This paper presents a watermarking scheme for grayscale images, in which lifting wavelet transform and singular value decomposition are exploited based on multi-objective artificial bee colony optimization to produce a robust watermarking method. Furthermore, for increasing security encryption of the watermark is done prior to the embedding operation. In the proposed scheme, the actual image is altered to four sub-band over three levels of lifting wavelet transform then the singular value of the watermark image is embedded to the singular value of LH sub-band of the transformed original image. In the embedding operation, multiple scaling factors are utilized on behalf of the single scaling element to get the maximum probable robustness without changing watermark lucidity. Multi-objective artificial bee colony optimization is utilized for the determination of the optimal values for multiple scaling components, which are examined against various types of attacks. For making the proposed scheme more secure, the watermark is encrypted chaotically by logistic chaotic encryption before embedding it to the host (original) image. The experimental results show excellent imperceptibility and good resiliency against a wide range of image processing attacks.


Abstract Background: Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) can be used for the measurement of glycated adult hemoglobin. Here, we describe the evaluation of ESI-MS for measurement of glycated (GHbF) and acetylated (AcHbF) fetal hemoglobin and the identification by mass of different chains of fetal hemoglobin. Methods: Blood samples were diluted in an acidic denaturing solvent, desalted with AG 50W-X8 resin and introduced directly into the mass spectrometer. Resulting mass spectra were processed to determine the percentage of GHbF and AcHbF and the γ-chain masses. Results: The procedure yielded reproducible quantitative assay of GHbF and AcHbF, with coefficients of variation <4.9%. Measurement of α-chain glycation was similarly reproducible and is suggested as an alternative marker of glycemic control. Marked increases in glycation occurred in dried spot blood samples, which were related to duration of storage, temperature and glucose concentration. Molecular masses of fetal hemoglobin chains were also determined and in 42 neonates studied, two types A and B were identified, two-thirds were type A with γ-chain masses corresponding to Gγ and Aγ. In type B, the relative abundance of the Aγ-chain was less and the apparent intensity of the Gγ-chain was higher. Conclusions: ESI-MS can be used for the estimation of GHbF and AcHbF and the accurate measurement of fetal γ-chain masses. The use of whole blood is preferred for analysis. Clin Chem Lab Med 2008;46:1230–8.


In this paper, we propose a genetic algorithm based design procedure for a radial-basis function neural network. A hierarchical rank density genetic algorithm (HRDGA) is used to evolve both the neural network's topology and parameters. In addition, the rank-density based fitness assignment technique is used to optimize the performance and topology of the evolved neural network to deal with the confliction between the training performance and network complexity. Instead of producing a single optimal network, HRDGA provides a set of near-optimal neural networks to the designers or the decision makers so that they can have more flexibility for the final decision-making based on their preferences. In terms of searching for a near-complete set of candidate networks with high performances, the networks designed by the proposed algorithm prove to be competitive, or even superior, to three selected traditional radial-basis function networks for predicting Mackey-Glass chaotic time series.


Gout is an inflammatory condition of the joints caused by deposition of crystallized monosodium urate (MSU) in the joint which leads to Arthritis. there are many debates about the suitable pharmacological therapy for the acute inflammatory gout attacks. The Pharmacological treatment included colchicine, non steroidal anti- inflammatory (NASIDS) and corticosteroid injection. The aim of this study is to review the evidences which studied the effect of Colchicine, NASID and corticosteroid injections and discuss their effectiveness in treating the acute flares of Gout. After evaluation the validity of the latest best evidences presented in the database by using the AMSTAR tool. There was no best drug and no optimal dose identified in treating acute Gout attacks. Doctors should be careful in selecting the treatment considering the side effect of each medication and deal with each patient individually to provide the best health care.


BACKGROUND
Thyroid hormone (T3) is essential for normal development of children enabling brain development and somatic growth. However, certain individuals are genetically predisposed with insufficient or no thyroid hormones. Such a condition is termed congenital hypothyroidism (CH).

OBJECTIVE
In the present review, a brief back ground about congenital hypothyroidism, factors associated with CH leading to thyroid dysgenesis and thyroid dyshormonogenesis is elaborated. Additionally, the guidelines for available treatment options, management and follow-up required for patients diagnosed with CH are discussed. Treatment options in terms of treatment initiation and dosage of hormone replacement are discussed.

CONCLUSION
Though CH is considered as the most common neonatal metabolic disorder, it is also easily treatable compared to other metabolic or hereditary diseases. The outcome of CH treatment depends on the compliance of parents early in life and by patients themselves during later part of life.


Accounts are given of the taxonomic and nomenclatural problems surrounding Rubus nessensis Hall and Rubus scissus Watson. The case of R. nessensis is resolved by the discovery of living material from the type locality in Berwickshire and by designating a voucher specimen as the neotype. In the case of the latter, R. scissus Watson is shown to be the correct name of R. ochroacanthus Sennikov & H. E. Weber by careful comparison of material from the locus classicus in Shropshire with specimens of rival taxa and by application of the most recent, St Louis, Code of Botanical Nomenclature.


We present a genome assembly from an individual female Accipiter gentilis (the northern goshawk; Chordata; Aves; Accipitriformes; Accipitridae). The genome sequence is 1,398 megabases in span. The majority of the assembly (99.98%) is scaffolded into 40 chromosomal pseudomolecules, with the W and Z chromosomes assembled. The complete mitochondrial genome was also assembled and is 16.6 kilobases in length.


BACKGROUND
Mycosis fungoides primarily localized to the palms and soles is rare and has been previously reported as cutaneous lymphoma in four patients or as Woringer-Kolopp disease in eight patients.

OBSERVATIONS
Four patients were initially diagnosed and treated unsuccessfully for various palmoplantar dermatitides until histopathologic findings revealed mycosis fungoides. Each case exhibited a clonal rearrangement of T-cell receptor gamma genes and immunohistochemical studies consonant with mycosis fungoides. All patients had limited skin involvement without evidence of extracutaneous involvement.

CONCLUSIONS
Mycosis fungoides palmaris et plantaris is an uncommon expression of mycosis fungoides that manifests primarily on the palms and soles and clinically may mimic various inflammatory palmoplantar dermatoses. A biopsy is recommended in the evaluation of recalcitrant palmoplantar dermatoses.


The activities of three principal enzymes engaged in the biosynthesis and degradation of poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) [poly(ADP-ribose)] were examined in cell nuclei isolated from adenomatous polyps (tubular adenomas of familial polyposis coli, villous adenoma, and tubulovillous adenoma), cancers, and normal mucosa of human colon. The activities of poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase in adenomatous polyps [161 +/- 46 (S.E.) pmol/min/mg DNA] and cancers (114 +/- 32 pmol/min/mg DNA) were, on an average, about 3 and 2 times, respectively, higher than those in normal mucosa (52 +/- 24 pmol/min/mg DNA); the difference was statistically significant (p less than 0.001). The activity of poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase was also significantly high in adenomatous polyps (13.0 +/- 3.4 nmol/min/mg DNA), but not in cancers (10.1 +/- 2.5 nmol/min/mg DNA), compared with normal mucosa (5.2 +/- 1.4 nmol/min/mg DNA) (p less than 0.001). The activity of ADP-ribosyl protein lyase, in contrast, was lower in adenomatous polyps (152 +/- 40 pmol/min/mg DNA) than in normal mucosa (345 +/- 111 pmol/min/mg DNA) and cancers (288 +/- 80 pmol/min/mg DNA) (p less than 0.001). Analyses of reaction products with snake venom phosphodiesterase digestion revealed that poly(ADP-ribose) synthesized in nuclei of normal mucosa, adenomatous polyps, and cancers had the average chain lengths of 2.9, 1.7, and 9.7 ADP-ribose units, respectively. Based upon these values and total amounts of ADP-ribose incorporated, the amount of poly(ADP-ribose) synthesized per mg DNA in 30 min was calculated as 308, 1510, and 106 pmol in the above three types of colon tissues, respectively. These results suggested that a larger amount of monomers and short oligomers of ADP-ribose was synthesized in adenomatous polyps, while a smaller number of longer polymers was produced in cancers as compared with normal mucosa. Immunohistochemical analysis of these tissues using anti-poly(ADP-ribose) antibody supported this view.


In this study, the natural convective heat transfer coefficient for plain knitted fabric is estimated by numerical modeling, and the applicability of commercial software using the finite volume method (FVM) to textile problems was investigated. For this purpose, the convective heat transfer coefficient of plain knitted fabric made from cotton was first measured experimentally with the help of the in-house set-up developed. Then a plain weft knitted fabric model was created using CATIA, and Gambit and Fluent software was employed for numerical analyses. Finally experimental results were compared with those obtained from the numerical method. Based on the results, it was concluded that the numerical modeling simulated the related experimental study well. It was also stated that the numerical model developed has the potential to obtain the heat convection coefficient of the material considered for different conditions such as environment temperature etc.


109 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from the north of the GDR were HLA typed and the antigen frequencies compared with those of a control group. Even in our patients the HLA-DR4 association was demonstrable. But in all studies DR4 association is not strong enough for taking HLA typing as a diagnostic test for RA. There was an immunogenetic heterogeneity in correlation to side effects of therapy with sodium aurothiomalate or D-penicillamine. HLA-DR5 was significantly increased in patients with side effects in comparison to patients without side effects in therapy. Before recommending HLA-DR typing for selection of high risk patients in D-penicillamine therapy these results should be proven in a large patient group or in a second study.


This study examined 1,068 cases of active duty Air Force service members seen in eight Air Force outpatient mental health clinics during a 1-year period. Age, gender, rank, marital status, special duty status, diagnostic category, treatment completion, and recommendations to the member's unit were examined across referral sources (i.e., self-referred, supervisor-referred, or commander-directed). Results showed significant differences across all variables, with self-referred members being more likely to be older, single, higher ranking, and without special duty status, as well as to have a less significant axis I diagnosis. Self-referred members were less likely to have confidentiality broken and to have career-affecting recommendations made. The implications of these findings, in terms of targeting interventions to increase self-initiated help-seeking behavior, and recommendations for future research are discussed.


To gain biologically and chemically safe conditions in aquatic systems, as required by the EU Water Framework Directive, advanced oxidation processes are the only conceivable possibility to remove pharmaceuticals and their metabolites from waste water. Water treatment plants are not designed for the complete mineralization of these substances, so that oxidation by-products occur, whose chemical and toxicological properties are often unknown. In this study an UV-oxidation system with and without H2O2 was tested to optimize the elimination of pharmaceuticals, and replenished with toxicological investigations of untreated and oxidatively treated samples. The substances carbamazepine, metoprolol, amidotrizoic acid, diclofenac, and sulfamethoxazole were used as lead compounds. They were studied separately and as a substance mixture. The UV-system had a low-pressure lamp with an emission wavelength of 254 nm and a maximum UV output of 15 W. The sample volume was 1 L with a flow rate of 0.03 m³ h−1. Different matrices (waste water, ultrapure water) were used to detect possible matrix effects of real samples. The degradation rates of the substances were analyzed and quantified using LC-MS/MS with an API 3000 and a Q TRAP 3200. The comparison revealed that the additional use of H2O2 enhances the degradation significantly, especially in waste water samples. Cyto- and genotoxicity were tested with the MTT Assay and Alkaline Comet Assay, respectively, using Chinese Hamster Ovary cells. Generally, samples treated only with UV showed no toxic effects. Toxic results occurred only for samples with the substance mixture that were treated with UV+H2O2, indicating that combination effects might lead to the formation of toxic by-products.


The luminance of an image is the measurement of the perceived brightness levels. Intuitively, if two images are taken from different cameras with different lighting, some sort of discrepancy may occur in those areas, which were copied and pasted. In particular, analyzing areas in a forged image which are approximately the same distance away from the lens but have different luminance levels. This analysis is heavily dependent on the skill level of the person creating the forgery and the resources available to perform the manipulation. Newer versions of image processing software make it easy for even a novice user to create forgeries based on automated "auto-brightness" adjustments. We succeeded to identify such image forgeries.


Summary
Urban sprawl has resulted in the permanent presence of large mammal species in urban areas, leading to human–wildlife conflicts. Wild boar Sus scrofa are establishing a permanent presence in many cities in Europe, with the largest German urban population occurring in Berlin. Despite their relatively long-term presence, there is little knowledge of colonization processes, dispersal patterns or connectivity of Berlin's populations, hampering the development of effective management plans.
We used 13 microsatellite loci to genotype 387 adult and subadult wild boar from four urban forests, adjacent built-up areas and the surrounding rural forests. We applied genetic clustering algorithms to analyse the population genetic structure of the urban boar. We used approximate Bayesian computation to infer the boar's colonization history of the city. Finally, we used assignment tests to determine the origin of wild boar hunted in the urban built-up areas.
The animals in three urban forests formed distinct genetic clusters, with the remaining samples all being assigned to one rural population. One urban cluster was founded by individuals from another urban cluster rather than by rural immigrants.
The wild boar that had been harvested within urban built-up areas was predominantly assigned to the rural cluster surrounding the urban area, rather than to one of the urban clusters.
Synthesis and applications. Our results are likely to have an immediate impact on management strategies for urban wild board populations in Berlin, because they show that there are not only distinct urban clusters, but also ongoing source–sink dynamics between urban and rural areas. It is therefore essential that the neighbouring Federal States of Berlin and Brandenburg develop common hunting plans to control the wild boar population and reduce conflicts in urban areas.


Background and importance Following the implementation of an integrated disease management model for end stage renal disease in 2008, pharmaceutical services throughout Portuguese haemodialysis centres are responsible for medication management, promoting its rational use, safety and effectiveness. Patients in end stage renal disease undergoing haemodialysis have multiple comorbidities, complex pharmacotherapeutic regimens, high pill burden and significant haemodynamic changes to mild medication alterations. The evidence of pharmacists' interventions in patients with chronic kidney disease is sparse and its evaluation is necessary to improve the quality of interventions and patient healthcare. Aim and objectives To assess drug related problems and related pharmaceutical interventions registered by each pharmacist in haemodialysis centres since 2018. Material and methods Pharmacists in 37 haemodialysis centres voluntarily registered drug related problems identified during clinical practice in an internal database, providing data on the drug, patient name, pharmaceutical activity and suggested pharmaceutical intervention. Whenever possible, the result of the intervention was assigned. A retrospective descriptive study with review and analysis of the database information was performed. Results Since 2018, a total of 6836 drug related problems with pharmaceutical interventions were registered in 2761 patients. The most frequent were inadequate dosage, duration or pharmacotherapeutic regimen (33%), prescription error (32%) and non-adherence (22%). Pharmaceutical interventions were grouped as prescription changes (84%), patient intervention (9%), information to nephrologist (6%) and other (1%). When registered (62%), the result was accepted in 37% of cases, not accepted in 18% and not applicable in 7%. Drug related problems were identified mainly in prescription review (65%), adherence assessment (18%), drug dispensation (12%) and pharmacist interview (2%), and occurred predominantly with hypertensive agents, vitamins and phosphate binders. Conclusion and relevance The results suggest that using a database to register drug related problems and pharmaceutical interventions is an applicable tool to assess the development of pharmacists' interventions, although underreporting was admitted. Pharmaceutical interventions were mainly directed at prescription optimisation, with parameterisation for effective distribution/administration and administration time changes, especially regarding drugs used in dialysis. Accordingly, hypertensive agents and vitamins, used mostly in ambulatory dialysis patients undergoing haemodiafiltration, were predominant. Pharmaceutical interventions were generally accepted and suggest effective influence on drug therapy management of patients undergoing haemodialysis although clinical outcomes should be considered. References and/or acknowledgements 1. Foro de Atención Farmacéutica. PRM Y RNM: conceptos. Farmacéuticos 2006;315:28–29. 2. Sabater D, Fernández-Llimós F, Parras M, Faus MJ. Tipos de intervenciones farmacéuticas en seguimiento farmacoterapéutico. Seguim Farmacoter 2005;3:90–97. No conflict of interest.


In this paper, we develop the image transfer remote maintenance monitoring system for hand held device which can compensate defects of human mistake. The human mistakes always happen when the worker communicate information each other to check and maintenance the equipment of the power plant under bad circumstance such as small place and long distance in power plant. A worker couldn't converse with other when in noisy place like Power plant. So, we make some hand device for handy size and able to converse in noisy place. The developed system can have improvement of productivity through increasing plant operation time. And developed system is composed of advanced H/W(hard ware) system and S/W(soft ware)system. The H/W system consist of media server unit, communication equipment with hand held device, portable camera, mike and head set. The advanced s/w system consist of data base system, client pc(personal computer) real time monitoring system which has server GUI(graphic user interface) program, wireless monitoring program and wire ethernet communication program. The client GUI program is composed of total solution program as pc camera program, and phonetic conversation program etc.. We analyzed the required items and investigated applicable part in the image transfer remote maintenance monitoring system with hand held device. Also we investigated linkage of communication protocol for developed prototype, developed software tool of two-way communication and realtime recording skill of voice with image. We confirmed the efficiency by the field test in preventive maintenance of plant power.


Staircase is a very important structural element found in mostly buildings of more than a floor. The properties of materials and designs used in constructing this structural element are very important. This study addresses the development of ultra-lightweight concrete. How ultra-lightweight concrete can effectively work in helicoidal structure. The flexural strength of this staircase was analysed on a finite element software SCAD. The designed lightweight aggregates concrete is targeted to be used in staircase of a structure having the shape of helicoid. In the concrete, chopped basalt fiber portion was added to each concrete mixture specimen reinforced as reinforcement. The basalt fiber percentages used are 0, 0.45, 0.9, 1.2 and 1.6. The developed lightweight expanded clay basalt fiber concrete showed significant increase in the flexural strength. The loads applied on this helicoidal concrete staircase in SCAD were derived from the laboratory experiments conducted on the concrete specimens on the 28 days curing period. This combination of values exceeds, to the researchers' knowledge, the performance of all other lightweight building materials. Furthermore, the developed lightweight concrete possesses excellent durability properties.


A 2-Gsample/s 8-b analog-to-digital converter in 0.35 μm BiCMOS process technology is presented. The ADC uses the unique folding and interpolating algorithm and dual-channel timing interleave multiplexing technology to achieve a sampling rate of 2 GSPS. Digital calibration technology is used for the offset and gain corrections of the S/H circuit, the offset correction of preamplifier, and the gain and clock phase corrections between channels. As a result of testing, the ADC achieves 7.32 ENOB at an analog input of 484 MHz and 7.1 ENOB at Nyquist input after the chip is self-corrected.


Background

This study aimed to evaluate the responsiveness of Western Ontario Meniscal Evaluation Tool (WOMET) and specify its Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) in patients undergoing physiotherapy intervention following undergoing a meniscal lesion or surgery. Our hypothesis was that the WOMET would have adequate responsiveness in patients with meniscal injury.
method:

100 patients undergoing physiotherapy interventions filled the Persian version of the WOMET and a questionnaire of the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) at Session 1 and Session 10 (4 weeks later). They also filled the 7-point Global Rating of Change (GRC) scale at Session 10. Internal responsiveness was calculated using T test and effect sizes (standard response mean (SRM) and Cohen's d); and external responsiveness was calculated via receiver operating characteristic curve and correlation analysis. The inclusion criterion was the age of 18 to 70 years old for the patients who had the ability of filling the questionnaire. The exclusion criteria included ligaments injury, severe osteoarthritis, inability to complete the questionnaire due to the lack of sufficient knowledge, malignancy, infection, neuromusculoskeletal disorder, rheumatologic disease, knee surgeries for any other reasons, and dissatisfaction for being enrolled in the study.
Results

All the WOMET subscales (AUC = 0.7) had acceptable external responsiveness. SRM was Trivial, and the scores of Cohen's d were moderate to large and t tests showed significant differences.
Conclusion

Our findings showed that all of the WOMET subscales had acceptable external responsiveness, and thus this questionnaire could be used to study the effects of physiotherapy interventions on patients undergoing a meniscal lesion or surgery.


The random diffusion model is a continuum model for a conserved scalar density field ϕ driven by diffusive dynamics where the bare diffusion coefficient is density dependent. We generalize the model from one with a sharp wave-number cutoff to one with a more natural large wave-number cutoff. We investigate whether the features seen previously--namely, a slowing down of the system and the development of a prepeak in the dynamic structure factor at a wave number below the first structure peak--survive in this model. A method for extracting information about a hidden prepeak in experimental data is presented.


The aim of this paper is to present a multi-layered relational framework of entrepreneurial learning by embedding the conceptual tools of a continental thinker, Pierre Bourdieu, in a social constructionist paradigmatic approach. Through a longitudinal study based on participant observation and in-depth qualitative interviews, entrepreneurial learning processes of five nascent entrepreneurs who have formed a venture team have been examined as a case study. Relational qualities of entrepreneurial learning can be illuminated by exploring dispositions and different forms of capital that nascent entrepreneurs hold at the micro-individual level, which are inextricably linked to the meso-relational level of developing an entrepreneurial habitus as they navigate through the process of business venturing. Such a multi-layered conceptualisation of entrepreneurial learning transcends individual-, team-, firm- and network-level analyses of the subject by generating insights from both micro- and meso-layers.


How to effectively integrate heterogeneous data sources is becoming extremely challenging, because many useful but noisy data sources are available for the problem at hand.In this paper, for disease gene prioritization problem, we investigated multiple kernels learning (MKL) and N dimensional order statistics (NDOS) method, but found that neither could effectively extract useful information from noisy data. Especially, in MKL algorithm, ineffective data source may be given more weight,which downgrades the effectiveness of the combined kernel. We proposed an improved procedure based on NDOS. We first use cross validation to evaluate each individual data source, and only effective data sources are used in the prioritizations of candidate genes.


The Hippo signalling pathway is gaining recognition as an important player in tumor progression. Components of the pathway, which include transcriptional co-activators YAP/TAZ, are dysregulated in a significant fraction of human cancers, and YAP activation has recently been shown to promote Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) and metastasis. However, how Hippo signalling is dysregulated in tumors remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that Integrin-Linked Kinase (ILK), an actin-interacting, focal adhesion adaptor and serine/threonine protein kinase whose expression is also significantly upregulated in many types of cancers, inhibits the Hippo tumor suppressor pathway by stimulating the phosphorylation, and inhibiting the activity of Merlin, via the protein phosphatase inhibitor, CPI-17, an established target of ILK, and an inhibitor of Merlin (Deng JT et al. Biochem J 2002; Huang J et al. Biochem J 2006). We have assessed the pathway in human breast and prostate cancer cell lines, in which the Hippo pathway is switched OFF, as determined by the phosphorylation status of Merlin, MST1/2, LATS1/2, and YAP, and the nuclear YAP localization. We demonstrate that inhibition of ILK expression, or inhibition of its activity in these cells turns the Hippo pathway ON, resulting in the stimulation of YAP phosphorylation, sequestration in the cytoplasm, and inhibition of TEAD transcriptional activity. In addition, we have determined that YAP/TAZ protein expression is significantly upregulated in vivo in ErbB2 induced mammary tumors from transgenic mice, and that deletion of ILK from these tumors, which significantly delays tumor growth and inhibits metastasis, dramatically suppresses the expression of these transcription co-activators. Finally, we demonstrate that ILK plays a critical role in the suppression of the Hippo pathway by TGF-b, EGF and LPA. Treatment of human breast and prostate epithelial cells with these growth factors results in dephosphorylation of LATS 1/2, and YAP, and nuclear localization of YAP. However, inhibiting ILK activity under these conditions results in the stimulation of phosphorylation of LATS1/2 and YAP, as well as in the sequestration of YAP/TAZ in the cytoplasm. These novel data demonstrate that ILK inhibits the Hippo tumor suppressor pathway leading to nuclear activation of YAP/TAZ, thereby contributing to tumor progression and metastasis. Citation Format: Isabel Serrano, William J. Muller, Shoukat Dedhar. Integrin-Linked Kinase (ILK) breaks Merlin9s spell to inhibit the Hippo tumor suppressor pathway and activate the YAP oncogene. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 769. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-769


The results orientation and time efficiency of brief intervention approaches are gaining popularity in schools given limited staff and resources to address the needs of an increasing number of vulnerable students. This article describes the School Success Profile (SSP), a survey instrument collecting data from students about their schools, neighborhoods, families, peers, and physical and psychological well-being. Summary profiles and reports are generated from the data for working with students and other stakeholder groups in planning and implementing brief or solution-focused interventions. Training in brief intervention to address the multilevel needs of students will be an important component of the proposed SSP Academy. [Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention 1:43‐54 (2001)]


Integrated curricula have been promoted as being able to provide the three-way benefit of improving students' conceptual understanding of science, the application of science understanding to real-world contexts, and students' attitudes to science. However, little research has been conducted about the impact of an integrated curriculum on all three of these factors. The purpose of this research was to examine the implementation of an integrated project and evaluate students' conceptual understanding of electrical circuits, links made to the real world, and student attitudes to their learning. The exploratory case study was conducted in a Year 8 academic extension class and students were required to research, plan, design and build a small-scale house with a working electrical lighting system. The project also included activities from all other subjects including mathematics, English, computing and society and environment. Data collection included pre and post project student interviews and surveys about conceptual understanding of electricity and attitudes and classroom observation and teacher interviews. The results indicated that student learning about electricity was evident, that students were able to apply their knowledge to the house building, integrate knowledge from other sources besides school, and their attitudes to science were positive.


The 21.5 AB ruling in Mexico – Corn Syrup arises out of a dispute between the United States and Mexico concerning whether the Mexican agency's finding of material injury from dumping was consistent with the Anti-dumping Agreement. The original Panel1 found that the agency's determination of the existence of a threat of material injury to the domestic industry was made in violation of numerous provisions of the Anti-dumping Agreement. In light of these findings by the panel, the agency made a redetermination and the United States filed a 21.5 complaint, claiming that the redetermination failed to address adequately the defects identified by the original panel.


Abstract A diurnally averaged ozone decay rate of about 0.11 day−1was observed under partly cloudy sky in the boundary layer over the eastern Atlantic during the second Lagrangian experiment in the Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment. The observed decay rate can be accounted for by the combined effects of ozone loss through photolysis by UV radiation, reaction With H02 radical, and deposition on the sea surface, and effects of ozone production through photooxidation of carbon monoxide and methane in the presence of nitrogen oxides. The main contributor to the ozone decay is photolysis by UV radiation, but the other sources and sinks also make significant contributions.


This study focuses on neuromagnetic approaches to the detection of electrical brain activity which is difficult to detect by EEG measurements. Sources of delta waves during sleep in human subjects were investigated over both time and frequency domains. Both MEG and EEG activities were recorded simultaneously. The magnetic field components perpendicular to the surface of the head were measured using a dc SQUID with a second derivative gradiometer. The fast Fourier transform (FFT) was used to estimate the power spectrum. We observed that the frequency distributions were different for delta waves measured by MEG and by EEG. This frequency shift suggests that the sources which generate the magnetic fields are different from those which produce the EEG. The delta waves consist of many different sources with different frequencies. Some of these sources can be detected by MEG measurements, but are difficult to detect by EEG.


Radiology occupies rather a unique position as a subject for teaching to undergraduate medical students. It is a new medical specialty. Its diagnostic and therapeutic applications have grown at a tremendous rate and have become unusually widespread. While it is more or less intimately concerned in every branch of medicine, its development has been left largely in the hands of a comparatively few medical men, assisted in a great measure by physicists and manufacturers of equipment. Its development and its position as a specialty have been taken largely for granted by the greater part of the medical profession. Comparatively few students or recent graduates expect to take it up as a specialty or even to practice it directly in a smaller way, although it must serve all of them. For these reasons, little earnest thought has been given to radiology from the standpoint of undergraduate teaching, aside from the desire


We show that the hard X-ray (HXR) emission observed from several galaxy clusters is consistent with a simple model, in which the nonthermal emission is produced by inverse Compton scattering of cosmic microwave background photons by electrons accelerated in cluster accretion shocks: The dependence of HXR surface brightness on cluster temperature is consistent with that predicted by the model, and the observed HXR luminosity is consistent with the fraction of shock thermal energy deposited in relativistic electrons being ≲0.1. Alternative models, where the HXR emission is predicted to be correlated with the cluster thermal emission, are disfavored by the data. The implications of our predictions to future HXR observations (e.g. by NuStar, Simbol-X) and to (space/ground based) γ-ray observations (e.g. by Fermi, HESS, MAGIC, VERITAS) are discussed.


The fluorescence characteristics of 8 kinds of quinolone in different pH medium were studied. Rules of wavelength and intensity of the fluorescence in different pH medium were discovered. The correlation between the protonation, tautomerism and luminescence characteristics of quinolone are studied. It is found that in pH 6-8 or 2-4 there are two luminescence species. By this, the new view is represented that the change of luminescence characteristics is arised from the protonation and tautomerism of quinolones in different pH medium and the material point of luminescence developed in equilibrium system of tautomerism. Additionally, the correlation between the protonation, tautomerism and luminescence is further discussed.


Synchrotron x-ray diffraction was used to identify the oligomers that formed during the earliest stages of actin polymerization. Solution diffraction patterns from G-actin (monomer) and from F-actin (polymer) contain information about the size and shape of actin monomers and the length, width, and subunit organization of filaments. Comparison of patterns collected during polymerization reveals an increase in scatter at spacings greater than 9.0 nm; formation of scattering bands at 5.4,4.9, and 3.4 nm; formation of a scattering minimum at 6.5 nm; and the presence of an isosbestic point at 9.0 nm. These scattering bands arise from the formation of, and organization of subunits in, filaments. At various actin concentrations (0.37-5 mg/ml), the change in scatter in these regions follows simple exponential kinetics with no detectable lag. Our analysis of the x-ray patterns shows that by 0.4 sec after mixing, most of the actin has formed dimers, which then rapidly incorporate into oligomers. At 4 mg/ml the early oligomers increase in length to greater than 30.0 nm within 10 sec. These results suggest that under our conditions actin molecules condense into filaments without the rate-limiting formation of nuclei.


Autism is the continuum of impairments. Children with autism show intellectual, social, emotional, and language or communication disorder. Collaboration is an important aspect in delivering education/intervention for children. Professionals have to have knowledge and skill related to autism and have to team up with parent in dealing with the disorder. The unique profile of the individual with autism calls for emphasis in the areas of communication skills, social-emotional, behavioral, and sensory regulation, and communication. Pre-identification of the children may help teachers and parents to make decisions whether the child needs a referral or not. In this case, Indonesia needs to make more political will in order to implement autism education in various setting to address immediate needs of the children before the problem becomes more complicated


The pollen of Ambrosia, highly allergenic, can be found in high quantities in the French regions of Burgundy, Auvergne and mostly a great part of the Rhône-Alpes region. The aim of this study was to establish some forecast models of the Starting Date of the Pollen season (SDP) of Ambrosia, in order to provide early information to allergists and allergic people. The pollen data came from the Hirst trap set up in Lyon since 1987 by the RNSA, and the meteorological data for the same period were provided by Météo-France. Two models were used, a sum of daily average temperatures and a multiple regression on all the 10-day period meteorological data. The results were quite accurate, except for 2003 with the temperature sums, probably because of very special meteorological conditions. So the models will have to be updated in this way.


ABSTRACT The p53 protein is related by sequence homology and function to the products of two other genes, p63 and p73, that each encode several isoforms. We and others have discovered previously that certain tumor-derived mutants of p53 can associate and inhibit transcriptional activation by the α and β isoforms of p73. In this study we have extended these observations to show that in transfected cells a number of mutant p53 proteins could bind and down-regulate several isoforms not only of p73 (p73α, -β, -γ, and -δ) but also of p63 (p63α and -γ; ΔNp63α and -γ). Moreover, a correlation existed between the efficiency of p53 binding and the inhibition of p63 or p73 function. We also found that wild-type p63 and p73 interact efficiently with each other when coexpressed in mammalian cells. The interaction between p53 mutants and p63 or p73 was confirmed in a physiological setting by examining tumor cell lines that endogenously express these proteins. We also demonstrated that purified p53 and p73 proteins interact directly and that the p53 core domain, but not the tetramerization domain, mediates this interaction. Using a monoclonal antibody (PAb240) that recognizes an epitope within the core domain of a subset of p53 mutants, we found a correlation between the ability of p53 proteins to be immunoprecipitated by this antibody and their ability to interact with p73 or p63 in vitro and in transfected cells. Based on these results and those of others, we propose that interactions between the members of the p53 family are likely to be widespread and may account in some cases for the ability of tumor-derived p53 mutants to promote tumorigenesis.


Abstract Background: Rhinoseptoplasty (RSP) is regarded to be associated with many risks. The expectations of patient and physician are not always corresponding. Besides of postoperative deformities many other risks and complications have to be considered. Aim: The aim of the study was to precede the frequency of complications in rhinoseptoplasty. Methods: Early and late post RSP complications in 120 patients admitted and operated at ENT Clinic, University Hospital, Skopje in the period of 2005-2012 has been observed. In the patients who wanted to fill the psychological questioner their psychological reactions were taken in consideration. Results: RSP for the first time were prepared in 98 (81.3%) patients. In 22 (18.7%) patients revision RSP has been made, because complications after previous RSP has been occurred. Early postoperative complications (in the first 6 weeks) have been observed in 22 (56.4%) patients. Late post-operative complications (after 6 months-1 year) have been observed in 17 (43.5%) patients. 108 patients, candidates for RSP filled "the Patients selection for septorhinoplasty and their psychological abilities -"Self-body image" questioner. Conclusion: An analysis of revision surgeries can provide information on frequency and types of postoperative deformities. Reports in the literature are based on different parameters what makes comparison difficult. This is why evidence is only based on description and comparison. Inadequate operative technique can make complications and bad results.


The transmigrants of Balinese ethnic living in Basarang Jaya Village, Kapuas, Central Kalimantan live harmoniously with the local ethnics (Dayak Ngaju) even though the area ever experienced ethnic riots that took thousands of lives and properties. The objective of this research is to find out the form of the cultural acculturation occurring between Balinese transmigrants with the Dayak Ngaju in Basarang Jaya Village. This research used phenomenology approach. The data were collected through in-depth interviews and participatory observations. The sources of research data are the local chiefs of Balinese and banjar Bali in Basarang Jaya Village and the first group of transmigrants coming to Basarang Jaya Village. The subject of the research was the Balinese transmigrants in Basarang Jaya Village. The object of the research is the way of life, the way of speaking, the food and the religious activities of Bali transmigrants. The research reveals some facts. First, the Balinese transmigrants have made adaptation by imitating how the ethnics of Dayak Ngaju lives. Second, there are changes in the language, way of life, food and religious activities of transmigrants. Third, the harmony between the two ethnics can be maintained by using the religion as the medium of integration.


"In August 1992...the Chinese-Japanese Survey Group on the Life Cycle of the Elderly conducted a sample survey on the life experience and status quo of the elderly in Zhejiang Province and the City of Shanghai, which covered 1,583 urban and rural elderly at or above the age of 60....[The aim was to] not only help change the attitudes towards reproduction among women at child-bearing age, but also contribute to a well-drafted development program for the elderly care system in China so as to prepare the country for the situation after the 2020s when the parents of only children become senior citizens."


The noise (variance squared) of a component of the electromagnetic field considered as a quantum oscillator -in the vacuum is equal to one half, in appropriate units (taking Planck's constant and the mass and frequency of the oscillator all equal to 1). A practical definition of a squeezed state is one for which the noise is less than the vacuum value and the amount of squeezing is determined by the appropriate ratio. Thus the usual coherent (Glauber) states are not squeezed, as they produce the same variance as the vacuum. However, it is not difficult to define states analogous to coherent states which do have this noise-reducing effect. In fact, they are coherent states in the more general group sense but with respect to groups other than the Heisenberg-Weyl Group which defines the Glauber states. The original, conventional squeezed state in quantum optics is that associated with the group SU(1, 1). Just as the annihilation operator a of a single photon mode (and its hermitian conjugate a t, the creation operator) generates the HeisenbergWeyl algebra, so the pair-photon operator a 2 and its conjugate generates the algebra of the group SU(1,1). Another viewpoint, more productive from the calculational stance, is to note that the automorphism group of the Heisenberg-Weyl algebra is SU(1, 1). Needless to say, each of these viewpoints generalizes differently to the quantum group context. In this talk we shall discuss both. The structure of the talk is as follows:


The event of pathogenic microorganisms in ecological waters is a progressing worry for general wellbeing authorities and those in the water administration territory around the world. Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) is considered as a standout amongst the most vital reasons for bacterial diseases transmits over foods and water. The pathogenecity relies upon the outflow of a variety of destructiveness elements created via E. coli . The point of this examination was to explore the prevalence of E. coli strains carrying virulence genes eltB, PCVD, VT1, VT2, ial, isolated from different water sources in Alborz province, Iran. The research was conducted from September 2013 to September 2014. The study included all E. coli strains isolated from different surface water sources (surface water, refinery inputs, water well) in Alborz province of Iran. E. coli isolates were detected and identified via biochemical tests and standard microbiological. The strains were evaluated for the occurrence of virulenc genes eltB, PCVD, VT1, VT2, ial, by PCR using specific primers. The PCR amplicons were visualized via electrophoresis and stained by ethidium bromide. One hundred E. coli strains were isolated and involved in the research. The frequency of virulence genes was: VT2 (43%), eltB (19%), Ial (15%), PCVD (13%) , VT1 (3%) . Our finding showed the prevalence rate of virulence genes VT2 is very high among E. coli strains isolated from different surface water sources in Alborz province. Considering their plasmid borne nature, the risk of transmission of these genes between other bacterial species could pose a high threat for public health.


Much has been written about implementation in the public sector, but little is known about organizational implementation styles and their consequences for performance. The authors' evidence shows that implementation style matters but only in combination with appropriate strategic choices. None of the established styles of implementation (rational, incremental, and "no clear approach") by themselves are likely to lead to better performance. However, when the authors incorporate the strategic orientation of the organization (defender, prospector, and reactor), they find that it has an important moderating effect on the relationship between implementation style and service performance. Their evidence suggests that public organizations need to achieve a fit between strategic orientation and style of implementation if higher levels of performance are to be attained.


Background: The aim of the study is to evaluate the prevalence of multi drug resistant tuberculosis in Khammam district. The objective is to create awareness among healthcare personnel and patients regarding MDR-TB. The study was conducted over a period of six months, i.e., December 2016 – June 2017. Result: A total of 54 MDR-TB cases were studied. According to age groups 32 subjects are in the young and middle age groups which comprise a total of about 59.1 whereas in early age there are 6.8%. Many variables are considered in this study out of which alcohol was rated as highest because 59.2% subjects in the study were alcoholics. A total of 31.8% smokers was found out. Diabetes was also a variation with 27.8% subjects suffering. A total of 18.5% of subjects was suffering from TB with HIV. Conclusion: The study reveals that the subjects suffered from resistance to category-I drugs and hence they are transferred to category-IV drugs. Tuberculosis is a disease that mainly affects the people of age groups 20-40 and is more prevalent in males than that of females. Variables like alcohol consumption rated as highest risk factor, followed by smoking, diabetes and HIV respectively. Received: 12-72017


In the design of cyclotron resonant systems, the voltage distribution along the accelerating electrodes (dees) is frequently desired. This paper describes an approximate method for obtaining this vsw. An experimental check of the method is included. In addition, data on Oak Ridge National Laboratory Cyclotrons are presented.


The purpose of the study was to assess the effect of mergers and acquisition on the performance of Commercial Bank in Kenya. The study employed a survey research design. The population of the study consisted of 36 banks that merged in the period 2000 to 2010 in Kenya with purposive sampling/ Non-probability sampling method. The study used secondary sources of data from the published audited annual reports of accounts and financial statements for the respective banks over the period from C.B.K., N.S.E., C.M.A. The study found out that; (i) ROA of the banks that merged or were acquired communicate mixed signals. ROA of the new institution improved after the acquisition or the merger. However, ROA of the new institution at times dropped slightly compared to the average of the two institutions before the coming together transaction was concluded. (ii) ROE reveals a similar trend to that revealed by ROA. ROE improved gradually from the year of merger/acquisition. (iii) EPS posted mixed reactions. In most cases, EPS of the new institution formed after the merger improved tremendously after the merger/acquisition. This study recommends that commercial banks with a weak and unstable capital base should seek to consolidate their establishments through M & A so as to expand their profitability as the merger and acquisition is not just for the best interest of the managers but also shareholders as it leads to an increase in shareholders' wealth as opposed to each financial institution operating separately on its own. Keywords: merger & Acquisitions and performance of commercial banks


The case histories of 110 patients with hydatid disease were evaluated for localisation of the cysts, operative treatment and postoperative complications. Pericystectomy and hydatectomy were the most frequently performed operative procedures. 1 of 37 patients, who were followed up, showed a relapse (2.7%). If consideration is taken of the postoperative complications, hydatectomy is a suitable operative procedure for hydatid disease in comparison with pericystectomy.


A theoretical model describing the interaction between crystalline swelling and cation exchange selectivity is proposed for expanding 2:1 phyllosilicates. The model is based on the assumption that changes in basal spacing of a clay are phase changes, and that each phase of a clay has a different selectivity constant for a particular cation exchange reaction. Energy barriers stabilize the various phases over a limited range of interlayer ionic composition. These energy barriers cause hysteresis in crystalline swelling, which in turn causes hysteresis in cation exchange. Results are presented for an experiment involving Ba-Mg exchange on a synthetic fiuoro-hectorite. The results demonstrate key aspects of the proposed model, including a correlation between measured selectivity coefficients and basal spacings (Rz = 0.85), an abrupt change in basal spacing that corresponds with an abrupt change in selectivity and corresponding hysteresis in crystalline swelling and cation exchange selectivity. The results also demonstrate increased selectivity for the preferred cation (Ba) at high solution mole fraction of the preferred cation. This trend is opposite of that observed for heterogeneous natural smectites but consistent with predictions of the model for a homogeneous smectite.


The design of tariff schemes for packet-based network services, especially for differentiated Internet services, has turned out to be a non-trivial task. This is mainly due to the issue of how to account for the immense number of individual packets. This paper proposes a paradigm shift and argues that the solution of this feasibility problem is not a matter of coping with complexity, but instead a question of multidimensional mappings of time-scales. The cumulus pricing scheme (CPS) as introduced and investigated here turns out to be a good example for the resulting simple, transparent, market-managed, and feasible Internet tariff schemes.


In an arc plasma generator in air at atmospheric pressure, stabilized by a magnetic field and a vortex flowing gas, with a copper tubular cathode cavity, based on the analysis of forces acting on the cathode region, the shape of the arc column, the direction of the arc current density J near the cathode surface, the position of the cathode spot and its 'jumping' process are studied. The cathode spot's movement over the cathode surface is the result of a repetitious process of birth of new spots and disappearance of old spots provoked by the magnetic field and the gas flow. The spot lifetime is estimated at around (3-4)*10-4 s. Moreover, following this study, the position of the plane (Z=Zc) in which the arc cathode spot rotates is determined as a function of arc current I, components of the magnetic field Br and BZ, flowing gas velocities UZ and Utheta , the velocity of the arc cathode spot rotation Vtheta arc and the radius of the arc cathode spot a0. The results of this study are in satisfactory agreement with experimental determinations. In this analysis cylindrical coordinates r, theta and Z are used with the symmetrical axis of the cathode tube oriented in the Z direction.


Whereas humans and other adult mammals lack the ability to regain locomotor function after spinal cord injury, zebrafish are able to recover swimming behavior even after complete spinal cord transection. We have previously shown that zebrafish larvae regenerate lost neurons within 9 days post-injury (dpi), but the functional contribution of these neurons to motor recovery is unknown. Here we show that multiple interneuron subtypes known to play a role in locomotor circuitry are regenerated in injured spinal cord segments during the period of functional recovery. Further, we show that one subtype of newly-generated interneurons receives excitatory input and fires synchronously with motor output by 9 dpi. Taken together, our data show that regenerative neurogenesis in the zebrafish spinal cord produces interneurons with the physiological capacity to participate in the recovery of locomotor function.


This article aims at highlighting the possibilities of (re)constructing a history of education around the category of School Memory, which emphasizes a look within educational institutions and relies on testimonies, (auto) biographies and school files and records. We begin by defining School Memory in terms of related categories, texts and constituting experiences; then we show the interplay of such concept with the identification of the students in a National High School. From these analyses we have been able to conclude that, although High Schools used to represent "traditional", "selective" and "elitist" teaching, in practice they served as open spaces for the access of different social classes—actually, they exercised a wider appeal than that which is described in the literature of the time. Eventually, we reflect upon the role of narrative in the field of education, venturing School Memory as the territory which enables the recovery of experiences and argumentative plots and make other educational practices possible.


We study task-allocation problems where one wants to minimize the team cost subject to the constraint that each task must be executed by a given number of cooperative agents simultaneously, called the coalition for this task. We use the same principle to develop several efficient a nd effective (greedy) hillclimbing strategies for determining both which agents belong to the coalition for each task and when the coalition should execute the task. We analyze their complexities and compare them experimentally with each other and a previous algorithm on multi-agent routing problems.


Due to environmental concerns and increasing regulation, manufacturers are searching for methods to reduce combustion-generated emissions from their products. Lean-burning is one recognized method for reducing NO{sub x} emissions from gas appliances. This paper describes the performance of a laboratory, low NO{sub x} hot water heater consisting of the premixed, lean-burning Weak-Swirl Burner (WSB) and a heat exchanger from a commercial 15 kW (50,000 Btu/h) Telstar spa heater. In order to identify an optimum design for a WSB water heater, data was gathered on the overall thermal efficiency and emission levels of NO, CO, and O{sub 2}, while varying the equivalence ratio, water flow rates, and power inputs. Results of our testing show that the WSB/Telstar system achieved thermal efficiencies of 80% while producing ``ultra-low`` (<25 ppM) NO emissions for equivalence ratios below 0.85. Efficiency was essentially independent of equivalence ratio, as well as NO and CO emissions.


Abstract The purpose of this paper is to propose an approach to blockchain-enabled supply-chain model for a smart crop production framework. The defined tasks are: (1) analysis of blockchain ecosystem as a network of stakeholders and as an infrastructure of technical and logical elements; (2) definition of a supply-chain model; (3) design of blockchain reference infrastructure; (4) description of blockchain information channels with smart contracts basic functionalities. The results presented include: а supply-chain model facilitating seeds certification process, monitoring and supervision of the grain process, provenance and as optional interactions with regulatory bodies, logistics and financial services; the three level blockchain reference infrastructure and a blockchain-enabled supply-chain supporting five information channels with nine participants and smart contracts. An account management user application tool, the general descriptions of smart contract basic functionalities and a selected parts of one smart contract code are provided as examples.


Convulsions are common neurological disorders in clinical medicine and are triggered by several mechanisms. The enhancement of neuronal excitability can be related, among other factors, to GABAergic depolarization. Carbonic anhydrase (CA) VII contributes to this electrophysiological behavior by providing bicarbonate anion, which can mediate current through channels coupled to GABAA receptors. Among the cytosolic CAs, the mechanism of action and inhibition of CA VII is less understood. We present herein the pharmacological evaluation of both enantiomers of an indanesulfonamide compound substituted by a pentafluorophenyl moiety against CA VII and five other human CA isoforms to evaluate their selectivity. The investigated compounds are powerful inhibitors of hCA VII, with Ki values in the range of 1.7–3.3 nM, but their selectivity needs to be improved. A molecular modeling study was conducted to rationalize the structure–activity relationships and provide useful insight into the future design of selective hCA VII inhibitors.


The purpose of the current study was to assess the needs regarding preparation for field work practicum of Taiwanese interns in criminal justice settings. The Delphi method was used to collect information on interns' perceived needs regarding preparation for practicum, including academic courses, selection, the application process, and expectations regarding practicum in criminal justice settings. Thirty-six Taiwanese undergraduate interns completed three rounds of questionnaires. The results identified seven priorities for preparation of academic courses, three apex superiorities for selection of fieldwork practicum, 11 shared needs for application, and 13 common items for expecting practicum for interns from four groups of agencies. Implications and future studies for course development, professional development, and self-awareness in the fieldwork practicum of criminal justice were also discussed.


In past years, substantial insight regarding the pathogenesis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma has been obtained. Particularly, based on gene expression profile analysis, this disease can be classified into distinct phenotypic subgroups and specific transcriptional programs have been identified. New technologies like next-generation whole genome/exome sequencing and genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism array analysis have revealed novel lesions involved in the pathogenesis of this disease. This review focuses on the diversity of genetic lesions identified in the different subtypes of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.


As of late an AI based free programming device has made it simple to make authentic face swaps in recordings that leaves barely any hints of control, in what are known as "deepfake" recordings. Situations where these genuine istic counterfeit recordings are utilized to make political pain, extort somebody or phony fear based oppression occasions are effectively imagined. This paper proposes a transient mindful pipeline to automat-ically recognize deepfake recordings. Our framework utilizes a convolutional neural system (CNN) to remove outline level highlights. These highlights are then used to prepare a repetitive neural net-work (RNN) that figures out how to characterize if a video has been sub-ject to control or not. We assess our technique against a huge arrangement of deepfake recordings gathered from different video sites. We show how our framework can accomplish aggressive outcomes in this assignment while utilizing a basic design.


A bilingual Greek–Latin glossary in the papyrus Chester Beatty AC 1499 (= New Testament P99, Vetus Latina AN glo Paul) contains numerous short extracts from the letters of Paul. New photographs and re-examination of the original have allowed substantial corrections to previous editions of the text, causing some rare or unique variant readings to disappear and others to appear for the first time. The history of the glossary can now be better understood: it was probably created not directly from a text of Paul, but from an early Christian work, now lost, that quoted extensively from Paul.


The Nahorkatiya oilfield had an initial stock tank oil in place of about 200 MMm 3 and has been on production since 1953. The field is a structural-stratigraphic trap formed by block faulting resulting in a number of individual reservoir blocks of various sizes. The reservoir crude is saturated and combination drive with varying degree of aquifer support has been the primary drive mechanism. Pressure maintenance by gas and water injection and limited water/polymer flooding have been in operation in the major blocks. Overall field recovery is 31%, although in a few blocks recovery as high as 46% has been achieved through secondary recovery measures. This paper presents the reservoir management strategies undertaken at various stages of development to optimize production profiles and ultimate recovery.


The nu1 and nu3 fundamental bands of HNC are recorded with a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer with a resolution of 0.008 cm-1. Hydrogen isocyanide is generated in situ by dc discharge in a mixture of CH3CN ( approximately 40 mTorr), H2 ( approximately 160 mTorr), and Ar ( approximately 160 mTorr). The transition dipole moments for these fundamental bands are determined from the analysis of the Herman-Wallis effect, and they are compared with ab initio calculated values. It is found that the ab initio values for the nu1 and nu3 bands are about 50 and 30% larger, respectively. The transition dipole moments determined are to be of use for determination of the abundance of HNC in reaction systems such as the dissociative recombination reaction of HCNH+ with electrons. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.


Flexible pipes are widely used in the exploration of oil at ultra-deepwater depths due to their properties of resistance to bending forces and ease of installation, compared to rigid pipe lines.For each specific service application, several tests are required to qualify the flexible pipe's design. One of the most important is the dynamic tension to tension test, the purpose of which is to qualify the end fitting assembly procedure and evaluate the design methodology used to predict the pipe's service life.During the development of the test, several sensors were fitted to the pipe sample to monitor the behavior of the armor wires. In order to monitor this test and identify any possible failure of the tensile armor wires, strain gauges were applied to all the wires of the external tensile armor layer in the area outside of the end fittings. Additionally, strain gauges were also applied to some of the internal and external tensile armor layer wires inside the end fittings. Other sensors, such as inclinometers and a tri-axial accelerometer were also applied to the pipe sample.Analyses of the signals from the test sample instrumentation enabled detection of rupture of the tensile armor wire while instrumentation redundancy confirmed the tensile armor wire's failure.This paper presents the methodology used to identify the first 5 tension armor wire ruptures, which were identified by some of the sensors, i.e., the accelerometer, the inclinometer, and the strain gauges together with a comparison of the data of all the wire ruptures during the test.Copyright © 2012 by ASME


This paper introduces the specification and performance analysis of broad frequency range antenna for 5 G mobile phones. The suggested antenna functions at the frequency spectrum of 28 GHz and its configuration are permanently matched over very high frequency bands,
including 4.25 GHz, 7.055 GHz, 12.48 GHz and 15.26 GHz, as well as for the reallocation of the expanded 5 G spectrum of communications. Mobile terminals are compliant with the antenna that is being built.


This paper analyzes the fundamentals of IGCC power plants where carbon dioxide produced by syngas combustion can be removed, liquefied and eventually disposed, to limit the environmental problems due to the "greenhouse effect". To achieve this goal, a semiclosed-loop gas turbine cycle using an highly-enriched CO2 mixture as working fluid was adopted. As the oxidizer, syngas combustion utilizes oxygen produced by an air separation unit. Combustion gases mainly consist of CO2 and H2O: after expansion, heat recovery and water condensation, a part of the exhausts, highly concentrated in CO2, can be easily extracted, compressed and liquefied for storage or disposal.A detailed discussion about the configuration and the thermodynamic performance of these plants is the aim of the paper. Proper attention was paid to: (i) the modelization of the gasification section and of its integration with the power cycle, (ii) the optimization of the pressure ratio due the change of the cycle working fluid, (iii) the calculation of the power consumption of the "auxiliary" equipment, including the compression train of the separated CO2 and the air separation unit. The resulting overall efficiency is in the 38–39% range, with status-of-the-art gas turbine technology, but resorting to a substantially higher pressure ratio. The extent of modifications to the gas turbine engine, with respect to commercial units, was therefore discussed. Relevant modifications are needed, but not involving changes in the technology.A second plant scheme will be considered in the second part of the paper, using air for syngas combustion and a physical absorption process to separate CO2 from nitrogen-rich exhausts. A comparison between the two options will be addressed there.Copyright © 1998 by ASME


Forty five Prosopis stems of 2.5-18.0 cm diameter at breast height (DBH) were sampled at Nadapal along the Turkwel riverine forest for development of biomass and volume prediction equations for naturally established stands. Basal diameter (D30), DBH and heights were measured, felled trees and their volumes, fresh and dry weights determined. Linear and power models were evaluated for volume and biomass prediction through regression analysis of measured tree parameters. Power models yielded better results than linear models in volume and biomass prediction, with D30 and DBH being more reliable than height. Validation of models at two sites in Marigat and Bura, revealed strong significant correlations between predicted and measured tree biomass and volumes, suggesting effectiveness of the models in biomass prediction across sites. Subsequently, model development and model validation data were pooled to develop national models. Basal diameter was found to be the best variable in the development of power models for biomass and volume prediction across the country. When logarithmically transformed, biomass and volume per tree had strong significant linear relationship with basal diameter, and are accordingly recommended for quick biomass and volume estimation in the field


We report the results of ASCA and Ryle Telescope observations of the distant cluster of galaxies A1204. The X-ray image shows that this source is very compact and that the intracluster gas is strongly centrally concentrated. The brightness temperature decrement of the cosmic microwave background radiation toward this cluster (the Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect) was not detected by the Ryle Telescope, with a 1 σ upper limit of |ΔT| < 360 μK. The gas temperature is 3.6 keV, which is considerably lower than that expected from the bright X-ray luminosity in the ROSAT band and explains the lack of detection. The hot gas mass within 1 Mpc is estimated to be ≲7 × 1013 M☉. In the wide window of the ASCA Gas Imaging Spectrometer, a very faint X-ray source was found at R.A. = 11h12m16s, decl. = +17°56'40'' (J2000). The observed count rate was too small to identify the X-ray emission mechanism in the new source.


Authors report a case of Batten's disease (neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis), in its late infantile form (Jansky-Bielschowsky), so as the ability to identify the process by ultrastructural study of the skin.


This chapter aims at assessing the impact of governance on the country's economic and human well-being in the selected South Asian countries. The study finds that for the countries-India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal, over the years 1990-2012, the growing rate of GDP per capita (PPP) and growing employment to population ratio has a significant negative impact on the Global Hunger Index as expected. Also the panel regression run for the eight SAARC countries over the period 2007-13 to find out the impact of each of the six governance indicators on the per capita GDP showed that political stability and absence of violence, government effectiveness and regulatory quality have very strong and significant role in augmenting the economic output besides the remaining indicators. The trends for each of the indicators across countries over time show that except Bhutan, none of the countries are exhibiting good performance of the governance indicators.


The experience of poverty can be a risk factor for mental illness. Afro-American women are disproportionately represented among the poor, the majority of whom are single mothers and heads of households who are concentrated in the secondary labor market and the secondary welfare system. These economic and social factors can engender stress and can limit opportunities for its resolution or for the gratification of psychological needs. The consequences can range from mild emotional distresses to severe mental illnesses. Recommendations for improving mental health status include public mental health promotion and education programs, and social, economic and political actions such as increased and better quality employment opportunities and educational system reforms.


The paper discusses the intrinsic properties, the geological history, the natural structure and the mechanical behaviour of intensely fissured clays from Santa Croce di Magliano, a site located within the East-side border of the Apennine chain (southern Italy). The clays were originally deposited elsewhere and subsequently moved and largely deformed during the Apennine orogenesis, so that their structure appears severely disturbed and fissured. The applicability of a continuum-based approach to describe the mechanical behaviour of a Representative Element Volume (REV, hereafter) of the natural, fissured clay is experimentally investigated by analysing the clay specimen deformation under plane strain compression by means of False Relief Stereophotogrammetry. The results of such analysis show that, despite the intense network of pre-existing fissures, the patterns of deformation - including the eventual development of shear bands within the REV of the natural clay - are similar to those observed for unfissured clays. Triaxial tests were carried out on both natural and reconstituted clay samples and the results were compared with those recognised in the literature to be typical of unfissured clays. Based on such comparisons, the study provides a few essential elements that are useful to define a general framework for the mechanical behaviour of intensely fissured clays.


The Penn State program in advanced thermally stable jet fuels has five components: 1) development of mechanisms of degradation and solids formation; 2) quantitative measurement of growth of sub-micrometer and micrometer-sized particles during thermal stressing; 3) characterization of carbonaceous deposits by various instrumental and microscopic methods; 4) elucidation of the role of additives in retarding the formation of carbonaceous solids; and 5) assessment of the potential of producing high yields of cycloalkanes and hydroaromatics from coal.


Omitting resource-release operations in systems error handling code can lead to memory leaks, crashes, and deadlocks. Finding omission faults is challenging due to the difficulty of reproducing system errors, the diversity of system resources, and the lack of appropriate abstractions in the C language. To address these issues, numerous approaches have been proposed that globally scan a code base for common resource-release operations. Such macroscopic approaches are notorious for their many false positives, while also leaving many faults undetected. We propose a novel microscopic approach to finding resource-release omission faults in systems software. Rather than generalizing from the entire source code, our approach focuses on the error-handling code of each function. Using our tool, Hector, we have found over 370 faults in six systems software projects, including Linux, with a 23% false positive rate. Some of these faults allow an unprivileged malicious user to crash the entire system.


Abstract Background The aim of the study was to derive and compare metabolic parameters relating to benign and malignant pulmonary nodules using dynamic 2-deoxy-2-[fluorine-18]fluoro-D-glucose (18F-FDG) PET/CT, and nodule perfusion parameters derived through perfusion computed tomography (CT). Patients and methods Twenty patients with 21 pulmonary nodules incidentally detected on CT underwent a dynamic 18F-FDG PET/CT and a perfusion CT. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) was measured on conventional 18F-FDG PET/CT images. The influx constant (Ki) was calculated from the dynamic 18F-FDG PET/CT data using Patlak model. Arterial flow (AF) using the maximum slope model and blood volume (BV) using the Patlak plot method for each nodule were calculated from the perfusion CT data. All nodules were characterized as malignant or benign based on histopathology or 2 year follow up CT. All parameters were statistically compared between the two groups using the nonparametric Mann-Whitney test. Results Twelve malignant and 9 benign lung nodules were analysed (median size 20.1 mm, 9–29 mm) in 21 patients (male/female = 11/9; mean age ± SD: 65.3 ± 7.4; age range: 50–76 years). The average SUVmax values ± SD of the benign and malignant nodules were 2.2 ± 1.7 vs. 7.0 ± 4.5, respectively (p = 0.0148). Average Ki values in benign and malignant nodules were 0.0057 ± 0.0071 and 0.0230 ± 0.0155 min-1, respectively (p = 0.0311). Average BV for the benign and malignant nodules were 11.6857 ± 6.7347 and 28.3400 ± 15.9672 ml/100 ml, respectively (p = 0.0250). Average AF for the benign and malignant nodules were 74.4571 ± 89.0321 and 89.200 ± 49.8883 ml/100g/min, respectively (p = 0.1613). Conclusions Dynamic 18F-FDG PET/CT and perfusion CT derived blood volume had similar capability to differentiate benign from malignant lung nodules.


Green manure crops are primarily used to reduce the application of chemical fertilizers. In this study, a two-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of green manure hairy vetch on rice growth and saving of irrigation water. This experiment was conducted at Sinheung series (fine loamy, mixed, nonacid, mesic family of Fluvaquentic Endoaquepts) from 2008 to 2009 at the National Institute of Crop Science (NICS), RDA, Suwon, Gyeonggi province, Korea. Hairy vetch as a green manure crop was incorporated in soil for rice cultivation. Chemical fertilizers had not been applied to hairy vetch plot. Treatments included once irrigation (OI) per week and conventional irrigation (CI). In 2008, the water use efficiency of OI increased by 46% compared to CI by hairy vetch application during rice cultivation season (water treatments were started 38 days after rice transplanting). In 2009, the water use efficiency of OI increased by 61.3% compared to CI by hairy vetch application during rice cultivation season (water treatments were started 30 days after rice transplanting). Soil physical properties such as bulk density, soil porosity ratio and glomalin contents were improved by the incorporation of hairy vetch. The rice yield of OI water management was not significantly different from those of CI water management by hairy vetch application both years. These results suggest that the OI water management with hairy vetch incorporated in soil for rice cultivation can be used in rice fields to reduce the amount of irrigation water and chemical fertilizer.


I am a general dental practitioner practising in a small town. I was recently approached by a contract research organisation (CRO) to participate in a clinical trial of a new dental restorative material. I was offered a sum of money for each patient I enrolled in the trial. I was assured by the representative that the trial has received the necessary approvals, including one from an Ethics Review committee. I have never participated in a clinical research trial before and am happy to receive the extra money. I joined the trial immediately, but am concerned now that I did not enquire further about the scientific or ethical aspects of the study. Should I withdraw from the trial?


This commentary critically analyses the recent policy response to the COVID 19 crisis in India. By debunking the illusion of control through intelligent use of science and technology, we argue for the recognition of multiple vulnerabilities that are often excluded in narrow, elitist and top-down S&T based accounts. In order to device an apt response for the current outbreak we propose for democratic governance of science and technology, learning across disciplinary boundaries and knowledge communities and inclusive and empowered knowledge sharing mechanisms.


The beer industry is known for having few big producers who dominate and control the market such that it is considered saturated and mature with high barriers to entry. Nevertheless, in-roads into the beer market by much smaller players, namely craft brewers are observed, that are apparently growing and managing to retain market share. Being SMMEs, the ability of craft brewers to achieve this position points to their agility and resilience, however it is not clear how this is achieved through the manufacturing function expected to meet consumer requirements. This raises the question whether craft brewers use manufacturing strategies at all and if these align with consumer needs and company long term plans. This study investigates the craft beer industry in South Africa by interviewing five craft beer producers and surveying over four-hundred consumers to understand expectations of consumers and practices of craft brewers regarding manufacturing strategy. Results indicate that application of manufacturing strategy principles is limited and does not seem purposive to improve the manufacturing process and sustain performance but seems to be survival moves. This suggests long-term risk to stability of craft breweries in South Africa and the need to adapt manufacturing strategy principles to improve this.


Vaccine therapy may provide an alternative for prostate cancer patients whose disease no longer responds to hormone therapy. Administration of dendritic cells pulsed with prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) induces cellular immune responses against the tumor with virtually no adverse effects. About 30% of the evaluable patients were identified as partial responders, based on the National Prostate Cancer Project (NPCP) criteria. In addition, there was a 50% decrease of serum prostate-specific antigen or resolution of previously measurable lesions on imaging. Dendritic cell vaccine therapy may have a synergistic effect, when combined with other therapies.


In addition to the diffusion coefficient, fitting the intravoxel incoherent motion model to multiple b‐value diffusion‐weighted MR data gives pseudo‐diffusion measures associated with rapid signal attenuation at low b‐values that are of use in the assessment of a number of pathologies. When summary measures are required, such as the average parameter for a region of interest, least‐squares based methods give adequate estimation accuracy. However, using least‐squares methods for pixel‐wise fitting typically gives noisy estimates, especially for the pseudo‐diffusion parameters, which limits the applicability of the approach for assessing spatial features and heterogeneity. In this article, a Bayesian approach using a shrinkage prior model is proposed and is shown to substantially reduce estimation uncertainty so that spatial features in the parameters maps are more clearly apparent. The Bayesian approach has no user‐defined parameters, so measures of parameter variation (heterogeneity) over regions of interest are determined by the data alone, whereas it is shown that for the least‐squares estimates, measures of variation are essentially determined by user‐defined constraints on the parameters. Use of a Bayesian shrinkage prior approach is, therefore, recommended for intravoxel incoherent motion modeling. Magn Reson Med 71:411–420, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


In this article, we study abstract shapes of k-noncrossing, σ-canonical RNA pseudoknot structures. We consider lv1k- and lv5k-shapes, which represent a generalization of the abstract π'- and π-shapes of RNA secondary structures introduced by Giegerich et al. Using a novel approach, we compute the generating functions of lv1k- and lv5k-shapes as well as the generating functions of all lv1k- and lv5k-shapes induced by all k-noncrossing, σ-canonical RNA structures for fixed n. By means of singularity analysis of the generating functions, we derive explicit asymptotic expressions For online Supplementary Material, see www.liebertonline.com.


This study investigates the impact of five determinants of the rewards system on employee's motivation in the context of private schools. A sample of 310 respondents is drawn from the private school teachers of Karachi. The rewards system was measured through five independent variables including salary offered, recognition, promotion, working content, and working conditions. By using exploratory factor and regression analyses, the results show that except salary offer, rests of the four variables have been found statistically significant to predict teacher's motivation. However, the recognition of efforts followed by working conditions have revealed the greatest impact on teacher's motivation. Thus, the management of the private schools should not only recognize the efforts of their teaching staff but also concentrate on revising and enriching their working conditions to increase their level of motivation. A major contribution of this paper from the theoretical point-of-view is that it is possible to observe a negative effect of 'salary offer' towards teacher's motivation particularly in the context of a developing country such as Pakistan. Another valuable finding is that 'salary offer', an important antecedent of employees motivation, although not significantly related to teacher's motivation in this study, is a provider of a very strong motivating factor for predicting teacher's motivation at both primary and secondary level of education. Areas for future research are also discussed.


In August 2014, the NCAA Division I Board of Directors significantly restructured the governance system for Division I institutions and granted certain autonomous decision-making powers to the five power conferences and their 65 member institutions (the Big 10, Big 12, SEC, ACC, and Pac-12). In effect, the NCAA's restructuring enabled these Autonomy 5 conferences to adopt policy legislation independently from the rest of Division I to provide greater support to student-athletes. Under the revised structure, the Autonomy 5 conferences have the exclusive autonomy to consider and adopt bylaw changes (i.e. NCAA legislation) in these designated areas. The remaining 27 conferences in Division I continue to have legislative authority, in conjunction with the Autonomy 5 conferences, to recommend changes to other portions of the NCAA Manual, but only for matters other than autonomy legislation. This Article explores the development and certain key highlights of the redesigned governance process for NCAA Division I and discusses some of the early successes achieved via the new structure (e.g., cost of attendance scholarships and time demands legislation). In addition, however, the Article also addresses certain challenges that remain in play with the new structure, and includes a particular focus on one specific area of concern – scholarship support in non-revenue sports. The Author, Professor Shannon, is particularly knowledgeable about the covered topics. He serves as the NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) for Texas Tech University. He is also in his third term as President of 1A FAR, an organization of the FARs at the 129 institutions and 10 conferences comprising NCAA Division I's Football Bowl Subdivision, which includes the five Autonomy conferences and member schools. Shannon is also an appointee on the NCAA Division I governing Council and chairs the NCAA Legislative Committee.


The inhibitory effect of sodium polyanethol sulfonate (0.05%) upon growth of Neisseria meningitidis was found to be neutralized by adding gelatin (l.1%) to the growth medium. The neutralizing effect was demonstrated in solid medium, as well as in nutrient broth for blood cultures. The findings parallel those of Wilkins and West (6) regarding gelatin neutralization of the inhibitory effect of sodium polyanethol sulfonate on Peptostreptococcus anaerobius.


This paper describes the design of Fuzzy Inference System to control the flight dynamic parameters of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle such as attitude [latitude, longitude and altitude], angles of rotation known as pitch and roll. A Soft Computing technique called Fuzzy Logic is used to design the Fuzzy Inference System. Visual simulation tool and Aerosim (Aeronautical Simulation Set) Flight gear interface are used for Simulation purpose.


People have various goals and intentions while interacting with information items. The intentions are derived from larger, motivating work tasks, and the intentions during the stages of task performance may vary. Further, the information activities are often conducted in collaborative work settings. We present preliminary findings on a collaborative research task process indicating that task-stages are also observable in collaborative tasks. We show that trust building and common understanding of the task emerge and discuss the implications to evaluation of information interaction. Based on our understanding, we claim that the personalization based on individuals' past actions is not necessarily enough, but needs extension towards task stages in collaborative research tasks.


A primary goal in semiconductor spintronics is to develop a new generation of functional devices that exploit not only an electron's charge (as in today's electronics industry) but also its spin. The authors show how a system of coupled spin drift-diffusion equations can accurately model spin-polarized electron transport in semiconductors. Numerical solutions allow for direct and quantitative comparison with experimental imaging data.


We propose a generalized sound recognition system that uses reduced-dimension log-spectral features and a minimum entropy hidden Markov model classifier. The proposed system addresses the major challenges of generalized sound recognition—namely, selecting robust acoustic features and finding models that perform well across diverse sound types.
To test the generality of the methods, we sought sound classes consisting of time-localized events, sequences, textures and mixed scenes. In other words, no assumptions on signal composition were imposed on the corpus.
Comparison between the proposed system and conventional maximum likelihood training showed that minimum entropy models yielded superior performance in a 20-class recognition experiment. The experiment tested discrimination between speech, non-speech utterances, environmental sounds, general sound effects, animal sounds, musical instruments and commercial music recordings.


smoothing earnings, informativeness, CKSS approach. The impact of smoothing earnings over earnings informativeness depends on the reasons for practising it on the part of company management. If smoothing earnings is done for opportunistic purposes, it is expected to reduce earnings informativeness. In contrast, if by means of smoothing earnings the management targets the transmission of internal information about future corporate results, it is expected to increase informativeness. By applying the approach of informativeness following the example of Tucker and Zarowin (2006), this survey examines how smoothing earnings influences earnings informativeness across a sample of Bulgarian public companies.


• Officers of the Research Committee (1986-1990)-President: Francesco P. Cerase, University of Rome, Italy; Vice-Presidents: Ivo Baucic, University of Split, Yugoslavia; C. Michael Lanphier, York University, Canada; Members-at-Large: Murray Chapman, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, U.S.A; Hans-Joachim Hoffmann-Nowotny, UniversityofZurich, Switzerland; Hieronim Kubiak, University of Kracow, Poland; Andre Lebon, Ministere du Travail, Paris, France; Gianfausto Rosoli, Centro Studi Emigrazione, Rome, Italy; Secretary-Treasurer: Ursula Mehrlander (Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Godesberger Allee 149, D-5300 Bonn 2, F.R.G.). • Regional Editors of the Newsletter: Anna Maria Birindelli, Department of Demography, Rome, for the Mediterranean countries; John Connell, South Pacific Commission, for the Pacific Islands; AD. Trlin, Department of Sociology, Massey University, New Zealand, for Australia and New Zealand; Mei Ling Young, School of Social Sciences, Universiti Saind Madlaysia, Penang, Malaysia.


The present paper aims at computational simulations of particle reinforced Metal Matrix Composites as well as parts and specimens made thereof. An incremental Mori-Tanaka approach with isotropization of the matrix tangent operator is adopted. It is extended to account for large strains by means of co-rotational Cauchy stresses and logarithmic strains and is implemented into Finite Element Method software as constitutive material law. Periodic unit cell predictions in the finite strain regime are used to verify the analytical approach with respect to non-proportional loading scenarios and assumptions concerning finite strain localization. The response of parts made of Metal Matrix Composites is predicted by a multiscale approach based on these two micromechanical methods. Results for the mesoscopic stress and strain fields as well as the microfields are presented to demonstrate to capabilities of the developed methods.


With the advancing trends in the field of information technology, the data users were subjected to face differernt of attacks. Hence effective and prompt detection of malicious attacks must be optimized in terms of confidentiality, privacy, availability and integrity. Accordingly this research paper provides an effective mechanism for detecting and classifying DDoS attacks such as TCP-SYN, UDP flood, ICMP echo, HTTP flood, Slowloris Slow Post and Brute Force attack, by utilizing machine learning methods within SNMP-MIB dataset. MIB (Management Information Base) is meant for attack classification database linked to the SNMP (Simple Network Management protocol). Three classifiers are considered such as MLP, Random forest, Adaboost to construct the detection model. Significantly, Gated Recurrent Unit Neural Network based on Bidirectional Weighted Feature Averaging (GRU-BWFA) classifier is utilizing as a proposed classifier for high detection rate and accuracy in distinguishing the mentioned DDoS attacks. Feature selection is performed using the Enhanced Salp Swarm Optimization technique to select the optimal features for identify the attacks. The application of various classifier provides a detailed study on the effectiveness of SNMP-MIB dataset in detecting DDoS attacks. Empirical findings indicate that machine learning methods are highly effective at detecting and classifying the attacks with a higher accuracy rate.


Chinese hamster V79 cells were made thermotolerant by either continuous heating at 42.5 degrees or by fractionated 43 degrees exposures with interfraction incubation at 37 degrees. For both methods of thermotolerance induction, elevations in cellular glutathione (GSH) were observed. Additionally, GSH was also shown to be elevated following a 1-hr exposure to 6% ethanol, which also induces thermotolerance. These elevations in cellular GSH preceded thermotolerance induction in regard to cell survival. To determine if a reduction in cellular GSH prior to or during heating at 42.5 degrees would influence thermotolerance, GSH levels were reduced by either pretreatment with diethylmaleate, an agent that binds GSH, or treatment during heating with buthionine sulfoximine, an agent that inhibits GSH synthesis. Both depleting protocols resulted in thermosensitization. These data suggest that GSH may be important in the early cellular response to thermal stress.