Experimentally induced diabetic rats were treated separately with insulin and vanadate. The activities of hexokinase (HK) and glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G‐6PDH) were increased in reticulocyte hemolysate isolated from the diabetic rats and were restored to normal levels by insulin. The restoration was not detected in vanadate treated diabetic animals. The enzymes of glutathione metabolism namely glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione‐s‐transferase (GST) exhibited increases in their activities with diabetes and were restored to almost control values by insulin treatment. Vanadate given to diabetic animals further increased GPx, and GST. The level of superoxide dismutase(SOD) decreased in the reticulocytes of diabetic rats and catalase (CAT) was unchanged. Both CAT and SOD had normal values when the diabetic rats were treated with insulin and vanadate. It is proposed that vanadate may cause an increase in the activity of GR which may stimulate glucose transporters and glucose metabolism.


This paper describes a technique to detect, classify and locate faults on an underground cable system based on the principles of continuous wavelet transform (CWT). Due to the fault in the power system a high frequency current and voltage generates and propagate along the power. These generated signals contain a lot of information and can be used for fault detection and location. The high frequency components generated are extracted using the wavelet technique and analysis of the extracted signals is carried. The MATLAB simulink version 7.6 is used to model the underground cable network and faults at various locations are simulated. The resulting waveforms are subjected through a wavelet transform to extract the required signals for analysis. The results show that the wavelet transform is very effective to extract the transient components from the fault signals and detection and location of faults can be done accurately. In this paper three phase 11KV; 100km long cable is considered for the analysis purpose.


Abstract On Facebook, companies not only actively spread branded content themselves, they also encourage users to do so. Hence, persuasive messages blend into the stream of content, making it increasingly difficult for users to identify and cope with this covert advertising content. In an experimental study, we confronted users to disclosed advertisements; brand; and user-generated posts allowing us to discern effects on persuasion knowledge, affective reaction and, in turn, purchase intention. Furthermore, we manipulated viewer's attention to the posts. In line with the Persuasion Knowledge Model, we found that user-generated content did not trigger persuasion knowledge and a subsequent negative affect. Thus, user-generated content led to higher purchase intention compared to disclosed advertisement and brand posts. Surprisingly, participants' heightened attention decreased their negative affective reaction towards the advertisement post compared to the brand post. We conclude that policy makers should consider employing advertising disclosures for user-generated content.


Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), a subtype of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, is usually incurable with current therapeutic approaches and the clinical course displays considerable variability. Objective assessment of the efficacy of new and more tailored treatment strategies requires deeper molecular insights into the disease and more individual risk assessment. The molecular feature of tumor cell proliferation as measured by Ki-67 immunohistochemistry or, more precisely, by microarray-based gene-expression profiling, has been shown to be of strong predictive value in MCL. The recently proposed quantitative reverse transcription-PCR based five-gene model survival predictor is applicable to fresh-frozen and routinely obtained formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tumor tissues, and provides the potential to investigate its prognostic value in prospective clinical trials of MCL patients.


Magnetic torque τ and magnetostriction ΔL/L measurements were carried out in the spin gap system (CH3)2CHNH3CuCl3. The magnetic torque shows a cusp-like anomaly at the magnetic field Ha1with increasing the magnetic field, and the magnetostriction shows a kink at almost the same magnetic field. These results suggest that anomalous change in the magnetic torque is associated with the lattice distortion, and it is expected that the field-induced magnetic phase transition is not simple Bose-Einstein condensation in this system.


Ribavirin is widely used in the treatment for viral disease such as chronic viral hepatitis. Side effects limiting the use of the drug include haemolytic anaemia. If challenged by stimulators of haemolysis, erythrocytes may enter suicidal death or eryptosis, thus preventing the release of haemoglobin into circulating blood. Eryptosis is characterized by cell shrinkage and by cell membrane scrambling with phosphatidylserine translocation to the erythrocyte surface. Eryptosis may be triggered by increase in cytosolic Ca2+ activity ([Ca2+]i). This study explored whether ribavirin modifies [Ca2+]i and elicits eryptosis. Cell volume has been estimated from forward scatter, phosphatidylserine abundance at the erythrocyte surface from annexin V binding, haemolysis from haemoglobin release and [Ca2+]i from Fluo‐3 fluorescence. A 48‐hr exposure to ribavirin (≥8 μg/ml) was followed by a significant increase in [Ca2+]i, a significant decrease in forward scatter and a significant increase in annexin V binding. The annexin V binding after ribavirin treatment was significantly blunted but not abolished in the nominal absence of extracellular Ca2+. In conclusion, ribaverin stimulates eryptosis, an effect at least in part due to entry of extracellular Ca2+.


This paper briefly introduces the damage of check valve of the HP liquid ammonia pump in the urea plant,and put forward the solution.


MoS2 2D nanosheets (NS) with intercalated 0D quantum dots (QDs) represent promising structures for creating low-dimensional (LD) resistive memory devices. Nonvolatile memristors based 2D materials demonstrate low power consumption and ultrahigh density. Here, the observation of a photoinduced phase transition in the 2D NS/0D QDs MoS2 structure providing dynamic resistive memory is reported. The resistive switching of the MoS2 NS/QD structure is observed in an electric field and can be controlled through local QD excitations. Photoexcitation of the LD structure at different laser power densities leads to a reversible MoS2 2H-1T phase transition and demonstrates the potential of the LD structure for implementing a new dynamic ultrafast photoresistive memory. The dynamic LD photomemristive structure is attractive for real-time pattern recognition and photoconfiguration of artificial neural networks in a wide spectral range of sensitivity provided by QDs.


We present coupled stellar evolution (SE) and 3D radiation-hydrodynamic (RHD) simulations of the evolution of primordial protostars, their immediate environment, and the dynamic accretion history under the influence of stellar ionizing and dissociating UV feedback. Our coupled SE RHD calculations result in a wide diversity of final stellar masses covering 10 ≲ M* ≲ 103 . The formation of very massive (≳250 ) stars is possible under weak UV feedback, whereas ordinary massive (a few ×10 ) stars form when UV feedback can efficiently halt the accretion. This may explain the peculiar abundance pattern of a Galactic metal-poor star recently reported by Aoki et al., possibly the observational signature of very massive precursor primordial stars. Weak UV feedback occurs in cases of variable accretion, in particular when repeated short accretion bursts temporarily exceed 0.01 , causing the protostar to inflate. In the bloated state, the protostar has low surface temperature and UV feedback is suppressed until the star eventually contracts, on a thermal adjustment timescale, to create an H ii region. If the delay time between successive accretion bursts is sufficiently short, the protostar remains bloated for extended periods, initiating at most only short periods of UV feedback. Disk fragmentation does not necessarily reduce the final stellar mass. Quite the contrary, we find that disk fragmentation enhances episodic accretion as many fragments migrate inward and are accreted onto the star, thus allowing continued stellar mass growth under conditions of intermittent UV feedback. This trend becomes more prominent as we improve the resolution of our simulations. We argue that simulations with significantly higher resolution than reported previously are needed to derive accurate gas mass accretion rates onto primordial protostars.


Supreme Court and High court of India has power to quash a FIR which is frivolous in nature and there is no need to pursue the case necessarily against the alleged person. The Apex court has to quash a FIR very cautiously and sparingly and has to see many reasons in the case for quashing an FIR. Inherent Powers are in Sec. 482 this section is to prevent abuse of the process of any court or otherwise to secure the ends of justice.In Nikhil Merchant V. Central Bureau Of Investigation & Anr. the Apex court held that High Court in exercise of its inherent powers can quash criminal proceedings or a FIR or complaint and Section 320 Cr.PC does not limit or affect the power of the High Court under Section 482 of the Code. In Manoj Sharma V. State & Ors. the Apex Court held that Where continuing with the proceeding would be a futility, quashing of FIR should not be refused.Quashment is also used for the phrase quashing of FIR. In certain cases if court find that it is not necessary to pursue the case further is needed court quash the proceedings and stop the frivolous proceedings. These Powers are imbibed in Section 482 of the code of Criminal Procedure.


A fundamental assumption in cost accounting is that the relation between costs and volume is symmetric for volume increases and decreases. In this study, we investigate whether costs are "sticky"—that is, whether costs increase more when activity rises than they decrease when activity falls by an equivalent amount. We find, for 7,629 firms over 20 years, that selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) costs increase on average 0.55% per 1% increase in sales but decrease only 0.35% per 1% decrease in sales. Our analysis compares the traditional model of cost behavior in which costs move proportionately with changes in activity with an alternative model in which sticky costs occur because managers deliberately adjust the resources committed to activities. We test hypotheses about the properties of sticky costs and how the degree of stickiness of SG&A costs varies with firm circumstances.


Siddha system is the ancient traditional medicine practiced all over Tamil nadu. Siddha system is a unique system compared to other systems as it is both medicinally, intellectually and spiritually enriched. Siddha system is bestowed with various specialties of which few are Yoga, Kayakalpam, Pranayamam, Varmam and Thokkanam. Varmam are vital points in the body that act as energy tranformers or batteries. The presence, location and action is totally unknown to the modern medicine. Varmam Therapy is the Pressure manipulation over these points with a particular force for the specified time. This will regulate the flow of energy which is obstructed due to assault on these points (varma points) or due to any other cause .Headache is nearly a universal human experience. The lifetime incidence of headache is estimated to be at least 90%. Nowadays, Sinusitis is a common problem among the young adults and adults. Unlike Diabetes and Coronary heart Disease, Sinusitis are also wide spread. Sinusitis does not kill but it is characterized by chronic head ache and extreme discomfort. It is often associated with nasal congestion and worsens with movement of the head .It is mainly due to High Pollution Level, Congested living condition and Life Style Modification. This can all be overcome by varmam, one of the Special therapies of Siddha system of medicine without any adverse effects. According to Siddha literature, there are about 108 Major Varmam points are present in the human body.Among these ,Thilartha Kalam, Puruva Kalam,Valamoorthi Kalam,Poigai Kalam,Sevikutri Kalam,Nasi Kalam were used for the management of sinusitis.This study was conducted in department of sirappu maruthuvam, Govt. Siddha Medical  College, Palayamkottai. This trial was done in 10 patients, aged 25 to 45 of both sex who presented with nasal discharge of any quality, facial pain unrelated to trauma or self suspected sinusitis were eligible Patients were excluded if they had symptoms greater than 3 months duration, general malignancies ,head trauma and previous sinus surgery.Clinical parameters used for the prognosis are facial pain ,nasal discharge,Sinus tenderness and head ache . The outcome of the present study reveals that the varma therapy are very effective in management of sinusitis Key Words: Siddha System, Varma Therpy, Sinusitis


Colpocephaly is an abnormal enlargement of the occipital horn of the lateral ventricle, also described as persistence of the fetal configuration of the lateral ventricles. Since it was first described, colpocephaly has been found in association with several abnormalities of the brain. Various etiologies have been postulated, including intrauterine/perinatal injuries, genetic disorders, and an error of morphogenesis. We report a case of colpocephaly associated with absence of splenium of the corpus callosum presented with neurodevelopmental delay and epilepsy.


This paper analyses the nature and the dynamics of money Velocity on the basis of its links to the standard monetary and credit aggregates. This inquiry reveals deep connections between Velocity and the real economy, which stem from the fundamental relation between the interest rate and the return of capital. My suggested perspective helps to reinterpret the meaning of the well-known equation of exchanges, and shows the relevance of Wicksell's "pure credit" model, which relates interest rates to the return of capital. This investigation has important implications for the Austrian theory: I will propose an Austrian Theory of Velocity, which has relevant consequences for the analysis of monetary phenomena such as fractional reserve banking and the endogeneity of money supply; my theory anyway preserves the value of the insights of the Austrian Business Cycle Theory. It is possible to give an original interpretation of the role of finance in order to obtain, in perspective, a brand new Austrian Theory of Finance.


Biogeography-based optimisation (BBO) is employed for the optimisation of non-uniform circular antenna arrays. In BBO, the problem solutions are represented as islands and the sharing of features between solutions corresponds to immigration and emigration between the islands. The scheme of BBO is employed to find out an optimal set of weights and antenna element separations to provide a radiation pattern with maximum side lobe level (SLL) reduction with the constraint of a fixed major lobe beam width. The capability of BBO is demonstrated by taking different sizes of antennas. The results show that the design of non-uniform circular antenna arrays using the BBO algorithm offers a SLL reduction better than that obtained using genetic algorithms, particle swarm optimisation and simulated annealing.


Infections caused by Aspergillus species are an emerging cause of morbidity and mortality in a variety of immunocompromised patients, despite profound environmental protection and the widespread prophylactic use of agents with anti-Aspergillus activity. At the present time, no firm conclusions can be drawn on the use of chemoprophyla xis, mainly due to the lack of reliable, randomized trials. Therefore, universal prophylaxis should be discouraged and prevention should be targeted towards well-defined high-risk patients, although only as part of a properly designed clinical trial. The crude mortality rate of invasive aspergillosis remains unacceptably high and results at least partly from difficulties in obtaining a reliable diagnosis at an early stage of the disease. The concept of empirical antifungal therapy has been introduced in an effort to overcome these diagnostic obstacles, especially since the early implementation of antifungal therapy appears to be the crucial prerequisite to improve the detrimental outcome of established disease. However, the concept has not been sufficiently validated and is not devoid of significant risks and disadvantages. The implementation of sensitive and predictive new diagnostic tools, such as galactomannan detection, high-resolution pulmonary CT-scanning and detection of aspergillar DNA, may allow a more targeted pre-emptive approach, directed towards the high-risk patients and based upon a battery of clinical, radiological and microbiological clues, though without histopathological proof. The high mortality rate results also from shortcomings of the currently available therapeutic arsenal. Amphotericin B, flucytosine and itraconazole are associated with low success rates and are hampered by serious infusion- or drug-related toxicity, by hazardous drug-drug interactions, by pharmacokinet ic problems and by the development of resistance. In recent years, several companies have launched new compounds into preclinical and clinical trials. Some of these agents target the fungal cell wall in stead of the cell membrane. They exert their action through inhibition of the synthesis of critical compounds of that fungal cell wall, not present in mammalian cells (e.g. inhibitors of β-(1,3)-D-glucan synthesis). This article will focus on new therapeutic approaches (risk-adapted or targeted strategy) and upcoming antifungal agents with anti-Aspergillus activity, in particular voriconazole and caspofungin acetate.


A new method to diagnose and estimate secondary porosity and absolute permeability of fractured and vuggy carbonate formations based on the numerical simulation of the process of matrix solution technique developed and validated. The method includes the geological characterization of core laboratory data and their integration with well logs and rock production measurements. The new method to the interpretation of data acquired in a tertiary reservoir in Bai Hassan oil field applied. Cretaceous reservoir behaves as a triple-porosity petrophysical system which exhibits inter-crystalline, intra-crystalline, moldic, vuggy (connected and non-connected) and fractured porosity. Rockcore data and well tests indicate that vugs are the mayor component of secondary porosity while fractures and interconnected vugs account for most of the permeability. The initial phase of our interpretation method consists of integrating core measurements with well logs and well tests to calculate static and dynamic petrophysical properties via standard carbonate evaluation procedures. This procedure tested on several key wells with and without core measurements and well-testing measurements. Final estimates of porosity and permeability are in good agreement with the properties of the global petrophysical system been founded.


Variscan orogeny is traditionally compared to Himalayan-
Tibetan orogeny thanks to two main reasons: 1) Variscan orogen
originated through progressive amalgamation of Gondwana
derived blocks which formed belt that was subsequently squeezed
between two continental plates - Laurussia and Gondwana. Similar
sequence of events is characteristic for Tibetan-Himalayan orogeny
as well, where previously Gondwana accreted blocks were squeezed
between Asian continent and India. Therefore, both orogens result
from similar reorganization of plates in Paleozoic and Mesozoic-
Cenozoic times, which initiated rapid northward drift of Gondwana
derived blocks and their final collision with northern continental
masses. 2) This process resulted in both cases in formation orogenic
root of double-crust thickness characterized by long lasting
(HP) granulite facies metamorphism in lower crust followed by
isothermal decompression still at granulite facies conditions. In
addition, the granulites in central Tibet were transported by high
potassium lavas, with geochemical and isotopical signature corresponding
to Mg-K granitoids typically associated to HP granulites
in the eastern part of the Variscan belt (the Bohemian Massif in
particular). In both cases, the origin of granulitic lower crust and
associated high potassium lavas are attributed to relamination and
thermal maturation of lower crustal allochthon underthrust below
upper plate crust during collision. Based on above similarities
we argue that the Devonian - Carboniferous evolution of the Bohemian
Massif may be a proxy of Eocene to recent crustal dynamics
of the Tibetan system. To better quantify similarities between
both orogens, we present a set of numerical models which reproduce
the tectonic multistage scenario proposed for the Variscan
tectonics of Bohemian Massif. These models are subsequently
compared with P-T data acquired from the Himalaya and southernTibetan
granulites and xenoliths from central Tibet.


Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) is common in several plant families and is often associated with succulence. Few studies have examined the occurrence of CAM from a phylogenetic perspective. The genus Pelargonium is promising for such a study because members are characterized by dramatic variation in growth form (including geophytes, shrubs, and stem succulents) and because growth form diversity is expressed to the greatest extent in a monophyletic group comprising 80% of Pelargonium species. This clade, predominantly from the winter rainfall region of southern Africa, likely proliferated in response to Miocene or Pliocene aridification. We present a survey for CAM across Pelargonium, emphasizing the winter rainfall clade. Dawn/dusk fluctuations in titratable acidity were examined in 41 species, with detailed measurements of carbon uptake and stomatal conductance under progressive water stress in four species. No species exhibited obligate CAM. When well-watered, most species exhibited stomatal conductances and acid fluctuations characteristic of C(3) photosynthesis, though some exhibited more pronounced increases in nocturnal acidity, suggesting CAM cycling. In four species examined during dry-down, water stress led to increased nighttime acid levels and decreased daytime stomatal conductance. Ultimately, stomata closed and external carbon uptake ceased, consistent with CAM idling. These results are discussed from the perspective of the evolution of CAM flexibility.


Research on vehicular networks has increased for more than a decade, however, the maturity of involved technologies has been recently reached and standards/specifications in the area are being released these days. Although there are a number of protocols and network architecture proposals in the literature, above all in the Vehicular Ad-hoc Network (VANET) domain, most of them lack from realistic designs or present solutions far from being interoperable with the Future Internet. Following the ISO/ETSI guidelines in field of (vehicular) cooperative systems, this work addresses this problem by presenting a vehicular network architecture that integrates well-known Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) technologies successfully employed in Internet. More precisely, this work describes how Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) technologies such as Network Mobility (NEMO), Multiple Care-of Address Registration (MCoA), IP Security (IPsec) or Internet Key Exchange (IKE), can be used to provide network access to in-vehicle devices. A noticeable contribution of this work is that it not only offers an architecture/design perspective, but also details a deployment viewpoint of the system and validates its operation under a real performance evaluation carried out in a Spanish highway. The results demonstrate the feasibility of the solution, while the developed testbed can serve as a reference in future vehicular network scenarios.


Alternating hemiplegia of childhood is a rare disorder of unknown cause associated with progressive neurological deterioration. We report the results of regional cerebral blood flow studies using 99mTc‐hexamethylpropylene amine oxime single‐photon emission computed tomography in 3 patients. These studies were performed during the hemiplegic attacks (n = 6) and during the symptom‐free periods (n = 2). Six single‐photon emission computed tomographic studies performed during hemiplegic attacks consistently showed relative hyperperfusion of the contralateral cerebral hemisphere. Two single‐photon emission computed tomographic studies performed during the asymptomatic phase showed normal and symmetrical cerebral perfusion. This is the first definite demonstration of unilateral increase of cerebral blood flow in alternating hemiplegia. These findings support the possibility of a relationship between the cause of alternating hemiplegia and migraine.


Hierarchical dimensional models of psychopathology derived for adult and child community populations offer more informative and efficient methods for assessing and treating symptoms of mental ill health than traditional diagnostic approaches. It is not yet clear how many dimensions should be included in models for youth with neurodevelopmental conditions. The aim of this study was to delineate the hierarchical dimensional structure of psychopathology in a transdiagnostic sample of children and adolescents with learning-related problems, and to test the concurrent predictive value of the model for clinically, socially, and educationally relevant outcomes. A sample of N = 403 participants from the Centre for Attention Learning and Memory (CALM) cohort were included. Hierarchical factor analysis delineated dimensions of psychopathology from ratings on the Conner's Parent Rating Short Form, the Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. A hierarchical structure with a general p factor at the apex, broad internalizing and broad externalizing spectra below, and three more specific factors (specific internalizing, social maladjustment, and neurodevelopmental) emerged. The p factor predicted all concurrently measured social, clinical, and educational outcomes, but the other dimensions provided incremental predictive value. The neurodevelopmental dimension, which captured symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and executive function and emerged from the higher-order externalizing factor, was the strongest predictor of learning. This suggests that in struggling learners, cognitive and affective behaviors may interact to influence learning outcomes.


The first edition of this book deservedly became a popular text-book on plasma physics. Since it was first published there has been a substantial increase in interest and activity in magnetic and inertial confinement. For this reason the author has expanded Chapter 9 of the first edition into a complete text on the physics of fusion. This will be published separately as Volume 2. The volume under review is an updated version of the first eight chapters of the first edition. (The system of units has been changed, reluctantly, to niks (SI).) The first six chapters I found easy and rewarding to read. The basic principles of much of plasma physics are well explained with a good interplay of mathematical and physical ideas. Results obtained from experiments carried out on laboratory plasmas are used to illustrate the basic physics at all stages. This I found to be a very useful way of developing the subject. I can highly recommend these chapters to any post-graduate or aspiring undergraduate who wants to obtain a good understanding of plasma physics. These chapters also bring across the excitement of the subject. However I was disappointed in Chapter 7 which deals with Kinetic Theory. The treatment of Landau damping, which takes up a third of the chapter is unnecessarily complicated and in parts misleading. For example, at the beginning of Section 7.5.2 the author states 'The result we have just obtained, however, still has nothing to do with linear Landau damping'. My immediate response is ' why give it ?' I would have preferred a mathematical section dealing with the initial value problem and using contour integration followed by a section treating the phenomena in terms of phase mixing. The introduction of such concepts as non-linear Landau damping, particle trapping, B.G.K. modes only serves to confuse a discussion of an inherently linear phenomenon. The Vlasov and Fokker-Planck equations are derived in this chapter but nowhere is it mentioned that the force fields that enter these equations are the self-consistent fields and that the binary collisions are between 'screened' particles. Chapter 8 is devoted to non-linear effects. The author's ability to give a good explanation, involving both mathematical and physical ideas, returns in this chapter. My only criticism is the omission of a discussion of quasi-linear theory. I whole-heartedly recommend this book to any newcomer to plasma physics, and also to the older ones amongst us who from time to time need reminding of the basic concepts.


We identify outstanding challenges for intelligent support of group decision-making. Decision-making is a multidisciplinary term. Technology for large group decision making is undergoing significant advancement with the widespread use of social networks and online decision support tools. Manual rules that govern traditional face-to face meetings need to be adapted to suit virtual meetings where co-decisions have to be made virtually. Collaborative virtual group decision-making is essential for several applications where face-to-face meetings is not pertinent. As information technology has added more dimensions to problems tackled by humans, it is a challenge to make decisions in such dynamic era. Online group decision-making can impact people's significant choices in different ways. The scale of technology-supported decision-making has grown to the point where virtual group decision-making influence has been accused or lauded in the last few US elections. Certain attributes are highly required. Various mechanisms and evaluation criteria are used to study and analyze group decision-making processes. Communications and different threats may affect critical decisions. Multiple attacks have been revealed. More intelligence could be integrated into group decision-making processes to support better communication and visualization of information concerning decision alternatives. Information available about decision alternatives has to be analyzed and adequately presented to decision makers. Varied decision information could be structured by the aid of decision support systems. Solid evaluation criteria for virtual group decision-making processes are needed. Numerous research directions that con-


Within Cognitive Psychology the Information Processing approach sees the mind as a cognitive system that allows the human being to interact in his/her environment. This system is capable of monitoring and selfregulating itself which, in turn, empowers the system all together. This capability has been defined as metacognition. The first aim of this study is to analyze the concept of metacognition, trying to capture its essence and functionality as a cognitive process. The second aim is to show and discuss the models provided by the different authors in the area. The final goal is to report a number of investigations that shows metacognition as a determinant factor for the instructional learning.


The effect of the size and position of venting apertures on the burning rate of crude oil in model tanks has been determined. One side aperture and one lid aperture were used in all tests, only their size and relative positions being changed. The effect of wind speed on the burning rate was also investigated, burnings being performed in still air and in blower-generated winds. Tanks of three different sizes were used, in an attempt to predict from the burning rates found in small scale tests those to be expected in a much larger tank. The tanks were water cooled on the bottom and on one side to simulate conditions at sea. Some empirical extrapolations and scaling rules have been obtained which provide an estimate of the probable burning rate in ship-sized tanks under various conditions of wind and venting.


The study utilizes data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) to test the extent to which retrospectively reported ADHD symptoms are associated with gambling behaviour in young adults. Results from linear probability and logistic regression models using data from 6145 survey respondents indicate that youths who reported symptoms consistent with Hyperactive-Impulsive type ADHD in childhood were significantly more likely than other youths to report clinical characteristics of disordered gambling, large past-year losses and/or multiple forms of gambling as young adults. The Combined type ADHD had no significant relationship to the gambling indicators, while the Inattentive type ADHD symptoms have a significant negative relationship to the gambling indicators. These findings provide preliminary support in a large, nationally representative sample for the relationship of ADHD and gambling and underscore the importance of addressing gambling-related issues in education, prevention and intervention efforts with youths with ADHD and/or problems with impulse control.


ObjectiveTo learn how access is conducted in two primary care units, traditional and family health strategy, and assess whether there was resoluteness of assistance to child health.MethodsThis is a qualitative study, we used hermeneutic for understanding the data. The research instrument was non-participant observation technique; the data were analyzed using thematic analysis method.ResultsThere are four sub-categories: children, their family members and the first contact in primary care; the service organization and its influence on access; the therapeutic itinerary of the family and child in search of health care; scheduled access to health care.ConclusionAccess to health services showed weaknesses regarding the child health care and the proposed care service could build stable relationships and humanized care to child demand in primary health care.


Archaeological research in the Gulf Coast of Tabasco reveals the earliest record of maize cultivation in Mexico. The first farmers settled along beach ridges and lagoons of the Grijalva River delta. Pollen from cultivated Zea appears with evidence of forest clearing about 5100 calendar years B.C. (yr B.C.) [6200 (14)C years before the present (yr B.P.)]. Large Zea sp. pollen, typical of domesticated maize (Zea mays), appears about 5000 calendar yr B.C. (6000 yr B.P.). A Manihot sp. pollen grain dated to 4600 calendar yr B.C. (5800 yr B.P.) may be from domesticated manioc. About 2500 calendar yr B.C. (4000 yr B.P.), domesticated sunflower seeds and cotton pollen appear as farming expanded.


ABSTRACT Homeownership attainment is often seen as the first step in climbing the housing ladder and the building of wealth through acquisition of housing equity. While a number of authors have examined the issue of homeownership switch in China under market transition, the present paper is probably the first study on the extent of housing improvement in conjunction with and after the attainment of homeownership. Based on a household survey conducted in 2010, the study shows that ownership attainment in Guangzhou is generally accompanied by marked housing improvements, and subsequent moves bring further but percentage-wise much smaller improvements. While institution-related factors such as nature of work unit and occupational status might continue to be important, their effects on housing improvements are likely to be felt mainly through the income variable. But hukou status remains significant. More specifically, former peasants on the urban–rural fringe with claim to landownership rights have benefited most from the market-oriented land and housing reform.


2-Butoxy 5-aminopyridine exerts high and specific bacteriostatic action on Mycobacteria. Variations in the structure of this compound indicate that: 1. isosteres retain activity; 2. the number of carbon atoms in the alkoxy group is optimally 4 to 6; 3. cyclic substitutions in the alkoxy linkage diminish activity; other substitutions in the alkoxy group that tend to increase the molecular weight of the compound or which involve branched chains also result in compounds of greatly diminished activity; 4. in general, only specific isomers are active; 5. nuclear substitutions result in diminution of activity; 6. the ether linkage of the alkoxy group may be replaced by alkyl, in the benzene isostere series, without a serious loss in activity; 7. the amino group is essential to activity; 8. when the amino group is substituted by certain inorganic or acyclic substituents, activity is diminished but not abolished; 9. the amino group may be substituted by acyl, sodium formaldehyde bisulfite, sodium formaldehyde sulfoxylate and certain other aldehydic groupings without serious loss in activity in most cases. This type of substitution results in compounds with decreased toxicity in the pyridine series, but does not produce a marked change in toxicity in the series of benzene isosteres. The pharmacological and experimental therapeutic activity of several of the most effective and least toxic of the compounds should be investigated.


We demonstrate a novel scheme for measuring the carrier-envelope offset frequency in a femtosecond optical frequency comb. Our method is based on a common-path interferometer with a calcite Babinet-Soleil compensator employed to control the delay between the two interfering beams of pulses. The large delay range (up to 8 ps) of our device is sufficient for systems that rely on spectral broadening in microstructured fibers. We show an experimental proof that the stability of a common-path arrangement is superior to that of the standard interferometers.


The authors fabricated neural-based superconducting integrated circuits by using Nb/AlO/sub x//Nb Josephson junctions, and demonstrated the operation of a 2-b neural-based A/D converter. Fluxon pulses were used as neural impulses, and a Josephson junction was used as a threshold element. The conductance values of resistors by which Josephson transmission lines are connected represent fixed synaptic strengths. The preliminary experimental result suggests that variable critical currents of DC-SQUIDs (superconducting quantum interference devices) may provide synapses with variable strength.<<ETX>>


Introduction: LY2780301 is an orally available small molecule dual inhibitor of p70 S6 kinase and AKT. LY2780301 is an inhibitor of CYP3A4. By the one hand, Paclitaxel (PXL) undergoes extensive metabolism via CYP450 2C8 and CYP450 3A4 pathways. By the other hand, PXL induces weakly CYP3A4 activity. In this study we investigated for the first time, the potential pharmacokinetic (PK) drug-drug interaction (DDI) related to the combination of both drugs LY2780301 and PXL. Methods: Women with HER2- locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer, with and without PI3/AKT pathway activation, were treated with weekly administration of PXL on day1 (D1), D8 and D15. LY2780301 was administered by a daily flat dosing regimen starting at D3. Dose levels [DL, LY2780301 (mg/day)/PXL (mg/m2/week)] ranged from 400/70 to 500/80. For PK analysis, 7 time point samples were collected on D1 and D3 of cycle 1 for PXL and LY2780301 respectively. 7 samples were collected on D8 for both drugs. LY2780301 plasma concentrations were measured using Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) coupled with tandem mass spectrometry validated method. PXL plasma concentrations were measured using UPLC coupled with UV validated method. A joint population PK (PK-POP) model has been developed for LY2780301 and its main metabolite. PK-POP modelling has been performed with a non linear mixed effect model program (Monolix version 4.3.2). Results: 12 patients, 35 to 67 years old, were treated. A total of 160 and 157 concentrations for LY2780301 and its metabolite were used respectively for PK-POP modeling. A one compartment open model adequately described LY2780301 and its metabolite concentration versus time courses respectively with the estimation of the fraction of absorbed dose (fm) of LY2780301 metabolised in that metabolite. The interindividual variabilities (ISV) could be well estimated for all structural parameters (clearance: CL, volume of distribution: V, L and the absorption constant: Ka). The population PK parameters obtained for the structural model were: Ka = 0.536 h−1, CL/F = 3.57 L/h, V/F = 85.2 L, CL/(F*fm) = 13.2 L/h, V2/(F*fm) = 13.2 L, fm = 0.747 for LY2780301 and its metabolite respectively. PXL increases LY2780301 CL from 3.57 to 4.4 L/h (p = 0.016). Conclusions: We have demonstrated a PK DDI between LY2780301 and PXL. PXL increases LY2780301 CL and decreases LY2780301 AUC. PXL PK modeling is ongoing in order to verify the effect of LY2780301 on PXL PK. Citation Format: Keyvan Rezai, Samuel Huguet, Olivier Madar, Jean-Marc Extra, Magali Provansal, Carole Tarpin, Nicolas Isambert, Jihane Pakradouni, Anthony Goncalves, Francois Lokiec. Pharmacokinetic drug-drug interaction: a phase Ib dose escalation study of LY2780301 in combination with weekly paclitaxel. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 2049.


The genus Hieracium L. (Asteraceae) has been studied taxonomically in Iran. This paper includes new reports to Iran, new combination and new synonyms. H. ×sintenisii, H. ×pannoniciforme from sect. Praealtina , H. pollichiae from sect. Vulgata and H. echioides subsp. echioides from sect. Echinina are reported for the first time from Iran. H. ×procerigenum is distinguished as a synonym of H. ×auriculoides, and H.×woronowianum is regarded as a synonym of H. ×maschukense. Also H. procerum is reduced into a subspecies of H. echioides.


We would like to report a case involving a 38-year-old woman who presented with knee and ankle swellings 2 weeks prior to admission. There were also multiple painful oral ulcers and a few skin sores on the wrist. She also had associated diarrhoea for 2 weeks. There was also marked loss of weight (6 kg in 2 weeks). Colonoscopy examination showed macroscopic and histopathological findings of Crohn's disease; however, skin histology showed extensive neutrophilic infiltration in the dermis, predominantly in the perivascular region. Her final diagnosis was Sweet's syndrome with Crohn's disease.


Driving simulators that are capable of a simulation of a virtual drive at night are increasingly used for the virtual prototyping of light-based driver assistance systems. Here, the interplay between driver and assistance system, which enhances the illumination of the road ahead of the vehicle, is investigated. For such investigations, special driving simulators are applied that enable not only a standard driving simulation but also cover the special requirements for the visualization of a driving scenery at night, the simulation of automotive headlights during a virtual drive at night, and the interface to a headlight control module (HCM) that operates the physical headlight prototypes.In this paper, we present the visualization system of the reconfigurable driving simulator from the research project TRAFFIS. We describe the special application focus on the virtual prototyping of a light-based driver assistance system from our project partner Varroc Lighting Systems. The light-based DAS bases on a headlight prototype that combines a glare-free high beam (GFHB) function and a predictive adaptive frontlighting system (PAFS) for glare-free driving with maximized headlight time.Copyright © 2015 by ASME


Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), a hyperinflammatory syndrome associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, shares many clinical features with toxic shock syndrome, which is triggered by bacterial superantigens. The superantigen specificity for binding different Vβ-chains results in Vβ-skewing, whereby T cells with specific Vβ-chains and diverse antigen specificity are overrepresented in the TCR repertoire. Here, we characterized the TCR repertoire of MIS-C patients and found a profound expansion of TCR Beta Variable gene (TRBV)11-2. Furthermore, TRBV11-2 skewing was remarkably correlated with MIS-C severity and serum cytokine levels. Further analysis of TRBJ gene usage and CDR3 length distribution of MIS-C expanding TRBV11-2 clones revealed extensive junctional diversity, indicating a superantigen-mediated selection process for TRBV expansion. In silico modelling indicates that polyacidic residues in TCR Vβ11-2 engage in strong interactions with the superantigen-like motif of SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein. Overall, our data indicate that the immune response in MIS-C is consistent with superantigenic activation. Highlights Multisystem Inflammatory Disease in Children (MIS-C) patients exhibit T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire skewing, with expansion of T cell Receptor Beta Variable gene (TRBV)11-2 TRBV11-2 skewing correlates with MIS-C severity and cytokine storm J gene/CDR3 diversity in MIS-C patients is compatible with a superantigen selection process In silico modelling indicates TCR Vβ11-2 engages in CDR3-independent interactions with the polybasic insert P681RRAR in the SAg-like motif of SARS-CoV-2 spike


The paper investigates the effects of declining mortality on fertility and income in the standard OLG neoclassical growth model under the assumptions of accidental bequests as well as fully annuitised savings. It is shown whether and how different countries may expect increasing or decreasing fertility rates under increasing longevity, and argued that mortality decline may be another explanation of the Demographic Transition process. In particular, the fact that some countries have completed the process while others are entrapped in the second stage may depend on the initial level of mortality as well as on differences in technology and preferences. It is also argued that the third stage may not necessarily occur in some less developed countries even if their mortality rates converge towards those of industrialised countries.


The contamination of the aquatic ecosystem with heavy metals arising from the discharge of electronic waste (e-waste) or seepage of leachate from open waste dumpsites is on the increase. The impact of e-waste leachate on the micronucleus (MN) of Tilapia guineensis and the levels of heavy metals ( Pb, Cd, Cr, As, Hg, Al and Ba) in the sediments, water, leachate and aquatic fauna ( Tilapia guineensis, Callinectes amnicola and Cardiosoma armatum ) found in and around e-waste dumpsites in Lagos and Osun States was studied. The levels of heavy metals were determined using PyeUnicam model 969 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry and Inductive Coupling Plasma Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (ICP-AAS).The heavy metal concentrations decreased in the order: Pb ˃ Cd ˃ Cr ˃ Hg ˃ Al ˃Ba ˃As in the samples. The level of Cd in fish muscle from Lagos (1.4mg/kg) exceeded the Environment Canada threshold effect level (EC TEL, 2006) recommended for sea food (1.0mg/kg). The calculated bioconcentration factor (BCF) for fish gills (1.4 and1.0) and fish muscles. (3.6 and 1.2) from Lagos and Osun States respectively as well as the bioaccumulation factor (BAF) for crabs (1.78 and 1.36) are strong indications of the ability of the organisms to bioaccumulate the heavy metals. The MN assay showed an initial increase in the frequency of mionccronuclei on the 7th day which gradually decreased on the 14th and 21st day. The result of this study reveals the toxic impacts of e-waste contamination on ecological and human health in a developing economy.


Separation of target cells in a heterogeneous solution is of great importance for clinical studies especially for immunology and oncology. Separated cells can be used for diagnostic applications ranging from whole blood counting to isolation of circulating tumor cells (CTC) for personalized medicine. Recent separation technologies rely on labelling and identifying target cells with variety of labelling principle such as fluorescence or magnetic tags. However, they require labor-intensive processes, long analysis time, and expensive chemical reagents and instrumentation. Hence, their usage is limited to well-equipped centralized laboratories. There is a need for a rapid, sensitive, low-cost and automated cell separation technology to disseminate usage of this technology even in rural areas. Magnetic levitation is a powerful cell separation method, which distinguishes cells based on their levitation heights depending on cell density. However, magnetic levitation-based separation technologies require traditional, bulky and expensive microscopes for analysis. Lensless digital inline holographic microscopy (LDIHM) systems are composed of a simple illumination system containing an LED, a pinhole, and an imaging sensor for high-resolution microscopic imaging, which eliminates needs of highly fragile and expensive optics as in traditional microscopy. Here, we introduced a novel hybrid and portable cell separation platform, where magnetic levitation technology is integrated with LDIHM system for automated analysis of cell levitation heights. Using this platform, three different cell lines are successfully separated. Live and dead cells having distinguished levitation heights can be also identified in the platform.


Abstract The Osprey Oilfield is located 180 km northeast of the Shetland Islands in Blocks 211/23a and 211/18a in the UK sector of the northern North Sea. The discovery well 211/23-3 was drilled in January 1974 in a water depth of 530 ft. The trap is defined at around 8500 ft TVSS by two dip and fault closed structures, the main 'Horst Block' and the satellite 'Western Pool'. The hydrocarbons are contained in reservoir sandstones belonging to the Middle Jurassic Brent Group which was deposited by a wave-dominated delta system in the East Shetlands Basin. The expected STOIIP and ultimate recovery are estimated at 158 MMBBL and 60 MMBBL of oil respectively, which represents a recovery factor of 38%. The 'Horst Block' contains 85% of the reserves with an OOWC about 150 ft shallower than in the 'Western Pool'. Reservoir quality is excellent, with average porosities varying from 23-26% and average permeabilities varying from 35-5300 md. The development plan envisages eleven satellite wells, six producers and five water injectors, closely clustered around two subsea manifolds. First production is expected in late 1990/early 1991. The wet crude oil will be piped to the Dunlin 'A' platform for processing and from there to the Cormorant Alpha platform into the Brent System pipeline for export to the Sullom Voe terminal.


We investigate the form of the local vertical density profile of the stars in the Galactic disk, close to the Galactic plane. We use a homogeneous sample of 34000 ultracool dwarfs M7 to L2.5 that all lie within 350 pc of the plane. We fit a profile of the form sech$^\alpha$, where $\alpha=2$ is the theoretically preferred isothermal profile and $\alpha=0$ is the exponential function. Larger values of $\alpha$ correspond to greater flattening of the profile towards the plane. We employ a likelihood analysis that accounts in a direct way for unresolved binaries in the sample, as well as for the spread in absolute magnitude $M_J$ within each spectral sub-type (Malmquist bias). We measure $\alpha=0.29^{+0.12}_{-0.13}$. The $\alpha=1$ (sech) and flatter profiles are ruled out at high confidence for this sample, while $\alpha=0$ (exponential) is included in the 95% credible interval. Any flattening relative to exponential is modest, and is confined to within 50 pc of the plane. The measured value of $\alpha$ is consistent with the results of the recent analysis by Xiang et al. Our value for $\alpha$ is also similar to that determined for nearby spiral galaxies by de Grijs et al., measured from photometry of galaxies viewed edge on. The measured profile allows an accurate determination of the local space density of ultracool dwarfs M7 to L2.5, and we use this to make a new determination of the luminosity function at the bottom of the main sequence. Our results for the luminosity function are a factor two to three lower than the recent measurement by Bardalez Gagliuffi et al., that uses stars in the local 25 pc radius bubble, but agree well with the older study by Cruz et al.


Background In cases of peripheral lung cancer with visceral pleural invasion and severe pleural adhesion, the question arises as to whether video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is a safe operation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether whole pleural adhesion is a risk factor for recurrence of cancer when performing VATS lobectomy for stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with visceral pleural invasion. Methods From 2010 to 2018, 123 consecutive patients who were diagnosed as stage I NSCLC with visceral pleural invasion and who underwent VATS lobectomy, were reviewed retrospectively. Those patients with partial pleural adhesion were excluded. The prognoses of the patients in the whole pleural adhesion group were compared with those of the non-adhesion group. Results The clinicopathological characteristics were not found to differ between the two groups, with the exception of age. The mean age of the whole pleural adhesion group was found to be greater than that of the non-adhesion group (70.6 vs. 64.4, P=0.002). The 5-year recurrence-free survival rates for the whole pleural adhesion group and the non-adhesion group were 64.8% and 70.9% respectively, and they were not statistically different (P=0.545). In multivariate analysis, the extent of lymph node dissection (hazard ratio =13.854, P=0.023) was a significant risk factor for recurrence. Whole pleural adhesion was not a risk factor for recurrence. Conclusions Whole pleural adhesion was not a risk factor for recurrence after VATS lobectomy in stage I NSCLC with visceral pleural invasion. However, the extent of lymph node dissection was identified as an important prognostic factor.


The decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method is one of the most significant multi-criteria techniques for defining the relationships among criteria and for defining the weight coefficients of criteria. Since multi-criteria models are very often used in management and decision-making under conditions of uncertainty, the fuzzy DEMATEL model has been extended in this paper by D numbers (fuzzy DEMATEL-D). The aim of this research was to develop a multi-criteria methodology that enables the objective processing of fuzzy linguistic information in the pairwise comparison of criteria. This aim was achieved through the development of the fuzzy DEMATEL-D method. Combining D numbers with trapezoidal fuzzy linguistic variables (LVs) allows for the additional processing of uncertainties and ambiguities that exist in experts' preferences when comparing criteria with each other. In addition, the fuzzy DEMATEL-D methodology has a unique reasoning algorithm that allows for the rational processing of uncertainties when using fuzzy linguistic expressions for pairwise comparisons of criteria. The fuzzy DEMATEL-D methodology provides an original uncertainty management framework that is rational and concise. In order to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology, a case study with the application of the proposed multi-criteria methodology is presented.


Two approaches to somatic point mutations in 12 and 13 codones of K-ras gene were analyzed: PCR/SSCP/ACRS/sequencing and allele-specific PCR in the real-life regimen (Russian set "KRAS-7M"). The comparison was carried out on 62 examples of genomic DNA extracted from frozen colon carcinomas, which underwent manual dissection. The results obtained in two attempts were consistent in 95,2% (N=59). Specificity and sensitivity of K-ras mutations detection using "KRAS-7M" set were 100 and 96,4% respectively, and 94,1 and 100% respectievly using PCR/SSCP/ACRS/automatic sequencing. False positive results were absent when detecting with "KRAS-7M" and accounted for 2 cases (5,9%) when using PCR/SSCP/ ACRS/automatic sequencing. The only false negative response (3,6%) was obtained analyzing mutations using "KRAS-7M".


This research is about The unclear regulations related to the juridical construction of village-owned enterprises can certainly causing problems in the case of the Village-Owned Enterprises is unable to pay loan or other debts if they experience business losses. This research uses judicial normative research methodology since the research is aimed to evaluate the regulations found in the formal rules and regulations related to the Village Owned Enterprises (BUM Desa) and the company bankruptcy, namely Regulations Number 6 year 2014 regarding the Village and Regulations Number 37 year 2004 regarding Bankruptcy and the Deferral of Obligation Payment Code and connect with responsibility of village head. The research conclusions show that: firstly, BUM Desa is initially a business entity without having the status as a legal entity, but during its development, it might have the status of a legal entity.  Secondly, Supervisors can be responsible for bankruptcy of BUM Desa if it is proven that their fault has caused BUM Desa to go bankrupt


With a series problems such as global energy and resource shortage, several countries have begun to increase investment for new energy development. Because wind energy is renewable, clean and pollution-free, it is widely used in the entire world. Offshore wind farm does not take up valuable land resources, and the sea has abundant wind energy resources so that the wind turbine can achieve greater unit capacity. Therefore, the development of offshore wind farm has become a new direction of China's Green Energy Development. In this context, the study of large-scale offshore wind farm and the impact on the power system is necessary. Based on the analysis of Shanghai Nanhui wind farm's operation, this paper discusses the interconnection of the Donghai Bridge offshore wind farm and the short-circuit capacity, power quality, as well as the reactive power.


The aim of this paper is to analyze and graph the performance teacher evaluation model within the framework of Mexican educational reform in order to clarify its elements, the relationships between them, and the structure that articulates them. The core content is divided into four sections. First, the changes in the teaching profession are presented within the context of Latin America. In the second section, the Mexican educational reform is described. In the third, the process of teacher evaluation is explained. The fourth section shows and describes the performance evaluation model generated from the analysis of the central texts of the reform. Finally, the model is discussed and reflections by way of conclusion are presented.


ZnO tetrapods and nanowires were fabricated by a simple method of thermal evaporation of pure Zn powder in the air. These nanostructures, formed in different temperature regions of the same apparatus, displayed distinct photoluminescence (PL) characteristics. Spatially resolved PL measurements on legs of individual tetrapods show that the green luminescence (GL) decreases with decreasing leg diameter, and there was no detectable GL from nanowires grown simultaneously. These PL properties suggest that the green luminescence may not come from surface states, but rather from bulk defects.


This article examines the multilingual academic and cultural phenomenon that is Anna/ Asja Lācis through the theoretical lens of Felix Guattari's concept of ecosophy. Lācis became somewhat known internationally as Walter Benjamin's Latvian Bolshevik girlfriend, but as that facet of her reputation has garnered only sporadic interest, causing her to fall into oblivion, there has been a resurgence of interest in her in Latvia(n). The article mobilizes an ecosophical approach that focuses on linguistic specificity as the mode of enfolding environment, social relations and subjectivity. Taking the multiplicity of naming practices as my focus, both of Lācis herself, her Latvian environment, and the scholarship that has sprung up online on her on Wikipedia, I argue that Anna/ Asja Lācis cannot be studied from a monolingual perspective, no matter what the language may be, a conclusion I find exemplary of Guattari's insistence on the multiplicity of subjectivity


— Recently, Direct Position Estimation (DPE) has arisen as a potential approach to deal with the positioning problem in Global Navigation Satellite System receivers. The conventional navigation solution is obtained in two steps: synchronization parameters are estimated and then a trilateration procedure is in charge of computing user's position, based on those parameters. In contrast, DPE estimates receiver's position directly from digitized signal. DPE was seen to provide GNSS receivers with appealing capabilities, such as multipath mitigation. However, a theoretical bound for those estimates is still missing and the answer to " how better can DPE perform compared to the conventional approach? " has not been addressed in the literature. Aiming at clarifying those issues, this paper presents the derivation of the Cramér-Rao Bound of position for both conventional and DPE approaches. We present the derivation for a multi-antenna receiver as a general case. In addition, a number of realistic scenarios are tested in order to compare the theoretical performance bounds of both alternatives and the actual Root Mean Squared Error performance of the corresponding Maximum Likelihood Estimator.


Aim

The aim of study was synthesized both silver- and zinc-oxide nanoparticles utilizing the Peganum harmala smoke extract (PHSE) bio-platform to evaluate their cytotoxicity on different types of human cancer cell lines and study their antioxidant, and antiangiogenic potentials.
Material and Methods

The Ag and ZnO nanoparticles were produced utilizing the green-synthesize method applying PHSE bio-platform. After characterization by XRD, DLS, FESEM, and FTIR methods, MTT assay was used for evaluation toxicity of nanoparticles. ABTS, DPPH, FRAP and ROS for antioxidant capacity, CAM and qPCR for antiangiogenesis effects of nanoparticle's were used
Results

Ag-NPs (82.42 nm) and ZnO-NPs (163.05 nm) were inhibited prostate, ovarian and liver malignant cells. Inhibition ABTS•+ and DPPH•+ and increasing the rate of intracellular ROS exhibited the anti and pro-oxidant capacity of Ag and ZnO-NPs out and inside of malignant cells. Also, their anti-angiogenesis impact was verified by significant dose-dependent VEGF and VEGFR down-regulation and the decreased blood vessels in the chicks' chorioallantoic membrane (CAM).
Conclusion

The antioxidant, cytotoxicity and anti-angiogenesis effects of Ag and ZnO-NPs synthesized from Pecan smoke extract make it possible to use these nanoparticles in cancer chemotherapy.


The identification of hydrological extremes (drought) is very actual at present. The knowledge of the mechanism of hydrological extremes evolution could be useful at many levels of human society, such as scientific, agricultural, local governmental, political and others. The research was performed in the Upper part of the Nitra River catchment (central part of Slovakia) and in the Topla and Ondava River catchments (eastern part of Slovakia). Lumped hydrological model BILAN was used to identify relationships among compounds of the water balance. Presented results are focused on drought in groundwater storage, soil moisture, base flow and discharges. BFI model for baseflow estimation was used and results were compared with those gained by BILAN model. Another item of the research was to compare results of hydrological balance model application on catchments with different geological conditions.


Abstract Crumomyia parentela (Séguy, 1963) (Sphaeroceridae) is recorded from the Czech Republic for the first time, based on specimens collected in the cave Cyrilka in the Moravskoslezské Beskydy Mts. They are affiliated to subspecies C. p. alpicola (Roháček, 1980) but because of more reduced eyes and shorter wings than have other specimens known from the Alps and Carpathians this population is concluded to have survived as a glacial relict in the cave habitat for a long time. The cavernicolous fauna of Sphaeroceridae in the Czech Republic is surveyed and its members (15 species) are classified according to their affiliation to the cave milieu. No trogloxenous or troglobiont species were found; most species (12) are hemitroglophilous and only 3 are troglophilous, viz. Crumomyia p. alpicola, Herniosina bequaerti (Villeneuve, 1917) and Terrilimosina racovitzai (Bezzi, 1911). It is presupposed that some additional hemitroglophilous, possibly one more troglophilous but no troglobiont species could be found in cave systems in the Czech Republic in the future.


We propose a self-supervised framework to learn scene representations from video that are automatically delineated into background, characters, and their animations. Our method capitalizes on moving characters being equivariant with respect to their transformation across frames and the background being constant with respect to that same transformation. After training, we can manipulate image encodings in real time to create unseen combinations of the delineated components. As far as we know, we are the first method to perform unsupervised extraction and synthesis of interpretable background, character, and animation. We demonstrate results on three datasets: Moving MNIST with backgrounds, 2D video game sprites, and Fashion Modeling.


Media is so pervasive that it should no longer be considered a nuisance variable that could affect development; rather, it should be seen as a fundamental part of the context in which development occurs. Despite the rapid growth in access to digital media, there is a scarcity of research examining changes in the family media ecology and the subsequent effects of early media exposure on sociocognitive development. Early research was erroneously focused on the absolute amount of exposure by the child. Current research now considers the entire household, including both intentional exposure to child-directed content and unintended exposure to background media sources. Such research demonstrates that young children can and do learn from well-designed media, particularly when they engage with other people during digital play.


People with disabilities have a right to a full life in every sense and one of those fundamental rights is the possibility to work. In this paper, the importance of social employment integration of disabled people is highlighted as one of the stakeholders to be satisfied by companies in the new framework that corporate social responsibility is constructing. The objective of the paper is to revise the benefits of some well-known operations research/management science tools that, if applied correctly, have a double positive impact on work accessibility and improved productivity. The responses collected from managers of Valencia's Sheltered Work Centres for Disabled by means of a structured questionnaire are used to analyse the level of implementation of these tools and their impact depending on the type of centre, the kind of disability and other structural variables.


Because of the need to address challenges of global climate change, a project-based framework was developed and implemented for life-cycle assessment (LCA) that could be used to estimate the carbon footprint for typical construction work items in highway reconstruction and rehabilitation projects. The proposed framework considers the life-cycle emissions of products and processes involved in the raw material acquisition and manufacturing phase as well as the pavement construction phase. The framework also accounts for emissions from vehicular use and maintenance operations during the service life of the pavement. The framework introduces methods based on LCA to develop inventories of project emissions for highway construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance projects as well as to analyze inventories for the calculation of project-level construction metrics for estimating emissions. Fourteen highway construction and rehabilitation projects in Michigan were used to implement the method and validate the approach. In addition, the project emissions estimator (PE-2), a web-based tool that can be used to estimate and benchmark the carbon dioxide footprint of highway construction projects, is introduced. Results further the understanding of LCA methods for pavements while providing an emission estimation tool that can be used by decision makers to monitor and assess project emissions.


This work compares biomass gasification and conventional direct combustion in steam boilers for producing power in the context of Brazilian sugar cane mills. The objective of this technical report is to show that gasification could be a more attractive way to convert biomass in energy, compared to using steam boilers, which in some cases can show a low efficiency.  The idea is to use the gasifiers in sugarcane mills that have low pressure boilers (21 to 42 kgf/cm 2 ) that are currently dedicated only to generate steam or electrical power for the mill own energy consumption. The results shows that gasification could be a cost-effective alternative for power production in Brazilian sugar cane plants with some additional advantages like the bagasse usage between the season and off-season periods to maintain a constant power generation throughout the entire year, higher energy availability and efficiency. However, nowadays in Brazil the economic advantage of gasification depends highly on political support and reliable long-term stable political framework conditions with an enough timeframe for the development, construction and operation of biomass gasification plants.


Studies of beliefs about social stratification have generally focused on how individual-level factors shape people's explanations of poverty and inequality. In this article, the authors contribute to this literature by adding a community-level measure of "concentrated disadvantage" (poverty and associated conditions) to models predicting support for individualistic (person-centered) and structuralist (system-challenging) beliefs about the causes of poverty. Using data from two Los Angeles County surveys and the 1990 Census, multi-level linear and logistic regression models reveal that higher levels of concentrated disadvantage are associated with increased support for both individualist and structuralist explanations of poverty—a "dual consciousness" pattern the authors attribute to increased exposure to social conditions that simultaneously foster sympathetic and antagonistic atti tudes toward the poor. These findings add useful information to our knowledge of stratification beliefs and contribute to a growing body of studies showing that "place-level" factors can be important determinants of beliefs and attitudes net of individual-level covariates.


On August 19, 1981, President Ronald Reagan did something that had never been done before: He nominated a woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court. This "first," however, was accomplished through a procedure that had been completed thousands of times before. Acting in his official capacity as president, Reagan sought the advice and consent of the Senate as directed in Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution. He did so through a single-page form letter, completed in part by hand and in part by typewriter, announcing Sandra Day O'Connor as his nominee (p. 361). While the document serves as evidence of a historic event, it is also a tangible illustration of abstract concepts that students in civics classes often struggle to learn--in this case, separation of powers, and checks and balances. The nomination letter involves all three branches of government and it suggests the branches' interrelationships. It originated in the executive branch, was sent to the legislative, and focused on the judicial. Documents such as the nomination letter not only make abstract concepts more concrete, they also simplify the complex; these types of documents prompt students to ask compelling questions that lead to greater understanding of how our system of government works. For example, when President Richard Nixon resigned from office, he did so through a single-sentence letter on White House stationery addressed to Secretary of State Henry Kissinger (p. 362). Presented with this document, students may question why the resignation was given to Kissinger. Because the answer lies with an understanding of checks and balances, separation of powers, as well as the importance of a balance of power, asking students to consider the question of "what if" Nixon had resigned to Congress, or to the Supreme Court, or to his successor, may lead to an active discussion. Other documents can shed light on what is meant by enumerated powers versus implied powers Enumerated powers of the federal government are those that are specifically listed in the Constitution. For example, Article I, Section 8, states that Congress has the power to raise and support "Armies." From this enumerated power, it can be inferred that in order to raise an army, Congress has the power to draft people into the armed services. This implied power, not specifically listed in the Constitution, can be explained to students by sharing with them examples of Selective Service Registration Cards from World War I (p. 364), and asking them to consider the relationship between the draft and the powers of Congress. Such an exercise may also help students understand how legislation passed by Congress is carried out by the executive branch. In this case, Congress passed the Selective Service Act on May 18, 1917. It required American men between ages 21 and 30 (later extended to ages 18 to 45), inclusive, to register for the draft. Although exemptions from service were granted to men who had dependent families, indispensable duties at home, or physical disabilities, and Conscientious Objector status was granted to members of pacifist religious organizations (with the requirement of alternative service), 24 million draft cards were eventually completed. Still other documents help to explain concepts such as federalism. Federalism is a political system in which power is divided between national and state governments. The transcript of a telephone conversation related to lames Meredith's admission to the University of Mississippi may enable students to consider issues concerning distribution of power in the United States. On the morning of September 30, 1963, President John F. Kennedy and Mississippi Governor Ross Robert Barnett spoke on the phone six different times. The transcript from the second phone call, in which Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy also participated, included an exchange in which the governor explained that obeying the federal court order to allow Meredith's enrollment--and thus the integration of "Ole Miss," as the school was commonly called--would come into conflict with the oath that he had taken to obey the laws of his state. …


Disorders affecting the control of saccadic eye movements result in involuntary saccadic oscillations and are widely reported in human medicine. Information regarding the occurrence and potential importance of saccadic oscillations in veterinary medicine is currently limited. The clinical histories of three dogs and one cat displaying involuntary eye movements consistent with opsoclonus are presented, with final diagnoses including idiopathic generalized tremor syndrome and neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL). A dog with eye movements closely resembling macrosaccadic oscillations is also presented, for which a final diagnosis of NCL was made. All animals had clinical signs of cerebellar disease. As in human medicine, recognition of these forms of involuntary eye movement might suggest a cerebellar neuroanatomic localization. Opsoclonus and macrosaccadic oscillations are forms of involuntary saccadic eye movement that are both unrecognized and under‐reported in veterinary medicine.


Exoplanet and brown dwarf atmospheres commonly show signs of disequilibrium chemistry. In the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) era, high-resolution spectra of directly imaged exoplanets will allow the characterization of their atmospheres in more detail, and allow systematic tests for the presence of chemical species that deviate from thermochemical equilibrium in these atmospheres. Constraining the presence of disequilibrium chemistry in these atmospheres as a function of parameters such as their effective temperature and surface gravity will allow us to place better constraints on the physics governing these atmospheres. This paper is part of a series of works presenting the Sonora grid of atmosphere models. In this paper, we present a grid of cloud-free, solar metallicity atmospheres for brown dwarfs and wide-separation giant planets with key molecular species such as CH4, H2O, CO, and NH3 in disequilibrium. Our grid covers atmospheres with T eff ∈ [500 K, 1300 K], log g ∈ [3.0, 5.5] (cgs) and an eddy diffusion parameter of logKzz=2,4 and 7 (cgs). We study the effect of different parameters within the grid on the temperature and composition profiles of our atmospheres. We discuss their effect on the near-infrared colors of our model atmospheres and the detectability of CH4, H2O, CO, and NH3 using the JWST. We compare our models against existing MKO and Spitzer observations of brown dwarfs and verify the importance of disequilibrium chemistry for T dwarf atmospheres. Finally, we discuss how our models can help constrain the vertical structure and chemical composition of these atmospheres.


Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a genetically determined disorder that is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. The occurrence of FAP is associated with mutations in the APC gene, which were described in 1991.1 De novo mutations of the APC gene occur in one per 10 000 newborns. The APC gene is localised on chromosome 5q21 and consists of 21 exons. In most cases, mutations of the APC gene are small deletions or insertions: the AAAGA deletion at codon 1309, which occurs in 10% of families with FAP, and the ACAAA deletion at codon 1061, which occurs in 5% of families with FAP, are the most frequent mutations. Ninety-two percent of all mutations in the APC gene lead to truncations of the APC protein product. Dysfunction of the APC gene causes the accumulation of B-cathenin and the expression of genes that promote cell division.

The FAP syndrome contributes only a relatively low percentage of all colorectal carcinomas (1–2%) and is characterised by the presence of numerous (at least 100) polyps that line the mucosa of the large intestine and rectum. The occurrence of other gastrointestinal adenomas, cutaneous sebaceous cysts, osteomas (mostly in the jaw, scapula, and long bones), connective tissue neoplasms, desmoid tumours, and, in some cases, coexisting duodenal and thyroid carcinomas (which together are classified as Gardner syndrome) and less common structural deformations in the teeth may also be observed.2,3 The DNA bank of Polish families with FAP was established in 1997 at the Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Science in Poznan.

This study reports a spectrum of mutations of the APC gene in Polish patients with FAP.

### Patients

Clinical diagnoses of FAP in patients were established in genetic centres or gastroenterology clinics in Poznan, Szczecin, Krakow, Wroclaw, Gdansk, Warszawa, and Lodź, appropriate to the …


Introduction and aim. Anemia remains a leading contributor to years lived with disability (YLDs), being responsible for 50.3 million (5.82%) YLDs worldwide and 19.3 million (12.03%) YLDs in India, respectively. Results of the National Family Health Survey 2019-2021 (NFHS-5) suggest a high burden of anemia in India among women of reproductive age and children aged 6-59 months at the national level (57%, 67.1%), and in the state of Bihar, India (63.5%, 69.4%). Iron deficiency is the leading cause, accounting for more than half the cases. Anemia bodes harmful implications for both the mother and child, with long-lasting consequences for the latter. Anemia control programs have yielded little benefit despite efforts stretching over five decades. This narrative review aims to highlight the burden of anemia and the probable factors behind it among under-5 children and women of reproductive age in the Indian state of Bihar. Material and methods. The paper is a narrative review. The following databases were used to search and select literature: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar. In addition, the websites of relevant government departments and national health programs were searched for pertinent material. Analysis of the literature. A multitude of reasons seem to be behind the unabated high prevalence in Bihar: low socioeconomic status, gender disparities, traditional customs and practices, food insecurity, lack of diverse diets, poor consumption, and no adherence to iron and folic acid (IFA) supplements, groundwater contamination with arsenic and fluoride, and supply chain mismanagement, all playing roles of varying degree. Conclusion. An all-encompassing approach and not merely the provision of IFA supplements are necessary to unravel the intricate web of factors that lead to anemia.


The unimolecular dissociation and isomerization kinetics of the methyl ester combustion intermediates methoxycarbonylmethyl (CH2C(═O)OCH3) and acetyloxylmethyl (CH3C(═O)OCH2) are theoretically investigated using high-level ab initio methods and the Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus (RRKM)/master equation (ME) theory. Potential energy surfaces (PESs) are obtained using coupled cluster singles and doubles with perturbative triples correction (CCSD(T)), multireference singles and doubles configuration interaction (MRSDCI) with the Davidson-Silver (DS) correction, and multireference averaged coupled pair functional (MRACPF2) theory. The transition states exhibit high T1 diagnostics in coupled cluster calculations, suggesting the need for a multireference correlated wave function treatment. MRSDCI+DS and MRACPF2 capture their multiconfigurational character well, yielding lower barrier heights than CCSD(T) for these reactions. The rate coefficients are computed using the RRKM/ME theory over a 500-2500 K temperature range and at a pressure range of 0.01 atm to the high-pressure limit. The temperature- and pressure-dependent rate coefficients are given in modified Arrhenius expressions. The β-scission of CH2C(═O)OCH3 is predicted to have a much higher barrier than the corresponding isomerization reaction and the β-scission of CH3C(═O)OCH2. Consequently, the rate coefficients for β-scission of CH2C(═O)OCH3 are the smallest among the three reactions and the isomerization followed by decomposition to CH3C(═O) and HCHO is the dominant reaction pathway for CH2C(═O)OCH3. Both radicals CH2C(═O)OCH3 and CH3C(═O)OCH2 are predicted to mainly decompose to CH3C(═O) + HCHO rather than to the bimolecular product CH2C(═O) + CH3O. A newly developed MA combustion mechanism, using our theoretical rate coefficients for the MA-related reactions, predicts combustion properties in good agreement with available experimental data.


In this paper we consider the intuitionistic sentential calculus with Suszko's identity (ISCI). After recalling the basic concepts of the logic and its associated Hilbert proof system, we introduce a new sound and complete class of models for ISCI which can be viewed as algebraic counterparts (and extensions) of sheaf-theoretic topological models of intuitionistic logic. We use this new class of models, called Beth semantics for ISCI, to derive a first labelled sequent calculus and show its adequacy w.r.t. the standard Hilbert axiomatization of ISCI. This labelled proof system, like all other current proof systems for ISCI that we know of, does not enjoy the subformula property, which is problematic for achieving termination. We therefore introduce a second labelled sequent calculus in which the standard rules for identity are replaced with new special rules and show that this second calculus admits cut-elimination. Finally, using a key regularity property of the forcing relation in Beth models, we show that the eigenvariable condition can be dropped, thus leading to the termination and decidability results. 2012 ACM Subject Classification Theory of computation


Background and Purpose: The clinical symptoms of Huntington disease (HD) include progressive movement disorders, cognitive deficits, and behavioral changes, all of which affect an individual's ability to participate in activities of daily living. To date, very few quantitative or qualitative studies have been conducted to guide physical therapists working with people with HD. The objective of this study was to characterize current physical therapist practice for people with HD, thus informing the development of standardized clinical care and future research studies. Subjects and Methods: Consultation with physical therapists working with people with HD was undertaken in the form of mailed questionnaires (n=49) and semistructured interviews (n=8). The development of the interview schedule was aided by consideration of the data obtained from the questionnaires. Themes identified from the interviews were considered in light of published literature and questionnaire responses. Results: The main issues that emerged from the interviews were classified into 3 subthemes: (1) there is insufficient use of routine physical therapy–related outcome measures at different stages of HD, (2) there is underutilization of physical therapy services in managing HD (particularly in the early stages), and (3) the management of falls and mobility deficit progression is a key treatment aim for people with HD. Discussion and Conclusion: A conceptual framework for physical therapy intervention in HD was developed on the basis of the themes that emerged from the data in this study. Such a framework has utility for complex, progressive conditions such as HD and may facilitate clinical decision making and standardization of practice and affect the development of future physical therapy trials.


Purpose: To compare the caries prevalence, saliva buffering capacity (SBC), oral hygiene (OH), dietary habits, family income (FI) and frequency of visits to a dental office (Do) between Brazilian children living in areas with and without fluoridated public water supply. Methods: Forty-six 5-7-year-old preschoolers were selected in Itatiba, SP, Brazil; 19 were from a fluoridated area, and 27 were from a non-fluoridated area. The caries index was determined according to the World Health Organization criteria, and the SBC was assessed by titration with hydrochloric acid. The FI, frequency of OH and visits to Do were estimated by questionnaire. The dietary habits were assessed with a diet chart. The differences between the groups were analyzed with Mann-Whitney-U tests (α=0.05). Results: Children from the non-fluoridated area showed significantly higher dmft/DMFT than those from the fluoridated area, but they showed significantly lower SBC, OH frequency and FI. No significant differences were observed between the areas for dietary habits and visits to Do. Conclusion: Children from fluoridated areas showed higher salivary buffering capacity, family income and oral hygiene frequency as well as lower caries prevalence, supporting the beneficial effect of fluoride in the tap water for caries prevention.


The aim of this study was to describe the genetic structure of Pinus brutia TEN. subsp. brutia (NAHAL, 1983) growing at different elevations in the Taurus Mountains in Turkey, and to use these data to define seed collection and transfer zones. Isoenzyme analysis was performed on the maternal tissue of seeds to investigate the relationship between allele frequencies and altitude of populations occurring over a narrow geographic region in the vicinity of Antalya, in southern Turkey. Twenty-three loci encoding 14 enzyme systems were analyzed and 17 of these loci (69.6%), encoding 10 enzyme systems, were found to be polymorphic (69.6%). The mean genetic diversity within populations (H s ) was 0.263 and the mean total genetic diversity (H t ), 0.278, therefore, the proportion of total diversity among populations (G st ) was only 0.053; the mean degree of inbreeding within populations (F is ) was 0.167. Deficiency of heterozygotes was found in the Mnr-1, Mdh-4, 6Pgd-2 and Mpi loci. The results indicate that most of the genetic diversity in P. brutia is within populations. Significant relations were found between allele frequencies and altitude in Mdh-1, Mdh-4 and Skdh-1, Aco and Gdh enzyme systems. These results support earlier conclusions, based on several different methods of genetic research, concerning the existence of altitudinal clinal variation in Pinus brutia. subsp. brutia in the various traits analyzed. Hence, the importance of defining seed collection and transfer zones.


The muons reconstruction package for the SID/ILC detector has been extended to include the Electro-Magnetic Calorimeter. The procedure previously used to reconstruct the charged tracks, an helical fit approximation, has been replaced by a step by step analytical method accounting for the magnetic field and the energy loss by ionization. The trajectory of the muons and the impact of the method on the muon identification efficiency is analyzed. One compares the behavior of muons of different energies in the (x,y)plane and the (px,py) plane of the sub-detectors.


Turtle fossils of Paleocene age have been recovered from four formations in Alberta, Canada: the upper (Paleocene) part of the Scollard Formation, the upper (Paleocene) portion of the Willow Creek Formation, and the exclusively Paleocene Porcupine Hills and Paskapoo formations. At least three non-trionychid turtle taxa can be recognized. Definitely present are a generically indeterminate baenid, the macrobaenid Judithemys backmani, and the chelydrid Protochelydra zangerli. The carapace of a juvenile chelydrid could be either a juvenile of P. zangerli or a fourth, distinct taxon. The macrobaenid J. backmani and the chelydrid P. zangerli are the most abundant non-trionychid turtles from the Paleocene of Alberta. The turtles from the Paleocene of Alberta differ from those of comparable age in New Mexico, USA, and other more southern localities in the North American Western Interior in (i) the presence of macrobaenids and chelydrids and (ii) the absence of kinosternoids. These differences mirror those of the ...


Summary 50 patients from a group of 130 patients with transient ischaemic attacks or cerebral infarction were found to demonstrate in vitro spontaneous platelet aggregation (SPA) while 80 normal subjects tested never showed this phenomenon. The following additional findings point towards a possible platelet abnormality: 1. Platelets from 10 patients with SPA when isolated and resuspended in normal plasma still demonstrated SPA while isolated normal platelets resuspended in patient's plasma did not. 2. Platelets demonstrating SPA showed an increased aggregation tendency upon incubation with ADP while normal platelets developed the expected refractory state. SPA was found to be dependant upon the presence of divalent cations and could further be inhibited by phentolamine and adenosine. Aspirin effectively abolished SPA in 50 patients and relieved the clinical symptoms of patients with recurrent complaints of transient blindness and paraesthesia.


Digital advertising constitutes one of the main revenue sources for online platforms. In recent years, some advertisers tend to adopt auto-bidding tools to facilitate advertising performance optimization, making the classical utility maximizer model in auction theory not fit well. Some recent studies proposed a new model, called value maximizer, for auto-bidding advertisers with return-on-investment (ROI) constraints. However, the model of either utility maximizer or value maximizer could only characterize partial advertisers in real-world advertising platforms. In a mixed environment where utility maximizers and value maximizers coexist, the truthful ad auction design would be challenging since bidders could manipulate both their values and affiliated classes, leading to a multi-parameter mechanism design problem. In this work, we address this issue by proposing a payment rule which combines the corresponding ones in classical VCG and GSP mechanisms in a novel way. Based on this payment rule, we propose a truthful auction mechanism with an approximation ratio of 2 on social welfare, which is close to the lower bound of at least 5/4 that we also prove. The designed auction mechanism is a generalization of VCG for utility maximizers and GSP for value maximizers.


As COVID-19 took hold, online learning became the norm as universities and classrooms worldwide were forced to close their doors. Education institute closures impacted more than 1.2 billion students across 186 countries as of April 2020. This pandemic, too, has shifted our Malaysian education sector as well. Academicians and students are adopting online learning via open and distance learning platforms. Education 5.0 is the revolution of human intelligence and cognitive computing. When the world is moving towards this, the major challenge one will face is the challenges in this digitalisation era, the challenges on cyber security and the risk associated with it. This study uses a digital learning platform to examine the cyber security awareness among UiTM Terengganu Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences students. The study is significant to focus on the weakness and to educate the students about being cyber victims. The data was collected using a set of questionnaires among 110 students. Numbers and statistics from open-ended and closed-ended questions helped obtain data. Descriptive analysis shows that many students have awareness and knowledge of cyber security, cyberattack, and cyberbullying. © 2022. All Rights Reserved.


We consider -smooth real hypersurfaces of infinite type in . The purpose of this paper is to give explicit descriptions for stability groups of the hypersurface and a radially symmetric hypersurface in .


The analysis in this chapter shows that the differential rate of growth in the manufacturing sector was the key driving force behind regional disparities in Ireland, and that this in turn has been driven by differential productivity growth. The degree to which the divergent pattern is due to the underlying industry characteristics was considered in detail. The analysis suggests that there are substantial differences between regions in terms of those characteristics and that these are significantly related to economic performance. These characteristics include the average scale, the degree of foreign ownership and the level of process sophistication, which in turn impact on the level of productivity and profitability. TRENDS iN THE REGiONal ECONOMiC aCTiViTY Of iRElaND: THE ROlE Of PRODUCTiViTY


Objective: To compare the long-term outcomes of patients treated with carotid endarterectomy and carotid-artery stenting. Background: Evidence for the long-term safety and efficacy of carotid-artery stenting compared with endarterectomy is accumulating from randomized trials. However, comparative data on the long-term outcomes of carotid revascularization strategies in real world practice are lacking. Methods: We conducted a population-based, multicenter, observational cohort study using validated linked databases from Ontario, Canada. We identified all individuals treated with carotid endarterectomy and stenting (2002–2014), and followed them up to 2015. We compared long-term (up to 13 years) and 30-day outcomes of each strategy using multilevel multivariable Cox proportional-hazards models, and conducted confirmatory analyses using propensity-score matching methods. Results: In all, 15,525 patients received carotid-artery revascularization. Rate of the primary composite outcome of 30-day death, stroke, or myocardial infarction plus any stroke during 13-year follow-up was higher with stenting (16.3%) compared with endarterectomy (9.7%) [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.57, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.43–1.73, P < 0.001). The increased risk with stenting was observed regardless of age, sex, intervention year, carotid-artery symptoms, or diabetes. The primary outcome was driven by higher rates of 30-day stroke (adjusted HR 1.59, 95% CI 1.29–1.95), 30-day death (adjusted HR 2.62, 95% CI 2.20–3.13), and long-term stroke >30 days after the procedure (adjusted HR 1.47, 95% CI 1.36–1.59) with stenting; 30-day myocardial infarction was lower with stenting (adjusted HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.57–0.86). These results were confirmed with 1:2 propensity-score matching (HR for primary composite outcome with stenting 1.55, 95% CI 1.31–1.83, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Compared with carotid endarterectomy, stenting was associated with an early and sustained approximately 55% increased hazard for major adverse events over long-term follow-up. Although nonrandomized, these results raise potential concerns about the interchangeability of carotid endarterectomy and stenting in the context of actual clinical practice.


Statistical descriptions of dynamical chaos and investigations of noise effects on chaotic oscillation regimes are reviewed. Nearly hyperbolic and nonhyperbolic chaotic attractors are studied. An illustration of the technique of diagnosing the attractor type in numerical simulations is given. Regularities in relaxation to the invariant probability distribution are analyzed for various types of attractors. Spectral-correlative properties of chaotic oscillations are investigated. Decay laws for the autocorrelation functions and the shapes of the power spectra are found, along with their relationship to the Lyapunov exponents, diffusion of the instantaneous phase, and the intensity of external noise. The mechanism of the onset of chaos and its relationship to the characteristics of the spiral attractors are demonstrated for inhomogeneous media that can be modeled by the Ginzburg–Landau equation. Numerical data are compared with experimental results.