Gravitational-wave detections are now probing the black hole (BH) mass distribution, including the predicted pair-instability mass gap. These data require robust quantitative predictions, which are challenging to obtain. The most massive BH progenitors experience episodic mass ejections on time-scales shorter than the convective turnover time-scale. This invalidates the steady-state assumption on which the classic mixing length theory relies. We compare the final BH masses computed with two different versions of the stellar evolutionary code $\tt{MESA}$: (i) using the default implementation of Paxton et al. (2018) and (ii) solving an additional equation accounting for the time-scale for convective deceleration. In the second grid, where stronger convection develops during the pulses and carries part of the energy, we find weaker pulses. This leads to lower amounts of mass being ejected and thus higher final BH masses of up to ∼$5\, \mathrm{M}_\odot$. The differences are much smaller for the progenitors that determine the maximum mass of BHs below the gap. This prediction is robust at $M_{\rm BH, max}\simeq 48\, \mathrm{M}_\odot$, at least within the idealized context of this study. This is an encouraging indication that current models are robust enough for comparison with the present-day gravitational-wave detections. However, the large differences between individual models emphasize the importance of improving the treatment of convection in stellar models, especially in the light of the data anticipated from the third generation of gravitational-wave detectors.


The center of our Galaxy is a known strong source of electron-positron 511 keV annihilation radiation. Thus far, however, there have been no reliable detections of annihilation radiation outside of the central radian of our Galaxy. One of the primary objectives of the INTEGRAL (International Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory) mission, launched in 2002 October, is the detailed study of this radiation. The Spectrometer on INTEGRAL (SPI) is a high-resolution, coded-aperture gamma-ray telescope with an unprecedented combination of sensitivity, angular resolution, and energy resolution. We report results from the first 10 months of observation. During this period a significant fraction of the observing time was spent in or near the Galactic plane. No positive annihilation flux was detected outside of the central region (∣ l ∣ > 40°) of our Galaxy. In this paper we describe the observations and data analysis methods and give limits on the 511 keV flux.


This study is on investigations of open rectangular and triangular channel flows. The aim is to determine the more hydraulically efficient channel between open rectangular and triangular channels. The laws of conservation of mass and momentum have led to partial differential equations which are non-linear. Analytical methods cannot be used to solve such equations hence finite difference method has been used.Velocity and depth of flow play a major role in determining discharge. Effects of varying various parameters on velocity have been investigated. Variation of velocity of the fluid with depth has also been investigated.Graphs of velocity profiles obtained by varying parameters such as channel slope, energy coefficient, channel top width and roughness coefficient have been drawn. More graphs of variation of velocity with depth and also for comparison of velocity profiles for both open rectangular and triangular channels have been plotted. It is found out that the velocity of flow increases as depth increases and the velocity becomes maximum slightly below the free surface. Moreover, increase in the channel slope, energy coefficient and top-width leads to an increase in flow velocity whereas increase in roughness coefficient leads to a decrease in flow velocity. It is also found out that for a fixed flow depth and width an open rectangular channel is more hydraulically efficient than an open triangular channel.This study goes a long way in control of floods, irrigation and in construction of channels such as house gutters.


P71 Figure 1ConclusionInpatient rehabilitation for patients with Long Covid was associated with improvement in exercise performance, lung function and psychological parameters with and without hospitalization during the acute COVID-19 infection. Results indicate the usefulness of rehabilitation to reduce and avoid long-term consequences of a COVID-19 infection independent of the severity of the acute course of the disease.


From about 1373 to 1570, or for nearly two centuries, the kings of Ryukyu engaged in a prosperous and active trade between East and Southeast Asia. Several hundred Ryukyuan ships voyaged to Southeast Asian ports, from Siam to Patani, Malacca, Sumatra, Java, and elsewhere. These were in addition to, and indeed complementary to, hundreds of trading voyages to China, Japan, and Korea. However, there are only scattered references to the Ryukyuan trading expeditions to Southeast Asia in Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean records. What is more, Ryukyuan chronicles compiled in the seventeenth century contain only fragmentary notices of these voyages. This was most puzzling to modern scholars, for other records showed that tremendous quantities of goods of southern origin were carried frm Ryukyu to China, Japan, and Korea in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, indicating that there must have been a correspondingly large trade with southern regions. It had to be presumed that in connection with such trade, countless records and documents must have been compiled. And yet the official histories of Ryukyu made only passing mention of old contacts with countries in the southern seas.


As a meshfree particlemethod, the MPS (Moving Particle Semi-implicit) method is an efficient numerical tool for simulating flowswith complicated behavior of water surface, such aswave breaking. In this paper, the MPS method hasbeen applied to solve the Navier-Stokes equation for simulating the breaking and post-breaking of solitary waves on a uniform slope. The high precision of MPS method in the simulation of violent free surface flows, likethebreaking waves, isconfirmed through both quantitative and qualitative comparisons to other numerical results by the BEM or the VOF and experimental data. The process of splashup which ishard to be simulated by conventionalgrid-based methods is alsowell reproduced by the MPS method.


| Objective: this study sought to identify strategies used in the Management of Assistance Costs with an interface in the Care Audit. Method: this is a qualitative research of the type of integrative literature review. A search was carried out in health databases: SciELO, Pubmed, LILACS and Ibecs. The publication period included the last five years, articles available online and in Portuguese, English or Spanish. Eleven articles were selected. Results: the data analysis was based on that proposed by qualitative health research, according to Minayo. A thematic category entitled: 'Care cost management and the interface with care audit'. Conclusions: the nurse is the professional who can perform the audit focused on the quality of care, managing the costs related to it. When associated with technologies, protocols, evaluation instruments, the audit of care is more effective, these being the main strategies for the management of care costs with a direct interface in the audit of care.


Gram-negative bacteria are one of microorganism responsible for nosocomial infections in Indonesia. Nosocomial bacteria can cause nosocomial diseases, which are difficult to cure with antibiotic treatment. This bacterial observation was carried out using image processing to replace visual inspection. The process of this research consists of four stages, namely Pre-processing preparing image data, dividing objects by segmentation, obtaining and selecting features, ending with classification. At the segmentation stage, the bacterial image object was chosen that best suits the expert representation, in this case, a medical analyst. Feature extraction is done to get the pixel object information to be processed. At the classification stage, the use of extreme learning machines was chosen due to its shorter training process time. Two different bacteria were used, namely nosocomial bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria. In this research, selected bacterial Klebsiella pneumonia was obtained from 50 patients until a total of 2520 images were obtained. At the classification stage, the results of the bacterial object feature extraction are used 120 photographs in the training process and 40 image data in the testing process, with the total amount of data used, is 160 images with 512x512 pixel size and 24-bit depth. Extreme learning accuracy results are obtained in 96.71% of the process testing.


Throughout the centuries, the existence of rest points that marked the roads that crossed Spain allowed the development of travel routes. Its inclusion in historical cartography and in geographical dictionaries, as well as the existence of specific legislation, reflects the importance of the years. They came to be distinguished as an architectural typology of their own, up to the point of view of a project and the examination proposal for access to the titles of architect or master of works in the different Academies of Fine Arts that emerged in Spain for the regulation of exercise of architecture. The roads are elements that are subordinated to the characteristics of this type of architecture, qualities that depend on their entertainment function and based on these establishments, becoming a characteristic image that distinguishes it from the rest. At present, although they are part of the history of communications and their value to be part of the Cultural Heritage and public works, these pieces are in disuse and many of them have disappeared or are in danger of to do it without having been documented what were its morphological, compositional, constructive aspects and its relations with the society of the moment.


A protein with trypsin inhibitory activity was purified to homogeneity from the seeds of Murraya koenigii (curry leaf tree) by ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatography on HPLC. The molecular mass of the protein was determined to be 27 kDa by SDS-PAGE analysis under reducing conditions. The solubility studies at different pH conditions showed that it is completely soluble at and above pH 7.5 and slowly precipitates below this pH at a protein concentration of 1 mg/ml. The purified protein inhibited bovine pancreatic trypsin completely in a molar ratio of 1:1.1. Maximum inhibition was observed at pH 8.0. Kinetic studies showed that Murraya koenigii trypsin inhibitor is a competitive inhibitor with an equilibrium dissociation constant of 7 × 10− 9 M. The N-terminal sequence of the first 15 amino acids showed no similarity with any of the known trypsin inhibitors, however, a short sequence search showed significant homology to a Kunitz-type chymotrypsin inhibitor from Erythrina variegata.


In this Teaching Tips article, the author argues for a dialogic conception of voice, based in the work of Mikhail Bakhtin. He demonstrates a dialogic view of voice in action, using two writing examples about the same topic from his daughter, a fifth-grade student. He then provides five practical tips for teaching a dialogic conception of voice in elementary and middle school classroom settings.


A novel approach towards 7b-aryl-indeno[1,2,3-jk]fluorene based on a nitrogen-containing core is reported. The acid-promoted Friedel-Crafts reaction of 9-(2-bromophenyl)-9-fluorenol with carbazole, triphenylamine or triindole afforded 9-(2-bromophenyl)fluorenyl-carbazole, -triphenylamine and -triindole derivatives, which were subsequently converted to 7b-aryl-fluoradenes via palladium-catalyzed intramolecular C-H direct arylation as a key step.


We test the methods for computing the Picard group of a $K3$ surface in a situation of high rank. The examples chosen are resolutions of quartics in $\bP^3$ having 14 singularities of type $A_1$. Our computations show that the method of R. van Luijk works well when sufficiently large primes are used.


Ovaries from 8-week-old female NMRI mice in different stages of the oestrous cycle, or from females neonatally treated with the synthetic oestrogen diethylstilboestrol (DES; 5-10(-6) micrograms daily for 5 days), were studied histologically and for the ability to synthesize steroids from [3H]pregnenolone in vitro. Daily doses of 10(-4) micrograms DES or higher resulted in absence of corpora lutea. In ovaries lacking corpora lutea, the interstitial tissue dominated and the cells in this compartment were large with a clear cytoplasm. The steroids synthesized in ovarian homogenates were separated with thin-layer chromatography. The homogeneity of the steroids was checked in recrystallization experiments. Daily doses of 5-10(-4) micrograms DES in the neonatal period resulted in pronounced deviations in the pattern of ovarian steroids synthesized as compared with control ovaries. In DES-exposed ovaries, the synthesis of androstenedione and, above all, progesterone was high while the synthesis of 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone and testosterone was reduced compared with controls. These results could argue for a difference in activities of 17 alpha-hydroxylase and 17 beta-ol-dehydrogenase in ovaries from DES-treated females compared with controls. After transplantation of DES-exposed ovaries to ovariectomized control females, the steroid pattern changed to that typical for control ovaries. Control ovaries transplanted to DES-treated females had a steroid pattern similar to that of DES-exposed ovaries.


This article proposes a method to optimize fire tests of protective coatings. This method is based on two principal concepts: 1) fire in coating tests is replaced with corresponding damaging factors, and 2) actual coated structures and elements are replaced with coated samples. Examples of fire tests of silica-based coatings applied to wood, steel, and concrete are given. The proposed method reportedly reduces expenses and allows application of experimental results to similar situations.


This paper examines whether the different macroeconomic performances of the German economy in two post-war decades provide evidence for the theory (first advanced by Mancur Olson) that sharp institutional breaks are conducive to economic growth because they destroy the existing network of distributional coalitions. It is shown that the answer to this question is negative because the institutional break in Germany after World War II was much less complete than assumed by Olson and others: all major interest groups quickly regained their traditional strength, and they did so in organizational forms that were not substantially more encompassing than before in the sense of Olson's theory. The paper proposes an alternative interpretation of the relevant periods in terms of stable corporatist institutions that reduce the absorptive capacity of an economy in a symmetric way, thus exacerbating the growth and employment effects of negative and positive exogenous shocks that originate in changes of the terms of trade or the speed of productivity growth.


Background One of the most cost-effective interventions to enhance child health with the potential to reach families of all economic backgrounds is breastfeeding. Despite the many benefits optimal breastfeeding has, its practice is low due to various barriers among which maternal employment is mentioned repeatedly. Accordingly, this study has explored the experience of employed mothers with regards to breastfeeding, employment, and work environment in Addis Ababa Ethiopia. Methods and findings A descriptive Phenomenology strategy was employed among 17 mothers drawn from different organizations, conveniently, that offer accommodation of six months maternity leave or onsite child care center or had only three months maternity leave. Data were collected through in-depth interviews until information saturation was reached. Recorded interviews were transcribed and translated and the information obtained was then organized and coded to generate overarching themes. Two themes on facilitators and barriers, and addressing barriers were generated after analysis. Mothers recognize the importance of breastfeeding for children but returning to work at three months is expressed as a major barrier to continuous breastfeeding. Mothers who have access to supporting conditions at their workplace expressed better breastfeeding practice and better satisfaction with their job. Conclusions Providing employed mothers with a supporting environment helps them work with better stability, motivation, and satisfaction. This however requires a suitable accommodation with a focus on the different kinds of work environments of the mothers and the different risks related to each respective environment via scaling up and monitoring breastfeeding interventions and calling upon institutions to remove structural and societal barriers to breastfeeding.


Despite multiple advances in medicine, the management of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women has remained stalled for decades. To prevent the development of symptomatic recurrences, low-dose antibiotics are the mainstay, while alternative approaches have been attempted with limited success. The use of probiotics was first considered forty years ago, and while some promising studies have been published, additional evidence in larger patient groups is needed to recommend specific strains as a primary preventive regimen. Overall, the role of beneficial microbes in reducing the risk of UTI and other urological diseases, such as urolithiasis, remains a target for researchers. The aim of this perspective is to offer a viewpoint on the status of this approach and recommendations for how to develop novel probiotic therapies.


One of problems after peripheral nerve injury and surgery is scar tissue formation. Although the continuity of axons is restored, often the axonal viability and recovery is blocked by scarring. For preventing from scar formation silicone tubes are widely used. In addition, in the present study was used hyaluronic acid, which prevents adhesion. The aim of the present study is to evaluate electrophysiological results on nerve regeneration obtained after incision and reconstruction of rat sciatic nerve using only silicone tubes and silicone tubes filled with hyaluronic acid. Electrophysiological measurements were performed at 30th and 60th days after surgery. The amplitude and latency of the compound muscle action potentials and nerve conduction velocities were calculated for each rat. Although sciatic nerve conduction velocities in all operated groups not reached control values, amplitude and latency values in group with silicone tube and in group with silicone tube filled with hyaluronic acid statistically achieved control values on day 60. Silicone tubes filled with hyaluronic acid had better results compared to the silicone tubes without hyaluronic acid. Hence, the use of silicone tubes and hyaluronic acid for the reconstruction of nerve injuries seems to give good results on axonal regeneration.


Equations have been derived for relating the shape of measured end-loss-ion energy spectra in tandem-mirror magnetic-fusion experiments to key plasma parameters. The authors assume a collisional central-cell ion distribution. Equation parameters include the end-cell peak potential, the potential at the end-cell inner mirror peak, the magnetic field at the peak-potential position, and the central-cell ion temperature. These equations have been used to obtain good fits to end-loss-ion energy spectra from the Tandem Mirror Experiment-Upgrade (TMX-U). An especially interesting application of this analysis is to TMX-U operating conditions where strong deuteron and proton end losses occur simultaneously. Independent fits to these two quite different spectra, using the spectra-shape equations, give the same value of peak potential. Such consistency gives credibility to the usefulness of this type of analysis.


The magnetization reversal process of ferromagnetic Fe film with biaxial easy axes has been investigated using magnetotransport measurements. In addition to the change in the planar Hall resistance (PHR) between the positive and negative values depending on the direction of magnetization, we have noticed that the amplitude of the PHR strongly depends on the applied field direction. Specifically, when the external field direction is near the easy axis, the amplitude of the PHR is significantly reduced in the field scan data. This phenomenon was understood by the presence of multidomains with three different directions of magnetizations.


This document presents a proposition for a reference Internet Science curriculum that can be adapted and implemented jointly or in collaboration, by different Universities.

The construction of the curriculum represents a challenge and an opportunity for the NoE, as it represents the essence of Internet Science. What are the main aspects to be taught? What is the kernel? These questions are answered by the curriculum.

The curriculum is a reference document and a guideline for the different universities wishing to implement it. It has to allow for adaptation to the heterogeneous national and institutional contexts. Nonetheless, our goal is to have the curriculum provide a definitive basis for a universally - recognised degree, considering the related constraints in order to ensure compatibility. In this way, the curriculum presented here is the root of a range of curricula; it may lead to a degree within an existing Departmental course, an autonomous an d dedicated degree or a component of new joint degrees.

This document presents the process that lead s to the construction of the curriculum, followed by the main goal, the scientific content and issues related to possible implementation.

The version presented here is a preliminary version. This is due to several reasons; most noticeable being that the choice of the implementation schema is currently under study (deliverable due for end of 2014) and it s input might influence the form or content of the curriculum. On the other hand, we will start collecting feedback, which will might as well trigger changes.

The curricula in its current form it's been subject to a communication at WebSci Education Workshop, held in conjunction with the Web Science 2014 Conference, in Bloomington, Indiana, June 2014. We had positive feedback during the conference from the web - science community. The 6 theme balanced structure was particularly appreciated.


The problem of the Darrieus–Landau instability at a discontinuous deflagration front in a compressible flow is solved. Numerous previous attempts to solve this problem suffered from the deficit of boundary conditions. Here, the required additional boundary condition is derived rigorously taking into account the internal structure of the front. The derived condition implies a constant mass flux at the front; it reduces to the classical Darrieus–Landau condition in the limit of an incompressible flow. It is demonstrated that in general the solution to the problem depends on the type of energy source in the flow. In the common case of a strongly localized source, compression effects make the Darrieus–Landau instability considerably weaker. Particularly, the instability growth rate is reduced for laser ablation in comparison to the classical incompressible case. The instability disappears completely in the Chapman–Jouguet regime of ultimately fast deflagration.


Preoperative paralysis of the facial nerve was found in 145 of 1,029 patients with malignant parotid tumours (14%) treated at nine university clinics in Scandinavia. The incidence of facial paralysis varied between the different clinics. A parellelism between the incidence of the facial paralysis and the impairment of the prognosis of the different tumour types is shown. The presence of preoperative facial nerve paralysis in malignant parotid tumours implies a very poor prognosis but the situation is not as hopeless as has been suggested and therefore one must rely on very radical surgery.


In terms of both words and images the world had never seen the like of the American comicbook. They were bizarre, morbid, lurid, risque and bursting with subconcious desires of burgeoning youth culture. By the time 1954 arrived their were 500 different comics beingpublished by 35 different companies, selling over 60 million copies a month between them. This is the history of the era and the art it produced. The book looks at the pioneers of the comicbook and the comic's founding links with sleazy pulp magazines; the campaign for censorship; the fraught relationship between the comicbook artists and their publishers; how what they did was rarely recognised as art at the time - and of course the comics themselves.


We report a neutron diffraction and muon spin relaxation $\ensuremath{\mu}$SR study of static and dynamical magnetic properties of ${\mathrm{BaCo}}_{2}{\mathrm{V}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{8}$, a quasi-one-dimensional spin-chain system. A proposed model for the antiferromagnetic structure includes: a propagation vector ${\mathrm{kP\vec}}_{\text{AF}}=(0,0,1)$, independent of external magnetic fields for fields below a critical value ${H}_{c}(T)$. The ordered moments of 2.18 ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}$ per Co ion are aligned along the crystallographic $c$ axis. Within the screw chains, along the $c$ axis, the moments are arranged antiferromagnetically. In the basal planes the spins are arranged ferromagnetically (forming zigzag paths) along one of the axes and antiferromagnetically along the other. The temperature dependence of the sublattice magnetization is consistent with the expectations of the three-dimensional (3D) Ising model. A similar behavior is observed for the internal static fields at different muon stopping sites. Muon time spectra measured at weak longitudinal fields and temperatures much higher than ${T}_{N}$ can be well described using a single muon site with an exponential muon spin relaxation that gradually changes into an stretched exponential on approaching ${T}_{N}$. The temperature-induced changes of the relaxation suggest that the Co fluctuations dramatically slow down and the system becomes less homogeneous as it approaches the antiferromagnetic state.


Most science applications in radio astronomy require great sensitivity and, thus, large amounts of collecting area and a quality receiver. Decoupling of the resolution and sensitivity is done by splitting the aperture into many antennas, where one may choose the sensitivity (number of antennas) independently of the resolution (spacing of the antennas). The ATA will be nearly as sensitive as the most sensitive current radio telescopes because it will have a large collecting area, about 10,000 m/sup 2/. However, the ATA will be unusual in several respects: it will have a wide field of view (about 5 deg/sup 2/ at 1,420 MHz - for reference, the moon and Sun are each about 0.2 deg/sup 2/), continuous frequency coverage from 0.5 to 11.2 GHz (with simultaneous observations possible throughout the band), and a very large number of antennas. The technologies primarily enabling the ATA are low-cost ultra-wide-bandwidth analogue electronics and high-speed digital electronics, as well as "mid-quantity" production techniques.


A 35 keV preinjector for matching a 30 mA H{sup {minus}}beam into the radio-frequency quadrupole (RFQ) section of the SSC linac has been designed using the SNOW code. The distinguishing feature of this injector is that the conventional gas-neutralized transport and matching units are replaced by two einzel lenses. Some advantages of this approach are discussed. 7 refs., 5 figs., 3 tabs.


We study the feasibility of using a multi-Optical Transition Radiation (m-OTR) system for fast transverse emittance reconstruction and x-y coupling correction in the Ring to Main Linac (RTML) of the future linear colliders: ILC and CLIC. OTR monitors are mature and reliable diagnostic tools that could be very suitable for the setup and tuning of the machine in single-bunch mode. Here we study the requirements for a m-OTR system adapted to the optical conditions and beam parameters of the RTML of both the ILC and CLIC.


The point of departure for this paper is US evidence claiming that citizens do not possess an adequate understanding of the concept of progressive taxation. Using the format of standard survey questions, most respondents preferred progressive taxes. When faced with similar questions framed in concrete terms, a majority rejected progressive taxes. By analysing data from Sweden, it is shown that irrespective of whether abstract or concrete measures are applied, most citizens support progressive taxation. There is no evidence indicating that Swedes in general do not understand the concept of progressive taxation. To explain why US citizens are more ignorant about progressive taxation than Swedish citizens, it is suggested that the Swedish welfare state institutions and the surrounding political environment may be exercising a substantially stronger educational influence on the meaning of redistributive concepts.


Hyperlipidemia is the greatest risk factor of coronary heart disease. Currently available hypolipidemic drugs have been associated with number of side effects. Herbal treatment for hyperlipidemia has no side effects and is relatively cheap and locally available. Based on high Glycoside content in herbal plants, Picrorhiza kurroa was selected and the present study focus on the anti-hyperlipidemic activity. The alcoholic,chloroform and aqueous root extracts of Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth were screened for its antihyperlipidemic activity in Triton wr- 1339 induced albino rats. Atorlip-20 was used as reference standard. The results showed significant decrease in triglyceride and cholesterol level when compared with the hypolipemic groups by using different dose: low (50mg/kg), high (200mg/kg) and standard Atorlip-20(4mg/kg bw) and by treating for 7 hr and 24 hr.


A consortium led by Institut Neel (Grenoble) has just finished installing a new powerful millimetre camera NIKA2 on the IRAM 30 m telescope. It has an instantaneous field-of-view of 6.5 arcminutes at both 1.2 and 2.0 mm with polarimetric capabilities at 1.2 mm. NIKA2 provides a near diffraction-limited angular resolution (resp. 12 and 18 arcseconds). The 3 detector arrays are made of more than 1000 KIDs each. KIDs are new superconducting devices emerging as an alternative to bolometers. The commissionning is ongoing in 2016 with a likely opening to the IRAM community in early 2017. NIKA2 is a very promising multi-purpose instrument which will enable many scientific discoveries in the coming decade.


In order to improve livestock production and curb the losses from diseases occurrence in livestock, producers resort to the use of antimicrobials as growth promoters to inhibit the growth of disease-causing organisms. Freshly harvested pawpaw leaves were extracted using three solvents: ethanol, methanol and n-hexane and their phytochemicals determined using standard procedure. The inhibitory activities of the extracts at low (200ppm) and high (1000ppm) concentrations against Aspergillus niger and Escherichia coli were also determined. Results obtained showed that alkaloid, flavonoid, saponin, tannin and cardiac glycosides were present while anthraquinone was absent. The percentage yield of phenols using methanol (0.115%) and ethanol (0.214%) solvents were similar but lower than nhexane yield (0.450%). Also the yield of flavonoid using methanol (0.700%) is significantly (p<0.05) higher than the yield using other solvents. The yield of phenols using methanol (0.480%) and ethanol (0.470%) solvents were identical but higher than n-hexane yield (0.400%). At low concentration, it was observed that the inhibitory concentrations of pawpaw leaf extract against bacteria by control, streptomycin (1.2cm) was significantly (p<0.05) higher but similar to the extract from methanol solvent (1.1cm). Methanol extract inhibition was also similar to ethanol (1.0cm) but higher than n-hexane (0.0cm). At high concentration, the inhibitory activity of the ethanol extract (1.2cm) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than the control (0.7cm) and the least observed in n-hexane (0.0cm) extract. The inhibitory concentrations of pawpaw leaf extract against fungi Aspergillus niger at low (2.2cm) and high (2.2cm) concentrations, the methanol extract was observed to be significantly (p<0.05) higher than other extracts including control. The results suggest that using methanol-extracted pawpaw leaf as alternatives to synthetic antibiotic in animal production is effective against microbial organisms. Thus the occurrence of resistance to antibiotic or its residues on animal products will be reduced.


Description In Every Knee Should Bow, Steven Harmon explores the manner in which Clement of Alexandria (ca. 160-215 C.E.), Origen (ca. 185-ca. 251 C.E.), and Gregory of Nyssa (331/340-ca. 395 C.E.) appealed to Scripture in developing rationales for their concepts of apokatastasis, the hope that all rational creatures will ultimately be reconciled to God. Harmon argues that these patristic universalists maintained their hope for "a wideness in God's mercy" primarily because they believed this hope was the most coherent reading of the biblical story. Although Hellenistic thought might also have suggested an eschatology in which the end corresponds to the beginning, the eschatologies of these ancient Christian theologians were shaped mainly by the Hebrew story of creation, fall, redemption, and consummation, read through the lenses of the church's experience of God's saving work in the person of Jesus Christ. These early attempts to take seriously the biblical story's affirmations of the divine intention to save all people on the one hand, and of judgment and hell on the other, have a certain timeless relevance. In a context not unlike that of the late antique Christian world, the postmodern church again wrestles with these tensions in the biblical story in the midst of religious pluralism.


In this research, we propose a series of methodologies to mine transit riders travel pattern and behavioral preferences, and then we use these knowledges to adjust and optimize the transit systems. Contributions are: 1) To increase the data validity: a) we propose a novel approach to rectify the time discrepancy of data between the AFC (Automated Fare Collection) systems and AVL (Automated Vehicle Location) system, our approach transforms data events into signals and applies time domain correlation the detect and rectify their relative discrepancies. b) By combining historical data and passengers ticketing time stamps, we induct and compensate missing information in AVL datasets. 2) To infer passengers alighting point, we introduce a maximum probabilistic model incorporating passengers home place to recover their complete transit trajectory from semi-complete boarding records.Then we propose an enhance activity identification algorithm which is capable of specifying passengers short-term activity from ordinary transfers. Finally, we analyze the temporal-spatial characteristic of transit ridership. 3) To discover passengers travel demands. We integrate each passengers trajectory data in multiple days and construct a Hybrid Trip Graph (HTG). We then use a depth search algorithm to derive the spatially closed transit trip chains; Finally, we use closed transit trip chains of passengers to study their travel pattern from various perspectives. Finally, we analyze urban transit corridors by aggregating the passengers critical transit chains.4) We derive eight influential factors, and then construct passengers choice models under various scenarios. Next, we validate our model using ridership re-distribute simulations. Finally, we conduct a comprehensive analysis on passengers temporal choice preference and use this information to optimize urban transit systems.


The epistemic approach to the analysis of games utilizes two basic ingredients. The first is a formal framework, or language, that allows the modeler to provide a precise, exhaustive description of what players can do and think about each other. The second is a set of assumptions, stated in the formal language one chooses to adopt, about the players' decision rules (e.g. sequential rationality) and mutual beliefs (e.g., "Player 1 believes that Player 2 believes that 1 is sequentially rational"). These two ingredients are then "combined" to produce behavioral implications: that is, one proves that, within the framework of choice, a given set of assumptions is satisfied (if and) only if players choose certain actions or strategies. This approach is attractive because it allows the modeler to justify predictions, or characterize solution concepts, in terms of clearly defined assumptions about behavior and beliefs. Furthermore, it promises to bridge the gap between decision theory and game theory. Savage [4] and Anscombe and Aumann [1] provided axiomatic characterizations of expected-utility maximization. In much the same spirit, Aumann and Brandenburger [2] provide an axiomatic characterization of Nash equilibrium, Tan and Werlang [5] characterize normal-form rationalizability, etc. I remember Robert Wilson making this observation on several occasions. His insistence on the importance of establishing proper foundations for game theory, as well as his remarks on the subtle aspects of backward and forward induction, prompted me to investigate strategic rationality in extensive games from the point of view of of interactive epistemology. The following paper is the first in a series I coauthored with Pierpaolo Battigalli, then at Princeton University. Its aim is to provide the first, basic ingredient for the epistemic analysis of extensive games—a framework that allows one to formulate assumptions about the players' mutual conditional beliefs at each history or information set. We show that, loosely speaking, the model we propose is rich enough to accommodate any combination of (coherent) assumptions, and indicate some applications.


features a selection of handball players of various skill levels through interdependence parameters psychophysical condition. The involved 243 handball players of various skill levels. anthropometric measurements, physical fitness testing, to determine the state of psycho-physiological functions, the calculation of the success of competitive activities. Found that for every subsequent stage of preparing young handball players are selected with certain anthropometric parameters. The selection of qualified athletes indicate a significant advantage of psychophysiological indicators. At the middle level of general physical preparedness depending on the length and circumference of the lower limbs in the making of sportsmanship. Middle and high dependence on the success of competitive activity indicators of spatial perception, logical and spatial thinking is installed in a group of skilled athletes. Identifying additional parameters for the selection of the stages of many years of sports training handball.


A numerical diffraction model is used in a study of the stability of single-mode lasing in a laser with a plane—plane Fabry—Perot resonator. The ranges of the parameters in which stable operation is possible are found for a laser with a locally saturable medium and for a continuous-flow CO2 laser.


Background It is unclear whether neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) has a deleterious influence on urogenital function in rectal cancer patients who undergone lateral lymph node dissection (LLND). The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of urogenital dysfunction following total mesorectal excision (TME) + LLND with or without nCRT for mid-low rectal cancer, as well as to investigate the factors that predict urogenital dysfunction. Methods From January 2015 to December 2020, a total of 106 consecutive patients who underwent TME + LLND surgery for mid-low rectal cancer were reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups based on whether they had undergone nCRT (n=51) or not (n=55). Results Overall, 106 patients responded to the questionnaires. nCRT was not associated with urinary dysfunction [International Prostatic Symptom Score (IPSS): 9.86 vs. 9.43, P=0.778; postoperative urinary dysfunction: 51.0% vs. 34.5%, P=0.087] or male sexual dysfunction [International Index Erectile Function (IIEF) score: 18.45 vs. 18.42, P=0.980; postoperative sexual dysfunction: 61.3% vs. 54.8%, P=0.607]. According to the univariable analyses, tumour distance from the anal verge ≤4 cm (P=0.029) and type of operation (P=0.020) were associated with an increased risk of urinary dysfunction; patients' age (P=0.026) and type of LLND (P=0.044) were candidate risk factors for male sexual dysfunction. However, multivariable analyses showed that tumour distance from the anal verge was independently associated with urinary dysfunction (OR =2.505; 95% CI: 1.080–5.813; P=0.032); patients' age was an independent risk factor for male sexual dysfunction (OR =3.654; 95% CI: 1.028–12.982; P=0.045). Conclusions In rectal cancer patients who had LLND, nCRT showed no significant additive effect on genitourinary function as compared to individuals who had TME + LLND alone. Urinary dysfunction was linked to the distance between the tumor and the anal margin, while age was an independent predictor of sexual dysfunction.


Our views of interferon production and action have evolved from the simple to the complex. We review evidence that interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) may induce a portion of its antiviral activity through the induction of another interferon. This is shown by demonstrating IFN-alpha in the supernatant fluids of IFN-gamma-treated mouse cells and showing that, under certain conditions, the antiviral activity of IFN-gamma in mouse and human cells can be reduced by antibody to IFN-alpha or IFN-beta, respectively. Induction of mouse spleen, bone marrow, and peritoneal exudate cells also results in their production of IFNs-alpha and/or -beta. In addition, new preliminary data indirectly suggests the presence of IFN-gamma in poly(IC):poly(LC)-treated mouse cells. In both of these systems, the maximal antiviral activity appears to develop as a consequence of the induction of a second interferon.


Abstract Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is now a standard procedure for the treatment of symptomatic aortic valve stenosis in many patients. In Germany, according to the annual reports from the German Institute for Quality Assurance and Transparency in Healthcare ( Institut für Qualitätssicherung und Transparenz im Gesundheitswesen ), the rate of serious intraprocedural complications, such as valve malpositioning or embolization, coronary obstruction, aortic dissection, annular rupture, pericardial tamponade, or severe aortic regurgitation requiring emergency cardiac surgery has decreased markedly in recent years from more than 5.5% in 2012 to 2.0% in 2019. However, with increased use, the total number of adverse events remains about 500 per year, about 100 of which require conversion to sternotomy. These, sometimes, fatal events can occur at any time and are still challenging. Therefore, the interdisciplinary TAVI heart team should be prepared and aware of possible rescue strategies.


We present an approach to find the edge congestion sum and dilation sum forembedding of square of cycle on n vertices, Cn 2 , and Cn 2 −1 + K1 into arbitrary tree. The embedding algorithms use a technique based on consecutive label property. Our algorithm calculates edge congestion in linear time.


This article presents key findings of the first comprehensive global study of the commercial use of plutonium as fuel for nuclear energy. Research was conducted in all seven countries that have engaged in the commercial production or use of plutonium Mixed-Oxide (MOX) fuel to replace traditional uranium fuel in thermal nuclear power plants: Belgium, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the UK. Five of the seven countries already have decided to phase out commercial MOX activities. The price of thermal MOX fuel has proved to be three to nine times higher than traditional uranium fuel. Plutonium fuel also has sparked political controversy, due to safety and proliferation concerns, in four of the six countries where it has been used commercially. The article concludes with lessons for countries that are engaged in, or contemplating, the recycling of plutonium for nuclear energy, including in fast reactors.


This paper presents the design of a capacitive coupler for underwater wireless power transfer (U-WPT) focusing on kQ product. Power transfer efficiency hinges on the coupling coefficient $k$ of the coupler and unloaded Q-factor of water. First, $k$ is derived from the equivalent circuit of the coupler and it is elucidated that $k$ is dependent on the frequency. The pivotal elements that improve $k$ are also found. Next, the frequency characteristic of the Q-factor in tap water is calculated from the measured results. Then, the design parameters at maximum kQ product are determined. Finally, it is demonstrated that the efficiency of U-WPT with the designed coupler achieves 80.9% which is as high as a conventional magnetic coupling.


This article is a report of the development of the Parental Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (PSS:NICU), which is designed to measure parental perception of stressors arising from the physical and psychosocial environment of the neonatal intensive care unit. Stress theory, literature reviews, expert consultation, and parent interviews guided instrument development and refinement and established the content validity of the instrument. Construct validity is supported by links with theory, correlation with anxiety measures, and factor analytic results. Alpha coefficients support the tool's internal consistency. Three scales were identified: Parental Role Alterations, Sights and Sounds of the Unit, and Infant Behavior and Appearance. Available metrics allow scoring for stress occurrence levels, overall stress levels, and number of stressors experienced. The PSS:NICU can serve as a research or clinical measure to evaluate stressors experienced by parents with infants in a NICU.


This case study draws attention to the psychosocial difficulties that emerged in the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in relation to the remote management of subjects with psychiatric vulnerabilities following exposure to prolonged quarantine. The case involves a 56-year-old hospital nurse, followed by the Occupational Health Department of a major university hospital in central Italy for mood instability in the context of a cyclothymic temperament. She was quarantined for occupationally acquired COVID-19 and remained positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) via swab test for more than 2 months between March and May 2020. In this case study, we discuss the challenges presented by the risk of a prolonged quarantine in a psychologically vulnerable employee, the need for occupational medicine to provide adequate health surveillance of all health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, the effectiveness of telepsychiatry, and the difficulties in formulating a proper treatment strategy.


The article deals with a clinical case description of a female patient with toxic encephalopathy against the background of Ph-negative myeloproliferative diseases. The article discusses symptoms and neuroimaging of hepatic encephalopathy developed as a result of a shunt placed after portal vein thrombosis. The issues of etiology and pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy, principles of therapy, as well as the unique clinical picture of nervous system damage in this condition are also discussed. Data on the role of manganese in development of toxic encephalopathy, accumulation of paramagnetic substance in the basal ganglia of the brain and development of extrapyramidal symptoms are presented. The pathogenesis of toxic damage to neurons, increase in their sensitivity to hypoxia, and the relationship with the risk of cerebrovascular disorders and development of chronic cerebral ischemia, contributing to reduction of cognitive functions, are described.


Carbon nanotubes in the form of multiwalled fullerenes are shown here to self-assemble under homogeneous gas-phase conditions of carbon condensation in an inert atmosphere heated to 1200$DGR@C-conditions previously thought to be optimal only for the annealing and growth of C{sub 60} and other spheroidal shells. Tubular fullerenes are known to be less stable than their spheroidal counterparts and have thus far been reported only in circumstances where some extrinsic factor (e.g., high electric fields, catalytic metal particles, hydrogen atoms, or a surface at low temperature) was available to help keep the fullerene structure open at its growing end. The experimental evidence reported here now indicates that multiwalled tube growth is inherent in the condensation of pure carbon vapors. Adatoms bonded between edge atoms of adjacent layers at the growing end are proposed to be the crucial intrinsic factor facilitating tube growth by stabilizing the open conformation against closure. This new view of the growing nanotube tip structure is likely to impact on nanotube growth mechanisms under other conditions, particularly the arc. 32 refs., 4 figs.


OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the effect and mechanism of Si-Miao-Yong-An decoction (SMYAD) on diabetic foot by simulating the microenvironment of diabetic foot in vitro, and further verify these results using bioinformatics analysis technology, in order to provide a basis for the treatment of diabetic foot with traditional Chinese medicine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured under hypoxia to simulate the microcirculation of diabetic foot. Then, these were administered with SMYAD for intervention. Afterward, the cell viability was detected by MTT assay, the apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry, and the STAT3 signaling pathway and Bcl-2 and Bax protein expression were detected by Western blot. Next, TCMSP was used to determine the chemical composition and target gene information of the SMYAD, and the GeneCards database was used to search for the disease-related target gene information of diabetic foot. Furthermore, the Venny 2.1 online software was used to screen and obtain the drug–disease common target genes for the SMYAD and diabetic foot. The common target genes were entered into the STRING database for retrieval, in order to construct the network diagram for protein-related action, and the R software was used to analyze the pathway enrichment, in order to explore the mechanism of the SMYAD in the treatment of diabetic foot microcirculation. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the SMYAD increased the activity of HUVECs cultured in the hypoxia state but decreased the apoptosis rate. Furthermore, the protein expression of p-STAT3 and Bcl-2 increased, and the protein expression of Bax decreased (P < 0.05). A total of 235 drug-related target genes were found by screening, and 4553 target genes related to diabetic foot were obtained. The Venny software analysis revealed that there were 171 drug–disease interaction target genes. The STRING database and the GO and KEGG functional enrichment analysis revealed that STAT3, AKT, MAPK, and other proteins were involved, and that these may be correlated to the mechanism of the SMYAD in the treatment of diabetic foot microcirculation. CONCLUSION: SMYAD can affect the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax genes by regulating the activity of the STAT3 signaling pathway, playing a role in the treatment of diabetic foot.


The relationships between biotic and climatic factors and three parameters of fitness (survival, developmental rate, fecundity) and population density were examined for the exotic red pine scale, Matsucoccus resinosae (Homoptera: Margarodidae), in a plantation of red pine, Pinus resinosa, in Connecticut, USA, over a period of population increase and decline from 1975 to 1980. When scale density was relatively low and injury to trees was minor, measures of fitness were not correlated with density. However, when density increased markedly, each measure of fitness was significantly negatively correlated with scale density. Also, as scale density increased so too did injury to trees indicated by an increasing percentage of branches exuding resin. A greater percentage of nymphs dispersed and died as branches became resinous and unsuitable for colonization. Even though scale density decreased sharply after 1977, survival, developmental rate, and fecundity continued to decline, indicating that deterioration of red pine as a host was progressive and irreversible. The scale killed all trees in the plantation within 7 yr of its initial colonization. The single most important factor leading to the collapse of the red pine scale population was change in the magnitude of overwintering mortality incurred by nymphs. Drastic reductions in scale numbers during winter more than offset population growth during the rest of the year and resulted in overall annual population decline. Steadily increasing overwintering mortality from year to year was due to density-dependent reduction in developmental rate which resulted in nymphs overwin- tering in a developmental substage incapable of surviving even relatively mild winter temperatures. Natural enemies were not important to the population dynamics of M. resinosae. The only such species encountered, the cecidomyiid fly Lestodiplosis nr. grassator, consumed only 5-7% of the scale ovisacs in each year, showing no response to the changes in scale population density.


Signature has been one of the widely used verification biometrics out there. Handwritten signatures are used in cheques, forms, letters, applications, minutes, etc. The Signature of every individual is unique in nature, that is why it is essential that a person's handwritten signature be uniquely identified. Signature Verification is a widely used method for authenticating any individual during absence. Human verification is prone to inaccuracy and sometimes indecisiveness. This paper presents an investigation of using Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) for Writer-Dependent models in signature verification. Random distortions were generated in genuine images using an autoencoder to get forged signatures, which were passed to the classifier during training. The paper details all the pre-processing steps carried out on the image and shows various test results for changing the number of training sets of images. The average test accuracy for Persian dataset is 83% when the system was trained with 22 genuine images. There was a decrease of 9.4% in accuracy when the model was trained with 9 genuine images.


Studies were carried out to determine the effects of melon pod fermentation on the proximate and mineral composition of the melon seeds. Two varieties of melon commonly found in Nigeria were analyzed for similarities in this study. Proximate and mineral compositions of the seeds ( Citrullus vulgaris , Egusi melon) were determined using standard analytical procedures. Comparative analysis of the seeds from the fermented pod and those from the unfermented pods showed that there were negligible differences in the seeds composition reported to dry weight. Results shows that the moisture content for the fermented samples was between 5.3±0.1% and 5.8±0.3%, while in the unfermented seeds it was 5.3±0.1% and 5.6±0.3% for the Bara and Sewere respectively. Ash content was 3.3±0.1% and 3.8±0.1% in the fermented while it was 3.5±0.1% and 3.6±0.1% in the unfermented Bara and Sewere respectively. Ether extract was between 31±0.1% and 33±0.1%, crude protein (18.25±0.1% and 19.30±0.2%), crude fiber (14.92±0.1% and 15.8±0.1%) and total carbohydrate (22±0.2% and 23±0.2%). The acid value for the unfermented melon seeds of all the varieties used was in the range of 1.65±0.1% and 1.68±0.1% while the Iodine values obtained was in the range of 21.4±0.1% and 21.6±0.1%. The results showed that fermentation does not affect the mineral compositions of the melon seed and had no significant effect on the quality of the seed at the 5% significant level using the Duncan Multiple Range Test.


This note initiates a study of the semi-orthogonality relation on the lattice of principal left ideals generated by idempotents of a Rickart ring. It will be seen that two left ideals in a von Neumann algebra are semi-orthogonal if and only if their unique generating projections are non-asymptotic. Connections between semi-orthogonality, dual modularity, von Neumann regularity, and algebraic equivalence will be es-tablished; those Rickart rings with a superabundance of semi-orthogonal left ideals will be characterized.


Purpose: The high-speed growth of China's large-scale new economy indicates that innovation has become the most important economic growth pole. The study aims to explore the structure of the path to innovation, in which we focus on the mediating effect of organizational character. Design/methodology/approach: Considering the indigenous context of China's new economy, the study divides innovation into two types: technological innovation and business model innovation. Then, we build a path model to achieve the innovation by taking intellectual capital and organizational character as antecedents. Finally, a structural equation model is built to measure the path on the basis of sample data collected via a questionnaire survey. Findings: The results indicate that intellectual capital has a significant positive direct effect on technological innovation, but its direct effect on business model innovation is not significant. Organizational character not only mediates the relationship between the intellectual capital and technological innovation, but also plays a mediating role in the effect path from the intellectual capital to business model innovation. In addition, technological innovation has a positive impact on the business model innovation, and mediates the relationship between the intellectual capital and business model innovation. Originality/value: The study takes intellectual capital and organizational character as the common antecedents of innovation and breaks down the content of innovation research into technological innovation and business model innovation. Thus, it establishes a new theoretical analysis framework for dual innovation research and enriches the related theories. The framework would have stronger explanatory power for revealing the innovation strategy and behavior carried out by a large number of corporate organizations in China and the boom of new economy. Furthermore, it would lead enterprises to organize innovation activities more effectively and improve their innovation performances.


Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC

Background. TR is a DNA-binding alkaloid approved in Europe for the treatment STS as second/third line therapy. TR interferes with gene transcription and nucleotide excision repair, inducing DNA double strand breaks (DSBs). There is a strong clinical interest to increase TR activity by combination with other anti-cancer drugs. PARP-1 inhibitors (PARPi) which disable DNA base-excision repair mechanism causing the accumulation of DSBs, look like a worth to explore TR therapeutic partners. Our preclinical studies were focused on the effects of the combination of TR with the PARPi (OL and veliparib). Methods: We explored DNA damage by comet assay and P-H2AX determination, PARP-1 activity by polyADPribosylation assay in a panel of 18 sarcoma cell lines, evaluating cell viability after 72h treatment with escalating doses of TR, PARPi, and their constant combination. Colony growth, cell cycle, apoptosis and DNA damage were evaluated. Antitumoral activity was checked after 4 weeks of treatment with 3 endovenous injection of TR once a week and OL intraperitoneally 5 days/week, and compared to control and single agents in bone (SJSA-1) and soft tissue sarcoma (DMR) xenografted NOD/SCID mice. TUNEL assay, P-H2AX, PCNA and CD31 immunohistochemistry was done on explanted xenografts. Results: We showed TR-induced DNA damage and PARP-1 activation in sarcoma sensitive cell line. The addition of PARPi completely blocked basal and TR-induced PARP-1 activation. DNA damage response and checkpoints (ATM, ATR, BRCA1, CHK1, CHK2, p53) were activated after single agents and combination treatment inducing cell cycle arrest in S/G2 phase. This block was released after 48h in single agent-treated cells but not in combination-treated cells leading to apoptotic cell death. Colony growth assay and viability tests revealed a strong synergism of the two drugs (Combination Index myxoid liposarcoma > leiomyosarcoma > osteosarcoma ≥ undifferentiated pleomorphic > fibrosarcoma). The antitumor effect of combined TR and OL was shown after in vivo treatment of SJSA-1 and DMR xenografted mice. A significant tumor volume reduction was observed if compared to both control and single agent and was attributed to increased DNA damage, apoptosis and reduced proliferation, but not to anti-angiogenic potentiation. In fact, a direct effect on tumor vasculature was shown in TR and combination treated group vs control. Conclusions: Our results validate the biological rationale to combine TR and PARPi in sarcoma and suggest exploring this pharmacological approach in the clinical setting.

Citation Format: Ymera Pignochino, Federica Capozzi, Carmine Dell'aglio, Marco Basirico, Lorenzo D'ambrosio, Danilo Galizia, Erica Palesandro, Maria Serena Benassi, Massimo Aglietta, Giovanni Grignani. The antitumor effect of trabectedin (TR) is potentiated by olaparib (OL) in preclinical models of bone and soft tissue sarcomas (STS). [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-213. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-LB-213


A compact S-band auto-tracking antenna feed for 6 m mono-pulse auto-tracking ground station is presented. It is designed to reduce the effect of blockage of the antenna systems and modify the orientation angle of the main reflector to align antenna boresight with a satellite. A circular waveguide is designed to connect to the septum polarizer for communication between the earth and LEO satellite. Based on the circular waveguide as an inner metal, a cylindrical metal is added as an outer metal to form a coaxial line for tracking LEO satellite. The uplink band of the antenna feed is from 2.025 to 2.12 GHz and the downlink band is from 2.2 to 2.3 GHz. The results show that the antenna gain of 6 m reflector is about 39.7 dBic and the 1-dB-beamwidth is 1 degree. The polarization isolation between sum and difference patterns is larger than 30 dB, and the axial ratio is lower than 1.1 dB within ± 0.5 degree range.


A performance analysis was carried out on the mushroom-like electromagnetic band gap (EBG) structure which is integrated with a microstrip patch antenna. Various configurations of the EBG structure embedded and stacked with the patch antenna were simulated and analysed. Depending on the EBG and patch configuration, the results indicated improvement in the gain, directivity, back lobe suppression and also beamwidth increment when integrated with a patch antenna operating at a frequency of 5.4Ghz.


Using 693 000 datacells from 33 000 sample construction firms that operated or failed between 2008 and 2017, failure prediction models were developed using artificial neural network (ANN), support vector machine, multiple discriminant analysis (MDA), and logistic regression (LR). The accuracy of the models on test data surprisingly showed ANN to have only a slightly better accuracy than LR and MDA. The ANN's number of units in the hidden layer and weight decay hyperparameters were consequently tuned using the grid search. Tuning process led to tedious machine computation that was aborted after many hours without completion. The state of art big data analytics (BDA) technology was, for the first time in failure prediction, consequently employed and the tuning was completed in some seconds. Mean accuracy from cross validation was used for selection of the model with best parameter values, which were used to develop a new ANN model that outperformed all previously developed models on test data. Subsequent use of selected variables to develop new models led to reduced tuning computational cost, but not improved performance. Since the real-life effect of a misclassification cost is greater than the tedious computation cost, it was concluded that BDA is the best compromise.


In the present paper, based on the previous work (Part I), we present a game semantics for the intensional variant of intuitionistic type theory that refutes the principle of uniqueness of identity proofs and validates the univalence axiom, though we do not interpret non-trivial higher propositional equalities. Specifically, following the historic groupoid interpretation by Hofmann and Streicher, we equip predicative games in Part I with a groupoid structure, which gives rise to the notion of (predicative) gamoids. Roughly, gamoids are "games with (computational) equalities specified", which interpret subtleties in Id-types. We then formulate a category with families of predicative gamoids, equipped with ∏ -, ∑ and Id-types as well as universes, which forms a concrete instance of the groupoid model. We believe that this work is an important stepping-stone towards a complete interpretation of homotopy type theory.


The relative change in the electrical magnetoresistivity of non-magnetostrictive amorphous alloys Metglas 2705X and 2705M has been investigated at 295 K. Owing to their zero magnetostriction they showed a small longitudinal magnetoresistivity. Their ferromagnetic anisotropy of resistivity (FAR) was found to be small. Furthermore, no stress dependence of magnetoresistivity was found for these alloys.


Understanding molecular mechanisms involved in melanoma resistance to drugs is a big challenge. Experimental evidences suggested a correlation between mutational status in B-RAF and melanoma cell susceptibility to drugs, such as paclitaxel, doxorubicin and temozolomide, which generate an accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the cells. We investigated the survival phenotype and the protein level of c-myc, a B-RAF target molecule, in melanoma cells, carrying a different mutational status in B-RAF, upon paclitaxel, doxorubicin and H2O2 treatment. For the first time, we reported c-myc modulation is critical for melanoma drug response. It appeared drug-specific and post-transcriptionally driven through PP2A; in correlation, cell pre-treatment with okadaic acid (OA), a specific PP2A inhibitor, as well as PP2A silencing of melanoma cells, was able to increase melanoma cell drug-sensitivity and c-myc protein level. This is relevant for designing efficacious therapeutic strategies in melanoma.


A Q-switched polarization-maintaining (PM) Thulium (Tm3+):Holmium (Ho3+)-codoped triple-clad fiber (THTF) laser is under investigation with special focus on important optical parameters enabling efficient frequency conversion into mid-infrared (mid-IR). An active fiber of 5 m length is used in a single-oscillator free-space cavity arrangement and operated in continuous-wave and pulsed operation. In Q-switched regime at a repetition rate of 63 kHz, high pulse energies up to 760 μJ were obtained while reaching pulse widths as low as 45.6 ns, resulting in pulse peak powers of 15.7 kW with an average output power of 48 W. In addition, an Mx,y2<1.2 and a FWHM of 290 pm for the emission spectrum was measured.


To the Editor:— The threat to our medical freedom is a lot more subtle than that which we face from our government. It comes from our brethren in the field of hospital administration. These gentlemen have gone far in their quest for power as evidenced by the attitude of a recent applicant for the post of hospital administrator. In referring to his previous hospital, he described the hospital as "his" hospital and the doctors as "his" doctors and the board of directors as "his" board of directors. To him, all of these people played a subservient function to his ultimate aims. These aims are to form medical centers in which the hospital administrator would direct all activities. The hospital administrator at one time was a man of consequence and upon his shoulders fell the burden of the financial solvency of the hospital. Today he has little to worry about, all


The influence of vegetation on aeolian sediment transport rate in the region from a backshore to a foredune was investigated at the Hasaki Coast in Japan, where an onshore wind was predominant and the creeping beach grasses Carex kobomugi and Calystegia soldanella were major species. The comparison of cross‐shore distributions of the cross‐shore component of aeolian sand transport rate with and without vegetation, which were estimated on the basis of the beach profile changes and a mass conservation equation, showed that the creeping grasses influenced the aeolian sand transport rate. The landward aeolian sand transport rate rapidly decreased landward from the seaward limit of vegetation when the grasses grew. The aeolian sand transport rate reduced by 95% with a vegetation cover of 28%. On the other hand, when the grasses were absent, the landward aeolian sand transport rate did not decrease near the seaward vegetation limit, but near the foot of the foredune.


Abstract The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration has prompted an intense political debate at both the international and domestic levels. Most controversies focus on its legal stance and highlight the hybrid character of the Compact as a soft-law instrument. While acknowledging the political nature of the Compact, this paper delves into its legal dimensions from the perspective of international law. This inquiry into its normative content discloses three main features: (1) the Compact is not a codification of international legal norms governing migration; it is an instrument of both (2) consolidation and (3) expansion of international law to foster inter-governmental co-operation and promote safe, orderly and regular migration.


The purpose of this study was to contribute to the revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) by exploring how mental health service users and their relatives conceive the influence of the contextual factors, as described in Chap. 21 of the ICD-10, on a) the onset of a mental or behavioral disorder; b) the resurgence of such a disorder; and c) the recovery process. In individual and group interviews, the 18 main categories of contextual factors proposed by the ICD-11 (beta draft) were discussed through the Contextual Factors Questionnaire (CFQ). Participants in individual interviews (N=28) completed the CFQ. Among the three dimensions, it was for the recovery process that the contextual factors were considered to be the most influential, followed by their influence on the resurgence of a mental or behavioral disorder and then by the influence on the onset of that disorder. The most influential factor for a single dimension was that of 'interventions' on the recovery process, whereas the 'social or cultural factors' are the most influential ones for all dimensions combined, closely followed, at par, by 'risk factors' and 'interpersonal relations'. As recovery is also dependent upon health services and interventions globally, this paper suggests that these could be more effective if they were recovery-oriented and with recovery as a common overarching goal for mental as well as for physical healthcare provision and thus for global recovery. However, further work is needed to validate its reliability for enhanced mental and physical health parity in general practice.


This article briefly reviews the development of image recognition in and outside China. It presents theoretical research achievements and applied research as well as several typical applications of image recognition in China. Finally, it discusses future trends in image recognition integrated with cognitive science. This article is part of a special issue on AI in China.


Fifty-two clinical samples collected from patients with postoperative wound infections in various age groups were examined for presence of multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens – in especially – Staphylococcus aureus. The majority of samples were for age between 31 and 40 yrs (32.69%) followed by other age groups, while the lowest samples were taken from age group 1 to 10 yrs (5.76%) P<0.05. A total of 131 isolates were identified and the main causative agent was S. aureus (24 isolates 18.32%), while other bacterial types isolated from postoperative wounds were as follow: Escherichia coli 16 (12.21%), Klebsiella spp 11(8.39%), Enterobacter cloaeca 8 (6.1%), Proteus spp 7(5.34%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 20 (15.26%), Staphylococcusepidermidis 11 (8.39%), Staphylococcus saprophyticus 8 (6.1%), Staphylococcus xylosus 5 (3.81%), Viridance streptococci 10 (7.63%), Streptococcus pyogenes 7 (5.34%), and Enterococcus faecalis 4 (3.05%) P<0.01. Sixteen antibiotics were used to test the resistance of S. aureus. Penicillin G gave 100% resistance ratio for all of 24 tested isolates, while the highly affected antibiotic was cefotaxime that gave the lowest resistance percentage (16.66%). Other antibiotics had ranges of resistance between these limits P<0.01. S. aureus developed a resistance mode for at least eight antibiotics. The biggest percentage of resistance was for the resistance of four antibiotics (21.18%) P<0.01.


Technology has revolutionized the diagnosis and staging of pancreatic malignancy. Previously, staging of disease was accomplished by exploratory laparotomy. Now, however, tumor size, lymph node and vascular involvement and the presence of metastases can be reliably assessed prior to operation using a widely available series of diagnostic tests, facilitating a preoperative assessment of tumor resectability. Appropriate use of these tests often spares patients with unresectable disease the need for operative intervention. As part of our staging algorithm we routinely employ a combination of clinical suspicion, a high-resolution helical CT scan and a serum CA 19-9 level. Endoscopic ultrasonography is useful in the patient in whom CT findings are equivocal, or in whom a tissue diagnosis is desired. Laparoscopy is reserved for patients with suspected advanced disease despite imaging findings to the contrary. Using this strategy, pancreatic malignancy may be diagnosed as expeditiously and as cost-effectively as is possible given current technology.


The development and progression of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is strongly associated with complement activation and deposition. To characterize the role of C5a and its receptor (C5aR) in SLE, C5aR-deficient mice were backcrossed nine generations onto the lupus-like MRL(lpr) genetic background. Evidence is presented that C5aR modulates both renal injury and T cell responses in MRL(lpr) mouse. C5aR-deficient MRL(lpr) mice had prolonged viability, with a mean survival time of 33.0 wk compared with 22.6 wk in control mice. Renal injury was also attenuated in the C5aR-/- MRL(lpr) mice. At 20 wk of age C5aR-/- MRL(lpr) mice had a complete absence of glomerular crescents and marked reductions in glomerular hypercellularity. There was no difference in the degree of glomerular C3 deposition; however, IgG deposits were reduced in the C5aR-/- MRL(lpr) mice. The reduction in glomerular injury was also associated with a four-fold decrease in renal CD4+ T cell infiltrates. Whereas there were modest differences in total IgG anti-dsDNA antibody titers, C5aR-deficient mice had 3.5-fold higher levels of IgG1 and 15-fold lower levels of IgG2a anti-dsDNA antibody titers compared to controls. The differences in anti-dsDNA IgG subclasses were associated with reduced CD4+ Th-1 responses in the C5aR-/- MRL(lpr) mice, including diminished production of IL-12p70, IFN-gamma, and increased expression of the Th-2 transcription factor GATA-3. These findings indicate that the C5aR plays a major role in modulating complement-dependent renal injury and T helper cell Th-1 responses in the MRL(lpr) mouse.


The $2.1 million invested for the sweet corn research breeding program resulted in the release of Hybrix5 in 1995 which is a new sweet corn variety with improved insect and disease resistance. Based on the ex-post evaluation of this research program, it was estimated that the net benefits of the program up to 2006 (in 2006 dollars) is around $3 million. The producer benefits are 4.5 times the costs of R&D. Extending the period up to 2012 (20 years) resulted in estimated net benefits of around $6 million in 2006 dollars. The producer benefits are 7.2 times the costs of the R&D.


In this paper, we present the Multi-view Extended Videos with Identities (MEVID) dataset for large-scale, video person re-identification (ReID) in the wild. To our knowledge, MEVID represents the most-varied video person ReID dataset, spanning an extensive indoor and outdoor environment across nine unique dates in a 73-day window, various camera viewpoints, and entity clothing changes. Specifically, we label the identities of 158 unique people wearing 598 outfits taken from 8, 092 tracklets, average length of about 590 frames, seen in 33 camera views from the very-large-scale MEVA person activities dataset. While other datasets have more unique identities, MEVID emphasizes a richer set of information about each individual, such as: 4 outfits/identity vs. 2 outfits/identity in CCVID, 33 viewpoints across 17 locations vs. 6 in 5 simulated locations for MTA, and 10 million frames vs. 3 million for LS-VID. Being based on the MEVA video dataset, we also inherit data that is intentionally demographically balanced to the continental United States. To accelerate the annotation process, we developed a semi-automatic annotation framework and GUI that combines state-of-the-art real-time models for object detection, pose estimation, person ReID, and multi-object tracking. We evaluate several state-of-the-art methods on MEVID challenge problems and comprehensively quantify their robustness in terms of changes of outfit, scale, and background location. Our quantitative analysis on the realistic, unique aspects of MEVID shows that there are significant remaining challenges in video person ReID and indicates important directions for future research.


The EU-Turkey Deal of 2016 led to the enactment of a restrictive and specific asylum process for the Greek island of Lesbos, making the former Moria camp a detention center for thousands of migrants who failed to access international protection. Based on ethnographic evidence, I analyze and propose that the asylum process in Lesbos—a postcolonial border space under EU interference and control—derives from the colonial system of white supremacy. Based on historical and re-actualized racializations of migrant populations from different countries of the global south, the aim of the Greek asylum process has been to subject migrant populations in Moria to various processes of control, detention, illegalization and ultimately exposure to premature socio-physical death as in black holes: historical spaces of anti-black racism and humanitarian abandonment in the most hidden layers of Moria.


'Hot spotting' allows the identification of areas with disproportionate use of Emergency Department (ED) services. To date, 'hot spotting' has focused on large urban centres. The aim of this study was to determine if there are geographic hotspots for ED use in the rural general hospital. ED attendances were logged between 1st July 2013 and 30th June 2014. Frequent users and super users were isolated. Addresses were cross referenced against national census data to determine number of users per 500 population in geographically distinct regions. The number of frequent users ranged from 1.00/500 population to 4.88/500 population. Four out of nineteen areas had > or equals; 4 frequent users per 500 population. There was no correlation between number of users and distance from MGH (p=0.44). 77% of frequent users presented with mixed aetiologies. Nineteen percent of frequent attenders presented via GP referral only, 13% attended via self-referral only and 88% attended via GP and self-referral routes.


The effect of toxic doses of isoproterenol (ISP) on total activities and isoenzyme patterns of creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in rat sera was investigated and correlated with histopathological changes in the myocardial tissue. A single dose of 25 mg ISP per 100 g body weight caused a statistically important elevation of CK and LDH total activities and of the activities of cardiospecific isoenzymes CK-MB, LDH-1 and LDH-2 six hours after intraperitoneal administration. The isomorphic LDH isoenzyme pattern, which was also observed, was taken to be a proof of the ISP-induced cardiogenic shock. The increase in the activity of CK-MM and LDH-5 isoenzymes could be explained as a secondary consequence of cardiogenic shock and of the consecutive damage of the tissue with anaerobic metabolism such as liver. The findings were confirmed by a histopathological analysis showing the development of coagulative necrosis and myocytolysis as well as undulations of heart muscle cells as a sign of cardiogenic shock.


Effect of time for culling cows infected with Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis on prevalence and profitability was identified through simulations. Seven test-and-cull strategies with different culling criteria and no attempts to close infection routes were compared with strategies with (1) no control and (2) closure of infection routes and no culling. The effects on true prevalence and gross margin were evaluated in a herd with typical reproduction management (heat detection rate of 38%). This was repeated in a herd with poor reproduction management (heat detection rate of 28%), because poor reproduction leads to lack of replacement animals, which was hypothesized to affect the economic effects of culling. Effects of varying prices of milk, replacement heifers, and hourly wages were also evaluated. The simulated results predicted that immediate culling after the first positive antibody ELISA test would be the most effective culling strategy to reduce prevalence. However, closing transmission routes was even more effective in reducing the prevalence. In the first 3 to 6 yr, all test-and-cull strategies reduced gross margin by US$5 to 55/stall per year. These losses were fully compensated by increased gross margin in yr 6 to 19. In the short run (7 yr with typical reproduction and 10 yr with poor reproduction), it was most profitable to cull test-positive cows when their milk yield decreased below 85% of that expected according to their parity and lactation stage, especially in herds with poor reproduction management. However, this strategy only stabilized the prevalence and did not reduce it. In the long term (>7 yr from implementation of a strategy), it was most profitable to cull cows immediately or as soon as possible after testing positive the first time. Varying milk prices did not affect the ranking between the different culling strategies. Increased market price (20%) of replacement heifers made all culling strategies less profitable and made culling based on a milk yield criterion the most profitable culling strategy for a longer period (11 to 13 yr). A 20% reduction in heifer price made immediate culling after a positive test the most profitable strategy overall in herds with typical reproduction, and after 9 yr in herd with poor reproduction. To conclude, the ideal culling strategy depends on the aim of intervention, the time horizon, and the reproductive capabilities combined with prices of replacement animals.


Risk classification is common practise in the insurance market: on one hand, it can help to refine the premium schemes and improve the economic situation of the insurance companies; on the other hand, it is a traditional remedy for situations of adverse selection, as the economic theory has demonstrated. But the application of classification could be seen as altering competition in the marketplace when the statistical discrimination implies the adoption of the same price policies by many firms in the market. The paper tries to verify this affirmation in relation with the Italian market of the optional insurance against car thefts: in this liberalised market the insurance companies had applied risk classifications, but in 1994 the antitrust authority identified a cartel with reference to the exchange of statistical data to define a common statistical discrimination between the main insurance companies. In the final part of the paper, a model estimated using data about Italian insurance companies confirms the presence of adverse selection problems. This result could support the defence of the insurance companies based on the use of statistical discrimination as a remedy against informational problems. But, giving the same result also for the years after the antitrust authority sentence and the prohibition to the application of statistical discrimination, the result of the model could also be seen as a demonstration of the fact that in this case statistical discrimination was not a good tool against adverse selection problem.


Based on the ANSI 12.6-2002(R2009) standards, a core learning space is defined as a location within building where students assemble for educational purposes such as: classrooms, conference rooms, libraries and music rooms. Spaces where good communication is important but informal learning is the primary function are called ancillary learning spaces which include gymnasiums, cafeterias and corridors. The LEED® minimum acoustical performance - IEQ Prerequisite 3 - is to achieve a maximum background noise level of 45 dBA from HVAC systems within classrooms and core leaning spaces, and for core learning spaces smaller than 566 m 3 , confirm that 100% of the ceiling or equivalent surface areas are covered with acoustical material achieving NRC of 0.70 or higher. For space larger than 566 m3, the reverberation time should be 1.5 seconds or shorter. The LEED&regEnhanced Acoustical Performance - IEQ Credit 9 - is building shell, classroom partitions and other core learning spaces partitions should meet the STC requirements of ANSI S12.6-2002 standard, except windows, which must meet an STC rating of at least 35. Background noise level from HVAC in classrooms and other core learning spaces shouldn't exceed 40 dBA. The main acoustical challenges within schools where achieving enhanced acoustical performance are required by LEED&regwould be large windows and doors with unknown acoustical performances. A few challenges within schools will be discussed in this paper.


SUMMARY Interpretation of a composite seismic reflection traverse across Flamborough Head reveals a complex structural history. An east-west trending graben and small associated faults developed in late Jurassic times. During the early Cretaceous, however, a southward-throwing listric normal fault developed, across which Lower Cretaceous strata are interpreted as increasing in thickness approximately tenfold. Major extensional faulting ceased at the end of the early Cretaceous. The Bempton Shatter Zone is thought to result from post-Cretaceous reactivation of part of the listric fault during inversion of the Cleveland Basin.


In this thesis we adress one of the most important problems that affect the Informations Society- the invasion of personal privacy, The thsis takles the problem by means of statistical disclosoure control techniques such as microaggregation. The thesis is divided in four parts:
 The first part defines types of privacy depending on the point of viex of the study of the estate of the art of statistical disclousure control, microaggregation and kanonymity. The most common microaggregation methods are presented and their main shortcomings are emphasised.
 The second part of the tesis presents the main contributions of tha author to the field of microaggregation. In Chapter 4, a new variable-size method for multivariate microaggregation (i.e V-MDAV) is presented. Chapter 5 explains how to solve the multivariate microaggregation problem by means of evolutionary computation techniques. Chapter 6 presents a new tree-based blocking method that allows the management of very large amounts of data in efficient way. Chapter 6 concludes this part by presenting a new microaggregation heuristic (i.e mu-approximation). This is the first heuristic that has a known and provable upper-bound.
 The third part of this thesis considers some applications related to ubiquitous computation. Chapter 7 presents a scalable method that protects the privacy of RFID systems by means of Hash-Locks. Chapter 8 studies the main privacy problems related to location- based services, and it proposes a set of protocols that guarantee the privacy of the users of these services Finally, the fourth part of the thesis contains the conclusions and points out the main future challenges which must be faced in each of the studied areas.


If V is a smooth projective variety defined over a local field K with finite residue field, so that its étale cohomology over the algebraic closure K̄ is supported in codimension 1, then the mod p reduction of a projective regular model carries a rational point. As a consequence, if the Chow group of 0-cycles of V over a large algebraically closed field is trivial, then the mod p reduction of a projective regular model carries a rational point.


Using a time-resolved interferometric technique, we study the laser-induced carrier-trapping dynamics in SiO 2 and Ge-doped SiO 2. The fast trapping of electrons in the band gap is associated with the formation of self-trapped excitons (STE). The STE trapping is doping dependent in SiO 2. The mean trapping time of electrons excited in the conduction band was found to be significantly lower in Ge-doped silica (75 ± 5 fs) when compared to pure silica (155 ± 5 fs). At our concentration level, this indicates that the plasma properties are determined by the presence of easily ionizable states such as the presence of Ge atoms in the glass network. Therefore, we suggest that in Ge-doped silica there exist an additional trapping pathway that leads to a significantly faster excitons trapping and a higher plasma density when compared to undoped silica. © 2011 American Physical Society.


A rare case of root canal retreatment in a lower canine with two roots and three canals is presented. While the presence of two roots and two canals in one root is not uncommon, the finding of three canals in a lower canine appears not to have been reported previously.


Summary The finding that induced abortion is a risk factor for subsequent psychiatric disorder in some women raises important clinical and training issues for psychiatrists. It also highlights the necessity for developing evidence-based interventions for these women. P.C. / Evidence suggesting a modest increase in mental health problems after abortion does not support the prominence of psychiatric issues in the abortion debate, which is primarily moral and ethical not psychiatric or scientific. M.O. et al.


The Inventory of Family Feelings (IFF), a self-administered measure of interpersonal affect, maps a family's affective structure showing patterns of conflicted relationships and alliances. Three studies demonstrate that IFF scores have high reliability, construct and concurrent validity, and potential utility in family research. Families with identified patients and couples in marital therapy score less positively toward each other than control families, most of the negative affect in such families centers on and emanates from the identified patients, IFF scores are positively correlated with ratings of affect based on audio recordings of marital interaction and with Locke Wallace Short Marital Adjustment Test scores, and IFF scores and MMPI pathology indicies are negatively correlated.


This article assesses the potential for further developing targeted social assistance programs in Russia on the basis of need assessment. These programs are considered within the system of social assistance at the federal and regional level in terms of funding and coverage of the population. It is shown that at most a quarter of regional budget expenditures in this area could be refocused toward need assessment–based programs. The impediments to targeted social assistance programs in Russia are analyzed, and three changes that are necessary for their further development are proposed.


The analysis of uncertain linear time invariant (LTI) systems with input saturation has been addressed here in a linear matrix inequality (LMI) framework. The polytopic and norm bounded model uncertainties are considered. The LMI approach gives less conservative results and is computationally attractive. The circle and Popov criteria have been applied to analyze the stability and performance of the system in a convex optimization framework. For stability, a local analysis has been performed leading to maximization of the region of attraction of the system and for performance, the disturbance rejection problem has been taken up into the analytical framework. The optimization problem posed in LMI framework has been solved using MATLAB LMI toolbox and two numerical examples have been illustrated to show the efficacy of the proposed methods.


The effect of zeolite on the quality properties of fresh and broiled pork loin was investigated using 84 pigs that were fed with different feed ration of zeolite (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0% zeolite) for 3 months. The pH of fresh pork loin fed with 0% and 2.0% zeolite was 5.95, which was higher than those of others (P<0.05). The cooking loss of fresh pork loin fed with 0.5% and 1.0% zeolite were 26.24% and 26.42%, respectively, which was higher than those of others (P<0.05). The dissolution crude lipid of 1.0% zeolite (3.11%) was highest, but that of 0% zeolite was lowest (P<0.05). L and a values were highest in fresh pork fed with 1.0% zeolite, however, b value was highest in fresh pork fed with 2.0% zeolite (P<0.05). In the results of L value of the broiled pork loin, the feed ration with 0% zeolite was highest (75.49) and decreased as the feed ration of zeolite increased (P<0.05). The a and b values were highest in broiled pork fed with 0.5% zeolite (P<0.05). The hardness, springiness, gumminess and chewiness of fresh and broiled pork loin fed with 2.0% zeolite were highest and increased as the feed ration of zeolite increased (P<0.05). In the result of sensory evaluation in broiled pork loin, color preference was increased as the feed ration of zeolite increased (P<0.05). Taste preference was highest in the 1.0% zeolite (10.70), followed by 2.0% (8.72), 0.5% (7.64), and 0% zeolite (6.44) (P<0.05). Flavor and appearance preferences were not significantly different between the groups. Texture preference was decreased as the feed ration of zeolite increased. The overall preference was highest in the 1.0% with zeolite (10.80), followed by 0.5% (10.04), 0% (8.41), and 2.0% (7.92) with zeolite (P<0.05). In conclusion, the optimal feed ration of zeolite for broiled pork loin was between 0.5 and 1.0% zeolite.


All the major rivers of Odisha after attaining their old stage in the coastal plain fall into the Bay of Bengal. Most often the rivers including the biggest river Mahanadi brings flood calamity in the region. The coastal districts of Odisha particularly the Mahanadi Delta region has been victimised in the flood in terms of loss of lives of human being and domestic animals, damage of house properties, roads and bridges, crops etc. The article discusses the causes of the floods and management practices for controlling them.


1,3,5,…-Polyol structures are characteristic components of polyene macrolide antibiotics such as filipin III (1). Iterative stereoselective alkylation of lithiated cyanohydrin acetonides and subsequent reductive decyanation is one possibility for the stepwise synthesis of this class of natural products characterized by a polyol framework of 1,3-diol units.


SUMMARY Values are deduced for the efficiency of isolation against airborne particulates, e.g. micro-organisms, of a variety of ventilation systems. The calculated values show reasonable correspondence with the limited experimental data available. Much better control and indication of the air flow is necessary if high degrees of isolation are required.


Furapyrimidone, 1-[(5-nitrofurayl-2) methyene amino]-tetrahydropyrimidine-2-one, is a new antifilarial agent discovered in China. Its effects on adult worms and microfilariae of periodic Brugia malayi were studied in calf serum-Tyrode solution (1:20) containing 0.5% glucose. Furapyrimidone was lethal to adult worms and microfilariae and suppressed ♀ worms to release microfilariae at 1 μg/ml. When adult worms were kept in a medium containing furapyrimidone 50 μg/ml, the worms gradually lost their motility and died after 20 h. When adult worms were placed in furapyrimidone 1 μg/ml, the release of microfilariae by ♀ worms was suppressed and the survival time of adult worms was much shorter than that of controls (P<0.01). Microfilariae kept in a medium containing furapyrimidone 5μg/ml were all killed within 24 h. The survival time of microfilariae in furapyrimidone 0.5μg/ml was shorter than that of controls (P<0.01).


As we celebrate its 65th birthday in 2011, the question is whether the IEEE Computer Society is prepared for the next 65, or 25, or even 5 years.