Hyper-parameter optimization is crucial for pushing the accuracy of a deep learning model to its limits. However, a hyper-parameter optimization job, referred to as a study, involves numerous trials of training a model using different training knobs, and therefore is very computation-heavy, typically taking hours and days to finish.
 We observe that trials issued from hyper-parameter optimization algorithms often share common hyper-parameter sequence prefixes. Based on this observation, we propose Hippo, a hyper-parameter optimization system that reuses computation across trials to reduce the overall amount of computation significantly. Instead of treating each trial independently as in existing hyper-parameter optimization systems, Hippo breaks down the hyper-parameter sequences into stages and merges common stages to form a tree of stages (a stage tree). Hippo maintains an internal data structure, search plan, to manage the current status and history of a study, and employs a critical path based scheduler to minimize the overall study completion time. Hippo applies to not only single studies but multi-study scenarios as well. Evaluations show that Hippo's stage-based execution strategy outperforms trial-based methods for several models and hyper-parameter optimization algorithms, reducing end-to-end training time by up to 2.76X (3.53x) and GPU-hours by up to 4.81X (6.77x), for single (multiple) studies.


type="main"> We investigate the comovement among Case-Shiller Home Price Indices for 14 metropolitan areas between 1992 and 2008. We define the portion of this comovement deemed as fundamental (excessive) as the covariation that can (cannot) be attributed to common fundamental factors directly influencing real estate prices. We find that i) comovement among these markets considerably increased over the sample period, especially in the late 1990s; ii) this increase is mostly attributable to underlying systematic real and financial factors, consistent with a greater fundamental integration of those markets; and iii) excess comovement is a less important factor than commonly believed. We discuss the implications of these results for the evolution of U.S. real estate prices over the last two decades and the ongoing credit crisis.


N A T I O N A L H A R B O R , M D. — Bone mineralization was not significantly altered among 17 children receiving chronic proton pump inhibitor therapy, including 12 who were also using inhaled steroids. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are commonly prescribed for acid suppression in children with gastroesophageal reflux, sometimes for long periods. A significantly increased risk of bone fracture has been reported in adult patients receiving long-term PPI therapy ( JAMA 2006;296:2947-53), and chronic acid suppression has also been shown to impair calcium absorption, thereby promoting bone resorption (Am. J. Med. 2005;118:778-81). However, this pilot study is believed to be the first to look at bone mineralization or fractures in children on PPIs, Dr. Stephanie Willot said in a poster presentation at the annual meeting of the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition. The 17 patients (12 boys) had a mean age of 7.8 years (range 0.8-16.7 years). All had severe gastroesophageal reflux secondary to esophageal atresia and had received PPI therapy at a mean dosage of 2.0 mg/kg daily (1.0-3.2 mg/kg) for a mean of 2.6 years (0.6-11.3 years). Twelve of the children were also receiving chronic inhaled steroid therapy for pulmonary disease. Lumbar spine areal bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed by using dual x-ray absorptiometry and was compared with normative data. Volumetric BMD, a parameter that more accurately assesses BMD in patients with short stature, was also calculated in order to account for differences in bone size, said Dr. Willot of the division of pediatric gastroenterology at Sainte-Justine Hospital, University of Montreal, who conducted the study with colleagues from the division of pediatric endocrinology. No patient had a history of traumatic fracture. Five patients (29%) had a statural growth delay of less than –2 standard deviations for age. Among the 14 children older than 2 years, 5 (35%) had a body mass index less than the 10th percentile. No patient had a significantly low BMD, defined in the study as a z score less than –2 standard deviations for age. Although six patients (35%) had a z score BMD of less than –1 standard deviation for age, they all had normal volumetric BMD (ranging from –0.8 to 0.6 standard deviation), as did the other seven children who were older than 4 years of age, Dr. Willot and her associates reported. In a follow-up interview, Dr. Willot said that, given the small sample size of the study and its cross-sectional nature, its implications are limited to the finding that BMD is not low in children on chronic PPI therapy. "We cannot conclude about the association between PPI and fracture risk. In the future, we would like to follow our cohort to assess BMD in a longitudinal way to establish if z score could decrease during the course of PPI treatment." Dr. Willot stated that she had no personal financial disclosures. ■ Vit D, Testosterone Improve Joint Pain Scores


Broth cultures infected with ureaplasmas for 48 hrs were unable to support further growth of reinoculated ureaplasmas even when reconstituted with fresh ureaplasma medium. The apparent toxicity of spent cultures was ascribed to the presence of non viable ureaplasmas still containing a fully active urease since all the procedures adopted to abolish or reduce the urease activity restored the ability of these spent cultures to support ureaplasma growth. However, if the cause of the steep decline phase of ureaplasma cells could be reasonably ascribed to the enzymatic activity of urease present in the dead cells, the reasons for the poor field and the low titers achieved by the organisms during the logarithmic phase of growth remain an enigma.


Exactly how should an excellent regulator intervene in the affairs of regulated organizations to ensure compliance (and arguably over-compliance) and facilitate enforcement? That question motivates this paper, which is about the "intervention strategies" used for compliance and enforcement rather than about "resource allocation." In the absence of any consensus as to what criteria an excellent intervention strategy should satisfy, I accept the convention that the principal criteria for choosing an intervention strategy should be effectiveness and efficiency. In the majority of cases, the effectiveness of any intervention in reaching a social or economic target (i.e., reducing social or economic harm) and its efficiency (i.e., doing so at least cost) will be the primary concerns of policymakers. Legitimacy or political acceptability, including positive public perceptions of the regulator, is also important. As will become apparent, though, regulators inevitably confront trade-offs that must be made between all of these criteria.


Abstract: Background: Crosstalk between tumors and their microenvironment plays a crucial role in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, there is little existing information about the key signaling molecule that modulates tumor-stroma crosstalk. Methods: Complementary DNA (cDNA) microarray analysis was performed to identify the key molecule in tumor-stroma crosstalk. Subcutaneous xenograft in vivo murine model, immunoblotting, immunofluorescence, and real-time polymerase chain reaction using HCC cells and tissues were performed. Results: The key molecule, regenerating gene protein-3A (REG3A), was most significantly enhanced when coculturing HCC cells and activated human hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) (+8.2 log) compared with monoculturing HCC cells using cDNA microarray analysis. Downregulation of REG3A using small interfering RNA significantly decreased the proliferation of HSC-cocultured HCC cells in vitro and in vivo, and enhanced deoxycholic acid-induced HCC cell apoptosis. Crosstalk-induced REG3A upregulation was modulated by platelet-derived growth factor ββ (PDGF-ββ) in p42/44-dependent manner. REG3A mRNA levels in human HCC tissues were upregulated 1.8-fold compared with non-tumor tissues and positively correlated with PDGF-ββ levels. Conclusions: REG3A/p42/44 pathway/PDGF-ββ signaling plays a significant role in hepatocarcinogenesis via tumor-stroma crosstalk. Targeting REG3A is a potential novel therapeutic target for the management of HCCs by inhibiting crosstalk between HCC cells and HSCs.


This paper presents an accurate estimation of signal activity at the internal and output nodes of static and domino CMOS combinational logic circuits. The methodology is based on a stochastic model of logic signals and takes correlations and simultaneous switching of signals at logic gate inputs into consideration. In static combinational logic synthesis, in order to minimize spurious transitions due to finite propagation delays, it is crucial to balance all signal paths and to reduce the logic depth. As a result of balancing delays through different paths, the inputs to logic gates may switch at approximately the same time. We have developed and implemented a technique to calculate signal probability and switching activity of static CMOS combinational logic circuits. Experimental results show that if simultaneous switching is not considered, the switching activities at the internal nodes can be off by more than 100% compared to simulation based techniques. In contrast, our technique is on the average within 2% of logic simulation results. On the other hand, domino circuits are free of spurious transitions. Based on the precharge scheme of domino circuits, a technique for estimation of signal activity is presented. The results are within 1% of logic simulation results.


An experimental study involving five independent lifting variables (namely weight, lift frequency, horizontal distance from the object, operator, and vertical distance) and their interactions was conducted using the Taguchi L27 design. Two responses—heart rate and oxygen uptake—were measured during each trial. To optimize both responses simultaneously, the signal‐to‐noise ratio was normalized to obtain a multi‐response signal‐to‐noise (MRSN) ratio for each trial. The MRSN ratio was analyzed using analysis of variance to identify the optimal condition in which both responses were optimized at the same time. Lift frequency was found to be the most significant factor, and operator and horizontal distance were found to be least significant. The empirical modeling equation was developed and can be used to predict the response values during experimental trials involving similar work conditions. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


Raniganj coalfield, one of the crucial mining zones in India in terms of its age and production, mostly extracts coal by surface mining method depending on the under-surface. This paper presents a review on Raniganj coalfields regarding the environment, soil, vegetation, forests, habitat diversity, water quality, water regime, aquatic ecosystems, livelihood and human health. This study shows with the help of various researches that under surface coal mining is susceptible to coal fire and land subsidence while surface mine adversely affects the water, land and ambient air. Both processes are accountable for the life of the local community in the mine adjacent regions. Contrastingly mine excavating, directly and indirectly, enhances the local economy and job opportunities but negatively affects the natural and social behaviour of the local inhabitants. Coal that meets more than 60% of energy in India nevertheless needs technologies for the extraction of coal in a cleaner and more efficient manner.


Alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) is a hepatic stress protein with protease inhibitor activity. Recent evidence indicates that ischemic or toxic injury can evoke selective changes within kidney that resemble a hepatic phenotype. Hence, we tested the following: i) Does acute kidney injury (AKI) up-regulate the normally renal silent AAT gene? ii) Does rapid urinary AAT excretion result? And iii) Can AAT's anti-protease/anti-neutrophil elastase (NE) activity protect injured proximal tubule cells? CD-1 mice were subjected to ischemic or nephrotoxic (glycerol, maleate, cisplatin) AKI. Renal functional and biochemical assessments were made 4–72 hrs later. Rapidly following injury, 5–10 fold renal cortical and isolated proximal tubule AAT mRNA and protein increases occurred. These were paralleled by rapid (>100 fold) increases in urinary AAT excretion. AKI also induced marked increases in renal cortical/isolated proximal tubule NE mRNA. However, sharp NE protein levels declines resulted, which strikingly correlated (r, −0.94) with rising AAT protein levels (reflecting NE complexing by AAT/destruction). NE addition to HK-2 cells evoked ∼95% cell death. AAT completely blocked this NE toxicity, as well as Fe induced oxidant HK-2 cell attack. Translational relevance of experimental AAT gene induction was indicated by ∼100–1000 fold urinary AAT increases in 22 AKI patients (matching urine NGAL increases). We conclude: i) AKI rapidly up-regulates the renal cortical/proximal tubule AAT gene; ii) NE gene induction also results; iii) AAT can confer cytoprotection, potentially by blocking/reducing cytotoxic NE accumulation; and iv) marked increases in urinary AAT excretion in AKI patients implies clinical relevance of the AKI- AAT induction pathway.


Of 1728 patients attending a regional drug and alcohol clinic, 202 were considered at risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV). Forty-nine per cent (99/202) agreed to testing-67% (67) were HCV antibody positive. Age and a history of needle sharing was the significant factor associated with positive HCV status. Patients on methadone maintenance medication were more-likely to have been HCV positive, but significantly (p = 0.005) less likely to have shared needles in the previous year. Seventy-three per cent (49/67) attended for follow-up at a "liver clinic". Fifty per cent were infected with genotype 1a. Eighteen patients were biopsied and all were abnormal, ranging from mild hepatitis to severe fibrotic hepatitis. Attendance for medical follow-up was poor, which emphasizes the importance of preventative measures such as methadone maintenance programmes for reducing the spread of HCV.


The production of amyloid β peptide (Aβ) is an important process relating to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease (AD). It is widely known that the sequential cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP) by β- and γ-secretases lead to the production of Aβ. However, the precise regulatory mechanism for Aβ production remains unclear. We have established a CRISPR-Cas9 based screening system to identify the novel regulators of Aβ production. Calcium and integrin-binding protein 1 (CIB1) was identified as a novel potential negative regulator of Aβ production. The knockdown and knockout of Cib1 significantly increased Aβ levels. In addition, immunoprecipitation showed that CIB1 interacts with the γ-secretase complex but did not alter its enzymatic activity. Moreover, Cib1 disruption specifically reduced the cell-surface localization of the γ-secretase complex. Finally, the single-cell RNA-seq analysis in the human brain demonstrated that early-stage AD patients have lower neuronal CIB1 mRNA levels compared to healthy controls. Taken together, we have shown that CIB1 controls the subcellular localization of γ-secretase, resulting in the regulation of Aβ production, suggesting the involvement of CIB1 in the development of AD pathogenesis.


Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) afflict many people across the world; thus, understanding the pathophysiology of CVD and the biomechanical forces which influence CVD progression is important in the development of optimal strategies to care for these patients. Over the last two decades, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging has offered increasingly important insights into CVD. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling, a method of simulating the characteristics of flowing fluids, can be applied to the study of CVD through the collaboration of engineers and clinicians. This chapter aims to explore the current state of the CMR-derived CFD, as this technique pertains to both acquired CVD (i.e., atherosclerosis) and congenital heart disease (CHD).


Automatic profiling for users and postings can help law enforcement units cluster and classify users and postings effectively so that potential problematic users and postings can be identified easily. A core problem in this application is to come up with effective profiles and a good measure to compare the similarity of two profiles. In this paper, we investigate an existing keyword-based user profiling scheme and identify its limitations. Then, we propose an improved version of it and demonstrate that our proposed version is more consistent than the existing approach with respect to the observed replied rates of a user to a posting based on the similarity of the profiles.


Using Foucault's Methods provides a clear, straightforward guide to those who want to apply the work of Foucault to their own field of interest. The authors employ an accessible style to encourage readers to engage with Foucault's work (and other Foucaultian thought) by tackling those questions and issues that students often raise about his work. They are then shown the many ways Foucault's methods have been used in the analysis of social order. The book is organized around the following themes: history, archaeology, genealogy and discourse as the cornerstones of Foucault's methods; and science and culture as important objects of analysis for those using Foucault's methods. Using Foucault's Methods will dispel any possibility that Foucault might be seen as a mystical and impenetrable writer and enable the reader to understand how Foucault's contribution to social thought can be applied and open up possibilities for researchers to use Foucault rather than merely discuss him.


The increasing demands for water for multiple purposes combined with climate change challenges are leading to water scarcity and quality deterioration. Portugal is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and therefore, the use of reclaimed waters has been identified as a suitable alternative water source for non-potable uses, such as irrigation, to overcome water shortages. In the last two years, new policies for water reuse have been approved at the Portuguese and European levels. The legal frameworks are supported in the international guidelines developed by the International Organization for Standardization, namely for irrigation, urban uses and health risk assessment. In this way, all reuse projects must follow a fit-for-purpose approach, i.e., the water quality needs to meet the requirements of its specific end-uses without compromising public health or the surrounding environment, and all reuse projects must conduct a risk assessment for health and the environment. Quantitative, qualitative or semiquantitative models can be used. Although a quantitative assessment may be desirable, these models tend to be complex and present high uncertainty. Furthermore, these usually require extensive data which are often not available. Accordingly, this study intended to develop a conceptual model to deal with the risk assessment for water resources, namely surface and ground waters. A semi-quantitative approach was employed for the risk characterization, using empirical qualitative judgment to assess the relative importance of hazards, exposure routes, scenarios and barriers in place. The use of a strategic assessment allows the quality standards that meet the needs of each project to be validated. The developed model was applied to a case study to illustrate its applicability.
Keywords: water reuse, water resources, risk assessment, semi-quantitative model, compounds of emerging concern


Good right ventricular function is one of the major determinants of long-term outcomes in patients with implanted left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). In the present study, a computer model was developed to assess the impact of mitral regurgitation on right ventricular workload at different levels of LVAD support. Left ventricular assist device was simulated by a model of HeartMate II. The computer model has shown that the regurgitant volume of the mitral valve falls significantly only after the systolic pressure in the left ventricle decreases, which occurs at higher LVAD revolutions per minute (RPM) when there is no ejection through the aortic valve. However, at low LVAD RPM, the pressures in the left atrium and the pulmonary artery decrease significantly, despite a small decrease in regurgitant volume. According to the computer model, LVAD support decreases mitral regurgitation. Furthermore, regurgitant volume has a smaller impact on the right ventricular afterload when compared with a heart without LVAD support.


The current pandemic (Covid-19) disrupted businesses and challenged societies all over the world. In particular, destinations are being urged to keep the attraction and value of their products and services in post-pandemic tourism recovery programs. Drawing from a qualitative study based on published reports and research, and using participant observation, this research analyses the situation of tourism in Akaroa, South Island of New Zealand, during the coronavirus outbreak and the first stages of the recovery process. Results of the research show that while crisis management led to the closure of the sector due to strict social and travel restrictions, the confinement measures adopted by the government and the progressive reopening of the country has resulted in a shift from "cruise tourism" into a gradual return of "domestic tourism". This paper argues that local peoples' perspectives must be kept in mind when developing a tourism recovery strategy. This case study also shows that because of the nature of changing working environment, there is potential to change local demography in the form of an increase in residents putting pressure on local infrastructure. In a rural and marine environment, local stakeholders' attention is required to focus on "quality" of tourism rather than "quantity". Nature-based resources and outdoor activities are expected to be the critical ingredients for tourism's immediate and sustainable future.


With the advantages of high reliability, high power density and long life, small nuclear power reactor has become one of the most excellent space power options in the space missions. TOPAZ-II is the most mature space nuclear power reactor based on thermionic conversion. In this paper, the thermo-physical and transport properties of NaK-78 and heat transfer correlations for liquid metals are implemented into the RELAP5 code. The modified RELAP5 has already been accessed to analyze the thermal-hydraulic characteristics of the space reactor cooled by NaK-78. A RELAP5 model including the core, TFEs, radiator, coolant loop and volume accumulator is developed. Temperature reactivity feedback, TFE emitter, TFE collector, moderator and the reactivity insertion effects of control drums and safety drums are modeled in the point reactor kinetics equations with six-group delayed neutrons. To V&V the integrated TOPAZ-II system model, the steady state is simulated and analyzed. The steady state calculated results are in good agreement with the designed values. On the basis of V&V, a hypothetical reactivity insertion accident is simulated and analyzed. During the accident, the automatic control system is assumed to be malfunctioned, 0.01$ positive reactivity is introduced for 500s and then control drums start to rotate inward. The maximum temperatures of fuel and emitter are below the melting temperature, respectively. The maximum temperature of coolant is 940K with 160K margin from boiling. With the rotating of control drums, the reactor reaches critical again.


Skeletons are well-known descriptors used for analysis and processing of 2D binary images. Recently, dense skeletons have been proposed as an extension of classical skeletons as a dual encoding for 2D grayscale and color images. Yet, their encoding power, measured by the quality and size of the encoded image, and how these metrics depend on selected encoding parameters, has not been formally evaluated. In this paper, we fill this gap with two main contributions. First, we improve the encoding power of dense skeletons by effective layer selection heuristics, a refined skeleton pixel-chain encoding, and a postprocessing compression scheme. Secondly, we propose a benchmark to assess the encoding power of dense skeletons for a wide set of natural and synthetic color and grayscale images. We use this benchmark to derive optimal parameters for dense skeletons. Our method, called Compressing Dense Medial Descriptors (CDMD), achieves higher-compression ratios at similar quality to the well-known JPEG technique and, thereby, shows that skeletons can be an interesting option for lossy image encoding.


Abstract Cloud–Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) are used to assess trade cumulus cloudiness in three versions of the Integrated Forecasting System of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. The observations are recast onto the model grid, and two simple threshold criteria for cloud-top height and cloud fraction are used to identify grid points containing trade cumulus clouds. The cloud fraction and cloud-top height distributions of the sample populations are then compared. Results show that all versions of the model overestimate the frequency of occurrence of trade cumulus clouds but underestimate their cloud fraction when present. These effects partially compensate. Cloud-top heights are overestimated in model cycles using the modified Tiedtke parameterization for shallow convection, but are in very good agreement with observations when the dual mass flux parameterization is introduced.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the expression and clinical significance of Endostatin, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fibroblast growth factor basic-2 (FGF-2) in the laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC).

METHODS
The expression of Endostatin, VEGF and FGF-2 in 50 specimens of LSCC, 40 specimens of para-carcinoma and 10 specimens of normal laryngeal tissues were examined by Flow cytometry.

RESULTS
Compared with para-carcinoma and normal laryngeal tissues, the expression level and positive rate of Endostatin, VEGF, FGF-2 in LSCC were different in statistics (P < 0.05); the expression level and positive rate of endostatin, VEGF, FGF-2 in LSCC are obviously higher than those in para-carcinoma and normal laryngeal tissues. The expression level and positive rate of Endostatin, VEGF, FGF-2 were no difference in statistics between para-carcinoma and normal laryngeal tissues (P > 0.05). The expression level and positive rate of Endostatin, VEGF, FGF-2 in LSCC were associated with lymphoid metastasis and clinical stage, not associated with age, sex and clinical group.

CONCLUSIONS
Endostatin, VEGF and FGF-2 play important role in the incidence, development and prognosis of the LSCC.


BACKGROUND
Postoperative complications after esophagectomy can lead to considerable patient discomfort and prolonged length of hospital stay. Lack of physical activity can be one of the independent risk factors for postoperative complications because physical activity is closely related to physical function. The objective of this study was to determine whether physical activity among esophageal cancer patients decreases their risk of postoperative complications after esophagectomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
We investigated 51 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed resectable esophageal cancer who were scheduled to receive esophagectomy between January 2009 and November 2011. Demographic, clinicopathologic, and treatment information were recorded and physical function was measured. The last 7-days short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to assess physical activity before the operation. Stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine whether preoperative physical activity is related to the risk of postoperative complications.

RESULTS
Male gender [OR 18.6, (95%CIs: 1.2-284.4); P=0.035], 3-field lymph node dissection (OR 9.6, [95%CIs: 1.4-66.6]; P=0.022), low-level physical activity (OR 28.3, [95%CIs: 3.5-227.7]; P=0.002), and preoperative comorbidities [OR 5.9, (95%CIs: 1.1-31.5); P=0.037] were found to be independently associated with postoperative complications.

CONCLUSIONS
The present study shows that low-level physical activity, preoperative comorbidities, and 3-field lymph node dissection are independent and significant risk factors for postoperative complications after esophagectomy. Although further study is required, maintaining high-level physical activity preoperatively may decrease the risk of postoperative complications.


The present invention relates to an electronic equipment chamber and a battery package comprising the same. An electronic equipment chamber according to an aspect may comprise an electronic equipment chamber board on which at least one electronic component of a current sensor, a relay, and a fuse is arranged; a control unit arranged at the center of the electronic equipment chamber board to control the electronic component; and a plurality of busbars arranged along the outer side of the electronic equipment chamber board at a distance from the control unit and connected to the electronic component. A battery package according to an aspect may comprise a battery pack electronic equipment chamber comprising an electronic equipment chamber board on which at least one electronic component of a current sensor, a relay, and a fuse is arranged and a plurality of busbars arranged along the outer side of the electronic equipment chamber board and connected to the electronic component; and a battery module provided on one side of the electronic equipment chamber, the battery module comprising a first inner battery terminal and a second inner battery terminal for applying a flowing electric current to the busbars.


Purpose: Monitoring overweight and obesity is important for evaluating targeted interventions, preventing or reducing overweight and obesity. The purpose of this research was to confirm the hypothesis H: A if there are or not statistically significant differences between the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants and the weight status of the respondents in Kosovo. Methods: Participants were 200 male-female persons, of which 100 male-female persons were from urban areas, 100 male-female persons were from rural areas, the material was collected during March 2021. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated from self-reported height and weight. Results: The results show that the percentage of underweight was 1.2%, normal weight 30.8%, overweight 46.5%, and obesity included 21.5% of respondents. More males than females were overweight (54.6% vs 37%) of the women surveyed. Category >60 years - older people were significantly more overweight (53.4%) and obese (34.1%) of respondents than middle-aged and younger adults. Retired people make up a larger share of overweight and obesity (82.0%) of respondents, compared to employees, unemployed and students. People from urban areas were significantly more overweight than people in rural areas (49.3 vs 33.3%) and obese (23.3 vs 13.3%). Conclusion: In accordance with the research objective and hypotheses, we also obtained the research results show that the hypothesis H: A is proved which shows that there are statistically significant differences between the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants and the weight status of the respondents in Kosovo.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association of the haplotype of the solute carrier family 11 member 1 (SLC11A1) gene with susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis in Tibetans.

METHODS
Four polymorphisms of the SLC11A1 gene [5' (GT)n, INT4, D53N, and 3' UTR] were investigated by denaturalization high performance liquid chromatography and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in 140 patients (the patient group) and 139 PPD-positive healthy controls (the control group) of the Tibetan nationality from June 2004 until January 2005. The relationship between the haplotype and susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis in these patients was studied by chi2 test, and the linkage disequilibrium as well as the haplotype were analyzed by the SHESIS software.

RESULTS
The haplotype frequencies of 5'(GT)9/INT4 G, 3'UTR TGTG/D543N G, 3'UTR TGTG del/D543N A were 64.8% (181/280), 76.6% (215/280), 12.0% (34/280) among the patients and 78.1% (217/276), 84.4% (235/276), 6.4% (18/276) among the controls. 5' (GT)9/INT4 G, 3'UTR TGTG/D543N G haplotypes rendered a lower risk (chi2 = 11.026, P<0.01, chi2 = 6.547, P<0.05, respectively), but 3'UTR TGTG del/D543N A haplotype a higher risk (chi2 = 6.547, P<0.05) for tuberculosis.

CONCLUSIONS
5' (GT)9/INT4 G, 3'UTR TGTG/D543N G and 3'UTR TGTG del/D543N A haplotypes of the SLC11A1 gene may be associated with the susceptibility of the Tibetan population to pulmonary tuberculosis.


A new perspective excitation systems of powerful synchronous generators, which are operating in the common energetic system, are considered, their classification and function diagram are presented. The differential equations system, transfer functions and structural diagram of excitation system, as the automatic regulation object, were obtained according to general presumptions. In the cases of deep crashes in the energetic system the mathematical description of electromechanical transient processes are very complicated and limited. In that cases the efficiency of the excitation current regulator one can be increased by using the combined algorithms of the simplex search, when the local aim function in the optimization motion approximate by separabell equation. According to obtained expressions the synthesis diagram with adaptation and optimization blocks is created. The proposed adaptive synthesis diagram enables to eliminate the error of search direction. Ill. 9, bibl. 16 (in Lithuanian; summaries in Lithuanian, English and Russian).


The article reveals the possibilities of interactive tests created using multimedia technologies for the development of students' intellectual skills. It also considers the use of interactive methods in the classroom as a factor in increasing students' interest in the subject, which leads to increased skills in using information technology, time is saved, and more opportunities are created for consolidating and controlling knowledge. The study identified the main competencies for the use of interactive tests for the development of intellectual skills of students of pedagogical higher educational institutions


Zhou Zuoren's "Human Literature" view which was raised by Zhou before and after "May 4th" Movement, was influenced by Christianity and therefore had a scent of "humanitarian love". Zhou Zuoren was then dazzled by humanitarian love, but there was still a distance between his thought and Christian thought. This article aims at a discussion about the distance in the spirit of Zhou Zuoren's "Human Literature" view and Christian humanitarianism which is represented by Fyodor Dostoevsky, and about the reasons for Zhou's departure from the education of the masses.


We compute the quark–gluon vertex in quenched lattice QCD, in the Landau gauge using an off-shell meanfield O(a)-improved fermion action. The complete vertex is computed in two specific kinematical limits, while the Dirac-vector part is computed for arbitrary kinematics. We find a nontrivial and rich tensor structure, including a substantial infrared enhancement of the interaction strength regardless of kinematics.


Microglial cells form a network of potential antigen presenting cells throughout the nervous system. Much progress has recently been made towards a better understanding of their immunological properties. This study examines their activation in 2 models of T cell‐mediated autoimmune inflammation of the nervous system, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and its peripheral counterpart, experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN), induced by the transfer of antigen‐specific T cell lines. In both models microglial activation occurs at early stages of the disease. Activated microglial cells show an increased expression of MHC class I and II antigens. In EAE ultrastructural analysis revealed that MHC antigen expression is pronounced on perivascular microglial cells, suggesting this cell population may be important for antigen presentation at a site close to the blood‐brain barrier. In contrast to EAE, the microglial reaction in EAN occurs at sites remote from the inflammatory response in the peripheral nerve, not only in the spinal cord but also in the terminal projection fields of primary sensory neurons in the lower brainstem. This early microglial activation in EAN suggests that a rapid and remote signaling mechanism can operate following peripheral inflammation. Immuno‐electron microscopy revealed that activated microglial cells are also involved in the synaptic deafferentation of spinal cord motoneurons during autoimmune reactions. The rapid involvement of microglial cells in experimental autoimmune inflammation of the nervous system further points to their role as the main intrinsic immuneffector cell population of the central nervous system.


The experiment was conducted in the years 2008–2010 at the Experimental Station of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences in Zamośc, University of Life Sciences in Lublin. The following factors were analysed in the experiment: I. Cultivation method – sole cropping and strip cropping, which consisted in the cultivation of three plants: dent maize, common bean, and spring barley, in adjacent strips with a width of 3.3 m; II. Weed control methods – mechanical and chemical. The subject of the research was weed infestation of the 'Celio' variety of dent maize, the 'Aura' variety of common bean, and the 'Start' variety of spring barley. Weed infestation of the crops was assessed two weeks before harvesting by determining the species composi- tion as well as the number and dry weight of weeds. The dominant weed species in maize, common bean and spring barley were Echinochloa crus-galli, Chenopodium album and Galinsoga parviflora , constituting from 58% to 70% of the total number of weeds. Strip cropping clearly reduced the number of weeds per unit area in all the cultivated species and dry weight of aboveground parts produced by them in common bean and maize crops. The limiting effect of strip cropping on the weed infestation parameters was particularly clear in combination with the mechanical weed control method.


Radical copolymerization of N-phenylmaleimide (PhMI) with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and ethyl methacrylate (EMA) was studied. Synthesis of copolymers was carried out in p-dioxane at 65 °C with 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile as the initiator. Copolymer compositions were calculated by the elemental analysis and 1H NMR spectroscopy methods. Monomer reactivity ratios for the studied monomer pairs were determined using Kelen–Tudos and non-linear regression methods. PhMI monomer was found to have substantially different copolymerization constants in the radical copolymerization of the two monomer systems. Poly(PhMI-co-HEMA) possessed higher values of intrinsic viscosity and higher thermal stability, as well as showing specific melting endo-peaks in the DSC curves. These observations were explained by the effect of H-bonding between hydroxyl and imide groups with the formation of complexed macromolecular structures. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry


Within a wide range of best management practices for stormwater management in urban areas, there has been an increasing interest in source control measures. Source controls such as low-impact development (LID) techniques are potentially attractive as retrofit options for older developed areas that lack available land to implement conventional measures such as stormwater management ponds. Hence, distributed urban drainage models requiring detailed representation of developed drainage areas should be developed to accurately estimate the benefits that LIDs may provide. This study (1) presents a two-stage classification process on a high-resolution WorldView-2 image, and (2) demonstrates how to use the extracted land cover information in the subsequent hydrologic modelling and assessment of different LIDs' performance. The proposed two-stage classification method achieved an overall accuracy of 80.6%, whereas a traditional pixel-based achieved 68.4% in classifying the same urban area into six land cover classes. From the classification results, the hydrologic properties of micro-subcatchments were imported in the United States Environmental Protection Agency Storm Water Management Model to assess the performance of LIDs. A reduction of run-off volume 18.2% and 37.1% was found with the implementation of porous pavement and bioretention, respectively, in a typical low-rise residential area located in the city of San Clemente, California, US. The study demonstrates the use of high-resolution remote sensing image to aid in evaluating LID retrofit options, and thus benefits in situations where detailed drainage area information is not available.


Fires of Faith: Catholic England under Mary Tudor. By Eamon Duffy. (New Haven: Yale University Press. 2009. Pp. xiv, 249. $28.50. ISBN 978-0-30015216-6.) Few other living historians have had as much of an impact on the history of the English Reformation as Eamon Duffy. He boldly challenged many longheld assumptions in Stripping of the Altars (New Haven, 1992), proposing that England did not turn into a Protestant nation very eagerly, as had been argued for generations. Opposition to Duffy's Altars was intense. Chief among the charges leveled against Duffy was that of stacking the evidence- that is, hand-picking facts that would support his thesis and ignoring those that would not. Later Duffy offered a counter-blast to his critics, The Voices of Morebath (New Haven, 2001), an exhaustively detailed microhistory of a Devonshire village during the most critical years of the Tudor dynasty. In Voices, as in Altars, Duffy contested the notion that the English Reformation was a smooth and well-received transition. Now, another nine years later, Duffy continues his revisionist campaign in Fires of Faith, a reassessment of the reign of England's most vilified monarch, Mary Tudor, otherwise known as Bloody Mary. Revising the history of Mary's reign is perhaps the greatest challenge yet to be tackled by Duffy, not just because of her role as chief villain in English history and in the dominant Reformation narrative but also because of the indisputable fact that she did execute 284 Protestants during her five-year reign. In our day and age, such unenlightened cruelty seems so unacceptable that it is next to impossible to attribute any positive qualities to those responsible for it. Undeterred by such obstacles, Duffy offers as serious a challenge to the dominant Reformation narrative in this book as in his previous ones. Acknowledging up front that the burning of so many men and women was reprehensible, Duffy quickly moves on to contest a series of longstanding myths about Mary's reign. In the process, ironically, a historian who has never viewed Reformation iconoclasm in a positive light proves himself a master iconoclast. One by one, he gleefully strikes down conventional assumptions. First, he argues that the Marian persecution was not a tactical error in the struggle against Protestantism. Appalling and inexcusable though it was, Mary's reign of terror did manage to cripple seriously the Protestant movement. Moreover, it should not be assumed that all of her efforts were in vain, or that England had already become irreversibly Protestant. Popular support for Mary's policies was intense, Duffy insists. The Marian persecution cannot be ascribed solely to the queen and her rabidly Catholic clergy, he claims, for the persecution of Protestants was also enthusiastically embraced by lay people and especially by magistrates, informers, executioners, and spectators who assumed their roles with evident relish. At the very top, he also argues, cruelty was never the objective: Cardinal Reginald Pole seemed even more tolerant than many in his flock, favoring conversion over punishment. Duffy tackles a long list of long-held assumptions about Mary's reCatholicizing efforts, building up to his central argument: Queen Mary was no mere reactionary, he avers, but a true reformer who in many ways was leagues ahead of the Council of Trent. …


Abstract To develop governance that is both effective and ethical, scholars study the causes and effects of unethical behavior as well as the policies and systems that thwart such behavior. However, there is much inconsistency and incoherence in the demarcation of different types of unethical behaviors. To enable conceptual clarity and improved measurement we present here a validated typology of unethical behaviors – that is, integrity violations. Differentiating between such types of violations not only reveals insightful variation in the frequency and acceptability of these violations but also shows how leadership styles and organizational culture have varying effects on these different unethical behaviors.


Multi-junction silicon light emitting devices (Si LED's) were designed and realised by using standard 1.2 micron and 2 micron CMOS processes with a bipolar capability and with no modifications to the processes. The designs were optimised to increase the power conversion efficiency, quantum conversion efficiency, intensity of emission and also the uniformity of emission. The devices emit light of several nW per 5 to 10 mA at 4-30 V in the 450 to 850 nm wavelength range. All the devices operated with at least one pn junction in the field emission or avalanche breakdown mode. Quantum conversion efficiencies of up to 1/spl times/10/sup -5/ have been measured which is two and a half orders to three orders of magnitude higher than previously published values for light emission from Si p-n avalanching junctions. Some directional light emission characteristics were also observed. The developed devices are viable for on-chip electro-optical applications and also for high speed chip-to-environment electro-optical applications.


The aim of this work is to compare algebraic multigrid preconditioned GMRES methods for solving the nonsymmetric and positive definite linear systems of algebraic equations, that arise from a space–time finite element discretization of the heat equation in 3D and 4D space–time domains. The finite element discretization is based on a Galerkin–Petrov variational formulation employing piecewise linear finite elements simultaneously in space and time. We focus on a performance comparison of conventional and modern algebraic multigrid methods for such finite element equations, as well as robustness with respect to the mesh discretization and the heat capacity constant. We discuss different coarsening and interpolation strategies in the algebraic multigrid methods for coarse grid selection and coarse grid matrix construction. Further, we compare algebraic multigrid performance for the space–time finite element discretization on both uniform and adaptive meshes consisting of tetrahedra and pentachora in 3D and 4D, respectively. The mesh adaptivity occurring in space and time is guided by a residual based a posteriori error estimation.


In recent years, numerous advancements occurred in the renewable energy sector. One of the promising area where usage of solar energy has been implemented is the solar-powered boat. Solar powered boat or all electric boat brings the opportunity to decrease greenhouse emissions and shift towards utilization of renewable and sustainable energy. In this paper the research work carried out regarding the design for deployment of solar energy on boat has been presented.


William C. Aird, MD, ed 1856 pages. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press; 2007. $285.00. ISBN 0-521-85376-7 It is a diaphanous film of tissue, only 1 cell layer in thickness, that lines the lumen of our vessels. Despite its apparent fragility, the endothelium exerts powerful influence over the tone, structure, and interaction of the vessel with circulating blood elements. Furthermore, the endothelium is a semipermeable membrane that regulates the passage of water, minerals, and nutrients to the surrounding tissue. In response to hemodynamic forces, the endothelium releases factors that normalize shear stress and cyclic strain by inducing vasoconstriction or vasodilation of the underlying smooth muscle. In response to tissue injury or invasion by pathogens, the endothelium expresses adhesion molecules and chemokines that recruit inflammatory cells for self-defense and repair. Because it has a major role in vascular homeostasis, tissue viability, and immunity, the endothelium when dysfunctional can cause or contribute to disease. Over the last few decades, an acceleration of research insights about the endothelium has illuminated a new therapeutic vista: endothelial biomedicine. Dr William Aird reveals to us the landscape of this new field in his masterpiece Endothelial Biomedicine. This comprehensive and authoritative tome is the work of many contributors, but the hand of the editor is seen in every chapter. Furthermore, in the choice of authors and topics and in the organization of the material, there is reflected a creative talent with great intellectual depth and breadth. In addition to thoughtful contributions from well-established vascular biologists, Dr Aird has recruited chapters from superb scientists outside of the field, whose perspectives provide fresh insights. Indeed, by inducing other scientists to think about the endothelium, this project has generated new knowledge and ideas. Like a Gothic cathedral, this is a work of art that is the result of the intense labor of many artisans with meticulous attention to detail. The work is built on a strong foundation, with superbly written chapters on the cellular and molecular biology of the endothelium, as well as vascular development and angiogenesis, vascular physiology, signaling, and transcription. The work is buttressed by chapters on model systems, comparative vascular genomics, and relevant aspects of metabolism, coagulation, and inflammation. The overarching theme of endothelial dysregulation and its role in pathobiology is gloriously expanded (50 chapters) to a great and luminous space that can accommodate the interests of specialists from many fields including cardiology, endocrinology, immunology, nephrology, and vascular medicine. This scholarly work is illuminated by the hopeful rays emanating from a section on diagnosis and treatment of endothelial disorders. Five years ago, endothelial-targeted management was more light than substance. However, a transfiguration of the field is under way. The translation of vascular biology into vascular medicine is most recently and dramatically manifested by the antiangiogenic therapies that have become standard practice for cancer and age-related macular degeneration. Some rococo embellishments to the work may seem extravagant and unrelated. Nevertheless, these are well-crafted and amusing pieces. Not 1 but 3 chapters are included on the semantics of the endothelium, in particular how metaphors may inform or constrain. For example, the endothelium as Teflon lining, as cobblestone paving, or as a gatekeeper invokes images that may assist our visualization of its functions but may also distort our view of the tissue. Chapters on cardiovascular adaptations at the extremes of vascular biology may seem esoteric to the casual reader, but for the vascular specialist, these cases are of interest and provocative. For example, the ice fish has colorless blood because it lacks hemoglobin. This anomaly has coevolved with a number of cardiovascular adaptations including greater capillary density, which reduces oxygen diffusion distance. Such cardiovascular adaptations are precedents for new therapeutic approaches for critical limb ischemia, including angiogenic growth factors and molecular modulators of oxygen diffusion. With respect to venous disease, consideration of how the giraffe subverts the effect of gravity on its circulation is instructive. In addition to having an inelastic fascia in its lower limbs, the endothelial permeability of the leg vasculature is significantly reduced, protecting it from the edema that might otherwise be induced by the hydrostatic pressure of gravity (intravascular pressures can reach 300 to 400 mm Hg in the limb arteries and almost 200 mm Hg in the leg veins of the animal). Could we someday induce regional modifications in venous or lymphatic endothelium to reduce the symptoms of venous insufficiency or lymphedema? In another fascinating example, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel may provide clues to a vascular puzzle. Great heterogeneity exists in individual manifestations of atherosclerosis. Patients with identical cardiovascular risk factors often develop disease affecting different vascular beds or perhaps no disease at all. What are the genetic factors that may predispose the development of hemodynamically significant disease in one vascular bed rather than the other? The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel spontaneously develops femoral arterial disease, manifested by localized "intimal thickening with breaks in the internal elastic lamina . . . and organized thrombus." Are there genetic determinants for this predisposition to peripheral arterial disease in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel? Could these genetic determinants be operative in humans? Thus, seemingly arcane observations in other species may have implications for human peripheral arterial and venous diseases. I had difficulty putting this book down (and with 1800 pages, I had difficulty picking it up as well). This is an entertaining, thought-provoking, and exhaustive scholarly work. It must be read by those who aspire to become vascular biologists, and it is a useful reference for those in related fields. With this comprehensive, clever, and artfully written masterpiece, Dr Aird has defined himself as the Tolstoy of vascular biology and medicine.


Third‐generation intracoronary stents allow deployment at higher pressures, possibly obviating the need for high‐pressure postdilations and also possibly reducing restenosis. This study evaluated the ability of the Tristar Coronary Stent System to produce optimal stent deployment as measured by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and quantitative coronary angiography in 46 patients. Optimal stent deployment was defined as minimal luminal area > 80% of the average of the proximal and distal reference luminal areas. After initial deployment, 74.5% of stents met criteria for optimal stent deployment by IVUS, with an average stent expansion ratio of 89.6%. Ten stents (18.2%) were postdilated. Four patients (8.7%) had a major adverse cardiac event, one patient died, one patient had a myocardial infarction, and two patients had target vessel revascularization at 6 months. The Tristar stent system produces optimal deployment without the need for routine postdilation and results in optimal clinical outcomes. Cathet Cardiovasc Intervent 2002;57:142–147. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


To increase the capacity of the optical disc, the shortening in the wavelength of the laser diode and the increase of the numerical aperture of the lens have been attempted for several years. Unfortunately, the efforts have generated adverse effects of comatic aberration caused by disc tilt. To solve this problem, a few detection and compensation methods of disc tilt have been proposed for random access memory (RAM) discs. However, no clear approach has been taken yet in the case of read only memory (ROM) disc. In this paper, we propose a method to detect the radial tilt in a high-density ROM disc using differential phase detection (DPD) signals generated by an 8 divided photodetector. The developed radial tilt servo with a 3-axis lens actuator compensates the detected radial tilt. Its effects on the tracking servo which arise when the actuator rotates are introduced. Finally, the feasibility of the proposed method is verified through experiments on a high-density ROM.


Thesis submitted in part fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy (Community Psychology) in the Department of Psychology at the University of Zululand, 2006.


A 3-month-old infant with severe tetralogy of Fallot underwent percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty. After the successful dilatation, the balloon could not be deflated completely and the partial deflated balloon was totally peeled off from the catheter at the junction of inferior vena cava and right common iliac vein when we attempted to move it out. The skin of the balloon was successfully retrieved with a snared guidewire without sequel.


Background. An absolute 10-year reduction of locoregional/distant relapse and 15-year reduction of mortality from breast cancer (BC) after breast conserving surgery by radiotherapy (RT) are about 16% and 3.8%, respectively (EBCTCG, Lancet 2011;378:1707–16). Similarly, after radical mastectomy absolute 5-year reduction of local recurrence by RT is 17% and 15-year BC mortality was reduced by 5.4% (EBCTCG, Lancet 2005,366:2087–2106). Predictive factors of response to RT are less frequently investigated compared to predictive factors for systemic therapy. The ideal model for researching the predictive value of markers is a neo-adjuvant setting. We have analyzed genes associated with different response to RT using neo-adjuvant model in locally-advanced (LA) BC patients (pts). Patients and methods . This retrospective analysis included LA non-inflammatory BC pts treated with preoperative (P)RT alone with a total dose of 45 Gy in 15 fractions every second day to the breast and regional lymph nodes. Radical mastectomy was performed 6 weeks after PRT to all pts and adjuvant systemic therapy was administered as per protocol. Response to PRT was classified as pathological complete response (pCR) if there is no evidence of tumor in the breast after mastectomy, partial response (PR) if regression of tumor was >30%, and no response if regression was Results . We have identified a group of 134 LABC pts treated with PRT between 1997 and 2000, which was the routine practice at that time according to the protocol for diagnosis and treatment of BC. Fourteen FFPE tumor samples, 7 from responders to PRT and 7 from non-responders to PRT, were collected for gene expression profile analysis. Unsupervised clustering analysis (Pearson correlation, un-centered metrics) over top 20% most variable genes, revealed clear separation of non-responders and responders. Unsupervised clustering analysis of paired pre- and post-PRT samples indicating small differences in expression profile in response to PRT within non-responders that were clustering together, unlike responders that were separated in the unsupervised analysis showing grater differences in their gene expression. We have found 98 genes significantly differentially expressed [Fals Discovery Rate (FDR) Conclusion: The strength of these results is that, although obtained on a small number of pts, these tumours have been exposed only to RT without systemic therapy administered either previously or concomitantly with PRT. Further confirmatory research of potentially RT sensitive/resistant genes is warranted. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P4-04-13.


Tray dryers are very commonly used in food processing industries. In tray dryers or compartment dryers, the material, which may be lumpy solid or a pasty solid is spread uniformly on metal tray to a depth of 10 to 100mm. There are several drawbacks in the traditional drying method, such as it is time consuming operation, qualitative loss in food is very high and sometimes proper drying of food material may not be possible in this drying method and reduction of moisture content to a certain safe limit becomes a difficult job. The major drawbacks of convection dryer are higher drying time, uneven drying and comparatively low capacity. Moreover, the increasing rate of fuel consumption in agriculture has made it necessary, not only to save energy by intensifying the drying process, improving design etc. but also using different techniques for drying process to reduce drying time and increase product quality. The infrared assisted drying can be a solution to all these problems.


ABSTRACT Language-impaired children have been shown to exhibit a variety of post-sentence comprehension deficits. Comprehension, however, may also be assessed as it develops rather than after it has occurred. The present investigation compared the real-time language processing abilities of language-impaired and normal children using a word recognition reaction time paradigm. Children's reaction times across three word positions in three sentence type conditions were measured. Results showed that the language-impaired children used linguistic context to facilitate word recognition, but were slower to do so than their normally developing peers. The results were interpreted to suggest that language-impaired children are less proficient than normal children at using their linguistic knowledge to develop linguistic representations of sentence meaning. An on-line retrieval deficit or deficient connections among processing units (e.g., Rumelhart & McClelland, 1986a, 1986b; Waltz & Pollack, 1985) are suggested as likely sources of the language-impaired children's language processing difficulties.


Detailed analyses of teleseismic surface waves and body waves from the Guatemala earthquake of February 4, 1976, show the following: (1) Left lateral displacement along a vertical fault with a strike varying from N66°E to N98°E is consistent with the teleseismic data. (2) The seismic moment was 2.6 × 10^27 dyn cm. The directivity of the surface wave radiation indicates an asymmetric (1:2.3) bilateral faulting with a total length of 250 km. In modeling the displacement a rupture velocity of 3 km/s was used, and the fault curvature was included. (3) If a fault width of 15 km is assumed, the average offset is estimated to be about 2 m. This value is about twice as large as the average surface offset. (4) Although the observed directivity suggests a uniform overall displacement along the fault, the body wave analysis suggests that the earthquake consists of as many as 10 independent events, each having a seismic moment of 1.3–5.3 × 10^26 dyn cm and a fault length of about 10 km. The spatial separation of these events varies from 14 to 40 km. This multiple-shock sequence suggests that the rupture propagation is jagged and partially incoherent with an average velocity of 2 km/s. (5) The average stress drop estimated from surface waves is about 30 bars, but the local stress drop for the individual events may be significantly higher than this. (6) The complex multiple event is a manifestation of a heterogeneous distribution of the mechanical properties along the fault, which may be caused by either asperities, differences in strength, differences in pore pressure, differences in slip characteristics (stable sliding versus stick slip), or combinations of these factors. (7) This complexity has important bearing on the state of stress along transform faults and is important in assessing the effect of large earthquakes along other transform faults like the San Andreas.


. Zygon and the Center for Advanced Study in Religionand Science have exhibited two foci: the theoretical, concernedwith questions of cosmology and human nature, and the practical, concerned with issues of morality and ritual. These foci overlap, but in recent years interest in the practical has increased. This hasimplications for science-religion dialogue: rather than simply dis-cussing theoretically points of identity, similarity, and differencebetween science and religion, focus on the practical leads to exa-mining how each functions in its own way to inform moral life.Increased interest in the practical is commendable, but theoreticalconcerns should not be excluded.


Land use information plays important role not only in social-economic development but also in scientific research area. With the development of the Information Technology, remotely sensed images provide main data sources for land use information and knowledge extraction in real time. While there are lots of land use classification systems in the world facing to different research or application purposes. And with the crossing of multi-disciplines and expanding of the research area, more and more land use classification systems are designed. This brings the difficulties for land use data setspsila integration, exchange and sharing under different classification systems. The problem faced to land use classification systems are similar with the problem of metadata standards in geographic information data management field. While ISO Metadata Standard 19115 designed by ISO TC 211 provides a perfect solution for geographic data integration, exchange and sharing. Enlightened by the ISO 19115 metadata extensible model, the paper brings forward the land use extensible classification framework. The framework is composed of 3 tiers, i.e., land use core classes, corpora classes and application profile classes. The core and corpora classes are derived from the main international land use classification systems in the world. Semantic exchange mechanism between core classes and other main classification in the world is designed supported by information techniques. Extension principle and methods are designed in this framework. This ensures many application classification profiles can be extended from the core classes and corpora classes easily.


Why do countries join environmental agreements? What determines the success or failure of an environmental agreement? In this thesis we look at the determinants of participation in environmental agreements, paying special attention to the role played by domestic interest groups and the quality of institutions. To answer our research questions, we assembled the largest participation data set in the literature. This data set contains both global and regional agreements. Unlike previous data sets, it identifies the potential members of every treaty. This allows us to correct the identification bias subsisting in previous works. In this thesis we use a multilevel survival model to study the determinants of participation in environmental agreements. Our methodological approach introduces a number of improvements over previous empirical works, in particular with reference to the treatment of unobserved heterogeneity. It is also the first time a Bayesian technique (MCMC) is used in the estimation of participation models.

We expand the traditional framework of analysis with a study of the implementation stage of treaties. In this respect, we study five different variables that capture how a country fares in terms of environmental policies. It is the first time a study of participation is conducted jointly with the analysis of domestic policies. This framework yields interesting conclusions on the determinants of international cooperation and their final impact on environmental commitments. Our findings show that environmental lobbying has a positive effect on participation in environmental agreements, while the effect of industrial lobbying is statistically insignificant. This unexpected result is robust to changes in specification and proxies used. We reveal that similar results for industrial lobbying had been obtained in previous empirical studies. However, this relationship has never been investigated in detail. We advance an explanation based on the lobbying preferences of environmental and industrial interest groups. The explanation is tested on domestic policies; the results show that a dichotomy exists in the way environmental and industrial pressure is exerted. Environmental influence focuses on treaty participation choices and other normative governmental measures. On the contrary, industrial lobbies prefer to target the implementation stage of environmental agreements, especially the measures that are more rewarding in economic terms. We also find evidence that institutions play a vital role in fostering participation in environmental agreements, and that interest groups tend to be more influential when the quality of institutions is lower.

The study draws a number of policy suggestions. We stress the capacity of regional agreements to deliver higher participation rates than global agreements. We also highlight the importance of securing the participation of key players in the initial years to promote adherence to the agreement. Finally, we illustrate how our model can be used to generate probabilities of joining environmental agreements. The content of this thesis is relevant to treaty negotiators and any entity that has an economic or private interest in environmental agreements.


We use a qualitative, explorative study to examine the role played by board members' cognitive frames in the adaptation of governance models in U.S. and Dutch not-for-profit hospitals. Relying on frame analysis, we identify four frameworks that influenced how board members perceived their role in the adaptation of governance models. We then describe how these frameworks shaped how board members perceive three areas of governance: conception of board, interaction between the teams, and relationship with other stakeholders. We contribute to literature on the adaptation of governance models by revealing cognitive frameworks that influence how board members perceive the role of boards in the adaptation process. We also find that studying board members in two countries provides additional information on how "taken-for-granted realities" can constrain the individuals' acts of framing while applying governance principles.


Deviance at the international level is poorly understood and under-theorized. This paper endeavors to foster a deeper understanding of deviance in international relations (IR) scholarship. Following the work of earlier critical scholars (Nincic 2005; Wagner et al. 2014) I draw extensively on sociology and criminology, where there are well-developed theories of deviance, albeit at the level of individual offenders. Both literatures investigate persistence and desistance in criminal behaviour and share the background assumption that criminality and deviance are subjective and socially constructed. The notion of deviance as constructed was extensively deliberated in social labeling theory, a central theoretical framework in sociology which posits that labels, particularly when negative or stigmatizing, influence the behaviour of the individual that is labelled. Crucially, social labeling theorists observed that labels can actually promote subsequent deviance, effectively creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. In 1 keeping with these findings, I ask, What are the implications of stigmatizing social practices on states? More specifically, does being cast as a 'deviant' through stigmatizing social practices promote subsequent deviance? I derive four observable implications from the sociology literature that describe how a 'selffulfilling prophecy' may unfold: (1) by affecting the state's self-concept, (2) by limiting the state's opportunities, (3) by provoking a defensive reaction, and (4) by promoting differential justice. Using Iran's nuclear programme from the 1970s to the 1980s as a case study, I find support for all four mechanisms, and suggest that international responses to perceived norm transgressions or "acts of deviance" can indeed perpetuate self-fulfilling prophecies and engender further or sustained deviance. Despite the inherent limitations in ascertaining the motivation of state leaders, social labeling theory proves to be a promising framework for further research into deviant states. Robert K. Merton, "The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy," The Antioch Review 8, no. 2 (1948): 193– 1 210, https://doi.org/10.2307/4609267. iii


In order to evaluate the efficacy of liposomes as a drug carrier for atherosclerotic therapy, a pharmacokinetic analysis of the uptake of liposomes by macrophages and foam cells in vitro and their distribution to atherosclerotic lesions in mice was carried out. In brief, liposomes of three particle sizes (500, 200 and 70 nm) were prepared, and the uptake of liposomes by these cells in vitro and the aortic distribution following intravenous administration to atherogenic mice were examined. The internalization rate constant calculated by measuring uptake and binding was size-dependent in both types of cells in vitro. The aortic clearance (CL(a)) was size-independent in atherogenic mice and the CL(a) of 200 nm particles was the highest. Surprisingly, the aortic distribution in vivo did not correspond with the internalization to macrophages and foam cells in vitro. These results suggest that there is an optimal size for the distribution of liposomes to atherosclerotic lesions.


We have studied the effects of nearby objects on the read range of several types of RFID tags, and the impedance, pattern, and radiative efficiency of antennas that closely emulate the tag structures, using measurements and simulations. We find that the main reason for the decrease in read range at perpendicular incidence in close proximity to metals or dielectrics (such as water) is the decrease in electric field near the surface required to meet the boundary conditions. Detuning of the antenna plays an important role only when the tag is very close to the object. All tags tested show similar qualitative behavior, but significant quantitative distinctions in performance are observed for differing antenna designs.


Objective More empirical research is needed to disentangle the phenotypes of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and cluster C personality symptomatology (CCPD), as both show similarities in their clinical presentation. We explored personality and psychopathology dimensions as conceptualized in contemporary dimensional taxonomies (i.e., hierarchical taxonomy of psychopathology; HiTOP) in adults with ASD without intellectual disability operationalized by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF). Method Applying secondary analytic processes using clinical data, we cross-examined the MMPI-2-RF profiles of adults with ASD (n = 28) compared to adults with Cluster C personality disorders (CCPD; n = 28) and a control group (n = 28) by conducting nonparametric tests and assessing effect sizes. Results The profiles of the ASD and CCPD groups evidenced to be similar, and both average clinical profiles diverged from the average control group profiles by elevated levels of demoralization, internalizing, and somatization symptomatology. There were small differences between the average profiles of adults with ASD and adults with CCPD. Additional research using dimensional measures of psychopathology could elucidate the dimensional phenotypes of ASD and CCPD. Conclusions Based on the results in this study, the MMPI-2-RF may not meaningfully discriminate between the two clinical presentations, with the exception of various externalizing scales.


Crime rates are generally decreasing and governments in Australia (as elsewhere) have committed to reducing recidivism. However, incarceration rates of certain groups continue to rise, including Indigenous and racialised peoples, those experiencing poverty, mental health issues, addiction, homelessness and people with cognitive disability. A large proportion are in custody for minor offences and/or not yet sentenced; however, political leaders have continued to defend their detention on the grounds of risk to community safety. The sudden drop in people incarcerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, without a commensurate rise in crime rates, highlighted the degree to which incarceration rates are a matter of policy decisions. For a time, public health priorities dominated criminal legal policies. Evidence on the social determinants of health that people experiencing social, economic, political and environmental disadvantage are more likely to experience poorer health outcomes has led to acceptance globally that public health policies must address systemic factors and not just focus on individual behaviour. In this article, we propose that a conceptual framework of the social determinants of justice could valuably inform efforts to reduce the criminalisation and incarceration of targeted and disadvantaged groups.


Multiple shoots were induced on cotyledon explants of in vitro grown seedlings of Blepharispermum subsessile DC, cultured on MS medium supplemented with various combinations and concentrations of BAP, IBA and GA 3 . The highest regenerative response was observed on medium containing 2.5 mg/l BAP where shoot buds initiated after 12 days of inoculation and about 32 shoots were produced in 30 days time. Addition of GA 3 played a key role in leaf expansion and elongation of shoot buds. Addition of the auxin IBA to the induction medium resulted in more callus proliferation rather than shoot bud induction. The elongated shoots were transferred to root induction medium consisting of half strength MS supplemented with IAA, NAA and IBA. Highest rooting response (90%) was recorded in ½ MS supplemented with 1.0 mg/l IAA. Acclimatized plants were maintained in polybags with garden soil for future reintroduction program to their natural habitat. Plant Tissue Cult. & Biotech. 26(2): 255-266, 2016 (December)


In the present scenario, Opinion mining or Sentiment analysis is used to identify user's view. It is a process of judgment and evaluation to extract subjective information from a text file or a text document. The important task of opinion mining is to extract the emotions according to the polarity and neutrality of text. Social networking websites like Twitter, Linkdin and many more provide the facility to user to share their thoughts via text messages i.e. updating post and status. In order to analyze the above scenario, Text classification is used and therefore is an important part of opinion mining. Various techniques such as Naive Bayes theorem for classification of emotions into different classes based on hierarchical classification of text, CBTA (machine learning), Smooth filtering, Distributed clustering are used for text mining. Hybrid techniques like Mining of text using Naive Bayes with Genetic optimization has been also introduced which have several benefits. After surveyed the different methods of opinion mining and conclude that Hybrid technique gives better results as compare to other techniques.


The roles of frequency dispersion, nonlinearity, and laminar viscosity in the evolution of long waves over distances of many wavelengths in constant water depth are investigated with numerical solutions of the Boussinesq equations. Pronounced frequency doubling and trebling is predicted, and the initial evolution to a wave shape with a pitched-forward front face and peaky crests is followed by development of a steep rear face and a nearly symmetric crest/trough profile. While reducing overall energy levels, laminar viscosity acts to prolong cycling of third moments and to inhibit the onset of disordered evolution characteristic of nonlinear, inviscid systems. Preliminary laboratory results show some qualitative similarities to the numerical simulations. However, these laboratory experiments were not suitable for detailed model-data comparisons because dissipation in the flume could not be accounted for with either laminar or quadratic damping models. More carefully controlled experiments are required to assess the importance of viscosity (and the accuracy of the Boussinesq model) in the evolution of nonlinear waves over distances of many wavelengths.


The cultivation of
komatsuna (Brassica rapa L. Nothovar)
was carried out hydroponically using a nutrient film technique (NFT) system
inside a greenhouse, applying a quartz porphyry (QP) treated nutrient solution.
Quartz porphyry is a natural mineral containing many substances that easily
ionize with water to improve water quality. Different growth attributes of
komatsuna such as leaf length, leaf width and plant fresh weight increased in
plants that received QP treated nutrient solution. The coefficient of variation
was smaller for QP treated nutrient solution plants when compared to the
control. High light intensity, long duration of solar radiation and higher
temperatures in the summer (July-Aug.) promoted plant growth compare to winter
(Dec.-Feb.). In contrast, plants grown in the winter accumulated more fresh
weight compare to plants grown in the summer. Results also showed that the
rapid exchange of ion in the nutrient solution due to the QP treatment enabled
the solution to maintain the ion balance, and thus plants grew uniformly and
vigorously. The cations Na+ and Ca2+ and the anions Cl- and were dominant and made the media saline. There
was a decrease of Na+ ion concentration in the recirculating
nutrient solution (NFT) due to ion exchange by QP. Results suggest that water treatment with QP could be used for production of high quality vegetables.


Lime reactivity toward desulfurization was examined by blending lime with pozzolanic additives namely fly ash, bottom ash, and zeolite. The reactivity was tested in a pH‐stat apparatus. Apart from lime to additive ratio, other important operating conditions, namely, temperature, solid to liquid ratio, and stirring speed, were varied accordingly using the design expert's design of experiments. Central cubic design was used to investigate linear, quadratic, cubic, and cross‐product effect of these operatives. Sorbents made from lime‐zeolite blends were found to have the highest reactivity followed by fly ash then bottom ash. These results were confirmed through sorption capacities of the best sorbents using a fixed bed reactor. BET surface area analysis of the best sorbents indicated that surface area improvement is the root cause of improvements in reactivity and sorption capacities. Temperature had the largest effect on reactivity. The other operative's effect varied from one additive to the other. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 32: 75–83, 2013.


Flavonoids are important components of 'functional foods', with beneficial effects on cardiovascular function. The present study was designed to investigate whether licochalcone D (LD) could be a cardioprotective agent in ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and to shed light on its possible mechanism. Compared with the I/R group, LD treatment enhanced myocardial function (increased LVDP, dp/dt max, dp/dt min, HR and CR) and suppressed cardiac injury (decreased LDH, CK and myocardial infarct size). Moreover, LD treatment reversed the I/R-induced cleavage of caspase-3 and PARP, resulting in a significant decrease in proinflammatory factors and an increase in antioxidant capacity in I/R myocardial tissue. The mechanisms underlying the antiapoptosis, antiinflammation and antioxidant effects were related to the activation of the AKT pathway and to the blockage of the NF-κB/p65 and p38 MAPK pathways in the I/R-injured heart. Additionally, LD treatment markedly activated endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and reduced nitric oxide (NO) production. The findings indicated that LD had real cardioprotective potential and provided support for the use of LD in myocardial I/R injury.


Abstract The steady operation of a turbocharged diesel direct injection (TDI) engine featuring a variable speed ratio mechanism linking the turbocharger shaft to the crankshaft is modelled in the present study. Key parameters of the variable speed ratio mechanism are range of speed ratios, efficiency and inertia, in addition to the ability to control relative speed and flow of power. The device receives energy from, or delivers energy to, the crankshaft or the turbocharger. In addition to the pistons of the internal combustion engine (ICE), also the turbocharger thus contributes to the total mechanical power output of the engine. The energy supply from the crankshaft is mostly needed during sharp accelerations to avoid turbo-lag, and to boost torque at low speeds. At low speeds, the maximum torque is drastically improved, radically expanding the load range. Additionally, moving closer to the points of operation of a balanced turbocharger, it is also possible to improve both the efficiency η, defined as the ratio of the piston crankshaft power to the fuel flow power, and the total efficiency η*, defined as the ratio of piston crankshaft power augmented of the power from the turbocharger shaft to the fuel flow power, even if of a minimal extent. The energy supply to the crankshaft is possible mostly at high speeds and high loads, where otherwise the turbine could have been waste gated, and during decelerations. The use of the energy at the turbine otherwise waste gated translates in improvements of the total fuel conversion efficiency η* more than the efficiency η. Much smaller improvements are obtained for the maximum torque, yet again moving closer to the points of operation of a balanced turbocharger. Adopting a much larger turbocharger (target displacement x speed 30% larger than a conventional turbocharger), better torque outputs and fuel conversion efficiencies η* and η are possible at every speed vs. the engine with a smaller, balanced turbocharger. This result motivates further studies of the mechanism that may considerably benefit traditional powertrains based on diesel engines.


A charged-particle manipulator was designed and fabricated with an integrated imaging camera allowing real-time in-situ monitoring of trapped particle motion even when the trap device is under motion or rotation. The trap device was made of two co-axial electrically conductive tubes with diameters of 5.5 mm and 7 mm for the inner tube and outer tube, respectively; the imaging camera with its optical fiber bundle was integrated within the tubular trap device to realize a single instrument functioning as a manipulator. Motion of suspended microparticles of 3 μm to 50 μm in diameter can be monitored using the integrated camera regardless of the trap device orientations. This manipulator provides capability of controlled manipulation of trapped particles by tuning the operating conditions while monitoring the feedback of real-time particle motion. Imaging of suspended particles was not interrupted while the manipulator was translated and/or rotated. This integrated manipulator can be used for charged particle transport and repositioning.


Objectives To compare the outcomes between autograft and allograft reconstruction in patients with PCL deficiency. During the extraction of data and its comparison and interpretation in the development of this meta-analysis, the lack of standardisation in patient follow-up with regards to length of follow-up, modalities measured, and reports of adverse events were notable. Many studies were thus excluded due to failure to meet preset inclusion criteria. The subsequent data analysis therefore became limited in its translation towards guiding clinical and surgical practice. The development of a standardised pre and post-operative assessment and follow-up criteria will not only benefit patients, but will also ensure that future systematic reviews conducted will carry a higher impact towards guiding clinical practice. Method Medline, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched from January, 1980 until December 1 st, 2016 to identify all relevant articles. Clinical outcomes including International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), Tegner and Lysholm scores, joint laxity and posterior tibial displacement were evaluated. Dichotomous outcomes were pooled into odds ratios while continuous outcomes were pooled into weighted mean differences (MD) using random effects meta-analysis. Results We conducted a systematic review looking at outcomes of isolated PCL reconstruction comparing autograft vs allograft sources. Clinical outcomes including International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), Lysholm and Tegner scores, joint laxity, and posterior tibial displacement were evaluated. Amongst the 145 unique articles found through the screening process, 25 studies, with a combined patient population of 900, were deemed eligible for inclusion in this study. Post-operative improvement was observed regardless of graft source. Pooled findings revealed that autografts demonstrated a statistically significant post-operative activity as measured by Tegner scores (MD: 0.5, 95% CI 0.03, 0.9; p=0.04) and a reduced posterior laxity (MD: −1.2, 95% CI −1.6,–0.8; p<0.00001). Conclusions However, despite a statistically significant improvement, there is difficulty establishing a clinically significant improvement. This stems from the absence of a standardised guideline of measuring pre-operative and post-operative functions. One example is the inconsistent usage of IKDC scores between studies, a failure of reporting both pre and post-operative IKDC scores, and subjective reporting as either 'normal' or 'abnormal' rather than following a protocol. Thus, the development of a systematic approach to assess patients before and after operations, along with establishment of an agreed minimally clinical important difference will lend to more impactful data analysis and ease of generating guidelines.


Entity uncertainty is an unavoidable problem in modern enterprise databases, resulting from integration of data over multiple sources. In traditional warehousing, the administrator, during an ETL process, manually and laboriously resolves inconsistent data records to discover "true'' entities(customers, products, etc.) and identify their "correct'' attribute values. At any time point, however, the current entity resolution is merely a best guess, and OLAP query results based on this resolution are inherently imprecise. We propose a new approach that maintains the data in an unresolved state, and dynamically deals with entity uncertainty at query time. We enhance the traditional OLAP model to return not a single query answer, but rather upper and lower bounds on each OLAP aggregate. This approach avoids expensive entity-resolution processing, and serves to identify potential risks when making business decisions based on the results of OLAP queries. By focusing on bounds, rather than probability distributions, we can easily and efficiently process roll-up and group-by aggregation queries over all of the core aggregation functions. Moreover, our approach can be readily implemented in an existing RDBMS using SQL queries, and does not require the user to specify explicit probabilities for alternative entity resolutions. Experiments show that the overhead of our new OLAP functionality is small over a wide range of scenarios.


Though radiation pathology is discussed in many medical texts, it is usually given only cursory, general consideration or is related only to a single organ. This is the first complete consideration of tissue changes induced by radiation. While the author recognized the need, he failed to meet that need, and unfortunately, this book falls short of a worthy goal. The volume is organized into 12 organ-related chapters of which the first, "Acute Radiation Effects," makes up one third of the total work and includes hematopoietic and lymphoid changes, in addition to systemic effects. Included here are five case histories of nuclear accidents, with illustrations of tissue changes of acute radiation exposure. Then follow chapters that systematically discuss effects in the major organ systems. These chapters are profusely illustrated with photomicrographs; excellent line drawings are scattered through these pages and are particularly helpful for microanatomic explorations. The photomicrographs throughout are soft


In this work, we analysed the cavity length dependence of the internal, differential and power conversion efficiencies in AlGaAs/GaAs multiquantum well (MQW) lasers. We developed a theoretical model to calculate the threshold current and from it, the corresponding efficiencies. In this model we take into account a radiative process, and nonradiative mechanisms such as recombination from X and L valleys of the conduction band, Auger recombination, interface recombination and the carrier leakage over the heterostructure. Our modelling results for the threshold current are compared with the experimental data reported in the literature for different structures, showing a good agreement. We show that the internal and differential quantum efficiencies are greater in MQW lasers for all cavity lengths. In the case of the power conversion efficiency, it is higher only in MQW lasers than in their single quantum well counterparts for small values of cavity lengths.


In this letter, a novel power plane using an inductive S-bridged electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) is proposed for ultra wideband suppression of the ground bounce noise. The S-shaped bridge detouring unit cells effectively increase the power plane inductance. -30 dB stopband is realized from 220 MHz to 7 GHz. The stopband lower limit (220 MHz) of the proposed EBG has been greatly reduced from that (550 MHz) of L-bridged EBG. It is expected that the number of local decoupling capacitors for the power plane integrity is reduced using the proposed S-bridged EBG without the self resonance effect.


Range-Doppler (RD) processing is widely used in conventional inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) imaging. The unwanted translational motion of moving targets is compensated by envelope alignment and autofocus. For existing ISAR imaging algorithms, the scatterers' migration through resolution cells (MTRC) caused by the rotational motion is usually ignored. With the improvement of resolution or the increase of target size, MTRC cannot be neglected. In this letter, the keystone formatting algorithm developed in SAR is used for the MTRC compensation in ISAR. Before the keystone formatting, coherent processing must be performed on the raw phase history data. An effective approach is proposed for this kind of coherent processing. Numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the performance of the proposed approach.


This paper proposes a current-fed isolated bidirectional dc–dc converter (CF-IBDC) that has the advantages of wide input voltage range, low input current ripple, low conduction losses, and soft switching over the full operating range. Compared with conventional CF-IBDCs, the voltage spikes of the low-voltage (LV) side switches in the proposed converter can be eliminated without additional clamp circuits. The converter adopts the pulse width modulation plus hybrid phase-shift control scheme such that the bus voltage can match the output voltage by means of the transformer. Thus, the current stresses and conduction losses of the converter become lower. In addition, the practical zero voltage switching (ZVS) of the secondary-side switches can be realized by adjusting the phase-shift angle within the secondary side when in light load or no load condition. The operating principles and characteristics including the power transfer, root-mean-square (RMS) current, and soft switching are investigated in detail. Then the design guidelines of inductors are also given. Finally an experimental prototype with 30–60 V input and 400 V/2.5 An output is built to verify the correctness of theoretical analyses.


ABSTRACT Introduction We see a development in the field of long-acting products to serve patients with chronic diseases by providing benefits in adherence, efficacy, and safety of the treatment. This review investigates features of long-acting products on the market/pipeline to understand which drug substance (DS) and drug product (DP) characteristics likely enable a successful patient-centric, low-dosing frequency product. Areas covered This review evaluates marketed/pipeline long-acting products with greater than 1 week release of small molecules and peptides by oral and injectable route of administration (RoA), with particular focus on patient centricity, adherence impact, health outcomes, market trends, and the match of DS/DP technologies which lead to market success. Expert opinion Emerging trends are expected to change the field of long-acting products in the upcoming years by increasing capability in engineered molecules (low solubility, long half-life, high potency, etc.), directly developing DP as long-acting oral/injectable, increasing the proportion of products for local drug delivery, and a direction toward more subcutaneous, self-administered products. Among long-acting injectable products, nanosuspensions show a superiority in dose per administration and dosing interval, overwhelming the field of infectious diseases with the recently marketed products.


The above quote by Theodor Holm Nelson, the pioneer of information technology, states a deep interconnectedness among the myriad topics of this world. The biological systems are no exceptions, which comprise of a complex web of biomolecular interactions and regulation processes. In particular, the field of computational systems biology aims to arrive at a theory that reveals complicated interaction patterns in the living organisms, which result in various biological phenomenon. Recognition of such patterns can provide insights into the biomolecular activities, which pose several challenges to biology and genetics. However, complexity of biological systems and often an insufficient amount of data used to capture these activities make a reliable inference of the underlying network topology as well as characterization of various patterns underlying these topologies, very difficult. As a result, two problems that have received a considerable amount of attention among researchers are (1) reverse engineering of biological networks from genome-wide measurements and (2) inference of functional units in large biological networks (Fig 1.1).


We report the case of a 23-year-old woman who presented to our Psychiatry Unit with a complex psychiatric symptomatology, 6 years after suffering from a form of encephalopathy which was retrospectively and hypothetically labeled as autoimmune limbic encephalitis. Over the years, several psychopharmacological therapies had been initiated, but none of them led to substantial remission of symptomatology. During the first visit, symptoms were characterized by dysphoric mood with suicidal ideation, anxiety, delusional thoughts. Self-harm and psychogenic seizures with daily frequency were also reported. A therapy with slow-release lithium sulfate, lurasidone, and lorazepam was prescribed. After 6 months of treatment, psychopathological manifestations significantly improved.