The measurement of a firm's performance is a crucial issue for many of its stakeholders : shareholders, directors, managers or debtholders. In addition, the effectiveness of many management systems (performance evaluation, compensation, strategy implementation) and their impact on value creation depend on the selection of an appropriate performance metric. This study proposes to compare five performance metrics in terms of their ability to capture value creation. These measures are net earnings, operating earnings, cash flows from operations, residual income and value added. The sample comprises firms from three countries : France, the United States and Switzerland. Results suggest that the value relevance of a performance metric as well as its predictive ability depend upon a country's financial measurement and reporting environments. An investors-focused financial reporting environment enhances the power of performance metrics to explain stock returns. In contrast, a restrictive reporting environment which emphasizes reliability in performance measurement increases the predictive power of performance metrics. Furthermore, financial statements relying on the French "plan comptable" provide a better prediction of value added, a macro-economic indicator. However, these results may be conditioned by how the various performance metrics are measured. In addition, for French firms, the standard setting framework for consolidated financial statements may differ from the prescriptions of the "Plan comptable" regarding individual accounts.


The article concerns the necessity of changing the model of learning in modern society and according to technology which is used. It indicates sensitive issues in the teacher – student relationship, and refers to modern educational models (e.g. Brunner, Cultural Relevant Pedagogy). The article focuses on finding sensitive issues and proposes courses of action which could enable new and adequate functioning of teaching organizations. The proposed solution is systemic taking responsibility by postmodern institutions for developmentally oriented system of education. The conclusions based on the analysis concentrated on the concept of learning, the content of what ought to be taught, and factors impeding and supporting implementation of changes.


The latest attempt by the relatives of the victims of the Srebrenica massacre to hold the UN accountable for the inaction of UNPROFOR while the Bosnian enclave was attacked has once again proven unsuccessful. In a unanimous decision in the Stichting Mothers of Srebrenica and others v. the Netherlands case, the European Court of Human Rights declared the application to be ill-founded, finding that the decision of Dutch courts to grant immunity to the UN did not violate the applicants' right of access to a court. An intrinsic tension between two contemporary trends seems to be embodied in this recent decision. On the one hand the decision follows established and authoritative practice according to which a civil claim cannot override immunity from jurisdiction even though no alternative means of redress is available. On the other hand it conflicts with the growing emphasis placed on the right of access to justice and the right to remedy for victims of gross violations of human rights in the last decade. This note aims to provide a critical review of the decision, focusing on the "alternative means of remedy" test in cases involving the immunity of international organizations. In doing so, the note questions whether such a test must always be a prerequisite for the effective enjoyment of the right of access to a court.


Poverty has always been a challenge in many countries in the world. Based on the report of Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in 2015, more than 26 million Filipinos remain poor, living in extreme poverty. Because of the reported poverty incidence in the different countries, poverty alleviation has always been a part of each country's development programs. Since the poverty problem is serious, and the resources are limited, this research was conducted to efficiently target the poor households especially at a lower level (municipal) by estimating the number of poor households. The method of estimating at a lower aggregate is called Small Area Estimation (SAE). SAE, is the method of estimating reliable statistics in small geographical area or spatial micro population unit. The data used in this study came from the Census of Population and Housing (CPH, 2010) and the Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES, 2009) retrieved from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). After selecting the best fit model, the number of poor households and the corresponding poverty incidence were computed in each of the municipalities in Cavite. The poorest municipality in Cavite is GMA, followed by Carmona. On the other hand, the municipality with the lowest poverty incidence is Indang, followed by Trece Martires City. Future researchers may do the same methodology with a modification on the variables used for a more efficient estimate.


By attaching the1-pyreneiodide ancillary ligand to the surface of polyvinylpyrrolidone-stabilized gold (Au:PVP) cluster or the cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide-stabilized gold (Au:CTAB) nanorod, a new class of luminescent mixed ligand-stabilized gold nanostructures is synthesized. This postsynthetic surface modification method followed by us is a comparatively easier and hassle-free technique to acquire surface-active luminescent "functional nanomaterials". Careful analyses of transmission electron microscopy images revealed that the sizes of these Au-clusters or Au-nanorods remain unchanged without any noticeable aggregation in the medium. Owing to the formation of an excimer within the neighboring pyrenes mounted on the surface of core nanostructures (i.e., Au:PVP nanocluster and Au:CTAB nanorod), the resulting pyrene-grafted nanocomposites exhibit strong emission characteristics. The strong excimer emission is significantly quenched in the presence of electron-deficient chemical inputs, and this phenomenon can be used for analytical purposes. Using these luminescent Au-nanomaterials, we demonstrate a selective detection and sensing of trace-level nitroaromatic explosives (e.g., trinitrotoluene, trinitrophenol (TNP), dinitrotoluene, 4-nitrotoluene, etc.). It was observed that the Py-Au:PVP nanocluster is equally effective for explosive detection in both solution and solid phases with the limit of detection up to 10 nanomolar. A high Stern-Volmer constant of up to 3.88 × 106 M-1 was seen in the case of TNP in anhydrous methanol at 298 K. The deactivation pathway operating within the Py-Au:PVP nanocluster and the analytes is thought to be a result of a predominating static quenching process, where a nonfluorescent D-A supramolecular adduct is formed in the medium. Py-Au:PVP has also been successfully used to develop latent fingerprints from nonporous surfaces under an exposure of 365 nm UV light. The results suggest that these new composite materials could behave as potential "functional nanomaterials", which might be a promising alternative for on-the-spot detection of explosive traces as well as for easy visualization of latent fingerprints.


The function of GABA or glycine during early postnatal development remains controversial as their action is reported as either excitatory or inhibitory. The present study addressed the question of the functional role of GABA or glycine on rat motoneurons shortly after birth. For this purpose, using in vitro preparations from immature rats (postnatal age, P0‐P4 days), we recorded from lumbar spinal motoneurons and hypoglossal motoneurons. All data were obtained under current clamp conditions (recording with potassium methylsulphate containing electrodes) from cells at about −70 mV resting potential. On spinal motoneurons we used the glycinergic and GABAergic recurrent postsysnaptic potential (PSP) mediated by Renshaw cells to assess its impact on excitatory synaptic inputs from dorsal afferent fibres. Despite its depolarizing nature, the recurrent PSP consistently inhibited synaptic excitation of lumbar motoneurons. On hypoglossal motoneurons, exogenously applied GABA or glycine produced depolarization with decreased input resistance. This response was always associated with inhibition of cell firing induced by intracellular current pulses. Even when the membrane potential was repolarized to resting level in the presence of GABA or glycine, hypoglossal motoneurons failed to generate spikes. Conversely, similar depolarization produced by glutamate consistently facilitated spike firing. GABAergic and glycinergic synaptic potentials evoked by focal stimulation of the reticular formation inhibited firing and/or increased firing latency in the majority of hypoglossal motoneurons. These results indicate that, immediately after birth, rat motoneurons were inhibited by synaptically released or exogenously applied GABA or glycine.


The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between self-reported exercise behavior and physiological indicators of exercise behavior (body composition and oxygen consumption measures) in older women. Three self-report exercise behavior instruments were administered in counterbalanced order. Body mass index and sums of skinfold thicknesses were used as measures of body composition. Oxygen consumption was measured using a metabolic cart during a treadmill test while women walked at approximately 70% of their heart rate reserve. Fifty-nine women participated (68.7 ± 6.0 years). Results showed that self-reported exercise behavior was moderately related to body composition measures. However, predicted maximal oxygen consumption was only weakly related to self-reported exercise behavior.


The influence of oxygen content, radio-frequency (rf) sputtering power, and postdeposition annealing on the electrical properties of gallium-indium-zinc oxide (GIZO) thin-film transistors (TFTs) is analyzed. Little to no oxygen content in the sputtering chamber is crucial to obtain high-performance devices, even before annealing. In contrast, a high oxygen content and rf power lead, respectively, to unstable/poor performing and depletion mode TFTs before annealing, and mainly for these "nonideal" conditions, annealing proves to be effective to improve device performance/stability and to decrease the performance discrepancy among TFTs processed under different oxygen and rf power conditions. Best TFTs present a field-effect mobility of 46 cm 2 /V s, subthreshold swing of 0.26 V/dec, threshold voltage of 0.70 V, and an on/off ratio 10 8 -10 9 . These results are a consequence of the optimized processing and of the usage of proper GIZO target composition, 1:2:1 mol.


Idiopathic infantile and juvenile scoliosis have potential for extreme worsening. Orthopaedic treatment should be started as soon as the progressivity of the scoliosis is proven. In some infantile curves healing is possible, but in most cases the aim of the orthopaedic treatment will be to avoid spinal fusion at the end of growth. In some malignant infantile scoliosis, curves are rapidly out of the orthopaedic treatment control, and in such cases early surgery could be discussed.


Reduced DNA repair capacity contributes to genomic instability, a hallmark of carcinogenesis. The link between DNA repair capacity and cancer is especially relevant in breast cancer, where women with suboptimal repair capacity have been reported to have up to a five-fold increase in breast cancer risk compared to women with better repair capacity. We investigated promoter methylation levels of DNA repair-related genes and their association with breast cancer risk among participants of the New York site of the Breast Cancer Family Registry, comparing sisters affected with breast cancer to their unaffected sisters. We analyzed DNA extracted from viable mononuclear cells from 218 sisters (N=538 women) using pyrosequencing assays designed to target CpG islands in the promoter regions of BRCA1, MSH2, and MLH1. Breast cancer risk was not significantly associated with the promoter methylation level of BRCA1 (OR=1.09 [0.98-1.20]), MLH1 (OR=1.18 [0.90-1.54]) or MSH2 (OR=0.87 [0.47-1.59]). We assessed the Spearman correlation between methylation and previously generated data on expression level of BRCA1 and MSH2, where we had observed a significant increase in breast cancer risk among women in the lowest quartile of expression for MSH2. Among the affected women, no significant correlation was observed between methylation and expression level for MSH2 (-0.04, p=0.39) or BRCA1 (r=-0.05, p=0.39). These findings suggest that while MSH2 may have implications for breast cancer risk, as suggested by the previously observed increase in risk with decrease in expression level of MSH2, the lack of an association between gene promoter methylation levels of MSH2 and breast cancer risk and the lack of a correlation with expression level in the current study, indicate that other mechanisms impacting the reduction in expression level of this gene may be more relevant to explain the observed increase in breast cancer risk. Citation Format: Maya A. Kappil, Mary Beth Terry, Yuyan Liao, Regina Santella. Variations in promoter methylation levels of DNA repair genes and breast cancer risk in the New York site of the Breast Cancer Family Registry. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 687. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-687


This paper studies an evidential in Bangla which changes its evidential flavor based on its syntactic position. Forging novel connections with the literature on finiteness, indexical shift, and complementizer agreement, this paper demonstrates how evidentials can be sensitive to the presence of syntactic heads that represent the point-of-view of an utterance. Three main claims are made: (i) evidentials always take finite clauses which are perspective-sensitive, (ii) this perspective-sensitivity is syntactic, i.e. it is the result of control by speech-act heads, (iii) coindexation or contraindexation among these perspectival heads can have very important effects on word order in evidential constructions. This paper thus offers a comprehensive syntactic profile of evidential particles, which have generally been investigated with regard to their semantic-pragmatic contribution, arguing that the structural configurations these elements appear in have undeniably crucial effects on the interpretative component.


In this paper, a novel algorithm for moving object tracking based on position vectors has proposed. The position vector of an object in first frame of a video has been extracted based on selection of ROI. Region of Interest (ROI) is a cropped image in a first frame. In this algorithm, object motion has shown in nine different directions based on the position vector in the first frame. We extract nine position vectors for nine different directions. With these position vectors second frame is cropped into nine blocks. We exploit block matching of the first frame with nine blocks of the next frame in a simple feature space. The matched block is considered as tracked block and its position vector is a reference location for the next successive frame. We describe algorithm in detail to perform simulation experiments of object tracking which verifies the tracking algorithm efficiency.


IMPORTANCE
Telemetry alarms involving traditional on-site monitoring rarely alter management and often miss serious events, sometimes resulting in death. Poor patient selection contributes to a high alarm volume with low clinical yield.

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate outcomes associated with an off-site central monitoring unit (CMU) applying standardized cardiac telemetry indications using electronic order entry.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
All non-intensive care unit (ICU) patients at Cleveland Clinic and 3 regional hospitals over 13 months between March 4, 2014, and April 4, 2015.

EXPOSURES
An off-site CMU applied standardized cardiac telemetry when ordered for standard indications, such as for known or suspected tachyarrhythmias or bradyarrhythmias.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
CMU detection and notification of rhythm/rate alarms occurring 1 hour or less prior to emergency response team (ERT) activation, direct CMU-to-ERT notification outcomes, total telemetry census, and cardiopulmonary arrests in comparison with the previous 13 months.

RESULTS
The CMU received electronic telemetry orders for 99,048 patients (main campus, 72,199 [73%]) and provided 410,534 notifications (48% arrhythmia/hemodynamic) among 61 nursing units. ERT activation occurred among 3243 patients, including 979 patients (30%) with rhythm/rate changes occurring 1 hour or less prior to the ERT activation. The CMU detected and provided accurate notification for 772 (79%) of those events. In addition, the CMU provided discretionary direct ERT notification for 105 patients (ventricular tachycardia, n = 44; pause/asystole, n = 36; polymorphic ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation, n = 14; other, n = 11), including advance warning of 27 cardiopulmonary arrest events (26%) for which return of circulation was achieved in 25 patients (93%). Telemetry standardization was associated with a mean 15.5% weekly census reduction in the number of non-ICU monitored patients per week when compared with the prior 13-month period (580 vs 670 patients; mean difference, -90 patients [95% CI, -82 to -99]; P < .001). The number of cardiopulmonary arrests was 126 in the 13 months preintervention and 122 postintervention.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
Among non-critically ill patients, use of standardized cardiac telemetry with an off-site central monitoring unit was associated with detection and notification of cardiac rhythm and rate changes within 1 hour prior to the majority of ERT activations, and also with a reduction in the census of monitored patients, without an increase in cardiopulmonary arrest events.


Reputation plays a major role in human societies, and it has been proposed as an explanation for the evolution of cooperation. While the majority of previous studies equates reputation with a transparent and complete history of players' past decisions, reputations in real life are often ambiguous and opaque. Using web-based experiments, we explore the extent to which opaque reputation works in isolating defectors, with and without partner selection opportunities. We found that low reputation works as a signal of untrustworthiness, whereas medium or high reputations are not taken into account by subjects for orienting their choices. Reputation without partner selection does not promote cooperative behavior; that is, defectors do not turn into cooperators only for the sake of getting a positive reputation. Finally, in a third study, when reputation is pivotal to selection, then a substantial proportion of would-be-defectors turn into cooperators. Taken together, these results provide insights about the characteristics of reputation and about the way in which humans make use of it when selecting partners, and also when knowing that they will be selected.


This study utilized the context of Hurricane Katrina to examine changes in justice beliefs. We suggest that racism claims being embedded within an emotionally involving context and covered by the mainstream media facilitated openness to the idea that the American social system is not entirely just. We hypothesized that exposure to images of the disaster and racism explanations would lead Whites who initially perceived the American social system as just to shift their beliefs. Furthermore, lower justice beliefs after exposure to disaster images would be associated with greater perceptions of similarity with victims and less preference for the racial ingroup. Results were consistent with these hypotheses. Thus, under some circumstances, disconfirming evidence can produce belief change.


Optical Coherence Tomography is an imaging technique characterized by high spatial resolution and noninvasive subsurface detection1. OCT started as an interferometric technique utilizing the newly emerged low coherence or partial coherence light source and time-domain gating to achieve the depth resolution. With additional lateral scans, 2-D or 3D tomographic images can be obtained. The instrumental development of OCT has experienced several phases. It goes from free space architectures to fiber-based systems, from intensity-based structural imaging to multiple functional extensions of polarization sensitive, Doppler, and spectroscopic OCT. Since the beginning of this century, a Fourier domain OCT infrastructure has been introduced that resulted in a new revolution in OCT technology2, 3. Not only was the new technology bringing a hundred times more sensitivity, it was also technically more convenient for the design of a higher speed scanning system structures. Nowadays, FD-OCT are implemented with either a spectrometer or a tunable laser design. Modern OCT is more accurately defined as a broadband rather than lowcoherence interferometric technology. And the outcome is a true 3D imaging modality4-9 with high data speed for real-time clinical diagnosis, free from the degradation of motion artifacts.


Predeposit autologous blood donation (PABD) with recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) has recently come into widespread use. To determine the optimal route of r-HuEPO administration for PABD, we investigated the effects of r-HuEPO by different routes on predeposit autologous 1,200ml blood donation courses in 71 patients undergoing elective orthopedic surgery. The patients were divided into three groups as follows: 36 patients were given r-HuEPO two or three times a week intravenously, 21 were given r-HuEPO once a week subcutaneously, and 14 without r-HuEPO served as controls. The increase in hemoglobin concentration in both r-HuEPO administration groups (3.46+1.16g/dl intravenous; 2.40+0.76g/dl subcutaneous) was significantly greater than that in the controls (1.47+1.04g/dl). To further compare the effects of r-HuEPO by both routes, regression analysis between increase in hemoglobin concentration per week period and total dose of r-HuEPO divided by body weight was done. The hemoglobin increase (y) demonstrated a significant positive linear correlation with r-HuEPO dose (x) in both groups (y=5.0X10-4+0.28, r=0.86 for the intravenous group, y=4.7X10-4+ 0.37, r=0.55 for the subcutaneous group), with the two lines revealing no significant difference from each other. In conclusion, both routes of r-HuEPO administration given under the same total dose are equally efficacious in raising hemoglobin concentration level.


Conventional copper powder used to form terminations of MLCC generally contains large flakes with high aspect ratios and large agglomerate spherical particles. The use of agglomerate powder and large flakes results in low dry film density, and thus a thicker film. In our research, we focused on highly dispersed, uniform, and fine flakes and powder that did not contain coarse particles, and examined the paste characteristics and their effect on firing conditions. We found that a smaller particle size would increase the thixotropic value and result in an earlier start to firing. We also discovered that the agglomerate condition of powder had a significant influence on the rheology of the paste. A higher degree of agglomeration would result in higher viscosity and a higher thixotropic value, but would not have a major effect on the firing condition.


We study the tail behavior of the distribution of certain subadditive functionals acting on the sample paths of Lévy processes. The functionals we consider have, roughly speaking, the following property: only the points of the process that lie above a certain curve contribute to the value of the functional. Our assumptions will make sure that the process ends up eventually below the curve. Our results apply to ruin probabilities, distributions of sojourn times over curves, last hitting times and other functionals.


The fish family Cynodontidae belongs to the superfamily Curimatoidea, together with the Hemiodontidae, Serrasalmidae, Parodontidae, Prochilodontidae, Chilodontidae, Curimatidae, and Anostomidae. The majority of the species of this superfamily that have been analyzed to date have a diploid chromosome number of 2n = 54. Differentiated sex chromosomes (with female heterogamety) have been observed only in the Prochilodontidae, Parodontidae, and Anostomidae. The present study provides the first description of differentiated sex chromosomes in the cynodontid species Cynodon gibbus, which has a ZZ/ZW system, and shows that repetitive DNA has played a fundamental role in the differentiation of these sex chromosomes.


Exchange anisotropy was first discovered in oxidised cobalt particles (Co-CoO) by Meiklejohn and Bean (1956). They observed a shift in the hysteresis curve along the field axis, a non-vanishing rotational hysteresis, and a unidirectional component in torque curves, after the sample was cooled in a saturating magnetic field. Later the effect was also found in other ferro-antiferromagnetic systems by Meiklejohn (1962). In this letter a shift in the hysteresis curve of CoCr films is presented. RF-sputtered CoCr films were cooled in a magnetic field of 17 kOe from room temperature to liquid-nitrogen and helium temperatures. The shift is approximately 100 Oe in the direction opposite to the cooling field. The antiferromagnetic regions that are thought to be concentrated on the column boundaries offer a new opening in the discussion on the reversal mechanism of CoCr films.


MINI: Comparison of clinicopathologic characteristics and outcomes of 1958 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent esophagectomy demonstrated that disease presentation and treatment outcomes differed between females and males. Esophageal cancer in females should be considered a unique entity as compared with the presentation and treatment of males.

OBJECTIVE
To improve understanding of sex differences in clinicopathologic characteristics, treatment and outcomes between male and female patients undergoing esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA
Esophageal cancer is a male predominant disease, and sex has not been considered in previous studies as an important factor in diagnosis or management. Sex differences in demographics, clinicopathologic characteristics, and postoperative outcomes remain largely undefined.

METHODS
Retrospective review of 1958 patients (21% female) with esophageal cancer who underwent esophagectomy at a single institution between 1995 and 2017.

RESULTS
Most patients had adenocarcinoma (83%); however, the rate of squamous cell carcinoma was significantly higher in females (35% vs 11%, respectively; P < .0001). Females had a lower rate of smoking (62 vs 73%) and heavy alcohol use (12 vs 19%) but a higher rate of previous mediastinal radiation (8.4 vs 1.8%) (P < 0.001). Postoperative mortality and overall survival (OS) were similar between sexes. However, subanalysis of patients with locoregional disease (clinical stage II/III) demonstrated that females received neoadjuvant therapy less frequently than males and had worse OS (median OS 2.56 yrs vs 2.08; P = 0.034). This difference remained significant on adjusted analysis (HR 1.24, 95% CI 1.06-1.46).

CONCLUSIONS
Female patients had higher incidence of squamous cell carcinoma despite lower prevalence of behavioral risk factors. Among patients with locoregional disease, undertreatment in females may reflect treatment bias and history of previous mediastinal radiation. Esophageal cancer in females should be considered a unique entity as compared with the presentation and treatment of males.


Last years' reforms affected in an extremely different way the Swedish and the Italian elderly care systems, even if these reforms had been apparently inspired by the same "watchwords". In the article the comparison of the effects of these reforms assumes a "broad" definition of care: the reciprocal interrelations between market, state and family are underlined together with their transformations caused by the introduction of the recent reforms. In the 90s the Italian and the Swedish welfare state experienced a further step towards the decentralization of responsibilities on elderly care: in both countries responsibilities for the provision of home care services have been transferred to the municipalities. In the same time, both countries experienced a trend towards the marketization and the informalization of elderly care with a growing importance of private and non profit providers and of family solidarities. However, even after the introduction of these reforms, a substantial confirmation of the differences between the "family ideologies" that historically distinguished the Swedish and Italian welfare states can still be found rather than an evidence of a convergence of their elderly care systems.


String matching is a basic problem of string operation, and privacy-preserving string matching, as a special case of secure multi-party computation, has broad applications in auction, bidding and some other commercial areas. In this paper, some protocols are proposed to solve this private matching problem, the security and correctness are analyzed respectively, and the actual efficiency is tested by experiment. A protocol is also designed based on the BMH algorithm which is more efficient and conceals more private information.


Health care organizations can benefit from decades of cross-industry research into effective team management as they meet the challenges of managing frontline Covid-19 care teams.


Abstract Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a neurological disease caused by Sarcocystis neurona. Immunofluorescence antibody tests (IFATs) have been widely used to identify exposure of horses to S. neurona in Brazil. Here we used IFAT to search for IgG antibodies against Sarcocystis falcatula-like (Dal-CG23) and S. neurona (SN138) in sera from 342 horses sampled in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul state (Midwestern), and São Paulo, São Paulo state (Southeastern), Brazil. The 1:25 cutoff value was chosen to maximize sensitivity of the test. IgG antibodies against S. neurona were detected in 239 horses (69.88%), whereas IgG antibodies against S. falcatula-like were detected in 177 horses (51.75%). Sera from 132 horses (38.59%) reacted against both isolates. Absence of reactivity was evidenced in 58/342 horses (16.95%). The lower cutoff used, and the presence of opossums infected with S. falcatula-like and Sarcocystis spp. in the regions where the horses were sampled, might justify the high seroprevalence observed here. Owing to the similarity among antigens targeted in immunoassays, reports on S. neurona-seropositive horses in Brazil may also derive from the exposure of horses to other Sarcocystis species. The role of other Sarcocystis species in causing neurological diseases in horses in Brazil remains unclear.


For a special class of tests a model is presented which, as a distinguishing feature, assumes closure of the set of all item characteristic functions under multiplication and a certain exponentiation. It is shown that essentially unique parallelization of the set of corresponding trace lines is attainable if and only if all item characteristic functions are powers of each other. The required continuous and monotone transformation of the ability continuum is explicitly given. Upon transformation all item characteristic functions assume a unique functional form regardless of their initial form. The model rules out normal ogives as well as logistic functions as possible item characteristic functions after transformation.


This paper focuses on the requirements for achieving automated diagnosis and error recovery in a robotic assembly cell. Untended robust operation is the goal which is discussed, and the use of a knowledge-base oriented diagnostic/control system to support on-line error recovery is advocated. It is proposed that error recovery attempts should be made, not only based on information gathered by system sensors, but also by using additional cell-specific knowledge pertaining to recovery strategies. Recovery attempts are to be made even in the absence of complete diagnosis, in order to gather additional information. Acontrol structure developed to implement this approach is presented.


Ali Baumann received her master's degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Wyoming before working as senior systems engineer at General Dynamics C4 Systems. She is now part of the freshman engineering education team in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University. Currently, she focuses on enhancing the curriculum for the freshman engineering program to incorporate industry standards into hands-on design projects. She is an instructor for the Introduction to Engineering program, Engineering Transfer Success program, Engineering UGTA program, and the Electrical Engineering department at ASU. She is a 3-time winner of the "Fulton Top 5% Teaching Award" and 2-time winner of "Badass Women of ASU". Her philosophy boasts incorporating large scale systems engineering techniques into collegiate engineering curriculum to better prepare upcoming professionals and develop a student's resume from day one.


In a non-uniform Constraint Satisfaction problem CSP(G), where G is a set of relations on a finite set A, the goal is to find an assignment of values to variables subject to constraints imposed on specified sets of variables using the relations from G. The Dichotomy Conjecture for the non-uniform CSP states that for every constraint language G the problem CSP(G) is either solvable in polynomial time or is NP-complete. It was proposed by Feder and Vardi in their seminal 1993 paper. In this paper we confirm the Dichotomy Conjecture.


Acoustics plays a significant role in various aspects of everyday life and finds applications in diverse fields such as medicine, where ultrasound is used to detect anomalies in the human body, noise pollution control, music, and the study of the universe, among others. This article explores the extent of scientific literature on supercomputing for acoustic simulation. The methodology consists of four steps: formulating research questions, conducting a literature search, selecting highly impactful articles, and data compilation. Out of a total of 211 articles obtained from reviewed databases, including Springer, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Scientific Reports, ChEES, Journal of Physics, Hindawi, and Research Article, 20 articles were chosen for analysis. It was concluded that the dynamic study of sound is indeed complex, requiring intensive data processing. This necessitates the use of supercomputers with multiple cores to solve various mathematical models, with the fundamental focus of the study being the resolution of the wave equation.


Specific activity of Carboxyl esterase (CE) was estimated for young, old (2-4 and 16-18 months) and for similar groups of Lithium treated male Albino Sprague dawley rats whole brain cells. Rats of both age groups were orally administered with 37mg of Lithium chloride (LiCl2) per kg body weight daily for 10 days. Old rat brains LiCl2 treated showed significant increased CE specific activity of 0.076 IU/mg protein in crude, 0.1445 IU/mg protein in Ammonium sulphate precipitated and 0.5827 IU/mg protein in ion exchange fraction than their control. So the highly purified samples of carboxyl esterases obtained with LiCl2 treated brain. Enzyme kinetics of substrate concentration showed Km of 0.2 mM and Vmax of 52.631, indicating higher CE activity at pH-6 and at 60oC temperature in crude extracts of control old rats. The crude brain samples of both aged groups LiCl2 treated showed an intense band patterns in Native PAGE for CE expression than their controls. Thus, LiCl2 elevates carboxyl esterase in each step of purification and in future it activates drug metabolism to treat various brain related disorders.


Optical parametric generation is treated as a particular case of parametric amplification of two waves at frequencies ω1 and ω2 from a pump wave ω3 propagating in a nonlinear crystal. This theory describes the configuration in which initial intensities for ω1 and ω2 at the input plane of the material are equal to zero. This research is based on the theory of optical parametric fluorescence. According to this quantum-mechanical model, there is a probability for a photon ω3 to be spontaneously scattered into photons ℏω1 and ℏω2, respectively. We introduce a critical length over which the first signal and idler photons are created. This new approach allows us to take into account optical parametric fluorescence not only at the entrance of material but also over its entire interaction length. We show that this can widely modify the calculated generated intensities. This model is applied to a KTP optical parametric generator and amplifier pumped by the second harmonic (532 nm) of a Nd:YAG picosecond laser.


The aim of our study was to define cardiac morphological and functional abnormalities of right ventricular dysplasia by magnetic resonance imaging. Twenty-two healthy volunteers (age, 37.7 +/- 14.2 years) free of cardiac or respiratory diseases (group I) and 12 patients (age, 41.9 +/- 15.8 years) with clinical, electrophysiological and cineangiographic diagnosis of right ventricular dysplasia (group II) underwent magnetic resonance imaging at 0.2 Tesla. End-diastolic diameter, trabecular disarray and segmental wall motion abnormalities were evaluated for the right ventricle as were adipose replacement and fractional shortening for both ventricles. The right ventricular end-diastolic diameter was significantly enlarged in group II (P = 0.0023). Right ventricular trabecular disarray was mild in two group I subjects, and moderate in seven and massive in five group II patients. Right ventricular systolic bulges were found in seven group II patients, aneurysms in five. Excellent agreement was found between magnetic resonance imaging and cineangiography for bulges, aneurysms and tricuspid regurgitation (P < 0.0001). On spin-echo images, signal hyperintensities, due to adipose replacement, were found in 44 cardiac regions in group II: right ventricular outflow tract (12), sub-tricuspid posterobasal region (8), right ventricular apex (9), right ventricular anterior wall (6), interventricular septum (4), left ventricular lateral wall (4), left ventricular apex (1). Significant signal-to-noise ratio differences were found between group II abnormal areas and group I myocardial tissue for the right (P < 0.0001) and left ventricles (P = 0.0006). Fractional shortening in the right and left ventricles were significantly reduced in group II (P = 0.0002 and P = 0.00016, respectively). Magnetic resonance imaging can be considered a very useful diagnostic tool for the detection of features typical of right ventricular dysplesia, such as adipose replacement, trabecular disarray, bulges and aneurysms and provides useful information about cardiac function and regional wall motion. It indicates that left ventricular involvement occurs in a significant fraction of patients, and suggests that right ventricular dysplasia may be a generalized cardiomyopathy.


The objective of this study was to evaluate correlations between annual average daily traffic (AADT) and storm water runoff pollutant concentrations generated from California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) highway sites. Analyses of data collected from the Caltrans Cyear (1997-01) highway runoff characterization program revealed that, in general, pollutant concentrations from urban highways were higher than those found from non-urban highways. For a limited number of pollutants, however, the concentrations from norrurban highways were found to be higher than the concentrations from urban highways. No direct linear correlation was found between highway runoff pollutant event mean concentrations (EMCs) and AADT. However, through multiple regression analyses, it was shown that AADT has an influence on most highway runoff constituent concentrations, in conjunction with factors associated with watershed characteristics and pollutant build-up and wash oft The other noticeable factors shown to influence the accumulation of pollutants on highways were antecedent dry period, drainage area, maximum rain intensity, and land use.


Research and management issues related to pine forests, snowpack and refugia are relevant to mountainous ecosystems globally. For this study, we investigated local snowpack longevity as an explanatory variable for whitebark pine performance (survival rate, growth rate and condition). We used Sentinel-2 imagery to monitor local snowpack longevity. This new imagery is spatially and temporally more appropriate than other publicly available satellite imagery, and early results indicate that Sentinel-2 imagery can be successfully used for this purpose. Sites were selected based on a multi-decade management effort by federal agencies to plant whitebark pine in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Relative to initial planting records, present-day field sampling affords an opportunity to evaluate whitebark pine performance over time.

Featured photo from Figure 3 in report.


This paper deals with livelihood monitoring and care assessment of old age people based on internet of things. The usage of electrical and non-electrical home appliances as well as health conditions are monitored by the sensors such as electrical sensor, force sensor, temperature sensor and contact sensor. All sensors are integrated into a common sensor node and sensor data are analyzed to predict wellness parameters. Based on the wellness parameters, the daily activities of elderly people are classified as neither normal nor abnormal. In case of abnormal condition, the automatic alert will be given to nearby hospitals and local care takers for immediate medical assistance. Additionally, the well-being conditions are periodically updated in IoT cloud for real time monitoring. Experiment was conducted and the performance was tested by the prediction of well-being conditions based on usage and non-usage of home appliances. From results, it is inferred that the proposed approach suffices oldage community to lead safe life without fear.


In this descriptive study, all NLN-accredited master's programs in the United States were surveyed to describe the content and form of the Adult Health/Medical Surgical (AH/MS) Nursing component of the curricula. An 82% response rate was achieved. The study confirmed a high degree of diversity in the AH/MS Nursing component of master's degree programs. It revealed a lack of consensus on the amount and kind of content necessary for specialization in AH/MS Nursing. Few curricula were based on an identified nursing model/theoretical framework, although students in most programs were required to utilize a nursing model as a framework for advanced or specialty practice. The structure of class and clinical learning activities varied markedly. Ideas about graduate faculty's role in clinical instruction were dissimilar. Findings from the study could guide decision making for the AH/MS Nursing component of master's-level curricula. Curriculum revision seems to be inherent in the nurse-faculty role, yet curriculum decision making can be an onerous task. This is especially true in today's master's nursing programs where clinical specialty areas are not well defined and diversity and ambiguity abound. As faculty members in a master's nursing program where numerous specialty areas had been developed, we became increasingly frustrated in our attempts to identify specific knowledge and skills that should be acquired by students specializing in adult health nursing. Traditionally, this rather broad specialty area has been a "catch-all" for the study of a wide variety of age groups and health alterations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


The use of 3D intraoral scanners (IOS) and software that can support automated detection and objective monitoring of oral diseases such as caries, tooth wear or periodontal diseases is increasingly receiving attention from researchers and industry. This study clinically validates an automated caries scoring system for occlusal caries detection and classification, previously developed for an IOS system featuring fluorescence (TRIOS 4, 3Shape TRIOS A/S, Denmark). Four algorithms (ALG1, ALG2, ALG3, ALG4) are assessed for the IOS; the first three are based only on fluorescence information, while ALG4 also takes into account the tooth color information. The diagnostic performance of these automated algorithms is compared with the diagnostic performance of the clinical visual examination, while histological assessment is used as reference. Additionally, possible differences between in vitro and in vivo diagnostic performance of the IOS system are investigated. The algorithms show comparable in vivo diagnostic performance to the visual examination. Only minor differences between their in vitro and in vivo diagnostic performance are noted. This novel IOS system exhibits encouraging performance for clinical application on occlusal caries detection and classification. Different approaches can be investigated for possible optimization of the system.


Abstract Nonlinear optical processes are vital for fields including telecommunications, signal processing, data storage, spectroscopy, sensing and imaging. As an independent research area, nonlinear optics began with the invention of the laser, because practical sources of intense light needed to generate optical nonlinearities were not previously available. However, the high power requirements of many nonlinear optical systems limit their use, especially in portable or medical applications, and so there is a push to develop new materials and resonant structures capable of producing nonlinear optical phenomena with low-power light emitted by inexpensive and compact sources. Acoustic nonlinearities, especially giant acoustic nonlinear phenomena in gas bubbles and liquid droplets, are much stronger than their optical counterparts. Here, we suggest employing acoustic nonlinearities to generate new optical frequencies, thereby effectively reproducing nonlinear optical processes without the need for laser light. We critically survey the current literature dedicated to the interaction of light with nonlinear acoustic waves and highly nonlinear oscillations of gas bubbles and liquid droplets. We show that the conversion of acoustic nonlinearities into optical signals is possible with low-cost incoherent light sources such as light-emitting diodes, which would usher new classes of low-power photonic devices that are more affordable for remote communities and developing nations, or where there are demanding requirements on size, weight and power.


A technique for the identification of north European water frogs (Rana lessonae, R. ridibunda and R. esculenta) based on PCR (polymerase chain reaction)-amplification of DNA using random primers (RAPD) is presented. The method requires very small amounts (< 2 mg) of tissue and reliably distinguished the three types of frogs using samples taken from two widely separate localities (Britain and Poland). In addition, the primers distinguished the DNA of water frogs from that of a brown frog (R. temporaria) and from that of two toad species (Bufo bufo and B. calamita).


Background: The success of CRM initiative in any firm depends greatly on the implementation strategy. Customer relationship management is a key strategy that most firms adopt in their customer management with the intention to enhance their performance and improve loyalty which is by focusing on customers through identification of their needs and strive daily to ensure that those needs are met for their satisfaction in order to achieve a sustainable win-win business-customer relationship. The purpose of this study is to bring to the fall the issues of CRM, the implementation process and success factors of CRM strategy. Methodology: Resource based view was used to considered the success framework of CRM strategy. The study was exploratory with the intention to uncover the themes and variables related to addressing the issues associated with CRM and the possible implementation process. A Qualitative methodology was adopted using an unstructured (semi structured) interview method with open questions to garner information from 2 employees each that are known as CRM/IT experts and having good practical knowledge of CRM usage in five selected FMCG firms that have adopted CRM strategy. Lastly, thematic content analysis was used to determine the themes and their related questions centering on CRM issues, Implementation and success factors. Result: This study concludes that CRM implementation strategy play a vital role in enhancing the growth of an organization economically. It also posit that appropriate implementation strategy of the CRM and e-CRM will help to improve all other component of the CRM, it will also proliferate the technological inclination and adaptability of employees within the organization and as well help in fostering collective mindset and team work within the firm.


The temperature and pressure dependence of the addition reaction of ethyl methyl ketone (EMK) with HO2 radical has been calculated using the master equation method employing conventional transition state theory estimates for the microcanonical rate coefficients in the temperature range of 600-1600 K. Geometries, frequencies, and hindrance potentials were obtained at the B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) level of theory. A modified G3(MP2,CC) method has been used to calculate accurate electronic energies for all of the species involved in the reactions. The rigid-rotor harmonic oscillator approximation has been used for all of the vibrations except for the torsional degrees of freedom which are being treated as 1D hindered rotors. Asymmetric Eckart barriers were used to model tunneling effect in a one-dimensional reaction coordinate through saddle points. Our calculated results show that the four reaction channels forming 1-buten-2-ol + HO2 radical (R5), 2-buten-2-ol + HO2 radical (R10), acetic acid + ethylene + OH radical (R13), and 2-methyl-2-oxetanol + OH radical (R15) are the dominant channels. When the temperature is below 1000 K, the reaction R15 forming the cyclic ether, 2-methyl-2-oxetanol, is dominant while the reaction R13 forming acetic acid + ethylene + OH radical becomes increasingly dominant at temperatures above 1000 K. The other two channels forming 1-buten-2-ol, 2-buten-2-ol, and HO2 radical are not dominant but are still important product channels over the whole temperature range investigated here. No pressure dependence has been found for the reaction channels forming 2-methyl-2-oxetanol + OH radical and acetic acid + ethylene + OH radical. A slightly negative pressure dependence has been found for the reaction channels producing the two butenols. Rate constants for the four important reaction channels at 1 atm (in cm(3) mol(-1) s(-1)) are k(R5) = 2.67 × 10(15) × T(-1.32)exp(-16637/T), k(R10) = 1.62 × 10(8) × T(0.57)exp(-13142/T), k(R13) = 2.29 × 10(17) × T(-1.66)exp(-18169/T), and k(R15) = 6.17 × 10(-2) × T(3.35)exp(-10136/T). A comparison of the total rate constants for the addition of HO2˙ radical to EMK and that for H-atom abstraction by HO2˙ radical from EMK has also been carried out. We find that the abstraction reaction channels are dominant over the entire temperature range of 600-1600 K.


ABSTRACT Introduction: In 2013, riociguat a potent and specific stimulator of the soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) was approved as first in class sGC stimulator which reflected a first culmination of intense research and development efforts starting in the mid 1990ies. In the meantime, it turned out that triggering cGMP production by sGC stimulators could have a broad treatment potential. In consequence, various pharmaceutical companies are still very active in identifying novel chemistry for sGC stimulators. After the first generation of sGC stimulators like riociguat or lificiguat, new compound classes with different physicochemical and kinetic profiles were identified, like the sGC stimulators vericiguat or praliciguat. Area covered: Patent literature on sGC stimulators with a focus on recent compounds of the years 2014–2019 as on claimed use and formulations of these compounds. The information was collected from publicly available data sources only (MedLine, EmBase, Chemical Abstracts, Orbit, Dolphin). Expert Opinion: With the recent advancements reported in the patent literature, sGC stimulators might be differentiated due to tissue selectivity or route of application although exhibiting the same molecular mode of action. The indication space of these compounds is potentially very broad and multiple indications in cardiovascular diseases and beyond are under investigation


The results of a 2-D fluid model for argon radiofrequency (RF) discharges in a closed cylindrical vacuum chamber are compared with experimental data from an amorphous silicon deposition reactor operated in argon. Good agreement is obtained for the relation between the DC autobias voltage and the dissipated power in the frequency range 40-100 MHz at pressures between 10 and 60 Pa. Scaling laws are presented for the dissipated power and for the ion fluxes toward the electrodes. These quantities are expressed in the DC bias voltage, the RF excitation frequency and the background pressure. Also the uniformity of the ion fluxes is studied. The model yields a linear relation between the applied RF voltage and the DC bias voltage. This relation depends only on the geometry of the discharge chamber and shows an offset. >


A 49 year old right handed builder presented to the emergency department after an episode of vomiting and unsteadiness, with falling to the right side. This resolved after 10 minutes, but was followed 30 minutes later by pins and needles in the right face, arm, and leg. The symptoms had been preceded by bilateral neck stiffness for the previous three days, after the patient experienced minor trauma to the neck. His medical history was of well controlled essential hypertension. His family history was relevant—his father had a stroke in his 50s.

At initial assessment the patient was found to have right sided paraesthesia, with no evidence of weakness. He had no cranial nerve lesions and no higher cortical dysfunction. Initial observations were normal, with a blood pressure of 135/90 mm Hg. A 12 lead resting electrocardiogram showed sinus rhythm. Computed tomography of the head on admission showed no abnormality.

The next day the patient had residual paraesthesia in his right hand only. Fasting glucose and cholesterol concentrations were within normal limits, and his erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 10 mm/h. He underwent magnetic resonance imaging (fig 1⇓) and magnetic resonance angiography (fig 2⇓).

Fig 1 Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain

Fig 2 Magnetic resonance angiography

### 1 What two abnormalities are seen on the magnetic resonance images?

#### Short answer

An intraluminal clot in the right vertebral artery and infarction of the right medullary pyramid can be seen on the magnetic resonance images.

#### Long answer

The axial T1 weighted magnetic resonance image shows a focal …


Many studies have shown that postweaning social isolation (pwSI) alters various behavioral phenotypes, including hippocampusdependent tasks. Here, we report the comprehensive analysis of the expression of glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmissionrelated genes in the distinct hippocampal subregions of pwSI rats. Male F344 rats (age, 4 wk) experienced either pwSI or group housing (controls). At 7 wk of age, the hippocampus of each rat was removed and laser-microdissected into the CA1 and CA3 layers of pyramidal cells and the granule cell layer of the dentate gyrus. Subsequently, the expression of glutamatergic- and GABAergic- related genes was analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR. In the CA1 and CA3 pyramidal cell layers, 18 of 24 glutamate receptor subunit genes were at least 1.5-fold increased in expression after pwSI. In particular, the expression of several N-methyl-D-aspartate and kainate receptors (for example, Grin2a in CA1, Grik4 in CA3) was significantly increased after pwSI. In contrast, pwSI tended to decrease the expression of GABAA receptor subunit genes, and Gabra1, Gabra2, Gabra4, Gabra5, Gabrb2, Gabrg1, and Gabrg2 were all significantly decreased in expression compared with the levels in the group-housed rats. These results indicate a subregion- specific increase of glutamate receptors and reduction of GABAA receptors, suggesting that the hippocampal circuits of pwSI rats may be in more excitable states than those of group-housed rats.


SYNOPSIS One of the constraints on the development of a sustainable approach to energy generation is the attitude of local people to the deployment of renewable energy technologies in their locality. Wind power is now a major producer of electricity in Denmark and North Germany and its contribution continues to grow rapidly, in sharp contrast to the case of the UK where progress has been practically brought to a standstill because of planning opposition. The key lesson from this study, which compares and contrasts the situation in Denmark, Germany and the UK, is that a high level of local, and preferably, community ownership of wind power is essential if there is to be solid public acceptance of the technology.


Genomic surveillance of monkeypox virus (MPXV) during the 2022 outbreak has been mainly focused on single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) changes. DNA viruses, including MPXV, have a lower SNP mutation rate than RNA viruses due to higher fidelity replication machinery. We identified a large genomic rearrangement in a MPXV sequence from a 2022 case in the state of Minnesota (MN), USA, from an abnormal, uneven MPXV read mapping coverage profile in whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data. We further screened WGS data of 206 U.S. MPXV samples and found seven (3.4 percent) sequenced genomes contained similar abnormal read coverage profiles that suggested putative large deletions or genomic rearrangements. Here, we present three MPXV genomes containing deletions ranging from 2.3 to 15 kb and four genomes containing more complex rearrangements. Five genomic changes were each only seen in one sample, but two sequences from linked cases shared an identical 2.3 kb deletion in the 3' terminal region. All samples were positive using VAC1 and Clade II (formerly West African)-specific MPXV diagnostic tests; however, large deletions and genomic rearrangements like the ones reported here have the potential to result in viruses in which the target of a PCR diagnostic test is deleted. The emergence of genomic rearrangements during the outbreak may have public health implications and highlight the importance of continued genomic surveillance.


A new procedures to minimize labor intensiveness and complexity that has long been recognized in cellulase filter paper activity measurement (FPAase) described by the international union of pure and applied chemistry (IUPAC) was developed. It follows the main idea of IUPAC with only exception finding at least two cellulase dilutions have optical densities slightly more and less than a reference optical density of an arbitrary fixed 2 mg absolute glucose amount after a red-ox color reaction and due to cellulase-filter paper hydrolysis. The yielding glucose amount difference as compared to this reference is expressed in terms of absorbance difference percent determined by 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS), in case of cellulase is cellubiase rich. If not, an external supplemental portion should be added. The intersection of the line of these two cellulase dilutions with abscissa intersect a vertical at a hypothetical 0% absorbance difference percent corresponding to a critical cellulase dilution exactly release this fixed arbitrary 2 mg glucose amount value. The factor 0.37 of this critical cellulase dilution equals to its filter paper units expressed in FPU per ml.


Connexins (Cxs) are a family of membrane-spanning proteins, expressed in vertebrates and named according to their molecular weight. They are involved in tissue homeostasis, and they function by acting at several communication levels. Cardiac Cxs are responsible for regular heart function and, among them, Cx26 and Cx43 are widely expressed throughout the heart. Cx26 is present in vessels, as well as in cardiomyocytes, and its localization is scattered all over the cell aside from at the intercalated discs as is the case for the other cardiac Cxs. However, having been found in cardiomyocytes only recently, both its subcellular localization and its functional characterization in cardiomyocytes remain poorly understood. Therefore, in this study we aimed to obtain further data on the localization of Cx26 at the subcellular level. Our TEM immunogold analyses were performed on rat heart ventricles and differentiated H9c2 cardiac cell sections as well as on differentiated H9c2 derived extracellular vesicles. The results confirmed the absence of Cx26 at intercalated discs and showed the presence of Cx26 at the level of different subcellular compartments. The peculiar localization at the level of extracellular vesicles suggested a specific role for cardiac Cx26 in inter-cellular communication in an independent gap junction manner.


AIM
To study the effects of N-[4-[[1-[2-(6-methyl-2-pyridinyl)ethyl]-4-piperidinyl]carbonyl]phenyl]methanesulfonamide dihydrochloride dihydrate (E-4031), a specific Ik blocker, on Ca2+ transient and cell contraction of normal and hypertrophied rat ventricular myocytes.

METHODS
Electrically triggered Ca2+ transient and cell shortening were measured simultaneously using the Ion Imaging System with charge coupled digital (CCD) camera.

RESULTS
E-4031 (10 micromol/L) increased Ca2+ transient and cell shortening from (210+/-49) and (3.0+/-0.8) micron to (245+/-47) and (3.6+/-1.0) micron, respectively (P<0.05) in normal cardiomyocytes and from (196+/-54) and (3.0+/-1.3) micron to (240+/-49) and (3.6+/-1.3) micron respectively (P<0.05) in hypertrophied cardiomyocytes, while did not change calcium sensitivity in both groups. KB-R7943 completely blocked the activating effects induced by E-4031 in both of normal and hypertrophied cardiomyocytes. Nicardipine did not block the increasing effects of E-4031.

CONCLUSION
E-4031 increased Ca2+ transient and cell contraction via stimulating reverse mode of Na+/Ca2+ exchange while without influencing calcium sensitivity. These effects were more notable in hypertrophied cardiomyocytes than in normal myocytes.


Confronted with political opposition to the implementation of efficient direct carbon pricing, climate policy relies on alternative policy interventions, such as subsidies to renewables. This paper uses a dynamic macroeconomic model under a carbon budget to study climate policies constrained to keeping a constant level of the carbon tax. We find that it is possible to implement the optimal trajectory by combing an increasing tax on electricity consumption with a feed-in-premium paid to electricity produced from renewable sources. Otherwise, when the climate policy relies on the second instrument only, the subsidy to renewables should be so large to foster rapid build up of specialized capital, that it would imply large investment costs and financial burden on the public budget, unless the carbon tax level could be initially set at a high level. Unfortunately, the two solutions with no or low welfare losses raise concerns on their political acceptability too.


Medical schools and residency programs are increasingly incorporating personalization of content, pathways, and assessments to align with a competency-based model. Yet, such efforts face challenges involving large amounts of data, sometimes struggling to deliver insights in a timely fashion for trainees, coaches, and programs. In this article, the authors argue that the emerging paradigm of precision medical education (PME) may ameliorate some of these challenges. However, PME lacks a widely accepted definition and a shared model of guiding principles and capacities, limiting widespread adoption. The authors propose defining PME as a systematic approach that integrates longitudinal data and analytics to drive precise educational interventions that address each individual learner's needs and goals in a continuous, timely, and cyclical fashion, ultimately improving meaningful educational, clinical, or system outcomes. Borrowing from precision medicine, they offer an adapted shared framework. In the P4 medical education framework, PME should (1) take a proactive approach to acquiring and using trainee data; (2) generate timely personalized insights through precision analytics (including artificial intelligence and decision-support tools); (3) design precision educational interventions (learning, assessment, coaching, pathways) in a participatory fashion, with trainees at the center as co-producers; and (4) ensure interventions are predictive of meaningful educational, professional, or clinical outcomes. Implementing PME will require new foundational capacities: flexible educational pathways and programs responsive to PME-guided dynamic and competency-based progression; comprehensive longitudinal data on trainees linked to educational and clinical outcomes; shared development of requisite technologies and analytics to effect educational decision-making; and a culture that embraces a precision approach, with research to gather validity evidence for this approach and development efforts targeting new skills needed by learners, coaches, and educational leaders. Anticipating pitfalls in the use of this approach will be important, as will ensuring it deepens, rather than replaces, the interaction of trainees and their coaches.


The structural properties of the salivary proteins, acidic proline rich PRP-1 and statherin, adsorbed onto negatively charged surfaces have been studied by Monte Carlo simulations and ellipsometry. It is shown that both proteins adsorb to negatively charged surfaces, although their net charges are negative. Experimentally, an initial fast mass-controlled film build-up was detected for both proteins, and plateaus were reached within 10 min. The isotherm shape and the adsorbed amounts were similar for PRP-1 to hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces, while statherin adsorbs to a greater extent to the hydrophobic surface. These results could be explained from the simulation results by considering the proteins as diblock polyampholytes. It has also been shown that the adsorption of PRP-1 to a negatively charged surface may be purely electrostatically driven, while pure electrostatic interaction is not sufficient to drive adsorption of statherin, i.e., an extra short-ranged attractive interaction is necessary to account for the experimental observations.


Abstract Background Diagnostic errors in emergency medicine (EM) can lead to patient harm as well as potential malpractice claims and quality assurance (QA) reviews. It is therefore essential that these topics are part of the core education of trainees. The methods training programs use to educate residents on these topics are unknown. The goal of this study was to identify the current methods used to teach EM residents about diagnostic errors, QA, and malpractice/risk management and determine the amount of educational teaching time EM programs dedicate to these topics. Methods An 11-item questionnaire pertaining to resident education on diagnostic errors, QA, and malpractice was sent through the Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors (CORD) listserv. Differences in the proportions of responses by duration of training program were analyzed using chi-squared or Fisher's exact tests. Results Fifty-four percent (91/168) of the EM programs responded. There was no difference in prevalence of formal education on these topics among 3- and 4-year programs. The majority of programs (59.5%) offer fewer than 4 h per year of additional QA education beyond morbidity and mortality rounds; a minority of the programs (18.8%) offer more than 4 h per year of medical malpractice/risk management education. Conclusions This needs assessment demonstrated that there is a lack of dedicated educational time devoted to these topics. A more formalized and standard curricular approach with increased time allotment may enhance EM resident education about diagnostic errors, QA, and malpractice/risk management.


Despite significant advances in related technologies, the exercise test remains a useful clinical tool. It can define the limits of performance in an athlete or the functional capabilities of the patient with heart disease. Although virtually all of the body's physiologic and metabolic systems interact in a coordinated fashion to perform a single bout of exhaustive exercise, a major burden falls on the cardiopulmonary system. A good understanding of the basic physiologic responses to acute exercise can assist the clinician in applying the information gained from the test. These responses are influenced by state of health and fitness, age, gender, type of exercise, exercise position, and the environment. This article provides an overview of the physiologic responses to acute exercise, and discusses the many factors that influence these responses.


The article conducts a legal analysis of the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights on the protection of the right to non-discrimination, which is a fundamental and general principle concerning human rights protection. During the period of functioning of the ECtHR, the Court has processed a huge amount of cases concerning violation of the right to equality and the inextricably linked principle of non-discrimination under Art. 14 and Art. 1 of Protocol № 12 of the ECHR. The evolution of the interpretation of the ECtHR shows the transformation of approaches to the interpretation of the right to non-discrimination. The court gradually began to expand the range of possible violations, from outright prohibition to the detection and the statement of indirect discrimination, and its decisions contributed to the normative formulations of the principle of non-discrimination in national systems and its gradual transformation from a purely declarative to a coherent effective mechanism of protection of discrimination victims and a mechanism of the approval of democracy, human dignity. The rule of law forms the central principle of interpretation of the Convention. A consensual investigation allows the ECHR to tie its decisions to the pace of change in national law, recognizing the political sovereignty of the respondent States and, at the same time, legitimizing its own decisions against them, adhering to the principles of a democratic state governed by the rule of law. The purpose of this article is to analyze peculiarities of the ECtHR's interpretive practice in cases concerning the right to non-discrimination.


Neisseria gonorrhoeae colony opacity-associated (Opa) proteins bind to human carcinoembryonic antigen cellular adhesion molecules (CEACAM) found on host cells including T lymphocytes. Opa binding to CEACAM1 suppresses the activation of CD4+ T cells in response to a variety of stimuli. In this study, we use primary human CD4+ T cells isolated from peripheral blood to define the molecular events occurring subsequent to Opa-CEACAM1 binding. We establish that, in contrast to other cell types, T cells do not engulf N. gonorrhoeae upon CEACAM1 binding. Instead, the bacteria recruit CEACAM1 from intracellular stores and maintain it on the T cell surface. Upon TCR ligation, the co-engaged CEACAM1 becomes phosphorylated on tyrosine residues within the ITIMs apparent in the cytoplasmic domain. This allows the recruitment and subsequent activation of the src homology domain 2-containing tyrosine phosphatases SHP-1 and SHP-2 at the site of bacterial attachment, which prevents the normal tyrosine phosphorylation of the CD3ζ-chain and ZAP-70 kinase in response to TCR engagement. Combined, this dynamic response allows the bacteria to effectively harness the coinhibitory function of CEACAM1 to suppress the adaptive immune response at its earliest step.


Abstract Questions: 1. Indicator values, such as those of Ellenberg, for different environmental factors are seen as independent. We tested for the presence of interactions between environmental factors (soil moisture and reaction) to see if this assumption is simplistic. 2. How close are Ellenberg indicator values (IVs) related to the observed optima of species response curves in an area peripheral to those where they have been previously employed and 3. Can the inclusion of bryophytes add to the utility of IVs? Location: South Uist, Outer Hebrides, Scotland, UK. Methods: Two grids (ca. 2000 m × 2000 m) were sampled at 50-m intervals across the transition from machair to upland communities covering an orthogonal gradient of both soil pH (reaction) and soil moisture content. Percentage cover data for vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens were recorded, along with pH and moisture content of the underlying sand/soil/peat. Reaction optima, derived from species response curves calculated using HOF models, were compared between wet and dry sites, and moisture optima between acidic and basic samples. Optima for the whole data set were compared to Ellenberg IVs to assess their performance in this area, with and without the inclusion of bryophytes. Results: A number of species showed substantially different pH optima at high and low soil moisture contents (18% of those tested) and different soil moisture optima at high and low pH (49%). For a number of species the IVs were poor predictors of their actual distribution across the sampled area. Bryophytes were poor at explaining local variation in the environmental factors and also their inclusion with vascular plants negatively affected the strength of relationships. Conclusions: A substantial number of species showed an interaction between soil moisture and reaction in determining their optima on the two respective gradients. It should be borne in mind that IVs such as Ellenberg's may not be independent of one another. Nomenclature: Stace (1997) for vascular plants; Watson (1981) for mosses and liverworts; Jahns (1983) and Gilbert (2000) for lichens.


This column reviews the basic principles that should be followed when writing behavioral objectives, including the framework, some examples, the use of a taxonomy, and a discussion of how many is enough.


A one-dimensional (1-D) fluid model is developed for an RF acetylene discharge. In total, 24 species (neutrals, radicals, electrons, and ions) are considered. For every species, a mass balance equation is solved. Further, the electron energy equation and the Poisson equation are also considered. Reactions taken into account include 19 electron-neutral, one ion-neutral, and 17 neutral-neutral reactions. The reaction rate coefficients of the ion-neutral and neutral-neutral reactions are taken from literature. The rate coefficients of the electron-neutral reactions depend strongly on the average electron energy, and are, therefore, obtained from a simplified Boltzmann equation. The 1-D fluid model yields, among others, information about the densities of the different species in the plasma. The most important neutral species in an acetylene plasma are C/sub 2/H/sub 2/ and H/sub 2/. Further, the radicals C/sub 4/H/sub 2/, C/sub 6/H/sub 2/, and C/sub 8/H/sub 2/ (to a minor extent) are also present at high densities. These higher order carbon radicals are mainly formed in neutral-neutral reactions with C/sub 2/H. Other radical species present at high densities are H, C/sub 2/H/sub 3/, CH/sub 2/, and C/sub x/H (with x equal to 2, 4, and 6). The most important ionic species are found to be C/sub 4/H/sub 2//sup +/, C/sub 2/H/sub 2//sup +/, and C/sub 6/H/sub 2//sup +/. Finally, a comparison is made between an acetylene and a methane plasma.


Elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have an unfavourable prognoses due to low remission rates, short remission durations, and a high treatment related toxicity. Therefore, new chemotherapy regimens with curative potential, decreased toxicity, and applicability to the majority of these patients are still needed. For remission induction, AML patients ≥ 61 years of age received one to three induction courses of the DIVA regimen (idarubicin 10 mg/m2/d days 1 and 3, etoposide 2 × 60 mg/m2/d every 12 hrs. days 2 to 5, and cytarabine 100 mg/m2/d as continuous i.v. infusion days 1 to 5). After achieving CR, patients received two additional courses of DIVA as consolidation therapy. Forty-two consecutive patients with de novo and secondary AML with a median age of 68 years were entered into this trial while six patients were judged ineligible for medical reasons. 62% of the patients achieved a CR, lasting for a median of 26 weeks. Toxicity was mainly hematologic with an early death rate of 12%. The median overall survival for all patients was 38 weeks, and 51 weeks for the 26 patients who achieved CR. Outcome was not significantly different for patients with de novo compared to secondary AML. In conclusion, DIVA showed a promising antileukemic activity and acceptable toxicity as remission induction therapy for de novo and secondary AML in this negligible selected group of elderly patients. However, relapse rate was high, indicating the need for novel approaches for consolidation and maintenance therapy.


The ability of mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) to support quality of service (QoS) guarantees is constrained by the scarce bandwidth of the wireless medium and the free node mobility. One consequence of free node mobility is that network topology may change frequently over time. QoS routing is the first step toward achieving end-to-end QoS guarantees in MANETs. However, topological changes cause frequent route breakage and therefore topology stability becomes a very important requirement for QoS routing. To minimize route breakage, it is important to find stable routes that exhibit long lifetimes. We propose an approach to support QoS routing in MANETs. Our approach creates a fixed rectilinear wireless virtual backbone that is robust and stable against topological changes. We examine the stability feature of the proposed virtual topology and study its effect on the ability of the network to support QoS guarantees. We also analyze the connectivity of the proposed virtual architecture, which is a basic requirement for network reliability. Our results show that the proposed model is able to provide more stable QoS routes with delay guarantees. Moreover, packet delivery and call acceptance ratios increase under the proposed scheme.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to analyze types and methods of intrauterine fetal cardiac interventions performed between June 2011 and December 2013, and to assess the perinatal management of the neonates.

METHODS
The program was developed after analysis of the available literature, practical individual training in Linz, Austria, and simulation of the procedure in a dissecting-room. The rules for anesthesia in pregnant women and their fetuses were developed. The interventions were performed in fetuses with critical cardiac defects, in the operating room, under ultrasonographic control. The protocol was approved by the Local Bioethics Committee at the Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education.

MATERIAL
We included fetuses with critical aortic stenosis (n=29), critical pulmonary stenosis (n=2), and closed or extremely restricted foramen ovale (n=7). Between June 2011 and December 2013, the team comprised of JD, MD and AK conducted 42 interventions in 35 fetuses, including 32 balloon aortic valvuloplasties (in 29 fetuses), 2 pulmonary valvuloplasties, 4 balloon atrial septostomies and 4 atrial septal stent placement. Three fetuses required both, aortic valvuloplasty and fenestration of the atrial septum.

RESULTS
Out of the 42 procedures, 41 (97%) were technically successful. We recorded 3 cases of fetal demise associated with the intervention. We modulated the protocol of anesthesia given to pregnant women, switching from general to local anesthesia with intravenous sedation. We always provided additional fetal anesthesia with fentanyl and atracurium via the umbilical vein.

CONCLUSIONS
Based on our 2.5-year experience, it seems safe to conclude that all types of fetal cardiac interventions may be successfully conducted at Polish centers. The procedures are safe for the pregnant women and improve fetal status. Most of the neonates treated prenatally were referred in good general condition to a tertiary pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery center


Curortology – the science of natural therapy that combines the effects of climate, water and mud  treatment and other forms of traditional healing practices – is enjoying a phenomenal comeback. Behind  the re-emergence of curortology lies the current popular revolt against synthetic products and the  demand for more natural ways of treatment, especially for rheumatoid arthritis, for which there is no  effective synthetic treatment. The comeback of curortology is greatly aided by advances in science,  which shed much light on the healing properties of clays. In its current form, curortology has evolved to  encompass holiday spas, day spas, hotel spas, all of which are seen as European. At the same time, indigenous African approaches, though widespread, have not evolved and have largely remained  underdeveloped and undocumented. This has far reaching economic consequences, as exemplified by the traditional spa at Isinuka; though in existence for hundreds of years, this spa has little infrastructure and  remains very poor. The current off-sales of Isinuka clay are about R7,00 per bag of approximately 2kg,  while retail price of cleansing mud masks in pharmacies reaches R16,00 per 25g packet. Monthly returns from Isinuka sales range from only R350,00 to R500,00. Nevertheless, the inhabitants of Isinuka and locals from Port St. Johns, and villages and towns beyond, revere this healing system as holistic and handed down by their ancestors. While we should remain sensitive to, and respect the culture of the people, there is an urgent need to educate and train them to add value to their natural products, and improve their way of life. Keywords : Isinuka spring, clay, healing water, visitors, income, inhaling gases.


Inferior doctors treat the patient's disease Mediocre doctors treat the patient as a person Superior doctors treat the community as a whole Huang Lee, 2600 bc

We have long recognised that many health issues affecting children and their families cannot be addressed solely by health service workers. The major health gains of the last century have been determined by changes in life quality, sanitation, and living standards affecting whole populations.1 However, for many years paediatricians working in both community and hospital systems have developed alliances with both statutory agencies (social services and education), government, and voluntary groups to plan and develop appropriate services. The child public health movement is growing in Europe, the USA, and Australia.2 3 In the UK, a number of initiatives have been developed, including a special joint group of the British Association of Community Child Health and the Faculty of Public Health, an advocacy committee within the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, and an advocacy internet based discussion group (CHANT). Paediatricians are fully participating in the health inequalities debate, both in their contribution to the research,4 and in helping to influence wider health policy development.5

The purpose of this article is to explore the value of taking a population perspective on child health and placing paediatric care in context with the "total picture" of child health and illness. It is aimed at the general paediatrician. Other articles in the series explore whether there is a role for a specific "child public health" specialist.

In the UK, the majority of paediatric specialists work in a hospital setting, with their clinical activities usually being carried out in a ward or outpatient setting.6 The service provided is one of a secondary care service, with referrals being made by local general practitioners (GPs), …


Close to 40% of children admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital with mumps over the period 1979 to 1982 were diagnosed retrospectively as a result of virological tests and their illness was not coded as being due to mumps. This clinical underestimate of the incidence of mumps is due to the frequent absence of salivary gland enlargement, especially in preschool children. In such cases there is usually evidence of inflammation of the upper respiratory tract. The main clinical features leading to admission were neck stiffness, fits and high fever. An appropriate adjustment was made to the figures obtained from the computerised data on discharges with the diagnosis of mumps from Western Australian hospitals in 1981. This led to the estimate that 104 patients suffering from mumps were discharged from hospital during that year. It was also estimated that mumps was responsible for 379 in‐patient days. Our findings show that the benefit cost ratios for mumps immunization of others are underestimates.


Clinical laboratories are often faced with the decision to either perform a service in-house using their own assets or outsource the service to another vendor. This decision affects many aspects of the laboratory's business, from the macroeconomic perspective of outsourcing the laboratory service to a laboratory vendor, to the microeconomics of determining whether to refer a test out to their reference laboratory or perform the test in-house. The basis for decision making includes many variables, but a detailed financial analysis is usually the basis for the decision, especially when the decision only affects the laboratory and not the rest of the institution. Other factors often come into play, and depending on the magnitude, the "make versus buy" decision could be based more on strategic or political factors than economics. Even when noneconomic factors are involved, an effort usually is made to quantify those factors so that the make versus buy decision is reduced to financial terms. The previous article in this issue, "Effectively Managing Your Reference Laboratory Relationship" by Ronald L. Weiss, M.D., focused on the "buy" decision relating to managing the reference laboratory relationship. Although that article took a more clinical perspective through the eyes of the reference laboratory, this article looks at the make versus buy decision from a financial perspective through the eyes of the buying party.


We consider the problems of hypothesis testing and model comparison under a flexible Bayesian linear regression model whose formulation is closely connected with the linear mixed effect model and the parametric models for Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) set analysis in genetic association studies. We derive a class of analytic approximate Bayes factors and illustrate their connections with a variety of frequentist test statistics, including the Wald statistic and the variance component score statistic. Taking advantage of Bayesian model averaging and hierarchical modeling, we demonstrate some distinct advantages and flexibilities in the approaches utilizing the derived Bayes factors in the context of genetic association studies. We demonstrate our proposed methods using real or simulated numerical examples in applications of single SNP association testing, multi-locus fine-mapping and SNP set association testing.


Background Racial disparities are common in healthcare. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a leading cause of preventable harm, and disparities observed in prevention practices. We examined the impact of a patient-centered VTE education bundle on the non-administration of preventive prophylaxis by race. Methods A post-hoc, subset analysis (stratified by race) of a larger nonrandomized trial. Pre-post comparisons analysis were conducted on 16 inpatient units; study periods were October 2014 through March 2015 (baseline) and April through December 2015 (post-intervention). Patients on 4 intervention units received the patient-centered, nurse educator-led intervention if the electronic health record alerted a non-administered dose of VTE prophylaxis. Patients on 12 control units received no intervention. We compared the conditional odds of non-administered doses of VTE prophylaxis when patient refusal was a reason for non-administration, stratified by race. Results Of 272 patient interventions, 123 (45.2%) were white, 126 (46.3%) were black, and 23 (8.5%) were other races. A significant reduction was observed in the odds of non-administration of prophylaxis on intervention units compared to control units among patients who were black (OR 0.61; 95% CI, 0.46–0.81, p<0.001), white (OR 0.57; 95% CI, 0.44–0.75, p<0.001), and other races (OR 0.50; 95% CI, 0.29–0.88, p = 0.015). Conclusion Our finding suggests that the patient education materials, developed collaboratively with a diverse group of patients, improved patient's understanding and the importance of VTE prevention through prophylaxis. Quality improvement interventions should examine any differential effects by patient characteristics to ensure disparities are addressed and all patients experience the same benefits.


Free-space optical interconnects based on VCSEL arrays require passive optical elements to improve emitter-to-detector coupling, thereby reducing crosstalk between channels and allowing lower power operation. We will describe the fabrication and properties of high quality microlenses made using shadow-masked, metalorganic chemical vapor growth (SMMG). We will also describe how this technique could be extended to enhance spatial mode discrimination in large area VCSELs.


The article presents an analysis of 107 cases of simultaneous operations of big volume with main stage as gastric resections (gastrectomy) or large intestine resections and mean volume interferences as cholecystectomy and removal of abdominal hernias. It was stated, that simultaneous operations compared with two steps treatment of combined surgical diseases obtained the high economical efficacy. This efficacy was determined by a single - stage routine presurgical examination, single anesthetic management, less medical expenses for medication and laboratory - instrumental studies in postoperative period, significant shortening the terms of hospitalization and disability terms. The authors proposed formulas to evaluate the economiс efficacy of simultaneous operations in system of paid medical service and system of rendering medical aid using paid medical insurance. The efficacy of large operations was 40 766 rubles and in case of mean volume interventions - 25 382 rubles for the paid medical system. The economical efficacy of simultaneous operations of large and mean volume was the same in the system of obligatory medical insurance. It consisted of 19 737,5 or 22 920,1 rubles and depended on the degree of operative anaesthetic risk of the second intervention in two steps treatment of patients.


The overall aim of this thesis is to identify methods of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of occupational therapy services to children with developmental coordination disorder and their families. A method of applying the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV diagnostic criteria for developmental coordination disorder in a clinical setting is described. This process found that the majority (69%) of referrals were inappropriate. These included children whose difficulties could not be attributed to coordination as they scored above the fifteenth percentile on the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (28%), children with general learning difficulties (21%) and other medical conditions (10%). The similarities and differences between parent, teacher and child views of the impact of developmental coordination disorder on activities of daily living are assessed. Whilst parents, teachers and children all expressed concerns about schoolwork the children's concerns give us much more information about self-care, play and leisure tasks such as dressing, using cutlery, playing sports and riding a bike. A pilot trial is conducted which reflects child and parent/carer identified goals. It also explores how to measure the effectiveness of group occupational therapy intervention using a goal- orientated approach and the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure proved an effective tool when combined with other measures. The group was innovative as it was goal oriented and, rather than the usual once a week took place eight times in a two-week period. This new style group intervention appears to be successful in firstly achieving goals as 22/30 goals were met and secondly improving coordination as Movement Assessment Battery for Children scores improved significantly. These findings suggest that although this was an exploratory trial and there were therefore potential confounders such as non-blinded outcome assessment, there should be further evaluation of group occupational therapy intervention. The richness of information to show individual development and progressions is explored demonstrating that each child's and family's experience of intervention is unique. Finally combining the results of studies 1-3, current practice and the literature a model for service delivery is proposed.


Rhinitis and asthma are familiar diseases which often have a common allergic component. In recent years, our understanding of the basic inflammatory mechanisms has improved considerably, as has pharmacotherapy. Rhinitis is usually treated by otolaryngologists, while asthma is treated by chest physicians. This book presents rhinitis and asthma research together to give an integrated review of current knowledge of the two diseases, both of which occur in the airway mucous membrane and which have similar pathophysiology. Individual chapters examine anatomy, pathology, inflammatory changes, mediator sustances, neuropeptides, airway secretions, regulations of IgE antibody synthesis, the role of virus diseases, investigational methods, and the relatively little understood interaction between the upper and lower airways. This book is intended for ENT specialists, respiratory diseases, and allergists.


TbFe12−xTix single crystals have been investigated by means of magnetic measurements. With decreasing temperature, a spin-reorientation transition from easy axis to easy plane occurs. The rate of decrease of spin-reorientation temperature with x is about −380 K/Ti. There exists a strong magnetocrystalline anisotropy in the basal plane. The anisotropy field Ba between [100] and [110] for the compound TbFe11.15Ti0.85 is as high as 35 T which is about three times Ba in the axial direction. With increasing x, the easy magnetization direction at low temperatures in the basal plane changes from [110] for x=0.85 to [100] for x=1.0. The composition dependence of anisotropy can be understood in terms of a change of the crystal field parameters Anm due to substitution of Ti for Fe.


Abstract S and multiple S phases at moderate to large epicentral distances are frequently followed by normally-dispersed, long-period, wave trains for which surface particle motion is elliptical and progressive and in the plane of propagation of the SV wave. The character of such phases can be explained as the result of coupling between the incident shear waves and dispersive PL waves in the near-surface wave guide. A detailed study of shocks in Mexico and in Montana recorded at Resolute, and less detailed studies of other data support this hypothesis.


The role of carbon credits. FINANCING THE LOW-CARBON ECONOMY Instruments, Barriers and Recommendations.
Timber buildings can potentially generate additional cashflows from carbon credits, which can increase the attractiveness of timber real estate investments compared to traditional building materials, such as concrete and steel.
This attractiveness is however highly dependent on the assumedcarbon credit price and developments on the regulatory level


AMERICAN ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY MEETINGATLANTA, GEORGIA-- Just after NASA's Spirit rover bounced onto Mars, about 2000 astronomers roved here 4 to 8 January to discuss more distant objects at the 203rd meeting of the American Astronomical Society. Astronomers announced the discovery of a startling number of mature galaxies in the young universe.


LED is one of the most widely used components in electric products. And the LED packaging is a very important process between semiconductor manufacturers and the electric product manufacturers. Based on the analysis of the characteristics of the LED packaging processes, a quality control model based on SPC (statistical process control) and data mining is put forward. The data mining is used as the quality data analysis tool and the quality diagnosis method. Then an infrastructure of the integrated continuous quality improvement systems of the LED packaging is put forward. In this infrastructure, there are three layers of the data collection layer, the data analysis layer and the result viewer layer. Furthermore, the data warehouse of LED packaging is designed with the snowflake schema. A 3 layer yield rate SPC is studied and the decision tree method is used as a quality diagnosis method based on the designed data warehouse. Finally, a prototype of the continuous quality improvement system is developed.