As a result of the fact that Australia is a multicultural society with many people who come from non-English speaking backgrounds (NESB), the objective of the present study was to discuss the extent to which transcultural nursing education is incorporated into undergraduate nursing curricula. A survey was undertaken to determine the availability of nursing modules for undergraduate nursing students through Australian university websites on "transcultural nursing" or related modules. Although the inclusion of these modules into nursing education provide an opportunity for nurses to perceive and respond to different patient behaviors in multicultural societies, it is not sufficient to understand the complexity of the health care needs of a multicultural society. The survey findings suggest that many universities have not included transcultural nursing modules in their nursing curricula. To address this problem, more transcultural nursing modules need to be introduced into nursing curricula and nursing academics need to refine their attitudes about the importance of cultural aspects of patient care within nursing education.


Outcome of cardiac surgery There have been considerable technological advances in the surgical management, medical and intensive care support for children with congenital heart disease (CHD) over the last 50 years. This has resulted in a significant fall in mortality year on year with increased survival into adult life. In an impressive and important publication Knowles et al explore this through period and birth cohort analysis using routinely collected mortality and population data (England and Wales). Absolute numbers of CHD related deaths under age 15 years have fallen from 1460 in 1959 to 154 in 2009 with the greatest improvements being seen in survival in infancy (reducing from 60% to 22% of all deaths) with now 67% (2004–2008) of deaths due to CHD being in adults. The authors predict a continued decline in mortality with further increases in survival into adulthood and relate these changes to the improvements in management through technological advances over the last 50 years. The wider and international relevance is explored in the accompanying editorial. See pages 859 and 861


The prevalence of eating disorders (ED) m the eastern part of the world ts lower than that of Western countries but appears to be increasing. Current research findings about ED in India seem to be moving in two different directions at once. On one hand there is increasing recognition of eating disorder swith in the Indian population. On the other, a persisting belief that the culture-bound syndrome of eating disorders is alien to India, and non-western cultures shield individuals from developing eating disorders. ln a study by Mammen, Russell, and Russell (2007) on the prevalence of eating disorders and psychiatric comorbidity among children and adolescents found that l.25% of the sample could be diagnosed having an eating disorder .The commonest form being anorexia nervosa and psychogeni cvomitting. Psychogenic vomitting can be defined as vomitting associated with emotional distress and anxiety. The present paper will high light two case reports of children who presented with symptoms of psychogenic vomitting to the OPD of CNBC hospital, Delhi. The contrasting nature of the symptom initiation-one mimicking a previous serious iMess and the other from academic stress will be high lighted. Behavioural and Cognitive interventions such as graded meal, distraction and cognitive restructuring were undertaken. The paper high lights the need to understand the need for tailor made interventions for children with such conditions as there may not always be an underlying psychological conflict.


Background: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women. Surgery remains the most effective treatment. Several perioperative factors, including the surgical stress response, many anesthetics and opioids, adversely affect immune function. Regional anesthesia-analgesia attenuates perioperative immunosuppression. We tested the hypothesis that patients who receive combined propofol/paravertebral anesthesia-analgesia (propofol/paravertebral) exhibited reduced levels of protumorigenic cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and elevated levels of antitumorigenic cytokines compared with patients receiving sevoflurane anesthesia with opioid analgesia (sevoflurane/opioid). Methods: Primary breast cancer surgery patients were randomized to propofol/paravertebral (n = 15) or sevoflurane/opioid (n = 17) and preoperative and postoperative serum concentrations of 11 cytokines (interleukin 1&bgr; [IL-1&bgr;], IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-13, interferon &ggr;, and tumor necrosis factor &agr;) and 3 MMPs (MMP-1, MMP-3, and MMP-9) were measured. Results: Treatment groups were well balanced for age, weight, surgical procedure, and cancer pathologic diagnosis. Pain scores were lower at 1 and 2 hrs with paravertebral analgesia compared with morphine but similar at 24 hrs. Patients in the propofol/paravertebral group showed a greater percentage decrease in postoperative compared with preoperative IL-1&bgr; (median [quartiles], −26% [−15% to −52%] versus −4% [−14% to 2%], P = 0.003), a significant attenuation in elevated MMP-3 (2% [−39% to 12%] versus 29% [23%-59%], P = 0.011) and MMP-9 (26% [13%-54%] versus 74% [50%-108%], P = 0.02), and a significant increase in IL-10 (10% [5%-33%] versus −15% [20% to −2%], P = 0.001) compared with sevoflurane/opioid group. No significantly different changes in IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12p70, IL-13, interferon &ggr;, tumor necrosis factor &agr;, or MMP-1 were observed between the 2 groups. Conclusions: Propofol/paravertebral anesthesia-analgesia for breast cancer surgery alters a minority of cytokines influential in regulating perioperative cancer immunity. Further evaluation is required to determine the significance of these observations.


A combination of energy-filtered electron microscopy (EFEM) and an image-analysis system (IBAS/2000) is used for a morphometric analysis of chemical reaction products in cells. Electron energy-loss spectroscopic element-distribution images are acquired from cytochemical reaction products in a variety of cellular objects: (1) colloidal thorium particles in extra-cellular coat material, (2) iron-containing ferritin particles in liver parenchymal cells, (3) barium-containing reaction products in endoplasmic reticulum stacks, (4) elements present in lysosomal ceriumand barium-containing precipitates connected with acid phosphatase (AcPase) or aryl sulphatase (AS) enzyme activity. Areas or area fractions are determined from such element-distribution images by application of an objective image segmentation method. By superposition of two or more element-distribution images, mutual element relations are qualitatively established in lysosomal ceriumand barium-containing precipitates connected with acid phosphatase (AcPase) or aryl sulphatase (AS) enzyme activity. By comparing electron spectroscopic images (ESI) with element-distribution images, the mutual contrast per element relations are quantitatively investigated. The obtained gain in resolution in such electron energy-loss spectroscopic element-distribution images will be explained and discussed.


Inclusive education involves the transformation of schools and other centres of learning to cater for all learners regardless of gender, ethnic and linguistic origin, residence settings (rural or urban), HIV status, disability, difficulties in learning and age. Inclusive education aims at eliminating exclusion or favoritism that arise out of negative attitudes on differences in economic status, social class, race, ethnicity, language, gender, sexual orientation, religion and ability. From a policy perspective, inclusive education means taking a holistic approach to education reform and thus changing the way the educational system tackles exclusion. Without such measures, many countries will not achieve the Education for All (EFA) goals by 2015, alongside other Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This paper will explore the efforts and challenges in achieving gender and cultural equity and inclusivity in public universities in Kenya. The research adopted descriptive survey and case study designs in order to enable the researcher to carry out an in-depth study of gender equity interventions in selected universities. The sample consisted of two public universities in Kenya, Moi and Egerton. In each university two (2) faculties/ schools were selected using stratified random sampling. From each of the school two (2) lecturers and 10 students, 5 males and 5 women were selected to take part in the study. The total sample was thus 96 respondents. Findings from related studies illustrate persistent gender discrimination related to educational attainment and learning, and genderbased violence in public universities. Kenya has experienced phenomenal achievements in gender parity in education, although these achievements have not resulted in gender equity in public universities.


INTRODUCTION
Peliosis is an infrequent entity characterized by multiple blood-filled cavities mostly involving the liver. Peliosis hepatis usually appears as a rare autopsy finding in asymptomatic patients or in patients with chronic wasting diseases. However, peliosis hepatis may present as hepatic dysfunction or shock from hepatic rupture.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
In our report we present the case of a 33-year-old woman with hepatic peliosis causing a hemoperitoneum resulting from liver rupture, which needed immediate surgical treatment. On the basis of symptoms and the laboratory parameters the acute abdomen was evaluated by abdominal ultrasound and CT scan, both revealing a hemoperitoneum and a lesion in the left liver lobe.

RESULTS
Embolization was performed by superselective catheterization of the left hepatic artery to stop the bleeding. After stabilization of the patient, left lobectomy of the liver was performed because of the ruptured 15-cm liver tumor. The patient recovered well and was discharged without residual complaints. Histopathologic analysis showed focal parenchymal peliosis.

DISCUSSION
The authors evaluate the effectiveness of the surgical strategy in a case of life-threatening focal hepatic disorder. Besides surgery, the authors emphasize the importance of invasive radiological interventions in these cases.


India's plant biodiversity is diverse and abundant, embracing a wide range of habitats. The Indian subcontinent is one of the world's eight origin centres and one of the world's twelve mega diversity centres. Agriculture in India is primarily concerned with output, which does not always equate to productivity and profitability. In agriculture, shrinking land, dwindling water, and other related resources are important concerns. As a result, in order to accomplish vertical expansion in agriculture while conserving natural resources, farmer-friendly location-specific production strategies must be promoted. Precision farming strives to make optimal use of resources per unit of time and area in order to achieve targeted agricultural produce production. Geoinformatics is concerned with the application of computer science and geosciences to the solution of complicated scientific problems. It is the science of collecting, analyzing, interpreting, disseminating, and utilizing geographic data. In the handling of big and complex PGR datasets, a Geographical Information System (GIS) can be quite useful. Inventories/mapping, exploration/collection, conservation, and crop extension strategies are some of the primary areas where GIS is used.

https://www.ijcmas.com/11-4-2022/Sajal Saha, et al.pdf


In addition to the biological importance of microtubules, which form a portion of the cellular cytoskeleton and a network for intracellular transport, the kinetics of microtubule self-assembly have generated great interest because individual microtubules exist in growing and decaying phases, with randomly occurring interconversions between them. Although a great deal is known concerning the microscopic details of these growth and decay processes, no description is available for the steady-state microtubule concentrations that are observed experimentally when microtubules are grown from nucleating sites. We generalize Hill's two-state model to include the dependence of the rates on tubulin concentration for systems where microtubules are grown from nucleating sites. An analytic solution is provided here to the resulting nonlinear, doubly infinite set of kinetic equations for the steady-state concentrations of both the growing and decaying phase microtubules as a function of the degree n of self-assembly and of the tubulin concentration. We also discuss the conditions for the stability of the steady state.


физиолечение. Multimodality physiotherapy of chronic prostatitis complicated with erectile dysfunction, consisting of: EHF-puncture, sine-wave -pelotherapy of the penis zone, remedial gymnastics, iodic-bromine baths, and digital prostate massage was developed. Ad-ministration of the medical technology leaded up to reduction of inflammation in pelvic minor organs, improvement in penis micro-circulation, and improvement in autonomic nervous systems state, enhancement of erectile function and improvement of quality of life of prostatitis, erectile dysfunction, multimodality


Education has an important role in ensuring the survival of the nation and state. This is because education is a vehicle for building the quality of human resources. Therefore, this study was designed to describe the role of education in building the spirit of nationalism in students at SMA Negeri 2 Sikakap Mentawai. This study uses qualitative methods with data collection methods using observation, documentation and interview techniques. Data analysis was carried out in several stages, namely; inventorying and organizing data, carrying out the coding process, carrying out activities to describe data according to categories. The results of the study indicate that the problem that is still an obstacle for students to be able to carry out a proper education in the Mentawai is access to transportation which is still difficult. They have to travel long distances to get to school, so students are often late for school. In addition, the economic factor of the community which is still weak is also an obstacle for students to come to school. Because for them it is more important to earn a living than to go to school. And there is no awareness of the importance of education for them. Meanwhile, in terms of schools, good education must be carried out properly because through good education, the spirit of nationalism of students can be built well, meanwhile in practice schools find obstacles with student attendance times who often come late and challenges for teachers to be able to adjust learning. with the school environment and conditions that are still inadequate.


Over-expression of Bcl-2 has been shown to protect thymocytes from apoptosis by many stimuli except strong T cell receptor signals during negative selection. This might be due to Bcl-2 taking on a pro-apoptotic function during negative selection mediated through its BH3 domain, which is exposed upon interaction with the nuclear orphan receptor Nur77. To test this, we generated a T cell-specific transgenic mouse over-expressing Bcl-2 with a mutated BH3 domain. Consistent with our hypothesis, we observed that thymocytes expressing the Bcl-2 BH3 transgene were better protected from apoptosis by TCR stimuli in vitro than those expressing a wild-type transgene. To evaluate TCR-induced apoptosis in vivo, the Bcl-2 BH3 mutant transgenic mice were crossed to F5 and HY TCR transgenic mice. Vibratome cut thymic slices were treated acutely with F5 and HY TCR-specific peptides, circumventing the peripheral cytotoxic effects of in vivo peptide injection. Bcl-2 BH3 mutant transgenic thymocytes were almost completely rescued from peptide-induced apoptosis, but surprisingly, thymocytes expressing the wild-type Bcl-2 transgene were equivalently protected. Thus our results indicate that Bcl-2 has some pro-apoptotic function, but in contrast to previously published data in TCR-transgenic models, we conclude that Bcl-2 over-expression affords substantial protection from apoptosis accompanying negative selection.


An Arabidopsis thaliana leaf-variegated mutant yellow variegated2 (var2) results from loss of FtsH2, a major component of the chloroplast FtsH complex. FtsH is an ATP-dependent metalloprotease in thylakoid membranes and degrades several chloroplastic proteins. To understand the role of proteolysis by FtsH and mechanisms leading to leaf variegation, we characterized the second-site recessive mutation fu-gaeri1 (fug1) that suppressed leaf variegation of var2. Map-based cloning and subsequent characterization of the FUG1 locus demonstrated that it encodes a protein homologous to prokaryotic translation initiation factor 2 (cpIF2) located in chloroplasts. We show evidence that cpIF2 indeed functions in chloroplast protein synthesis in vivo. Suppression of leaf variegation by fug1 is observed not only in var2 but also in var1 (lacking FtsH5) and var1 var2. Thus, suppression of leaf variegation caused by loss of FtsHs is most likely attributed to reduced protein synthesis in chloroplasts. This hypothesis was further supported by the observation that another viable mutation in chloroplast translation elongation factor G also suppresses leaf variegation in var2. We propose that the balance between protein synthesis and degradation is one of the determining factors leading to the variegated phenotype in Arabidopsis leaves.


In this work, the effect of geometrical design parameters: channel aspect ratio, mean radius to channel width ratio, and spiral curvature ratio on the flow performance of a spiral channel viscous micropump have been reviewed and investigated analytically and numerically. The combined effect of studied design parameters on the flow performance of the spiral pump was also expressed in an approximate model through geometrical drag and pressure shape factors. The analytical estimations were compared with the numerical solution and good agreement was obtained. Numerical results show that the flow rate varies linearly with both the pressure difference and boundary velocity, which supports the validity of the linear lubrication model for this problem for the full range of studied parameters. The obtained extended approximate model depicts complete representation for the influence of channel width, height, spiral curvature, spiral length, and mean radius on the flow performance of a spiral channel viscous micropump.


Detecting hydrogen with nanoplasmonic sensing is a fairly new concept with the
promising prospect of producing compact and precise hydrogen sensors with a low
cost, due to the small amount of materials needed. In order to explore this possibility,
material properties of various nanoparticle compositions should be examined
to get a good understanding for these systems as well as finding the most suitable
materials. In this master thesis project I have studied absorption and desorption of
hydrogen in PdAu alloy nanoparticles to determine their thermodynamic and kinetic
properties. This was done with direct nanoplasmonic sensing utilizing the change in
LSPR (Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance) when changing the concentration of
hydrogen in the nanoparticles. The main focus has been on determining the critical
temperature TC for PdAu alloy nanoparticles with a concentration of gold ranging
from 0 to 30 at%. Using two different methods, Van't Hoff equation and data collapse,
TC is found to decrease with increasing gold concentration. This decrease goes
from 250‰ for pure palladium to below 100‰ for alloys with gold concentration
greater than 15 at%. For gold concentrations of 20% and above, TC might already
be below room temperature, but an unexpected hysteresis present at all hydrogen
pressures was found, complicating the result interpretation. The reason behind this
hysteresis is widely discussed in this report and the most likely explanation seems to
be particle-substrate strain. Furthermore, the response time of the rate limiting step
t90 for both hydrogen absorption and desorption is found to decrease with increased
gold concentration. A quantitative decription of the energy landscape for hydrogen
desorption was also derived by continuously analyzing change in the LSPR signal of
the alloy particles during dehydrogenation


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transduction pathway in the production of the proinflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta) in lungs and in the pulmonary endothelial cell injury in severely scalded rats.

METHODS
Forty eight adult healthy SD rats were randomly divided into three groups with 16 rats in each group, i.e. sham, burn and burn with SB203580 treatment groups. The changes in the TNF-alpha and IL-1beta contents in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), the von Willebrand factor (vWF) contents in plasma and pulmonary microvessels and pulmonary activating protein (AP-1) activity were determined at 24 postburn hours (PBH).

RESULTS
Compared with those in sham group, the TNF-alpha and IL-1beta contents in serum and BALF and the vWF content in plasma (194.2% +/- 28.3% vs 93.2% +/- 14.3%) at 24 PBH in burn group increased significantly (P < 0.01), whereas vWF content in pulmonary microvessel decreased obviously (1.1 +/- 0.3 vs 3.3 +/- 0.4, P < 0.01). In addition, the pulmonary AP-1 activity also increased at 24 PBH. Nevertheless, all the above indices improved obviously in burn with SB203580 (inhibitor of p38 MAPK signal transduction pathway) treatment group when compared with those in burn group.

CONCLUSION
AP-1 might mediate the production of proinflammatory factors, such as TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in lungs leading to pulmonary vascular endothelial injury, after being activated by activated p38 MAPK.


Objective This study was to quantitatively synthesize data in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of laparoscopic resection comparing natural orifice specimen extraction (NOSE) versus conventional laparoscopy (CL) in colorectal cancer. Methods We identified eligible RCTs by searching seven electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, CQVIP, Wanfang, and Sinomed). Mean differences (MDs) between groups with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used for continuous outcomes. Event rate ratios (RRs) were also calculated with their 95% CIs. Results 1,569 citations were identified from electronic database as of June 2020, and finally, 21 RCTs involving 2,112 patients met the study eligibility criteria and were included. Compared to the CL group, NOSE had longer operation time (MD: 8.14 min, 95% CI: 3.02 to 13.25, and p < 0.01), less estimated blood loss (-10.64 ml, 95% CI: -14.92 to -6.36, and p < 0.01), less hospital stay after surgery (-2.21 days, 95% CI: -3.36 to -1.06, and p < 0.01), shorter time of gas passage after surgery (-0.58 days, 95% CI: -0.82 to -0.34, and p < 0.01), better pain score (-1.06, 95% CI: -3.74 to -0.37, and p < 0.01), and improved cosmetic scores (1.93, 95% CI: 0.77 to 3.10, p < 0.01). Rate ratios of total complications, infection, and incision infection all favored NOSE surgery, with RRs (95% CIs) of 0.81 (0.71 to 0.93), 0.34 (0.21 to 0.54), and 0.24 (0.12 to 0.51), respectively. Conclusion This report appeared the first comprehensive meta-analysis of RCTs to synthesize data of laparoscopic resection with NOSE versus conventional laparoscopy. NOSE surgery seemed favorable with shorter hospital stay, less pain score, a shorter time to recover along with better cosmetic scores, and less postoperative complications.


The principal qualifying condition for welfare in Canada, unlike the US, is financial need - there are no demographic criteria. We use a time-series of annual, national cross-sections for the period 1981 through 1993 to estimate a model of lone-female headship. Our findings do not support the hypothesis that welfare benefit levels for one-parent and two-parent families are important determinants of the likelihood that a Canadian woman is a lone mother. In all models with provincial fixed effects, the coefficients for welfare benefits are small, statistically insignificant and often of the unexpected sign. We do find that the probability that a woman is a lone mother is generally associated in the expected fashion with her earnings capacity and the earnings capacity of her potential male partner, and with her age and schooling.


The influence of early life development on the swimming performance of the endangered sofie Chondrostoma toxostoma was examined to highlight trends in organism-environment relationships. Sudden occurrences of change in integrated function were found and these were most decisive, in particular with respect to microhabitat use, between the larval and juvenile periods of development. Stabilization of relative growth, i.e. end of the remodelling process (metamorphosis), occurred well after all larval characteristics (remnants of finfold and rapid allometric growth) had disappeared and all juvenile structures had appeared (nasal septa and complete scale cover). The fact that stabilization of relative growth coincided with dramatic shifts in microhabitat use (organism needs) as well as in swimming capacity (organism skills) suggests a more 'decisive' type of change in organism-to-environment interaction than one purely of form, i.e. shift from nursery to adult habitat. # 2005 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles


The task of recognition of oral spelling (stimulus: "C-A-T", response: "cat") is often administered to individuals with acquired written language disorders, yet there is no consensus about the underlying cognitive processes. We adjudicate between two existing hypotheses: Recognition of oral spelling uses central reading processes, or recognition of oral spelling uses central spelling processes in reverse. We tested the recognition of oral spelling and spelling to dictation abilities of a single individual with acquired dyslexia and dysgraphia. She was impaired relative to matched controls in spelling to dictation but unimpaired in recognition of oral spelling. Recognition of oral spelling for exception words (e.g., colonel) and pronounceable nonwords (e.g., larth) was intact. Our results were predicted by the hypothesis that recognition of oral spelling involves the central reading processes. We conclude that recognition of oral spelling is a useful tool for probing the integrity of the central reading processes.


An adaptive interpolated FIR (IFIR) echo canceller was recently proposed for xDSL applications. This canceller consists of an FIR filter, an IFIR filter, and a tap-weight overlapping and nulling scheme. The FIR filter is used to cancel the short and rapidly changing head echo while the IFIR filter is used to cancel the long and slowly decaying tail echo. This echo canceller, which inherits the stable characteristics of the conventional FIR filter, requires low computational complexity. It is well known that the interpolation filter for an IFIR filter has great influence on the interpolated result. In this paper, a least-squares method is proposed to obtain optimal interpolation filters such that the performance of the IFIR echo canceller can be further improved. Simulations with a wide variety of loop topologies show that the optimal IFIR echo canceller can effectively cancel the echo up to 73.0dB (for an SHDSL system). About 57% complexity reduction can be achieved compared to a conventional FIR filter.


Patients treated with long-term hemodialysis may develop carpal tunnel syndrome, cystic bone lesions, and/or an arthropathy. This syndrome has been called hemodialysis-related amyloidosis (HRA) and appears to be the result of the accumulation of polymerized Beta-2 microglobulin (B2M). The risk to patients treated with peritoneal dialysis is unknown. Diphosphonate scans have been advocated as a useful noninvasive test for HRA. The authors report a well-documented case of HRA established during hemodialysis and progressing during peritoneal dialysis. In addition, this patient's HRA was not identified by a diphosphonate scan. This is the second well-documented case of HRA associated with peritoneal dialysis.


Background House dust mite (HDM) is the most common airborne source causing complex allergy symptoms. There are geographic differences in the allergen molecule sensitization profiles. Serological testing with allergen components may provide more clues for diagnosis and clinical management. Objective This study aims to investigate the sensitization profile of eight HDM allergen components in a large number of patients enrolled in the clinic and to analyze the relation of gender, age, and clinical symptoms in North China. Methods The 548 serum samples of HDM-allergic patients (ImmunoCAP® d1 or d2 IgE ≥0.35) were collected in Beijing City and divided in four different age groups and three allergic symptoms. The specific IgE of HDM allergenic components, Der p 1/Der f 1, Der p 2/Der f 2, Der p 7, Der p 10, Der p 21, and Der p 23, was measured using the micro-arrayed allergen test kit developed by Hangzhou Zheda Dixun Biological Gene Engineering Co., Ltd. The new system was validated by comparing to single-component Der p 1, Der p 2, and Der p 23 tests by ImmunoCAP in 39 sera. The epidemiological study of these IgE profiles and the relation to age and clinical phenotypes were analyzed. Results A greater proportion of male patients was in the younger age groups, while more female patients were in the adult groups. Both the sIgE levels and the positive rates (approximately 60%) against Der p 1/Der f 1 and Der p 2/Der f 2 were higher than for the Der p 7, Der p 10, and Der p 21 components (below 25%). The Der f 1 and Der p 2 positive rates were higher in 2–12-year-old children. The Der p 2 and Der f 2 IgE levels and positive rates were higher in the allergic rhinitis group. The positive rates of Der p 10 increased significantly with age. Der p 21 is relevant in allergic dermatitis symptom, while Der p 23 contributes to asthma development. Conclusion HDM groups 1 and 2 were the major sensitizing allergens, with group 2 being the most important component relevant to respiratory symptoms in North China. The Der p 10 sensitization tends to increase with age. Der p 21 and Der p 23 might be associated with the development of allergic skin disease and asthma, respectively. Multiple allergen sensitizations increased the risk of allergic asthma.


Adhesion of monocytes to vascular endothelial cell (EC) and subsequent stretching and migration over the luminal surface of EC can be seen in some pathophysiological process in the body. This is called "monocyte recruitment". Adhesive molecules and adhesive receptors take part and play an important role in the process. The recruitment can be regulated by many cytokines and chemoattractants. In this article the process, character, mechanism, regulation and effect of monocyte recruitment will be discussed.


In the field of Christian education, deferred conceptual maintenance has resulted in fragmentation and enervation. This article considers some of the limitations in the Christian education movement, the recent popularity of spiritual formation as a way forward, and suggestions for a comprehensive approach under the banner of Christian formation which might invigorate and give a basis for integrating educational ministries. Earlier versions of this were published in Covenant Quarterly 59, no. 4 (2001): 27–38 and given in a NAPCE workshop.


Evidence was obtained for the participation of iron in the double hydroxylation reaction catalyzed by anthranilate hydroxylase from Aspergillus niger (UBC 814). Omission of iron from the growth medium gave inactive preparations of anthranilate hydroxylase which could be reactivated by incubating the enzyme preparations with ferric citrate. The enzyme was susceptible to inhibition by metal chelating agents. The Ki for o-phenanthroline, which inhibited the enzyme activity non-competitively with respect to anthranilate, was calculated to be 0.9 mM. The inhibition by o-phenanthroline was counteracted by ferric complexes such as ferric-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and ferric citrate. Anthranilate afforded protection against inhibition by o-phenanthroline.


There is a recent trend of applying multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL) to train an agent that can cooperate with humans in a zero-shot fashion without using any human data. The typical workflow is to first repeatedly run self-play (SP) to build a policy pool and then train the final adaptive policy against this pool. A crucial limitation of this framework is that every policy in the pool is optimized w.r.t. the environment reward function, which implicitly assumes that the testing partners of the adaptive policy will be precisely optimizing the same reward function as well. However, human objectives are often substantially biased according to their own preferences, which can differ greatly from the environment reward. We propose a more general framework, Hidden-Utility Self-Play (HSP), which explicitly models human biases as hidden reward functions in the self-play objective. By approximating the reward space as linear functions, HSP adopts an effective technique to generate an augmented policy pool with biased policies. We evaluate HSP on the Overcooked benchmark. Empirical results show that our HSP method produces higher rewards than baselines when cooperating with learned human models, manually scripted policies, and real humans. The HSP policy is also rated as the most assistive policy based on human feedback.


A simultaneous change in the systemic property of a kicked billiard ball is observed from an entirely smooth and conservative state to a piecewise smooth and quasi-dissipative state when a single controlling parameter has been adjusted. The transition induces a sudden change of a typical conservative stochastic web into a transient web. The iterations on the transient web eventually escape to some elliptic islands. In the meantime, a fat fractal forbidden web, which appears also at the threshold, grows up and cuts away increasingly more parts from the original conservative stochastic web. We numerically show that the initial conditions that generated different attractors are mixed in a random manner and the pattern remains unchanged even when smaller and smaller scales are used for examination, indicating a riddle-like basin structure that practically rules out the possibility of predicting the attractors from a given initial condition.


BACKGROUND
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is recognized as a distinct clinical and biological entity of poor outcome for almost two decades, yet its treatment strategy still needs to be better specified. The study aim is to update the 10-year survival data of our TNBC patients and to find its association with different treatment modalities.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
We updated the 10-year survival data of 359 women diagnosed with TNBC between 1999 and 2009 in the Kuwait Cancer Control Center (KCCC). The overall survival (OS), disease free survival (DFS), distant metastasis free survival (DMFS) and loco-regional recurrence free survival (LRFS) were estimated using Kaplan Meier method. Survival was correlated with different prognostic factors and treatment modalities. Statistical significance was calculated using the log-rank test and defined as p < 0.05. Cox regression is used for Multivariate analysis.

RESULTS
TNBC represented 12% of breast cancer in Kuwait with a median age of 48 years. The stage distribution was as follow: stage I, II, III, IV in 15%, 43%, 35% and 7% of patients respectively. Regarding surgery, 33% had Conservative surgery; 67% had mastectomy; 82% had axillary clearance. Chemotherapy was neoadjuvant in 25%, adjuvant in 56% and palliative in 5% of patients. Two-thirds of patients (67%) received adjuvant radiotherapy. After a median follow-up of 108 months, the 10-year OS, DFS, DMFS and LRFS were 66%, 59%, 72% and 77% respectively. The 10-year OS was 92%, 80%, 49% and 0% for Stage I, II, III and IV respectively (p =< 0.0001). OS was significantly worse with the presence of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) with p = 0.003. OS was not significantly affected by age, grade or treatment modality. In multivariate analysis, the clinical stage and LVI were still significant (P<0.0001 and 0.04 respectively).

CONCLUSION
In the absence of biological biomarkers, clinical stage and LVI seem to be the only significant prognostic factors for survival of TNBC patients in our study population. Timing of chemotherapy as well as the extent of surgery do not seem to affect the TNBC patients' outcome.


The passenger travel demands for intercity rail lines fluctuate obviously during different time periods, which makes the rail departments unable to establish an even train operation scheme. This paper considers an optimization problem for train operations which respond to passenger travel demands of different periods in intercity rail lines. A satisfactory function of passenger travelling is proposed by means of analyzing the passengers' travel choice behavior and correlative influencing factors. On this basis, the paper formulates a bilevel programming model which maximizes interests of railway enterprises and travelling satisfaction of each passenger. The trains operation in different periods can be optimized through upper layer planning of the model, while considering the passenger flow distribution problem based on the Wardrop user equilibrium principle in the lower layer planning. Then, a genetic algorithm is designed according to model features for solving the upper laying. The Frank-Wolfe algorithm is used for solving the lower layer planning. Finally, a numerical example is provided to demonstrate the application of the method proposed in this paper.


Abstract Non‐spherical Au/Ag nanoparticles can be generated by chemical reduction of silver ions in the presence of preformed gold nanoparticles. The process of particle formation can be controlled by concentrations of ligands and reducing agent. The formation of ellipsoidal, nanorod‐ and peanut‐shaped nanoparticles as well as of more complex fractal nanoassemblies can be explained by changes in particle surface state, electrochemical potential formation and particle‐internal self‐polarization effects. It is possible to create highly fractal nanoassemblies with sizes between the mid‐nanometer and the lower micrometer range. The assemblies are marked by high optical absorption and complex nano‐networks of very high surface‐to‐volume ratios and a granular base structure.


The idea that human well-being (WB) can be supported and even enhanced by using, producing, buying, selling and consuming less 'stuff' is anathema to many living under consumer capitalism. Yet a growing research literature actually finds that frequent engagement in pro-ecological behaviours (PEBs) is positively correlated with personal WB. This paper reviews data relevant to three possible explanations for the apparent compatibility of PEBs and WB: (i) engaging in PEBs leads to psychological need satisfaction, which in turn causes WB; (ii) being in a good mood causes people to engage in more prosocial behaviours, including PEBs; and (iii) personal characteristics and lifestyles such as intrinsic values, mindfulness and voluntary simplicity cause both PEBs and WB. Because each explanation has some empirical support, I close by reflecting on some relevant interventions and policies that could strengthen each of these three pathways and thereby promote living both well and sustainably. This article is part of the themed issue 'Material demand reduction'.


In this article, we focus on the introduction of nitroarene as an alternative electrophile for Caryl–O cross-coupling chemistry. In polar aprotic solvents and in the presence of a base at elevated temperature nitroarene undergoes cross-coupling with arylboronic acids or phenols under metal or metal-free reaction conditions. Compared to the conventional aryl halides, nitroarene provides highly attractive and environmentally friendly options for the synthesis of diaryl ether derivatives.


In 1994, in accordance with WHO recommendations, the French health authorities decided to extend hepatitis B (HB) vaccination to newborns and preteenagers. Vaccination for adults at increased risk of HB infection (especially health care professionals) has been mandatory since 1991. In July 1996, about 200 cases of central nervous system demyelinating disorders (CDD) following HB vaccine injection were reported to the French pharmacovigilance system, raising the question as to whether this association was fortuitous or not.

To explore this signal, the number of reported cases of CDD was compared with that expected under the hypothesis of no association, using Poisson cumulative probabilities [1]. The comparison considered spontaneous reports received by the French pharmacovigilance up to 31 December 1999. The analysis was restricted to subjects aged 20–44 years vaccinated in the period 1994–96. About 80% of CDD cases are expected to occur in this age group, and during the study period, HB vaccination was extensive in France. Between 1994 and 1996, 53 million doses of HB vaccine were distributed in France, 21.6 million to subjects aged 20–44 years. The most common immunization protocol used at the time of the study consisted of three injections of vaccine at 1 month intervals. On this basis, and assuming that all the doses were actually used, we estimated that 7.18 million subjects aged 20–44 years were vaccinated over the study period. As suggested by a panel of neurologists, we considered a time-window of excess risk of CDD of 2 months after a HB vaccine injection. A vaccinated subject is thus at increased risk for 4 months: one between the first and the second dose, one between the second and the third dose and two after the third and last dose. Background incidence rate was derived from data provided by several surveys of multiple sclerosis (MS) conducted in France before the start of vaccination [2]. Since about 80% of CDD episodes represent the onset of definite MS, we considered the highest incidence rate of MS available.

The annual incidence rate for subjects aged 20–44 years was estimated to be 42.9 per million. During the chosen time-window, 102.7 cases were expected to occur in vaccinated subjects (Table 1). Two senior neurologists validated all CDD cases reported to the French National Pharmacovigilance System. Among the validated cases, we retained those that filled the following criteria: (i) received an HB vaccine injection between 1 January 1994 and 31 December 1996, (ii) aged 20–44 years, (iii) presented a first CDD episode within 2 months after a HB vaccine injection. Among the cases reported up to the end of December 1999, 108 matched the case definition. This reported number was not significantly different from that expected at the 5% level. However, a mere 1.12-fold increase would result in a level significantly higher than that expected. A capture-recapture study conducted in France with three independent sources estimated an underreporting coefficient of 2 for the period 1994–96 (French Medicine Agency, internal report). Background incidence rates used are consistent with epidemiological data on MS in other European countries [3]. By considering that all HB vaccine doses sold have been used for complete vaccination, we do not take into account isolated injections (incomplete first immunization or booster) for which the at-risk time-window is 2 months, as against 4 months for the three-dose scheme. This could underestimate the expected number of cases. This underestimation remains moderate, e.g. a factor of 1.1 for a proportion of 20% single injections could be considered as a maximum for this extensive first immunization campaign.

Table 1

Comparison between reported and expected numbers of cases.

The results of this study do not provide strong arguments for ruling out the possibility of an association, causal or otherwise, between HB vaccine and first episode of central nervous system demyelinating disorders. Since the observed number of cases would exceed significantly that expected with a modest under-reporting coefficient strongly supposes a signal.


The evaluation of structural power flow (or structural intensity (SI)) in engineering structures is a field of increasing interest in connection with vibration analysis and noise control. In contrast to classical techniques such as modal analysis, the SI indicates the magnitude and direction of the vibratory energy traveling in the structures, which yields information about the positions of the sources/sinks, along with the energy transmission path. In this paper, a new algorithm is proposed to model operational deflection shapes (ODS). The model is a two-dimensional Fourier domain model that is estimated by using a weighted nonlinear least-squares method. From the wave number-frequency domain data thus obtained, the spatial derivatives that are necessary to determine the structural power flow are easily computed. The proposed method is less sensitive to measurement noise than traditional power flow estimation techniques. A numerical model of a simply supported plate excited by two shakers, phased to act as an energy source and sink, is used as a simulation case. Measurements are executed on a clamped plate excited by an electromagnetic shaker in combination with a damper.


Pain is a critical, ethical issue because of its capacity to dehumanise the human person (Lisson 1987). Acute pain is one of the most common adverse stimuli experienced by children, occurring as a result of injury, illness and necessary medical procedures (American Pain Society 2001).

For many years, the body of research on children's pain lagged behind that of studies on adult pain. However, more recently we have reached a situation where there is sufficient evidence-based knowledge to deliver good quality, effective pain management to children. Despite this improving situation, evidence shows pain in children is still often inadequately assessed and treated. In 2005, the International Association for the Study of Pain, Special Interest Group produced a position statement on Pain in Childhood, stating that pain relief is a human right (International Association for the Study of Pain 2005). Children undergo pain from the many procedures and investigations used by doctors and nurses to investigate and treat disease. Children remember pain, and may avoid future medical care because of painful experiences in a hospital or clinic. This chapter will review the evidence on the management of children's pain through the use of Beauchamp and Childress' ethical principles (2008) of non-maleficence, justice, autonomy and finally beneficence.

Two facts about pain assessment and management are uncontroversial - first, health-care professionals have an ethical obligation to relieve pain experienced by their patients, and second, this obligation has been largely neglected (Blacksher 2001).


In the South African legal system of fact finding and proof the relevance of an evidentiary fact is not governed by the rules of the law of evidence but by a set of extra-legal principles based on the logic of inferential reasoning and probability theory. However, there is no definitive legal definition, or practical test, of what constitutes relevance in a post-constitutional South African curial context, except for an ambiguous pre-1961 reference to a "blend of common sense, judicial experience and logic, laying outside the law". This article critically evaluates the relationship between relevance and admissibility in the adversarial adjudicative process, with particular reference to the peculiarities of the South African legal system, in which the procedural framework of the fact-finding process has been subjected to a post-apartheid constitutional democracy. In addition, this article provides an interpretative synthesis of prevailing international scholarship in the field, develops a functional three-legged practical relevance test for ease of application by all legal practitioners in the courtroom and provides a uniquely different possible statutory definition of relevance and admissibility.


Imagine this: You live in regional WA, miles away from the nearest university. You have spent the last three years studying your degree online (via the Internet) and not once during this time have you actually spoken to any of your lecturers or fellow learners. In your final unit your lecturer provides you with access to new communication technologies and actively encourages you to share your ideas and experiences and with your peers. How would you feel?


: The incidents of drug-abuse behavior has escalated especially among youths in Malaysia. The objectives of the study were to ascertain the effects of social support on drug abuse through life satisfaction. Delinquency was treated as the mediating factor on the relationship between life satisfaction and drug-abuse behavior. A survey was conducted among youth addicts getting treatment at rehabilitation centers. A total of 275 questionnaires were analyzed using Structural Equation Modelling. Findings revealed that social support had a significant influence on life satisfaction. Delinquency had a full mediating effect on the relationship between life satisfaction and drug abuse. An increase in life satisfaction would reduce delinquency and drug-abuse behavior among youth by enhancing social support assistance. Therefore, rehabilitation programs should be focused on matching the drug dependences' needs for social support to increase the chances of remaining sober and achieving success in ending the cycle of relapse.


The report summarizes the contents of a conclusion of a document of the workshop "Neonatal and Prenatal Intensive Care" activated by the Emilia-Romagna Region to set up the third Regional Health Planning 2000-2002. The proposals, wholly taken from the Regional Program, aim to improve the care improving the outcomes in terms of mortality and maternal-infant disability. The organizing model proposed is that of integrated networks of services distributed according to a hierarchy of functions (Hub & Spoke model): 1st, 2nd, and 3rd level of functions. The network services should function as an integrated system, governed by agreed clinical and organizational guidelines, in which requirements of equipment sets and professional abilities are identified, as well as, relationship criteria among the different levels that regulate the by-directional course of the patients and/or the operators: the continuous training activity, the monitoring of a set of process indicators and results and also the clinical-organizational audit activity, are the instruments identified for results verification and for continuous actions of improvements.


As supported housing providers prepare for Supporting People over the next two and a half years, we recognise how important it is not to lose sight of the need to ensure that vulnerable people receive the best possible care and support, and are not presenting a risk to themselves or to others in the community. This article looks in detail at best practice procedures for referrals, including assessment procedures, support contracts and individual support plans.


Assessing and improving the quality of data in data-intensive systems are fundamental challenges that have given rise to numerous applications targeting transformation and cleaning of data. However, while schema design, data cleaning, and data migration are nowadays reasonably well understood in isolation, not much attention has been given to the interplay between the tools that address issues in these areas. Our focus is on the problem of determining whether there exist sequences of data-transforming procedures that, when applied to the (untransformed) input data, would yield data satisfying the conditions required for performing the task in question. Our goal is to develop a framework that would address this problem, starting with the relational setting.
In this paper we abstract data-processing tools as black-box procedures. This abstraction describes procedures by a specification of which parts of the database might be modified by the procedure, as well as by the constraints that specify the required states of the database before and after applying the procedure. We then proceed to study fundamental algorithmic questions arising in this context, such as understanding when one can guarantee that sequences of procedures apply to original or transformed data, when they succeed at improving the data, and when knowledge bases can represent the outcomes of procedures. Finally, we turn to the problem of determining whether the application of a sequence of procedures to a database results in the satisfaction of properties specified by either queries or constraints. We show that this problem is decidable for some broad and realistic classes of procedures and properties, even when procedures are allowed to alter the schema of instances.


Stephania glabra (Roxb.) Miers (Menispermaceae) has long been used for the treatment of asthma, tuberculosis, dysentery, hyperglycaemia, cancer, fever, intestinal complaints, sleep disturbances and inflammation in many Asian countries. It mainly contains alkaloids and, until now, over 30 alkaloids such as bisbenzylisoquinolines, hasubanalactams, berberines and aporphines have been isolated from its tuber. Most of its traditional medicinal activities are scientifically approved by various in vitro and in vivo studies. It shows remarkable anti-psychotic, anti-diabetic, antipyretic, analgesic, antimicrobial and anti-hypertensive activities. This work includes comprehensive information on the ethnobotany, chemistry and pharmacology of S. glabra. This review also focuses on the future perspectives with main emphasis on the establishment of therapeutic index and safety index of the plant. This review concludes that S. glabra has a great potential to treat various diseases, and could be used as a source for novel healthcare products in the near future, which needs further studies.


Very little attention has been paid to the relationship between House members' electoral vulnerability and the amount of federal spending they procure for their districts. I argue that vulnerable members receive more spending than safe members, on average, but only if they are in the majority party. Party leaders, as part of maintaining or pursuing a majority, have an interest in protecting their party's most vulnerable members. However, the majority party has a greater degree of control over spending than the minority party. This implies that the majority leadership is able to "protect" projects which are electorally beneficial to their party's vulnerable members, but the minority leadership is not. As a result, there is a positive relationship between vulnerability and the amount of pork procured among majority members, but not among minority members. Examinations of three different datasets centering on earmark distribution in the U.S. House from the past 15 years confirm these hypotheses.


We consider a new approach to reaction-path dynamics calculations in which the reaction path is calculated at a low level (LL) of theory and stationary point information from a high level (HL) of theory is used to interpolate corrections to energetic quantities, vibrational frequencies, and moments of inertia. Such a calculation is labeled XII/Y, where X denotes the high level and Y the low level. The theory is applied to the reaction OH + NH[sub 3] and three isotopomeric analogs. The highest-level optimization reported for the saddle point is QCISD(T)//MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ, which yields a classical barrier height of 3.65 kcal/mol. The rate constant is calculated at two levels, QCISD(T)//MP2/aug-cc-p VTZ[MP2/aug-cc-p VDZ] ///MP2/6-31G** and QCISD(T)//MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ[MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ] ///PM3-SRP; the calculated rare constant for the unsubstituted reaction is approximately invariant to the low level used in the dual-level scheme and agrees with experiment within a factor of 1.13 at 250 K and within a factor of 1.14 at 1500 K. 79 refs., 4 figs., 13 tabs.


Characterization of fats and oils is important in assessing their potential economic uses. This study was carried out to determine and compare the physicochemical characteristics of a pressed crude fat (PCF), solvent extracted fat (SEF) and the refined pressed fat (RPF) from the kernels of Pycnanthus angolensis (Pycnanthus Kombo ). The stability of the Kombo fat over a period of 21weeks was also investigated. Solvent extraction recorded a higher yield of 74.13 (±2.21)% compared to 41.08(±0.56)% by mechanical pressing. A comparison of the physicochemical characteristics of the three fat samples showed significant (p< 0.05) differences. The high saponification value suggests that the Kombo fat, preferably the refined fat is suitable for soap production. The low iodine value indicates a high degree of saturation of the fat as well as its non-drying nature. Stability of the crude fat under ambient conditions over the period of study was partly due to the presence of a natural antioxidant. Thus the fat is a good source of natural antioxidant in the stabilisation of human and animal foods against rancidity, colour and odour development. Keywords


Dynamic measurement implies determining the content of signals having spectral structure and energy changing with time, sometimes on very short time scales. Dynamic measurements can present challenges to determine sufficient information in both the time and frequency domains. High resolution in frequency prevents finding short-term peak levels and recognizing true crest factors, and vice versa. If the dynamic measurement concerns sound, the much better simultaneous recognition of time and frequency information by the ear/brain than by conventional measurement methods can further complicate the challenge. People have at least three times better simultaneous time/frequency resolution than the familiar Fourier transform moved across the time axis, although quite often a compromise block size can be found that gives time/frequency measurement agreeing with human sound perception of both factors. Unlike technical measuring systems, human hearing is also very sensitive to patterns. The presence of tones, varying tones (amplitude and/or frequency), clicks, rattles, splashing sounds, etc., even at low levels in the presence of other less structured noise of considerably higher level, can dominate perception. Human consciousness effectively performs the opposite of averaging, ignoring the absolute value of slowly varying or stationary signals and focusing on things differing at short time bases from their surroundings in both time and frequency. In dynamic measurement it can be difficult to withdraw the important pattern from the absolute whole. Case studies will be given comparing conventional techniques with three high-resolution time/frequency methods useful in general engineering although developed to model the processes of human sound perception: a hearing model with very rapid time resolution at all frequencies [1], a relative (pattern) measurement technique subtracting a sliding average in both time and frequency from a running instantaneous spectrum [2], and a Fourier-based window deconvolution method giving pure spectral lines regardless of signal-to-block synchronization and permitting multiplication of frequency resolution for a given block length and time resolution [1], [3].Copyright © 2006 by HEAD acoustics GmbH


Abstract In this study, we examined the validity of a novel subjective scale for assessing resistance-exercise effort. Seventeen male bodybuilders performed five sets of 10 repetitions at 70% of one-repetition maximum, for the bench press and squat. At the completion of each set, participants quantified their effort via the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and novel estimated-repetitions-to-failure scales, and continued repetitions to volitional exhaustion to determine actual-repetitions-to-failure. There were high correlations between estimated- and actual-repetitions-to-failure across sets for the bench press and squat (r ≥ 0.93; P < 0.05). During sets 3, 4, and 5, estimated-repetitions-to-failure predicted the number of repetitions to failure for the bench press and squat, as indicated by smaller effect sizes for differences (ES = 0.37–0.0). The estimated-repetitions-to-failure scale was reliable as indicated by high intraclass correlation coefficients (≥0.92) and narrow 95% limits of agreement (≤0.63 repetitions) for both the bench press and squat. Despite high correlations between RPE and actual-repetitions-to-failure (P < 0.05), RPE at volitional fatigue was less than maximal for both exercises. Our results suggest that the estimated-repetitions-to-failure scale is valid for predicting onset of muscular failure, and can be used for the assessment and prescription of resistance exercise.


The objective of this research was to develop a new computer-based system for psychomotor skill assessment. The focus was on the simulation of the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF) reproduction test incorporating a haptic interface. Various system functions were created to support customized testing protocols that are based on specific user requirements, facilitate semiautomated scoring of tests, and produce quantitative test output. Advanced technologies of pattern recognition were reviewed and adapted for the system development. This approach yielded an application for recording freehand drawings and recognizing and normalizing drawing strokes for semiautomated scoring according to a standard. The new simulator system was validated by comparison with traditional paper-based tests in which participants were asked to use their nondominant hand to simulate a minor motor impairment. Results demonstrated the simulator to be sensitive to functional differences between dominant and nondominant hand use. The computerized scoring software also appeared to be valid for generating ROCF scores, which were consistent with manual scores determined by a trained rater for the same drawing stimuli.


We consider approximation rates of sparsely connected deep rectified linear unit (ReLU) and rectified power unit (RePU) neural networks for functions in Besov spaces $B^\alpha_{q}(L^p)$ in arbitrary dimension $d$, on bounded or unbounded domains. We show that RePU networks with a fixed activation function attain optimal approximation rates for functions in the Besov space $B^\alpha_{\tau}(L^\tau)$ on the critical embedding line $1/\tau=\alpha/d+1/p$ for arbitrary smoothness order $\alpha>0$. Moreover, we show that ReLU networks attain near to optimal rates for any Besov space strictly above the critical line. Using interpolation theory, this implies that the entire range of smoothness classes at or above the critical line is (near to) optimally approximated by deep ReLU/RePU networks.


With advent of access technologies such as WiFi and WiMax, access mechanisms are on the verge of providing continuous access anytime, anywhere and most importantly anyhow. The IEEE 802.16e amendment to the IEEE 802.16 standard adds mobility to the original standard and thus makes WiMax an attractive solution to provide high bit rate mobile wireless services over a broader range of coverage. However, the last mile in open access networks remains vulnerable to attacks at the physical and MAC layers. This paper provides an overview of the security concerns and proposes a robust new architecture model to help protect against attacks from rogue devices for a true mobile security as wireless devices are becoming increasingly vulnerable mini computers. The drive to provide open access is not limited to cellular technology but extends to other wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi and WiMax.


The active layer of three distinct environments (undisturbed forest, moderately disturbed right-of-way, and severely disturbed trench) was examined during each of the 3 years following an experimental crude-oil spill in a black spruce forest in the Northwest Territories. The first year after the spill, the active layer in the oiled forest increased by >150%, in the oiled right-of-way by >80%, and in the oiled trench it did not change. By the third year, the active layers in all oiled environments were significantly deeper than their unoiled counterparts, and the active layer in the oiled trench was significantly deeper than that in the oiled forest. When compared with other studies for a crude-oil spill in a subarctic forested environment, this oil spill caused the greatest increase in thaw depths. This dramatic and persistent increase in thaw depth was likely a function of the high oil concentration, especially in areas where oil had pooled on the ground.


Abstract: Mayrhofer, H., Czeh, D., Kobald, E.-M. & Bilovitz, P. O. 2016. Catalogue of the lichenized and lichenicolous fungi of Kosovo. — Herzogia 29: 529–554. The catalogue is based on a comprehensive evaluation of 37 publications containing records from Kosovo, and on recent collections from the Šar Planina. The lichen mycota as currently known includes 488 taxa (477 species with 5 subspecies, 5 varieties and 1 form) of lichenized and 25 species of lichenicolous fungi. Fifty one species are reported for the first time.


Biofilm systems have been widely used in wastewater treatment plants. However, little information is available on the impact of toxic chemicals on the performance of fixed film systems. This study was aimed at evaluating the impact of copper on a biofilm system by examining a variety of parameters, including reactor pH, DO, substrate concentrations, secretion of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and copper removal and accumulation. The microbial communities in the biofilms were also examined using automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (ARISA). Four rotating drum biofilm reactors were used to produce biofilms. One reactor was used to produce biofilms under copper free conditions; while the others were used to produce biofilms grown under three different copper contamination levels, namely 100 ppb, 200 ppb, and 500 ppb, for a prolonged period. The following results were obtained: (1) biofilm reactor performance was not significantly impacted as demonstrated by the pH, DO, substrate removal, and total solids in the effluent; (2) however, copper contamination inhibited EPS production in the biofilms; (3) copper removal efficiencies of 25-31% were obtained for the three copper contamination levels studied; (4) fixed films functionalized as a reservoir to accumulate more copper over time; and (5) copper contamination selected for specific species that were able to tolerate this stress and that may contribute to its remediation.


SPRINT is a transaxial tomograph for use with single photon emitting nuclides. It consists of an aperture cylinder surrounded by a ring of NaI(Tl) detectors. The singles count rate for each detector is correlated with the aperture cylinder position. This provides a view of the image plane activity distribution from each detector's perspective. These views are then combined to form a slice image. Preliminary operation of the device has recently been accomplished. The structure of operation and calibration procedures has been defined. The statistical behavior of single detector data agrees with expectations. Individual point source data for a variety of positions agree with calculations for both resolution and sensitivity. These data arrays have been used with a modified ART routine to provide two dimensional source images.


Fuscoporia torulosa is the causal agent of white alveolar wood decay on several species including a large number of forest trees. Early detection of the fungus is essential to identify diseased trees before spread occurs to healthy plants. However, current detection methods based on isolation from infected tissues on semi-selective media are laborious, time consuming and require expertise in identifying the pathogen after isolation. In the present study, a rapid and reliable Scorpion-PCR based molecular method to identify and detect F. torulosa in planta was developed in a highly polymorphic portion of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions. Specificity of primers and probe was assessed by means of both BLAST analyses and by using genomic DNA from 131 F. torulosa isolates and 43 other fungi and oomycetes from different hosts and geographic areas. In Scorpion-PCR the limit of detection was 1 pg of total DNA and a high correlation (r2 = 0·996) was achieved between target DNA quantity and cycle threshold (Ct). Real-time PCR combined with effective procedures for DNA extraction enabled the detection of F. torulosa from naturally infected tissues of oaks with and without fruit bodies in approximately 6 h. Comparative testing showed that detection of F. torulosa in wood samples is more sensitive and reliable with real-time PCR than with conventional isolation.


Metallic nanostructures provide new possibilities for the photoelectric conversion enhancement of solar cells due to the existence of localized surface plasmon. Since the carrier generation rate is proportional to the electric intensity, a resonant plasmonic excitation can induce a strong local field around metallic nanostructures, hence increasing the optical absorption of the surrounding semiconductor. Previously, the incorporation of metallic nanostructures on the rear side of thin film solar cells has been demonstrated with photocurrent spectrum mapped to the photonic band structure. However, the device structure and the far-field measurement techniques cannot distinguish the photovoltaic enhancement from either or both the increased diffraction or localized surface plasmon resonance. In this work, we perform a three-dimensional finite element simulation to monitor enhanced optical absorption induced by localized surface plasmon and optical diffraction of periodic gold nanospheres incorporated onto the front surface of a silicon solar cell. The calculated structures include gold nanospheres with various diameters and densities. First, the resonance peak of localized surface plasmon is tailored to match the absorption spectrum of silicon. Next, the electric field distribution is calculated explicitly, where we observe enhanced optical absorption by more than 2 fold within a local volume underneath a gold nanosphere with a diameter of 100 nm, compared to the reference bare silicon. The enhancement is induced by the localized surface plasmon. However, the total absorption of the bulk silicon with gold particles is reduced at the resonance due to a phase cancellation resulting from the transmitted field and the diffracted field. It is therefore important to design the dimensions of nanospheres to achieve broadband absorption enhancement. Finally, the density of nanospheres is also optimized and achieves a maximal photocurrent conversion of 18.6 mA/cm2 at 3.2×1019 cm-2, which represents a compromise between forward scattering and metallic shadowing.


Does being part of an orchestra from an early age have an impact on cognitive and emotional capacities? Researchers from the University of Geneva (Unige), Switzerland, the University of Genoa (Unige-IT), and the Institute of Research and Coordination Acoustic/Music (IRCAM) in Paris investigated this question in the context of the Demos orchestras organized by the Philharmonie de Paris-Cité. This two-year study evaluated the development and evolution of the cognitive, emotional, and motor skills of 255 children engaged in two Demos orchestras, aged 7 to 13 years living in education priority zones (ZEPs) in France. The results showed that after two years of playing music as part of a group, the working memory, cognitive flexibility, and emotion understanding skills of the children improved at a higher rate than the published measurements on standard tests. Important improvements were also shown in movement synchronization.


Coastal British Columbia (BC), Canada, has the highest seismic hazard in the country due to convergent and transpressive deformation at offshore plate boundaries between the Pacific, Juan de Fuca (JdF) and North American (NA) plates. Further landward, the crust of the NA plate is made up of several geologically unique exotic terranes and is unusually thin. Investigating the geophysical features in this area can help us better constrain its tectonic history and the geophysical processes that are currently underway. Here, we conduct an analysis of teleseismic body‐wave scattering data (i.e., receiver functions [RFs]) recorded at stations across western coastal BC including northern Vancouver Island and southeastern Alaska. Using these RFs, we perform a harmonic decomposition with respect to earthquake back‐azimuths to determine the orientation of seismic anisotropy over a series of depth ranges, attributable to either mineral alignment or dipping structures. We find a coherent pattern of margin‐parallel orientations at upper crustal depths that persist onto the mainland at distances 420 km from the margin. Furthermore, dominant receiver function orientations at depth are attributed to dipping faults and interfaces, and fabrics due to lower crustal shearing or inherited from tectonic assembly along the margin. This work supports models for the tectonic assembly of this region that involve a combination of plate subduction and transpressive motion along crustal scale faults that pervade a wide portion of the margin. This work also helps to constrain the current geometries of the subducting Pacific and JdF slabs.


Cleruchoides noackae Lin & Huber (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) was imported to Brazil in 2012, to manage the exotic pest Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero & Dellapé (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae), which has been damaging eucalyptus plantations. Knowledge of the thermal requirements and the fertility life table of C. noackae is important to improve mass rearing methods for this parasitoid and the effectiveness of its release to manage T. peregrinus. The objective was to evaluate the development period, thermal requirements and the fertility life table of C. noackae at different temperatures. The egg-adult period of this parasitoid varied from 43 to 14 days at 15 °C and 30 °C, respectively. The emergence of C. noackae adults was higher at 15 °C, 18 °C, 21 °C and 24 °C than at 30 °C. Female and male C. noackae need 226.75 and 230.41 degree-days and temperatures higher than 10.06 °C and 9.90 °C, respectively, to complete egg-adult development. The number of parasitized eggs per C. noackae female was higher at 21 °C, 24 °C and 27 °C, with 5.82, 7.73 and 5.50 eggs, respectively, than at 30 °C (0.45). Cleruchoides noackae longevity was greater at 15 °C, 21 °C and 24 °C. The net reproductive rate of the parasitoid was higher at 21 °C and 24 °C than at 30 °C, 3.05, 4.70 and 0.16, respectively. The finite rate of increase of C. noackae was greater at 21 °C, 24 °C and 27 °C, than at 30 °C and the intrinsic rate of increase was negative at 30 °C, −0.100. The temperatures 21 °C and 24 °C and from 18 °C to 27 °C are the most adequate for the reproduction and population increase of C. noackae parasitizing eggs of T. peregrinus, respectively.


Magnetic properties of disordered and frustrated magnets have been experimentally investigated. The magnetic systems in focus in this work are spin-glasses and frozen ferrofluids (suspensions of nano-sized magnetic particles).It has been experimentally shown that for a three dimensional Ising spin-glass an external field destroys the low-temperature phase. This result supports a real space model where the static and the dynamic magnetic properties are governed by droplet excitations. So-called memory effects have been investigated in ac-susceptibility, zero-field-cooled and field-cooled relaxation experiments. As is the case for aging phenomena, these results can also be interpreted using the same real space model.Properties of the frozen ferrofluids have been investigated by means of first and higher order harmonics of the ac-susceptibility, magnetic noise and dc-relaxation measurements. For non-interacting particles the magnetic response is compared with theoretical model predictions. By increasing the concentration of particles in the ferrofluid, the dipole-dipole interaction between particles subsequently increases. The magnetic dynamics have been investigated in a wide time window and at different temperatures for a colloid consisting of considerably interacting γ-Fe2O3 particles. Detailed information of the effects introduced by interaction have been extracted from comparisons with the corresponding dynamics of non-interacting particles. The observed aging property and the critical behavior close to a phase transition temperature suggest a low temperature phase which is spin-glass-like even for these systems. Critical exponents of a dipole-dipole interacting magnetic particle system are determined from a static scaling analysis on a concentrated sample of nearly monodispersed FeC particles.Monte Carlo simulations have been utilized to model both spin-glass systems and magnetic nano-particle systems. The advantage of using Monte Carlo simulations is that certain intrinsic properties, not easily accessible in real experiments, can be studied or varied in computer experiments.


The advances of interventional cardiology have been achieved by new device development, finding appropriate drug regimes, and understanding of pathomechanism. Drug-eluting stents (DES) implantation with dual anti-platelet therapy reduced revascularization without increasing mortality or myocardial infarction compared with bare-metal stenting. However, late-term stent thrombosis (ST) and restenosis limited its value and raised the safety concern. Main mechanisms of this phenomenon are impaired endothelialization and hypersensitivity reaction with polymer. The second generation DES further improved safety and/or efficacy by using thinner stent strut and biocompatible polymer. Recently, new concept DES with biodegradable polymer, polymer-free and bioabsorbable scaffold are under investigation in the quest to minimize the risk of ST.


The shell model Monte Carlo (SMMC) approach is a powerful state‐of‐the‐art method for the microscopic calculation of level densities in the presence of correlations. With this method it is possible to perform realistic calculations in model spaces that are many orders of magnitude larger than spaces that can be treated with conventional diagonalization methods. SMMC level densities of medium‐mass nuclei were found to be in remarkably good agreement with experimental level densities without any adjustable parameters. We discuss recent developments, including a spin projection method for calculating the spin distribution of level densities and the extension of SMMC to heavy deformed nuclei.


In this note, I comment on Julian Reiss's paper 'The explanation paradox'. I argue in support of two of the propositions that make up that paradox (that economic models are false, and that they are explanatory) but challenge the third proposition, that only true accounts can explain. I defend the 'credible worlds' account of models as fictions that are explanatory by virtue of similarity relations with real-world phenomena. I argue that Reiss's objections to the role of subjective similarity judgements in explanation illegitimately presuppose the existence of rational criteria by which science can certify the objective validity of its explanation.


Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) represents a severe acute event with high morbidity and mortality due to the development of early brain injury (EBI), secondary delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI), and shunt-related hydrocephalus. Secondary events (SSE) such as neuroinflammation, vasospasm, excitotoxicity, blood-brain barrier disruption, oxidative cascade, and neuronal apoptosis are related to DCI. Despite improvement in management strategies and therapeutic protocols, surviving patients frequently present neurological deficits with neurocognitive impairment. The aim of this paper is to offer to clinicians a practical review of the actually documented pathophysiological events following subarachnoid hemorrhage. To reach our goal we performed a literature review analyzing reported studies regarding the mediators involved in the pathophysiological events following SAH occurring in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (hemoglobin degradation products, platelets, complement, cytokines, chemokines, leucocytes, endothelin-1, NO-synthase, osteopontin, matricellular proteins, blood-brain barrier disruption, microglia polarization). The cascade of pathophysiological events secondary to SAH is very complex and involves several interconnected, but also distinct pathways. The identification of single therapeutical targets or specific pharmacological agents may be a limited strategy able to block only selective pathophysiological paths, but not the global evolution of SAH-related events. We report furthermore on the role of heparin in SAH management and discuss the rationale for use of intrathecal heparin as a pleiotropic therapeutical agent. The combination of the anticoagulant effect and the ability to interfere with SSE theoretically make heparin a very interesting molecule for SAH management.


A theory of the magnetoresistance of disordered carbons is presented and applied to experimental results on carbon fibers and glassy carbon. The important features of the model include (a) a two-dimensional band structure and density of states, (b) a shallow acceptor level due to defects, (c) collision-broadened Landau levels, and (d) an extra density of states in the $m=0$ Landau level to account for the effects of partial three-dimensional ordering of the graphitelike layers. The negative magnetoresistance results from field-induced changes in the density of states which lead to an increase in the carrier concentration with field. Four structure-dependent parameters are used to fit the resistivity as a function of temperature, field strength, and orientation of the sample in the field. Approaches to improving the model are discussed.


Thalassaemia is one of the most common inherited genetic disorders prevalent worldwide. In India, certain communities were identified with high risk of beta thalassaemia. There are more than 200 different types of beta thalassaemia mutations worldwide. The most common beta thalassaemia mutation, IVS 1-5 (G→C) is being analyzed here to get information whether this common mutation is prevailing among the domicile of Northeast region of India or not. The study included characterization of IVS 1-5 (G→C) mutations by ARMS-PCR. Among the total 460 cases referred for Haemoglobin typing, the occurrence of IVS 1-5 (G→C) was observed among the 149 cases having beta thalassaemia. Among the 149 studied cases, 94 cases (63.09%) were positive for IVS 1-5 (G→C) mutation. The rest 55 were negative for IVS 1-5 (G→C). This preliminary information regarding the mutational pattern is important for establishing prenatal diagnosis programmes. The results showed that, IVS 1-5 (G→C) mutations is the most frequent mutation encountered among the beta thalassaemic samples of this Northeast region of India.


We investigate the effects of intrinsic alignments (IA) of dark-matter halo shapes on cosmic density and velocity fields from cluster to cosmic scales beyond 100 Mpc/h. Besides the density correlation function binned by the halo orientation angle which was used in the literature, we introduce, for the first time, the corresponding two velocity statistics, the angle-binned pairwise infall momentum and momentum correlation function. Using large-volume, high-resolution N-body simulations, we measure the alignment statistics of density and velocity, both in real and redshift space. We find that the alignment signal is not amplified by redshift-space distortions at linear scales. Behaviors of IA in the velocity statistics are similar to those in the density statistics, except that the halo orientations are aligned with the velocity field up to a scale larger than those with the density field, x>100 Mpc/h. On halo scales, x~ R_{200m} ~ 1 Mpc/h, we detect a sharp steepening in the momentum correlation associated with the physical halo boundary, or the splashback feature, which is found more prominent than in the density correlation. Our results indicate that observations of IA with the velocity field can provide additional information on cosmological models from large scales and on physical sizes of halos from small scales.


Protests are important social forms of activism, but can be inaccessible to people with disabilities. Online activism, like the 2017 Disability March, has provided alternative venues for involvement in accessible protesting and social movements. In this study, we use identity theory as a lens to understand why and how disabled activists engaged in an online movement, and its impact on their self-concepts. We interviewed 18 disabled activists about their experiences with online protesting during the Disability March. Respondents' identities (as both disabled individuals and as activists) led them to organize or join the March, evolved alongside the group's actions, and were reprioritized or strained as a result of their involvement. Our findings describe the values and limitations of this activism to our respondents, highlight the tensions they perceived about their activist identities, and present opportunities to support further accessibility and identity changes by integrating technology into their activist experiences.


There is speculation that with time the atmosphere of the Earth kept on altering for millions of years and an intensive water vapor ruled over the atmosphere for considerable duration and contributed towards shaping the present Earth's atmosphere. Evaporation from water bodies both from the Oceanic regions and inland water bodies also played crucial for atmospheric changes. Organisms, whether belonging to flora and fauna also had some roles through transpiration or other biological processes. Over millions of years, a certain balance has stabilized water circulation between the atmosphere and the planet's surface. Precipitation for a specific geographical region with specified volume altogether may impact the present situation. Small atmospheric changes collectively impact the overall climate which requires ample time.


BACKGROUND
This study investigated pilots' visual scan patterns on an uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV) flight display that used moving textbox symbology to emulate vertical moving pointers for the primary flight instruments.

METHODS
Eye tracking measurements were recorded for five instrument-rated pilots. Dwell frequencies and mean dwell times were calculated for each instrument. The efficiency of instrument information presentation was evaluated based on mean dwell times and dwell histograms. The heading indicator, a strict digital readout, was used as the reference for pair-wise comparison with the moving textbox instruments.

RESULTS
Instrument dwell frequencies differed significantly (p < 0.005, alpha = 0.006) with the attitude indicator being the most frequently scanned instrument followed by the vertical speed indicator, then the airspeed, heading, and altitude indicators. There was no difference in mean dwell times (p = 0.04-0.79, alpha = 0.008) or dwell histograms between the heading indicator and the primary moving textbox instruments. Pilot scan behavior was not significantly affected (p > 0.17) by workload. Also, subjects and historical controls did not differ (p > 0.30) in their frequency of engine instrument dwells.

CONCLUSION
The dwell frequencies for the primary flight instruments, particularly the vertical speed indicator, differed from those reported for more traditional aircraft. The moving textboxes required visual fixations that were typical of quantitative instruments, which is a cognitively inefficient way to present information. Pilots failed to increase engine instrument dwells in the absence of non-visual cues of engine performance, making them potentially vulnerable to missing early changes in engine performance.


The former French India has held a distinctive place in metropolitan French discourses and sentiments of colonial nostalgia which have been subject to sustained analysis. French India is thus part of a larger body of research exploring colonial nostalgia both as a general phenomenon and in a specific regional context. However, the corresponding imaginaries in what after its decolonization became the Indian Union Territory of Puducherry have remained marginalized in research. Yet regardless of the frequently naturalized expectation that the colonial metropoles should be its natural habitat, colonial nostalgia is not something that only occurs among the former colonial powers, and colonial nostalgia is in fact expressed in many ways in present-day Puducherry. This ethnographic study shows that if we are to understand the production and roles of colonial nostalgia we need to analyse it not merely from the perspective of the former colonial powers, but also as it occurs in the former colonies. Indeed, we should question how separate such discourses, imaginaries and sentiments of colonial nostalgia are, and redirect our attention to interrogating how they interact and may be coproduced in a broader, often ambiguous post/colonial field where postcolonial interests in the former colony are equally at stake.


Purpose: The "fat-but-fit" paradigm has been evaluated. However, the duration of overweight/obesity within the "fat-but-fit" paradigm (ie, assessing body mass at more than 1 time point) has not been extensively evaluated, which was this study's purpose. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003 to 2006. Participants: Ages 36 to 85; N = 3621. Measures: Physical activity assessed via accelerometry. Medical multimorbidity was assessed via physician diagnosis of 13 chronic diseases. Height and body mass were directly measured for current body mass index (BMI), and 10-year prior BMI was calculated using current height and self-reported weight 10 years prior. Six mutually exclusive groups were created: (1) active, normal weight now and 10 years ago; (2) inactive, normal weight now and 10 years ago; (3) active, overweight/obese now but not 10 years ago; (4) active, overweight/obese now and 10 years ago; (5) inactive, overweight/obese now but not 10 years ago; and (6) inactive, overweight/obese now and 10 years ago. Analysis: Logistic regression. Results: Compared to group 1, adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were as follows: group 2: OR = 2.0 (P = .004), group 3: OR = 1.7 (P = .004), group 4: OR = 2.5 (P < .001), group 5: OR = 2.9 (P < .001), and group 6: OR = 4.8 (P < .001). Conclusions: All patterns of weight change/duration and activity level altered the odds of medical multimorbidity, suggesting that the duration of overweight/obesity should also be taken into consideration when assessing the "fat-but-fit" paradigm.


In the 21 st century, generic methods and synergetic learning have been widely embraced in the areas of pedagogical and professional studies. It is crucial, especially in school-activity environments that involve technology and digital knowledge. Those who are capable of studying in teams and who promote 'collective intelligence' are likely to become influential and inspiring students and teachers. By understanding aligned visions from different viewpoints, students and teachers can maximize their efforts and talents. The idea of collective teacher efficacy (CTE) positively affects student outcomes and therefore is an essential tool in teacher training and practices. We live in the ongoing dynamics of integrated diverse thoughts, methods, disciplines, and activities. To create a better ecology for qualitative existence, numerous scholars and teachers, seek to devise necessary changes in education and social initiatives. In a world split by regimes and values, dealing with conflictual dilemmas is inevitable: preserving classical methods on the one hand, and encouraging innovative attitudes on the other. These contradictory approaches raise critical didactical questions about training future teachers and educators without prejudicing their fundamental essence. This article presents a three-years research of a group of students, at the Kibbutzim College of Education, Tel Aviv, who were trained to become professional teachers in the humanities, and their pedagogical eco-systems. It discusses some dilemmas about progressive school methods and focuses on some of the advantages and disadvantages of the generical attitudes in their practical work, regarding the gap between their first year of studying and the first year of teaching. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.19.8.1


Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is among the major threats to public health in Asia. For disease control and prevention, the efficient production of safe and effective vaccines against JEV is in urgent need. In this study, we produced a plant-made JEV vaccine candidate using a chimeric virus particle (CVP) strategy based on bamboo mosaic virus (BaMV) for epitope presentation. The chimeric virus, designated BJ2A, was constructed by fusing JEV envelope protein domain III (EDIII) at the N-terminus of BaMV coat protein, with an insertion of the foot-and-mouth disease virus 2A peptide to facilitate the production of both unfused and epitope-presenting for efficient assembly of the CVP vaccine candidate. The strategy allowed stable maintenance of the fusion construct over long-term serial passages in plants. Immuno-electron microscopy examination and immunization assays revealed that BJ2A is able to present the EDIII epitope on the surface of the CVPs, which stimulated effective neutralizing antibodies against JEV infection in mice. This study demonstrates the efficient production of an effective CVP vaccine candidate against JEV in plants by the BaMV-based epitope presentation system.


We provide a general analytical framework for the computation of the interference statistics in mobile radio cellular systems. This approach, which takes into account log-normal shadowing, distance path loss, best cell site selection and power control based on signal strength, applies to various cellular environments, including narrowband systems (e.g., IS-54 and Group Special Mobiles GSM) and code-division multiple-access (CDMA) systems. Some examples of application are provided.


Abstract Deep learning (DL) constitutes a modern technique for image processing, with large potential. Having been successfully applied in various areas, it has recently also entered the domain of agriculture. In the current paper, a survey was conducted of research efforts that employ convolutional neural networks (CNN), which constitute a specific class of DL, applied to various agricultural and food production challenges. The paper examines agricultural problems under study, models employed, sources of data used and the overall precision achieved according to the performance metrics used by the authors. Convolutional neural networks are compared with other existing techniques, and the advantages and disadvantages of using CNN in agriculture are listed. Moreover, the future potential of this technique is discussed, together with the authors' personal experiences after employing CNN to approximate a problem of identifying missing vegetation from a sugar cane plantation in Costa Rica. The overall findings indicate that CNN constitutes a promising technique with high performance in terms of precision and classification accuracy, outperforming existing commonly used image-processing techniques. However, the success of each CNN model is highly dependent on the quality of the data set used.


The structural properties and band offset determination of p-channel staggered gap In0.7Ga0.3As/GaAs0.35Sb0.65 heterostructure tunnel field-effect transistor (TFET) grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) were investigated. High resolution x-ray diffraction revealed that the active layers are strained with respect to "virtual substrate." Dynamic secondary ion mass spectrometry confirmed an abrupt junction profile at the In0.7Ga0.3As/GaAs0.35Sb0.65 heterointerface and minimal level of intermixing between As and Sb atoms. The valence band offset of 0.37 ± 0.05 eV was extracted from x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A staggered band lineup was confirmed at the heterointerface with an effective tunneling barrier height of 0.13 eV. Thus, MBE-grown staggered gap In0.7Ga0.3As/GaAs0.35Sb0.65 TFET structures are a promising p-channel option to provide critical guidance for the future design of mixed As/Sb type-II based complementary logic and low power devices.