Packed atlases, consisting of 2D parameterized charts, are ubiquitously used to store surface signals such as texture or normals. Tight packing is similarly used to arrange and cut-out 2D panels for fabrication from sheet materials. Packing efficiency, or the ratio between the areas of the packed atlas and its bounding box, significantly impacts downstream applications. We propose Box Cutter, a new method for optimizing packing efficiency suitable for both settings. Our algorithm improves packing efficiency without changing distortion by strategically cutting and repacking the atlas charts or panels. It preserves the local mapping between the 3D surface and the atlas charts and retains global mapping continuity across the newly formed cuts. We balance packing efficiency improvement against increase in chart boundary length and enable users to directly control the acceptable amount of boundary elongation. While the problem we address is NP-hard, we provide an effective practical solution by iteratively detecting large rectangular empty spaces, or void boxes, in the current atlas packing and eliminating them by first refining the atlas using strategically placed axis-aligned cuts and then repacking the refined charts. We repeat this process until no further improvement is possible, or until the desired balance between packing improvement and boundary elongation is achieved. Packed chart atlases are only useful for the applications we address if their charts are overlap-free; yet many popular parameterization methods, used as-is, produce atlases with global overlaps. Our pre-processing step eliminates all input overlaps while explicitly minimizing the boundary length of the resulting overlap-free charts. We demonstrate our combined strategy on a large range of input atlases produced by diverse parameterization methods, as well as on multiple sets of 2D fabrication panels. Our framework dramatically improves the output packing efficiency on all inputs; for instance with boundary length increase capped at 50% we improve packing efficiency by 68% on average.


Chronic otitis media is one of the most common ear pathologies among children. This article provides a short overview of publications on surgical techniques. Currently, the most effective treatment is the surgical sanitation of the middle ear cavities. There are two fundamentally different approaches of operations in relation to the posterior wall of the external auditory canal - «open» and «closed» types. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages, which are especially noticeable in pediatric revision otosurgery. Surgical obliteration of the sanitized middle ear cavities is an effective compromise option. However, the techniques of bone obliteration, which are actively applied among adults, are difficult if we discuss children ear. A way out of this situation may be the use of modern osteoplastic materials for filling large trepanation cavities. The article describes in detail the technique of revision sanitizing surgery on the middle ear using osteoplastic granules. Purpose of the study. The analysis of the first results of separate obliteration of paratympanic cavities in children using osteoplastic materials.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
In the period from May 2018 to November 2020, on the basis of the Federal State Autonomous Institution «National Medical Research Center of Children's Health» of the Ministry of Health of Russia, 28 children aged from 6 to 17-year-old with chronic otitis media and cholesteatoma were operated using osteoplastic obliteration, who had previously sanitizing operation on the middle ear. All children on admission to the hospital and 6-12 months after the operation underwent a complex examination. The condition of each patient was assessed using the OMO-22 quality of life questionnaire, to which the parents answered the questions twice - before and 1 year after surgery.

RESULTS
During the postoperative period none of the patients had clinical signs of recurrence of cholesteatoma, which was confirmed by CT scan. When assessing the quality of life of children using a questionnaire, the average score before the operation was 130.2±27.7, after the operation - 61.5±21.1. The indicator of the bone-air interval before surgery in patients averaged 29.8±9.7 dB, 1 year after surgery - 13.0±10.9 dB (p>0.05).

FINDINGS
The first experience of using osteoplastic materials for obliterating the paratympanic spaces in children has shown high efficiency, ease of use and safety.


Abstract Pathogenic NR2F1 variants cause a rare autosomal dominant neurodevelopmental disorder referred to as the Bosch–Boonstra–Schaaf Optic Atrophy Syndrome. Although visual loss is a prominent feature seen in affected individuals, the molecular and cellular mechanisms contributing to visual impairment are still poorly characterized. We conducted a deep phenotyping study on a cohort of 22 individuals carrying pathogenic NR2F1 variants to document the neurodevelopmental and ophthalmological manifestations, in particular the structural and functional changes within the retina and the optic nerve, which have not been detailed previously. The visual impairment became apparent in early childhood with small and/or tilted hypoplastic optic nerves observed in 10 cases. High-resolution optical coherence tomography imaging confirmed significant loss of retinal ganglion cells with thinning of the ganglion cell layer, consistent with electrophysiological evidence of retinal ganglion cells dysfunction. Interestingly, for those individuals with available longitudinal ophthalmological data, there was no significant deterioration in visual function during the period of follow-up. Diffusion tensor imaging tractography studies showed defective connections and disorganization of the extracortical visual pathways. To further investigate how pathogenic NR2F1 variants impact on retinal and optic nerve development, we took advantage of an Nr2f1 mutant mouse disease model. Abnormal retinogenesis in early stages of development was observed in Nr2f1 mutant mice with decreased retinal ganglion cell density and disruption of retinal ganglion cell axonal guidance from the neural retina into the optic stalk, accounting for the development of optic nerve hypoplasia. The mutant mice showed significantly reduced visual acuity based on electrophysiological parameters with marked conduction delay and decreased amplitude of the recordings in the superficial layers of the visual cortex. The clinical observations in our study cohort, supported by the mouse data, suggest an early neurodevelopmental origin for the retinal and optic nerve head defects caused by NR2F1 pathogenic variants, resulting in congenital vision loss that seems to be non-progressive. We propose NR2F1 as a major gene that orchestrates early retinal and optic nerve head development, playing a key role in the maturation of the visual system.


School administrator involvement is recognized as a key factor in the extent to which school health promotion programs and initiatives are successfully implemented. The aims of this scoping review are to: (a) Identify existing documents that contain recommendations regarding the involvement of school administrators in school-based health promotion; (b) distill and summarize the recommendations; (c) examine differences in the recommendations by targeted professional level, professional group, health promotion content focus, and by whether the recommendations are evidence-based or opinion-based; and (d) evaluate the research informing the recommendations. We drew upon the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines to conduct the review. Our team conducted a comprehensive literature search with no date or geographic restrictions from January 2018 through April 2018 using four electronic databases: Academic Search Complete, Google Scholar, Physical Education Index, and PubMed. Eligibility criteria included any online documents, in English, that contained recommendations targeting school administrators' (e.g., principals, assistant principals, superintendents) involvement (e.g., support, endorsement, advocacy) in school health programming (e.g., physical activity, nutrition, wellness). The search yielded a total of 1225 records, which we screened by title, then by abstract, and finally by full text, resulting in 61 records that met inclusion criteria. Data (e.g., recommendations, targeted contexts, targeted administrators) from these records were extracted for a content analysis. Included records contained 80 distinct recommendations, which we summarized into three themes (Collaboration, Advocacy, and Support) using a content analysis. Separate content analyses revealed no qualitative differences in the recommendations by professional level, professional group, or content focus, or by whether the recommendations were evidence-based or opinion-based. Twenty-one of the included records were peer-reviewed research articles. Using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT), we appraised qualitative research articles the highest and mixed methods research articles the lowest. This review provides a basis for future research and professional practice aiming to increase school administrators' involvement in school-based health promotion.


Progesterone (P4)-activated progesterone receptors (PRs) play an essential role in driving pregnancy-associated mammary ductal side-branching morphogenesis and alveologenesis. However, the global cistromic and transcriptome responses that are required to elicit P4-dependent branching morphogenesis have not been elucidated. By combining chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by deep sequencing to identify genome-wide PR-binding sites in PR-positive luminal epithelial cells with global gene expression signatures acutely regulated by PRs in the mammary gland, we have identified a mammary epithelial PR targetome associated with active P4-dependent branching morphogenesis in vivo. We demonstrate that P4-induced side-branching is initiated by epithelial cell rearrangement into a multilayered epithelium that sprouts laterally from quiescent ducts via a mechanism requiring P4-dependent activation of Rac-GTPase signaling. We identify effectors of Rac-GTPases as direct transcriptional targets of PRs, and we demonstrate that disruption of the P4-activated Rac-GTPase signaling axis is sufficient to eliminate P4-dependent side-branching. Our data reveal that the molecular mediators of P4-dependent ductal side-branching overlap with those implicated in breast cancer.


Changes in the composition of a community due to the invasion by exotic plant species can lead to modification of ecosystem function that, in turn, produces feedbacks that drive further changes in community composition. The development of predictive models of this process requires an understanding of the spatial extent of the impacts of the exotic species, particularly during early stages of invasion. The main objective of this study was to characterize the neighborhood dynamics of ecosystem transformations by the invasive tree species Norway maple (Acer platanoides L.) and tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima Mill.) in temperate forests of the northeastern United States. By using a neighborhood approach in multiple sites, we sought to determine (1) the magnitude and spatial extent of the effects of the two invasive species on soil properties and processes; (2) whether the effects of the invasive species were site dependent; and (3) the differences in the effects of invasive versus native tree species on ecosystem processes. Our results showed that Norway maple and tree of heaven alter the functioning of temperate forest ecosystems even at relatively low densities by increasing cycling rates (i.e., net N mineralization, net nitrification, Ca mineralization) and nutrient availability (i.e., pH, Ca, Mg, K, N). At the neighborhood scale, the spatial extent of the impact of the two species varied strikingly among soil properties. Moreover, the neighborhood effects of the two invasive species were site dependent, with the magnitude of the impact increasing with soil fertility. At the community level, Norway maple and to a lesser extent tree of heaven had stronger effect on soils than any of the dominant native tree species considered. We conclude that the invasion of northeastern forests by Norway maple and tree of heaven is characterized by predictable, neighborhood-specific acceleration of nutrient cycling rates and localized increases in nutrient pools. These ecosystem alterations have enormous potential for the modification of competitive hierarchies in forest communities. In particular, Norway maple and tree of heaven may change relative abundances within the native community to the benefit of native species that are more competitive on nutrient rich sites.


: A review is given of otitis media in northern native populations, including incidence, natural history, the effects on the individuals affected, and what is known of causative factors. A brief account of tympanoplasty is presented, followed by a description of the method used at the Charles Camsell Hospital, and the results obtained. Suggestions are made for improved follow-up and a plea is made for improved home conditions for the native population.


Host resistance is an effective and sustainable approach to manage the negative impact of Fusarium head blight (FHB) on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain yield and quality. The objective of this study was to characterize the phenotypic responses and identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) conditioning different FHB resistance types using a panel of 236 elite soft red winter wheat (SRWW) lines in a genome‐wide association study (GWAS). The panel was phenotyped for five FHB and three morphological traits under two field and two greenhouse environments in 2018–2019 and 2019–2020. We identified 160 significant marker–trait associations (MTAs) for FHB traits and 11 MTAs for plant height. Eleven QTL showed major effects and explained >10% phenotypic variation (PV) for FHB resistance. Among these major loci, three QTL were stable and five QTL exhibited a pleiotropic effect. The QTL QFhb‐3BL, QFhb‐5AS, QFhb‐5BL, QFhb‐7AS.1, QFhb‐7AS.2, and QFhb‐7BS are presumed to be novel. Pyramiding multiple resistance alleles from all the major‐effect QTL resulted in a significant reduction in FHB incidence, severity, index, deoxynivalenol (DON), and Fusarium‐damaged kernel (FDK) by 17, 43, 45, 55, and 25%, respectively. Further validation of these QTL could potentially facilitate successful introgression of these resistance loci in new cultivars for improved FHB resistance in breeding programs.


A 36-year-old woman received chemotherapy for newly diagnosed intravascular large B-cell lymphoma with central nervous system involvement. She developed tingling and weakness in her legs during recovery from myelosuppression of the second cycle. Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography was performed, which revealed metabolic complete remission. Her symptoms deteriorated and extended to her arms with intolerable pain as well as unilateral facial weakness and difficulty swallowing after several weeks. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed no new lesions. MR neurography (Picture 1, arrowheads) revealed bilateral irregular enlargement of the lumbosacral plexus that was enhanced on coronal gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted MRI (Picture 2, 3, arrowheads) and compatible with a diagnosis of neurolymphomatosis (1, 2). She succumbed to relentless progression despite subsequent chemotherapy. Our case highlights the importance of selecting the affected nerve properly and performing MR neurography and gadolinium-enhanced MRI if neurolymphomatosis is highly suspected.


Different vibration measurement systems are widely used in turbomachines to monitor their vibration behavior. There is, however, little information available for judging, which of the different options (monitoring of casing vibration velocities, relative or absolute shaft displacements) should be selected for a specific machine. The present paper describes a simple method allowing to make this selection. A formula is provided for prediction of the expected ratio of bearing casing vibrations to relative shaft vibrations caused by unbalance. By comparing this ratio to the values prescribed by the specified vibration limits, one can decide which of both systems is more suitable for monitoring purposes. Based on an example of an industrial gas turbine, it will be shown that the procedure results in a selection of the correct vibration monitoring system.Copyright © 1992 by ASME


This paper examines the influence of oil prices on stock market time-varying correlation. Five stock market indices from both oil-importing (US, UK and Germany) and oil-exporting economies (Canada and Norway) are considered for the period 1988-2011. The findings from the DCC-GARCH framework suggest that the effects of oil price changes on stock market correlation are not constant over time and they depend on the status of the economy, i.e. whether it is oil-importing or oil-exporting. In addition, utilising the identification of oil price shocks in [1], [2] and [3] it is found that the aggregate demand shocks and precautionary demand shocks tend to exercise a negative effect on stock market correlation, whereas no effects from the supply-side oil price shocks can be reported. These findings have important implications for international portfolio diversifications and risk management.


Introduction: The increasing number of HIV/AIDS incidence over time begins to become global problems. One of the current concerns is the morbidity and mortality rates in the fetal outcomes patients with HIV/AIDS who can provide many complications. The importance of adequate pre-and antenatal care may help to reduce morbidity and mortality due to this condition. The purpose of this study is to determine incidence and morbidity of mother with HIV/AIDS and fetal outcomes after delivery in Hasan Sadikin General Hospital from 2011 to 2015. Method: With descriptive study, we use secondary data from medical record on Obstetrics and Gynecology Department. Results of fetal outcomes obtained from medical record on Perinatology Department and the management of HIV/AIDS in married couples and fetal after delivery was obtained from medical record on Teratai Clinic, Hasan Sadikin General Hospital. Results: The incidence of mother with HIV/AIDS who gave birth at Hasan Sadikin General Hospital from 2011 to 2015 tends to increase every year with the number of percentage is 0.06%, 0.29%, 0.24%, 0.72%, and 0.38% from total deliveries, respectively. Fetal outcomes vary from preterm labour 19.57%, low birth weight baby 15.22%, asphyxia 13.04%, small for gestational age (SGA) 4.35%, and early fetal death 2.17%. Conclusion: Incidence of delivery with HIV/AIDS tends to increase every year. Preterm labor has the highest morbidity on fetal outcomes.


In this paper, Noether symmetry and Mei symmetry of discrete nonholonomic dynamical systems with regular and the irregular lattices are investigated. Firstly, the equations of motion of discrete nonholonomic systems are introduced for regular and irregular lattices. Secondly, for cases of the two lattices, based on the invariance of the Hamiltomian functional under the infinitesimal transformation of time and generalized coordinates, we present the quasi-extremal equation, the discrete analogues of Noether identity, Noether theorems, and the Noether conservation laws of the systems. Thirdly, in cases of the two lattices, we study the Mei symmetry in which we give the discrete analogues of the criterion, the theorem, and the conservative laws of Mei symmetry for the systems. Finally, an example is discussed for the application of the results.


This study aimed to assess the understanding of the Food Pyramid Adapted to Physically Active Adolescents as an educational tool to improve nutrition knowledge. Adolescents engaged in sport training responded to a nutrition knowledge questionnaire before and after the intervention. The pyramid intervention group received the printed educational material, and the broad intervention group received the printed material followed by a lecture. As a result, mean initial nutrition knowledge was average (59.9 ± 18 points), increasing (p<0.001) after the intervention (69.1 ± 20 points) without significant difference between interventions. In conclusion, adolescents' nutrition knowledge improved, even with the use of the Food Pyramid alone, indicating its use to promote nutritional knowledge.


Countries in South East Asia, where dengue fever is endemic, are bracing themselves for an expected sharp rise in cases next year, experts at the World Health Organization have reported.

Not enough effort is going into vector control (the main vector being the mosquito), because most donor organisations are putting their money into the development of a vaccine, the experts say.

The disease is also spreading beyond its traditional boundaries. More than 450 cases were reported this year in Cairns and Townsville, Australia, the biggest outbreak the region has seen. Hong Kong had its first major outbreak last year, with 44 cases. And in 2001 there were 1394 cases in neighbouring Macau, which has only ever had one case before, in 1996.

Because infected humans can transmit dengue to susceptible mosquitoes, population movement is bringing the …


Laser Doppler velocimetry has been used to make cycle-resolved velocity and turbulence measurements in a homogeneous-charge, spark-ignition engine. The engine had a ported intake and disc-shaped chamber with a compression ratio of 8 to 1. It was operated at a speed of 1200 rpm and with a TDC swirl number of 4. A stoichiometric propane-air mixture was used, and ignition was near the wall. The velocity measurements were made at three spatial locations at the midpoint of the clearance height. Tests were made to determine whether the presence of the flame affected the accuracy of the velocity measurements. It was found that the ensemble-averaged mean velocity shows a small deviation, and the rms fluctuation intensity is significantly influenced, but the effects appear to be confined to the flame zone. Data rates were sufficiently high in the preflame and postflame regions to determine the velocity history in each cycle (cycle resolved). The cycle resolved turbulence intensity was found to increase across the flame. The turbulence intensity in the burned gas was found to be homogeneous at the three spatial locations examined and to decay rapidly. There was little or no increase in turbulence intensity ahead of the flame. 19 refs., 17more » figs.« less


Momentum profiles have been measured for the two outermost atomic orbitals of noble gases, Ar, Kr and Xe, at incident electron energy of about 2 keV using a newly developed multichannel (e,2e) spectrometer. The experimental results exhibit significantly improved statistics compared with those achieved in previous studies while covering a wide range of momenta up to 3.6 a.u. The results are compared with theoretical calculations using four (e,2e) scattering models, the plane-wave impulse and Born approximations (PWIA and PWBA), and the distorted-wave impulse and Born approximations (DWIA and DWBA). The DWIA and DWBA scattering models have been found to satisfactorily reproduce the experimental momentum profiles in terms of both shape and intensity over the entire momentum range covered, indicating the importance of distorted wave effects for quantitatively describing (e,2e) reaction.


Ethanolic extracts from three factions (peel, pulp and aril) of Gac fruit were evaluated the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The antioxidant activities of plant extracts were also investigated by using DPPH and FRAP assay. The highest antioxidant activities of ethanolic extract from the aril of ripe Gac fruit were 4.87 mg AAE/g FW and 0.016 mg AAE/g FW when determined by the DPPH and FRAP, respectively. Moreover, The ethanolic extract from pulp fraction had the highest the total phenolic and flavonoid content of 0.205 mg GAE/g FW and 0.143mg RE/g FW, respectively. Antimicrobial activities were evaluated by MIC and MBC assay against six pathogenic microorganisms. E. coli ATCC 25922 had the most susceptible to ethanolic extracts from peel and pulp factions with MIC value of 1.562 mg/mL. E. coli ATCC 25922 and P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853 was the most susceptible to aril extract with MIC value of 3.125 mg/mL. The MBC value in all extract factions of Gac fruit were > 50 mg/ml. Therefore, the result of Gac fruit from this study will be useful to develop the plant extract as natural therapeutic agents for treatment the disease and health care of human in the future. INTRODUCTION: Edible plants are integral part of human existence. Over 80% of the world population also replied on the medical plants from their basic health care. Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng (Gac) is a medical plant that found in tropical of Asian countries, including Viet Nam, Laos, Thailand, China, Bangladesh and India 1, 2 . It is botanically classified in the Cucurbitaceae


Sclerosing osteomyelitis of Garré is a rare syndrome; the mandible is the most commonly affected bone segment in the cervicofacial region. This chronic disease is characterized by a nonsuppurative ossifying periostitis with subperiosteal bone formation, commonly reactive to a mild infection or irritation. The differential diagnosis must be made with similar clinical conditions with hard mandibular swelling associated with bony sclerosis. Presumptive diagnosis can be achieved by radiology, but such diagnosis must be confirmed by histology. The aim of therapy is to remove the cause when recognized, aided by an adequate antibiotic therapy. Clinical, radiographic, and histologic features are presented in this case report.


A simple, inexpensive technique for fixation of proximal opening-wedge osteotomy of the first metatarsal for correction of moderate or severe hallux valgus (HV) is described. After the opening-wedge osteotomy and bone grafting of the first metatarsal have been performed, 2 Kirschner wires are introduced for internal fixation and removed 8 weeks postoperatively. Twenty-three patients with symptomatic HV who had a proximal medial opening-wedge osteotomy of the first metatarsal in combination with a distal soft tissue procedure and bunionectomy were evaluated retrospectively. All osteotomies healed without complications and satisfaction was achieved in 22 patients. Hallux varus developed in 1 patient. Preoperatively, mean HV angle (HVA) was 41° (range, 35°-61°) and mean 1-2 intermetatarsal angle (IMA) was 19° (range, 16°-24°). Postoperatively, mean HVA was 14° (range, 10°-17°) and mean 1-2 IMA was 7° (range, 5°-9°). The mean decrease in the HVA was 27° (P<.001) and the mean decrease in the 1-2 IMA was 12° (P<.001). [Orthopedics. 2016; 39(6):e1213-e1217.].


The aim of this study is to evaluate how the spread of Sars-Cov-2 has changed the epidemiology of proximal femur fractures in two major trauma centers in Italy, understanding the workload and the best allocation of the resources for the orthopedics department in such an emergency situation. The rate of patients from January 2019 to April 2020 hospitalized with femoral neck fractures (group A) and trochanteric fractures (group B) were recorded. Demographic data, timing of surgical treatment and the length of stay were recorded. Data show that the number of proximal femur fractures has remained unchanged in the COVID and pre-COVID era (ranging from an average of 91.14/month in the pre-COVID era to 76/month in March and 80/month in April). In our trauma centers, the rate of patients operated on within 48 hours has remained stable (78.19% vs 77.92%), while the length of stay has decreased during the COVID period (8.9 days vs 6.5 days in March and 6.8 days in April). Proximal femur fractures, even during the COVID period, are a constant issue and a new challenge for the healthcare system. The main goals of management are to preserve patients from viral infection, to provide early surgical treatment and fast track protocol for discharge.


Purpose. To develop a standardized method for measuring from iris photographs, light and dark segments of areas and densities of iris color. Methods. Computerized image analysis was used to measure the iris photographs. The reproducibility of this method was studied in 30 normal eyes with three different colored irides, green-brown, blue-grey brown and yellow-brown. Three photographs were taken of each iris with a slit lamp camera at three different exposures at baseline. The photographs were repeated with exposure providing for the best reproducibility at 6.5 ± 1.7 months as a first follow-up after baseline and 3.6 ± 0.8 months following the first follow-up visit. At least one measurement was made for each photograph. Results. The mean percent coefficient of variation (standard deviation of triplicate measurements/mean × 100) ranged from 1.0 to 4.1% for area and density measurements. Furthermore, the range of mean percent differences between baseline and follow-up visits ranged from 1.2 to 6.3%. Conclusion. We have developed a standardized method which appears suitable for measuring changes over time in iris color.


We report core-satellites (Au-Ag) coupled plasmonic nanoassemblies based on bottom-up, high-density assembly of molecular-scale silver nanoparticles on a single gold nanoparticle surface, and demonstrate direct observation and quantification of enhanced plasmon coupling (i.e., intensity amplification and apparent spectra shift) in a single particle level. We also explore metal ion sensing capability based on our coupled plasmonic core-satellites, which enabled at least 1000 times better detection limit as compared to that of a single plasmonic nanoparticle. Our results demonstrate and suggest substantial promise for the development of coupled plasmonic nanostructures for ultrasensitive detection of various biological and chemical analytes.


The effect of preharvest AVG (aminoethoxyvinylglycine) treatments on the biochemical, physicomechanical properties and colour characteristics of cv. Braeburn apples were determined. AVG was applied in four different doses (0, 100, 300 and 500 mgL -1 AVG) 4 weeks before the estimated harvest date. While the lowest values of total soluble solids content and pH were obtained from 500 mgL -1 AVG treatment, the highest values were obtained from control. The titratable acidity was higher in 500 mgL -1 AVG treatment than those of the 100 and 300 mgL -1 AVG treatments. The highest total phenolic and antioxidant activity of both flesh and skin apple was obtained from control, whereas lowest value was obtained from 500 mgL -1 AVG treatment. With increasing doses of AVG, the total monomeric


SUMMARY There is interest in the potential of companion animal surveillance to provide data to improve pet health and to provide early warning of environmental hazards to people. We implemented a companion animal surveillance system in Calgary, Alberta and the surrounding communities. Informatics technologies automatically extracted electronic medical records from participating veterinary practices and identified cases of enteric syndrome in the warehoused records. The data were analysed using time-series analyses and a retrospective space–time permutation scan statistic. We identified a seasonal pattern of reports of occurrences of enteric syndromes in companion animals and four statistically significant clusters of enteric syndrome cases. The cases within each cluster were examined and information about the animals involved (species, age, sex), their vaccination history, possible exposure or risk behaviour history, information about disease severity, and the aetiological diagnosis was collected. We then assessed whether the cases within the cluster were unusual and if they represented an animal or public health threat. There was often insufficient information recorded in the medical record to characterize the clusters by aetiology or exposures. Space–time analysis of companion animal enteric syndrome cases found evidence of clustering. Collection of more epidemiologically relevant data would enhance the utility of practice-based companion animal surveillance.


Patients with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) are known for being difficult to treat. Treatment for ASPD is debated and lacking evidence. Among several reasons for treatment difficulties concerning ASPD, negative countertransference in health personnel is one central topic. Mentalization based treatment (MBT) is a reasonable candidate treatment for ASPD. From an ongoing pilot-study on MBT with substance using ASPD patients, we explore therapist experiences. Four experienced MBT therapists together with the principal investigator performed a focus group together. The therapists were themselves involved in performing this study and analyses are made as an autoethnographic study, with thematic analyses as methodological approach. As this study involved a qualitative investigation of own practice, reflexivity of the processes was performed. The aim was to explore in depth: therapist experiences and therapist wellbeing in MBTASPD. We found four main themes on therapist experiences: i) gaining safety by getting to know them better; ii) gaining cooperation through clear boundaries and a non-judgmental stance; iii) shifting inner boundaries; and iv) timing interventions in a highspeed culture. These four themes point to different therapist experiences one can have in MBT-ASPD. Our findings resonate well with the clinical literature on ASPD, the findings imply that clinical teams should have a focus on therapist countertransference and burnout, ensure that therapists uphold boundaries and openmindedness in treatment of ASPD and that therapists experience vitalizing feelings in this line of work.


This paper examines the relationship between national culture and corporate R&D investment behavior. Based on Hofstede's work and the cushion hypothesis, we predict that firms in East Asian countries are more likely to engage in R&D investment than are firms in Western countries because East Asian cultures are collectivistic and long-term oriented while Western cultures are individualistic and short-term oriented. We use firm-level panel data for seven countries and apply dynamic GMM methods. The regression analysis shows that R&D investment is positively sensitive to internal funds for firms in East Asian countries, but not sensitive for firms in the Western countries. The result is robust to model specification and sample splitting. Moreover, the level of financial development and the legal environment do not systemically affect the relationship between R&D investment and internal funds. We suggest that this evidence supports the hypothesis that national culture affects corporate decisions.


The current study aimed to investigate how Pakistani students felt about their English language anxiety using the Clément and Baker self-confidence questionnaire. The researcher conducted a pre-test to check the validity and reliability of the English Self-confidence Questionnaires among Pakistani students. All of the participants in the sample, who were chosen at random and ranged in age from 18 to 29, were enrolled in public sector programs of study. The study's data was analyzed on (SPSS statistical software for social sciences version 23). In the data analysis stage, descriptive statistics are used first in data analysis techniques to analyze the means and percentages of the data. The pretest of the questionnaire, given to 50 participants, was followed by the study. Pre-testing involved recruiting college and undergraduate public students from the general population (n = 50). The survey was distributed to Pakistani students at several institutions online via Google-form. According to reliability and validity analysis, the total Cronbach's alpha was 0.949, which indicated high statistical reliability. According to the study's findings, item no. 6's validity score was low. On the other hand, the scale's other items have strong validity. The research concluded that the English self-confidence scale is a valid and reliable tool for use with Pakistani students experiencing language anxiety. Supposing the data analysis was cross-sectional, the observed results could only address the descriptive and discriminative power of English self-confidence scales for public school/college and undergraduate students. More research is needed since these findings are based on a cross-sectional study and convenience samples.


Excess energy is stored primarily as triglycerides, which are mobilized when demand for energy arises. Dysfunction of energy balance by excess food intake leads to metabolic diseases, such as obesity and diabetes. Free fatty acids (FFAs) provided by dietary fat are not only important nutrients, but also contribute key physiological functions via FFA receptor (FFAR)-mediated signaling molecules, which depend on FFAs' carbon chain length and the ligand specificity of the receptors. Functional analyses have revealed that FFARs are critical for metabolic functions, such as peptide hormone secretion and inflammation, and contribute to energy homeostasis. In particular, recent studies have shown that the administration of selective agonists of G protein-coupled receptor (GPR) 40 and GPR120 improved glucose metabolism and systemic metabolic disorders. Furthermore, the anti-inflammation and energy metabolism effects of short chain FAs have been linked to the activation of GPR41 and GPR43. In this review, we summarize recent progress in research on FFAs and their physiological roles in the regulation of energy metabolism.


A comparison of two eighteenth-century land grants to churches in Gondär town are the point of departure for reflections on the creation of the documents themselves. Both grants are recorded in multiple copies—5 in one case; 9 in the other. A close reading of the documents reveals that the copies represent different stages in the development of the grant. This is particularly the case with the grant to the Church of Qwesqwam Däbrä Ṣäḥay, which, made in the 1730s and 1740s, unfolded over a period of more than ten years. The evidence concerning the Church of Bä'ata Däbrä Ṭebäb is less striking, but still suggestive. After an indication of the wealth of social and geographic information, which the grants contain, the paper explores similarities and differences between contemporary practices of granting of land in Ethiopia and in the riverine Sudan.


Testing runs of experiments were performed at the Cooler Storage Ring in Lanzhou. The recombination of bare argon ions and electron was observed at the electron. The masses of radioactive nuclei produced by projectile fragmentation were measured in isochronous mode. An overview of the most recent experiments will be presented.


Our ongoing work aims at defining an ontology-centered approach for building expertise models for the CommonKADS methodology. This approach (which is named "OntoKADS") is founded on a core problem-solving ontology which distinguishes between two conceptualization levels: i) at an object level, a set of concepts enable us to define classes of problem-solving situations. This sub-ontology extends the foundational ontology DOLCE [3]; ii) at a meta level, a set of meta-concepts represent modeling primitives. In particular, a set of such meta-concepts render an account of roles, the primitive situated at the interface between domain knowledge and reasoning, and whose ontological status is still much debated since the late 1990s [5]. In this short article we give an overview of OntoKADS.


The stratospheric ozone layer, through absorption of solar ultraviolet radiation, protects all biological systems on Earth. In response to concerns over the depletion of the global ozone layer, the U.S. Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 mandates that NASA and NOAA monitor stratospheric ozone and ozone-depleting substances. This information is critical for assessing whether the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer, an international treaty that entered into force in 1989 to protect the ozone layer, is having its intended effect of mitigating increases in harmful ultraviolet radiation.


This study intended to determine the forms of Japanese language interference and the factors that caused them during the service of the Japanese tourists in several hotels in Badung Regency. The methods used in this study were the referral method, survey method and proficient method. The results of the study indicated that there were several forms of hotel and restaurant staff interference in serving Japanese tourists in several hotels in Badung Regency including: (a) pronunciation of Japanese sound units which were influenced by the dialect of the mother tongue of hotel staff, (b) morphological and syntactic, since in Japanese there are kenjougo, songkeigo (language level), and (c) vocabulary (lexical interference), in various forms, occurring in basic words, groups of words and phrases. This, if left directly or indirectly will affect the satisfaction of Japanese tourists, which in turn will lead to complaints to the hotel concerned and the world of Bali tourism in general.


The quantitative interaction body force density was calculated in soft magnetic materials by using a freezing procedure of magnetization and virtual air-gap scheme. When the generalized force calculating methods implemented by using the virtual air-gap scheme are exploited, one has an irregular distribution of body force density. To remove the irregular pattern and evaluate the interaction body force density fields, the self force density field by the frozen magnetization should be withdrawn from the total body force density field.


The purpose of this study is presented playground space for early childhood facilities. Describes whether any development of children, and how to respond in accordance with each of the activities. The infants and toddlers life cycle is a continuation of play. Toddlers to play is the essence of life itself, through play, the world embracing and digestive, raising ideas and emotions expressed through play. It is time that paves the growth of infants age children. And equipped with personality, values, emotions, attitudes, play a very important role in this process. Play it delivers, it can not learning education. Sympathetic and experience through play, and be equipped to allow the personality, social, physical. So, we have an obligation required to provide adequate facilities and play so that children can grow properly. In this paper, from the limited play space and is listed on the importance alive to give the children a sense of space to get the sympathetic. And, analysis shown about affect for children each play, and space. In this paper, we performed a study is Performed a case studies of and domestic kindergarten and foreign kindergarten where the differences between the various lists and how to derive a plan for solving the problem by comparison and analysis were performed.


Building connections by gene therapy Voluntary movement requires a molecular conversation between nerves and muscles. This conversation occurs at the neuromuscular junction, a structure where nerves and muscle physically connect. People with diseases characterized by muscle weakness have aberrantly small neuromuscular junctions. Arimura et al. used gene therapy to enlarge the neuromuscular junction, which made muscles stronger. Studying mouse models of two distinct neuromuscular disorders, they used an adenovirus vector to deliver DOK7, a gene required for formation of the neuromuscular junction. The therapy improved the mice's motor activity and life span. Science, this issue p. 1505 Supersizing neuromuscular junctions by gene therapy ameliorates muscle weakness in mice. The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is the synapse between a motor neuron and skeletal muscle. Defects in NMJ transmission cause muscle weakness, termed myasthenia. The muscle protein Dok-7 is essential for activation of the receptor kinase MuSK, which governs NMJ formation, and DOK7 mutations underlie familial limb-girdle myasthenia (DOK7 myasthenia), a neuromuscular disease characterized by small NMJs. Here, we show in a mouse model of DOK7 myasthenia that therapeutic administration of an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector encoding the human DOK7 gene resulted in an enlargement of NMJs and substantial increases in muscle strength and life span. When applied to model mice of another neuromuscular disorder, autosomal dominant Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, DOK7 gene therapy likewise resulted in enlargement of NMJs as well as positive effects on motor activity and life span. These results suggest that therapies aimed at enlarging the NMJ may be useful for a range of neuromuscular disorders.


This paper describes the participation of the Web Science Laboratory of Meiji University in the ImageCLEF2010 photo annotation task. We devised a system that combines conceptual fuzzy sets with visual words that have become popular in the fields of image retrieval and recognition. The utility of the system was verified by comparing it with the ordinary Bag of Visual words technique. In addition, we constructed a system using Flickr User Tags that was based on the same idea. Because there are many images without tags, the system integrates visual word and tag-based methods. The utility of the integrated system was verified in an experiment.


This case describes the medical history of a 61-year-old woman treated for cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) leading to diagnosis of essential thrombocythemia (ET). During treatment with unfractionated heparin, after initial improvement of clinical state, signs of cerebral hypertension reappeared. Although the platelet count decreased, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) was only suspected 2 days later when it dropped below the standard 150 × 109 L−1 threshold. HIT diagnosis was confirmed by the presence of anti-PF4/heparin IgG. This late finding was the cause of the extension of CVT with worsening of cerebral hypertension necessitating decompressive craniectomy. Elevated basal platelet count due to ET can delay diagnosis and treatment of HIT. In this case, physicians should be more attentive to platelet count variations rather than thrombocytopenia threshold.


Simple Summary Brachycephalic dogs are affected by respiratory disorders related to abnormal anatomic conformation that can significantly affect their general health and quality of life. In this review, we address dermatological disorders in these breeds which are less recognized, but can also considerably impact welfare. Abstract Brachycephalic dogs are not only affected by brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS), but are also frequently referred to veterinary dermatologists for skin conditions, with English bulldogs and pugs particularly over-represented. Some skin diseases, such as skin fold dermatitis, are directly associated with the abnormal anatomic conformation of brachycephalic dogs, while for others, such as atopic dermatitis and viral pigmented plaques, there is an underlying genetic basis or a general predisposition. Anatomic alterations associated with brachycephaly, leading to fold formation of the skin and stenosis of the ear canal, together with primary immunodeficiencies described in some breeds, favor the development of pyoderma, Malassezia dermatitis, and otitis externa/media. In addition, the frequently neglected but often lifelong dermatological problems of brachycephalic dogs are an important consideration when discussing genetic and medical conditions affecting the welfare of those dogs. Here we review the current state of knowledge concerning dermatological problems in brachycephalic dogs and combine it with clinical experience in the management of these challenging disorders.


A 45-year-old Turk had a year ago noticed a submandibular and a retroauricular node-like swelling, about 2 cm in diameter each, firm and freely mobile. During the preceding two months he had polydipsia and polyuria. Recently he developed a nephrotic syndrome with lower-leg oedema and proteinuria (14 g albumin in 24-hour urine). The concentrations of IgE (250 IE/ml) and IgA (745 mg/dl) were raised, and there was eosinophilia of 14%. Renal needle biopsy revealed glomerulonephritis with minimal proliferation. Excision of part of the nodular tumour revealed histologically the typical signs of Kimura's disease (eosinophilic follicular lymphadenitis of the skin; subcutaneous angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia). During treatment with prednisolone, 20 mg daily by mouth, the clinical and biochemical findings regressed within two weeks. But eight weeks later, after dose reduction to 10 mg daily, the nephrotic syndrome recurred so that the dosage had to be increased again to 20 mg prednisolone daily. On this treatment the patient has now been symptom-free for six months. This case demonstrates the unusual association of Kimura's disease with minimally proliferative glomerulonephritis.


Paroxysmal kinesigenic choreoathetosis (PKC) is a rare paroxysmal movement disorder characterized by recurrent and brief attacks of choreiform or dystonic movements triggered or exacerbated by sudden voluntary movements. Some patients with PKC also have a history of infantile afebrile convulsions. PKC can be sporadic, or familial with autosomal dominant inheritance. PKC has been mapped to the pericentromeric region of human chromosome 16 in several Japanese families and in an African-American family, to regions which overlap by 9.8 cM (centiMorgan). Both regions overlap by 3.4 cM with a region containing a gene responsible for 'infantile convulsions and paroxysmal choreoathetosis' (ICCA). We have identified a second PKC locus (EKD2) on the long arm of chromosome 16 in a large Indian family with PKC. A maximum two-point LOD score of 3.66 (recombination fraction = 0.00, penetrance = 0.80) was obtained between PKC and D16S419. Haplotype and recombinant analysis localized EKD2 to a 15.8 cM region between D16S685 and D16S503. This region does not overlap with that identified in Japanese families, or with the ICCA locus. These results exclude one locus on chromosome 16 which causes both the ICCA and PKC syndromes; this suggests that there may be a cluster of genes on human chromosome 16 which lead to paroxysmal disorders.


The frequency of symptoms in the case histories of 68 female patients with and of 313 without Chlamydia trachomatis infections was investigated. Dysuria, vaginal discharge and/or burning/itching in the genital region were reported by 50% (n = 34) of chlamydia-positive women and 53.7% (n = 168) of chlamydia-negative women. Clinical investigation of the chlamydia-positive patients revealed discharge in 83.8% (n = 57), contact bleeding in 38.3% (n = 26) and ectopia in 27.9% (n = 19). The corresponding investigations in chlamydia-negative women disclosed discharge in 72.8% (n = 228) women, contact bleeding in 19.8% (n = 62) and ectopia in 16.8% (n = 52). The results were significantly different as far as contact bleeding and ectopia were concerned. Only when yellow or whitish yellow discharge was distinguished from clear discharge was the difference between the two groups significant (66.7% vs 43.9%). Significant numbers of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (greater than 4 per high power field with oil immersion) were found in 52.9% of the chlamydia-positive women, as against 23% of the chlamydia-negative women. Overall, 48.7% of the women with a C. trachomatis infection were found to have notes of symptoms in the history and signs of cervicitis revealed by clinical investigation. Symptoms only were found in 1 woman, while in 36.8% of the patients signs only were found. Neither symptoms nor signs were mentioned by 13.3% of the women. These results indicate that microbiological detection of the infectious agent is obligatory for the diagnosis of C. trachomatis cervicitis.


Hydrogenated amorphous silicon germanium (a‐SiGe:H) thin films were prepared by a 13.56‐MHz plasma‐enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) method. The optical, optoelectronic, and microstructure properties of the a‐SiGe:H thin films prepared with different plasma powers were investigated systematically by transmission, photo/dark conductivity, Raman, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy measurements. It was found that when the deposition pressure was high and the hydrogen (H2) dilution ratio ([H2]/([SiH4] + [GeH4])) was low, an appropriate high plasma power could enlarge the optical bandgap (Eg) by reducing the Ge content in the thin film, enhance the film photosensitivity by improving the film microstructure, and increase the film growth rate. As a demonstration, excellent a‐SiGe:H thin film with Eg of 1.5 eV, the photosensitivity of above 104 and a growth rate of 6.6 Å s−1 was successfully fabricated for the solar‐cell application with a plasma power density of 400 mW cm−2, a deposition pressure of 3 Torr, and a H2 dilution ratio equal to 3 at 220 °C. The underlying mechanism was further analyzed.


Studying biomolecular interactions is a crucial but challenging task. Due to their large scales, many biomolecular interactions are difficult to be simulated via all atom models. An effective approach to investigate the biomolecular interactions is highly demanded in many areas. Here we introduce a Structure Manipulation (StructureMan) program to operate the structures when studying the large-scale biomolecular interactions. This novel StructureMan tool provides comprehensive operations which can be utilized to study the interactions in various large biological systems. Combining with electrostatic calculation programs such as DelPhi and DelPhiForce, StructureMan was implemented to reveal the detailed electrostatic features in two large biological examples, the viral capsid and molecular motor-microtubule complexes. Applications on these two examples revealed interesting binding mechanisms in the viral capsid and molecular motor. Such applications demonstrated that the StructureMan can be widely used when studying the biomolecular interactions in large scale biological problems. This novel tool provides an alternative approach to efficiently study the biomolecular interactions, especially for large scale biology systems. The StructureMan tool is available at our website: http://compbio.utep.edu/static/downloads/script-for-munipulation2.zip.


Interpretations of John Dewey's political theory grasp his respect for public deliberation, but typically overlook his ethical justification for democracy. Dewey gave two primary reasons why democracy is superior to other forms of government. First, a public educated in the tools of social intelligence can be more effective at managing their social conflicts. Second, all people have an ethical right to become as valuable to their communities as they can become. Dewey judged that only democracy ensures each person's ethical right to participate in social deliberation for the entire community's benefit. Dewey's model of social deliberation, "public deliberation polyarchy," applies a kind of "logic" for collective action, a process effective because of its ethical foundations.


We show how to set up a forward rate model in the presence of volatility uncertainty by using the theory of G-Brownian motion. In order to formulate the model, we extend the G-framework to integration with respect to two integrators and prove a version of Fubini's theorem for stochastic integrals. The evolution of the forward rate in the model is described by a diffusion process, which is driven by a G-Brownian motion. Within this framework, we derive a sufficient condition for the absence of arbitrage, known as the drift condition. In contrast to the traditional model, the drift condition consists of two equations and two market prices of risk, respectively, uncertainty. Furthermore, we examine the connection to short rate models and discuss some examples.


The purpose of this research is to determine the effect of emotional intelligence, self-confidence, learning behavior, and academic culture on the level of understanding of accounting.
Data analysis in this study is multiple linear regression analysis. Research populations are 1626 students and samples are 100 students of Accounting Program of Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta.
The results showed that: (1) emotional intelligence individually affecting the level of understanding of Accounting at the level 0.05, with sig. emotional intelligence 0.000<0.05; (2) self-confidence individually affecting the level of understanding of Accounting at the level 0.05, with sig. self-confidence 0.000<0.05; (3) learning behavior partial individually affecting the level of understanding of Accounting at the level 0.05, with sig. learning behavior 0.040<0.05; (4) academic culture individually affecting the level of understanding of Accounting at the level 0.05, with sig. academic culture 0.000<0.05; (5) emotional intelligence, self-confidence, learning behavior and academic culture simultaneously affecting the level of understanding of Accounting at the level 0.05, with sig. F 0,000<0,05. (6) Influence can be explained by emotional intelligence, self-confidence, learning behavior and academic culture the level of understanding of Accounting in this research is 93,2%, while 6.8% in addition to the factors described in the model such as learning activities, discipline, and seriousness in studying in campus.


Background In Canada, the susceptibilities for ceftriaxone and cefixime in Neisseria gonorrhoeae are gradually decreasing and there has been a shift in the modal minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) from 0.016 μg/ml in 2000 to 0.032 μg/ml in 2008. We examined the phenotypic and genetic characteristics of N gonorrhoeae with decreased susceptibilities to 3rd generation cephalosporins isolated in Canada between 2001 and 2010. Methods N gonorrhoeae isolates were collected by Canadian provincial public health laboratories. MICs were determined by agar dilution at the National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) and isolates displaying decreased susceptibilities to cefixime (MIC=0.25 mg/l and 0.5 mg/l) and ceftriaxone (MIC=0.125 mg/l and 0.25 mg/l) were examined using multi-antigen sequence typing (NG-MAST) and sequencing of resistance determinants associated with decreased cephalosporin susceptibilities (penA, mtrR, ponA, porB). Results A total of 155 N gonorrhoeae isolates with decreased susceptibility MICs to ceftriaxone and cefixime were identified from the following provinces - Ontario (53.5%, N=83); British Columbia (34.2%, N=53); Québec (12.3%, N=19). Of the 155 isolates observed with reduced susceptibility, 23 were observed between 2001 and 2007 (14.8%), whereas in 2008, 2009 and 2010 there were 84 isolates (54.2%), 23 isolates (14.8%) and 25 isolates (16.1%) observed, respectively. Thirty-eight different NG-MAST sequence types were identified among the isolates; ST-3158, ST-225 and ST-1407 were the most prevalent at 25.9%, 19.4% and 14.8%, respectively. The mtrR resistance determinants were present in 95.5% of the isolates. The penA mosaic was present in 60% of the isolates, with the most common penA mosaic types XXXII and X identified at 51.0% and 7.7%, respectively, while the non-mosaic penA type XII was identified in 36.8% of the isolates. The G101K alteration in porB was present in 97.4% of the isolates and the A102N and A102D alterations in porB were found in 49.7% and 45.8% of the isolates, respectively. L421P alterations in ponA were present in all the isolates. Conclusions In Canada, N gonorrhoeae isolates with decreased susceptibilities to 3rd generation cephalosporins, including cefixime and ceftriaxone have increased over the years. The alterations in penA, mtrR and porB are important determinants identified in these isolates. The most common ST types identified among these Canadian isolates have also been reported worldwide.


In this study, we analyse RNA-Seq data from panels of human lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) to identify covariation in the mRNA levels of large numbers of genes. Such large scale covariation may have biological origin or be due to technical variation in analysis (generally referred to as batch effects). We show that batch effects cannot explain this covariation by demonstrating reproducibility across different human populations and across different methods of analysis. This view is also supported by enrichment of single and combinations of transcription factors (TFs) binding to cognate promoter regions, enrichment of genes shown to be sensitive to the knockdown of individual TFs, enrichment of functional pathways, and finally enrichment of protein-protein interactions in proteins encoded by groups of covarying genes. The properties of the groups of covarying genes are therefore most readily explained by the influence of cumulative variations in the effectors of gene expression that act in trans on cognate genes. We suggest that covariation has functional outcomes by showing that covariation of 83 genes involved in the spliceosome pathway accounts for 8–16% of the variation in the alternative splicing patterns of genes expressed in human LCLs.


Introduction: Gender-based violence (GBV) against women has been identified as a global health and development issue. We reported a case of GBV causing sever, multiple injuries in a middle-aged female. Case report: A 47-year-old woman presented to emergency room with disturbed level of consciousness, shortness of breath and multiple patches of skin discoloration. On examination, the patient was semi-conscious, with multiple ecchymosis and bilateral decreased air entry. Computed tomography scan of the neck and chest showed six rib fractures on the left side, and eight rib fractures on the right side, sternal fracture, manubriosternal dislocation, bilateral hemothorax, fracture of body of 11th thoracic vertebra, and fracture of cervical spine of 5th and 7th vertebrae. The patient was intubated and admitted to intensive care unit. She was discharged with good health condition after 23 days of hospital admission. Conclusion: GBV is still a cause of severe trauma that puts the patient's life at risk.


Fragility refers to weak regional institutions that fail to respond to specific risks and needs of the community. The article aims to measure fragility and its effects on labour market employment and wages. The observed non-work-related migration is used to derive annual fragility indices for regions that are then incorporated into standard labour market employment and Mincer wage equations. The estimates indicate higher employment but lower wages in fragile regions. Under weak institutions, workers will decide to engage in alternative low-paying work arrangements in anticipation of conflict, environmental or income shocks. Furthermore, biases on effects of macroeconomic policies can be noted in regression estimates that do not control for fragility.


A unified framework of FETI-DP algorithms is proposed for solving the system of linear equations arising from the mixed finite element approximation of incompressible Stokes equations. A distinctive feature of this framework is that it allows using both continuous and discontinuous pressures in the algorithm, while previous FETI-DP methods only apply to discontinuous pressures. A preconditioned conjugate gradient method is used in the algorithm with either a lumped or a Dirichlet preconditioner, and scalable convergence rates are proved. This framework is also used to describe several previously developed FETI-DP algorithms and greatly simplifies their analysis. Numerical experiments of solving a two-dimensional incompressible Stokes problem demonstrate the performances of the discussed FETI-DP algorithms represented under the same framework.


SELinux, that has stricter access control mechanisms than traditional UNIX/Linux, is thought to be an effective solution for server-side fortification. Some of SELinux's behavior toward actual incidents shows its potential as an intrusion detection system (IDS), but, still, it is nothing more than a logging facility. Further improvements are needed for SELinux, not only to detect incidents but also to deal with them. This paper describes the autonomous defense functionality called "Linux Kernel based IDS" as well as its implementation.


Abstract:
MIN3P was developed as a general purpose multicomponent reactive transport code for variably saturated media. The basic version of the code includes Richard's equation for the solution of variably-saturated flow, and solves mass balance equations for advective-diffusive solute transport and diffusive gas transport. Biogeochemical reactions are described by a partial equilibrium approach, using equilibrium-based law-of-mass-action relationships for fast reactions, and a generalized kinetic framework for reactions that are relatively slow in comparison to the transport time scale. MIN3P has been used to support multiple field and laboratory investigations involving the fate of inorganic and organic substances and has served as a platform for additional code development: MIN3P-Bubble, an enhanced version to simulate gas generation and exsolution in the saturated zone, as well as gas entrapment and release due to water table fluctuations; MIN3P-Dusty, a version of the code that includes gas advection and multicomponent gas diffusion based on the Dusty Gas Model (DGM); and MIN3P-Soil, a version that includes plant-soil interactions. The capabilities of the basic code and the follow-up developments are demonstrated by simulating the oxidation of pyrite in mine waste, associated metal release, and subsequent attenuation processes; the interactions between the formation of "excess air" and biogeochemical reactions in the vadose zone and below the water table; the evolution of vadose zone gas composition and transport processes at a petroleum hydrocarbon spill site undergoing natural attenuation; and the effect of plant-soil interactions on mineral weathering and secondary mineral formation in soils and surficial sediments.


A spiral inductor with closed magnetic circuit was fabricated by an RF sputtering machine and photolithography techniques. The inductance was twice as large as that of a reference sandwiched inductor. The authors analyzed the frequency characteristics of the proposed inductor from three points of view: inner current distribution, flux distribution, and eddy current in the magnetic film. The calculated results agree with the measured ones. It is demonstrated that the current distribution inside the inductors is mostly limited to within the area of the conductor up to several hundred megahertz. The frequency characteristics are influenced by the eddy current loss in the Permalloy film and the stray capacitance between the inductor and the ground plane. The permeability of the Permalloy film is less than that of its as-deposited state, but the closed magnetic circuit structure helps to reduce the influence of the demagnetizing field. >


Neurostimulation has been used successfully for disabling tremor disorders and Parkinson's disease. Electrodes are implanted into the deep brain structures with leads extending down to the chest and connecting to the programming hardware and battery source (implantable pulse generator). The only currently U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatment of this type is the Activa Therapy from Medtronic, Inc., now in the US market since 1997 and available worldwide. Reliability issues pertaining to the design, manufacturing, and clinical use of this device, with attention paid primarily to those issues unique to implantation and use in humans, will be reviewed.


Duration is a primary factor both to achieve more naturalsounding synthesis and as an indicator of phrasal organization in speech recognition. In this study, we investigate pauses and durational patterns in spontaneous conversation, as well as how reliably such elements can serve as boundary-marking predictors across different types of speech corpora. Our results show that pause duration is significantly correlated with specific boundary status and that syllable duration is inversely correlated with distance to phrase end, suggesting that syllable duration is very significant in predicting phrase boundary status. Our findings show that duration features are highly informative in discourse and that it is crucial to integrate such knowledge to enhance performance in spoken language systems.


Lithium (Li)‐metal batteries (LMBs) with stable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and dendrite‐free formation have great potential in next‐generation energy storage devices. Here, vertically aligned 3D Cu2S nanosheet arrays are fabricated on the surface of commercial Cu foils, which in situ generate ultrathin Cu nanosheet arrays to reduce local current density and Li2S layers on the surfaces to work as an excellent artificial SEI. It is found that Li presents a 3D‐to‐planar deposition model, and Li2S layers are reversibly movable between the 3D nanosheet surface and 2D planar surface of Li during long‐term cycling. This enables ultrasmooth and dense Li deposition at 1 mA cm‐2, presenting an average thickness of ≈53.0 µm at 10 mAh cm‐2, which is close to the theoretical Li foil thickness and is highly reversible at different cycles. Thus, 1150 stable cycles with high Coulombic efficiency (CE, 99.1%) at ether‐based electrolytes and 300 stable cycles with high CE (98.8%) at carbonate electrolytes are realized in half‐cell with a capacity of 1 mAh cm‐2 at 1 mA cm‐2. When coupled with commercial cathodes (LiFePO4 or LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2), the full cells present substantially enhanced cyclability under high cathode loading, limited (or zero) Li excess, and lean electrolyte conditions, even at −20 °C.


STUDY DESIGN
Retrospective chart and radiographic film review.

OBJECTIVES
To discern the deformity problems in diastrophic dysplasia and to report our results in surgical treatment.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA
Due to the rarity of the problem, the literature is very scanty as to the indications for surgery or the best technique.

METHODS
Analysis of radiographic film for scoliosis, kyphosis, lordosis, and decompensation before surgery, after surgery, and at follow-up. Analysis of charts for complications and problems.

RESULTS
The most common deformity pattern was a double thoracic kyphosis (79 degrees/97 degrees) with a true kyphosis at the junction of the two scolioses (101 degrees). Combined anterior-posterior arthrodesis gave the best results.

CONCLUSIONS
Very severe deformity can occur in children with diastrophic dysplasia, even at a young age. Prompt anterior-posterior arthrodesis can prevent catastrophic deformity.


Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a versatile soil born bacterium with potential insecticidal activity over a wide range of species of agriculture pests. These unusual properties are due to the crystal (Cry) inclusion proteins largely produced during the sporulation. Recent findings indicate that some non-insecticidal crystal inclusions are selectively cytotoxic to cancer cells. The toxicity is due to the induction of membrane permeability and apoptosis in susceptible cells. Recently, we have reported the cytotoxic effect of proteins extracted from three native strains of Bacillus thuringiensis from the Western Ghats of Kerala (India). Studies have shown that these potent toxins exhibit selective cytotoxicity against some human breast cancer cells including MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, ZR-75 and SKBR3. Presently, we report the cytotoxic properties of more number of Bacillus thuringiensis isolates from Peninsular India, which are already assessed for their diversity. The cytotoxic properties of isolates were primarily analysed by the amplification of DNA using specific primers designed for cytotoxic parasporal genes. The strains showing positive result were subjected to in vitro cytotoxic analysis using cancer cell lines. The crystal proteins were harvested from 72h old cultures in sporulating medium, after confirming the lysis of the cells and release of the protein. The cytotoxic proteins were isolated by aqueous biphasic (sodium dextran sulfate/polyethylene glycol) separation method and purified by various chromatographic (sephadex/nickel coated columns) and electrophoretic procedures. The molecular weight of proteins isolated from different isolates was varying and ranged from 15 to 80 kDa. The pro-protein isolated was activated and subjected in vitro cytotoxicity assay on various normal as well as breast cancer cell lines. The protein was found to have strong cytocidal activities against tumour cells and the treated cells showed remarkable morphological alterations and apoptotic cell death. Thus, a new 14 isolates were found to be cytotoxic by the study. The study revealed that the diversity of cytotoxic Cry genes in Peninsular India is perplexingly high and specific to certain cancers. Considering these results, we suggest that the receptor-mediated action of crystal proteins against tumour cells may find a new place in the therapeutic as well as diagnostic field of cancer therapy and the bacteria and its genetic potential may be utilized as versatile tools against cancer. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 3143.


Experimental results on transport in stellarators and tokamaks are reviewed in a comparative sense. The objective is to learn about the importance of plasma current and magnetic shear for anomalous transport in high-temperature plasmas. On the basis of scaling expressions, the absolute values and parameter dependences of the confinement time are similar if the plasma current is expressed in terms of magnetic field parameters. The degradation of confinement with heating power is of the same order in both devices and it is difficult to explain it in terms of a diffusivity which depends on temperature or temperature gradient. The density dependence of confinement observed in stellarators has similar features as in ohmically heated tokamak discharges. A linear and a saturated regime can be distinguished. The critical density, at which saturation sets in, has a similar value and it seems to decrease with increasing machine size. Power degradation, transient transport, profile consistency and non-local transport are treated as related problems, which are connected to the question of the temperature dependence of the thermal diffusivity. Results from the various experiments cannot yet be described with a consistent physical picture. However, the importance of non-local effects is established in stellarators and tokamaks, although observed in different types of perturbation experiments. In stellarators and tokamaks, fluctuation measurements in the scrape-off layer are consistent with drift-wave-like turbulence being responsible for anomalous transport. In the core, density fluctuation amplitudes increase together with the diffusivity when the density is increased but the two parameters show opposite trends with increasing heating power. It turns out that transport in the two classes of devices is more alike than it has previously appeared. This indicates that the strong toroidal plasma current, major rational values of the rotational transform inside the plasma or strong magnetic shear are not the central elements of a theoretical model for anomalous transport in fusion plasmas.


Review of the literature of reticulum-cell sarcoma of bone fails to reveal any detailed description of a case with primary origin in the ribs. The few cases that have been mentioned were included in summary articles with only meager details. The following case is an example of long survival of a relatively large chest-wall tumor, originating in a rib and successfully treated by surgery. Report of Case History. —Patient is a 19-year-old female Negro, who was admitted May 25, 1942, with a swelling beneath her right breast involving the sixth, seventh, and eighth ribs, extending from the costochondral junction laterally to about the anterior axillary line, measuring about 10×7 cm. in diameter. She gave a history of having injured her right chest seven years previously, at which time she had noticed pain under her breast. This pain persisted intermittently since that time, and occasionally was so severe as to keep


Conformal regression provides prediction intervals with global coverage guarantees, but often fails to capture local error distributions, leading to non-homogeneous coverage. We address this with a new adaptive method based on rescaling conformal scores with an estimate of local score distribution, inspired by the Jackknife+ method, which enables the use of calibration data in conformal scores without breaking calibration-test exchangeability. Our approach ensures formal global coverage guarantees and is supported by new theoretical results on local coverage, including an a posteriori bound on any calibration score. The strength of our approach lies in achieving local coverage without sacrificing calibration set size, improving the applicability of conformal prediction intervals in various settings. As a result, our method provides prediction intervals that outperform previous methods, particularly in the low-data regime, making it especially relevant for real-world applications such as healthcare and biomedical domains where uncertainty needs to be quantified accurately despite low sample data.


This paper presents a need-based distributed coordination strategy (NDCS) for multiple electric vehicle (EV) storages in an islanded commercial hybrid alternating-current (AC)/direct-current (DC) microgrid. The control capacity of the interlinking converter is enhanced by incorporating combined power-droop and voltage-droop strategies to leverage the coupling of AC and DC voltages. Therefore, the AC bus voltage can be regulated simultaneously by regulating only the DC bus voltage without affecting the power-sharing capabilities of the converter. The NDCS is proposed to coordinate the EV storages to regulate the DC bus voltage. The main objective of the NDCS is to decide whether the coordination of the available EV storages is to be done in a decentralised or a distributed manner. The mathematical model and the algorithm to deploy NDCS are developed to realise its application to a real system. The effectiveness of the control system is verified in a commercial hybrid AC/DC microgrid comprising one photovoltaic unit and four EV storages directly connected to the DC bus via DC/DC converters and four distributed-generation (DG) units connected to the AC bus using the conventional droop-control scheme. The performance of both controllers is tested under variable irradiation, commercial loading, and various fault conditions. The results of the case studies demonstrate the efficacy of the overall system in terms of robustness for a variable generation-demand scenario, time delay, EV plug-and-play, and fault conditions.


Abstract Purpose Exposure to ionizing radiation following environmental contamination (e.g., the Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear accidents), radiotherapy and diagnostics, occupational roles and space travel has been identified as a possible risk-factor for cognitive dysfunction. The deleterious effects of high doses (≥1.0 Gy) on cognitive functioning are fairly well-understood, while the consequences of low (≤0.1 Gy) and moderate doses (0.1–1.0 Gy) have been receiving more research interest over the past decade. In addition to any impact of actual exposure on cognitive functioning, the persistent psychological stress arising from perceived exposure, particularly following nuclear accidents, may itself impact cognitive functioning. In this review we offer a novel interdisciplinary stance on the cognitive impact of radiation exposure, considering psychological and epidemiological observations of different exposure scenarios such as atomic bombings, nuclear accidents, occupational and medical exposures while accounting for differences in dose, rate of exposure and exposure type. The purpose is to address the question that perceived radiation exposure - even where the actual absorbed dose is 0.0 Gy above background dose - can result in psychological stress, which could in turn lead to cognitive dysfunction. In addition, we highlight the interplay between the mechanisms of perceived exposure (i.e., stress) and actual exposure (i.e., radiation-induced cellular damage), in the generation of radiation-induced cognitive dysfunction. In all, we offer a comprehensive and objective review addressing the potential for cognitive defects in the context of low- and moderate-dose IR exposures. Conclusions Overall the evidence shows prenatal exposure to low and moderate doses to be detrimental to brain development and subsequent cognitive functioning, however the evidence for adolescent and adult low- and moderate-dose exposure remains uncertain. The persistent psychological stress following accidental exposure to low-doses in adulthood may pose a greater threat to our cognitive functioning. Indeed, the psychological implications for instructed cohorts (e.g., astronauts and radiotherapy patients) is less clear and warrants further investigation. Nonetheless, the psychosocial consequences of low- and moderate-dose exposure must be carefully considered when evaluating radiation effects on cognitive functioning, and to avoid unnecessary harm when planning public health response strategies.


The digital transformation of the economy will affect all spheres of life of every citizen of the Russian Federation. This also applies to the financial sector, where in the near future the standard for providing services to customers will be the possibility of their remote receipt, which, among other things, will be facilitated by the use of biometric identification technology. However, this requires great effort in terms of information security. One of the directions in this area should be cognitive technologies, focused on human intellectual abilities. The article discusses the use of cognitive technologies to ensure data security when using biometric identification in the context of the development of this direction in the framework of the policy on digital development of the economy of the Russian Federation.


This World AIDS Day, 1 December, surprisingly good news came out of southern Africa, the region in the world that has suffered the most from HIV. A random household survey done of some 80,000 people in Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe—each of which has more than 10% of adults living with the virus—found that more than 86% of the people on treatment had fully suppressed their virus. This means they can stave off AIDS and it vastly reduces the likelihood that they will transmit the virus to others. In keeping with this finding, the massive survey effort led by Columbia University's Mailman School of Health discovered that the rate of new infections in Zimbabwe and Zambia was substantially lower than previously estimated by modeling done by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) that relied on less rigorous data. This bolsters hopes that these countries are on the path to the UNAIDS goal of controlling their AIDS epidemics by 2030.


Although transparency on the sustainability of public services is an issue of urgent interest to both governments and academics, previous research in this area has mainly focused on developed European countries, and has paid insufficient attention to areas that are still developing, such as many Latin American countries. The aim of this study is to identify factors that promote transparency on sustainability by local governments in Latin America, in the view that greater transparency will help them meet the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Therefore, using content analysis and following the GRI guidelines, we analyze the economic, social and environmental information published on the websites of 200 large local governments in 18 Latin American countries. In addition, using linear regression and calculating the corresponding Spearman coefficients, we analyze the influence of idiosyncratic and systemic variables on the volume of information disclosed. Our findings show that certain factors—population size, education level, unemployment, the quality of legislation and political corruption—affect transparency on sustainability. The conclusions drawn from this analysis enable us to identify useful measures for enhancing transparency on sustainability, including the reform of transparency laws and the analysis and disclosure of citizens' information demands.


Background: Fatigue is a major symptom of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the need for effective interventions is evident. Programmes based upon physical activity (PA) have been shown to improve patient-reported fatigue in other long-term conditions. Objectives: To investigate the effectiveness of PA interventions for reducing fatigue in adults with RA and to identify key components of effective PA interventions. Methods: Methods were based on a previous Cochrane systematic review for non-pharmacological interventions for fatigue in RA. The following electronic databases were searched up to October 2016: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL); MEDLINE; EMBASE; AMED; CINAHL; PsycINFO; Social Science Citation Index; Web of Science; Dissertation Abstracts International; Current Controlled Trials Register; The National Research Register Archive; The UKCRN Portfolio Database. Randomised controlled trials evaluating PA interventions in people with RA with self-reported fatigue as an outcome measure were included. Results: Eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Results indicated a small beneficial effect of PA on RA fatigue. The type, frequency, duration, and intensity of PA varied between studies. Delivery methods included supervised group programmes and unsupervised home exercise. Information regarding overall adherence to PA interventions was limited. Conclusions: There is some evidence of the potential for PA to be effective in reducing symptoms of RA fatigue. However, few interventions in the included studies were designed to manage RA fatigue. These findings suggest that further work is needed to identify the optimal PA intervention for fatigue management that meets the needs of people with RA.


SUMMARY: A particulate enzyme fraction from type VIII Pneumococcus obtained by centrifugation of disrupted organisms between 30,000 and 140,000 g synthesized a non-reducing disaccharide from uridine diphosphoglucose (UDPG). The structure proposed for the material synthesized is gluco-pyranosyl-glucopyranoside, in which at least one of the linkages is of the β configuration. The reaction may be formulated as: UDPG + UDPG → glucopyranosyl-glucopyranoside. The reaction was not type-specific and was also found with particulate fractions from pneumococci of types II and III.


The Exchange Stabilization Fund (ESF) holds more than $40 billion that is at the disposal of the US Secretary of the Treasury for use in foreign exchange intervention and international financial support operations. Its use in the Mexican rescue package of 1995 brought the ESF into the public spotlight for the first time in recent years, and it has been deployed in Brazil and several Asian crisis countries as well. Its availability for such packages and its total control by the Treasury secretary have therefore become very controversial. Randall Henning's study maintains that the Fund is an important element of US foreign policy and economic policy and that it should remain under the exclusive control of the Treasury, but that Congress should exercise effective oversight. Henning also covers the legislative history of the ESF and outlines the principles by which the Fund should be administered.


This tutorial discusses the benefits of integrating service learning into technology specific classes and Management Information System (MIS) capstone courses. The literature discusses the benefits of integrating service learning into the curriculum from both the students and the community partners perspective. Despite the numerous benefits, there are also a variety of hidden pitfalls and challenges for faculty. This session will discuss some of the problems associated with integrating service learning into the MIS curriculum. The session will also provide a demonstration of a web based portal www.pacademics.com that is being conceived to alleviate these problems by creating an efficient web2.0 workflow system for managing the service learning process. This tutorial will also discuss the opportunities for research that will be available from the data collected from the system.


This paper presents FLOSSMetrics, a European Commission 6th Framework  Programme- funded research project. The main objective of FLOSSMETRICS is to construct, publish and analyse a large scale database with information and metrics about libre software development coming from several thousands of software projects, using existing methodologies, and tools already developed. The project also provides a public platform for validation and industrial exploitation of results. The project is in its final stage, and some results and databases are already  available, as is shown in this paper.


BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Educational components and electives that may influence medical student choice of primary care careers have been studied individually, but not reviewed or synthesized. Examining educational components and electives in a comprehensive manner may inform evidence-based approaches to raise the number of primary care physicians in the United States and help optimize use of finite resources. We sought to determine evidence-based educational components and electives associated with increased medical student choice of primary care careers.

METHODS
We searched PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL for undergraduate medical education articles in English describing an educational component or elective and outcome relevant to primary care specialty choice. We assessed titles, then abstracts, and finally full texts for inclusion in a narrative synthesis.

RESULTS
The searches returned 11,211 articles and we found 42 that met the inclusion criteria. The most described components were outpatient clinical rotations, preclinical courses, and preceptorships. The most common electives were international health, summer preceptorships, and rural medicine. While most articles described curricula that appeared to have a positive correlation with primary care specialty choice, six articles found limited benefit. In sum, results were mixed.

CONCLUSIONS
The current literature is limited, and many contemporary electives have not been studied with respect to primary care choice. Increased attention and funding to studying the impact of electives and other educational components on primary care specialty choice is warranted.


Dento-alveolar injuries in children include an array of entities that range from severe injuries to the tooth and supporting structures to fracture of the entire bone. This article presents two case reports of parasymphyseal fracture in a 5 and 8 year old patients with a review on the various available treatment modalities.


The purpose of the paper is to contribute to the vast literature regarding the topic of foreignfighters, specifically in reference to Somali youth residing in the U.S. state of Minnesota whohave joined the Al-Shaabab terrorist group. The research is carried out by tracing andanalyzing theory regarding the processes of radicalization, and then applying it to theSomali-American communityemploying the method of content analysis. The choice of this method stemmed from the need to understand and explain a certain behavior or pattern, relating in this specific case to the inner and deeper motivations that led a certain community to be more vulnerable to the influence of jihad. The research question of this research raises concern regarding the most relevant factors that may have influenced some members of the Somali American community in Minnesota to approach the world of jihad and the al-Shabaab group specifically. The research also examines what were the recruitment techniques used by members of that group in order to have a greater grasp on the Somali youth. Therefore, through the study of the current debate amongscholars regarding the push and pull factors that cause an individual to take up the life of aforeign fighter, this paper seeks to shed light on which ones best apply to the particularity ofthe example of the Somali community in Minnesota. As in fact a diaspora community, thischaracteristic is of fundamental importance for understanding the dynamics by whichnationals embark on the activities of extremist groups far from one's home country. Theconclusions that can be drawn from this research regarding factors thathave a greater impact on the radicalization process of American youth of Somali origin andthe ability of the Al-Shabaab group to take full advantage of the particular condition of thatcommunity in the recruitment process. Indeed, what emerges from this analysis is the level ofinfluence of those identity-nationalist and identity-religious elements, as well as the economicand social factors that characterized the two waves of radicalization and recruitment of Somali-American youth of Minnesota examined in this research, referring to the period between 2007 and 2009.


Investigating the Success of E-Learning in Secondary Schools: The Case of the Kingdom of Bahrain Madina Taha Abstract As a result of the advances in information and communication technology, E-Learning has been integrated as an essential element in educational settings. Despite its successful implementation, a significant number of E-Learning projects fail to achieve their goals. This has motivated researchers and practitioners to study the reasons for failure and success and the factors that impact E-Learning. This research attempts to investigate the factors that influence the implementation and development of E-Learning and the most appropriate framework for secondary schools in Bahrain. The research adopted a quantitative approach to examine both teachers' and students' perceptions of critical factors in secondary schools in the Kingdom of Bahrain. A total of 540 respondents completed the survey-based questionnaire. The results revealed that there are four sets of factors which influence the success of E-Learning in the school education sector. These are: students' characteristics (computers skills; motivation and attitudes); teachers' characteristics (attitudes; control of technology and pedagogy and teaching style); technology (quality of technology and effectiveness of infrastructure) and design and content (perceived ease of use and quality of content). In addition, the findings show that there are some differences in perceptions amongst teachers according to gender, specialization, teaching experience and E-Learning experience. Similarly, the findings show that there are some differences in perceptions amongst students according to gender, specialization and level of study (years in school). The main contribution of this research is that it addresses the success of E-Learning in the schools sector in Bahrain and in the Arab region as this area of research lacks theoretical and empirical studies. In addition, the research proposes a conceptual framework that integrates the critical factors and demographic variables. The proposed conceptual framework contributes to the knowledge of E-Learning success by creating a guide for educational institutions and governments for better development and implementation, serving as a planning tool for new E-Learning projects and as an assessment mode for the efficacy of existing projects.


A geophysical survey carried out at Scourta plateau in Central Greece employed the electrical tomography method in order to image the interface between Alpine and Post-Alpine formations and estimate the thickness of Terra Rossa deposits. The later are crucial for TITAN-SA cement company open pit mine. This mine provides row materials for cement production. This survey is related with future extension plan of the existing Loutsa-Remeri open pit mine. Scourta is an active polje and is filled with a thick Terra Rossa deposit which is a row material for cement industry. The geophysical survey revealed two distinct layers, the upper is characterized by lower resistivity values (less than 20 Ωm), minimum thickness to the east (25 m) and maximum thickness at least 50 m and is attributed to Terra Rossa deposits. The underlying layer exhibits higher resistivity values (more than 70 Ωm) and is attributed to karstified carbonate relief. The variation of the polje depth is accosiated with tectonokarstic processes. The E-W direction fault system delineates the karstic structure and the N-S ridge in the east part of the survey area is delineated by N-S direction faults.


This paper will discuss the dispute review board (DRB) process and in particular the settlement recommendation and the elements thereof that may induce contractual parties to resolve their conflict. The recommendation is a document issued after the contractual parties bring a dispute to the DRB panel that they have failed to resolve. To lay the foundation for the issuance of a recommendation, the DRB process will be briefly discussed. Also discussed is the groundwork the panel itself must lay to gain the parties trust prior to the issuance of any recommendation. Given the importance of the recommendation as a linchpin of the DRB process, it is surprising to note the dearth of literature regarding it. This paper will help to partially fill that void.