligands are dynamically attached and detached on the QD surface; during detachment, their surfaces are easily damaged and oxidized, thereby deteriorating their optical characteristics. Therefore, we have synthesized a ligand 1,2-hexadecanedithiol with a bidentate form, inducing one ligand to bind to the QD surface strongly through the chelate effect, as a good way to improve the stability of the QDs; thus, the PL stability of the green-light-emitting InP-based QDs was greatly increased. To confirm the existence of the dithiol ligand, we used thermogravimetric analysis/simultaneous thermal analysis-mass spectroscopy (TGA/STA-MS). After that, we applied the ligand to blue-light-emitting ZnSe QDs and red-light-emitting InP QDs, and for those two types of QD we also confirmed that the stability was increased. Additionally, we tested dithiol exchanged QDs at a high temperature of 150 °C, and the increase of stability was effective even in a high temperature condition.


Leaf rust occurs worldwide wherever wheat is grown. The current research was planned to evaluate the response of 37 wheat (Triticum aestivum) genotypes against leaf rust resistance under field conditions during crop season 2017-18.These genotypes were sown in augmented design with two meter long line sowing method with 30 cm row to row distance at research area of Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute (ABRI), Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI), Faisalabad, Pakistan. After every five genotypes, a line of rust spreader "Morocco" was sown. Moreover, the trial was also surrounded by planting two rows of spreader to increase the inoculum pressure. Data was recorded on the basis of leaf rust severity scale. Leaf rust severity response was variable among tested genotypes. Out of thirty-seven genotypes, five wheat lines were immune (no disease symptoms) i.e. 17BT007, 17BT013, 16BT008, 16BT010 and 16BT011. Seven lines were found to be resistant with AUDPC vales ranged 1-199. Response of ten lines was moderately resistant while five lines were categorized as moderately susceptible. Ten genotypes exhibited susceptible response against leaf rust with more than 600 AUDPC value. High values above 600 of AUDPC showed greater incidence of leaf rust on wheat plants while lower AUDPC values indicated resistance to leaf rust. Present research provided the resistant wheat lines to the breeders to incorporate them in their breeding program against leaf rust.


We have examined the effect of explant culture and hormones on the major surfactant associated protein of Mr 28,000-36,000 (SP 28-36) in human fetal lung. Explants of 16- to 23-week gestation lung were maintained for up to 5 days in culture. Polyclonal antibodies raised to SP 28-36 purified from alveolar proteinosis lung lavage were used in immunofluorescence experiments (n = 11). There was no specific fluorescence seen in frozen sections of preculture tissue. In explants cultured without serum or hormones, fluorescence was seen in most epithelial cells lining potential airspaces. In cultures treated with 10 nM dexamethasone and 2 nM T3 much brighter fluorescence was seen in virtually all epithelial cells. Immunofluorescence studies on cell monolayers prepared from explants confirmed that SP 28-36 is found in the cytoplasm of type II cells but not in fibroblasts. The pattern of fluorescence was consistent with the presence of SP 28-36 on rough endoplasmic reticulum. SP 28-36 mRNA was measured in isolated cell populations using a 32P-labeled cDNA probe. mRNA levels were manyfold higher in type II cell preparations (purity 78-92%) than in fibroblasts (purity 81-97%). A competitive enzyme linked assay was developed to quantify SP 28-36. The SP 28-36 content of five lungs before culture (17-23 weeks) was less than 0.02 microgram/mg DNA. During explant culture without hormones the SP 28-36 content increased exponentially. Exposure to dexamethasone accelerated the increase in SP 28-36 content. T3, alone or in the presence of dexamethasone, did not influence SP 28-36 content. We conclude that SP 28-36 content is very low in human fetal lung before 24 weeks gestation. Explant culture and treatment with dexamethasone synchronize development of type II cells from epithelial precursors, and induce synthesis of SP 28-36 in type II cells. These findings provide evidence of concomitant regulation by glucocorticoids of the phospholipid synthetic enzymes and the major protein of pulmonary surfactant.


UNLABELLED
A large number of infectious diseases are believed to be transmitted between people via large droplets and by airborne routes. An understanding of evaporation and dispersion of droplets and droplet nuclei is not only significant for developing effective engineering control methods for infectious diseases but also for exploring the basic transmission mechanisms of the infectious diseases. How far droplets can move is related to how far droplet-borne diseases can transmit. A simple physical model is developed and used here to investigate the evaporation and movement of droplets expelled during respiratory activities; in particular, the well-known Wells evaporation-falling curve of droplets is revisited considering the effect of relative humidity, air speed, and respiratory jets. Our simple model considers the movement of exhaled air, as well as the evaporation and movement of a single droplet. Exhaled air is treated as a steady-state non-isothermal (warm) jet horizontally issuing into stagnant surrounding air. A droplet is assumed to evaporate and move in this non-isothermal jet. Calculations are performed for both pure water droplets and droplets of sodium chloride (physiological saline) solution (0.9% w/v). We calculate the droplet lifetimes and how droplet size changes, as well as how far the droplets travel in different relative humidities. Our results indicate that a droplet's size predominately dictates its evaporation and movement after being expelled. The sizes of the largest droplets that would totally evaporate before falling 2 m away are determined under different conditions. The maximum horizontal distances that droplets can reach during different respiratory activities are also obtained. Our study is useful for developing effective prevention measures for controlling infectious diseases in hospitals and in the community at large.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS
Our study reveals that for respiratory exhalation flows, the sizes of the largest droplets that would totally evaporate before falling 2 m away are between 60 and 100 microm, and these expelled large droplets are carried more than 6 m away by exhaled air at a velocity of 50 m/s (sneezing), more than 2 m away at a velocity of 10 m/s (coughing) and less than 1 m away at a velocity of 1 m/s (breathing). These findings are useful for developing effective engineering control methods for infectious diseases, and also for exploring the basic transmission mechanisms of the infectious diseases. There is a need to examine the air distribution systems in hospital wards for controlling both airborne and droplet-borne transmitted diseases.


Exercise programmes have been called for in routine care plans for patients with chronic kidney disease,1 ,2 but nephrologists still hesitate to prescribe exercise during haemodialysis,3 especially for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). One reason may be the age of patients with ESRD, a vulnerable population at high risk of mortality. Now more than ever, whether for paediatric patients4 or older patients (>65 years of age),5 let's challenge this intrinsic reluctance by advocating intradialytic exercise programmes as part of the standard care for patients receiving dialysis.

Exercise is effective for patients with ESRD6—it increases maximal oxygen uptake capacity, improves blood-pressure control, decreases arterial stiffness, decreases systemic inflammation, improves solute removal by dialysis, increases muscle force, and augments perceived quality of life (QoL). Beyond outstanding issues regarding the precise exercise prescription (endurance vs resistance training), the critical question is not whether to include …


Listed real estate companies can be divided into two categories: real estate operating companies (REOCs) and real estate investment trusts (REITs). REOCs have been around for quite a while, whereas REITs are a somewhat new phenomenon in Europe, the main differences pertaining to permissible activities and taxation. This paper studies the relative differences of REOCs and REITs in terms of liquidity: Also asset returns, volatility and correlation to other equities are assessed. The liquidity tests performed reveal REITs to be significantly more liquid than REOCs, potentially due to restrictions regarding REIT ownership structure. Ceteris paribus, superior REIT liquidity implies REITs constitute a preferred investment vehicle.


Bacterial adherence to mucosa is thought to be an initial and important stage to cause urinary tract infection. Among some mechanisms of bacterial adherence, the role of fimbriae and its receptor is worthy of notice. In particular, type 1 fimbriae, for which mannose is assumed as a receptor, is reported as the most common type and called "common fimbriae". Therefore if a certain amount of mannose is present in urine, it will cover the fimbriae of bacteria and competitively block the bacterial adherence to bladder mucosa. As the first step, we tried to detect mannose in urine by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Sugar can be measured by detecting the fluorescence which is produced by a sugar separated by ion exchange, reacting with arginine at high temperature. The results using standard sugar samples should have highly stable retention time and concentration curve with the minimum detectable mannose concentration of 0.02 microgram. We investigated mannose in urine from 186 cases. Since the mannose peak was often masked by near unidentified peaks, the peak of mannose could be detected only in 80 cases and its concentration could be measured only in 24 cases. Mannose concentration in the urine of the 24 cases was between 2.6 and 108.7 micrograms/ml and in most of cases it was lower than 20 micrograms/ml. Secondary, we examined the possibility of a mannose in urine to prevent bacterial adherence to mucosa by the hemagglutination test using guinea pig erythrocytes and type 1 fimbriated E. coli.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


'Healthier food product' has experienced a rapid growth rate in recent years in U.S. because of the increasing consumer demand for healthier and environmental friendlier lifestyle. This analysis is looking for price discrimination evidences by comparing price cost margins of regular food products and healthier food products. Price cost margins are computed by solving firms' profit maximization problem and relevant parameters are estimated from consumers' choice decisions. Specifically, price elasticities and price coefficients are estimated using nonlinear GMM estimation in order to construct price cost margin. The empirical analysis employs product level ketchup data across 50 MSA in U.S. from 2001 to 2006.


Black Earth is a proletarian novel, written in 1928 and published in 1939, by Scottish playwright and ex-miner Joe Corrie (1894-1968). Following publication, it was rejected by left-wing critics, bewildered by Corrie's bleak tone and apparently nihilistic views. The present
 article is an attempt to contrast early reviews by providing the first in-depth reading of Black Earth. This is achieved by highlighting internal conflicts in Corrie's work between issues of class fidelity, masculine culture, and political idealism. Indeed, such tension accounts for
 Corrie's rejection of Communist heroism, whose encouragement of virile, utopian behaviours is portrayed as a threat for working-class families in thrall to capitalistic exploitation. Corrie's anti-heroism is better understood not as a reactionary satire against socialist literature, but in
 the broader interwar context of ' littérature prolétarienne ', which sought working-class authenticity beyond any sort of ready-made worldview.


The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Global Citizenship Training Program (GCTP) prepared for teacher candidates. The training program lasted for 13 sessions and 32 volunteering Turkish teacher candidates participated in the program. The mixed method was utilized for this study. The pre-test and post-test scores of teacher candidates from "Global Citizenship Competency Perception Scale" (GCCPS) and "The Respect of Differences Scale" (RDS) make up the quantitative part of the study, while participant diaries and evaluation forms consisting open-ended items make up the qualitative part of the study. The results of the study reveal that GCTP has positive effects on teacher candidates' global citizenship competency perception and level of respect for differences. The diaries also show that the training enabled teacher candidates: to deepen their knowledge of global citizenship, to make a detailed analysis and inquire various issues like multiculturalism, women, children and handicapped individuals' rights, to develop their global citizenship competencies, to face their own bias and change their perspectives. Also, they expressed that the activities and materials used in the training were effective. Film activities, script writing and creative drama are identified as the most enjoyed activities by teacher candidates.

 Key words: Global citizenship, global citizenship training, teacher candidates, respect of differences, diaries.


Key Points Question Is savolitinib monotherapy more effective than sunitinib monotherapy on progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with MET-driven, unresectable and locally advanced, or metastatic papillary renal cell carcinoma (PRCC)? Findings In this phase 3, open-label, randomized clinical multicenter study including 60 patients with MET-driven PRCC, the primary end point was PFS. Although study enrollment was closed early, PFS was not statistically different for patients who received savolitinib or sunitinib, and the safety profile was superior with savolitinib. Meaning Further investigation of savolitinib as a treatment option for MET-driven PRCC is warranted.


Ozone (O3) remains a prevalent air pollutant and public health concern. Inf2 is a significant quantitative trait locus on murine chromosome 17 that contributes to susceptibility to O3-induced infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) into the lung, but the mechanisms of susceptibility remain unclear. The study objectives were to confirm and restrict Inf2, and to identify and test novel candidate susceptibility gene(s). Congenic strains of mice that contained overlapping regions of Inf2 and their controls, and mice deficient in either major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II genes or the Tnf cluster, were exposed to air or O3. Lung inflammation and gene expression were assessed. Inf2 was restricted from 16.42 Mbp to 0.96 Mbp, and bioinformatic analysis identified MHC class II, the Tnf cluster and other genes in this region that contain potentially informative single nucleotide polymorphisms between the susceptible and resistant mice. Furthermore, O3-induced inflammation was significantly reduced in mice deficient in MHC class II genes or the Tnf cluster genes, compared with wild-type controls. Gene expression differences were also observed in MHC class II and Tnf cluster genes. This integrative genetic analysis of Inf2 led to identification of novel O3 susceptibility genes that may provide important, new therapeutic targets in susceptible individuals.


The study on the effects of different cutting intensities on the eco-physiological characteristics and growth status of Stylosanthes guianensis showed that moderate cutting could promote the regrowth capacity of the grass. The total content of leaf chlorophyll had no significant difference between zero-, light-and heavy cutting, but the ratio of leaf chlorophyll a/b increased to 1.59: 1 and 1.52: 1 under light-and heavy cutting, respectively, compared with 1.22:1 under zero-cutting, which could be very helpful for the plant to over-compensate itself. Cutting also affected the growth status and activities of plant roots. At the earlier stage of heavy cutting, the total length, total surface area and mean diameter of plant roots decreased by 54.9%, 66.5% and 27.2%, respectively, and root activities also decreased greatly, in comparing with zero-cutting. But, the above-mentioned indices could be recovered to a higher level under different cutting treatments than under zero-cutting at the later growth period of the grass. As for the total annual yield of the grass, it was 3 179.8 g x m(-2) under light-cutting, 3006.1 g x m(-2) under heavy- cutting, and 2 936.98 g x m(-2) under zero-cutting, indicating that rational cutting could improve grass productivity.


The optimal treatment of rapidly growing mycobacterial disseminated infections remains poorly established. Combined medical and surgical therapy seems to produce great results, but the increased risk of complications due to multiorganic resections keeps the correct treatment a matter of controversy. The aim of this paper is to report a case of disseminated mycobacterial infection treated with radical surgery plus antibiotic therapy and to discuss the role of surgery in this setting.


The mode of modular teaching emphasizes practicality, integrates theoretical knowledge into practical training of each module and attaches importance to ability cultivation. The application of this model in college English teaching focuses on the practice of students' practical language skills. According to the teaching objectives, the teaching content is divided into several modules and integration of the tasks is guided by formative assessment, and each segment of learning activities such as group communication, problem exploration, achievement testing and autonomous learning are evaluated to improve the effect of the modular teaching of college English


Current speaker recognition technology provides great performance with the x-vector approach. However, performance decreases when the evaluation domain is different from the training domain, an issue usually addressed with domain adaptation approaches. Recently, unsupervised domain adaptation using cycle-consistent Generative Adversarial Networks (CycleGAN) has received a lot of attention. Cycle-GAN learn mappings between features of two domains given non-parallel data. We investigate their effectiveness in low resource scenario i.e. when limited amount of target domain data is available for adaptation, a case unexplored in previous works. We experiment with two adaptation tasks: microphone to telephone and a novel reverberant to clean adaptation with the end goal of improving speaker recognition performance. Number of speakers present in source and target domains are 7000 and 191 respectively. By adding noise to the target domain during CycleGAN training, we were able to achieve better performance compared to the adaptation system whose CycleGAN was trained on a larger target data. On reverberant to clean adaptation task, our models improved EER by 18.3% relative on VOiCES dataset compared to a system trained on clean data. They also slightly improved over the state-of-the-art Weighted Prediction Error (WPE) de-reverberation algorithm.


Abstract New technology based on mixing of standard alloy SnCu in form of solder paste with copper paste was presented. This technology allows the production of solder joints with higher stand-off consisting of intermetallic compounds. Such solder joints were qualified for the high temperature applications by investigation of thermal stability of overlapped solder joints. For this purpose a special test bench for the investigation of remelting temperature up to 300 °C was developed.


An enormous amount of methane has accumulated in the shallow subsurface in many part of the world. However, most of this natural gas resource is not economically recoverable at the present time as the methane is adsorbed in coal seams, trapped in methane hydrate (clathrate), or dissolved in saline groundwater. Shallow accumulations of methane pose the threat of potentially increasing the rate of global warming. Enhanced gas recovery by subsurface CO2 injection (CO2-EGR) is potentially an option for greenhouse gas control, combined with use of potential energy resources. CO2 injection coupled with extraction of coal mine methane and coal-bed methane may make emission-free closed circuit power plants possible. Coal seams in Japan and under the seabed around Japan could potentially adsorb about 10 Gtonnes of CO2 and in so doing displace 2.5 trillion cubic meters of coal-bed methane. About 12 Gtonnes of CO2 could potentially be sequestered in hydrate layers, displacing 6 trillion cubic meters of methane hydrate under the deep seabed around Japan. Similarly, about 26 Gtonnes of CO2 could potentially be sequestered in saline groundwater, displacing 6 trillion cubic meters of methane in sedimentary basins in Japan. CO2-EGR could potentially sequester a total of 48 Gtonnes of CO2 in and around the Japanese Islands, with the prospect of also having enhanced production of nearly 10 trillion cubic meters of methane. The extremely light isotopic compositions of carbon in methane suggest that methanogens formed many of the subsurface accumulations of methane-rich natural gas in the world. Chemolithotrophic methanogens form methane from CO2, thereby obtaining energy without sunlight under anoxic circumstances. Methanogens are often blamed for greenhouse gas emissions as they produce methane in organisms and in rice paddies, for example. However, application of CO2-EGR for production of subsurface biogenic methane displaced by sequestration of CO2 might result in enhanced carbon recycling. Present-day subsurface ecosystems are probably somewhat similar to ancient ecosystems adapted to exist in an anoxic CO2-rich atmosphere under high pressure and temperature. Biogenic methanogenesis is thought to occur even in deep basaltic aquifers offering the opportunity for deep subsurface biogeochemical carbon recycling utilizing CO2-EGR to produce enhanced sequestration of greenhouse gases accompanied by the development of potential new energy resources.


LNG spills on land are most likely to happen in dike/impoundment areas, introducing the need to consider effects of dike/impoundment walls on vapor holdup and dispersion. The DEGADIS and FEM3A models are approved for determination of vapor cloud exclusion zones in 49 CFR 193, but DEGADIS is limited to prediction of dispersion from area sources over flat, obstacle‐free terrain and is therefore not directly applicable to spills in dike/impoundment areas. However, FEM3A, which is a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model, is directly applicable. Before FEM3A was approved, ad hoc methods were widely used to determine input conditions for DEGADIS to estimate dispersion downwind of a dike system for such releases. Vapor holdup and mixing with air in a dike system have been studied in wind tunnel and field experiments, and the fallacy of using an overly simplistic estimation of the time and rate of vapor cloud overflow has been demonstrated. In some cases, these ad hoc methods have resulted in exclusion zone determinations that do not provide for public safety as intended by 49 CFR 193. This paper summarizes the current state of knowledge about this important vapor dispersion scenario, including key experimental data that address the question. Applications of FEM3A to determine exclusion zones for a hypothetical spill within a typical dike/tank configuration, as well as a shortcut use of FEM3A to describe vapor overflow from the same impoundment for use as input information for DEGADIS simulation of the dispersion downwind from the dike, are illustrated. © 2005 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog, 2005


This study was designed to investigate the prevalence and nature of peer sexual harassment among female Nigerian university students. It also examined the perception of students about peer sexual harassment and ascertained the coping mechanisms adopted by victims of peer sexual harassment. Participants consisted of 387 female undergraduate students selected by convenience sampling from three Faculties at the Obafemi Awolowo University. A self-constructed instrument with a test-retest reliability coefficient of 0.79 was administered on students to collect data on their experience and perception of peer sexual harassment as well as adopted coping strategies. The results of the study indicated that verbal harassment was the most frequent type of peer sexual harassment experienced by female students. Findings from the study also showed that most victims of peer sexual harassment did not report their harassment to authorities but adopted strategies that did not involve direct confrontation with their harassers. The study concluded that there was the need for a virile counselling programme in all Nigerian universities to stem down the incidence of peer sexual harassment and that such a programme should be targeted not only at victims but also at perpetrators of sexual harassment. Key Words: sexuality, sexual victimisation, sexual harassment, sexual oppression.


Introduction: Resilience and marital commitment can be considered as a protective factor for maintaining the relationship. On other hand, rumination is a psychological vulnerability factor that has negative effects on resilience and marital commitment. The present study was conducted aimed to predict marital dissatisfaction based on resilience, marital commitment, and rumination in couples seeking for separation.Method: The present study was a cross-sectional study in the form of correlational design. 170 women were selected using purposive sampling from all married women referred to the Dispute Resolution Council in Tehran. Data were collected using demographic checklist, structured clinical interviews, Couple Burnout Measurement, Resilience Scale, rumination questionnaire, and marital commitment scale. Data were analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression. Results: the results showed that triple components of commitment had a significant and indirect relationship with couple burnout (p< 0.05). Also, there was a significant indirect relationship between rumination with couple burnout and resilience with couple burnout (p< 0.05). Considering the Beta weight based on the first model showed that a standard deviation of change in rumination constituted 0.43 standard deviation of couple burnout. Also, beta coefficients in the second model indicated that a standard deviation of the simultaneous change in rumination dimensions and moral commitment would explain 0.43 and 0.312 standard deviations in couple burnout, respectively (all p's<0.01).Conclusion: These results indicate the role of psychological components in predicting the marital satisfaction and can have clinical applications in designing clinical interventions.


The invention relates to a method for controlling the active or reactive power output or input of an induction machine (1) in a coordinate system which is fixed for the winding. According to said method, a first controller (46-1) produces a first controller output variable depending on a nominal variable deviation of the effective power, and a second controller (46-2) produces a second controller output variable depending on a nominal variable deviation of the reactive power. The first and the second controller output variables are impinged upon with respective feedback variables which are functions derived from at least one time-dependent system variable of the induction machine. A voltage or a current of the induction machine is determined as the correcting variable, without further control, using at least the first and second controller output variables impinged upon by the feedback variables. The feedback variables are adapted to linearize the controlled system and allow restriction to merely two simple controllers, e.g. two PI controllers. The control method can for example be used in double-fed asynchronous machines.


The tenth-grade student will become a skilled communicator in small-group learning activities. The student will examine, analyze, and produce media messages. The student will continue development of vocabulary, with attention to connotations, idioms, allusions, and evolution of language. The student will read and analyze literary texts from a variety of eras and cultures. Attention will be given to the analysis of nonfiction texts. The student will critique the writing of peers and professionals, using analysis to improve writing skills. The student will continue to build research skills by crediting sources and presenting information in a format appropriate for content. Grammar knowledge will be expanded as the student presents, writes, and edits materials, applying the conventions of language. *The bodies of literature for grades 10, 11, and 12 are interchangeable and may be taught in any of these grades.*


This paper focuses on the creation of a single system for distribution to a team of developers. Oracle Form Builder are popular and made the function of project expansion easier and comparably faster to reduce costs and improve service levels for users. Design of administration system in client side is made available to employees to assist them in the performance of their job duties. Both Oracle Database and MySQL are strong relational database management systems that effectively run  great amounts of data. Oracle Database is a full distinct database engine that has successfully passed severe security exams and has excelled in performance benchmarks. With built-in backup for PL/SQL and Java. Oracle focusing on Java for next generation commerce applications.


Dilemmas of Regional and Local Development aims to identify, diagnose and evaluate various approaches towards regional and local socio-economic development. Over the course of the book, authors from 12 countries and four continents come together to review experiences and solutions related to regional development in a range of different economic, social and political systems. The first part of the volume focuses on the fundamentals of planning regional and local development, particularly focusing on theoretical solutions and development policy concepts. The second part is more applied, looking at practical instruments and solutions for shaping the local economy, and analysing effective development policy. This book will be of interest to economics, geography, politics, and planning scholars and researchers working on regional sciences and local development.... Download ebook, read file pdf Dilemmas of Regional and Local Development


Drawing from research in clinical mental health settings in the United States and Romania, this article considers "inactivity" as an object of study. While the "recovery movement" in the United States has attempted to combat inactivity among people with mental illnesses, many clinicians remain ambivalent, seeing inactivity both as problematic and as therapeutic. In Romanian psychiatric hospitals, inactivity is viewed as both the treatment for and the ultimate fate of people with mental illnesses. While anthropologists often study people who could be characterized as "inactive," anthropologists have rarely addressed the experience of inactivity, emphasizing instead "productivity." This Foucauldian impulse, I argue, obfuscates the lived realities of inactivity among many people.


A patient is described who developed thyrotoxicosis (Graves' disease) during immunosuppressive therapy for acquired autoimmune haemolytic anaemia. The fact that the two conditions may be associated should be recognised. Long-term immunosuppressive therapy does not prevent the development of immunoglobulins of IgG type postulated to be aetiologically involved in Graves' disease.


OBJECTIVE
Minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy (MIVAT) is a technically demanding procedure and requires a surgical team skilled in both endocrine and endoscopic surgery. A time consuming learning and training period is mandatory at the beginning of the experience. The aim of our report is to focus some aspects of the learning curve of the surgeon who practices video-assisted thyroid procedures for the first time, through the analysis of our preliminary series of 36 cases.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
From September 2004 to April 2005 we selected 36 patients for minimally invasive video-assisted surgery of the thyroid. The patients were considered eligible if they presented with a nodule not exceeding 35 mm in maximum diameter; total thyroid volume within normal range; absence of biochemical and echographic signs of thyroiditis. We analyzed surgical results, conversion rate, operating time, post-operative complications, hospital stay, cosmetic outcome of the series.

RESULTS
We performed 36 total thyroidectomy. The procedure was successfully carried out in 33/36 cases. Post-operative complications included 3 transient recurrent nerve palsies and 2 transient hypocalcemias; no definitive hypoparathyroidism was registered. All patients were discharged 2 days after operation. The cosmetic result was considered excellent by most patients.

CONCLUSIONS
Advances in skills and technology have enabled surgeons to reproduce most open surgical techniques with video-assistance or laparoscopically. Training is essential to acquire any new surgical technique and it should be organized in detail to exploit it completely.


Background: The radioactive seed localization (RSL) is used in impalpable breast cancer conservative surgery to assist the surgeon in accurately locating and excising the lesion site. This study aims to present recommendations about the RSL program implementation in health institutions that perform breast cancer conservative surgery with intraoperative localization. Methods: An extensive literature review was performed. It comprehends: the committee responsible for implementation of the program actions; description of the necessary multidisciplinary team; the radiological safety committee role; the facility licensing; professionals training; material and instrumentation associated with the technique; and seed tracking system. Results: 13 topics are presented. The Program Implementation Committee must be formed by leaders from each department. The committee assumes responsibility for evaluating the necessary processes and presenting the schedule for program implementation. Since the procedure is classified as a nuclear medicine procedure it requires licensing. The Professional Team Formation, Education, and Training is a priority and simulation exercises are necessary. The Materials and Instrumentation Associated with the Technique must be well-know by the team and they should practice using radiation detectors. The seed must be always tracked, from moment they are received to discard. An Inventory for Tracking Seeds is provided. The Radiological Safety Aspects such as the ALARA principle are presented. A full description for the Radiological Procedure for Placing the seeds, the surgical removal and the Specimen Handling in Pathology focusing on how to locate the seed and retrieve them. After removed, the seeds can be placed in storage to wait for full radioactive decay or be returned to the manufacturer. Conclusions: The procedure has the advantage to increase to 2 months the time between insertion of the seed and the surgical removal. Regular multidisciplinary team meetings during program development are important to create a realistic timeline, having briefing meetings after the first 1-5 RSL cases and having annual or biannual follow-up meetings to discuss any issues or incidents. Abstract Graphic Image Created by Macrovector, obtained in Freepik at https://br.freepik.com/fotos-vetores-gratis/oncologia.This graphical abstract shows everything that is necessary to implement the RSL technique and are discussed in this paper Highlights This study present recommendations for RSL program implementation in hospitals Was performed by an extensive descriptive and qualitative literature review Topics 1: Implementation Committee, Professional Team Training, Instrumentation Topics 2: Radiological Safety, Patient Consent, Radiological Process Topics 3: Surgical Procedure, Pathology, Seeds Disposal Completion


Do you pronounce the /r/ in 'arm'? Do you call a shelf a 'sheuf'? And what on earth is a 'hoddy-doddy'? There is extensive variation in English dialects: this is why your answers to such questions will allow this app to localize your broader dialect region on a map of England.

Did your home dialect change over time? Our algorithm is based on historical data from the Survey of English Dialects. If it guesses where you are from correctly, your home dialect has probably remained stable over the past decades. If the guess is far off, however, it is probably because of dialect change.

- Can we localize your dialect based on your pronunciation of 26 words?
- Record your dialect and listen to recordings of other users and to historical dialect recordings!
- Choose a pronunciation variant, e.g. 'sheuf', and discover where in England it is used...or choose a place and explore its dialect!


Animal breeding is the most important tool to improve milk productivity in dairy animals. Identification of better animals as parent for the next generation is the approach to generate high-producing animals. Genetic disease is the main problem in livestock sector. Complex vertebral malformation (CVM), bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency (BLAD) syndrome, bovine factor xi deficiency, deficiency of uridine monophosphate synthase (DUMPS), and bovine citrullinemia are some of the main genetic disorders, which should be studied in Holstein and its cross. Recent developments in biotechnology have made it feasible to reveal a large number of genetic polymorphisms at the DNA level. As a result, researchers have been encouraged to use them as markers in order to evaluate genetic basis for the observed phenotypic variability. The selection of genetically superior sires is of utmost importance for any successful breed improvement program as semen of sires is disseminated in various herds under progeny testing program. The investigations on mode of genetic improvement around the world indicated that proper genetic evaluation and selection of bulls bring about more than 75% of the actual genetic improvement.


The focus on reducing sexual offending has led to the development of risk assessment measures and schemes to predict reoffending, prioritize the allocation of treatment and supervision resources, and ensure public safety. However, different risk assessment approaches may not always have high agreement on the same individual. In light of the research indicating that ordinal risk rankings are most commonly used and reported in various risk communications, this study compares four risk assessment approaches, namely the Static-99R, Static-2002R, Sex Offender Risk Appraisal Guide, and SVR-20, in order to evaluate the disparities among the risk categories of these measures. The results indicate that there are disparities between all of the risk measures; but, many of these can be explained by structural differences and common overlapping dimensions in the measures. Possible explanations for and implications of the discrepancies, along with some guidance on determining which approach to use, are discussed.


Pain is unwanted, is unfortunately common, and remains essential for survival (i.e., evading danger) and facilitating medical diagnoses. This complex amalgamation of sensation, emotions, and thoughts manifests itself as pain behavior. Pain is a motivating factor for physician consultations1 and for emergency department visits and is regarded as a cause of almost one-third of primary care utililization.2 Pain has been defined as "an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage."3


This is the first history of German to bridge the gap between 'handbook' level and the more specialized work available only in articles. It offers students and teachers a treatment of the subject that is up to date, comprehensive and stimulating. After an initial discussion of problems of language change and theoretical approaches (structuralist, generative and sociolinguistic) the author proceeds to integrate internal and external linguistic history by using the novel technique of perspective shift: a different level of language is used to illustrate each period up to the seventeenth century. Thus the first chapter deals with the pre-German background and Chapter II analyses the phonology of this period. The third chapter treats sociolinguistic developments in later medieval German, and the fourth its morphology. The last two chapters, which concern the modern period, provide a synthesis of recent material which is not easily available. complex work published in articles. * Provides a synthesis of material on the recent history of German not available elsewhere. * Linguistic history is presented as a rewarding, stimulating, and interpretative process. * Using a new technique which makes for clarity and economy, the author illustrates each sociolinguistic period up to the seventeenth century by a different level of language.