This work intends to be a historic review of the passive control of Wind turbines employing the aeroelastic tailoring concept. This concept demands to use the flap and torsion deformations coupling of the structural elements made with composite materials. Such couplings could be achieved and predetermined, using an adequate distribution and orientation of the layers of the composite materials that the structural element is made, in this case, the wind turbine blade. The flap deformations of the wind turbine blade are caused by the aerodynamic load that is applied over the blade. The torsion deformations can make a mitigation of these loads. Because of this such concept could be employed to improve the aerodynamic efficiency of the turbine, and even advance the mitigation of loads that are applied over the structure of the turbine blade. This mitigation of the aerodynamic loads could enlarge the fatigue life of the wind turbine blade and enable a substantial improvement in its structural efficiency.


About 20 inhibitory activities of middle molecular range were described and characterized sufficiently. The most useful classification divides them on the basis of their mobility on a column of Sephadex G-15. This classification enables us to compare the analytical and preparative data, the results of various laboratories and to suggest identity of various inhibitors. It is useful to outline the localization of the inhibitor action at the cellular level, to define the type of inhibitory activity and eventually to identify the second messenger of the action of inhibitor. The measurement of middle molecular (MM) fractions with various sophisticated methods has clearly established that there is a number of MM substances accumulating in biological fluids of patients with chronic renal failure. A part of them is probably of little clinical significance. However, those with biological activity may be of great clinical implication. To omit the interference of biologically inactive MM substances and to define the biological activity of those of clinical relevance the search turned to be biological actions of MM substances during the last years. The alteration such as impaired glucose utilization is chosen on the basis of clinical suggestion and the responsible inhibitor is looked for. This approach reflects in completely different strategy in comparison with the analytical search. Preparative instead of analytical arrangement is to be used. This does not mean only volume differences. The principles differ. This is to be stated to prevent inappropriate loss of time and effort of those starting to search in this manner.


Summary The processes of migration of animals and plants on the earth last continuously for several thousand years. Over 80% of cultivated plant species in the country are of foreign origin. Since the migration may proceed actively or passively (intentional or accidental) a quarantine method was used for centuries to prevent damage caused by alien species. According to the regulation on environmental protection special attention is paid to the risk of the biodiversity changes by alien species. Plant protection organizations emphasize the need to prevent of economic losses and negative consequences affecting the quality of food. Alien species considered to be subject to compulsory quarantine control on the basis of the decision of the State Inspector of Plant Health and Seed Inspection. In the near future a new legislation should to be introduced to synchronize the actions of plant protection and nature conservation services in order to prevent the emergence, detection and eradication of invasive alien species.


Subspace clustering is to find underlying low-dimensional subspaces and cluster the data points correctly. In this paper, we propose a novel multi-view subspace clustering method. Most existing methods suffer from two critical issues. First, they usually adopt a two-stage framework and isolate the processes of affinity learning, multi-view information fusion and clustering. Second, they assume the data lies in a linear subspace which may fail in practice as most real-world datasets may have non-linearity structures. To address the above issues, in this paper we propose a novel Enriched Robust Multi-View Kernel Subspace Clustering framework where the consensus affinity matrix is learned from both multi-view data and spectral clustering. Due to the objective and constraints which is difficult to optimize, we propose an iterative optimization method which is easy to implement and can yield closed solution in each step. Extensive experiments have validated the superiority of our method over state-of-the-art clustering methods.


Ectopic pregnancy has become a surgical epidemic over the past two decades. To minimize the morbidity, mortality, and financial burden created by this rapidly growing health problem, nonsurgical alternatives have been investigated, including treatment with methotrexate. We reviewed current literature to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and costs associated with methotrexate treatment of tubal pregnancy. To date, 17 studies have reported on 400 patients with tubal pregnancies treated with parenteral methotrexate; the overall success rate was 92% (95% confidence interval, 89% to 95%). Single-dose parenteral methotrexate has been shown to be safe, effective, and associated with minimal costs when used in carefully selected patients. A prospective, randomized clinical trial comparing medical and surgical management of ectopic pregnancy is needed to assess the risks, benefits, and costs of these two approaches.


Since the early 2000s, the phrase "social capital" has been widely explored. The origin of social capital can be can be traced back to 1867 and 1900, when Karl Marx and John Dewey adapted it to fit into a societal context. Intoday's world, there is an increased appreciation for the importance of social capital and entrepreneurship.The commercial diversification that India possesses, in particular, makes it accountable to utilize social capital. As a result, this research focuses on how social capital influences MSME entrepreneurial performance, taking into account several dimensions of social capital as well as MSME performance. Data was obtained from 390 MSME's in South India using structured questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS and the Structural Equation Modelling (Amos) approach, and it was discovered that social capital dimensions and entrepreneurial performance have a strong association.


Current breakthroughs in the field of machine learning are fueled by the deployment of deep neural network models. Deep neural networks models are notorious for their dependence on large amounts of labeled data for training them. Active learning is being used as a solution to train classification models with less labeled instances by selecting only the most informative instances for labeling. This is especially important when the labeled data are scarce or the labeling process is expensive. In this paper, we study the application of active learning on attributed graphs. In this setting, the data instances are represented as nodes of an attributed graph. Graph neural networks achieve the current state-of-the-art classification performance on attributed graphs. The performance of graph neural networks relies on the careful tuning of their hyperparameters, usually performed using a validation set, an additional set of labeled instances. In label scarce problems, it is realistic to use all labeled instances for training the model. In this setting, we perform a fair comparison of the existing active learning algorithms proposed for graph neural networks as well as other data types such as images and text. With empirical results, we demonstrate that state-of-the-art active learning algorithms designed for other data types do not perform well on graph-structured data. We study the problem within the framework of the exploration-vs.-exploitation trade-off and propose a new count-based exploration term. With empirical evidence on multiple benchmark graphs, we highlight the importance of complementing uncertainty-based active learning models with an exploration term.


An infrared heterodyne interferometer has been used to measure the spatial distribution of the electron density in direct current, atmospheric pressure discharges in air. Spatial resolution of the electron density in the high-pressure glow discharge with characteristic dimensions on the order of 100 µm required the use of a CO2 laser at a wavelength of 10.6 µm. For this wavelength and electron densities greater than 1011 cm-3 the index of refraction of the atmospheric air plasma is mainly determined by heavy particles rather than electrons. The electron contribution to the refractive index was separated from that of the heavy particles by taking the different relaxation times of the two particle species into account. With the discharge operated in a repetitive pulsed mode, the initial rapid change of the refractive index was assumed to be due to the increase in electron density, whereas the following slower rise is due to the decrease in gas density caused by gas heating. By reducing the time between pulses, direct current conditions were approached, and the electron density as well as the gas density, and gas temperature, respectively, were obtained through extrapolation. A computation inversion method was used to determine the radial distribution of the plasma parameters in the cylindrical discharge. For a direct-current filamentary discharge in air, at a current of 10 mA, the electron density was found to be 1013 cm-3 in the centre, decreasing to half of this value at a radial distance of 0.21 mm. Gaussian temperature profiles with σ = 1.1 mm and maximum values of 1000-2000 K in the centre were also obtained with, however, larger error margins than for electron densities.


Resonantly enhanced multi-photon ionization (REMPI) laser spectroscopic and molecular beam-surface scattering techniques are coupled to study the rotationally inelastic scattering of N2 from Au(111). The scattered N2 rotational distributions are markedly non-Boltzmann and exhibit pronounced maxima at large angular momentum transfers ( Delta J=20 to 30). These maxima are indicative of direct rotational rainbow scattering and strongly depend upon the translational energy of the incident N2 molecular beam. The translational energy dependence of the rainbow rotational energy yeilds a value of 4.1 kcal mol-1 for the depth of the laterally averaged N2-Au(111) physisorption potential.


Binary complexes of Cadmium(II) with 1,10 phenanthroline , Cadmium(II) with purine, and tenary complex of  Cadmium(II) with 1,10 phenanthroline and purine were synthesized and characterized using UV-visible spectrophotometer, FTIR, and Powder X-ray diffraction(PXRD). Antimicrobial activity of the complexes were also carried out. The three complexes were found to be soluble in Dimethyl sulphu oxide(DMSO), pentanol, methanol, ethanol and distilled water. The following melting points were observed for the complexes as specified.  Cd(purine)  261oC- 260oC, Cd(phen)  276oC-274oC, Cd(purine)(phen) 250oC - 249 oC. The FT-IR spectra observed in all the complexes showed C-O around 1513.3-1621.4 cm-1, C=C around 1423-1576.7 cm-1,  COOH around 3600-2500 cm-1 and OH around 3700-3400 cm-1, UV- visible  of Cd(phen) complex have peaks at 294nm,Cd(purine) has maximum peak at 206 nm, Cd(purine)(phen) has peak at 209nm. The PXRD of all the three complexes showed crystallographic study of complexes proving that complexation occurred. The result of these studies show the coordination sites for the ligand with the metal ion were to be through the nitrogen and Cd for the Cd(phen) complex and through the nitrogen, oxygen and cadmium for the Cd(purine) complex. According to the observations, the octahedral geometric structure for the synthesized complexes were suggested,   but for the the Cd(purine)(phen) which shows the coordination sites for the ligand with the metal ion were to be through the nitrogen of the mixed ligands and cadmium, the tetrahedral geometry structure for the synthesized complex were suggested. All complexes showed good antibacterial activity especially the Cd(phen)(purine) complex but has less activity to fungi.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the effect of methotrexate (MTX) and folic acid supplementation on the homocysteine level in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS
A cross sectional study was performed in 81 patients with RA, comprising a standardized clinical interview, an examination, and a blood specimen test.

RESULTS
P-homocysteine tended to be lower in 41 patients receiving MTX, compared with 40 patients not receiving MTX. Of the MTX treated patients, 76% received folic acid supplementation. Multivariate analysis revealed a statistically significant association between P-homocysteine and P-creatinine (p < 0.001), and disease activity/progression measured by the Health Assessment Questionnaire score (p < 0.001). There was a tendency to negative association between P-homocys-teine and folic acid supplementation.

CONCLUSION
P-homocysteine in patients with RA receiving MTX and folic acid supplementation did not differ significantly from P-homocysteine in RA patients receiving other types of treatment.


Patterns of variation in chromosomes, mitochondrial DNA and allozymes were assessed for two parthenogenetic (Lepidodactylus lugubris and Hemidactylus garnotii ) and one sexual (H. frenatus) species of house gecko that have colonized remote Pacific Ocean islands. The aims were to test the assumed recency of colonization and to provide information on the amount and distribution of genetic variation. Lepidodactylus lugubris was found to have diploid and triploid clones, high heterozygosity and moderate diversity for allozymes, and only two common types of mtDNA. The common clones distinguished by genetic analysis were geographically widespread. Together the genetic data suggest multiple origins of L. lugubris, with multiple recent invasions of the Pacific Ocean islands. Hemidactylus garnotii had low genetic diversity for chromosomes, mtDNA and allozymes. In contrast, its sexual congener, H. frenatus, had unusually high levels of mtDNA diversity, with some widespread variants. The low level of mtDNA diversity in the parthogenetic species provides strong support for the assumption that these are recent colonists of Pacific islands.


We have demonstrated the capabilities of the scanning microwave microscopy (SMM) technique for measuring ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) spectra in nanometric areas of magnetic samples. The technique is evaluated using three different samples, including a yttrium iron garnet (YIG) polycrystalline bulk sample and a thick YIG film grown by liquid phase epitaxy (LPE). Patterned permalloy (Py) micromagnetic dots have been characterized to assess the performance for imaging applications of the technique, measuring the variation of the magnetic properties of the sample along its surface. The proposed technique may pave the way for the development of high spatially resolved mapping of magnetostatic modes in different nanomagnetic and micromagnetic structures.


We implement a linear model for mitigating the effect of observing conditions and other sources of contamination in galaxy clustering analyses. Our treatment improves upon the fiducial systematics treatment of the Dark Energy Survey (DES) Year 1 (Y1) cosmology analysis in four crucial ways. Specifically, our treatment: 1) does not require decisions as to which observable systematics are significant and which are not, allowing for the possibility of multiple maps adding coherently to give rise to significant bias even if no single map leads to a significant bias by itself; 2) characterizes both the statistical and systematic uncertainty in our mitigation procedure, allowing us to propagate said uncertainties into the reported cosmological constraints; 3) explicitly exploits the full spatial structure of the galaxy density field to differentiate between cosmology-sourced and systematics-sourced fluctuations within the galaxy density field; 4) is fully automated, and can therefore be trivially applied to any data set. The updated correlation function for the DES Y1 redMaGiC catalog minimally impacts the cosmological posteriors from that analysis. Encouragingly, our analysis does improve the goodness of fit statistic of the DES Y1 3$\times$2pt data set ($\Delta \chi^2 = -6.5$ with no additional parameters). This improvement is due in nearly equal parts to both the change in the correlation function and the added statistical and systematic uncertainties associated with our method. We expect the difference in mitigation techniques to become more important in future work as the size of cosmological data sets grows.


INTRODUCTION
The introduction of penicillamine in the treatment of Wilson's disease (hepatolenticular degeneration) was a historical event [1]. D-pericillamine (d-PAM) showed some potential side effects such as myasthenia, kidney toxicity, etc. In previous decade the treatment of Wilson's disease (WD) with zinc sulphate started successfully [4]. Danks [7] described the use of exchanged transfusions, peritoneal dialysis and plasmapheresis in the treatment of young patients with WD in acute liver failure. These patients had acute copper poisoning. The results of this study were beneficial.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
Therapeutic plasmapheresis (PF) has been used in many diseases in which immunological mechanisms are proved [8, 9]. We started with using PF in the treatment of two young chronic patients with Wilson's disease. The clinical picture of patients became worse, probably due to the decrease in cupriuretic effect of d-PAM. One patient (1) did not take d-PAM regularly. In this study PF was performed with the use of haemonetics V-50 and filter 704. During the treatment with PF, 2000 ml of plasma was always exchanged, i.e. removed. During the treatment with PF the patients were hospitalized at the Department of Neurology and Psychiatry of Children and Young People.

CASE REPORT AND RESULTS
Patient No. 1. A 24-year-old man, born in 1965, came with a coarse tremor. He has been diagnosed as WD at the age of 18. Kayser-Fleischer rings were found in the cornea by slit-lamp examination. The disease began when he was 15 years old with polymorphous difficulties. In time tremor became more severe. It was apparent when the patient made any movement. The first treatment with PF (1) lasted from February 13 to March 16, 1989. The patient had 10 PF without any side effect. During the treatment with PF the patient felt better. After PF-tremor was reduced significantly, and subjective and objective condition ameliorated. The patient (1) was readmitted to the hospital on June 24, 1991 for continuation of the treatment with PF. Anamnestic data and neurological examination revealed progression of the disease. His condition became worse, especially tremor. He could not write a single letter (Figures 1-5) and walk without help of the others. His tremor became the severest when he made any kind of voluntary movement. The second treatment with PF started on June 25, 1991 and finished on July 16, 1991. He received 9 PF in this series. The treatment was without side effects. Tremor was reduced approximately by 15%. Plasma copper examined before and after 9 PF showed different values (Table 2). This difference (2.79 mumol/l; 23.70%) in plasma copper level was removed from circulation. Patient No. 2. A 23-year-old man, born in 1966, came to the hospital with acute exacerbation of WD. At the age of 16 latent psychosis was diagnosed. One year later diagnosis of WD was established in the hospital when he was 17 years old. Kayser-Fleischer rings were found in the cornea by slit-lamp examination. The treatment with d-PAM and other drugs (BAL, symptomatic therapies, sedatives, antidepressants, etc.) has been accompanied with good and long-term remissions and short exacerbation. A few years later exacerbation became longer and longer and worse and worse. He was admitted to the hospital on November 28, 1989 with acute relapse of WD. His condition was very difficult, completely bedridden. The treatment with PF started on December 26, 1989 and lasted to January 25, 1990. The treatment with PF was without d-PAM. He was only given symptomatic therapies. After a few PF he demonstrated side effects with nausea, sometimes vomiting, face sweating, pulse rate of about 120/min while blood pressure was normal. Therefore he was given human albumin in the next day, and no side effects were observed. The removal of little plasma copper from blood circulation correlated well with a small improvement in clinical symtpomatology. The rigidity was reduced and voluntary movements bec


An increasing death rate as a result of violence constitutes a large group in medicolegal autopsies. Specially, deaths due to asphyxia are one of the most important causes in violence deaths. During the 21-year period from January 1984 to October 2004, there were 134 asphyxial deaths autopsied by the Department of Forensic Medicine, Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey. Asphyxial deaths comprise 15.7% of all forensic autopsies; 20.8% of the cases are aged between 30 and 39 years, and the average age was 41.9 years. Males constitute 79.8% of all the cases. The most frequent method of asphyxiation death is hanging (56 cases, 41.8%), followed by drowning (30.5%) and carbon monoxide poisoning (8.2%). More violent methods, such as ligature or manual strangulations, constitute 2.9% and 2.3% of all asphyxial deaths, respectively. Although it was varying according to the methods of asphyxiation, suicide was found to be the manner of death in the majority of the cases.


To reduce test cost for SOC products, it is important to reduce the cost of testers. When using low-cost testers which have a limited test bandwidth to perform testing, Built-In- Self-Test (BIST) is necessary to reduce the data volume to be transmitted between the tester and the device-under-test (DUT). We enhance the SOC test integration tool, STEAC, so that it can support SOCs containing BISTed cores which are to be tested by low-cost testers. A test chip is implemented to verify the proposed technique. Experimental results show that the enhanced STEAC successfully works with the HOY wireless test system and other low-cost testers.


Survivors of acute infection with the neurotropic JHM strain of mouse hepatitis virus develop a persistent infection of the central nervous system associated with chronic ongoing demyelination. Persistence is characterized by viral RNA in the absence of infectious virus. To associate persistence with possible immune evasion and/or replication defects, viral RNA from brains of acutely and persistently infected mice was examined for mutations by reverse transcriptase-PCR. Sequences analyzed included the encapsidation sequence (ECS), the transmembrane domains of the matrix (M) protein, and a cytotoxic T cell (CTL) epitope within the nucleocapsid (N) protein. The ECS, present only on genomic RNA, revealed minimal variability and was detected out to 120 days postinfection, suggesting low levels of replication. The M gene sequence also remained stable during persistence despite random mutations during the acute phase. Although the N gene sequence exhibited the greatest diversity, mutations were random and not selected for during persistence. A single exception was detected comprising a prominent Pro to Ser substitution in a region of N not associated with any known regulatory or immune function. Of the N gene mutations found within the CTL epitope in responder mice (H-2d), one resulted in reduced CTL recognition with no evidence of antagonist activity. However, this mutation was also detected in nonresponder mice (H-2b), suggesting that escape variants arising from CTL pressure play no role in establishing persistence in immunocompetent hosts infected as adults.


require stiuilatttio. A 10 per cenit. aqueous solutioin is painted ovet tCle b-Lurn ble-fore the al)llication of the paraffin. 'l'eeie i.-. very distin6t evihnce that con.valescence is greatly accelerated by tlhe uise of this .powerful stimulsts to the foIrimationi of epitlheliuai; 1 anid 10 per cent. liave been tried, and id imost cases the 1 per cenit. lhas proved sufficienit. Mustard gas barns lheal readily by thc ordiniary applicationi of No. 7 parafflin. Thle treatment giving the ihost satisfactory results, obviating pain, sepsis, and otlher complications, and which we have found generally applicable,. is the prelit-minary iainting: of the sutrface of thle burn wVitlh aqueous flavine solution 1 in 1,000, folHowed by tlle application of No. 7 paraffin. -in eases of long duration scarlet-red 1 per cent. is substituted for tlle flavine solution. We lia've found rapidity of h%ealing and miniffized scarring, to be greatly favoured by this treatmenit.


Approaching a new design project by performing preliminary visual research is a common practice in educational and studio settings, particularly in Jewellery and Fashion Design. Collecting images around a given subject or theme - for better understanding its visual traits, or for future reference - could be seen as the counterpart, in visual terms, of a literature search.

However, 'visual research' is an expression often used rather vaguely for indicating a spectrum of unstructured methodological approaches, whose procedures and underlying assumptions tend to remain unexplained, undisclosed or unquestioned in everyday studio practice. When creative practice becomes an integral part of academic research, though, there is an increased need for rigor and explicitness regarding every aspect about it, including all the work preliminary to it.

This research aims to develop and test a systematic method for conducting and documenting visual research in the preliminary stages of the design process, contributing to new knowledge in the form of a new visual method, also applicable as a design tool.

A reflection on the vagueness and implicitness of the Intuitive Approach (IA) to visual research adopted in the initial stage of this PhD motivated the search for an alternative method that could make transparent and rigorous the taken-for-granted, subjective assumptions behind the research initially conducted. The iterative and data-driven nature of the IA oriented the methodological quest towards established qualitative approaches in the Social Sciences, focusing on Emergent Methods and Grounded Theory.

By translating and adapting some of their procedures to suit a visual context, a new method, Grounded Visual Analysis (GVA), has been developed and tested, revealing its suitability for achieving a higher degree of explicitness and systematicity in the process of data collection and analysis, and increasing the richness of the visual patterns elicited from the data, thus their potential for stimulating reflective practice.

The development of GVA is offered as the major contribution to knowledge of this research, together with its application on a practical case as the demonstration of its double functioning, either as a reflective method for conducting visual research in the preparatory phase of the design process, and as a design tool for stimulating the generation of new ideas and design briefs.


Although genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) have substantially contributed to understanding the genetic architecture, unidentified variants for complex traits remain an issue. One of the efficient approaches is the improvement of the power of GWAS scan by weighting P values with prior linkage signals. Our objective was to identify the novel candidates for obesity in Asian populations by using genemapping strategies that combine linkage and association analyses.


In this paper the development of multiple handle gas path analysis, an analytical approach that has two advantages over linear gas path analysis is described. Firstly, it allows all instruments to be used for diagnostics purposes, without having to use one to determine the baseline. The other advantage is that diagnostics can be crosschecked against one another to allow greater faith in the result. A conclusion that can be drawn regarding multiple handle gas path analysis is that it appears to be a promising technique. For some faults it appears to give better diagnostics than linear gas path analysis, without going to the complexity of non-linear gas path analysis. The latter is however more accurate. The analysis of a high performance twin spool turbofan engine, gave rise to a very useful diagnostic. Several fault sets were analysed and several instrumentation sets were examined, ranging from the minimum available in the cockpit to a much more comprehensive one. NOMENCLATURE DOD domestic object damage LPT low pressure turbine FOD foreign object damage HPT high pressure turbine GPA gas path analysis MH GPA multiple handle GPA HPC high pressure compressor HAF Hellenic Air Force LPC low pressure compressor PCN rotational speed W air mass flow (flow capacity) HOT high order terms n. compressor isentropic efficiency nT turbine isentropic efficiency ncc combustion efficiency RMS root mean square TET turbine entry temperature INTRODUCTION Faults like fouling, erosion, corrosion, worn seals, excessive tip clearances and damage from various objects entering the engine (FOD-DOD) affect the performance of each of the gas path components and results in performance deterioration. The need for identifying the effects of faults in the gas turbines led to the study of gas path analysis (GPA) methods, which would give the operator a sign of what's happening inside the engine (Volponi, 1982). Paper presented at the RTO A VT Symposium on "Ageing Mechanisms and Control: Part B Monitoring and Management of Gas Turbine Fleets for Extended Life and Reduced Costs held in Manchester, UK, 8-11 October 2001, and published in RTO-MP-079(I).


This chapter clarifies the scope of application of the Crowdfunding Regulation. It also discusses the impact of Brexit on the application of the crowdfunding legal framework and the further development of the crowdfunding market. According to Article 1(1), the uniform requirements of the Crowdfunding Regulation apply to crowdfunding service providers (CSPs), including their organisation, authorization, and supervision and the operation of crowdfunding platforms, and to the provision of crowdfunding services and transparency and marketing communications. Yet, the provisions of the Crowdfunding Regulation either remain inapplicable to particular forms of crowdfunding, or result in an interdependence with other existing EU instruments. Despite the obstacles still existing and within the limits of the Crowdfunding Regulation, cross-border operations of CSPs throughout the Union are significantly facilitated.


BACKGROUND: Eccrine poroma is a benign tumour of eccrine duct epithelium. The usual clinical presentation is nodular. CASE REPORT: We present a 78-year-old man with a painful pendulating flesh-coloured malodorous plantar tumour. Differential diagnoses included telangiectatic granuloma, acrochordon, basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma, cylindroma, amelanotic melanoma, and verruca. Microbiological investigations identified numerous bacteria including Corynebacterium striatum, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Staphylococcus aureus, Citrobacter koseri. We performed surgery since the tumour hampered his mobility. Histopathology revealed a well-circumscribed tumour composed of cuboidal cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm. Healing was unremarkable. CONCLUSIONS: Pendulating plantar eccrine poroma is a rare clinical presentation of this benign adnexal tumour. Often asymptomatic, in some cases the tumour may become painful. Because of the bacterial colonisation, it could lead to deep soft tissue infections. Malignant transformation is possible. Surgical removal is the treatment of choice.


This article explores the nature of devolution unfolding in England following on from the September 2014 Scottish Referendum. It argues that the process of devolution can best be understood as one of elite co-option. Limited attention is being paid to the interest of citizens and the nature of the process to date reveals little evidence to suggest that the existing structures of power in the British political system are being challenged. These dynamics are explained through the conceptual lens offered by the British political tradition (BPT), which stresses the importance the Westminster class places on maintaining central power and control in the context of current devolutionary pressures. This is revealed by the absence from the devolutionary agenda of any meaningful, subsidiarity-informed democratic settlement. The article concludes by suggesting that what is unfolding is a process of economic and administrative rather than democratically informed devolution which will do little to arrest the rise of 'anti-politics'.


BACKGROUND
A major reason for the low number of organ donors in Germany is a deficit in the recognition of patients who may have impending irreversible loss of brain function (ILBF) in hospitals capable of organ retrieval.

METHODS
We used anonymized data from the German Organ Procurement Organization (Deutsche Stiftung Organtransplantation, DSO) to compare two 12-month periods (a reference period and an evaluation period) before and after the implementation of an electronic screening tool (DETECT) at the University Hospital Dresden (UKD) with four other university hospitals without tool implementation (comparative cohort). DETECT is intended to aid in the recognition of potentially impending ILBF. The study endpoints encompassed patients with potentially unrecognized ILBF, patients with recognized ILBF, organ donations performed, and reports to the DSO. Changes in absolute risk were compared with Breslow-Day tests.

RESULTS
309 patients who died with primary or secondary brain lesions were identified in the UKD in the reference and evaluation periods (164 and 145 patients, respectively), and 1060 (529, 531) in the comparative cohort. In the UKD, the number of unrecognized cases of possibly impending ILBF was 14/164 (8.54%) in the reference period and 1/145 (0.69%) in the evaluation period, yielding an absolute reduction of 7.85% (95% confidence interval [-3.36; -12.33]); by contrast, in the comparative cohort, there was a 0.55% absolute increase between the two periods ([-2.21; 3.30]; p = 0.002 for the comparison between the two cohorts). Only minor differences in absolute risk change were seen with regard to the probability of recognized ILBF (7.09% [0.29; 13.88] vs. 2.42% [1.18; 6.01]; p = 0.234), organ donation (4.70% [-0.89; 10.28] vs. 0.55% [-2.17; 3.26]; p = 0.214), or reporting to the DSO (4.17% [-1.77; 10.11] vs. 2.22% [-1.44; 5.89; p = 0.447); these changes may have arisen by chance.

CONCLUSION
These findings suggest that the use of DETECT can help to reduce the deficit in the recognition of patients with impending or manifest ILBF.


Desmoplastic small round cell tumor is a rare malignant neoplasm mostly occurring in the vicinity of or within the peritoneal cavity, and is uncommon in the head and neck region. Tumor location within a major salivary gland is exceptional. We report a case of a 41-year-old Chinese man with a history of diabetes mellitus and end-stage renal failure on peritoneal dialysis with a desmoplastic small round cell tumor occurring in the left submandibular gland. Fine-needle aspiration cytology showed variably cohesive clusters of small cells with hyperchromatic nuclei and fine granular chromatin. On histology the neoplasm displayed classic features of a desmoplastic small round cell tumor with angulated nests of small round blue cells in a fibromyxoid/desmoplastic stroma. Neoplastic cells were immunoreactive for cytokeratins (AE1/3), desmin (paranuclear dot-like), WT-1 (nuclear), epithelial membrane antigen, and CD56. EWS gene translocation and EWS-WT1 gene fusion were detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, respectively. The case presented is the sixth case of and the oldest reported patient with a desmoplastic small round cell tumor occurring in a major salivary gland to date. Desmoplastic small round cell tumor should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a salivary gland neoplasm with a basaloid or small cell pattern on fine-needle aspiration cytology.


This study attemps to imorove the students' achivement in reading comprehension through inquiry technique. The study was conducted by using classroom action research. The subjects of the research were the 45 students of Grade XI SMA Negeri 1 Bahorok. It was conducted in two Cycles and consisted of six meetings.The instruments for colecting data used Reading Comprehension tests for quantitative data and Diary Notes, Interview Sheet, and Observation Sheet for qualitative data. Based on the Reading Comprehension score, students score in pre test, kept improving in every test. Based on Diary Notes, Observation sheet and Interview Sheet, it was found that the students were actualy involved in reading process. The results of the reasearch showed that Inquiry Technique can improve the students' achivement in Reading Comprehension. In orientation test the mean of the students' score was 53, the mean of the students' score in Cycle I was 62.07, and the mean of the students' score in Cycle II was 71.6. Based on the Observation Sheet, Diary Notes, and Interview Sheet, it was found that the teaching-learning process run well. The conclusion is that Inquiry Technique improved the students' reading Coprehension and it is suggested to the English teacher to apply Inquiry Technique in Reading Comprehension.


We present recent results from Jefferson Lab on sum rules related to the spin structure of the nucleon. We then discuss how the Bjorken sum rule with its connection to the Gerasimov-Drell-Hearn sum, allows us to conveniently define an effective coupling for the strong force at all distances.


We have established a serologic study with method of direct microagglutination described by Babudieri and Zardi, by 31 patients affected from a Buerger's disease, to determine the positivity of antibody title which desposes on rickettsiosis infection. Positivities have been confirmed for the Rickettsia Burnetii from 41,9% of cases, for R. Mooseri from 6,4% and for the R. Conori only from one case. Since the positivity varies in the normal population from the 0.7% to 1.1% the data related appears very significant for a possible rickettsiosis etiology of the Buerger's disease.


In this paper, the design and implementation of an accurate, sensitive, and cost-effective near-field (NF) probe are discussed. The probe is based on the modulated scatterer technique (MST), providing very low perturbation on the field to be measured. It consists of a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) photodiode chip and an antenna acting as a scatterer. The optically modulated scatterer (OMS) essentially makes the NF measurements perturbation free. A matching network is added to the probe structure to increase its sensitivity. The radiation characteristics of the probe, including cross-polarization response and omnidirectional sensitivity, are both theoretically and experimentally investigated. Finally, the performance and reliability of the probe are studied by comparing the measured NF distributions to the simulated distributions.


Introduction. Climacteric syndrome (CS) significantly reduces the quality of life (QOL) of peri— and postmenopausal women. Along with sex steroid deficiency in KS, there is a change in the synthesis of the epiphysis hormone melatonin (MT), which leads to the formation of perimenopausal melatonin deficiency syndrome (SPDM) (Patent 2019118500/14(035525) of 16.05.2020). The aim of the work was to evaluate clinical efficacy and QOL dynamics in women against the background of personalized treatment of CS in combination with SPDM. Methods and Materials. The study included 163 women. Groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 consisted of patients with CF and SPDM, control group 5 consisted of women with a normal course of the menopausal period and the absence of clinical manifestations of MT deficiency. After collecting medical history, determining the degree of CS severity with the help of the modified menopausal index (MMI) (H. Kuppermanetal. 1959, modified by E.V. Uvarova 1983), CS was assessed by the SF-36 general questionnaire and special women's health questionnaire (WHQ). The presence of MT deficiency was determined by the MT deficiency test-questionnaire and the WHQ scales. According to the «Stratification Algorithm for Women in the Menopausal Transition and Postmenopause with CS in Combination with SPDM for Selecting Differentiated Therapy» that we developed, Group 1 patients received MT monotherapy, Group 2 — synthetic gynestein, Group 3 — menopausal hormone therapy in combination with MT, and Group 4 — synthetic gynestein with MT for 5-6 months. The data were statistically processed using SPSSv13.0 software. The χ2 criterion was determined at baseline and the Wilcoxon test was used for dynamic follow-up. Results. Patients in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 experienced relief of both the clinical manifestations of    CS and SPDM and an increase in the physical and psychological components of QOL according to the SF-36 general questionnaire and the vast majority of the scales of the special WHQ questionnaire. Discussion. We hypothesized that the lack of complete efficacy of CS therapy in peri— and postmenopausal women is associated with the absence of a differentiated approach based on the active detection of SPDM. In the course of the study, it was proved that individual selection of CS therapy taking into account the presence of MT synthesis deficiency allows to achieve a 100% positive result of treatment in women of all four groups. Conclusions. Against the background of personalized treatment of CS in combination with SPDM in women, not only CS has been stopped, but also the level of QOL has been increased.


In the wake of the 2008 Italian census of Roma and declaration of a state of emergency in the regions of Lazio, Campania and Lombardy, I ask why it is that attempting to 'solve' the Roma 'problem' has become such a politically expedient strategy for parties across the political spectrum and throughout Europe. I address this question through the lens of 'the international', and the ways in which Roma have repeatedly been produced as its outside: the other against which the European order is defined. This creation of an outside to Europe within lies at the heart of the recent upsurge in borderwork conducted at nontraditional borders within Europe, and exposes an important paradox: the 'problem' of outsiders exposed by vacillating borders demands 'the international' be re-secured, and yet it is the very securing of 'the international' that both creates these outsiders and portrays shifting borders as a threat. I take Italy as my case study to examine how this interplay works to construct Roma as other, interpret this otherness as a threat to the integrity of the Italian state, and demand the spatial removal of Roma (into regulated camps), thus reaffirming their otherness. I therefore suggest that though the freedoms promised within the frame of the international are seductive, perhaps we ought to look elsewhere for our utopias if we are not to perpetuate a system of exclusions within Europe.


Although aquaculture has been practised for many centuries, it was in the past on quite a modest scale and limited to a few species e.g. carp. However, in recent decades, aquaculture has shown very rapid expansion. This is partly because catches of wild fish have expanded at a slower rate than demand and many new scientific and technological advances have been made in aquaculture. Furthermore, by the mid-1990s evidence available to scientists indicated that catches of wild fish had either reached, nearly reached or even exceeded their sustainable limits (Williams, 1997). Consequently, according to Meryl Williams (1997, p.18), Director of ICLARM, now "aquaculture is the major, though not sole hope, for improving the world's fish production". Aquaculture, particularly marine aquaculture, has become a new economic frontier. Just as humankind in the past experienced the Agricultural Revolution it seems now to be starting on an Aquaculture Revolution. Naturally, this raises the question of how sustainable it will be. The purpose of this article is to discuss the sustainability of aquaculture production. If expanded aquaculture production sets into motion forces that make it unsustainable, economic development based on it will be short lived. One should at least be aware how lack of economic sustainability of aquaculture production can arise, and be prepared to adopt policies to curb or prevent undesired trends in this.


Synovial inflammation (synovitis) is present in the majority of people with Osteoarthritis(OA) and has been linked with pain, disease severity and progression of knee OA. However, synovitis is not widely studied due to challenges differentiating synovial inflammation from adjacent fluid on conventional MRI and contraindications and time, cost and complexity of gadolinium-based contrast-enhanced methods. In this work, we evaluate the feasibility of the intravoxel incoherent motion(IVIM) imaging model for characterization of synovitis activity. By characterizing the diffusion from synovial fluid effusions, we showed that the intravoxel signal from effusions can be removed allowing isolation of diffusion effects from the synovium.


The aim of the present review is to study the significance of the COX-2 expression for unfavourable prognosis and aggressive clinicopathological parameters in certain malignancies. The main directions for future research on COX-2 as a prognostic factor of decreased survival and predictive factor of chemotherapy resistance in ovarian cancer are discussed.


We retrospectively examined the effect of air, as contrasted with balanced salt solution (BSS), sodium hyaluronate, or no substance at all, used to reform the anterior chamber at the end of trabeculectomy on subsequent cataract formation in 141 consecutive patients (173 phakic eyes). The minimum follow up was 120 days. The use of air increased the incidence of anterior subcapsular cataract formation significantly. Also, the eyes that had a large air bubble on postoperative day 1 had a higher incidence of anterior subcapsular cataract than the eyes with less air on that day. We suggest that the toxicity to the lens of the oxygen in the air increased the incidence of anterior subcapsular cataract in the eyes in which air was used. We recommend that BSS or sodium hyaluronate be used instead of air to reform the anterior chamber following trabeculectomy.


Background Patients with moderate or severe COVID-19 infection suffer from varying levels of fatigue; however, there is a lack of understanding regarding the effect of inflammation on fatigue; and whether these relationships differ according to the severity of the infection. Aim To assess the relationships between selected inflammatory biomarkers and fatigue levels among hospitalized Jordanian patients with moderate or severe COVID-19 infection. Methods A quantitative cross-sectional design was used. A total of 352 participants were recruited for the study. Data regarding fatigue type and level were collected using the Chalder fatigue scale. Laboratory test results regarding several selected inflammatory biomarkers (e.g., ESR, CRP, IL-6, D-dimer, and others) were collected from patient records. The severity of the COVID-19 infection was determined using the criteria of the Ministry of Health in Jordan based on the results of O2% (oxygen saturation). Results The mean scores of the total fatigue level significantly differed between the two levels of the severity of COVID-19 infection (moderate and severe levels) (t = −3.0, p < 0.05). Similar findings were observed with physiological fatigue (t = −3.50, p < 0.05), and no significant difference was observed in psychological fatigue. Out of the selected inflammatory markers, only neutrophil and lymphocyte count had a significant influence on total fatigue level. Conclusion The level and type of fatigue was affected by the severity of the disease. However, the disease process itself represented by the levels of the inflammatory markers showed little influence on fatigue. The implications such as continuous screening of fatigue, and monitoring of the levels of the inflammatory markers are important to assist in diagnosing and managing COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, the relationship between the inflammatory process and fatigue is complex and requires further exploration.


Although desirable brands may positively affect impressions of its owner, brand ownership may also evoke negative reactions if a brand's image is seen as incongruent with the brand owner. An experimental study tests the influence of physical attractiveness of a brand owner and observers' level of materialism on the transference of brand sophistication onto a brand owner. Brand sophistication and physical attractiveness are manipulated and levels of materialism are measured. Results suggest that attractive brand owners are generally perceived as sophisticated, regardless of brand sophistication or observers' materialism. for less attractive brand owners, owning a sophisticated brand may backfire, and decrease perceptions of sophistication, particularly when the observer is materialistic. Implications are that desirable brands are most likely to increase liking of brand owners when the brand fits the owner, and that owning desirable brands may backfire for lower levels of fit.


Abstract
Female genital mutilation (FGM) includes all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. FGM is practised in many parts of the world – including 28 African countries, some countries in the Middle East and Asia, and some population groups in Central and South America. Its prevalence rates range from 0.6% up to 97.9%, and it has been classified as a violation of human and children's rights. Consequently, several countries have passed laws against the practice and many international programmes have been implemented to abandon it. Yet, FGM still prevails in many countries. This literature review aimed at identifying the underlying reasons for the perpetuation of FGM, ascertaining forces that foster its promotion and persistence and who is responsible for pushing its continuation. The main goal was to try to understand the underlying causes that make FGM resistant against initiatives and campaigns targeting its elimination. A literature search was carried out using several databases. All sources that approached the topic of FGM were incorporated including literature reviews, systematic reviews, qualitative and quantitative as well as mixed-method studies that described attitudes towards FGM and factors associated with its practice. Different factors that were interlinked could be identified at the individual, interpersonal, organisational/institutional as well as the community/societal level as the underlying causes of the perpetuation for FGM. These factors varied within and between different settings, and include individual characteristics such as parents' level of education, place of residence, personal beliefs (aesthetics, health benefits, hygiene) about FGM as well as the medicalisation of FGM and the involvement of health care professionals at the institutional level. Cultural factors like gender inequality, social norms and pressure also played an important role. Surprisingly, no evidence that supported religious motives could be found in any of the three monotheistic religions. This review suggests that the reasons behind the performance of FGM differ between and within countries and contexts, but cannot be found in the scriptures even though it is mainly practiced by Muslims. Girls with low education living in small Muslim communities, in rural areas in Africa and whose parents especially the mother had a low educational level, were at increased risk of undergoing FGM. Successful actions to eliminate this practice require a balance between respect of culture and human rights. Practising communities should be involved in each step of every programme. Finally, it is crucial to target the young generations through education, women empowerment and reduction of gender inequality.


The role of allergic contact dermatitis in the pathogenesis of orai iichen pianus/lichenoid reactions remains controversial. The standard European, dental (Chemotechnique), organic mercurial and food batteries were appiied to 53 patients with biopsy proven, symptomatic oral lichen pianus (or iichenoid reactions in the mouth) between 1983 and 1988. There were 91 positive reactions in 39 patients: mercury/organic mercurials (22 positives in 15 patients), fragrances (20 reactions in 13 patients), foods (12 reactions in 10 patients: eight cinnamaidehyde, four benzoic acid), medicaments (11 positives in seven patients), metals (19 positives in 17 patients: nine CUNO3, six nickei, four other), rubber mixes (four reactions in four patients), and coiophony (three patients). In addition, there were several irritant reactions, mostiy to mercury and CUNO3. The patch test reactions were thought to be reievant in 21 patients, not relevant in 10 and undetermined in eight patients. Ofthe 21 patients with relevant positive reactions, 13 were thought primariiy to be due to mercury (seven patients had amaigams repiaced and all improved, three patients deciined replacement and three were lost to followup), four to cinnamaldehyde/benzoic acid (ail improyed on dietary restriction/change in toothpaste), two to rubber mixes (both improved on replacement of rubber pillows), one to nickel (patient with rheumatoid arthritis on gold injections who fiared after each injection) and one to formaidehyde (improved after change in toothpaste). Although the aetioiogy of oral lichen planus is still unknown the results of the present study would support the view that contact aiiergy plays a significant roie in its pathogenesis.


A highly efficient and practical synthesis of benzofulvenes was developed via ketone-directed Cp*Co(III)-catalyzed sequential C-H activation, addition, cyclization, and dehydration cascade processes between simple aromatic ketones and alkynes. The reaction tolerates a variety of functional groups, and various benzofulvenes were efficiently synthesized in 42-92% yields.


Abstract Lymphatic filariasis is a parasitic disease of tropical countries. This is a disfiguring and painful disease contracted in childhood, but the symptoms become apparent only in later years. Diagnosis of filarial infection is very crucial for the management of the disease. The main objective of this study was to develop a filarial antigen-based immunological assay for the diagnosis and surveillance of the disease. Monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies were raised to the recombinant protein Brugia malayi vespid allergen homologue (VAH). Capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was standardized utilizing various combinations of antibodies and evaluated with serum samples of endemic normal (EN, n= 110), microfilaraemic (MF, n= 65), chronic pathology (CP, n= 45) and non-endemic normal (NEN, n= 10) individuals. Of the 230 samples tested, VAH capture assay detected circulating antigen in 97.91% of bancroftian and 100% of brugian microfilaraemic individuals, and 5% of endemic normal individuals, comparable to the earlier reported SXP-1 antigen detection assay. However, the combination of VAH and SXP-1 (VS) capture ELISA was found to be more robust, detecting 100% of microfilaraemic individuals and with higher binding values. Thus an antigen capture immunoassay has been developed, which can differentiate active infection from chronic infection by detecting circulating filarial antigens in clinical groups of endemic areas.


As it stands there are over 900 steganography applications available on the internet that allow users to conceal data by hiding it within images in a manner that is undetectable by the human eye. This capability provides criminals with a range of possible uses including the smuggling of trade secrets, the secure transmission of illegal images and shielding evidence from law enforcement agencies.

The aim of this project is to develop a steganalysis tool that can quickly and accurately ascertain if images have had data embedded within them. Furthermore to maximise the tools utility it is expected to achieve this over a range of applications using statistical methods that allow it to operate in an application independent manner


Predicting and reasoning about the future lie at the heart of many time-series questions. For example, goal-conditioned reinforcement learning can be viewed as learning representations to predict which states are likely to be visited in the future. While prior methods have used contrastive predictive coding to model time series data, learning representations that encode long-term dependencies usually requires large amounts of data. In this paper, we introduce a temporal difference version of contrastive predictive coding that stitches together pieces of different time series data to decrease the amount of data required to learn predictions of future events. We apply this representation learning method to derive an off-policy algorithm for goal-conditioned RL. Experiments demonstrate that, compared with prior RL methods, ours achieves $2 \times$ median improvement in success rates and can better cope with stochastic environments. In tabular settings, we show that our method is about $20 \times$ more sample efficient than the successor representation and $1500 \times$ more sample efficient than the standard (Monte Carlo) version of contrastive predictive coding.


Since the early occurrence of inflammatory bowel diseases in young people, the role of pregnancy on disease course, and the influence of different therapies on pregnancy, fetal development and the safety of breastfeeding have been one of the important questions. Biological therapy has been increasingly used and all the above mentioned questions seem to be of a great interest. The majority of research indicate that the possibility of conception in patients with IBD are the same as in a healthy population, although there is an increased risk for the child in terms of prematurity or low birth weight. Pregnancy in IBD patient should be considered as a high risk. Most medications used to achieve or maintain remission are safe in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Exceptions are thalidomide and methotrexate that are absolutely contraindicated. Anti-TNF drugs are safe but it is advised to stop the treatment after 30-32 weeks of pregnancy due to the possibility of placental transfer of medications. Infliximab is excreted into breast milk in small quantities and breastfeeding is assumed to be safe. Pregnancy in IBD patients should be planned in advance so that the medications that are contraindicated could be excluded on time and further possible complication could be prevented by constant monitoring of pregnancy. Prospective studies of monitoring throughout pregnancy and short-term and long-term forecasts of development of children whose mothers were pregnant when suffered from inflammatory bowel disease are necessary.


An efficient and cheap three-phase diode PFC rectifier for energy saving in several power electronics applications is practically evaluated with 12㎾ setup. The topology and several experimental data are described to show the practicability of the rectifier.


Objective: We previously reported that the ischemic brain area was significantly larger in angiotensin II type 2 (AT2) receptor-deficient mice after middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion compared to wild-type (WT) mice. We have cloned ATIP (AT2 receptor interacting protein) as a protein interacting specifically with the C-terminal tail of the AT2 receptor, and suggest that ATIP might play key roles in diverse mechanisms of AT2 receptor signaling. We investigated the possibility that ATIP could enhance the protective effects compound 21 (C21), a selective non-peptidic AT2 receptor agonist, on focal cerebral ischemia. Design and method: Ten week-old male ATIP1-transgenic (ATIP1-Tg) and littermate (WT) mice were subjected to (MCA) occlusion with silicon-coated micro-filament. C21 (10 &mgr;g/kg/day) was administered 2 weeks before MCA occlusion. Twenty-four hours after MCA occlusion, ischemic area was assessed by triphenylterazolium chloride staining. Neurological deficit after MCA occlusion was evaluated using a neurological score. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured by laser speckle flowmetry. Expression of inflammatory cytokines and methyl methanesulfonate sensitive 2 (MMS2) as a neuroprotective factor were measured by real-time RT-PCR. Results: Administration of C21 did not influence the blood pressure measured by tail-cuff method. There was no significant difference in ischemic size without C21 treatment between WT and ATIP-Tg mice. Treatment with C21 decreased ischemic size and improved neurological deficit in both strains. These protective effects by C21 were more marked in ATIP-Tg mice compared with WT mice. Administration of C21 did not affect CBF in the core region of ischemic area after MCA occlusion in both strains; however, the reduction of CBF in penumbra region was markedly attenuated in ATIP-Tg mice treated with C21. MMS2 tended to increase in ATIP1-Tg mice compared with WT mice. Expression of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-&agr; and MCP-1 was increased in ipsilateral hemisphere compared with in contralateral hemisphere. Treatment of C21 tended to reduce inflammatory cytokine expression in ipsilateral hemisphere. Conclusions: These results suggested that ATIP1 could enhance the cerebral protective effects of AT2 receptor stimulation at least in part due to the improvement of CBF.


Two cases of intermittent obstruction of the esophagus by the laxative Agiolax, proven by endoscopy and barium swallow, are described. The patients took an overdose of one and two tablespoons of Agiolax, respectively; they had no disorders of the esophagus. Symptoms of obstruction subsided spontaneously after 24 and 36 hours respectively.


A novel nitrogen-containing alkylphosphinate salt—aluminium β-(p-nitrobenzamide) ethyl methyl phosphinate (AlNP) was synthesized and used to flame retard acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene copolymer (ABS). The Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, 1H, 13C and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance and X-ray fluorescent spectroscopy (XRF) were applied to characterize the structure and composition of products. The flame retardancy performance, thermal properties and mechanical strength of the ABS/AlNP with respect to AlNP loading were investigated. AlNP was stable before 330°C and decomposed very slowly with residues high up to 56.1% at 700°C. Adding 25–30 wt% of AlNP alone can make ABS to pass V0 rating in the vertical burning tests (UL 94). The results according to the micro combustion calorimeter, thermogravimetric analysis showed that AlNP can depress the heating release and retard the thermal degradation of the ABS. Scanning electron microscopy observation of the residues from LOI test indicated that AlNP formed the condensed and tough residues layer during combustion; XRF analysis showed that the residues contained phosphorus and aluminium element and nitrogen element was not detected. The compact phosphorus/aluminium-rich substance acted as a barrier to enhance flame-retardant properties of the ABS.


The dissolution profiles of the seven branded prednisolone tablets were determined by means of available compendium. Those tablets were stored at for 15, 30 and 60 days respectively. Under the stress conditions, the dissolution efficiency showed significant changes. It is considered that the determination of shelf life of drug from these aging effects is possible because the dissolution data followed a logarithmic distribution. There were no substantial differences of dissolution between two prednisolone formulations with different particle size not larger than . The effect of two starches (corn and potato) on the rate of dissolution of prednisolone from dosage form was also investigated. All marketed tablets met the requirement of the established compendium.


We explore the use of personal 'earable' devices (widely used by gym-goers) in providing personalized, quantified insights and feedback to users performing gym exercises. As in-ear sensing by itself is often too weak to pick up exercise-driven motion dynamics, we propose a novel, low-cost system that can monitor multiple concurrent users by fusing data from (a) wireless earphones, equipped with inertial and physiological sensors and (b) inertial sensors attached to exercise equipment. We share preliminary findings from a small-scale study to demonstrate the promise of this approach, as well as identify open challenges.


A classical interatomic potential for uranium metal is derived within the framework of the charge optimized many body (COMB) formalism. The potential is fitted with a database obtained from experiment and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The potential correctly predicts orthorhombic α-U to be the ground state. Good agreement with experimental values is obtained for the lattice parameters, nearest neighbor distances, and elastic constants. Molecular dynamics simulations also correctly show the anisotropy in the coefficient of thermal expansion and the temperature dependence of the nearest neighbor distances.


The aim of this study is to investigate the significance of the polymorphisms of the cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) exon 1(+ 49) and promoter(- 318) genes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Polymerase chain reaction of genomic DNA-restriction fragment length polymorphism was used to determine genotypes of the CTLA-4 exon 1(+ 49) and promoter(- 318) in 86 RA patients and 86 healthy control subjects. There was no significant difference in genotype, allele and phenotype frequencies of the CTLA-4 exon 1(+ 49) and promoter(- 318) genes between RA patients and control subjects. There was no significant difference in age at onset, severity, functional class ( S 3), physician global assessment, ESR, CRP or RF titer in patients with RA according to the CTLA-4 polymorphisms. Our data show that the polymorphisms within the CTLA-4 exon 1(+ 49) and promoter(- 318) genes are not associated with susceptibility to RA and its clinical/serological manifestations in the Korean population.


Chemically modified cytochrome c with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) showed activity at temperatures higher than 100 degrees C and to be highly thermostable. The molecular size of PEG moieties and the coupling site affected the thermal stabilization. An optimal PEG/protein mass ratio of 2.8 was found, producing a fully thermostable biocatalyst at 80 degrees C. Site-directed mutagenesis on yeast cytochrome c showed an increased thermostabilization when lysine 79 residue, localized at the edge of the active site, was replaced by a nonreactive residue. Tertiary, secondary, and active-site structures were analyzed by fluorescence, CD, and UV/visible spectroscopies. Besides its disordered structure, the pegylated protein showed a lower unfolding rate at the active-site than the unmodified ones. A shell-like structure seems to protect the heme environment, in which PEG is coiled on the protein surface with a primary shield of rigid water molecules solvating the hydrophilic region of bound-PEG, and the PEG hydrophobic regions interacting with the hydrophobic clusters on protein surface.


Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) is national milk marketing cooperative. DFA's primary focus is to market the milk of the cooperative's 17,000 members. In addition, DFA offers its membership a number of farm services. The sole purpose of these services is to make it easier for DFA members to operate their businesses. One of the services offered provides members access to forward contracting alternatives for pricing their milk. The objective of this research is to utilize demographic and other information related to the characteristics of individual dairy producers and determine how these characteristics impact the use (or lack thereof) of risk management marketing tools. More specifically, the focus of this research is to identify what types of dairy producers are most likely to use the DFA's forward contracting program. The logit model estimated indicated that regional and demographic differences impact the use of DFA's forward contracting program. Members in the Mountain Area are most likely to use the program followed by members in the Central Area. Demographic differences that significantly impacted the use of forward contracting include age (older producers use forward contracts less than younger operators) and the size of operation, as measured by milk produced per year (larger operators were more likely to use forward contracting services). While the estimated logit model did identify several factors related to the use of forward contracting services, relationships are not particularly strong and the percent of producers using the services is relatively low. Thus, the model is limited in its ability for identifying key factors and thus it will be difficult for DFA to base a targeted marketing effort at certain producers. DFA would need additional information about their members to successfully target for this farm service.


A novel macromolecular surface modifier,a polypropylene-grafted-poly(ethylene glycol)copolymer,was synthesized by coupling of polypropylene containing maleic anhydride with monohydroxyl-terminated poly(ethylene glycol).The effects of reaction conditions on the graft reactions were studied.The copolymers were characterized by IR,1H-NMR,TG and DSC.The results indicated that the graft reactions were hindered by increasing the molecular weight of PP or PEG.The graft copolymer had a lower crystallization capacity as compared with pure PP.The thermal stability of PP-g-PEG decreased with increasing the content of PEG or the molecular weight of PEG.The copolymers were used to blend with polypropylene to modify the surface hydrophilicity of the products.The results of ATR-FTIR showed that PP-g-PEG could diffuse preferably onto the surface of the blends and be suitable as an effectual macromolecular surface modifier for PP.


Vellozia sincorana L.B. Sm. & Ayensu, an endemic of campos rupestres, is an endangered species collected by local people to start cooking fires due to the flammability of its resinous stems. A massive flowering of V. sincorana following a wildfire in October 1999 raised some questions: Does fire affect flowering and fruiting of V. sincorana? Is the height of individuals correlated with flowering and fruit production? A wildfire event on 8 November 2008 provided an opportunity to explore these questions. Two populations of V. sincorana in two campos rupestres sites (12o31'S - 41o29'W; 12o36'S - 41o28'W) on ridgetops in the Chapada Diamantina National Park (Brazil) were monitored, one burned in the November 2008 fire and the other unburned since the 1999 fire. In both sites, 25 individuals were randomly labeled and monitored. Nine plant samplings were conducted between 2008 and 2010, during which the number of flowers and fruits were tallied and the heights measured. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient and linear regression were used to evaluate the relationship between the height of individuals and phenology. Flowering and fruiting occurred only in the recently burnt population, about 40 days after the fire, in 24 of the 25 individuals monitored (96%). The quantity of flower and/or fruit was positively and significantly correlated with plant height. The abundant flowering after fire suggests that fire triggers this phenological phase. Estimates of age of the taller individuals and the periods of flowering can be used to estimate fire frequency in the V. sincorana population sites, which contributes to the knowledge of fire ecology and is useful for conservation biology and fire management of campos rupestres.


The neuromuscular block of successive doses of suxamethonium 100 mg, monitored by electromyography, was investigated in a myasthenic patient (class IIB), undergoing thymectomy. The results suggest that successive doses of suxamethonium in the myasthenic patient are followed by a progressive prolongation of the neuromuscular block. This may be attributed to rapid desensitisation of the myasthenic endplate receptors and the rapid development of phase II block, as evidenced by a progressive decrease of the T4/T1 ratio.


Bacillus thuringiensis Cry3Aa toxin is a coleopteran specific toxin highly active against Colorado Potato Beetle (CPB).We have recently shown that Cry3Aa toxin is proteolytically cleaved by CPB midgut membrane associated metalloproteases and that this cleavage is inhibited by ADAM metalloprotease inhibitors. In the present study, we investigated whether the Cry3Aa toxin is a calmodulin (CaM) binding protein, as it is the case of several different ADAM shedding substrates. In pull-down assays using agarose beads conjugated with CaM, we demonstrated that Cry3Aa toxin specifically binds to CaM in a calcium-independent manner. Furthermore, we used gel shift assays and (1)H NMR spectra to demonstrate that CaM binds to a 16-amino acid synthetic peptide corresponding to residues N256-V271 within the domain I of Cry3Aa toxin. Finally, to investigate whether CaM has any effect on Cry3Aa toxin CPB midgut membrane associated proteolysis, cleavage assays were performed in the presence of the CaM-specific inhibitor trifluoperazine. We showed that trifluoperazine significantly increased Cry3Aa toxin proteolysis and also decreased Cry3Aa larval toxicity.


There is a shortage of multiwavelength and spectroscopic follow-up capabilities given the number of transient and variable astrophysical events discovered through wide-field optical surveys such as the upcoming Vera C. Rubin Observatory and its associated Legacy Survey of Space and Time. From the haystack of potential science targets, astronomers must allocate scarce resources to study a selection of needles in real time. Here we present a variational recurrent autoencoder neural network to encode simulated Rubin Observatory extragalactic transient events using 1% of the PLAsTiCC data set to train the autoencoder. Our unsupervised method uniquely works with unlabeled, real-time, multivariate, and aperiodic data. We rank 1,129,184 events based on an anomaly score estimated using an isolation forest. We find that our pipeline successfully ranks rarer classes of transients as more anomalous. Using simple cuts in anomaly score and uncertainty, we identify a pure (≈95% pure) sample of rare transients (i.e., transients other than Type Ia, Type II, and Type Ibc supernovae), including superluminous and pair-instability supernovae. Finally, our algorithm is able to identify these transients as anomalous well before peak, enabling real-time follow-up studies in the era of the Rubin Observatory.


Muamalat Bank have decline in financial performance. Muamalat Bank lacks capital because it provides too much corporate financing which has an impact on increasing non-performing financing. Besides that, the net profit of Muamalat Bank in 2019 decreasec significantly, namely by 92% and its operating costs rached Rp490 billion. This research was conducted to know the effect of the variable Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR), Return On Assets (ROA), Financing to Deposit Ratio (FDR), and Operating Expenses per Operating Income (BOPO) on Non-Performing Financing (NPF) at Bank Muamalat. Indonesia. The sample used is the quarterly report published on the official website of Bank Muamalat. The research method used is quantitative research with multiple linear regression analysis and is supported by the Eviews software version 10 as a data processing application. The results of this study indicate that CAR and ROA have a negative and significant effect on the NPF of Bank Muamalat. Meanwhile, FDR and BOPO have a positive and significant effect on NPF.


Background Double-lumen tubes (DLT) and endobronchial blockers (EB) are used for one-lung ventilation in thoracic surgery. More complications are seen when using DLT when compared to EB, while major complications are rarely seen. Case This case report describes a perforation of the right mainstem bronchus by an EZ-Blocker EB in a patient undergoing a minimally invasive esophagectomy after neoadjuvant chemoradiation. Conclusions We advise to insert an EZ-BlockerTM EB with caution and only under direct bronchoscopic visualization, especially in previous irradiated patients.


OBJECTIVE
For individuals in alcohol use disorder (AUD) treatment, many argue that holistic indicators such as quality of life (QoL) should be more consistently used in addition to drinking-related indicators. QoL increases from pre- to post-AUD treatment, but the mechanisms are unclear. The present study examined the roles of positive and negative affect in QoL change during AUD treatment and additionally explored the relationship between QoL change and medication adherence.

METHOD
We examined the mediating roles of end-of-treatment positive affect (i.e., vigor) and negative affect (i.e., stress and tension) in the relationship between baseline (BL) and 26-week QoL among participants in the Combined Pharmacotherapies and Behavioral Interventions for Alcohol Dependence study randomized to medication management (MM; n = 468) or medication management plus combined behavioral intervention (MMCBI; n = 479) for AUD. We also explored whether changes in QoL were associated with medication adherence.

RESULTS
Change in psychological health QoL was mediated by increased vigor (i.e., positive affect) and decreased stress, and change in environmental QoL was mediated by decreased stress. There were also differences by treatment group, with stress mediating changes in environmental QoL among participants in MM, and vigor mediating changes in psychological health QoL among participants in MMCBI. Medication adherence was not associated with greater QoL after controlling for posttreatment alcohol use.

CONCLUSIONS
The present study identified potential mechanisms of QoL change in AUD treatment, thus contributing to the growing knowledge surrounding alternative indicators of treatment success for AUD treatment and recovery. Targeting affective states and stress during treatment may improve QoL and recovery outcomes for persons with AUD. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).


{[Pd(&mgr;-SC(6)F(5))(&mgr;-dppm)Pd](&mgr;-SC(6)F(5))}(4) reacts 1:4 with neutral ligands L to give [LPd(&mgr;-SC(6)F(5))(&mgr;-dppm)Pd(SC(6)F(5))] or 1:8 to form [LPd(&mgr;-SC(6)F(5))(&mgr;-dppm)PdL](+) (dppm = bis(diphenylphosphino)methane). These binuclear complexes retain the palladium-palladium bond and the two dissimilar bridging ligands, as demonstrated by the X-ray structural determinations carried out on [(Ph(3)P)Pd(&mgr;-SC(6)F(5))(&mgr;-dppm)Pd(SC(6)F(5))].1.4CH(2)Cl(2) and [(Ph(3)P)Pd(&mgr;-SC(6)F(5))(&mgr;-dppm)Pd(PPh(3))]SO(3)CF(3).2CH(2)Cl(2). Ab initio calculations on the model systems [(H(3)P)Pd(&mgr;-H(2)PCH(2)PH(2))(&mgr;-SH)Pd(PH(3))](+) and [(H(3)P)Pd(&mgr;-H(2)PCH(2)PH(2))Pd(PH(3))](2+) show that the metal-metal bond arises mainly from interactions between palladium sp orbitals, which also play a predominant role in the binding with the sulfur bridge.


Understanding hydrologic processes is fundamental for characterizing agricultural chemical behavior and crop production at the field and watershed scales. Unfortunately, crop production patter" and hydrologic processes exhibit significant spatial and temporal variability. The concept of soil moisture response zones has been proposed and found to be an effective means for identifying areas within a field that are hydrologically similar. Soil moisture response zones were determined using normalized spatial yield patterns from divergent climatic conditions on a small watershed at the USDA-ARS Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, Maryland USA. Subsurface hydrology was determined by identifying subsurface convergent flow pathway locations using ground-penetrating radar (GPR), digital elevation maps (DEM) and ;I GIs. Frequent volumetric soil moisture measurements confirmed the existence of discrete preferential funnel flow processes occurring near the GPR-identified preferential flow pathways. Although the spatial variability of corn (Zea mays L.) grain yield generated coefficients of variation > 114% during a drought, yield were strongly effected by their proximity to GPRidentified subsurface flow pathways. Corn grain yields and the soil moisture response index decreased as the horizontal distance from the GPR-identified subsurface flow pathways increased during a drought. During a growing season where precipitation was aibundant, this quantitative relationship was reversed. This research suggests that GPR is an effective tool for quantifying the impact hydrology on crop production.


In food preservation, the synergistic combination of different technologies aims to maximize the total lethality of the process and minimize the intensity of each hurdle. This is especially the case when at least one of the treatments can cause sublethal (reparable) injury in a great proportion of the population, so that sublethally injured cells can end up being entirely inactivated by the other hurdle(s). The selective medium plating technique (SMPT) is extensively used to enumerate bacterial sublethal injury after inimical treatments, being sodium chloride added to the recovery medium to detect damaged bacterial envelopes. However, little work has been done to explain the reasons for the inability of sublethally injured cells to outgrow in selective agar media, whereas they are able to grow in non-selective agar. In the present paper, the performance of SMPT on Escherichia coli cells after heat treatments is explored by applying different selective agents in the recovery media, using mutants lacking factors involved in osmoregulation, and also by examining the integrity of the cytoplasmic membrane. In view of the results, the possibility of a specific toxic effect of Na+ as the main mechanism under SMPT was discarded, since the same level of sublethal injury was detected using KCl instead of NaCl. The synthesis of the osmoprotectant trehalose determined the maximum osmotolerance of intact cells to the selective agents, but was not crucial in the quantification of sublethal injury. Moreover, for the first time, the extent of sublethal injury detected via SMPT was directly correlated with the physical loss of integrity of the cell membrane in 99.999% of the initial population. This was achieved through statistical analysis of flow cytometry data using propidium iodide-exclusion technique when that dye was added before thermal treatments. The present work confirms the adequacy of SMPT as a tool for detecting the occurrence and quantity of sublethally injured cells after thermal treatments and thus, for efficiently designing the combination of heat with other preservation techniques. We also propose the study of statistical analysis from flow cytometry data for a more rapid quantification of bacterial sublethal injury in a broad detection range.


The purpose of this study is to investigate the cross-linking interaction between a natural derived oxidized chitosan oligosaccharide (OCOS) and the porcine acellular dermal matrix (pADM), and further evaluate the varying properties of the pADM after cross-linked. The shrinkage temperature (Ts) and cross-link density study indicate that the amino groups of lysine or hydroxylysine side groups of collagen could predominantly react with the available aldehyde group of OCOS to form a more stable Schiff's base leading to the improved hydrothermal stability of pADM. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis indicate that the structural integrity of collagen (i.e. D-periodicity structure and triple helix) is still maintained after the OCOS treatment. Meanwhile, the mechanical properties, hydrophilicity, collagenase degradation and cytotoxicity of pADM after cross-linking have been all promoted obviously. Above all, the cytocompatibility analysis implies that when the dosage of OCOS is less than 8%, introducing OCOS into pADM might be favorable for cell adhesion, growth and proliferation. Taken as a whole, the present study demonstrates that OCOS could serve as an ideal cross-linker for the chemical fixation of pADM, which are compatible with its potential applications in biomaterials.


A multiuser detection scheme is proposed for channels using non-spread signals. Trellis encoders and different random interleavers are employed for each user to remove the ambiguity in decoding each user's data from the composite received signal. With symbol-by-symbol soft decision, near channel capacity performance is obtained.


OBJECTIVE
Targeting the glucagon like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) with radiolabeled exendin is a very promising method to non-invasively determine the beta cell mass in the pancreas, which is needed to unravel the pathophysiology of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The present study aimed to explore the effects of both hyperglycemia and insulitis on the uptake of exendin in a spontaneous type 1 diabetes mouse model: Non-Obese Diabetic (NOD) mice.

METHODS
NOD mice (n = 75, 7-21 weeks old) were injected intravenously with [111In]In-DTPA-exendin-3 and SPECT images were acquired 1 h p.i.. The pancreatic accumulation of [111In]In-DTPA-exendin-3 was quantified in vivo using SPECT and by ex vivo counting and correlated to the beta cell mass (BCM). The influence of insulitis and hyperglycemia on the exendin uptake were assessed.

RESULTS
The pancreas could be visualized longitudinally using SPECT. A linear correlation was found between the BCM (%) and pancreatic uptake (%ID/g) as measured by ex vivo counting (Pearson r = 0.64, p < 0.001), which was not affected by either insulitis (Pearson r = 0.66, p = 0.83) or hyperglycemia (Pearson r = 0.57, p = 0.51). Biodistribution and ex vivo autoradiography revealed remaining [111In]In-DTPA-exendin-3 uptake in the pancreas despite total ablation of BCM.

CONCLUSION
Despite hyperglycemia and severe insulitis, we have found a good correlation between BCM and pancreatic exendin uptake, even in a suboptimal model with relatively high background activity.


During investigations on the N‐oxygenation of adenine (1) the enzymatic formation of adenine 1‐N‐oxide 3 was demonstrated for the first time. The identity of this metabolite was confirmed by its chromatographic behaviour and UV‐spectrum recorded after HPLC separation. Adenine 1‐N‐oxide (3) and similar oxygenated derivatives of adenine were synthesized as reference substances. The enzymatic formation of 3 exhibits the typical characteristics of a reaction catalysed by microsomal mono‐oxygenases. In induction experiments, an increase in the rate of formation of 3 after pretreatment with phenobarbital was observed. A participation of those isoenzymes of the cytochrome P‐450 enzyme system which can be induced by phenobarbital is assumed.


Abstract : An experimental investigation was conducted in the University of Michigan Supersonic Wind Tunnel to explore the main characteristics of the flow and pressure field generated by a supersonic jet directed at 90 deg to the body into the 1.90-Mach-number tunnel stream. In particular, a study was made of the spreading characteristics of the jet and its gross effect on the normal fore, drag, and moment of the cone-cylinder body, from which the jet issued. The phenomenon was investigated as a function of the pressure ratio, P sub o/P sub s (jet stagnation pressure to tunnel static pressure), angle of attack of the body, and jet-nozzle geometry. Within a relatively short distance from the exit, the normal jet was turned in the direction parallel to the free stream even at pressure ratios of over 50. Simultaneously, it spread in all directions, mixing violently with the free stream. Optical evidence suggests that fringes of the jet are in contact with the cylinder. This may have practical implications for the use of hot side-control jets on bodies. The interaction resulted in regions of both high and low pressure over the body. The normal force on the body was decreased below the nominal jet side-thrust value, and the drag was increased above the no-jet value. A moment which depends on the geometry, particularly the length of the body, was generated about the nominal center of gravity of the body.


Female mice were irradiated with a single whole body dose of 7 Gy of gamma-rays. Leucocyte numbers were monitored in the peripheral blood using automated blood cell counter Coulter counter and a traditional hematological method with a light microscope in the Bürker chamber. Reticulocyte numbers, RNA blood concentration, spleen weight and morphological changes in spleen and bone marrow were also studied. In the period between 15th-19th days after irradiation the numbers of leucocytes obtained by CC counting were manifold higher than those obtained by microscope counting. Since this period is characterised by a steep increase in the reticulocyte number and RNA concentration in blood as well as by increased weight of spleen as the result of marked regeneration of extramedullar erythropoiesis, leukocytes as well as reticulocytes are assumed to be additionally registered by the automated counter CC in this period, probably due to a higher resistance of reticulocytes to the lysing agent Zapoglobine.


UNLABELLED
The aim of this study was to give answers to questions: are some skeletal disorders connected with decreased mineralization and is there a coexistence with abnormalities in dietary intake of chosen nutrients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
The study comprised 74 children, aged 9.1-17 years. Disturbances in skeletal system, such as: scoliosis, multiple bone fractures, Scheurmann disease and thorax deformations were diagnosed in 36 of them (examined group). The remaining 38 healthy children became a reference group. Bone mineralization was evaluated by ultrasound examination of the calcaneous with Achilles Solo plus apparatus. Speed of sound (SOS), broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) and automatically calculated Stiffness index were analysed. In all children nutritional intake of chosen nutrients was assessed by 3-day diet interview and performed with computer program FOOD3.1.

RESULTS
In the examined group the decrease of at least one of ultrasound parameters was observed in 22/36 patients, and in the reference group in 18/38; in sick children the mean relative values of Stiffness index and BUA were statistically significantly lower than in healthy ones. On the basis of DEXA examination, performed in children with skeletal disturbances, osteoporosis was diagnosed in 2 and osteopenia in 12. Such abnormalities in dietary intake of chosen nutritional compounds were found: significantly low vitamin D intake in all children, calcium deficiency in 61/74 subjects and also high natrium, potassium, phosphorus and protein consumption. In children with disturbances in the skeletal system mean natrium intake was higher than in the reference group.

CONCLUSIONS
At the present stage of examinations, which are continued, there are no significant correlations between the mentioned above skeletal diseases and abnormalities in the diet. These abnormalities may lead to the decrease of bone mineralization not only in children with disorders in skeletal system, but also in healthy ones.


BACKGROUND
Traumatic diaphragmatic rupture is an urgent and life-threatening condition concerning the branches of chest surgery and general surgery because of the accompanying injuries. We reviewed the results of our cases with traumatic diaphragmatic rupture who were operated over a period of 9 years.

METHODS
The patients who underwent surgery for traumatic diaphragmatic rupture in Department of Chest Surgery Medicine Faculty of Yuzuncu Yil University were included into the study. The diagnosis was established by chest X-ray, computerized thoracic tomography, abdominal ultrasonography, and contrast upper gastrointestinal imaging modalities when needed.

RESULTS
Twenty-six cases (21 males, 5 females; mean age 33; range 13 to 67 years) with traumatic diaphragmatic rupture were operated in Department of Chest Surgery Medicine Faculty of Yuzuncu Yil University between August 1996 and October 2005. Treatment approach in 15 cases was thoracotomy, in 7 cases laparotomy and in 4 cases thoracotomy + laparotomy, and in all cases, diaphragma was primarily sutured. Left diaphragmatic rupture was detected in 18 cases and right diaphragmatic rupture in 8 cases. Laceration in the diaphragma ranged between 0.5 and 15 cm. Various accompanying injuries were present in all cases except one. Abdominal organs were herniated to the thorax in 12 cases. Three cases who were operated on urgently with severe accompanying injuries died. There was no mortality in the postoperative period and morbidity occurred in 5 cases.

CONCLUSION
Traumatic diaphragmatic rupture, when overlooked and accompanied with severe injuries, can cause complications and even death. Its diagnosis and treatment must be dealt with rapidly and cautiously.


Abstract Amphibole from alkali granites in the Ramnes cauldron in the Oslo rift was altered hydrothermally by corrosion and growth through multiple events of fluid circulation. The alteration developed successive zones of amphibole at the crystal margins, resulting in a (1) brownish ferro-edenitic hornblende core (FE), (2) deep bluish-green hastingsitic hornblende zone (HH), and (3) light-greenish Fe-rich actinolite rim (FA). The edenitic core preserves the original igneous amphibole composition. The Cl content of amphibole strongly increases from the FE (0.78-0.82 wt%) to the HH zone (2.07-2.96 wt%) and abruptly decreases in the FA rim (0.01-0.36 wt%). In the Cl-rich HH amphibole zone, amphibole has characteristically high Cl content [2.96 wt%, 0.82 atoms per formula unit (apfu)] and high concentrations in both [4]Al (1.73 apfu) and A-site occupancy (0.86 apfu) with a large K/(Na + K) value of 0.47. Both [4]Al and A-site occupancy increase systematically with positive correlation with Cl content throughout the three amphibole zones. On the other hand, Fe2+ content is not so simply correlated to the Cl content. Based on crystal structure considerations on Cl-rich amphiboles, the cation substitutions are illustrated by structural (geometrical) constraints for [4]Al and by a chemical constraint for Fe2+. These contributions for Cl incorporation are expressed empirically by ln(Cl/OH)amp = ln(Cl/OH)fluid + A·[4]Al·Fe2+/RT + B/RT, where A and B are constant. [4]Al·Fe2+ vs. ln(Cl/OH) plots of the three distinct amphibole zones suggest different fluid conditions in chemistry and temperature for the three zones. The zoning was developed through two stages of hydrothermal alteration. In the early hydrothermal event, a saline and high-temperature fluid altered the original hornblende (FE) to the Cl-rich HH zone. Late stage alteration by a high Fe/Cl and relatively low-temperature fluid partially over-printed the FA zone at the crystal margin.


This article analyzes Kazakhstan's security policy, in particular its main security documents: the Law on National Security, the Military Doctrine, and the Foreign Policy Concept. What does the practical application of these concepts, particularly toward the big actors Russia and China and to international organizations, tell us about Kazakh security policy? Overall, the conceptualized policy is largely reflected in practice. The biggest exceptions are found in the implementation of policy toward Russia. The pressure and possible threats of interference from Moscow form a hindrance for a fully independent foreign security policy by Astana. Furthermore, not military/security related measures but the implementation of political and social-economic reforms is essential to ensure the national security of Kazakhstan.


Nursing education prepares students for both academia and practice; however, the contribution of writing a bachelor's thesis in learning nursing is overlooked. The aim of the present study was to explore the role of a bachelor thesis as a learning tool in nursing. A total of 15 nursing students were individually interviewed using semi-structured questions. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis, and the activity theoretical concept of a tool was subsequently applied. The results were reported in accordance with COREQ for qualitative research. The findings identified writing a bachelor's thesis as a ' Personal tool' and a ' Systemic tool for learning nursing'. The personal tool was related to ' Preparation for patient encounters in working life' and ' Discovering bodily mechanisms of disease or health'. The systemic tool was related to ' Enabling to impact on the organization of work and stakeholders' and ' Facilitating knowledge of the links between patient groups and common diseases'. The study discusses and concludes that a bachelor's thesis represents both a personal and a systemic tool that embodies nursing knowledge, preparing students for their future work as registered nurses. An implication for contemporary nursing is that a bachelor's thesis may serve as a boundary-crossing tool that transcends the school, workplace, and even society.


The top-heavy demographic of low birth-rate and longer lifespan is a growing social problem, and one of its expected effects will be a shortage of young workers and a growing reliance on a workforce of middle-aged and older people. However, the environment of today's industrial workplace is not particularly suited to middle-aged and older workers, one notable problem being temperature control. Higher temperatures can cause health problems such as heat stroke, and the number of cases increases sharply in people over 65. Moreover, in conditions above 33°C, older people can develop circulatory system disorders, and also have a higher chance of suffering a fatal heart attack. We therefore propose a new method for controlling temperature in the indoor workplace. In this study two different verification experiments were conducted, with the proposed temperature control method being tested in cargo containers and conventional houses. The method's effectiveness was apparent in measurements of temperature and electricity consumption. Keywords—CO2 reduction, Energy saving, Temperature control