The past 20 years or so have witnessed an increase in writings and publications from African settings. This is good news especially based on the belief that Africans have historically never been perceived as passionate about writing – let alone reading any material. However, what is still less exciting is the fact that there is still a wide gap between the writers' club and the general appreciation of copyright. In this sense, there is a disparity between the appreciation of copyright between authors and publishers.

This paper thus makes a fair attempt at addressing that gap. It gives a biased perspective towards Ugandan copyright law in pointing out the key principles that address publisher-author contractual relationships. The paper goes on to explain the different circumstances under which a license situation can be handled in such a relationship. Under various licensing models, the paper gives the author's perspective on delicate matters such as 'publisher's privilege', as well as situations involving new uses and old language situations for published works. The new licensing regime of the open source movement which generally by-passes publishers, is also addressed as well as the fair use principle. The emphasis given as a take-home out of this paper is an understanding of the nature of rights granted by one party to another in author-publisher contracts, as well as the geographical scope of the rights granted.


Changes taking place in the environment in which we live raise questions about the acceptable limits of economic and social development of the country, and specific controversy arises over ecological limits of development. The concept of bioeconomy may be treated as a response to emerging concerns. It is increasingly emphasized by European politicians and identified as the driving force of the development of various areas of the European Union. Bio-economy is defined for the needs of the European Union as the sustainable production of renewable biological resources (plants, animals, microorganisms), as well as their rational use in the production of food, feeds, industrial products and bio-energy. The aim of this paper is to present and evaluate the diversity of farm production in the region of Malopolska in the context of the development of bio-economy. The source data come from the National Agricultural Census for the years 2002 and 2010 and the General Statistical Office. The study used such research methods as horizontal and vertical analysis, cause and effect analysis, and tabular and descriptive analysis. The diversity of production structures in rural areas of the Malopolskie predisposes this area to give full effect to the principles of bio-economy within it. Despite many difficulties faced by the Malopolskie province agricultural producers, the potential of this area provides opportunities for development in many areas, directly or indirectly related to agriculture. Bioeconomy can be a solution to the low profitability of agricultural production, where this production (even from the smaller-sized households) will have an alternative, more profitable directions of use (eg. Energy production). Bio-economy, through focusing attention on the resources may in a particular way support and protect valuable natural areas, which are in large quantities located in the province. In the end, supporting food production will result in the maintenance of biodiversity in the world of plants and animals, and this is managed particularly well by small farms of the Malopolskie province, which avoid monocultures and excessive use of chemicals in agriculture. An indirect effect of the implementation of the concept of the bio-economy is the ability to create new workplaces for people who, moving away from agriculture, can find employment in rural areas outside the farms.


Histologic differential diagnosis of acinar cell carcinoma (ACC), mixed acinar-endocrine cell carcinoma (MAEC), and pancreatic endocrine tumors (PET) can be difficult but is important because of differences in their clinical behavior. This study investigates the utility of immunohistochemistry (IHC) in this differential diagnosis using immunohistochemical stains that are available in most laboratories. IHC was performed on paraffin-embedded tissue in ACC (n = 6), MAEC (n = 2), and PET (n = 13), using synaptophysin (SYN), chromogranin (CHR), chymotrypsin (CHY), and &agr;-1-antitrypsin (AAT). Electron microscopy (EM) was performed in all cases to confirm the diagnosis. Long-term follow-up and death of disease (DOD) was known in all patients. The ACCs stained as follows: CHY (4/6), AAT (3/6), SYN (4/6); CHR was negative in all cases. Both cases of MAEC stained with CHY, AAT, and SYN (2/2); CHR was negative. PET stained as follows: SYN (13/13), CHR (8/13), CHY (4/13), AAT (5/13). In the ACC/MAEC group, six of eight patients were DOD at mean follow-up of 11 months. Among the PET, two of 16 patients were DOD at mean follow-up of 37 months. Considerable immunophenotypic overlap exists between ACC, MAEC, and PET. Consequently, one can neither confirm nor rule out a diagnosis of ACC or MAEC using generally available immunohistochemical stains alone. These findings support a role for EM in the evaluation of exocrine and endocrine pancreatic neoplasms.


Flower-inhabiting thrips find hosts using olfactory and visual cues. In this study, we report the identification of a plant-produced kairomone of the flower thrips Frankliniella intonsa (Trybom), an important agricultural pest in northeast Asia. GC-MS analysis of solid-phase microextraction samples from blueberry flowers, Vaccinium corymbosum L., that mediate the attraction of adult F. intonsa revealed that the major component was cinnamyl alcohol, followed by cinnamyl acetate, cinnamaldehyde, germacrene D, β-bourbonene, β-caryophyllene, and benzyl benzoate. The biological activity of the floral compounds was investigated using commercial cinnamaldehyde, cinnamyl alcohol, β-caryophyllene, cinnamyl acetate, and benzyl benzoate in hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) fields. Significantly more F. intonsa males and females were caught in red delta traps with cinnamyl alcohol than in all other traps. Cinnamaldehyde and cinnamyl acetate attracted adult F. intonsa but were not as attractive as cinnamyl alcohol. β-Caryophyllene and benzyl benzoate were not attractive. Furthermore, the addition of four minor components to cinnamyl alcohol did not result in increased trap catches relative to cinnamyl alcohol alone, indicating that cinnamyl alcohol is responsible for attracting adult F. intonsa toward blueberry flowers. Therefore, this phenylpropanoid could be used as a selective, effective lure for monitoring and controlling F. intonsa.


Abstract New circumstances in Australian agriculture require new legal arrangements for landholding and for people who have new aspirations for retirement and succession planning. A recent Australia-wide farm survey of landholding patterns creates space for consideration of these changing property concepts and relationships as they relate to inheritance patterns and the engagement of the next generation in farming. Early studies of land tenure predicted a gradual progression from tenant or share farmer to full owner as aspiring young farmers aged and became more involved in farming and raising a family. This pattern has come under scrutiny as corporate involvement in agriculture accelerates in Western societies. This paper investigates Australian family farmer intentions to pass farm assets on to chosen heirs so that the present family farming system continues intact. Survey data collected from a broader study of a variety of farming industries is used to tease out whether new patterns of legal structure in land and job inheritance are emerging. The findings indicate that different legal structures of property ownership are utilised as legitimate means of protecting farmer values concerned with property, family and inheritance. Further research on inheritance patterns and legal structure in Australia is indicated.


The Internet of Things (IOT) concept and enabling technologies such as RFID offer the prospect of linking the real world of physical objects with the virtual world of information technology to improve visibility and traceability information within supply chains and across the entire lifecycles of products, as well as enabling more intuitive interactions and greater automation possibilities. There is a huge potential for savings through process optimization and profit generation within the IOT, but the sharing of financial benefits across companies remains an unsolved issue. Existing approaches towards sharing of costs and benefits have failed to scale so far. The integration of payment solutions into the IOT architecture could solve this problem. We have reviewed different possible levels of integration. Multiple payment solutions have been researched. Finally we have developed a model that meets the requirements of the IOT in relation to openness and scalability. It supports both hardware-centric and software-centric approaches to integration of payment solutions with the IOT. Different requirements concerning payment solutions within the IOT have been defined and considered in the proposed model. Possible solution providers include telcos, e-payment service providers and new players such as banks and standardization bodies. The proposed model of integrating the Internet of Things with payment solutions will lower the barrier to invoicing for the more granular visibility information generated using the IOT. Thus, it has the potential to enable recovery of the necessary investments in IOT infrastructure and accelerate adoption of the IOT, especially for projects that are only viable when multiple benefits throughout the supply chain need to be accumulated in order to achieve a Return on Investment (ROI). In a long-term perspective, it may enable IT-departments to become profit centres instead of cost centres. © 2010 - IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved.


a small quantity dropped two or tlhree times daily upon it sufficing for the purpose. A wound thus dressed may be left for weeks without a bandage or pin being removed. Before removal of the dressing, it should be well soaked with terebene for three or four hours. This is done by slowly dropping the terebene all over the surface of the bandage. It -is then removed carefully, layer after layer being divided with the scissors, and fresh terebene is poured on to moisten any parts which have become matted together, when they easily separate. I have never been troubled with any quantity of discharges ; as a rule, the amount is practically nil. If the terebene be frequently applied, there is no unpleasant odour. The advantages of this mode of dressing are these. I. The patient never sees the wound; he is spared the anxiety caused by the anticipation of being dressed, and the bodily shock attendant upon the removal of dressings. 2. The wound is treated antiseptically. 3. The efforts of nature are not interfered %ith by accidental rough removal of dressings. 4. Perfect rest, the treatment for pain, is obtained. 5. Economy of time and labour for surgeon, assistants, and nurses, is secured.


Effects of feeding frequency on liver branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase (BCKAD) activity are unknown. In the present study, rats were trained to consume their daily allotment of food in 6 h (meal-feeding). Rats were fed diets containing 0, 9, 25 or 50% casein and after 10 d were killed before or 3 h after the meal. The enzyme in rats fed diets containing 0, 9 and 25% casein was activated three- to sixfold after meal consumption. Previous studies showed that the liver enzyme is essentially fully activated in post-absorptive rats fed an adequate protein diet ad libitum. Meal-feeding an adequate protein (25% casein) diet resulted in a marked decrease in the postabsorptive percentage of active complex compared to ad libitum feeding of the same diet (29 +/- 6% vs. 93 +/- 6% active). Administration of alpha-ketoisocaproate (200 mumol/100 g body weight, an inhibitor of BCKAD kinase) reversed the meal-feeding-induced inactivation of the complex within 10 min. We conclude that the frequency of food intake, in addition to the level of dietary protein, influences the proportion of liver BCKAD in the active state. Inactivation of hepatic BCKAD in rats trained to feed once a day may be an adaptive mechanism that results in increased efficiency of branched-chain amino acid utilization between meals.


In a recent paper by T. Schanze (see ibid., vol.43, p.1502-3, 1995) the convolution of the sinc kernel with the infinite sequence of a periodic function was expressed as a finite summation. The expression obtained, however, is not numerically stable when evaluated at or near integer values of time. This correspondence presents a numerically stable formulation that is equivalent to the results reported in the above-cited paper and that, when sampled, is also shown to be equivalent to the inverse discrete Fourier transform (IDFT).


Abstract A new film dosimetry system consists of the new OrthoChromic™ OC-1 film, and a novel calibration procedure was evaluated. Two films, C1 and C2, were exposed simultaneously using the 6FFF beam with a step-wedge pattern of five steps ranging from 590 to 3000 cGy. C1 was used for calibration, and C2 was used for calibration curve validation. The second scan of C2 was done by rotating the film by 90-deg. To evaluate the effectiveness of the non-uniform scanner response correction with the new system, a film was exposed to a 20 × 20 cm2 field. The beam profile measured with the film was compared to the IBA cc04 measurements in water. Films were irradiated to characterize the energy response, dynamic range and temporal growth effect. Open (MLC-defined) and clinical fields were radiated to evaluate the overall performance of the new system. The new calibration procedure was validated with an average dose difference of 1.6% and a gamma (2%,2 mm) passing rate of 100%. With C2 scanned 90-deg rotated, the average dose difference was 1.3%. The average difference between cc04 and film was 0.4%. The St between films and diode/cc04 were within −0.3% difference for 1 × 1 to 14 × 14 cm2 and −2.8% for 0.5 × 0.5 cm2. For clinical fields, the average gamma (3%,2 mm) was 98.8%. These results were consistent with EBT3 film and MapCheck measurements with a dose > 400 cGy. The results have shown that the OC-1 film system can achieve accurate results for QA measurements, but more considerable uncertainty was observed within the low dose range.


In this days age school institutions are faced with the challenge of educating their students not only to become outstanding students but are expected to be modeled and virtuous students. Damage to morals, behavior, and lack of religious knowledge makes students act as they wish. With the program of fostering Islamic character of students, training students' personalities to become better human beings and to have Islamic attitudes. The purpose of this study is to describe the Islamic character founding program for students in SMP Birrul Walidain Muhammadiyah Sragen.
This type of research is a type of field research whose object in SMP Birrul Walidain Muhammadiyah Sragen using a qualitative approach is phenomenal. Data collection techniques through interviews, observations, and documentation in the school. The analysis of this research uses the deductive method that starts from the theory and ends with the phenomenon.
The results of this study are through planning, implementing, and evaluating, Islamic character building programs can make students educated and maintained their attitude. It can be seen from the students' attitudes towards educators, towards discipline, and towards relationships. Students react well and are consistent with the rules that have been made. The attitude of students towards educators is found when students pass both teachers and parents with respect and submission. Also seen students pay great attention to the teacher when teaching. Then the student's attitude toward discipline can be known through observing that honesty is the most important point when there are examinations and questions of daily worship with evidence of a contact book. While students' attitudes toward relationships were not found to be discriminatory and fighting among peers. Then the factors that support the implementation of Islamic character building programs are collaboration between teachers, parents, and community leaders. While the factors that hamper the implementation of Islamic character founding programs for students are the teacher's response about their consistency and commitment in carrying out their respective assignments. Thus, the results of this study answer in accordance with the formulation of the existing problem.


Excerpt] This paper puts forth an emotional/affective explanation for action in the collective or group interest. The explanation is based on the choice process theory of affective attachments to groups (Lawler 1992)—a theory that focuses on individualto-group ties in a nested-group context where a subgroup is encompassed within a larger group. According to this theory, choice processes that give actors a sense of control arouse positive emotions, and these lead to affective group attachments. A broader implication is that freedom, choice, and self-determination promote action on behalf of the collective interest through an emotional/affective process. The choice process, furthermore, has an important impact on the allocation of affective attachments to the subgroup and the larger group, independent of the consequences of the actual choices made. In this paper, I show how the choice process theory of affective attachments supplements in some respects, and modifies in other respects, a rational choice approach to collectively oriented behavior in groups.


The ability of epithelial cells and endothelial cells to transform into mesenchymal cells is one of the most basic cellular mechanisms in biology. This process, referred to as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) or endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT), regulates various stages of embryonic development and contributes to the progression of a wide array of diseases and in tissue repair [1, 2].

During embryogenesis, EMT is essential for gastrulation, primitive streak formation, somite dissociation, neural crest development, and palate and lip fusion [3]. EndMT is critical for cardiac development, particularly in the formation of the valves and septa of the heart [4] and the generation of mesodermal cells and multipotent progenitors [5].

In the adult organism, EMT and EndMT are usually dormant until pathological stimuli awaken this embryonic mechanism. For example, EMT is the primary mechanism of cancer metastasis [6, 7], whereas EndMT forms cancer-associated fibroblasts in the tumor microenvironment [8]. Also, both EMT and EndMT have been shown to generate fibroblasts that cause the formation of scar tissue after tissue injury or in association with inflammatory and fibrotic diseases [9–11].

Mesenchymal transitions have traditionally been considered to have a positive effect in development and a negative effect in disease. However, novel findings regarding the stem cell phenotype generated by EMT and EndMT [12, 13] suggest that they may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of various degenerative diseases. This marks an exciting period in this field of research, which may provide new methods for tissue engineering and regeneration by harnessing the power of this embryonic mechanism.

In this special issue, the articles focus on the cutting-edge research on EMT/EndMT, including the role of this mechanism in regenerative medicine, peritoneal fibrosis, liver fibrosis, systemic sclerosis, and angiogenesis. This issue also explores how factors such as mechanical force, vitamin D signaling, and noncoding RNAs regulate mesenchymal transitions, which may provide novel insight into future avenues of research and therapeutic development.

Damian Medici

Pura Munoz-Canoves

Pan-Chyr Yang

Silvia Brunelli


Zircon U-Pb analyses of 18 orthogneisses from the Clearwater and Priest River complexes of northern Idaho have identified important exposures of Neoarchean and Paleoproterozoic basement rocks in northwest Laurentia. All samples have ages that fall into two tightly defined age ranges: in the Neoarchean from 2.67 to 2.65 Ga and in the Paleoproterozoic from 1.88 to 1.84 Ga. The Neoarchean orthogneisses show no evidence of older components, whereas some of the Paleoproterozoic orthogneisses have xenocrystic zircon cores with ages overlapping with those of the Neoarchean gneisses. Collectively, these two packages of rocks represent the two main periods of crust formation in northwest Laurentia, one wholly juvenile in the Neoarchean, and the other a mixture of juvenile Paleoproterozoic and inherited Neoarchean components. Based on existing data, the ages of orthogneisses in the Clearwater and Priest River complexes are identical and probably represent one continuous crustal block; we refer to this basement domain as the Clearwater block. The Paleoproterozoic 1.86 Ga magmatism described here is distributed throughout the northwest Laurentian margin and does not coincide with the proposed trend of the Great Falls tectonic zone. Therefore, a model of a single linear arc preserved within the Great Falls tectonic zone is inadequate in describing the majority of the known 1.86 Ga crust in the region.


In this paper, we describe the experience to improve quality and productivity in car navigation system development using XDDP (eXtreme Derivative Development Process). Maintenance process is used to develop new software product. Defects and problems are caused by insufficient analysis of base software. Therefore we applied XDDP to our developments. XDDP is a rational and practical process for enhancement-based development. Productivity was improved by 26% and no defects were detected in QA tests. Then we applied XDDP to the developments where engineers lack information about the base source code. With software engineering techniques, quality and productivity were improved dramatically compared to the case when XDDP alone was used.


Understanding the mode of action of gamma (γ) radiation, pulsed electric field (PEF) and ultra-high pressure (UHP) against targeted pathogens should help improve implementation of these technologies. Listeria monocytogenes Scott A was treated with γ radiation, PEF and UHP at doses that caused equal lethality (3-log inactivation). These doses were 0.57 kGy at 5C (γ radiation), 30 kV/cm at 22C for 216 µs (PEF) and 400 MPa at 24 ± 1C for 6 min (UHP). When structural changes in cells of L. monocytogenes were compared using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the nucleoid region of γ -irradiated cells appeared to have spread throughout the cytoplasm. UHP-treated cells showed aggregated cytoplasm, indicating extensive protein denaturing. Structural differences between PEF-treated and untreated cells were minimal, as revealed by TEM. Electrophoresis of genomic DNA from γ-irradiated L. monocytogenes showed considerable fragmentation. These DNA lesions were not detected when L. monocytogenes was treated with PEF or UHP. When irradiated cells were analyzed by pulsed field gel electrophoresis, the banding pattern changed into smearing. In conclusion, γ radiation, PEF and UHP targeted different loci in the cell, and thus synergy between these treatments against L. monocytogenes is likely.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Recently, there is an increase in the use of gamma (γ) radiation and ultra-high pressure (UHP) in food processing as alternatives to heat. Other promising technologies, such as pulsed electric field (PEF), are in the experimental stage. This is a side-by-side investigation of γ radiation, UHP and PEF that helps in understanding the mechanism of bacterial inactivation by these technologies. The study could also help food processors in determining the suitability of these technologies for particular applications.


Ankle inversions have been studied extensively during standing conditions. However, inversion traumas occur during more dynamic conditions, like walking. Therefore in this study sudden ankle inversions were elicited in 12 healthy subjects who stepped on a trap door while walking on a treadmill. First, 10 control trials (0 degrees of rotation) were presented. Then, 20 stimulus (25 degrees of rotation) and control trials were presented randomly. EMG recordings were made of six lower leg muscles. All muscles showed a short-latency response (SLR) of about 40 ms and a late-latency response (LLR) of about 90 ms. The peroneal muscles showed the largest amplitudes in both responses. The functionally more important, larger, and more consistent LLR response was too late to resist the induced stretch during the inversion. The functional relevance of this response must lie after the inversion. During the first trial a widespread "startle-like" coactivation of the LLR was observed. The last trials showed only a recruitment of the peroneal muscles and, to a lesser extent, the gastrocnemius lateralis, which is seen as a switch from reactive control to more proactive adaptive strategies. These proactive strategies were investigated separately by comparing trials in which inversion was expected (but did not occur) with those in which subjects knew that no inversion would occur. Anticipation of a possible inversion was expressed in decreased tibialis anterior activity before initial contact, consistent with a more cautious and stable foot placement. Furthermore, immediately after landing, the peroneal muscles were activated to counteract the upcoming stretch.


The article considers the characteristics of organization of process of education of ophthalmology at the medical faculty of Moscow University in the second half of XIX century.


Background. Expectant management of early-onset pre-eclampsia, with the aim of improving perinatal outcomes, may increase the risk of maternal morbidity. Objective. To study the maternal and perinatal outcomes and their association with various risk factors in women undergoing expectant management for early-onset pre-eclampsia. Methods. A retrospective cohort study was carried out in a tertiary centre in south India between April 2014 and June 2015. We studied 201 women with singleton pregnancies with pre-eclampsia diagnosed between 28 and 34 weeks' gestation. Demographic data, medication and treatment details, and delivery data were extracted from maternal charts. The primary outcomes were: (i) composite maternal outcomes, defined as the development of any of eclampsia, abruptio placentae, pulmonary oedema or renal failure; and (ii) perinatal mortality. Logistic regression was used to assess the independent association risk factors with primary outcomes, after adjusting for other variables. Results. Sixty-nine women (34.3%) had one or more of the composite adverse maternal outcomes, and there were 74 (36.8%) cases of perinatal mortality. The presence of imminent symptoms (odds ratio (OR)=2.35) and multiparity (OR=2.31) were associated with composite adverse maternal outcomes, whereas low birth weight and breech vaginal delivery were associated with perinatal mortality. Perinatal mortality was higher in women with pre-eclampsia diagnosed between 28 and 30 weeks. Gestational age at diagnosis was not found to be associated with composite adverse maternal outcomes or perinatal morbidity. Conclusion. Expectant management in early-onset pre-eclampsia can be safely considered without increasing maternal risk, after thorough counselling about outcomes, based on the available neonatal facilities in low-resource settings.


Abstract Based on biopsychosocial perspectives on health, this study examined risk and protective factors of cognitive function among Korean older adults. Specifically, we focused on comparing the role of these factors based on the respondents' history of having hypertension or diabetes. This study used 2009 Korean National Health Insurance Service data that included a sample of older adults who maintained qualification for health insurance and medical aid in 2002 (n=26,242). Cognitive function was measured using KDSQ-C and biopsychosocial factors included metabolic syndrome, drinking, smoking, and walking. The sample was divided into two groups based on their medical history, and thus four sets of linear regression models were analyzed to explore the associations between biopsychosocial factors and cognitive functioning. Among individuals with a history of hypertension, metabolic syndrome, drinking, and walking were associated with cognitive functioning. For those without a history of hypertension, only drinking and walking were associated with cognitive functioning. For diabetes, smoking and walking were associated with cognitive functioning among older adults with a history of diabetes. For those without a history of diabetes, drinking and walking were associated with cognitive functioning. In sum, metabolic syndrome was a particularly significant correlate of cognitive function among Korean older adults with a history of hypertension. Walking was a consistently significant factor regardless of medical history. These results highlight the importance of considering medical history of chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes in identifying factors associated with older adults' cognitive function and further developing tailored prevention programs for cognitive decline.


The C/O ratio is a defining feature of both gas giant atmospheric and protoplanetary disk chemistry. In disks, the C/O ratio is regulated by the presence of snowlines of major volatiles at different distances from the central star. We explore the effect of radial drift of solids and viscous gas accretion onto the central star on the snowline locations of the main C and O carriers in a protoplanetary disk, H2O, CO2 and CO, and their consequences for the C/O ratio in gas and dust throughout the disk. We determine the snowline locations for a range of fixed initial particle sizes and disk types. For our fiducial disk model, we find that grains with sizes ∼0.5 cm . s . 7 m for an irradiated disk, and ∼0.001 cm . s . 7 m for an evolving and viscous disk, desorb at a size-dependent location in the disk, which is independent of the particle's initial position. The snowline radius decreases for larger particles, up to sizes of ∼7 m. Compared to a static disk, we find that radial drift and gas accretion in a viscous disk move the H2O snowline inwards by up to 40 %, the CO2 snowline by up to 60 %, and the CO snowline by up to 50 %. We thus determine an inner limit on the snowline locations when radial drift and gas accretion are accounted for.


Geiger Muller counter for detection of ionizing radiation was constructed mainly with GM tube and counting system to count tube output radiation signals. The counting system which is one of the important parts of the Geiger Muller counter and it was built with Arduino Uno microcontroller board. Arduino Uno board was used for input pulse signal detection and pulse counting processes by programming with Arduino C language. In this research SD card data logging shield was used to save the measured counts and relevant radiation dose with time stamp. The information of radiation dose (Sv), count per minute (CPM), gained from pulse detecting and counting system was displayed on LCD. One LED flashes and buzzer beeps whenever radiation signals were detected. In addition, GSM module sent SMS to mobile phone according to the program sketching in the Arduino board when Arduino based GM counter detect limited radiation dose rate. In this research firstly function generator (GWINSTEK AFG – 3051) was used instead of GM Tube to feed input signal to pulse detecting and counting Arduino Uno board in order to confirm the program for the detection of input signal which is corresponding to the radiation event. Secondly GM counter high voltage (HV) power supply (≈400 506V) was developed for detection of ionizing radiation and counting system in order to count tube output signals. High DC voltage needed for LND-712 was built as high DC voltage bias supply to the anode of GM tube. Pulse counting system was developed to proceed the electric signals, which is generated by GM tube. The counting system detects the signal from the GM tube and the information of radiation dose (Sv), count per minute (CPM), gained from pulse detecting and counting system was displayed on LCD. Arduino, not only open source programmable device but also small the size and design, will give profit on the design and size of radiation detector for the purpose of portable institutional and field inspection of radiation survey meter.


The Euclidean interpretation of special relativity which has been suggested by the author is a formulation of special relativity in ordinary 4D Euclidean space-time geometry. The natural and geometrically intuitive generalization of this view involves variations of the speed of light (depending on location and direction) and a Euclidean principle of general covariance. In this article, a gravitation model by Jan Broekaert, which implements a view of relativity theory in the spirit of Lorentz and Poincare, is reconstructed and shown to fulfill the principles of the Euclidean approach after an appropriate reinterpretation.


In the present thesis, the inelastic behavior of polymer composites is investigated. This investigation concerns three fields of study; time dependent behavior during the lifetime of the composite material, influence of micro-damage on its overall mechanical performance and development of chemical shrinkage strains during the curing process. The significance of this work is related to the nature of all composite materials. All polymer composites tend to indicate an inelastic behaviour. This behaviour can be either linear or non-linear. No matter what it is, is very important to be taken into account in the analysis, since it is related to strain rate effects, micro-damage induced to the structure of the composite and/or irreversible plastic strains. The first part of this thesis consists of the time dependent behavior of polymer composites. There are two main assumptions; irreversible strains in a damaged state are higher and that the strains can be decoupled into viscoelastic and viscoplastic response. Each assumption is investigated and a material model that includes all the above is compiled. In order to examine its validity, different material categories have been examined. Pure polymer (paper I), polymer reinforced with short fibres (Paper II), polymer reinforced with continuous fibres (Paper III). As a step further on, the time dependent behavior within a ply level was examined. A [45/-45]s laminate was used and the non-linear shear stress strain response was studied (Paper IV). In the first part of the thesis, damage was only quantified in terms of elastic modulus development after high stress application without going into detail in what is causing it. In Paper V, the effect of damage, in terms of crack density on shear elastic modulus was studied. More accurate expressions for stress calculations in the damaged lamina were suggested, by incorporating shape functions and by checking validity with the principle of minimum complementary energy. Finally, the results from the suggested model are compared with existing models and with results from finite element analysis. A small improvement is observed at all cases. Finally, in Paper VI, the effect of curing parameters and development of chemical strains during the curing process was investigated. A relation between curing time, degree of cure and mechanical performance was drawn. What is more, different procedures for measuring chemical strains were used and a testing methodology is suggested.


Rocks exposed in the Cathedral Mountain quadrangle in the southeastern Davis Mountains of Trans-Pecos Texas are assigned to the Word formation and to Capitan limestone in the Permian Guadalupe series; to the Maxon sandstone, Edwards limestone, Georgetown limestone, and Grayson (Del Rio) marl in the Cretaceous Comanche series; to the Buda limestone and Boquillas limestone in the Cretaceous Gulf series; and to the Buck Hill volcanic series in the Tertiary. Volcanic rocks up to 4600 feet thick cover most of the quadrangle. The volcanic succession, similar to that in Buck Hill and other quadrangles to the south, is divided into the Pruett tuff, Crossen trachyte, Sheep Canyon basalt, Potato Hill andesite, Cottonwood Spring basalt, Duff formation, and Rawls basalt. Vertebrate fossils indicate a late Eocene (Duchesne) age for the Pruett tuff (restricted to the lowermost tuff, sandstone, and conglomerate beds). The top of the Eocene is placed at a prominent disconformity between the Crossen trachyte and the Sheep Canyon basalt; it is suggested the overlying lava and tuff layers are Oligocene and younger (?). Some of the many intrusive bodies of alkalic microsyenite which are younger than the volcanic rocks have effected much local deformation of the layered rocks. Quaternary alluvium is present along streams and over valley flats. Northward across the quadrangle, the Crossen trachyte gains appreciable quartz, the Potato Hill andesite changes from highly porphyritic to nonporphyritic, and the Duff formation changes from dominantly rhyolite tuff to lava, tuff, and conglomerate (Decie member). Effects of five crustal disturbances—mid-Mesozoic, late Cretaceous, pre-upper Eocene, and three in the late Cenozoic—are apparent. Differential erosion of the intruded, folded, and faulted volcanic succession has roughened and diversified the landscape.


Heating of material in continuous reheating furnaces is often accompanied by uneven betting material to the furnace, which has an effect on the resulting parameters of the heated material. Too long heating leads to the exceeding of optimal temperatures and operating inefficiency, too short heating leads to insufficient heating of the material. Deviations from the standard set of parameters hot material may occur with subsequent further processing in successive forming technologies. To determine the optimal heating of the material in the furnace is a complex and difficult task. The aim of the article will examine possible modes of heating in a continuous furnace with respect to establishing the criteria of heating in order to optimize heating process.


Demanding recognition of a city culture has become, in the recent decades, a social vindication against the established order. In this sense, A.L. Kennedy's "The Role of Notable Silences in Scottish History" offers a literary reinterpretation of Scottish national archetypes, often associated with a rural identity detached from the urban reality of Glaswegians. Moreover, one of the main peculiarities in Kennedy's writings is her disposition to articulate individual lives that subvert masculine portrayals of Glasgow. In order to question the cultural unity imposed over the city's population, I will focus on Foucault's analysis (1976) of social hierarchies and how they can be subverted to make visible everyday experiences taking place in the city through the plasticity of space (Rose 1999). In addition, I will analyze how bodies internalize social discourse (Grosz 1998) in the short story, as well as how urban practices transform the map of the city into a text (de Certeau 1984).


Amartya Sen argues that the overarching goal of development is expanding people's choices. Yet, freedom as a goal is ambiguous as the notion is clouded by idioms of freedom dating as far back as Ancient Greece. Thus, since Sen claims to have universalist presumptions, this thesis discusses and analyzes Sen's notion of freedom from a classical philosophical perspective – mainly drawing from Leo Strauss – in order to situate it in this ancient historical debate. For this purpose, the conceptual meaning of freedom is treated as both autonomous and mutable as it allows for a historically and philosophically sounded approach to its study. The method applied to trace the different notions of freedom is the one of conceptual history. The findings indicate that Sen's notion of freedom is formulated under MacCallum's widely accepted meta-theory of one concept of freedom, for Sen seeks universal validation of his democratic values based on individual agency. Indeed, since freedom is the principle of democracy, Sen's thought is rooted in a democratic tradition that advocates universal standards drawn from the classics.


Over the last few years, the Web has seen a massive growth in the number and kinds of web services. Web facilities such as online banking, gaming, and social networking have promptly evolved as has the faith upon them by people to perform daily tasks. As a result, a large amount of information is uploaded on a daily to the Web. As these web services drive new opportunities for people to interact, they also create new opportunities for criminals. URLs are launch pads for any web attacks such that any malicious intention user can steal the identity of the legal person by sending the malicious URL. Malicious URLs are a keystone of Internet illegitimate activities. The dangers of these sites have created a mandates for defences that protect end-users from visiting them. The proposed approach is that classifies URLs automatically by using Machine-Learning algorithm called logistic regression that is used to binary classification. The classifiers achieves 97% accuracy by learning phishing URLs.


Exercise-induced fatigue is a complex physiological phenomenon and is greatly influenced by central mechanisms in brain. As one of the most abundant circulating carbon metabolites, L-lactate in brain has been considered to be an important supplementary fuel during exercise, however, whether it plays a signaling role in fatigue remains largely obscure. In this study, our results initially revealed that brain L-lactate levels were increased after an exhaustive swimming session in several brain regions, including motor cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum. Then, we examined the specific role of brain lactate receptor, also known as hydroxycarboxylic acid receptor 1 (GPR81), in exercise-induced fatigue. We found that intracerebroventricular injection of either D-lactate (an enantiomer which could mediate activation of GPR81 as L-lactate) or a potent GPR81 agonist 3-chloro-5-hydroxybenzoic acid (CHBA), significantly decreased the swimming time to fatigue. After being subjected to the same weight-loaded swimming for 30 minutes, no obvious changes of blood lactate levels, gastrocnemius pAMPK/AMPK ratio and glycogen contents were observed between intracerebroventricular CHBA injected mice and vehicle treated ones, which suggested a comparable degree of peripheral fatigue. Meanwhile, there were higher extracellular GABA levels, lower extracellular glutamate levels and glutamate/GABA ratio in motor cortex of the intracerebroventricular CHBA injected mice than that of vehicle treated ones, indicating a greater extent of central fatigue in CHBA injected mice than that in vehicle animals. Collectively, our results suggested that an increased level of brain L-lactate acts as a signaling molecule via activating GPR81, which in turn exacerbates central fatigue during exercise.


ABSTRACTGraphene-based materials have emerged as exceptional candidates for the development of novel, high performance actuators. Developing such an actuation material requires an in depth knowledge of the physics of operation and, therefrom, how to best optimize its performance. We investigate the electromechanical actuation of pristine monolayer graphene to elucidate the origin of this material's exceptional electromechanical actuation performance. It is shown that the electrostatic double-layer (EDL) effect is dominant compared to the quantum-mechanical (QM) effect upon charging and electrolyte immersion. Seeking to optimize the QM actuation performance, we preliminarily investigate graphene oxide (GO) as a potential graphene-based actuation material, and find that it exhibits both unique and high performance responses. Having demonstrated huge stresses (~100 GPa) and high strains (~0.4%), graphene-based materials are uniquely positioned to address future industrial actuation challenges.


BACKGROUND
In Germany, a total of 38 547 heart valve procedures were performed in 2022. With a growing number of patients undergoing the surgical and interventional implantation of heart valves, the incidence of prosthetic endocarditis is also rising.

METHODS
We summarize the current state of the prophylaxis, diagnosis, and treatment of prosthetic endocarditis in a selective review of the literature.

RESULTS
Prosthetic endocarditis accounts for 10-30% of all cases of endocarditis. As its echocardiographic and microbiologic findings are often less specific than those of native endocarditis, its diagnosis now increasingly relies on alternative imaging modalities such as F- 18-FDG PET-CT. Anti-infective and surgical treatment are made more difficult by biofilm formation on the prosthetic valve and the frequent formation of perivalvular abscesses.

CONCLUSION
Increased awareness of this clinical entity in the outpatient setting will promote the earlier initiation of appropriate diagnostic studies. Proper diagnostic evaluation is an essential prerequisite for the early detection and timely treatment of prosthetic endocarditis, with the goal of preventing progressive destruction and thus improving the outcome. Preventive and educative measures should be intensified, and certified, multidisciplinary endocarditis teams should be established. Antibiotic prophylaxis is now given much more restrictively than in earlier years; the risk of infection must be weighed against the potential development of both individual and collective resistance to antibiotic drugs.


The bamboo [ Bambusa bambos (L.) Voss] seeds payasam is a light brown to dark brown coloured product, the dark colour is due to dark jaggery used in its preparation. The payasam has flowable consistency and possesses pleasant caramel taste with a typical bamboo seeds flavor along with a dash of coconut flavor. Various ingredients of bamboo seeds payasam , viz. amount of bamboo seeds, water, jaggery, fresh coconut extract and milk along with process for preparation were optimized. The standardized method of preparation involved cleaning and washing of bamboo seeds, soaking 100 g seeds in excess of water for 6 h at ambient temperature, draining the water, addition of 300 mL of fresh water and pressure cooking at 15 psi for 10 min. The cooked grains were then mixed with jaggery syrup, 125 g of fresh coconut extract and 125 g toned milk. Then the entire mixture was heated and desiccated to a final weight of about 1 kg. The bamboo seeds payasam had a composition of total solids 38.75 %, fat 7.8 %, protein 4.96 %, lactose 0.56 %, sucrose 20.25 %, ash 0.84 % and other carbohydrates 4.34 %. Based on the sensory evaluation and textural results, it was observed that the shelf life of the payasam was 1-2 days at 30 o C and more than 15 days at 5 o C.


"Good genes" models of mate choice are commonly tested by examining whether attractive males sire offspring with improved survival. If offspring do not survive better (or indeed survive less well), but instead inherit the attractiveness of their father, results are typically interpreted to support the Fisherian process, which allows the evolution of preferences for arbitrary traits. Here, I show that the above view is mistaken. Because of life-history trade-offs, an attractive male may perform less well in other components of fitness. A female obtains a "good genes" benefit whenever males show heritable variation in quality, even if high-quality males invest so much in sexual advertisement that attractiveness has no positive correlation with any other life-history trait than male mating success itself. Therefore, a negative correlation between attractiveness and viability does not falsify good genes, if mating with a high-quality male results on average in superior offspring performance (mating success of sons included). The heritable "good genes" benefit can be sustained even if sexually antagonistic genes cause female offspring sired by high-quality males to survive and reproduce less well. Neglecting the component of male mating success from measurements of fitness returns from sons and daughters will bias the advantage of mating with a high-quality male downwards. This result may partly account for the rather weak "good genes" effects found in a recent meta-analysis.


This article analyses migration histories of residents in rural settlements of the Brazilian Amazon that resulted from direct action land reform (DALR), which involves organised land occupations. Our analysis evaluates two hypotheses. The 'urban migration' expectation asserts that urban experience is important for DALR participation, which links rural and urban areas via migration for land occupations. The 'DALR efficacy' hypothesis argues that migration and DALR are complementary livelihood strategies, such that participation in DALR obviates the need for further migration. Our findings support both hypotheses and bear implications for regional development and environmental change in the Amazon.


At Cabrini Medical Center, drug usage evaluation (DUE) and monthly purchasing data analysis were used to determine the indications for which H2 antagonists were being used, the appropriateness of parenteral therapy, the use of extended dosing intervals, and the cost effectiveness of cimetidine (Tagamet). The study was also used to review a decision of the P & T Committee to maintain cimetidine and remove ranitidine from the hospital formulary.


The scintillation pulses generated from PET detector contain the direct and original information of annihilation events such as Position, Energy, and Time. Aiming at improving timing resolution by the use of the digitally pulse processing, we analyze the shape and noise model that characterize the scintillation pulse of a typical detector as a LSO/PMT module and try to use the model to achieve the direct information. By averaging the amount of actual pulses, we obtain the initial model of pulse shape. To improve the model of pulse characterization, we continue our investigation by Monte Carlo simulation and actual experiment to build up a specific uniform pulse library. With our experiment platform, the scintillation pulses are generated by LSO/PMT module and recorded by oscilloscope. Base on the further result, we will optimize the characterization expression for LSO/PMT pulse and apply it to the all digital pulse processing for timing resolution.


A new class of alternate aromatic poly(ether-urea)s having bulky phenoxy phenyl lateral groups was prepared by the reaction of 2,2′-bis[(p-phenoxy phenyl)]-4,4′-diaminodiphenyl ether (PPAPE) with two diisocyanates, isophorone diisocyanate and 2,4-tolylene diisocyanate. The limited viscosity values as well as Mn and Mw values of the resulting polymers were determined. The resulting poly(ether-urea)s could be easily cast into optically-transparent, flexible, and light color films. The cut-off wavelength values and the percentage of transmittance at 800 nm were found to be at about 415 nm and 85%, respectively. PPAPE-derived poly(ether-urea)s showed a low-crystallinity and had excellent solubility in polar organic solvents. Tonset, Tg, Td5%, and Td10% values of the PPAPE-derived polymers measured from their DSC and TGA thermograms were up to 270, 280, 315, and 340°C, respectively. Surface morphology of the resulted poly(ether-urea)s were also evaluated by their scanning electron microscopy images. Excellent organo-solubility, satisfactory film quality, moderate Tg values, and good thermal stability make this class of poly (ether-urea)s promising high-performance polymeric materials. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010


The production of unfunctionalized and nonoxidized graphene by exfoliation of graphite in a volatile solvent, 1-propanol, is reported. A stable homogeneous dispersion of graphene was obtained by mild sonication of graphite powder and subsequent centrifugation. The presence of a graphene monolayer was observed by atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The solvent, 1-propanol, from the deposited dispersion was simply and quickly removed by air drying at room temperature, without the help of high temperature annealing or vacuum drying, which shortens production time and does not leave any residue of the solvent in the graphene sheets.


Sedentary transport is known to adversely affect health. Few studies have focused on motorcycle use. This study examines the association of motorcycle use with overweight in urban adults in Taiwan. Cross-sectional data from 1069 Taiwanese adults aged 20–64 years in three urban cities were collected in 2015. Data on self-reported body mass index, time spent in motorcycle use, lifestyle behavioral factors, and sociodemographic variables were obtained. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models were applied. In Model 1, adults who spent more time using a motorcycle (third quartile, odds ratio (OR) = 1.17; fourth quartile, OR = 1.60) were more likely to be overweight compared with the first quartile. In Model 2, after adjusting for the covariates, only the fourth quartile of motorcycle use (OR = 1.50) was associated with a higher risk of overweight. Higher time spent in motorcycle use is related to higher risk of being overweight, even after adjustment for potential demographic and behavioral confounders. Intervention and behavioral change strategies targeting motorcycle use should be considered.


During parturition, the basal activity of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis of Wistar rats is strongly attenuated, whereas the oxytocin system is activated. We investigated the secretory responses of the HPA axis and oxytocin to exposure to a mild emotional stressor (airpuff) comparing virgin female, d 22 pregnant, and parturient rats. Furthermore, as the brain oxytocin system is activated in parturition and oxytocin has been shown to inhibit HPA axis responses in virgin rats, the role of brain oxytocin in the regulation of stress responses during parturition was investigated by intracerebroventricular administration of an oxytocin receptor antagonist before stressor exposure (0.75 micro g/5 micro l). In virgin female rats, exposure to airpuff increased ACTH (2.5 +/- 0.34-fold) and corticosterone (5.1 +/- 2.3-fold) secretion, but in late pregnancy and parturition, the stress-induced increase in ACTH (pregnancy: 1.9 +/- 0.41-fold; parturition: 1.3 +/- 0.13-fold) and corticosterone secretion (parturition: 1.8 +/- 0.40-fold) were strongly attenuated. Oxytocin secretion remained unchanged in response to airpuff in both virgin and parturient rats despite higher overall plasma concentrations in the latter. Oxytocin receptor blockade in the brain elevated basal and stress-induced ACTH secretion in virgin but not pregnant or parturient rats and had no effect on oxytocin secretion either in virgin or parturient rats. We conclude that the reactivity of the HPA axis to external stressors is strongly attenuated during parturition, and this cannot be disinhibited by blocking the receptor-mediated action of brain oxytocin.


Antigen-specific immune T lymphocytes of male C57BL/6 mice were enriched in vitro on monolayers of antigen-pulsed syngeneic macrophages. The cells were treated in vitro with RadLV and inoculated intrathymically into irradiated female C56BL/6 animals. Thymomas arising in the inoculated recipients were characterized as donor- (male) type according to their karyotype. In vivo and in vitro cell lines were established from the primary lymphomas, two of which (designated ROT/6.1 and ROT/6.2) were capable of providing antigen- (carrier) specific help in normal or preimmunized mice. None of the lymphomas could induce antigen-specific DTH reaction. Five months after their establishment, ROT/6.2 alone retained its carrier specificity. ROT/6.2 consisted mainly of Lyt-1+ cells, whereas the ROT/6.1 population was more heterogeneous and contained Lyt-1+, Lyt-2+, and Lyt-3+ cells. The carrier specificity of the latter may have been lost due to selection against the specific helper cells during prolonged passages.


Background Self-efficacy is crucial in improving medical student communication skills. This study aims to clarify whether the self-efficacy of medical students conducting medical interviews increased after simulated interviews or after feedback discussions. Methods A total of 162 medical students (109 men, 53 women) in their fourth or fifth year at a university in Japan participated in this study. The degree of self-efficacy in medical interviewing was measured before and after a medical interview with a simulated patient, and after the subsequent feedback session. Results ANOVA analysis revealed that self-efficacy for medical interviews was higher after both the interview and the feedback session than before the interview. Self-efficacy was highest after the feedback session among all three time points. Conclusions Feedback following a simulated interview with a simulated patient is important to improve the self-efficacy of medical students learning medical interviewing skills.


The Liesegang phenomenon is a spontaneous pattern formation, which is a periodic distribution of the precipitate discovered in diffusion-limited systems. Over the past century, it has been experimentally attempted to control the periodicity of patterns and structures of precipitates by varying the concentration of the hydrogel or electrolytes, adding organic or inorganic impurities, and applying an electric or pH field. In this work, the periodic patterns of calcium phosphate were manipulated with an anionic macromolecular additive inspired by bone mineralization in which various noncollagenous proteins are involved in the formation of a polymer-induced liquid precursor. The periodic patterns were systematically controlled by adjusting the amount of poly(acrylic acid), and they were numerically simulated by adjusting the threshold concentration of nucleation. The change of the pattern is explained by improved stability and directional diffusion of the intermediate.


During the study of the transpositions undergone by the amide of canphen-4-carboxylic acid on treatment with concentrated hydrochloric acid, the formation of the amide of 2-chlorobornan-4-carboxylic acid alone, arising in two polymorphous forms, has been confirmed. Its reduction produced 2-chloro-4-aminomethylbornane; the detachment of hydrochloric acid at the amide of canphen-1-carboxylic acid.


The right to access and request information is enshrined in article 19 of the universal declaration of human rights. Access to information (ATI) plays an essential role for promoting accountability and citizens' ability to monitor the actions of the government, and it contributes to participatory development. The goal of this report is to provide an overview of the situation of access to information in the Middle East and North Africa (MNA) region, in particular the cases of Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, and Tunisia. This report looks at previous and current efforts for promoting ATI in the region in order to facilitate knowledge exchange among ATI practitioners across those countries and to help them identify areas for collaboration in the region. For each country, this report will first examine the legal and or institutional framework, including a range of factors such as constitutional provisions, restrictive legislation, relevant regional and international conventions, and key administrative bodies. Government initiatives affecting the right of ATI are then considered in detail for each country. This report examines the practice of ATI for each of these four countries, including the use and implementation of ATI legislation or other applicable transparency provisions. Finally, a summary of recent developments of the ATI coalitions and campaigns in these countries is provided.


ABSTRACT This article presents an English translation and analysis of a new historical fragment, probably from Dexippus' Scythica, published by Gunther Martin and Jana Grusková in 2014. The fragment, preserved in a palimpsest in the Austrian National Library, describes a Gothic attack on Thessalonica and the subsequent preparations of the Greeks to repel the barbarian force as it moved south into Achaia. The new text provides several important details of historical, prosopographical and historiographical significance, which challenge both our existing understanding of the events in Greece during the reign of Gallienus and the reading of the main literary sources for this period. In this article we look to secure the Dexippan authorship of the fragment, identify the individuals named in the text, and date the events described in the text to the early 260s a.d.


This article examines how hero-ancestor-saints came to be drawn into contestations over heritage, economic assets, and ritual between two rival groups of Orthodox clerics and their political and entrepreneurial backers. After Montenegro's secession from Serbia (2006), pro- and anti-Serbian factions of the population have been mobilized under the banners of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) and of the recently formed Montenegrin Orthodox Church (MOC). As spheres of authority are being carved out in the new polity, competing political and sacred genealogies are used to articulate the nation's descent through earlier state projects in the region. This article examines how Orthodox notions of charisma and leadership intersect with the heroic traditions of highland clans and contemporary state processes to create specific forms of authority inscribed in divine kinship gesnealogies.


We discuss the fabrication and characterization of undoped hydrogenated and crystallized silicon thin films grown by reactive magnetron sputtering at growth rate of about 2 A/s and at a temperature as low as 100 °C for various ratios of hydrogen dilution in the gas phase mixture (argon + x % hydrogen). Combined infrared absorption and Raman scattering spectroscopy techniques as well as conventional and high resolution transmission electron microscopy and stress measurements are used to fully characterize the films. In this temperature range, a minimum hydrogen dilution of 30% with respect to the plasma mixture (argon + hydrogen) is necessary to produce nanocrystalline films with crystalline volume fraction of about 65%. Moreover, these films are found to promote much lower stress intensity than those reported in previous works. The nature and strength of the stresses are dependent on the film microstructure.


The African Continental Free Trade Area is an initiative aimed at establishing an economic block across the African continent, drawing parallels with the antecedent of the European Community, which pioneered economic activities and integration in Europe prior to its full assimilation into the broader framework of the European Union in 2009. The intention of this paper is to uncover potential opportunities while also illuminating possible obstacles that, if not adeptly managed, could impede the trajectory of economic integration in the promising African continent. The choice of an allegorical title is deliberate, aligning with the nuanced points this paper seeks to underscore, derived from a series of observations, although infused with substantial optimism. This study examines the potential influence of structural, contextual, and operational dynamics, predominantly observed within many African countries, on the outcomes of major integration initiatives and its associated goals. Drawing insights from the experiences of other nations and continental economic alliances, the analysis assesses how these shared dynamics may condition and shape the consequences of this landmark integration decision. Notably, the emphasis shifts from the investigation itself to the prospective impacts of integration, as informed by empirical evidences and contextual considerations. Key dimensions such as capital accumulation, labor growth, and increase in productivity emerge as critical factors in reinforcement of the quest for sustainable economic growth.


Wireless computers, long held back by technical snags and entrenched work patterns, are breaking out of the realm of fantasy. They promise to give doctors and nurses instant access to data--at half the cost of installing PCs. Those are two good reasons why health care information technology executives are bullish on wireless.


Oscillatoxins E (1) and F (2) are cyanotoxins isolated from cyanobacteria in the genus Lyngbya. We recently reported the first total synthesis of these compounds and determined their cytotoxicity in various cancer cell lines. Their anti-proliferative activities were moderate, but 2 exhibited unique cell line selectivity. In order to understand their mode of action, in this study we evaluated the cytotoxicity of 1 and 2 under nutrient-depletion culture conditions. Interestingly, 2 exhibited stronger cytotoxicity in HHUA endometrial cancer cells, especially under FBS-starvation conditions. However, its toxicity was not increased in HHUA cells precultured in FBS-depleted medium. These results suggest that 2 is not selectively toxic to nutrient-starved cells and that FBS components such as albumin more strongly neutralized the cytotoxicity of 2 relative to 1. The protein composition of FBS varies by production lot, and the amount of FBS supplemented to culture medium is flexibly determined depending upon the cell line used and experimental objectives. Therefore, it is important to consider the detoxification activity of FBS to precisely evaluate the properties of oscillatoxins, including cytotoxic potency, cell line selectivity, and their respective structure–activity relationships.


Background and aims: Pathological narcissism is one of the personality disorders in drug abusers, and its main characteristic is self-conceit and lack of empathy and solidarity with others. The present study aimed to compare the effects of group dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and structured matrix treatment on pathological narcissism and craving for drugs among drug abusers in Ahvaz. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study based on a pretest-posttest design with control and test groups. The study population consisted of all drug abusers visiting the addiction rehabilitation centers affiliated with the Department of Social Welfare, Ahvaz, Iran, in 2021. Of them, 75 individuals were selected as the sample through the cluster random sampling method and were randomly assigned to two experimental groups and a control group. Participants in all three groups completed the Pathological Narcissism Inventory (PNI) and the Desires for Drug Questionnaire (DDQ) as the pre-test. The first experimental group participated in eight 90-minute sessions of group DBT. Moreover, the second experimental group underwent fourteen 90-minute sessions of structured matrix treatment. Finally, all participants took a post-test, and data were statistically analyzed by multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). Results: The results showed that both group DBT and structured matrix treatment reduced pathological narcissism and craving for drugs in experimental groups (P<0.001). However, there was no significant difference between the two experimental groups in the mean scores of pathological narcissism and craving for drugs. Conclusion: As our findings demonstrated the effectiveness of group DBT and structured matrix treatment in reducing pathological narcissism and craving for drug among drug abusers, these two interventions, along with other therapies, are recommended to improve the mental state and reduce craving for drugs among drug abusers.


BACKGROUND
In obese patients with end stage renal disease, puncturing matured arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) that run deep under the skin surface may prove difficult. To achieve reliable puncturability, there are several surgical solutions. Superficialization with mobilization is common. With some newer options (lipectomy and liposuction) subcutaneous adipose tissue is surgically reduced. There are only a few authors who have published their experience with liposuction and we want to add our own results.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
We report our experience with ultrasound-guided liposuction (USGL). We introduce liposuction cannulas via small incisions to reduce the subcutaneous adipose tissue overlying the planned cannulation zones under ultrasound control using tumescent anaesthesia till the prospective needle access segments become easily palpable. So far, we have used this technique for cephalic forearm and upper arm fistulas only. Furthermore, we review the relevant literature.

RESULTS
From February 2014 through November 2016, six patients were treated using USGL. Their body mass indices ranged from 30.8 to 53.8 kg/m2 (mean 37.6). The mean depths of the AVFs beneath the skin surface were 13.3 (8-20) mm before and 5.1 (3.5-6) mm after surgery. The mean time of the procedure was 15 minutes. There were no postoperative complications. In five patients, the AVFs could reliably be punctured after three weeks. One patient is not yet on dialysis. During the follow-up period of 24 (11-43) months, all six AVFs remained primarily patent. In the literature, we found nine reports on altogether 81 patients undergoing USGL. Almost all noteworthy complications occurred only after ultrasound-powered liquefaction of adipose tissue, which was only used by a single investigator.

CONCLUSIONS
USGL is a method that can be learned easily, is minimally invasive, seems to be safe, and requires only short operation times.


We place regional industry structures at centre stage in currency union analysis, decomposing differences between regional and aggregate cycles into "industry structure" and "industry cycle" effects. The industry structure effect indicates whether a region's industry structure causes its cycle to deviate from the aggregate; the industry cycle effect indicates the importance of region‐specific shocks in causing a deviation between cycles. We apply the methodology to Australasia. One region, ACT, has a material industry structure effect arising from its heavy central government concentration. No other region has a material industry structure effect; their cycles differ from the aggregate due to region‐specific shocks.


Recently many new "scale-free" random graph models have been introduced, motivated by the power-law degree sequences observed in many large-scale real-world networks. The most studied of these is the Barabási-Albert growth with "preferential attachment" model, made precise as the LCD model by the present authors. Here we use coupling techniques to show that in certain ways the LCD model is not too far from a standard random graph; in particular, the fractions of vertices that must be retained under an optimal attack in order to keep a giant component are within a constant factor for the scale-free and classical models.


The book is a joint effort of eight academics and journalists, Europe specialists from six countries (Australia, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, the United Kingdom and the United States). They give sometimes divergent views on the future of the so-called "European Project", for building a common European economy and society, but agree that cultural changes, especially changes experienced through mass media, are rapidly taking place. One of the central interests of the book is the operation of the large media centre located at the European Commission in Brussels – the world's largest gallery of permanently accredited correspondents.

Jacket notes: The Lisbon Treaty of December 2009 is the latest success of the European Union's drive to restructure and expand; yet questions persist about how democratic this new Europe might be. Will Brussels' promotion of the "European idea" produce a common European culture and society? The authors consider it might, as a culture of everyday shared experience, though old ways are cherished, citizens forever thinking twice about committing to an uncertain future. The book focuses on mass media , as a prime agent of change, sometimes used deliberately to promote a "European project"; sometimes acting more naturally as a medium for new agendas. It looks at proposed media models for Europe, ranging from not very successful pan-European television, to the potentials of media systems based on national markets, and new media based on digital formats. It also studies the Brussels media service, the centre operated by the European Commission, which is the world's largest concentration of journalists; and ways that dominant national media may come to serve the interests of communities now extending across frontiers. Europe and the Media notes change especially as encountered by new EU member countries of central and eastern Europe.


The Lower Benue Trough is part of the Benue Trough of Nigeria and it consists of a series of rift basins which form a part of the Central West African Rift System of the Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Sudan Basement fragmentations. This research attempts to evaluate the geomorphological changes on the drainage basin interpreted using several techniques including the use of Remote Sensing and GIS. Several digital image enhancement techniques such as general contrast stretching and edge enhancement were applied to the Landsat image in ARCGIS, after which structures were mapped out on-screen using ArcGIS. The Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of the Trough was also generated from Shuttle RADAR Topographic Mission and used to enhance geomorphic features. The analysis carried out on the images revealed that the slope tool calculates the maximum rate of changes between each cell and its neighbors. The drainage density calculated shows that the drainage area = 86282.1km 2 , while the drainage density is 0.39872 km/km -2 . The result from the modeling concludes by revealing four sub-basins in the Lower Benue Trough with maximum thickness of 7-10km. Keywords: Benue, Remote Sensing, GIS, Geomorphology, River Basin


Issues concerning individuals with disabilities are under-researched in Africa, and
persons with disabilities remain some of the most highly disadvantaged groups. In an
increasing era of globalization, partnerships across borders and boundaries to conduct
disability research is inevitable. Yet, such partnerships might be complicated by issues
such as unequal power dynamics, poverty, and cultural misunderstandings, among
others. In this article, the authors reflect upon their experience partnering for disability
research across cultures, with one author being a Congolese person with a disability
and the other being a Canadian ally. They discuss the nature of their research
relationship, challenges they faced while conducting a seven-month study of
personhood and support for people with intellectual disabilities in Kinshasa, and how
they addressed these challenges. They also outline lessons learned from this
partnership and how their past experience collaborating for disability research will
shape their future endeavours.


Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC

Our laboratory has developed the use of fluorescent proteins for in vivo imaging (Nature Reviews Cancer 5, 796-806, 2005). We have developed melanoma cell lines that stably express GFP and nude mice that ubiquitously express RFP to study tumor interaction by dual-color imaging. In the present study, we examined the efficacy of UVC irradiation on the growth of murine melanoma expressing GFP in the ear of GFP mice. We also evaluated the efficacy of UVC irradiation against blood vessels vascularizing the melanoma. RFP-expressing blood vessels from transgenic mice expressing RFP used as hosts were readily visible in GFP melanoma. B16F10 melanoma expressing GFP were injected subcutaneously in the ear of the RFP mice. The ears of the mice were observed before and 24 hours after irradiation with UVC. UVC was effective on B16F10 GFP growth and also damaged blood vessels in the tumor. Thus, UVC irradiation has a direct effect on melanoma growth as well as an anti-angiogenesis effect. This dual-color tumor-host model is useful for evaluation of efficacy on melanoma growth and tumor blood vessels, which is readily discernable with fluorescent protein imaging. UVC irradiation is a promising therapeutic for melanoma expressing fluorescent proteins which can be effected in vivo (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1-6, 14514-14517, 2009).

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 500.


This paper reports on the progress made in disaster recovery research over the previous decades with an emphasis on the "synthesis" research, which combines different recovery concepts, dimensions, and influences into a new, unified whole. By its very nature, synthesis research has taken a broader view of disaster recovery and has tended to be more multi-disciplinary in its perspective. An examination of the literature related to urban disaster recovery and recovery management mainly from the U.S. and Japan found that, over the past 40 years, synthesis researchers have undertaken both empirical and qualitative studies of disaster cases, attempted to model and measure the process of recovery, and developed a more multi-disciplinary, comprehensive understanding of the disaster recovery process. Advances in remote sensing and computer modeling have been critical to advancing the field. There is an emerging consensus definition of disaster recovery as a complex, nonlinear process that involves physical as well as social, economic, and institutional recovery dimensions. As well, emerging theoretical constructs for urban disaster recovery are rooted in systems theory and aspects of decision theory are applicable in developing management approaches for the recovery process. Looking ahead, there is a time-critical opportunity for the research community to develop some consensus views and to work to refine the understanding of both the process of disaster recovery and its management.


(1) Background: The health behavior (HB) of adolescents develops in the school or family setting and plays an important role in their future health status. Health literacy (HL) has been identified as an important factor in modifying health behavior in addition to socioeconomic factors. health-promoting school (HPS) programs also have a significant role in providing students with the means of learning the importance of knowledge, behavior, and skills for a healthy lifestyle. (2) Method: This study aims to identify the association between HB, HL measured in comprehensive health literacy (CHL) and functional health literacy (FHL), HPS programs, and socioeconomic factors among high school students in Surabaya, Indonesia. A cross-sectional study was conducted, and 1066 students were evaluated as respondents. (3) Result: The results of multivariate analyses showed that following factors were associated with better health behavior: female, better academic performance, higher grade, higher father's education, lower allowance, and better CHL and FHL. The strongest association for HB was gender. CHL was especially associated with handwashing, physical activity, and drug abuse. FHL was associated with smoking and drug abuse. The implementation of HPS programs did not reach an optimum level and only influenced physical activity. (4) Conclusions: The findings confirm that CHL and FHL have a significant association with several HBs. HB intervention in the HPS program is recommended to incorporate the CHL and FHL for a better health impact.


Background The majority of workers, regardless of age or occupational status, report engaging in personal Internet use in the workplace. There is little understanding of the impact that personal Internet use may have on patient care in acute clinical settings. Objective The objective of this study was to investigate the volume of one form of personal Internet use—online social networking (Facebook)—generated by workstations in the emergency department (ED) in contrast to measures of clinical volume and severity. Methods The research team analyzed anonymous network utilization records for 68 workstations located in the emergency medicine department within one academic medical center for 15 consecutive days (12/29/2009 to 1/12/2010). This data was compared to ED work index (EDWIN) data derived by the hospital information systems. Results Health care workers spent an accumulated 4349 minutes (72.5 hours) browsing Facebook, staff cumulatively visited Facebook 9369 times and spent, on average, 12.0 minutes per hour browsing Facebook. There was a statistically significant difference in the time spent on Facebook according to time of day (19.8 minutes per hour versus 4.3 minutes per hour, P<.001). There was a significant, positive correlation between EDWIN scores and time spent on Facebook (r=.266, P<.001). Conclusions Facebook use constituted a substantive percentage of staff time during the 15-day observation period. Facebook use increased with increased patient volume and severity within the ED.


An analysis is presented of the viscous - inviscid interaction region around the tip of a flame spreading over the surface of a solid fuel in a forced laminar high Reynolds number air stream that opposes the flame propagation. Through the interaction, the vaporization of the solid and the thermal expansion of the gas originate an adverse pressure gradient upstream of the flame tip, which leads to a decrease of the shear acting on the small region controlling the flame spread rate. Under certain realistic conditions this adverse pressure gradient may separate the boundary layer upstream of the vaporizing region of the solid, leading to a new mode of flame spread with a higher spread rate determined by the flow in the whole interaction region.


In this paper, we explore the issue of a simultaneous reduction in tariffs at different stages of a vertically-related market where each stage is oligopolistic. When vertically-related markets are characterized as a successive oligopoly, reducing tariffs by an equivalent amount on upstream and downstream imports will have a differential effect on market access and hence profits at each stage due to a combination of horizontal and vertical effects. As a consequence, in order to maintain parity between the upstream and downstream stages in terms of changes in domestic firms' profits, tariffs on downstream imports should be reduced proportionately more than tariffs on upstream imports. This provides a rationale for tariff-reduction formulae aimed at reducing tariff escalation.


Abstract. Living shorelines provide a nature-based strategy for coastal restoration with ample opportunity for community engagement and collaboration with interdisciplinary stakeholders. While their implementation has increased over the past few decades, restoration via this technique is limited by several factors including a lack of data sharing among projects and geographical regions, a shortage of long-term monitoring to demonstrate efficacy at meeting project goals, and a need for greater interdisciplinary communication moving forward. In this study, we reviewed recent literature from a range of living shorelines studies throughout the United States and conducted interviews with nature-based coastal restoration practitioners primarily from the U.S. west coast. The insight from these stakeholder interviews allowed us to identify major knowledge gaps about living shorelines and establish priorities for future research and funding, including: (1) funding demonstration projects in their early research stages, (2) supporting projects and trainings for engineers utilizing nature-based infrastructure, (3) conducting long-term monitoring of both ecological and structural properties, (4) communicating findings, importance, and project visualizations to stakeholders within and between communities, and (5) advancing the causes of environmental justice and equity. By reviewing recent literature and engaging with living shoreline practitioners to gather their experiences and suggestions, we have increased understanding of how living shoreline restoration can be more effectively planned, constructed, and monitored at scale, in varied locations and using a range of techniques.


The estimation of maternal genetic variances by a multivariate maximum likelihood method is discussed. As an illustration the method is applied to data on Tribolium using a model based on partitioning the maternal genetic effect into additive and dominance components. An alternative model due to Falconer (1965) is also fitted. The method is applied to designs suggested for estimating maternal variances by Eisen [1967]. Modifications required when parents are selected on their phenotypic values are given.


The purpose of dividend policy, promoted by a joint-stock company may be: building trust and forming a true business ownership, business growth, increase creditworthiness of the company and of trust others to it. The paper aim is to study the dividend policy to those five Romanian Financial Investment Companies in the period 2006-2012, through a series of specific indicators such as: dividend per share, dividend growth rate, dividend distribution rate, dividend yield, earnings per share, price earnings ratio, in order to reflect the performance and the impact of financial crisis on their performance on the financial market. Tracking the dynamics of these indicators allows us to draw conclusions on the position of the companies on the securities market, and their level influences the decision of shareholders to maintain or withdraw of shares, to invest in other more profitable businesses. Dividend yields made every year by Financial Investment Companies justify the high interest from investors for these shares. Currently, these companies offer a very attractive return for investors compared to the average dividend yield of the Stock Exchange. The evolution of the price earnings ratio shows the normal trend of rise of the companies' shares in the period 2007-2008, after that they have entered the market at highly undervalued levels especially after declining in 2008.


Calcaneal inferior spurs are bony outgrowth that can arise from multiple sites. Compressive and traction forces are theorized to be the etiology behind their genesis. Blunt trauma to the plantar aspect of the foot can lead to calcaneal inferior spur fracture. We present a case of a 38-years-old male presenting inability to bear weight on his left foot with point tenderness after falling from a 3-meters height. Radiographic examination revealed fracture of calcaneal inferior spur, from which the patient was conservatively treated successfully. Fracture inferior calcaneal spur is a rare cause of heel pain. The reviewed literature showed how both conservative and surgical managements are used, the former more frequently.


Peer-to-peer based (P2P) VoD systems have proven to be an effective solution for scalable video distribution. In P2P VoD, each peer contributes storage to replicate videos and assist video delivery. A fundamental question is how to optimally replicate video content across the peers so as to maximize their upload capacity. We study this question within the context of a large-scale P2P network where peers are grouped into different geographical regions, and downloading a video across regions is more expensive than within a region. Our analysis addresses the combined challenge of (1) optimizing the replica allocation (placement) with respect to an arbitrary stochastic demand distribution, and (2) finding an optimal assignment of video requests to peers. The problem addressed can model other applications including inventory problems. Our main result is that optimal replica placement in single- and multi-region environments is of max percentile nature. We derive optimal algorithms and show that they have low complexity and thus very practical. We use numerical analysis and simulation to evaluate the system performance and study its behavior. Our results can be used to provide valuable insights on the design of P2P VoD systems.


A phantom is presented which permits the evaluation of streaking artifacts produced in CT reconstructions by abrupt edges. Its application is demonstrated by results obtained from nine CT scanners. It is observed that even in regions where streaking is not readily apparent, edge-induced artifacts can significantly increase the variance in the reconstruction.


This study aims to describe the experiences of nurses caring for cancer patients in non-specialist wards. The study was conducted in a large (420 beds) and small (32 beds) hospital in an area health service with urban and rural populations in the west of Sydney. A qualitative descriptive approach was utilized to collect data from the nurses. Data were collected using a survey and in-depth interviews of nurses working in non-specialist cancer wards. Transcribed data were managed with Nudist Vivo software and analysed for common themes using process of constant comparison and contrast. Twenty-five surveys were returned and five nurses volunteered to be interviewed. The six major themes that emerged from analysis of data were: emotional nature of care, lack of time, lack of knowledge of cancer treatment, family support, environment not conducive to proper care and dealing with patient's non-acceptance of cancer diagnosis. The nurses in this study wished to provide quality supportive care for cancer patients and their families but the inconducive environment and inadequate relevant training hindered the nurses' efforts. This then presents further need of relevant training for nurses in cancer care and time management, to meet up with these challenges.


In developing new ways to publish vast amounts of information, many technical communication teams face problems that go far beyond the challenges of one book, a series of books, or even a series of CD-ROMs. Technical communicators begin to face a constellation of problems that are more like those that have plagued software development since it became a distinct profession in the 1960s. At first a project seems promising. Then, as the work begins and progresses, we become enmeshed in interlocking problems of management, purchasing, staffing, training, installation, integration, and vision. This article summarizes the lessons learned from a major effort to use the Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) to pull together into a single, accessible, electronic "publication" large amounts of very complicated information.


Here, we report a draft genome sequence of Ralstonia sp. strain SET104, isolated from the root nodules of Aeschynomene indica. ABSTRACT Here, we report a draft genome sequence of Ralstonia sp. strain SET104, isolated from the root nodules of Aeschynomene indica. The assembled draft genome size was 4,796,748 bp, containing a predicted total of 4,464 protein-encoding sequences. SET104 appears to be a novel species of the genus Ralstonia.


Treatment of sporadic cardiac myxoma (CM) has always been a challenging task. Currently, surgical excision remains the only option; however, targeted drug discovery schemes are in progress in order to improve treatment strategies and efficacy. The molecular mechanisms behind CM pathogenesis are still not totally unveiled thus drug target identification is still at early steps, trying to compile structured data on the pathophysiology of CM, targets and targeting moieties. Five critical disease pathways involving molecules of seven functional groups have been recently shown by us to be associated with the pathogenesis of CM. In addition, 15 to 20 drug targets and their targeting molecules have also mapped on pathways in an effort to start decoding the molecular profiles based on which early efforts for CM patient stratification into targeted therapeutic regimes. The present review describes the current data and discusses critical issues in the field of targeted and personalized medicine of CM.


Now a day, digital marketing transforming all the services and market activities like commerce, shopping marketing retailing and advertising techniques. In this advance generation world has become a globalized unit; where clientservices are improving undoubtedly day by day on a regular ground by taking digital actions. Accordingly to develop an important corporate picture and to enhance the customer satisfaction, for HR it is very important to incorporate appropriate digital marketing skills among the whole organization at all levels in order to gain the satisfaction of employees and organizational objectives completely. In order to accomplish business perfection, Our HR process and duties should have incremental variations at a rapid rate because the step of technology varying so rapidly.


Hyperlipidaemia is ametabolic disorder and its prevalence worldwide is a biggest health issue in 21st century. This is more due to the life style in current era. Hyperlipidaemia is disorder with a fundamental cause that Hahnemann has mentioned as miasm.There is high prevalence of hyperlipidaemia in urban slum population in North India. According to prodigy guidance for hyperlipidaemia in UK shows there is high chance of hyperlipidaemia in diabetics and prevalence ratio is 10.3% and prevalence of hyperlipidaemia based on BMI study is more in female than in males. Appreciable prevalence of obesity, hyperlipidaemia, substantial increase in body fat (generalized and regional obesity) in middle age particularly in female need immediate attention in terms of prevalence of this disorder.Hyperlipidaemia and its prevalence worldwide is biggest health issue in 21st century. This is the metabolic disorder which is more due to life style in current era. Hyperlipidaemia is a disease syndrome with multiple causative factors that includes genetic, lifestyle and stress. In today's world most deaths are attributed to non-communicable diseases and over half of these are the result of cardiovascular diseases, heart disease and stroke are the first and second cause of death in developed countries. WHO has drawn attention to the fact that coronary heart disease is our modern epidemic.Herewe want to give deep insight to the cases of hyperlipidaemia and want to emphasize more over miasmaticdyscrasia, which is a crucial part of homoeopathic treatment and helps in permanent restoration of health and prevent the complications like coronary heart disease, cardiovascular accident, uncontrolled hypertension, aortic stenosis, stricture, etc.


Introduction: Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSMF) is a precancerous condition characterized by limited mouth opening, burning sensation, stiffness, and blanching of the oral mucosa induced by areca nut eating. With any of the current therapy regimens, complete regression of the illness has not been accomplished in all patients. Curcumin is a yellow pigment found in curry powder that has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and pro-apoptotic properties. As a result, interventional research was conducted to determine the efficacy of Collaper RTu a proprietary collagen-curcumin based product in patients with OSMF.Setting and design: Forty patients with clinically and histologically confirmed Oral Submucous Fibrosis participated in a randomized open label interventional research. Method & materials: For the research, forty patients with clinically and histologically verified Oral Submucous Fibrosis were randomly assigned to one of two groups. The first group was given a weekly intralesional injection of 4 mg Dexamethasone and 1500 I.U Hyaluronidase, whereas the second was given two Collagen-Curcumin pills (Collaper Rtu 60mg Collagen with 100 mg Curcumin) every day for three months. On a weekly basis, the improvement of burning sensation, interincisal distance, and tongue protrusion was assessed.Results: From early to late stages, the burning feeling improved in both groups. Collaper Rtu was found to eliminate the burning feeling. In groups 1 and 2, the mean increase in interincisal distance was 3.13 mm and 1.25 mm, respectively. The interincisal distance improved significantly in both groups by the end of the first month. When compared to group 2, group 1's tongue protrusion recovered faster at the conclusion of the first month. Conclusion: Collaper RTu is useful and effective in lowering the burning feeling in people with early OSMF.


Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) inhibit the function of cyclooxygenases, COX-1 and COX-2, which catalyze the first step in the synthesis of inflammatory mediators (PGE2). We sought to understand the roles of cyclooxygenases and NSAIDs in T-cell development. Our data show no significant defects in T-cell development in fetal thymic organ cultures of mice disrupted in both or either COX genes or in mice disrupted in either EP-1 or EP-2 receptor genes. On the other hand, NSAIDs reproducibly caused thymocyte developmental defects. However, the specific effects of the COX-2 inhibitors were not correlated with their potency for inhibition of COX-2 activity. We focused on the NS-398 COX-2 inhibitor and showed that its effects could not be reversed by exogenous PGE2. Furthermore, NS-398 was inhibitory even when its target, COX-2, was absent. These data show that the T-cell developmental effects of NS-398 are COX-2 and PGE2 independent.


SS41 material is welded automatically and is investigated some effects of the welding residual stress on the growth and propagation of fatigue crack, so as to study the fatigue behaviour in the welding residual stress field. The summarized results are as follows; 1) In case of the load amplitude is constant, as the stress ratio is changing to 0.1, 0.33 and 0.5 the propagation life is constant but the initiation life decreases. And than, when maximum load or minimum load is constant, as the stress ratio increases the initiation life and propagation life. 2) It was shown that the fatigue crack propagation ratio da/dN was almost constant regardless of the stress ratio change at constant load amplitude and that the larger stress ratio, the slower was the fatigue crack propagation ratio. 3) The opening ratio U is influenced by K_max but it isn`t only the function of K_max because data range is very large. 4) The fatigue life of the specimens on tensile compressive residual stress field was decreased and increased respectably more than that of the base metal.