This paper describes the design, simulation and measurements of a novel 5times5mm2 surface mount liquid crystal polymer (LCP) package which uses micro vias as a means of signal transition. The new package offers excellent thermal dissipation due to a cavity for device mounting, hence, eliminating the need for thermal vias. For the package design a novel matching technique was developed to match the micro via to 50Omega transmission line. The novel design allowed for a broadband response with 0.3dB of insertion loss and 20dB return loss up to 50GHz. The package achieved 40dB of isolation (after bonding) for a 1.2mm MMIC gap. To obtain accurate package s-parameter measurements a 2-tier calibration procedure was deployed to rapidly extract the package response. Further developments utilizing the good thermal conductivity of the new package technology for high-power LDMOS devices are presented


In the present work, the behavior of composite-fastener joints in bearing failure at dynamic stroke rates of 500 in/s, 300 in/s and 100 in/s has been evaluated through progressive damage analysis (PDA) material model in LS-DYNA, namely MAT162. Two joint types: titanium pin and Hi-Lok fastener were analyzed to identify the differences between without and with preload conditions. A meso-level approach where each lamina was modeled separately was employed and a contact definition based on fracture toughness data was defined to represent composite delamination behavior. Test fixture had been modeled in a detailed manner to account for the dynamic effects and the simulation results were validated against experimental data. Preliminary test-analysis correlation indicated that MAT162 predicted results conservatively when compared to tests. Debris accumulation were observed to greatly affect the test results which were not considered in the current modelling strategies.


Autologous hematopoietic stem- cell transplantation has become an accepted therapy for some patients with Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Convincing evidence for a graft-vs-lymphoma effect has led to increasing use of allogeneic transplantation in these patients. Dr. Winter has written an excellent overview of transplantation in the lymphomas. She has focused on several areas of controversy and described results of randomized trials.


Purpose: To determine whether echocardiographic calcium index (ECI) calculated using transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) predicts coronary ischemic events. We also wished to determine coronary artery calcium score (CACS), the presence of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) and plaque composition, all of which were assessed by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). Methods: We carried out a prospective cohort study of 82 consecutive outpatients with chest pain and low‐moderate risk of CAD, referred for noninvasive coronariography by MDCT. ECI was blindly assessed by TTE and correlated with subsequent cardiovascular events during a follow up period of 36 months. Results: ECI values of ≥7 had a sensitivity of 77.3%, a specificity of 90%, positive predictive value of 73.9%, and negative predictive value of 91.5% with respect to future coronary ischemic events. In addition, patients with ECI ≥ 7 showed a greater presence of severe calcified and obstructive CAD and a linear increase of obstructed vessels and mixed and calcified plaques, with a linear trend according to ECI values. Conclusion: ECI values of ≥7 determine poor CAD prognosis in relation to ischemic events. Furthermore, ECI ≥ 7 may serve as a marker of content of coronary artery calcium, intraluminal obstruction, and plaque composition. Therefore, ECI seems to provide prognostic information as well as information about the characteristics of the plaque of atheroma.


In a radiographic survey of the carpi of 100 racing greyhounds there was a 14 per cent incidence of enthesiopathy of the origin of the straight part of the short radial collateral ligament. Enthesiopathy was not identified as a clinical problem in any case, nor was there historical evidence of any adverse effect on performance.


AIM
To investigate the independent effects on liquor sales of an increase in (a) the density of liquor outlets and (b) the proportion of liquor stores in private rather than government ownership in British Columbia between 2003/4 and 2007/8.

DESIGN
The British Columbia Liquor Distribution Branch provided data on litres of ethanol sold through different types of outlets in 89 local health areas of the province by beverage type. Multi-level regression models were used to examine the relationship between per capita alcohol sales and outlet densities for different types of liquor outlet after adjusting for potential confounding social, economic and demographic factors as well as spatial and temporal autocorrelation.

SETTING
Liquor outlets in 89 local health areas of British Columbia, Canada.

FINDINGS
The number of private stores per 10,000 residents was associated significantly and positively with per capita sales of ethanol in beer, coolers, spirits and wine, while the reverse held for government liquor stores. Significant positive effects were also identified for the number of bars and restaurants per head of population. The percentage of liquor stores in private versus government ownership was also associated significantly with per capita alcohol sales when controlling for density of liquor stores and of on-premise outlets (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION
The trend towards privatisation of liquor outlets between 2003/04 and 2007/08 in British Columbia has contributed to increased per capita sales of alcohol and hence possibly also to increased alcohol-related harm.


We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a family-based intervention program for Internet addiction in Chinese adolescents. Adolescents ( N = 57), diagnosed as having Internet addiction, were divided randomly into an intervention group ( n = 28) and a control group ( n = 29). Participants in the intervention group participated in a 14-session family-based group intervention while participants in the control group received conventional group therapy only. Assessment tools were administered to both groups at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at 1-month and 3-month follow-ups. Results indicted that the family-based group intervention is more effective in decreasing Internet use and enhancing family function.


This paper presents a self adaptive architectureto enhance the energy efficiency of coarse-grained reconfigurablearchitectures (CGRAs). Today, platforms host multipleapplications, with arbitrary inter-application communication andconcurrency patterns. Each application itself can have multipleversions (implementations with different degree of parallelism)and the optimal version can only be determined at runtime. Forsuch scenarios, traditional worst case designs and compile timemapping decisions are neither optimal nor desirable. Existingsolutions to this problem employ costly dedicated hardware toconfigure the operating point at runtime (using DVFS). As analternative to dedicated hardware, we propose exploiting thereconfiguration features of modern CGRAs. Our solution relieson dynamically reconfigurable isolation cells (DRICs) and autonomousparallelism, voltage, and frequency selection algorithm(APVFS). The DRICs reduce the overheads of DVFS circuitryby configuring the existing resources as isolation cells. APVFSensures high efficiency by dynamically selecting the parallelism,voltage and frequency trio, which consumes minimum powerto meet the deadlines on available resources. Simulation resultsusing representative applications (Matrix multiplication, FIR,and FFT) showed up to 23% and 51% reduction in powerand energy, respectively, compared to traditional DVFS designs.Synthesis results have confirmed significant reduction in areaoverheads compared to state of the art DVFS methods.


Community child center is the facility of the highest number of children in child welfare facilities. But plan for the physical environment is not considered importantly because of insufficient finance. However impact of the physical environment in growing children is very closely related in terms of the emotional as well as a functional perspective. Therefore, it is necessary to understand current physical environment and to seek to find alternative methods that can be resolved space matters. As a basic study for this, in the present study we compare and integrate the design principles of child care facility guidelines. And we set up a framework of analysis to derive the design principles that are required in the target area. It is possible to analyze the environmental characteristics of community child center located in Gwang-ju from this framework, to obtain the flowing results. First, draw items are formation of inner direction, provide of environmental supportability, flexibility of use, healthy space. It can be understood that the emotional aspects and physical aspects should be considered comprehensively. Second, as a result of the case analysis, planning elements consideration of the functional aspects appeared high fulfillment rate generally. Planning elements of low fill rate ascertain result from the process take advantage of the narrow space and it was possible to ascertain the study for flexible utilization of space is not. As a result, in order to improve the problems of the target space, increasing the functionality is necessary and also requires consideration of sensitivity of the user's face.


OBJECTIVE
To determine levels of soluble interleukin 6 receptor-alpha (sIL-6R alpha) in synovial fluid (SF) and serum from patients with different rheumatic diseases, and to analyze its cellular origin compared to IL-6.

METHODS
IL-6 and sIL-6R alpha concentrations were measured in sera, SF, and culture supernatants of different cells types using specific sandwich ELISA.

RESULTS
IL-6 levels were significantly higher (30 to 1000-fold) in SF than in sera, and higher in inflammatory arthropathies such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), chondrocalcinosis, and gout than in osteoarthritis (OA). sIL-6R alpha levels in SF from patients with RA, gout, and chondrocalcinosis were also higher (24.7 +/- 7.5, 23.2 +/- 9.1, and 19.5 +/- 7.4 ng/ml, respectively) than in patients with OA (10.1 +/- 5 ng/ml), although the difference was distinctly smaller. In contrast, sIL-6R alpha concentrations did not differ significantly between the sera of healthy donors and patients. sIL-6R alpha levels were similar in SF and sera from inflammatory arthropathies, but lower in all osteoarthritic SF, compared to their corresponding serum. In contrast to IL-6, sIL-6R alpha was produced in high amounts by hepatocytes but not by structural cells of the joint (chondrocytes, synoviocytes, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells). Polymorphonuclear cells and mononuclear cells released intermediate levels. A significant correlation between sIL-6R alpha concentration and total number of leukocytes was observed in SF.

CONCLUSION
Elevated levels of sIL-6R alpha were found in serum, likely to result from a marked release by hepatocytes in vitro. That levels are higher in inflammatory SF may be due in part to release by inflammatory cells in situ.


i To the memory of Thomas Vesterlund, who encouraged and motivated me to pursue this project but never got to see it finished. ii iii Abstract In this thesis, the overall conclusion is that combination strategies, (i.e., test case selection methods that manage the combinatorial explosion of possible things to test), can improve the software testing in most organizations. The research underlying this thesis emphasizes relevance by working in close relationship with industry. Input parameter models of test objects play a crucial role for combination strategies. These models consist of parameters with corresponding parameter values and represent the input space and possibly other properties , such as state, of the test object. Test case selection is then defined as the selection of combinations of parameter values from these models. This research describes a complete test process, adapted to combination strategies. Guidelines and step-by-step descriptions of the activities in process are included in the presentation. In particular, selection of suitable combination strategies, input parameter modeling and handling of conflicts in the input parameter models are addressed. It is also shown that several of the steps in the test process can be automated. The test process is validated through a set of experiments and case studies involving industrial testers as well as actual test problems as they occur in industry. In conjunction with the validation of the test process, aspects of applicability of the combination strategy test process (e.g., usability, scala-bility and performance) are studied. Identification and discussion of barriers for the introduction of the combination strategy test process in industrial projects are also included. This research also presents a comprehensive survey of existing combination strategies, complete with classifications and descriptions of their different properties. Further, this thesis contains a survey of the testing maturity of twelve software-producing organizations. The data indicate low test maturity in most of the investigated organizations. Test managers are often aware of this but have trouble improving. Combination strategies are suitable improvement enablers, due to their low introduction costs.


This article is situated into the area of virtual reality in educational process to improve visualization of students. One of the technologies that are used to attainment of virtual reality is technology of mixed reality. Mixed reality is formed with technology of augmented reality or augmented virtuality. In the first part the article is described theoretical assumes of utilization of augmented reality in the sectors of industry, explains basic concepts of virtual reality and its historical evolution. The article describe the systems design and realization of system for visualization of production cell with virtual reality. Systems design represents design of software elements for solution of production cell with static user. Realization involves modelling and creation of assembling production cell and the creation of outgoing form of projected users view.


ABSTRACT The Silk Road has become one of the key geocultural and geostrategic concepts of the twenty-first century. Identified by two routes – maritime and overland, the Silk Road stretches across the Indian Ocean and Eurasian landmass; regions that will be of paramount importance in an increasingly multi-polar world. Through Belt and Road, China proclaims to be 'reviving' the Silk Road for the twenty-first century; ambitions that are creating forms of diplomacy across multiple sectors and countries. To contextualise such developments, this paper examines the Silk Road's historical formation as an arena of diplomacy and international cooperation. It argues that this stylised, romanticised depiction of pre-modern globalisation came to be associated with peace and harmony, cosmopolitanism and inter-cultural dialogue after World War II. Within this, however, Silk Road diplomacy has served as a vehicle for nationalist and geopolitical ambitions. The paper argues such entanglements underpin China's Belt and Road Initiative today.


Sah and Shah (2003) have shown that the incidence of poverty in the South-western tribal belt of Madhya Pradesh is alarmingly high. About three-fifths of the households in this tribal belt were categorised as chronic poor. A large part of chronic poverty is due to population pressure and failure to access production resources, decline in land holdings, recurring droughts, failure to access landbased livelihood, lack of off-farm employment avenues and high interest consumption loans from the moneylender resulting in a debt-trap that pulls people into chronic poverty. Since the positive impact of growth linkages on the chronic poor is weak and operates with a time lag what becomes pertinent for them is inclusion in various interventions by the state on the one hand and social mobilisation that makes them aware of their rights on the other.1


Direct analysis of synthetic fibers under ambient conditions is highly desired to identify the polymer, the finishes applied and irregularities that may compromise its performance and value. In this paper, laser ablation electrospray ionization ion mobility time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LAESI-IMS-TOF-MS) was used for the analysis of synthetic polymers and fibers. The key to this analysis was the absorption of laser light by aliphatic and aromatic nitrogen functionalities in the polymers. Analysis of polyamide (PA) 6, 46, 66, and 12 pellets and PA 6, 66, polyaramid and M5 fibers yielded characteristic fragment ions without any sample pretreatment, enabling their unambiguous identification. Synthetic fibers are, in addition, commonly covered with a surface layer for improved adhesion and processing. The same setup, but operated in a transient infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption electrospray ionization (IR-MALDESI) mode, allowed the detailed characterization of the fiber finish layer and the underlying polymer. Differences in finish layer distribution may cause variations in local properties of synthetic fibers. Here we also show the feasibility of mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) of the distribution of a finish layer on the synthetic fiber and the successful detection of local surface defects.


surface en tours les points de cette droite." He makes no mention, however, of the particular conicoid taken by Salmon, etc. as the unique one. I can find no mention in these books of the combined facts, firstly, that there exists an infinity of quadrics touching the surface along the generator, and secondly, that of these, one which might be called an osculating quadric or quadric of closest fit, possesses the special property that its generator of the other system through any point on the given generator is the second inflexional tangent to the surface at the point. Dr. L. S. Goddard, who has read this note, has suggested that it might be of interest to include here a proof ab initio of the preceding statement and proposes the following. " Consider a given ruled surface, R and a given generator g of R. A quadric Q contains g if it contains three points of g that is, there are three (linear) conditions on Q in order that Q contains g. If Q contains g, each plane of the pencil of planes through g is a tangent both to R and Q. Hence the pencil sets up a (1, 1) correspondence between the points of g, as follows. Let P be a given point on g. At P take the tangent plane w, to R and suppose w is a tangent to Q at a point P' (on g). Then P and P' are corresponding points. Now there are two self-corresponding points, so that any quadric containing g touches R at two points on g. Exceptionally, if there are three self-corresponding points, then all points of g are self-corresponding, and Q touches R a t every point of g. Thus the conditions on Q for the latter are (i) Q contains g, (ii) Q touches a given plane a t a given point of g (the given plane being the tangent plane to R a t the point). Now (i) and (ii) each impose three linear conditions on Q so that, since the dimension of the total system of quadrics is nine, we have : there i s a linear m $-system of quadrics touching a given ruled surface R at every point of a given generator of R. Consider now the system of inflexional tangents to R a t the points of g. These are the lines which meet g and two consecutive generators g', g" of R as g', g"+g ; hence these lines define a unique quadric Q' which touches R a t every point of g, and therefore belongs to the m 3-system mentioned above." Salmon begins by constructing this quadric Q' and so misses the co 3-system. N. D. HAYES. 2281. The kinetic energy of a rigid body. The following proof of the standard formula does not appear in any book which I can find, and seems to introduce a number of valuable teaching points though it is, of course, of no value mathematically If the centroid of a rigid body has a velocity V, and if the angular velocity of the body is w, then a point distance x from G along a line through G perpendicular to the direction of V has a velocity V xw. The instantaneous centre of rotation is therefore situated along this line at a distance Vjw from G. If Io, Ic denote the moments of inertia about axes through the instantaneous centre and centroid respectively, then the kinetic energy of the body is


: Since biodiesels are widely considered more environmentally friendly and ecologically sustainable than fuels derived from petroleum – as well as producing greener energy at a lower price – this belief has encouraged the growth of the bio-economy. The primary objective of this work was to investigate the use of a novel non-edible feed-stock obtained from date seed oil for the production of envir-onmentally friendly biodiesel. This was achieved via the application of creative and di ff erent hydroxyapatite (HAPT) heterogeneous catalysts. These catalysts were obtained from discarded fi sh bones that were synthesized from dried fi sh bone and subjected to calcination at di ff erent temperatures. This study used several analytical methods, including transmission electron microscopy, Brunauer – Emmett – Teller analysis, X-ray di ff raction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis, to investigate the properties of a cost-e ff ective and environmentally sustainable catalyst derived from waste fi sh bones. HAPT is the key component of calcined catalysts, and this was con fi rmed using XRD analysis. The fi ndings revealed that the transesteri fi cation activity was optimal when the catalyst was calcined at 900°C. Moreover, this produced a maximum yield of 89% fatty acid ethyl esters (FAMEs) when optimal reaction conditions were achieved (3-h reaction time, 9:1 ethanol/oil molar ratio, and catalyst amount of 4.5 wt%). Additionally, the catalyst was found to be durable and reusable throughout the biodiesel production process. The con fi rmation of FAME production was achieved using gas chromatography – mass spectrometry. This approach could facilitate the production of low-cost, environmentally friendly technology. Additionally, it was established that the characteristics of the biodiesel complied with ASTM D6571, an American fuel regulation. Green energy approaches can also be bene fi cial for the environment, which could ultimately improve societal and economic development for the biodiesel business on a larger scale.


This paper addresses issues related with the measurement, analysis and real-time control of knocking combustions in high-performance spark-ignition engines. In particular, the relationship between output torque and knock intensity has been investigated. Issues examined include a methodology for identifying target knocking levels, and a critical comparison of different signals for extracting knock-related information. When considering high-performance spark-ignition engines, individual cylinder spark advance management that allows maximum output torque while protecting engine components from knock-related damage, is particularly complex. The first part of the activity is focused on an analysis aimed at the identification of a knocking level that allows reaching maximum performance while protecting engine components: For a given engine operating condition, such knocking level is shown to be constant for all the engine cylinders, and it is directly measurable through knock intensity indexes obtained by post-processing the in-cylinder pressure signal. If such knocking level is to be achieved during on-board operation, it is necessary to real-time reconstruct individual cylinder pressure-based knock indexes values. One of the main objectives of this work is therefore the evaluation of the impact that the adoption of an ion current sensing system would have on the performance of such a spark advance controller. The background of the second part of the work is the knocking-related information that can be extracted by real-time processing engine block vibration signals. The main drawbacks of such approach are related to the definition of the minimum number of sensors to be installed, to the evaluation of their optimal position, and to the signal-to-noise ratio typical of such systems, which becomes critical especially at high engine speeds. Possible solutions are the use of in-cylinder pressure or ion current sensors installed on board the vehicle. This work is mainly focused on ion sensing application, due to the still existing cost and reliability problems associated with the onboard application of in-cylinder pressure measuring systems. The second part of the work therefore deals with the correlation analysis between pressure based and ion current based knock intensity indexes. The experimental tests have been performed on a V12 6.0 liter and on a V12 6.2 liter high performance engines: Large spark advance sweeps were performed for each speed breakpoint, while acquiring 6 in-cylinder pressure and 6 ion current signals. Several indexes were extracted from both type of signals, in order to achieve both maximum correlation levels and physical consistency with knock-related damage. The results are particularly encouraging, since the correlation levels between pressure-based and ion current-based knock indexes are very high, thus allowing the definition of a closed-loop individual cylinder spark advance controller able to achieve the target knocking level.Copyright © 2006 by ASME


Transparent computing is an implementation of ubiquitous computing that is aimed at providing active services for users. In transparent computing, the execution (computation) of computer instructions and data is temporally and spatially separated from their storage. Cloud computing solves the issue of data cloudlization, while transparent computing solves the one of software cloudlization. This paper define the concept of Cloudware, and discusses how to deploy Cloudware in cloud environment efficiently. Based on a loosely coupled von Neumann computing model (also called Cygnus Model), we proposes a new platform to construct the PaaS platform which can directly deploy software on the cloud without any modification, while achieving a new model by the browser services, and we call it transparent computing 2.0. By using micro-service architecture, we can achieve such characteristics as good performance, scalable deployment, faults tolerance and flexible configuration. Finally, we presents a Cloudware PaaS platform prototype, called CloudwareHub, and demonstrates the promising of the transparent computing 2.0 with the support of Cloudware technology.


OBJECTIVE
To identify the immunologic property of a synthetic peptide Sj97-P22 from paramyosin of Schistosoma japonicum (Sj97).

METHODS
Twenty-seven female C57BL/6 mice were divided into 3 groups each with 9 mice, Sj97-P22, control peptide and PBS groups, and each mouse was respectively immunized twice (seven days interval) with 100 microg of Sj97-P22, control peptide or PBS, emulsified with equal value of complete Freund's adjuvant. Seven to ten days after the second immunization, the mouse spleen mononuclear cells were isolated for three-color flow cytometry to detect intracellular cytokines IFN-gamma and IL-4. Then the spleen mononuclear cells were co-cultured with Sj97-P22, control peptide or PBS respectively, and the incorporation rate of 3H-thymidine, as well as the levels of IL-2, IFN-gamma and IL-4 in the cultured cell supernatant, were measured.

RESULTS
In CD4+ T cells, the percentage of IFN-gamma-producing cells in Sj97-P22 group [(8.05 +/- 0.54)%] was significantly higher than that of the control peptide group [(4.74 +/- 1.04)%] or PBS group [(6.51 +/- 0.49)%] (P<0.05), while the proportion of IL-4-producing cells was significantly lower in Sj97-P22 group [(0.60 +/- 0.11)%] than that in PBS group [(1.31 +/- 0.27)%] (P<0.05). Also, compared with control peptide or PBS stimulation, Sj97-P22 was able to effectively stimulate the proliferation with the stimulation index (3.12 +/- 1.59) and a higher secretion of IL-2 [(9.13 +/- 1.54) pg/ml] and IFN-gamma [(39.75 +/- 9.69) pg/ml] of spleen mononuclear cells in Sj97-P22-immunized mice (P<0.05). Both Sj97-P22 and control peptide were not effective stimulators to the spleen mononuclear cells from mice of PBS group.

CONCLUSION
It is highly possible that Sj97-P22 is a Th1-type epitope specific for C57BL/6 mice.


The common seventh group approximation for treating the effect of neutron delay due to reflector slowing down and thermalization is presented. Modifications appropriate when reactivity changes are produced by reflector movements are introduced. An improved formulation, allowing distinctions between several different groups of slowing down and thermalizing neutrons, is presented. This formulation is shown to reduce to the seventh group approximation for the case of one atypical neutron group, providing the population and reaction rate of the group are small in comparison to the total neutron population and reaction rate. (auth)


Indirect organogenesis was exploited through callus induction and in-vitro regeneration was achieved in Asparagus racemosus. The vigor of cultivars regenerated from callus cultures was higher as compared to plant regenerated from seeds. The effects of different concentration of Thidiazuron (TDZ) on induction and growth of callus of Asparagus were studied. Calluses grew more rapidly on Murashige and Skoog's (MS) basal medium supplemented with 0.4 mg/l TDZ as compared to the same medium with low (0.2 mg/l) concentration or high (1 mg/l) concentration of TDZ. The nodal explants were treated with different concentrations of TDZ for both callus induction and shoot development. Callus induction was recoded in all treatments tried, however, only 45%showed organogenesis.


Knowledge modelling techniques are widely adopted for designing knowledge-based systems (KBS) used for managing knowledge. This chapter discusses conceptual modelling of KBS in the context of model-driven engineering using standardised conceptual modeling language. An extension to the Unified Modeling Language (UML) for knowledge modelling is presented based on the profiling extension mechanism of UML. The UML profile discussed in this chapter has been successfully captured in a Meta-Object-Facility (MOF) based UML tool --the eXecutable Modelling Framework (XMF) Mosaic. The Ulcer Clinical Practical Guidelines (CPG) Recommendations case study demonstrates the use of the profile, with the prototype system implemented in the Java Expert System Shell (JESS).


Aim: Marine actinomycetes are a potential and untapped source for the production of novel bioactive compounds. The aim of the present work is to isolate actinomycetes strains from the marine sediments of Bay of Bengal for the production of bioactive compounds and characterization of the potential actinomycetes. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, ANITS, Visakhapatnam, between March, 2014 and April, 2015. Materials and Methods: Marine sediment samples were collected along the coast of Bay of Bengal, Visakhapatnam, India. Actinomycetes were isolated on Starch Casein Agar plates by pour plate and spread plate methods. Morphologically distinct pure isolates were tested for antimicrobial activity by Cross-streak method in preliminary screening and by Cup-plate method in secondary Short Research Article Sridevi et al.; BMRJ, 10(2): 1-9, 2015; Article no.BMRJ.20132 2 screening. The marine isolates were also screened for enzyme activities of amylase, lipase, protease and L-asparaginase. The most potential isolate was characterized up to genus level based on morphological, chemotaxonomic, biochemical and physiological characteristics. Results: A total of 74 bacterial strains were isolated from marine sediment samples of Bay of Bengal. Among them, 13 morphologically distinct pure isolates were screened for antimicrobial activity and also for enzyme activities. Five isolates exhibited antimicrobial activity among which ABT-205 isolate showed broad spectrum antimicrobial activity against both bacteria and fungi, and ABT-103 exhibited maximum antifungal activity. Screening for enzyme activities revealed that nine isolates exhibited enzyme activities of which, ABT-101 and ABT-201 are highly potential for the production of Protease, whereas ABT-103 and ABT-206 were best producers of Amylase and Lipase enzymes, respectively. Among all the isolates screened, ABT-103 was found to be a promising isolate as it produced red pigment, exopolysaccharide, amylase and exhibited antifungal activity. Hence, the isolate ABT-103 was characterized and identified as Streptomyces species. Conclusion: The selected marine actinomycetes isolates, ABT-101, ABT-103, ABT-201, ABT-205 and ABT-206 could be useful or the production of novel antibiotics, enzymes with different physical and physiological properties, red pigment, exopolysaccharide and other compounds for various Biotechnological applications.


BACKGROUND
For patients with ventricular tachyarrhythmias, implantable cardioverter defibrillators are a mainstay of therapy to prevent sudden death. However, ICD shocks are painful, can result in clinical depression, and do not offer complete protection against death from arrhythmia. Radiofrequency catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia in the setting of ischemic cardiomyopathy has emerged recently as a useful adjunctive therapy to ICD.

OBJECTIVES
To assess the feasibility, safety and efficacy of our initial experience in ablation of scar-related VT.

METHODS
Eleven patients (all males, mean age 71 +/- 8 years) with drug-refractory ischemic VT were referred to our center for scar mapping and ablation procedures using the CARTO navigation system.

RESULTS
Eleven clinical VTs (mean cycle length 436 +/- 93 ms) were induced in all patients. An endocardial circuit, identified by activation, entrainment and/or pace mapping, was found in eight patients with stable VT. These patients were mapped and ablated during VT. Three patients had predominantly unstable VT and linear ablation lesions were performed during sinus rhythm. Acute success, defined as termination of VT and/or non-inducibility during programmed electrical stimulation, was found in 9 patients (82%). During followup, a significant reduction in tachyarrythmia burden was observed in all patients who had successful initial ablation, except for one who had recurrence of VT 2 days after the procedure and died 2 weeks later.

CONCLUSIONS
Ablation of ischemic VT using electroanatomic scar mapping is feasible, has an acceptable success rate and should be offered for ischemic patients with recurrent uncontrolled VT.


Secretory particles, designated as 'vesiculosomes', were isolated and purified from bovine seminal vesicle fluid. The protein pattern was characterized using one- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Native vesiculosome fractions were used for immunization of female New Zealand rabbits. The resulting vesiculosome antiserum was used for immunohistochemical studies, designed to obtain data on the intracellular formation, the localization and the potential release from secretory cells of the respective proteins present in these particles. The specificity and sensitivity of the antiserum was tested by Western blot analysis and by an ELISA system. Western blot analysis of isolated vesiculosomes separated on SDS-PAGE showed several heterogeneous immunoreactive bands in the range of 16 kD and above 66 kD, indicating a polyvalent mixture of immunoglobulins. Immunohistochemical staining of different bovine tissues, nevertheless, revealed a strong reaction exclusively at the apical portion of secretory cells of the seminal vesicle and the ampulla of the vas deferens and of intraluminal secretion. The antiserum recognizes both secretory granules and plasma membrane proteins of seminal vesicle epithelium, supporting the concept of vesiculosomes to represent cytoplasmic particles formed from plasma membranes surrounding apical 'blebs' of the cells that are released physiologically during secretion.


Abstract Pulse width modulation (PWM) of inverter output voltage causes the waveforms of motor phase currents to consist of distinctive ripples. In order to provide suitable feedback for the motor current controllers, the mean value must be extracted from the currents' waveforms in every PWM cycle. A common solution to derive the mean phase currents is to sample their value at the midpoint of a symmetrical PWM cycle. Using an assumption of linear current changes in steady PWM subintervals, this midpoint sample corresponds to the mean current in the PWM cycle. This way no hardware filtering or high-rate current sampling is required. Nevertheless, the assumption of linear current changes has been recently reported as over simplistic in permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) drives operating with low switching-to-fundamental frequency ratio (SFFR). This, in turn, causes substantial errors in the representation of the mean phase currents by the midpoint sample. This paper proposes a solution for deriving mean phase currents in low SFFR PMSM drives, which does not rely on the linear current change assumption. The method is based on sampling the currents at the start point of a PWM cycle and correcting the sampled value using a model-based formula that reproduces the current waveforms. Effectiveness of the method is verified by simulation for an exemplary setup of high-speed PMSM drive. The results show that the proposed method decreases the error of determining the mean phase currents approximately 10 times when compared to the classical midpoint sampling technique.


Standard solutions of (CH3)2Hg, CH3HgCl and HgCl2 were prepared in toluene from isotopically enriched mercury. Methods for synthesising (CH3)2Hg and CH3HgCl, from HgCl2, were developed with reaction yields of 95.2% and 92.7%, respectively, without noticeable loss of isotope. Isotopically enriched species standards were then used for species specific isotope dilution calibration and method assurance tests for mercury species determination. An interface was built to couple a gas chromatograph (GC) to an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) that resulted in rapid and efficient transfer of organic mercury compounds eluted from natural gas condensates. Oxygen, introduced to the plasma auxiliary gas, reduced matrix interferences and improved sensitivity by a factor of two. The GC-ICP-MS method with species specific isotope dilution calibration gave recovery values of 97.7 ± 2.0, 104.1 ± 0.7 and 106.6 ± 2.1% for (CH3)2Hg, CH3HgCl and HgCl2, respectively, in natural gas condensate compared to a standard solution of the species in toluene. Detection limits of the three species, calculated from 3s of the peak areas derived from 20 pg of the species (as Hg) in solution, were 8, 2 and 3 pg. Furnace atomisation plasma ionisation mass spectrometry (FAPIMS) was also evaluated as a detector with the GC methodology. When the plasma was operated with optimised conditions for the generation of elemental ions, recoveries were 100.0 ± 2.9, 98.3 ± 1.5 and 97.5 ± 1.2% for (CH3)2Hg, CH3HgCl and HgCl2 in a 10% condensate solution, and a detection limit of 33 pg was obtained for methylmercury. A plasma was also generated and sustained with reduced rf power and graphite furnace temperature so that molecular ions and fragments were produced and detected by the same spectrometer, which demonstrated the potential of FAPIMS as a sensitive elemental detector additionally capable of providing molecular mass spectra for the identification of species eluted from a GC column.


The paper presents a comparison of several methods for production line bottleneck analysis using discrete event simulation approach and the simulation software WITNESS. An experimental environment has been created for processing and comparison of results obtained from the WITNESS simulation experiments. The advantages and constraints of the cited methods are discussed.


Mutations of CASK cause an X‐linked brain malformation phenotype with microcephaly and hypoplasia of the brainstem and cerebellum
Najm et al. (2008)
Nature Genetics 40: 1065–1067


A simple topology of an NGD active circuit consisting of a FET terminated by a shunt RLC-resonant network and dedicated to the microwave signals was proposed and extensively studied. To our knowledge, in this chapter, the first experimental time-domain demonstration of a circuit able to exhibit simultaneously gain and NGD in microwave domain is proposed. By injecting in the NGD circuit a sufficiently smoothed input short-pulse modulating a sine carrier, one gets an output having an envelop peak in advance compared with the input one. Of course, this phenomenon does not contradict the causality principle. It is also worth emphasizing that the tested circuit respects all required criteria of classical active microwave devices such as gain, matching and stability. As predicted in theory (Ravelo et al., 2007a, 2007b, 2007c and 2008a), for a prototype implemented in planar technology, we have measured in time-domain a pulse peak advance of about -2 ns or 24% of the 1/e-input pulse half-width without attenuation. It is also interesting to note that through this experimentation, the input noise contribution did not destroy the occurrence of time-domain advance induced by the NGD active circuit. Moreover, in this chapter, thanks to the S21-magnitude form, the understudied NGD circuit is able to exhibit a pulse compression phenomenon with a possibility of amplification. Then, it should be worth using the presented NGD active topology to compensate for dispersion effects and especially to reduce the intersymbol interference in certain telecommunication channels. As a potential application of this NGD circuit, a new principle of frequency independent phase shifter is proposed. By cascading a classical transmission line with this NGD circuit, a constant phase value is obtained. The efficiency of this principle was demonstrated by measurement. Indeed, a constant phase value of 90°±5° was obtained within a 76% relative frequency band centred at about 1.5 GHz. The impacts of the PS parameter variations and sensitivity analysis are stated. The main benefits of this NGD active PS concerns its compactness and also the facility to generate very low group delay, and the broad band characteristics. Besides, a two-stage NGD PS was also designed; the simulation results showed a bandwidth enhancement of the constant phase up to 125%. Some fields of applications such as the design of broadband active balun for RF front end architectures are discussed. As ongoing research, design of reconfigurable devices dedicated to telecommunication applications is envisaged. Future investigations will be devoted to the design of NGD devices able to operate at higher frequencies through the use of distributed elements. In this optic, the implementation of MMIC devices based on distributed elements is envisaged.


In a phase I clinical trial, we used anti-CD3 x anti-HER2 bispecific antibody (HER2Bi) armed T cells. Utilizing HER2-directed T cells benefitted both HER2+ patients and patients with 1 or 2+ HER2 expression, ones that would be considered "HER2-negative" by classical criteria. We have also shown that the level of cancer stem cell (CSC) marker ALDH in HER2+ breast cancer cells (ALDHhighHER2+) is much higher than that in HER2- breast cancer cells (ALDHlowHER2-), and that in luminal breast cancers that are considered HER2-, HER2 is actually selectively expressed in the ALDHhigh CSC population. These observations might account for the surprising result that HER2Bi-armed T cells, while intended to target HER2, seemed to benefit HER2- patients after adoptive transfer. In this study, we found that the HER2Bi-armed T cells used in the clinical trial killed ALDHhigh human breast CSCs isolated from MCF7 (HER2-) tumor significantly more than ALDHlow MCF7 cells in vitro, while the same HER2Bi-armed T cells killed ALDHhigh human breast CSCs (ALDHhighHER2+) isolated from BT474 (HER2+) tumor equally to ALDHlow BT474 cells (ALDHlowHER2+). We then tested the "mouse HER2" (neu) expression on ALDHhigh vs. ALDHlow 4T1 cells (mouse TNBC), and found that mHER2 was selectively expressed in the ALDHhigh 4T1 CSC population. These results replicated our findings in human breast cancers that HER2 is selectively expressed on CSCs, even in HER2- murine tumors, such as 4T1. For mHER2 targeting in animal models, we generated anti-mouse HER2-CD3 bispecific (mHER2Bi) that binds to mouse HER2 and mouse CD3. In vitro, the mHER2Bi-armed T cells killed ALDHhigh 4T1 CSCs significantly more than ALDHlow 4T1 cells. In vivo, adoptive transfer of mHER2Bi-armed T cells for HER2 targeted therapy showed antitumor effect in mHER2- 4T1-bearing host. To boost the therapeutic efficacy of mHER2-targeted T cells, we administrated anti-mouse PD-L1 during mHER2Bi-armed T cell adoptive transfer. This combination decreased metastases significantly more than the use of either strategy alone. Collectively, these studies have generated evidence providing proofs of principle that due to the selective expression of HER2 on CSCs, HER2-targeted T cell therapy could benefit HER2- host as well as HER2+ hosts via immune destruction of HER2+ CSCs, and use of anti-PD-L1 as an adjuvant could significantly boost the efficacy of HER2-targeted T cell therapy. Citation Format: Yang Xia, Yangyang Hu, Yi Wang, Yangyi Bao, Fu Dai, Shiang Huang, Elaine Hurt, Robert E. Hollingsworth, Archana Thakur, Lawrence Lum, Alfred E. Chang, Max S. Wicha, Qiao Li. Adjuvant effect of anti-PD-L1 in boosting HER2-targeted T cell adoptive immunotherapy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 540.


Repeated outbreaks of central nervous system (CNS) defects with or without arthrogryposis in calves have occurred in Kagoshima, Japan. They were caused by arboviruses, especially Akabane, Chuzan and Aino virus. The outbreaks of abortion, premature birth, stillbirth and congenital arthrogryposishydranencephaly syndrome in Japan during 1972-1973 and 1973-1974 affected over 40,000 fetuses and calves. In 1975, Akabane virus was confirmed to be a causative agent. Akabane disease has occurred several times thereafter in Kagoshima. An outbreak of hydranencephaly and cerebellar hypoplasia affecting over 2,000 calves was observed elsewhere in Kyushu, during November 1985 and June 1986. The calves were generally weak and paretic at birth and could not suck milk by themselves. Nervous signs were found in many cases. Chuzan virus was confirmed to be the causative agent. During November 1995 and March 1996, an outbreak in over 1,500 calves featured cerebellar hypoplasia and torticollis. Most of them showed nervous signs, including ataxia, tetany, swimming movement, opisthotonus or circular walking. Aino virus was strongly suspected serologically to be a causative agent, and this was confirmed later. The origin of these arboviruses is said to be the tropical jungle. Therefore, the possibility of their occurrence is high in tropical areas including Yap.


Efficacy of dynamic magnetotherapy (in transcranial and adrenal variants) for treatment of ENT pathology and prevention of its exacerbations is demonstrated in 126 ailing children. Mechanism of action of this magnetotherapy is due to formation of adequate adaptation reactions raising resistance to pathogens.


Institute of Plant Physiology in Sofia. In the course of many years he has been cultivating personal contacts with researchers from many laboratories abroad, especially in Germany and the USSR, as well as with the Institutes of the Agricultural Academy and the Academy of Sciences in Sofia. His several short or long lasting specializations in the USSR, DDR, BRD, etc. have also contributed to his high scientific erudition. He has taken part in numerous symposia, congresses, scientific-coordinating conferences etc., where he has presented more than 25 lectures. Prof. Ivan Yordanov has been successfully combining intensive research work with pedagogical activity. Since 1961 till 1997 he delivered a course of lectures on photosynthesis to students in biology. Besides, he delivered the main course in plant physiology at the Paisii Hilendarski University in Plovdiv in the course of 3 years and at the Higher Forestry University in Sofia for one year. It is difficult to enumerate all fundamental and applied scientific achievements of Prof. Ivan Yordanov. He has focused his attention mainly to the investigation of BULG.


The foundations of Artificial Intelligence (AI), a field whose applications are of great use and concern for society, can be traced back to the early years of the second half of the 20th century. Since then, the field has seen increased research output and funding cycles followed by setbacks. The new millennium has seen unprecedented interest in AI progress and expectations with significant financial investments from the public and private sectors. However, the continual acceleration of AI capabilities and real-world applications is not guaranteed. Mainly, accountability of AI systems in the context of the interplay between AI and the broader society is essential for adopting AI systems via the trust placed in them. Continual progress in AI research and development (R&D) can help tackle humanity's most significant challenges to improve social good. The authors of this paper suggest that the careful design of forward-looking research policies serves a crucial function in avoiding potential future setbacks in AI research, development, and use. The United States (US) has kept its leading role in R&D, mainly shaping the global trends in the field. Accordingly, this paper presents a critical assessment of the US National AI R&D Strategic Plan and prescribes six recommendations to improve future research strategies in the US and around the globe.


In this letter, we propose an efficient low complexity receiver for the preamble detection in single-carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) systems with an antenna array. The proposed low complexity receiver is derived using a digital mixer and a multistage decimation filter. The signals for each receive antenna are non-coherently combined. Simulations performed in various channel environments validate that the proposed receiver attains a high detection performance equivalent to the full frequency domain approach which provides the optimal performance, while being quite low in computational complexity.


Given its prevalence into the clinical practice, non-invasive ventilation (NIV) can be included among the cornerstones of medicine. Just think of the acute applications of NIV which are in constant expansion, from COPD exacerbation to severe de novo hypoxemia, from postoperative distress to extra-hospital use in acute pulmonary edema, from ongoing support of interventional procedures to delicate strategies for end of life in terminally ill oncologic and non-oncologic patients. The thought should be focused on how, by whom, where and to whom is delivered this mode of artificial ventilation to avoid the risk of trivialization and flattening.


The impact of urban development and climate change has created the impetus to monitor changes in the environment, particularly, the behaviour, habitat and movement of fauna species. The aim of this chapter is to present the design and development of a sensor network based on Smartphones to automatically collect and analyse acoustic and visual data for environmental monitoring purposes. Due to the communication and sophisticated programming facilities offered by Smartphones, software tools can be developed to allow data to be collected, partially processed and sent to a remote server over the network for storage and further processing. This sensor network which employs a client-server architecture has been deployed in three applications: monitoring a rare bird species near Brisbane Airport, study of koalas behaviour at St Bees Island, and detection of fruit flies. The users of this system include scientists (e.g. ecologists, ornithologists, computer scientists) and community groups participating in DOI: 10.4018/978-1-61520-769-5.ch008


Abstract Objective To investigate whether postterm pregnancy (≥42 0/7 weeks' gestation) increases the risk for adverse perinatal outcome. Study design In this population based cohort study, all singleton deliveries occurring between 1991 and 2014 in a tertiary medical center were included. Pregnancy and perinatal outcomes were compared between postterm and term deliveries (37 0/7 to 41 6/7 weeks' gestation). Preterm deliveries, unknown gestational age, congenital malformations, and multiple gestations, were excluded. The association between postterm and adverse perinatal outcomes was evaluated using a general estimation equation (GEE) multivariable analyses. Results During the study period, 226,918 deliveries were included in the analysis. Of them, 95.9% (n = 217,544) were term and 4.1% (n = 9374) were postterm. Post-term pregnancies were more likely to be complicated with oligohydramnios, macrosomia, meconium stained amniotic fluid, shoulder dystocia, low Apgar scores, and hysterectomy (p < .05 in all). Perinatal mortality rates were significantly higher at postterm as well. Using the GEE model, the association between postterm and total perinatal mortality persisted (OR = 1.73, 95%CI 1.2–2.4), as well as specifically intrauterine fetal death (OR = 1.76, 95%CI 1.1–2.7) and intrapartum death (OR = 3.71, 95%CI 1.3–10.4). Conclusions Post-term delivery involves higher rates of adverse perinatal outcomes and is independently associated with significant perinatal mortality.


We assessed the effects of the two primary high-molecular-weight fibrinogen degradation products (FDP), fragments D and E, on the pulmonary vascular endothelial barrier function. Fragments D and E were purified to homogeneity by QAE Sephadex chromatography followed by gel filtration. Incubation of bovine pulmonary artery endothelial monolayers with 0.5-2.0 microM fragment D for 2 h caused a doubling of transendothelial 125I-albumin clearance rate (a measure of 125I-albumin permeability). Fragment E only produced a 0.6-fold increase in 125I-albumin clearance rate at concentration of 4.0 microM. Both FDP remained active in incubating media with serum. The permeability-increasing effect of fragment D was reversible and was not due to cell detachment or lysis. The fragment-D effect was time dependent and was associated with redistribution of endothelial F-actin microfilaments. The effect was independent of the carboxy-terminal sequence on gamma-chain of fragment D. Fragments D and E binding to pulmonary artery endothelial cells was specific and reversible, but fragment D binding was three-fold greater than fragment E, which may account for the greater permeability increase mediated by fragment D. The results indicate that FDP, especially fragment D, increase endothelial permeability to albumin. The response involves specific binding of fragment D to endothelial cells and redistribution of intracellular actin.


In this MSc. thesis, we have attempted to give an overview of the firewall paradox and various approaches towards its resolution. After an introductory chapter on some basic concepts in quantum field theory in curved spacetimes such as Hawking radiation, we introduce the paradox. It arises out of application of principles each of which is thought or assumed to be correct: 1) unitary black hole evaporation, 2) validity of quantum field theory in curved spacetime, 3) a measure of the number of black hole quantum states, 4) Einstein's equivalence principle. Then, we present various approaches that exist in the literature towards the resolution of the paradox.


Introduction. So far, the sexual activity of pregnant women is poorly understood. There are few studies and their results are contradictory. It has been shown that most pregnant women feel the need for sexual contact, but it is subject to changes in specific trimesters of pregnancy.Aim of the study. The aim of the study was to present selected aspects of sexual activity of pregnant women.Selection of material. The search was conducted in the Scopus database using the term sexual activity of pregnant women 2000-2018. The literature found in the Google Scholar database was analysed for the highest number of quotations. The literature selected in this way was used as the material for this work.Conclusions. Pregnancy is an exceptional and special time for the future mother. This period causes many changes in all areas of a woman. The sexual activity of pregnant women is still not fully understood. There are theories based often on conjecture. It is noteworthy that healthy women with an unharmed pregnancy can be sexually active during pregnancy.


The non-mature antlers of deer, Cervi Parvum Cornu (CPC), have been used as a tonic in traditional Korean medicine. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality of Cervi Parvum Cornu which is newly processed by lyophiliztion. We compared lyophilized CPC (LCPC) with parboiled CPC (PCPC) by the yield of water extract, the contents of total free amino acids and the patterns of gangliosides. Methods: We analyzed the quantitiative and qualitative determinations of amino acids in LCPC using HPLC method. The contents and patterns of gangliosides in LCPC were measured by gravimetric analysis and HPTLC. Results: The yields of the water extract from LCPC and PCPC gave 18% and 10%, respectively. The contents of total free amino acids in the PCPC were much higher than the LCPC. Comparing the TLC pattern of gangliosides, the both samples showed similar patterns as the purchased gangliosides. The contents of gangliosides in the LCPC (18.6 mg/g) were higher than those in the PCPC (14.3 mg/g). Conclusions: These results suggest that the lyophilizing process may be an alternative method for improving the quality of CPC.


Although p27 and p57 are structurally related cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CKIs), and are thought to perform similar functions, p27 knockout (p27KO) and p57KO mice show distinct phenotypes. To elucidate the in vivo functions of these CKIs, we have now generated a knock-in mouse model (p57p27KI), in which the p57 gene has been replaced with the p27 gene. The p57p27KI mice are viable and appear healthy, with most of the developmental defects characteristic of p57KO mice having been corrected by p27 knock-in. Such developmental defects of p57KO mice were also ameliorated in mice deficient in both p57 and the transcription factor E2F1, suggesting that loss of p57 promotes E2F1-dependent apoptosis. The developmental defects apparent in a few tissues of p57KO mice were unaffected or only partially corrected by knock-in expression of p27. Thus, these observations indicate that p57 and p27 share many characteristics in vivo, but that p57 also performs specific functions not amenable to substitution with p27.


While therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) that uses blood as the biological matrix is the traditional gold standard, this practice may be impossible, impractical, or unethical for some patient populations (e.g., elderly, pediatric, anemic) and those with fragile veins. In the context of finding an alternative biological matrix for TDM, this manuscript will provide a qualitative review on: (1) the principles of TDM; (2) alternative matrices for TDM; (3) current evidence supporting the use of interstitial fluid (ISF) for TDM in clinical models; (4) the use of microneedle technologies, which is potentially minimally invasive and pain-free, for the collection of ISF; and (5) future directions. The current state of knowledge on the use of ISF for TDM in humans is still limited. A thorough literature review indicates that only a few drug classes have been investigated (i.e., anti-infectives, anticonvulsants, and miscellaneous other agents). Studies have successfully demonstrated techniques for ISF extraction from the skin but have failed to demonstrate commercial feasibility of ISF extraction followed by analysis of its content outside the ISF-collecting microneedle device. In contrast, microneedle-integrated biosensors built to extract ISF and perform the biomolecule analysis on-device, with a key feature of not needing to transfer ISF to a separate instrument, have yielded promising results that need to be validated in pre-clinical and clinical studies. The most promising applications for microneedle-integrated biosensors is continuous monitoring of biomolecules from the skin's ISF. Conducting TDM using ISF is at the stage where its clinical utility should be investigated. Based on the advancements described in the current review, the immediate future direction for this area of research is to establish the suitability of using ISF for TDM in human models for drugs that have been found suitable in pre-clinical experiments.


Interoperability across emerging visualization modalities, including augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), remains a challenge with respect to industrial applications. One critical issue relates to the lack of standard approaches for coordinating geospatial representations that are required to facilitate AR/VR scenes with domain-specific information in the form of time-series data, solid models, among other data types. In this paper, we focus on the linking of manufacturing asset data via the MTConnect standard with geospatial data via the IndoorGML standard. To this end, we demonstrate the utility of this integration through two visualization-based prototype implementations, including one focused on (i) monitoring production facilities to improve situational awareness and (ii) evaluating and delivering suggested navigation paths in production facilities. We then comment on implications of such standards-driven approaches for related domains, including AR prototype development and automatic guided vehicles.


Abstract We describe and illustrate Paepalanthus serpens, a microendemic species of Eriocaulaceae from the Espinhaço Range. The species is known from a single population growing in rocky areas of the Serra do Cipó, Minas Gerais. It is placed in Paepalanthus ser. Paepalanthus, and is easily distinguished from its congeneric species by its elongated, lignescent stem, thickened by the marcescent sheaths of the linear leaves, which are arranged in a rosette at the stem apex, scapes equalling the leaf height, and capitulae with straw-coloured involucral bracts. Comparisons with the morphologically similar species are provided, as well as comments on distribution, ecology, phenology and conservation status.


Abstract We examined and measured cleithra, dentaries, opercles, and pharyngeal arches – bones found to persist during digestion of most prey fish – to identify 24 prey fish species and back-calculate their original fork length. Eighteen of the 24 species examined could be easily distinguished; however, for certain congenerics, identification was neither consistent nor reliable for all bones within the size ranges examined. Relations between bone length and fish length were linear for 14 species for which the sample sizes were adequate (N > 30); coefficients of determination (r 2) ranged from 0.79 to 0.99. Diagnostic characteristics and measurements of these bones provided reliable identification of genera and species and estimates of original fork lengths of partly digested prey fish from three predators. This method, compared with that of examining only prey fish in a measurable condition, greatly increased the amount of dietary information available from gut analysis.


There is uncertainty in the system, and we consider that uncertainty is (possibly fast) time varying, but with definite bound. Fuzzy set theory is used to describe the inexact boundary and then the problem of robust control of uncertain dynamical systems is studied. Based on two adjustable design parameters, a robust control method for general mechanical systems is proposed. The control is deterministic, not the conventional IF-THEN rule based. By using the Lyapunov minimax approach, it is proved that the proposed control can guarantee system performance to be uniformly bounded and uniformly ultimately bounded. In order to find the optimal solution in the prescribed range, a two-player cooperative game is used. To reduce costs while ensuring control performance, two performance indices are developed, each of which is controlled by an adjustable parameter (i.e., player). Both necessary and sufficient conditions for Pareto-optimality are established. Using these conditions, the Pareto-optimal solution can be obtained. The effectiveness of the control design is demonstrated by the simulation of the two-body pendulum.


In this article we will do a survey of the life and works of Josep Lluis Blasco, who was professor of the Theory of Knowledge at the University of Valencia. We will see his relationship with the Marxism and politics during the Transition, the impact of logical positivism and Wittgenstein's work versus metaphysics in completing his thesis, the impressions from Quine's work and the challenges of his naturalism, etc. All in all, we will present Josep Lluis Blasco's change of viewpoint from analytical philosophy to a more Kantian transcendentalism.


Abstract : A series of semiconductor heterovalent compounds (divalent and trivalent) forming five developed iso-electronic series were prepared. The members of these series have the diamond, zinc blends, and chalcopyrite structures or ones close to them. The general tendence of change in microhardness in these series is a lowering with a gain in ionic quality. Measurements on monocrystalline objects apparently will provide the possibility of refining this conformity to law. The qualitative consideration of the dependence of the microhardness on the composition in the isovalent solid solutions of diamond-like substances enables one to draw the following conclusion: this dependence is reflected by a smooth curve (in accordance with Kurnakov's law.) As is shown by observation in the majority of the systems this maximum will shift in the direction of the harder component.


This paper presents an iterative and interactive information retrieval system to search on the web using formal concept analysis (FCA). FCA provides a natural way to organize objects according to their properties and it has been used in recent works to organise in a more convenient manner answers provided by a search engine. The navigation into the lattice helps the user explore a structured and synthetic result. Such a lattice contains concepts that are relevant and some others that are not relevant for a given information retrieval task. We introduce lattices into an interactive and iterative system. The user expresses his negative or positive agreement with some concept of the lattice, in respect with his objective of information retrieval. These user choices are converted into operations over the lattice so to make the context change and to better fit user needs.


Many of our consumption decisions are motivated by our desire for status. The underlying mechanism of status consumption can be understood by focusing on cultural orientation at the individual level, the lifestyle of health and sustainability (LOHAS), and materialism. Drawing on the means-end theory of lifestyle, we examine the roles of the LOHAS lifestyle in linking an individual's cultural orientation to status consumption. 204 survey data were collected in the U.S. The results show that individualism and collectivism are positively related to the LOHAS lifestyle, which in turn leads to status consumption. Furthermore, materialism moderates the relationship between the LOHAS lifestyle and status consumption. These findings contribute to the existing literature on status consumption and provide insights for marketing managers on how to position status-oriented products in the marketplace.


The development of the electrocatalyst-integrated electrodes with HER/OER bifunctional activity is desirable to reduce the cost and simplify the system of the practical water electrolyzers. Herein, we construct a new type of Ni3Fe1-xCrx (0 ≤ x < 0.3) intermetallic integrated electrodes for overall water splitting via an ultrafast carbothermal shock method. The obtained Ni3Fe0.9Cr0.1/CACC electrode exhibits the optimum performance among all developed electrocatalyst electrodes in this work, and the overpotential is merely 239 mV for OER and 128 mV for HER at 10 mA cm-2. In addition, the Ni3Fe0.9Cr0.1/CACC electrode shows excellent durability during both OER and HER stability tests at a high current density of 100 mA cm-2. An electrolyzer, which was assembled with Ni3Fe0.9Cr0.1/CACC electrodes as both the anode and cathode, operates with a low cell voltage of 1.59 V at 10 mA cm-2. It has been found that the impressive OER activity of Ni3Fe0.9Cr0.1 nanoparticles (NPs) can be ascribed to the stimulative formation of the OER-active Ni3+/Fe3+ species by the substituted Cr, while the enhanced HER activity is caused by the Cr substitution, which decreases the water dissociation energy barrier. This work provides an ultrafast and facile strategy to develop electrocatalyst-integrated electrodes with low cost and impressive HER/OER bifunctional performance for overall water splitting.


A generalization of the smeared concept for field problems, published in recent papers of the author and his collaborators, is presented in the paper. A composite smeared finite element CSFE is formulated. This generalization can serve as a theoretical background for further applications. A selected numerical example, related to convective-diffusive mass transport within a cancerous tissue, illustrates efficiency and accuracy of the smeared models. Further, a smeared methodology is extended to mechanical problems. A theoretical background is given in detail, with introducing a composite smeared finite element for mechanics CSFEM, which can further be tested and modified. Finally, a consistent derivation is presented for the continuum constitutive tensor corresponding to a fibrous structure.


Abstract Background: Omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) can produce several beneficial effects and are commonly used for the treatment of migraine symptoms. Although current therapeutic measures for migraine included pharmacological therapies, dietary supplements, and herbal ingredients, dietary patterns, acupuncture, relaxation techniques, biofeedback, and psychotherapy, omega-3 FAs therapeutic role seems to be obtained through the inhibition or reduction of the release of inflammatory cytokines. The present review aims to provide updated information about the effects of omega-3 FAs in migraine treatment, investigating their clinical effects alone or in combination with other substances. Methods: Bibliographic research was conducted by examining scientific literature from January 2000 until January 31, 2020. Ten clinical studies were included in the review. Quality assessment of randomized controlled trials was performed by using the JADAD scale. Results: Clinical studies methodology is not always of good quality and results show moderate evidence concerning the therapeutic role of omega-3 FAs in migraine. Conclusion: Further clinical trials are necessary to implement the knowledge concerning the use of omega-3 fatty acids in the treatment of migraine.


The proteome wide, mass spectrometry based identification of protein C-termini is hampered by factors such as poor ionization efficiencies, low yielding labeling strategies or the need for enrichment procedures. We present a bottom-up proteomics workflow to identify protein C-termini utilizing a combination of strong cation exchange chromatography, on-solid phase charge-reversal derivatization and LC-MS/MS analysis. Charge-reversal improved both MS and MS/MS spectra quality of peptides carrying non-basic C-terminal residues, allowing the identification of a high number of non-canonical C-termini not identified in non-derivatized samples. Further, we could show that C-terminal 18O labeling introduced during proteolytic processing of the samples is not suitable to distinguish internal from C-terminal peptides. The presented workflow enables the simultaneous identification of proteins by internal peptides and additionally provides data for the C- and N-terminome. Applying the developed workflow for the analysis of a S. cerevisiae proteome allowed the identification of 734 protein C-termini in three independent biological replicates, and additional 789 candidate C-termini identified in two or one of three biological replicates, respectively. The developed analytical workflow allowed us to chart the nature of the yeast C-terminome in unprecedented depth and provides an alternative methodology to assess C-terminal proteolytic protein processing.


Pancreatic cancer (PC) is the third leading cause of adult cancer mortality in the United States. The poor prognosis for patients with PC is mainly due to its aggressive course, the limited efficacy of active systemic treatments, and a metastatic behavior, demonstrated throughout the evolution of the disease. On average, 80% of patients with PC are diagnosed with metastatic disease, and the half of those who undergo surgery and adjuvant therapy develop liver metastasis within two years. Metastatic dissemination is an early event in PC and is mainly attributed to an evolutionary biological process called epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). This innate mechanism could have a dual role during embryonic growth and organ differentiation, and in cancer progression, cancer stem cell intravasation, and metastasis settlement. Many of the molecular pathways decisive in EMT progression have been already unraveled, but little is known about the causes behind the induction of this mechanism. EMT is one of the most distinctive and critical features of PC, occurring even in the very first stages of tumor development. This is known as pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) and leads to early dissemination, drug resistance, and unfavorable prognosis and survival. The intention of this review is to shed new light on the critical role assumed by EMT during PC progression, with a particular focus on its role in PC resistance.


Introduction Recent and rapid advancements made in our understanding of the biology of colorectal cancer (CRC) has pointed towards a more personalized way of treating cancer, utilizing targeted treatment based on the tumour molecular profile. Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) has been found to play an important role in CRC tumorigenesis with its activation stimulating key signal transduction cascades involved in tumour growth and progression. Cetuximab and panitumumab are monoclonal antibodies that inhibit EGFR activation, leading to inhibition of downstream signalling. Both agents have been approved in the setting of metastatic CRC. KRAS mutations have been established to be negative predictors of response to these EGFRtargeted therapies. However, 40-60% of wild-type KRAS cases do not respond to anti-EGFR therapy, suggesting the involvement of other genes that act downstream of EGFR such as BRAF, NRAS or PI3K, that may be causative for the lack of response to anti-EGFR antibodies. In this article, we review the current literature investigating the potential predictive or prognostic values of these molecular biomarkers that are downstream of EGFR. Conclusion Tumour molecular profiling is integral to treatment personalization in CRC. Identifying predictive and prognostic biomarkers help to tailor therapy by better patient selection, in order to maximize clinical outcomes and minimize exposure to unnecessary toxicity. Most of the data presented show the need for selection strategies beyond the current reliance on KRAS to include biomarkers downstream of EGFR. However, as the data have been mostly exploratory and retrospective in nature, the clinical significance of these molecular markers will need to be validated in prospective, randomized clinical trials.


Abstract We studied the scientific literature and disease guidelines in order to summarize the clinical utility of genetic testing for achromatopsia. The disease has autosomal recessive inheritance, a prevalence of 1/30000-1/50000, and is caused by mutations in the CNGB3, CNGA3, GNAT2, PDE6C, ATF6 and PDE6H genes. Clinical diagnosis is by ophthalmological examination, color vision testing and electrophysiological testing. Genetic testing is useful for confirming diagnosis and for differential diagnosis, couple risk assessment and access to clinical trials.


Problems of carrying out repair and technical maintenance of the automatic management system (AMS) equipment and communication in service of the rocket and artillery arms (RAA) of Russian Armed Forces divisions are considered. The military repair system of AMS equipment and communication capable to increase efficiency of logistics support service by automating key processes is offered. The composition of the hardware and software complex that ensures the interaction of repair units and higher governing bodies is offered. The software part provides storage and processing of information on status monitoring, functional checks, maintenance, diagnostic results and repair of attached objects and their components. The hardware is represented by a universal built-in set of communication and data transfer means, which allows to provide a unified control loop of repair units of the logistics support service. The main means of technical support for repair operations is a mobile workshop for diagnostics and repair of AMS equipment and communications, which is a universal transport module equipped with special systems and tools that ensure staff activities and equipment operability. It is also proposed the introduction of a specialized workshop based on a container body, which includes a machine with numerical control and a 3D printer in order to save on the manufacture and transportation of some simple details and spare parts.


Abstract The paper focuses on the research & development of the Digital Factory solutions for industry. The developed methodology and solution of Factory Mock Up (FMU) is presented. The results of research and development cover design of assembly system, its processes, simulation model, ergonomic analysis etc. In the paper are presented the solutions developed in the framework of co-operation with industrial partners like Volkswagen Slovakia, Thyssen Krupp – PSL, Whirlpool. The advantages, restrictions and way of utilization of Digital Factory solutions are also shown in the paper.


Understanding the sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is essential in the implementation of abatement measures of ground-level ozone and secondary organic aerosols. In this study, we conducted offline VOC measurements at residential, industrial, and background sites in Wuhan City from July 2016 to June 2017. Ambient samples were simultaneously collected at each site and were analyzed using a gas chromatography–mass spectrometry/flame ionization detection system. The highest mixing ratio of total VOCs was measured at the industrial site, followed by the residential, and background sites. Alkanes constituted the largest percentage (>35%) in the mixing ratios of quantified VOCs at the industrial and residential sites, followed by oxy-organics and alkenes (15–25%).The values of aromatics and halohydrocarbons were less than 15%. By contrast, the highest values of oxy-organics accounted for more than 30%. The model of positive matrix factorization was applied to identify the VOC sources and quantify the relative contributions of various sources. Gasoline-related emission (the combination of gasoline exhaust and gas vapor) was the most important VOC-source in the industrial and residential areas, with a relative contribution of 32.1% and 40.4%, respectively. Industrial process was the second most important source with a relative contribution ranging from 30.0% to 40.7%. The relative contribution of solvent usage was 6.5–22.3%. Meanwhile, the relative contribution of biogenic emission was only within the range of 2.0–5.0%. These findings implied the importance of controlling gasoline-related and industrial VOC emissions in reducing the VOC emissions in Wuhan.


Background Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) is a new treatment option for peripheral stage I lung cancer in patients unfit for surgical resection. SABR was introduced to Leeds Teaching Hospitals (LTHT) and Mid Yorkshire Hospitals (MYH) in May 2009. We sought to establish what effect the introduction of SABR had on surgical resection rates for stage I lung cancer, and compared clinical characteristics of patients receiving surgery, SABR, conventional radical radiotherapy (RRT) and best supportive care. Methods All patients diagnosed with stage I lung cancer from 2008 to 2011 were analysed for treatment modality, performance status (PS) and lung function. Results 565 stage I patients were studied and treatment rates over the 4 year period are shown below. The proportion of patients receiving SABR rates rose from 0% in 2008 to 26.1% in 2011. Surgical resection rates remained largely unchanged, but there was a reduction in the proportion of patients receiving best supportive care from 32.6% in 2008 to 13.7% in 2011. Overall radical treatment rates for the four years were 60%, 70.7%, 68% and 85% for 2008–2011 respectively. The proportion of patients with PS 0–1 were as follows: surgery 88%, SABR 39%, RRT 38% and BSC 13%. FEV1(l) (mean% predicted, 95% CI) was significantly higher in patients receiving surgery (80.1, 77.3–82.9) compared to those patients receiving SABR (62.1, 56.0–68.3, p < 0.001 vs surgery), RRT (62.7, 54.2–71.3, p < 0.001 vs surgery) and BSC (56.4, 49.8–63.0, p < 0.001 vs surgery). Similarly gas transfer was significantly higher in the surgical patients compared to the other three groups. For stage I lung cancer patients over the age of 75, the proportion of patients SABR rose from 0% in 2008 to 32.1% in 2011. Overall numbers of patients aged over 75 receiving BSC decreased over the four years; 49%, 45.5%, 38.6% and 24.4% for 2008–2011 respectively. Conclusion The introduction of SABR has led to a significant increase in overall radical treatment rates for patients with stage I lung cancer, without resulting in a sustained reduction in surgical resection rates. Patients undergoing SABR and RRT have worse lung function and performance status than those undergoing surgery.


Acoustic splitters and electromagnetic splitters can be applied in various fields (e.g., navigation and interference detection). However, there is still a lack of study of structures that can simultaneously split acoustic and electromagnetic beams. In this study, a novel, to the best of our knowledge, electromagnetic-acoustic splitter (EAS) based on copper plates is proposed, which can simultaneously produce identical beam-splitting effects for transverse magnetic (TM)-polarized electromagnetic and acoustic waves. Different from previous beam splitters, the beam splitting ratio of the proposed passive EAS can be simply tuned by changing the incident angle of the input beam, i.e., a tunable splitting ratio can be achieved without additional energy consumption. The simulated results verify that the proposed EAS can create two transmitted split beams with a tunable splitting ratio for both electromagnetic and acoustic waves. This may have applications in dual-field navigation/detection, which can provide additional information and higher accuracy compared with single-field navigation/detection.


We investigate the laser wavelength dependence of structural and magnetic transitions on the surface of an iron–aluminum (FeAl) alloy induced by nanosecond pulsed laser irradiation. The formation of self-organized FeAl stripes with a wavelength-dependent period is observed in a local area on the (111)-oriented plane. Focused magneto-optical Kerr effect measurements reveal that the coercivity reaches up to 1.2 kOe with increasing the magnetic field rotation angle, which is estimated from the stripe direction, in FeAl stripes irradiated at 355 nm, and its magnetization reversal can be explained by the domain-wall motion model. On the other hand, the magnetization reversal agrees with the Stoner–Wohlfarth model in FeAl stripes irradiated at 1064 nm. This magnetic transition originates from the B2-to-A2 phase transition in stripe structures and bulk regions. These results indicate that the magnetic transition from the incoherent to coherent mode as well as the structural transformation of stripe patterns can be controlled by the incident laser wavelength.


Use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) adds an assessment of thrombus burden remaining on stents after PCI for acute coronary syndromes. Potential variations in stent‐related thrombus burden can be documented by OCT as a function of peri‐procedural pharmacology supporting the use of OCT in future hypothesis testing. Bivalirudin remains a reliable and expensive alternative to heparin in cases of HIT or patients at high bleeding risk during transfemoral PCI.


Amlodipine 10 mg was evaluated for additional anti-ischaemic and anti-anginal efficacy in 14 patients pre-treated with a beta-blocker who had documented coronary artery disease, stable angina pectoris, and > or = 2 mm of exercise-induced ST segment depression. For 2 days the patients received open-label amlodipine and then, according to a randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over and double-blind protocol, they were treated with amlodipine or placebo, respectively, once a day for 3 weeks each. Exercise tests and blood sampling for plasma concentrations of amlodipine were performed at 8 and at 24 h after dosing on both days of acute testing as well as on day 18 of chronic treatment. During chronic treatment, when plasma concentrations fluctuated between 23.5 ng.ml-1 at 8 h and 14 ng.ml-1 at 24 h post-dosing, ST segment depression at an individually comparable workload was significantly decreased by 28% compared with placebo (P < 0.005) at both points in time. Increases in ischaemia-free workload capacity amounted to 76% (P < 0.005) and to 81% (P < 0.01) at 8 and at 24 h, respectively. The number of anginal attacks was reduced by 39% (P < 0.05). Conversely, after initial dosing, i.e. when plasma concentrations declined from 4.7 ng.ml-1 to 3.9 ng.ml-1, influences upon ischaemic parameters compared to control values were markedly less at 24 h as opposed to 8 h. There were no untoward side effects observed at any point in time.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


The paper presents a workflow for fast pore-scale simulation of single-phase flow in tight reservoirs typically characterized by low, multiscale porosity. Multiscale porosity implies that the computational domain contains porous voxels (unresolved porosity) in addition to pure fluid voxels. In this case, the Stokes-Brinkman equations govern the flow, with the Darcy term needed to account for the flow in the porous voxels. As the central part of our workflow, robust and efficient solvers for Stokes and Stokes-Brinkman equations are presented. The solvers are customized for low-porosity binary and multiclass images, respectively. Another essential component of the workflow is a preprocessing module for classifying images with respect to the connectivity of the multiscale pore space. Particularly, an approximation of the Stokes-Brinkman problem, namely, the Darcy problem, is investigated for the images that do not have pure fluid percolation paths. Thorough computational experiments demonstrate efficiency and robustness of the workflow for simulations on images from tight reservoirs. Raw files describing the used CT images are provided as supplementary materials to enable other researchers to use them.


BACKGROUND
Interleukin 18 (IL-18) has been proposed as a biomarker for the early detection of acute kidney injury (AKI), but a broad range of its predictive accuracy has been reported.

STUDY DESIGN
Meta-analysis of diagnostic test studies.

SETTING & POPULATION
Various clinical settings of AKI, including after cardiac surgery, after contrast infusion, in the emergency department, or in the intensive care unit.

SELECTION CRITERIA FOR STUDIES
Prospective studies that investigated the diagnostic accuracy of IL-18 level to predict AKI.

INDEX TESTS
Increasing or increased urinary IL-18 excretion.

REFERENCE TESTS
The primary outcome was AKI development, mainly based on serum creatinine level (definition varied across studies). The other outcome was in-hospital mortality.

RESULTS
We analyzed data from 23 studies and 7 countries involving 4,512 patients. Of these studies, 18 could be included in the meta-analysis. Across all settings, the diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) for urinary IL-18 level to predict AKI was 4.22 (95% CI, 2.90-6.14), with sensitivity and specificity of 0.58 and 0.75, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of urinary IL-18 level to predict AKI was 0.70 (95% CI, 0.66-0.74). Subgroup analysis showed the DOR/AUROC of urinary IL-18 was 5.32 (95% CI, 2.92-9.70)/0.72 (95% CI, 0.68-0.76) in cardiac surgery patients and 3.65 (95% CI, 1.88-7.10)/0.66 (95% CI, 0.62-0.70) in intensive care unit or coronary care unit patients. After stratification for age, IL-18 level had better diagnostic accuracy in children and adolescents versus adults: 8.12 (95% CI, 3.79-17.41)/0.78 (95% CI, 0.75-0.82) versus 3.31 (95% CI, 2.28-4.80)/0.66 (95% CI, 0.62-0.70). There was no significant difference in predictive performance of urinary IL-18 level among various times.

LIMITATIONS
Various clinical settings; different definition of AKI and serum creatinine level as the reference standard test for the diagnosis of AKI.

CONCLUSIONS
Urinary IL-18 is a useful biomarker of AKI with moderate predictive value across all clinical settings.


This paper strives to highlight Indian Diaspora literature and is especially based on Indian Diasporas writer Kiran Desai who exposes the elements like multiculturalism, globalization, the quest for identity, nostalgia, cross-culture, etc. in her masterpiece The Inheritance of Loss. The paper explores, migration, racism, identity, hybridity, cultural homogenization are all on the effect of globalization, the real picture of globalization. This paper also deals with Kiran Desai's The Inheritance of Loss from multicultural perspectives as reflected in the novel. The novel generally surrounds the theme such as multiculturalism, globalization, and the quest for identity through Jemubhai and his granddaughter, Sai., Gyan and Biju, the Cook's son. They face many difficulties such as cultural hegemony, quest of identities and linguistic competence. Thus, how Kiran Desai brings out the issues related to multiculturalism and globalization in her novel.


High Concentration Photovoltaic (HCPV) technology uses multi-junction solar cells made of different layers of semiconducting materials (GaInP2/GaAs/Ge) to produce electricity from solar radiation in a sustainable and efficient manner. The environmental performance of this
technology has been investigated using Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) methodology (ISO14040) using a complete inventory of a commercial 1.008 MWp HCPV plant. The analysis has been
conducted in six geographic locations with potential for this technology (Morocco, Peru, South Africa, United States, Mexico and Brazil) but showing differences in terms of availability of solar resource, nature of the national electricity mix, technology capacity to produce plant
components, location and availability of natural resources for the manufacturing of these components, and average transportation distance of components and resources. The origin of power consumed on-site (either from the grid or self-consumption) has given rise to two analytical scenarios.The ReCiPe Midpoint World (H) method was used for the characterization and normalization of environmental impacts in climate change, human toxicity, freshwater
eutrophication, freshwater ecotoxicity, marine ecotoxicity and terrestrial acidification. The Cumulative Energy Demand (CED) and Energy Payback Time (EPBT) were used to evaluate
the energy performance of the system. The results showed significant differences depending on the electricity consumption scenario considered for the plant (self or grid). This is due to the fact that electricity from the grid has a much higher impact than that obtained from the HCPV plant. This effect was more marked in countries where their electricity mix is highly depending on fossil fuels (such as South Africa) and less notable in countries with a higher contribution of renewable energies (like Brazil). The
HCPV plant located in Peru exhibited the best environmental and energy performance, both in the grid and the self-consumption scenarios. This was followed by South Africa when considering environmental impacts and Brazil when considering the CED indicator. Morocco showed the worst environmental performance, with impacts nearly doubling those calculated in Peru. The results suggest that the most important parameter in the environmental performance of the HCPV plant is the amount of electricity produced (related to solar resource), followed by the share of renewable energies in the national electricity mix. This latter item plays a significant role only when assuming that the grid consumption scenario. The effect of other items, like manufacturing location and transportation of plant components, is not significant.


This paper analyzes the radial electromagnetic force of induction motors by using two-dimensional nonlinear finite-element method considering the rotor current coupled with voltage equations. First, we analyze the steady-state characteristics of two induction motors to verify our finite-element model. Using this model, we analyze the radial force at the teeth and slots to clarify the influence of slip and the stator winding and the difference between the line source and a pulsewidth modulation inverter. Finally, we discuss the relationship with a measured vibration velocity.


An important task of the nephrologists during the last century, it has been the search of elements and means that allow us, with the adequate precision, to correlate the functional deterioration of the kidney, and the patient's clinical reality. And the continuous searching of factors and markers that injure them, the prognosis, and early diagnosis, to be able to predict the degree of the organs and patient's survival. Almost parallel survival presage in the natural history of the illness, almost one century ago. In the second half of the XX century, in the developed countries, appear modifications of the social, cultural, and sanitary conditions, that make appear some very different partner-sanitary and epidemic circumstances, and take place like they are, among others: 1. An increase of per cápita private rents, what takes place to increase of the level of social life and the population's health. With increment of the longevity, and smaller incidence and prevalence of classic process, as malnutrition, infections, infantile mortality, so increasing the weight of the cardiovascular diseases and death. This is potentiated for the increment and the incidence of environmental cardiovascular risk's factors (like high caloric and fatty-rich diets, smoke, alcohol, disappearance of the physical work, inactivity, etc). And that situations are also product of the change of the outline of human and social values and guides. 2. Access of the whole population to a sanitary attention of more quality and effectiveness. It allows the biggest survival of patients that suffer vascular crisis, (as angina, miocardial infarction or cerebrovascular accident), that few years ago they have had a higher morbimortality and an inferior survival (2). 3. The execution of big epidemic studies has been able to, not only characterize and test with scientific evidence to numerous factors and markers, that induce renal and cardiovascular prejudicial changes, but risk and death probability prediction. And also, its possible association nexuses, its injuring mechanisms, and the characterization of the new "emergent" renal and cardiovascular risk's markers and factors. 4. The impact on the possibility to treat the end stage renal disease with effective and prolonged procedures, by hemodialisis or kidney transplantation, has been occurred. The affected population's survival with the adequacy renal-sustitution treatment, and the possibility of indefinite duration of its treatment, has also impacted on the public health, and its resources, in an evident way. Simultaneously to increase of the incidence in the population, the electivity for the treatment has been enlarged and extended increasing it exponentially. These facts are documented here, and are defined the characteristics of the factors and markers of risk, of renal and cardiovascular diseases. The defined factors are valued to mark, so far as with the well-known evidence is possible, the prediction and the progression of the renal and cardiovascular functional deterioration: The hypertension, cardiovascular remodeling, the arterial stiffness, the heart rate, the sympathetic activation, the modification of the physiological response of the target organ to the overcharge, the metabolic syndrome, the obesity, the insulin resistance, the altered lipid profile, and metabolism of the fatty acids, the salt-sensibility, the decrease of the renal functional reserve, the glomerular hyperfiltration, the absence of the arterial pressure nocturnal descent, the abnormal excretion of proteins for the urine, the phenomenon induced by dysfunctions of the clotting, superoxide production, growth factors, the production of chronic inflammation and its markers, the factors of the glomerulosclerosis progression, the hyperuricemic status, the endothelial dysfunction and others, are evaluated. As well as their association among them and with other factors of risk not changeable like the age, and in turn, with other acquired voluntarily factors of risk, as the smoking habit and the alcohol. These facts are now impacting on the population's sanity. And also in the professional nephrologic exercise, so much for the cardiovascular and renal morbimortality increased, as for the increase of the incidence of end-stage renal disease susceptible to treat with of substitutive procedures. They try to justify the sentence of Alan Weder of the heading, and other concepts like "epidemic factors of the XXI century", and intuitive expressions like "predialitic endothelial disruption or ruin".