At IBM Systems, developing reliable and robust designs of supercomputers is critical to IBM's vision and continuing its leadership in our industry. Shorter development cycle time, increasingly dense product designs, along with advanced design features create real challenges in predicting structural performance of servers, such as the recently refreshed IBM Cognitive Systems' POWER9 portfolio of servers. Both 4U and 2U versions have DDR4 RDIMM's, POWER9 HLGA processor modules, PCIe Gen3 and Gen4 slots, blowers, hard drives, and internal storage controller slots.
 To meet IBM shipping standards to ensure POWER9 system's reliability and design robustness, ANSYS Mechanical and LS-Dyna FEA models were developed and physical tests were conducted. The ability to apply accurate predictive engineering methods using simulation early in the design cycle predicted the structural performance of the servers and shortened its development time, reduced number of physical builds, and therefore, reduced development cost.


Detailed vitrinite reflectance (Ro) profiles have been constructed for nine boreholes penetrating the Pennsylvanian coal measures of the Appalachian foreland basin in western and south-central Pennsylvania. A revised regional coal rank map was compiled with new and pre-existing data. By comparing the calculated Ro profiles with those of measured Ro maximum burial depth, coalification temperature, heat flow, and geothermal gradient were estimated for the coal measures using a one-dimensional transient heat-conductive model combined with the Lopatin-Waples, diagram. The results indicate that increase in coal rank (0.7%-1.9% Ro) and in Ro gradient (0.38%-1.45% Ro/km) across the study area coincides regionally with variation in calculated maximum burial depth (3-5 km), paleotemperature (90-155 °C), paleoheat flow (53 to >75 mW/ m2), and geothermal gradient (26 to >33 °C/ km), and that the region represents different burial and thermal regimes as well as different structural provinces.

At the western margin of the Intraplateau Structural Front, coalification continued after the Alleghanian orogeny. Regional geothermal heating due to depositional burial is thought to have been the dominant heat source responsible for the coalification level in the area. Closer to the eastern edge of the Intraplateau Front, both regional geothermal heating due to burial and advective heating due to the fluid flow accompanying the Alleghanian orogeny were important in creating the observed coalification patterns. A higher coal rank and reflectance gradient, together with a concentric isorank pattern centred in northern Somerset County, appear to represent an area where advective heating due to fluid flow was the dominant heat source.


This paper presents an intelligent method of maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique using fuzzy logic controller (FLC) for photovoltaic system, which consists of the PV panel coupled with dc-dc buckboost controlled by a MPPT algorithm techniques, permits to feed a storage battery. The proposed algorithms will be simulated in Matlab/Simulink environment. The PV system has been tested with KC200GT solar panel under various operating conditions with and without MPPT technique.


Actuality of the research topiс. Strategic priorities of world labor market development in the first quarter of the 21st century are shaped under the impact of a range of multidirectional actions factors – from globalization and respect for the open economy principle by majority of the world countries to neoprotectionism which is becoming more widespread in foreign economic policy of developed countries of the world. Each country which observes the market-based principles is closely linked to the world labor market via labor force resource and labor migration processes. These ties are constantly strengthening as countries obey international law, consider international labor market regulatory mechanisms in their national governance practice, and introduce the best world examples of institutional support for employment, unemployment reduction, labor migration regulation and counteracting all forms of discrimination at labor market. Respect for strategic priorities of world labor market development is of actual importance for all world countries, including Ukraine which for the last five years has significantly expanded labor migration flows and become the active participant of world labor market. Analysis of recent research and publications. Considerable contribution to the study of current situation and defining the newest world labor market development trends in the 21st century was made by profound Ukrainian scholars like A.Philippenko, O.Hrishnova, O.Malinovs'ka, E.Libanova, A.Dembitska and others. Among the foreign scientists who researched the core and main patterns of world labor market development within globalization we should mention G. Borjas, Y. Jansen, R. Celikates, J. de Bloois, A.  Zolberg, E.Meyers, P. Wickramasekara, A. Zogata-Kusz etc. Extraction of unexplored parts of a common problem. Scope of the study into the core and constituencies of world labor market are pretty fully highlighted in the world  economic literature. Yet, to define strategic priorities of world labor market development it is especially important to study the impact of institutional and organizational and economic tools of international organizations activity on world labor market regulation and development. This issue is an important component of international economic relations. Statement of the research purpose and tasks.  The purpose of the study is to examine commonality and define strategic priorities of world labor market development in the 21st century. To achieve it the following tasks are set and resolved in the article: - to research the factors affecting world labor market reforming and defining the priorities of its development; - to research institutional and legal, organizational and economic mechanisms of international organizations impact on regulation and unification, defining strategic priorities of world labor market development; - to reveal the newest trends of world labor market development which are shaped under structural and innovative changes, countries' transition to 'Industry 4.0', as well as under impact of labor migration processes. Method or methodology of the research. While defining strategic priorities of world labor market development a set of theoretical and empirical scientific research methods are used. Revealing institutional factors affecting world labor market development, historical and logical methods, methods of synthesis and analysis, abstract and specific methods, and cause-effect method are used. To research the impact of institutional and legal, organizational and economic mechanisms on world labor market historical and logical methods, methods of induction and deduction, methods of classification and generalization are employed. Whereas methods of synergy and expert estimates, casual method are used to justify the innovational processes and labor migration impact on shaping strategic priorities of world labor market development. Presentation of the main material (research results). World labor market is a complex economic system modified under dynamics of supply and demand for labor resources at the world market; under the impact of labor force price charges specificity, terms and pay level formation, as well as social security peculiar nature; qualitative and quantitative mobility and placement of labor force in different world countries; differences in national approaches to labor force reproduction, their professional training and qualification improvement. Within globalization national labor markets lose their closeness and remoteness, becoming constituent part of world labor market. Strategic priorities of world labor market development are shaped under the impact of a range of multidirectional actions factors: globalization and national economy openness, neoprotectionism, structural and innovational changes in world economy, countries' transition to 'Industry 4.0'. It occurs due to labor migration activization and enhancing the role of international organizations as coordinators of international economic relations development. Strategic priorities of world labor market development are strongly affected by the international organizations which set standard rules of the game for all countries of the world both at local and world labor markets. Among the priorities the following ones are particularly important: protecting the rights of the employed, unification of system of remuneration and taxation, establishing social guarantees and social security, procedures of admission and dismissal, preventing all forms of discrimination and legal employment. Transition to a 4-day working week is of reality for developed countries of the world. Working terms under freelance system are standardized, as well as for those who work from home in services and within the norms of creative economy. The 21st century faces the growth of labor force mobility, unification of labor migrants' rights security, labor standards and salary conditions, guaranteeing labor migrants' social protection. Institutional and legal, as well as organizational and economic security of national labor markets of the world countries is gradually harmonized and unified with world standards implemented by international organizations. International organizations shape the newest trends of world labor market reforms. Organizational forms of world labor market in the 21st century include elaboration and adoption of institutional and legal norms of world labor market development provision; indicative planning (forecasting); defining strategic priorities and long-term purposes of world labor market development; administrative regulatory methods (including fines, penalties, licenses and sanctions). The role of international institutional and financial assistance is growing via consultations, forums, technical aid and recommendations, as well as target-projected financing, grants, free humanitarian and other financial assistance. World labor market is a subject to regular international monitoring, system of international control on the development aimed at prevention all forms of discrimination, human rights and freedoms violation (including labor force and employees), child exploitation and human trade at the world labor market. Strategic priorities of world labor market reforms involve measures directed at employment legalization, preventing human trade and illegal labor force exploitation, avoiding child labor exploitation, preventing all forms of discrimination and 'shadow economy' features in recruitment and income generation, protection of employees and labor migrants' rights and freedoms at world labor market. Reforming Ukrainian labor market as a part of world labor market demands for such strategic priorities as implementation of international standards on the employees' rights security in Ukraine, pay rise in accordance with EU countries standards, prevention of discrimination and 'shadow economy' features at labor market, legalization of employers' and employees'  income, protection of their rights and freedoms, social securing of their guarantees, as well as the ones for employed migrants working at Ukrainian labor market and Ukrainian labor migrants abroad. The field of the results application. International economic relations and world market. Conclusions according to the article. Trends of world labor market development are correlated with general trends and directions of economic cycle stages (recession, depression, growth and peak), whereas depending on demographical situation in the country and the world, character and dimension of countries' economy structural transformation and integrational world countries grouping. Basic trends of world labor market development in the 2010s include system of remuneration reforming, moving to general growth in pay rise while freezing substantial discrepancies in wages and salaries between developed and developing countries of the world. The essential trend of world labor market is activization of labor migration processes both at the markets of developed and developing countries. Labor migration in the 21st century is mostly of legal official character, though their segments alter towards growth in demand for labor force at the EU and Asian markets. The demand for highly skilled professionals whose activity is close to innovations is rising dynamically at the world labor market.


We consider jamming that occurs for the flow of dry granular materials from a hopper as the outlet size, D, is reduced relative to the particle size, d. We propose and test a model based on the simple idea that the probability of jamming on a short time, dt, is a constant, τ. This leads to the prediction that the probability of surviving until time t without jamming is an exponentially decaying function, Ps(t) = exp(−t/τ). The important physical question is what determines τ? Experiments to date have confirmed the exponential character of the survival probability. Work in progress characterizes τ(D, d), fluctuations and their possible relation to the jamming process.


An exceptional case of a large intracranial extradural lymphoma arising from the skull and causing intracranial hypertension syndrome, in the absence of other localizations elsewhere in the body is described. Only another similar observation was reported in the literature. The diagnosis of this exceptional localization of lymphomas, which can mimic other intracranial tumors, is discussed on the basis of the computer-tomography findings and the usefulness of the radiotherapy is pointed out.


The development of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) applications is an arduous task, since the developer has to design the behavior of the nodes and their interactions. The automatic generation of WSN's applications is desirable to reduce costs, since it drastically reduces the human effort. This paper presents the use of Genetic Programming to automatically generate WSNs applications. A scripting language based on events and actions is proposed to represent the WSN behavior. Events represent the state of a given sensor node and actions modify these states. Some events are internal states and others are external states captured by the sensors. A parallel genetic algorithm is used to automatically generate WSNs applications in this scripting language. These scripts are executed by a middleware installed on all sensors nodes. This approach enables the application designer to define only the overall objective of the WSN. This objective is defined by means of a fitness function. An event-detection problem is presented in order to evaluate the proposed method. The results showed the capability of the developed approach to successfully solve WSNs problems through the automatic generation of applications.


SUMMARY: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a serious public health crisis and can have neurologic manifestations. This is a retrospective observational case series performed March 1–31, 2020, at New York University Langone Medical Center campuses. Clinical and imaging data were extracted, reviewed, and analyzed. Two hundred forty-two patients with COVID-19 underwent CT or MRI of the brain within 2 weeks after the positive result of viral testing (mean age, 68.7 ± 16.5 years; 150 men/92 women [62.0%/38.0%]). The 3 most common indications for imaging were altered mental status (42.1%), syncope/fall (32.6%), and focal neurologic deficit (12.4%). The most common imaging findings were nonspecific white matter microangiopathy (134/55.4%), chronic infarct (47/19.4%), acute or subacute ischemic infarct (13/5.4%), and acute hemorrhage (11/4.5%). No patients imaged for altered mental status demonstrated acute ischemic infarct or acute hemorrhage. White matter microangiopathy was associated with higher 2-week mortality (P < .001). Our data suggest that in the absence of a focal neurologic deficit, brain imaging in patients with early COVID-19 with altered mental status may not be revealing.


INTRODUCTION
This is a single-site feasibility project where a new, 3-year medical school was created. To respond to emergent teaching preparedness and leadership readiness in new administrative roles, an educational series taught by clinical faculty and staff was offered at noontime.

METHODS
The series focused on administrative skills, teaching techniques, and student success. The curricular strategies employed were the menu approach for educational offerings and spiral sequencing of curricula. Faculty teaching preparedness and leadership readiness were measured by an electronic questionnaire devised by the author and contributors of this article. Descriptive statistics were conducted for outcomes.

RESULTS
Findings indicate noontime education using a menu approach of listed offerings and curricular themes spiraled was a feasible faculty development method for teaching preparedness and leadership readiness for new administrative roles. Specifically, faculty reported increased use of active learning strategies after attending the noontime educational series.

CONCLUSIONS
Next steps include longitudinal follow-up with our faculty participants to measure retention and sustainability of our findings, as well as additional instructional strategies that we could incorporate into future educational sessions.


Five children with idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis (IHSS) were operated upon during the past 7 years and all survived. Their ages ranged from 4 years and 5 months to 14 years (mean 8 years and 5 months). The operations performed were 1 right ventricular myectomy and 4 transaortic left ventricular myotomies. Whether surgery performed in childhood would change the natural history or not is still unknown, however, according to our results and many available reports, we have so far reached the following conclusions; 1. Transaortic left ventrlcular myotomy or myectomy is a safe and effective operation for localized muscular subaortic stenosis in children. 2. Because the disease is progressive, operation in childhood may be worth to be considered, when the resting or provocative pressure gradient is excessive. 3. For those who have a marked increase in left ventricular outflow pressure gradient by the provocation, operation would be considered even though the gradient at rest is less than 50 mmHg.


Over the years, these ageless characters have changed with the times and yet remain timeless. SNOOPY has become an American hero; CHARLIE BROWN, the archetypal loser; LINUS, the blanket toting philosopher; and LUCY, the crabby loudmouth. Here are the first four full colour gift books in this new series.


Vision-and-language Navigation (VLN) task requires an embodied agent to navigate to a remote location following a natural language instruction. Previous methods usually adopt a sequence model (e.g., Transformer and LSTM) as the navigator. In such a paradigm, the sequence model predicts action at each step through a maintained navigation state, which is generally represented as a one-dimensional vector. However, the crucial navigation clues (i.e., object-level environment layout) for embodied navigation task is discarded since the maintained vector is essentially unstructured. In this paper, we propose a novel Structured state-Evolution (SEvol) model to effectively maintain the environment layout clues for VLN. Specifically, we utilise the graph-based feature to represent the navigation state instead of the vector-based state. Accordingly, we devise a Reinforced Layout clues Miner (RLM) to mine and detect the most crucial layout graph for long-term navigation via a customised reinforcement learning strategy. Moreover, the Structured Evolving Module (SEM) is proposed to maintain the structured graph-based state during navigation, where the state is gradually evolved to learn the object-level spatial-temporal relationship. The experiments on the R2R and R4R datasets show that the proposed SEvol model improves VLN models' performance by large margins, e.g., +3% absolute SPL accuracy for NvEM and +8% for EnvDrop on the R2R test set.


Literacy does not develop in a vacuum. Reading is taught and is learnt within a social context, and the school and teachers are a central part of this context. This context will affect the way learners acquire literacy as well as the consequences of their literacy accomplishments within the learning environment. This article presents findings from a study that assessed Grade 1 learners' literacy accomplishments and examined the school literacy context as well as the literacy practices and perceptions of teachers in a primary school. The findings are discussed in relation to the broader school literacy environment and the learners' literacy achievements. The findings indicate that the acquisition of literacy skills is the product of a set of socio-educational circumstances that translate themselves into specific literacy environments for learners. The article concludes by identifying some implications that follow from the findings. Key Words: reading; literacy assessment; assessment standards; socio-educational context of literacy Journal for Language Teaching Vol.38(1) 2004: 45-62


This guide is intended to help students in HIST 202 find, use and cite primary and secondary sources for their research.


Particle image velocimetry and schlieren imaging are used to study the interrelationship between the hydrodynamic and acoustic fields of a screeching underexpanded elliptical jet. An elliptical jet with an aspect ratio equal to two is studied at a nozzle pressure ratio of 2.2. Two-point correlation analysis of the schlieren image sets suggests that the flow is dominated by a flapping mode about the major axis plane, however, a proper orthogonal decomposition of the transverse velocity field suggests that there is also a helical mode that becomes dominant further downstream. The flapping mode appears to grow, saturate, and decay more rapidly and is associated with the production of discrete acoustic tones in the form of jet screech, whereas no discrete tone sound production is observed from the helical mode. It is suggested that the lack of tonal generation by the helical mode is linked to its slower growth; it does not produce coherent fluctuations in shear layer vorticity in the vicinity of the jet shock...


Learning the software engineering (SE) profession is a difficult task. Most SE professionals will say that they learned it " by doing ". Hence, the main paradigm used is teaching software engineering by doing. Most academic curricula address this issue through projects, but academic projects are not sufficient to achieve the goal. Beyond the SE learning, more general questions arise : how can we teach/learn engineering ? What is a " long-term education " , particularly in computer science ? And in a general sense ? Since September 2002, Brest university has offered a dedicated second year of Master in computer science, called " Software engineering by immersion ". The main objectives are : mastering software engineering activities and skills, working in a team, coping with change. Except for English and Communication, no courses are offered. The plan of action is built on a 6-month team project, lead and tutored by an experienced software professional. A real corporate baseline (by the courtesy of a software services company) has been tailored to the apprenticeship paradigm and now sustains engineering activities and products delivery. The apprenticeship process is achieved in two iterations. During the first iteration (4 months), students are swapped around the different tasks needed by engineering activities and strongly guided by the tutor. During the second iteration (2 months), roles are fixed within each team and teams are relatively autonomous when completing the project, the tutor performing mainly a supervising and rescuing activity. The assessment process is essentially formative, due to the permanent feedback of tutoring. After a very positive first year, the outcome of the second year is rather disappointing. This year, we met with unexpected difficulties and this may be due to the roles transformation needed in the immersion paradigm, for the students as well as for the tutors. This paper attempts to present the new roles. Teachers have to deal with several kinds of tutoring activities : coordination between teams, software project management, individual and collective apprenticeship during the first iteration; peer review, sustaining the student acting as software manager, programme management during the second iteration. Students have to learn new skills but above all play new roles namely : citizen, builder, explorer, team member. Assessing the role playing process formally is very difficult, first in a purely quantitative manner and second in such a short time. Moreover, we are aware of very few similar experiments. So, this paper tries to evaluate the new roles within the constructivism paradigm, especially the apprenticeship paradigm described by Jacques Tardif. The teacher and student roles defined in this paradigm are compared with those defined in our immersion paradigm. Some problems are reported and possible improvements are drafted. As a conclusion, if the immersion system is exciting and innovative, on the other hand the system is fragile if both teachers and students are unable to play the new roles required. In addition to these first conclusions, the professional insertion and career evolution of students need to be observed over several years in order to evaluate the real benefits of this system.


Objectives To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of MR-mammography (MRM) vs. x-ray based mammography (XM) in two-yearly screening women of intermediate risk for breast cancer in the light of recent literature. Methods Decision analysis and Markov modelling were used to compare cumulative costs (in US-$) and outcomes (in QALYs) of MRM vs. XM over the model runtime of 20 years. The perspective of the U.S. healthcare system was selected. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) were calculated and related to a willingness to pay-threshold of $ 100,000 per QALY in order to evaluate the cost-effectiveness. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were conducted to test the impact of variations of the input parameters. In particular, variations of the rate of false positive findings beyond the first screening round and their impact on cost-effectiveness were assessed. Results Breast cancer screening with MRM resulted in increased costs and superior effectiveness. Cumulative average costs of $ 6,081 per woman and cumulative effects of 15.12 QALYs were determined for MRM, whereas screening with XM resulted in costs of $ 5,810 and 15.10 QALYs, resulting in an ICER of $ 13,493 per QALY gained. When the specificity of MRM in the second and subsequent screening rounds was varied from 92% to 99%, the ICER resulted in a range from $ 38,849 to $ 5,062 per QALY. Conclusions Based on most recent data on the diagnostic performance beyond the first screening round, MRM may remain the economically preferable alternative in screening women of intermediate risk for breast cancer due to their dense breast tissue.


A 23-year-old man was urgently referred for evaluation of rapidly enlarging cervical lymphadenopathy, progressive dyspnea, fatigue, night sweats, and an unintentional weight loss of 25 pounds. A computed tomography scan of the neck performed 30 days before referral revealed bilateral cervical and supraclavicular lymphadenopathy (6 × 5 cm). A fine-needle aspirate of nasopharyngeal tissue demonstrated fibroadipose tissue. Tissue collected by core needle biopsy of a left internal jugular lymph node demonstrated a reactive lymph node but no malignancy. The patient was admitted to an academic medical center hospital. His physical examination was remarkable for bulky cervical and supraclavicular lymphadenopathy. A testicular examination was normal. The patient's lactate dehydrogenase concentration was 327 U/L (normal range, 118-225 U/L). A positron emission tomography scan revealed bilateral cervical and supraclavicular lymphadenopathy (6 × 5 cm with a standardized uptake value [SUV] of 14), a 1.3-cm subcutaneous nodule in the left thigh (SUV 16), and two 2.7-cm liver lesions (SUV 14). He underwent an excisional lymph node biopsy. The lymph node revealed effacement of the architecture by an interfollicular infiltrate of lymphoid cells (Fig 1). Mitotic figures were abundant (Ki-67 stain 80% to 90% positive) and there were multiple foci of tissue necrosis. The lymphoblasts were examined by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry and expressed the T-cell markers CD2, CD3, CD4, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase. A subpopulation of T cells was positive for both CD4 and CD8. Polymerase chain reaction studies revealed a clonal rearrangement of the T-cell receptor γ gene. A marrow aspirate and biopsy revealed normal trilineage hematopoiesis with no evidence of lymphoma and a normal male karyotype (46, XY). A lumbar puncture sample did not contain lymphoma cells. The patient's diagnosis was T-lymphoblastic lymphoma.


This study involved rural properties of the Brazilian Cerrado, which are necessarily consistent with the requirements of good agricultural practices for quality, innovation, and technology in the production and management of properties. Based on the knowledge and information as value-added production factors, we sought to highlight the opportunities for improving competitiveness, and thus a review of the literature on competitiveness, knowledge, and information as a differential factor for production with added value, innovation, and territorial technology as well as entrepreneurship. With the data from the field study, the objective was to show how knowledge and information, applied in production and social capital, can leverage competitiveness. The analyzes carried out using AHP indicate that some initiatives already aid in the promotion of innovation and technology applied to production, making it necessary, however, to encourage knowledge and information among producers and other stakeholders collectively, for the best costs and results. They also point to the low concern of producers with training and other productivity improvement techniques, such as selective harvesting. Authenticated that the producers opt for the sale of their production via commodity, aiming to profit quickly. Reasons for this are, in the non-perception of value added (sales in commodity); in the absence of rural structure for the processing and harvesting of the coffee required for special sale; in the precariousness of collective export agents (cooperatives are dependent on traders) and deficiencies in management for positioning in the properties (most work in scale).


Spectral features, radial velocities, elemental abundance estimates, other spectral data, and BVIC light curves are reported for the double-M dwarf eclipsing binary CU Cancri—a good target for a radius check versus the Zero Age Main Sequence (ZAMS) due to the low component masses and corresponding very slow evolutionary expansion. The estimate of [Fe/H] is about 0.4, although continuum placement and other difficulties due to line crowding introduce the usual uncertainties for red dwarfs. Detection of the Li i λ6707 line was attempted, with an estimated upper limit of 50 mÅ. Spectral and photometric indicators of stellar activity are described and illustrated. Other objectives were to measure the stellar radii via simultaneous velocity and light-curve solutions of earlier and new data while also improving the ephemeris by filling gaps in timewise coverage with the new velocities and eclipse data from the new light curves. The radii from our solutions agree within about 2% with those from Ribas, being slightly larger than expected for most estimates of the ZAMS. Some aspects of the red dwarf radius anomaly are briefly discussed. Evolution tracks show only very slight age-related expansion for masses near those in CU Cnc. Such expansion could be significant if CU Cnc were similar in age to the Galaxy, but then its Galactic velocity components should be representative of Population II, and they are not.


Contents Preface to the Eighth Edition Part I: General Background Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION Libraries and Customer Service Customer Service Philosophy Role of Library Services What are Technical Services? Technical Services Background Knowledge Goals for Staff Summary Review Questions Notes Suggested Reading Chapter 2: TECHNICAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION Tips for Effective Time Management Tips for Meetings Tips for Team Building Tips for Staff Motivation Tips for Communication The "More" Factor The Faster/Better/Cheaper Factors Restructuring to Provide "Faster and Better" Standards Summary Review Questions Notes Suggested Reading Chapter 3: STAFFING Staffing Categories Librarians Paraprofessional/Support Staff Other Full-Time Staff Staffing Process Recruitment Selecting the Pool Interviewing Staff Development, Training, and Retention Retention Training and Development Performance Appraisal Part-Time Staff Students Volunteers Summary Review Questions Notes Suggested Reading Chapter 4: TECHNICAL SERVICES ISSUE Technology Outsourcing Cooperative/Consortial Activities Quality Assurance Budgetary Issues Spaces for Technical Services Some Key Issues Planning Issues Summary Review Questions Notes Suggested Reading Part II: Acquisitions and Serials Chapter 5: ACQUISITIONS-OVERVIEW Collection Development and Acquisitions Types of Materials Acquired Print Materials Nonbook Materials Electronic Resources General Procedures Request Processing Verifying Ordering Reporting Receiving Orders Acquisition Methods Serials Processing Summary Review Questions Notes Selected Web Sites and Discussion Lists Suggested Reading Chapter 6: DISTRIBUTORS AND VENDORS Making the Selection-Factors to Consider What the Firm Stocks Vendor Technological Capability Speed of Delivery Financial Considerations Vendors' Services Customer Service Considerations Vendor Evaluation Retail Outlets Out-of-Print, Antiquarian, and Rare Book Dealers Summary Review Questions Notes Selected Web Sites Suggested Reading Chapter 7: PRINT AND DIGITAL BOOKS What is Publishing? Types of Publishers Electronic Publishing E-Readers Technology and Information Producers Acquisitions and E-Resources The Google Books Library Project Summary Review Questions Notes Suggested Reading Chapter 8: E-RESOURCE ISSUES Differences between E-Resource and Print Collection Building Ownership Issues Negotiating the License Group Decision Making Trials Purchase Price Staff and User Issues Technical Issues Cancellations Assessment of E-Resources Statistics Summary Review Questions Notes Suggested Reading Chapter 9: SERIALS-PRINT AND ELECTRONIC What Is a Serial? Issues and Concerns Cost and Pricing Acquisition Processing Access Preservation Backfiles Changing Nature Assessment and Evaluation Summary Review Questions Notes Suggested Reading Chapter 10: GOVERNMENT INFORMATION Background E-Government Categories of Government Information U.S. Documents State and Local Governments Canadian Government Information Documents from Other Countries Access to Government Information Accessing U.S. Government Information Preservation of Government Information Federal Depository Library Program Canadian Depository Programs Acquisition of Government Information Summary Review Questions Notes Suggested Reading Chapter 11: MEDIA Media Issues Current Media Formats Motion Pictures and Video Movie Ratings and Libraries Video and Copyright Other Image Formats Maps Audio Recordings Games Game Ratings Realia Microforms Preservation Microforms Film and Video Summary Review Questions Notes Suggested Reading Chapter 12: FISCAL MANAGEMENT Problems in Fiscal Management Library Fund Accounting Accounting Balance Sheet Accounts and Ledgers Journal Estimating Costs Allocation of Monies Encumbering Vouchers Order and Invoice Control Reconciliation of Accounts Audits Summary Review Questions Notes Suggested Reading Part III: Cataloging and Processing Chapter 13: OVERVIEW AND DECISIONS The Rationale for Good Cataloging Cataloging and Classification Processes Decisions Bibliographic Levels Subject Authorities Classification Systems Catalog Displays A Word About the Figures and Examples Summary Review Questions Notes Suggested Reading Chapter 14: DESCRIPTION-IDENTIFYING MATERIALS AACR2: Past and Present Organization of AACR2-2005 Descriptive Structure and Data Sources ISBD Punctuation Creating the Description Area 1: Title and Statement of Responsibility Area 2: Edition Statement Area 3: Material Specific Details Area 4: Publication, Distribution, etc. Area 5: Physical Description Area 6: Series Area 7: Notes Area 8: Standard Numbers and Terms of Availability Rule Interpretations Summary Review Questions Notes Suggested Reading Chapter 15: ACCESS POINTS-RETRIEVING THE RECORD Main and Added Entries Selecting the Main Entry Selection Decision Tree Added Entries Name and Title Authorities Personal Names Corporate Bodies Geographic Names Uniform Titles Summary Review Questions Notes Suggested Reading Chapter 16: SUBJECT ANALYSIS Determining Subject Matter Enumeration versus Faceting Subject Authorities: Subject Heading Vocabularies Principles of Subject Cataloging Evaluating Subject Catalogs Problems of the Subject Catalog Subject Authorities: Numbers for Classification Principles of Classification Call Numbers Evaluating Classifications Maintenance Issues Subject Analysis for Literary Works Why use Standard Systems? Summary Review Questions Notes Suggested Reading Chapter 17: SUBJECT AUTHORITIES Library of Congress Subject Headings The Publication Format of LCSH Entries Cross-References in LCSH Subdivisions in LCSH Other Subdivision Instructions LCSH's Canadian Complement Problems with LCSH LC's Children's and Young Adults' Cataloging Program Sears List of Subject Headings The Publication Format of the Entries Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Sears Summary Review Questions Notes Suggested Reading Chapter 18: CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS Dewey Decimal Classification Format of DDC The Schedules A Closer Look at the Schedules A Closer Look at the Tables Library of Congress Classification Principles Underlying LCC Format of LCC Main Classes of LCC Subdivision in LCC Comparison of DDC and LCC National Library of Medicine Classification Background and Development Format of NLMC Main Classes and Subdivisions NLMC in Libraries "Copy" Classification Summary Review Questions Notes Suggested Reading Answers to the Classification Exercises Chapter 19: MARC FORMAT AND METADATA Machine-Readable Cataloging History and Background Elements of a MARC Record Fields Subfields Indicators Content Designation MARC Displays Bibliographic Networks and Shared Cataloging Metadata Dublin Core Metadata Encoding and Transmission Standard Metadata Object Description Schema Summary Review Questions Notes Suggested Reading Chapter 20: COPY CATALOGING Policy Issues 1. Acceptability of Sources 2. Record Fullness 3. Errors 4. Call Numbers 5. Tracings (Subject Headings and Added Entries/Access Points Overview of the Operation Choosing the Source(s) Summary Review Questions Note Suggested Reading Chapter 21: PROCESSING MATERIALS Evidence of Library Ownership Location Information Recording and Tracking Use Preservation and Security Summary Review Questions Notes Suggested Reading Chapter 22: LEADING THE CATALOG DEPARTMENT Management Tasks Needed Skills Department Policies and Procedures When Cataloging Standards Change Writing a Policy Manual Adopting the Policy Manual Current Issues Ten Hints for Leadership Patron Service First and Foremost Review Questions Suggested Reading Indexes Topical Index to the Text Index to Names Index to Figures Type of Media Access Points Description Classification


INTRODUCTION
The animal-assisted programs represent an interdisciplinary approach. They can be integrated into preventive, therapeutic and rehabilitative processes as complementary methods.

AIM
The aim of the study was to promote the psychological adaptation and social reintegration of patients who suffered spinal cord injury, as well as reducing depression and feelings of isolation caused by the long hospitalization. The hypothesis of the authors was that the animal-assisted intervention method can be effectively inserted into the rehabilitation process of individuals with spinal cord injury as complementary therapy.

METHODS
15 adults with spinal cord injury participated in the five-week program, twice a week. Participants first filled out a questionnaire on socio-demographics, and after completion of the program they participated in a short, directed interview with open questions. During the field-work, after observing the participants, qualitative data analysis was performed.

RESULTS
The results suggest that the therapeutic animal induced a positive effect on the emotional state of the patients. Participants acquired new skills and knowledge, socialization and group cohesion had been improved.

CONCLUSIONS
The authors conclude that the animal-assisted activity complemented by therapeutic elements can be beneficial in patients undergoing spinal cord injury rehabilitation and that knowledge obtained from the study can be helpful in the development of a future animal-assisted therapy program for spinal cord injury patients.


Sampling, diversity and seasonal occurrence of Hemerobiidae (Neuroptera) in Coffea arabica L. cv. Obata (Rubiaceae). This study evaluated sampling methods, seasonality and diversity of the hemerobiids associated to Coffea arabica L. cv. Obata over a one-year period in Cravinhos, Sao Paulo, Brazil. The collecting methods were: sweeping net, light trap and Moericke trap. 489 hemerobiids belonging to four genera, were collected: Nusalala (231 individuals / 47.2% of the hemerobiids collected), Megalomus (110 / 22.5%), Hemerobius (104 / 21.3%) and Sympherobius (44 / 9%). The sweeping net seems to be the most efficient method of sampling to capture Hemerobiidae and the Moericke trap presented the higher value of diversity (H'= 0,56) and equitability (J= 0,93). The hemerobiids were recorded in the area along the entire year. The highest abundance occurred from August to March (end of winter, spring and summer) and the population peak was in January (mid-summer). Megalomus presented positive and significant correlations (p< 0.05) with the rainfall and maximum and minimum temperatures; Nusalala with the maximum and minimum temperatures and Sympherobius only with the maximum temperature.


We investigate the combinatorial data arising from the classification of equivariant homotopy commutativity for cyclic groups of order G = Cp1···pn for pi distinct primes. In particular, we will prove a structural result which allows us to enumerate the number of N∞-operads for Cpqr, verifying a computational result. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification. 00A00. 03E05 03E10.


The aim of this study was to calculate the average operational cost per sub-type of stroke patient and to investigate cost drivers (e.g. ALoS, NIHSS score, age) correlated to cost.

METHODS
Direct medical costs (diagnostic imaging and clinical laboratory exams, overheads/bed cost, pharmaceuticals, ringers and other non-durables and inpatient rehabilitation) per patient were calculated from the providers' (hospitals') perspective. Resource use data derived from the "SUN4P" web-based registry and unit costs were retrieved from publically available sources and were assigned to resource use.

RESULTS
The sample comprised 6,282 inpatient days of 750 patients (mean age: 75.5±13.3 years) admitted from July 2019 to July 2021, in nine public hospitals. Mean length of stay was 8.4±7.6 days and mean total operational cost was calculated to €1,239.4 (from which 45% and 35% related to diagnostic exams and overheads/bed cost respectively). Mean cost related to hemorrhagic stroke patients that were discharged alive was calculated significantly higher compared to mean cost related to ischemic stroke patients who didn't undertake thrombolysis and were also discharged alive from the hospital (€2,155.2 vs. €945.2, p<0.001). Linear regression analysis revealed that length of stay was significantly correlated with cost (coefficient beta=232, 95% CI confidence interval = 220-243, p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS
These findings are in accordance with current evidence and should be thoroughly assessed to rationalize inpatient reimbursement rates in order to achieve improved value of care.


Uptake and accumulation of macronutrients by stevia were studied under field conditions. Two nutritional indices were evaluated: Nutritional Relative Absorption Rate and Nutritional Organogenic Net Accumulation Rate. Seven samplings with fortnight intervals were made beginning after transplanting. Shortly before or at flowering the production of 1 ton of dry leaves demands, in kg: N-64.6; P-7.6; K- 56.1; Ca -15.8; Mg-3.6 and S-3.6. For seed production corresponding to 1 ton of dry leaves, the extraction of macronutrients in kg, is: N-130; P-18.8; K-131.5; Ca-43.7; Mg-8.3 and S-9.7.


Spectroscopic investigations of highly charged ions have been performed in the VUV, UV and visible spectral regions using mainly the beam-foil technique. New 2s22px3l levels have been established in N and O-like Si and S, together with many transitions between these levels. Several of these lines have also been identified in the solar corona spectra recorded by the SUMER/SOHO instrument. In Mg-like Sc - Fe the 2p63l4l' configurations have been determined using spectra from a laser-produced plasma. A previously noted discrepancy between the theoretical and experimental lifetime of the 3p 2P3/2 level in Na-like Kr has been resolved by new measurements. Configuration interactions have been studied in Be-like O. Detailed spectroscopic investigations of He-like N and O, aimed at determining the QED contribution to the ground state binding energy, have been performed. The experimental results show significant deviations from the theoretical predictions. Modifications of the beam-foil experimental set-up at Lund University Pelletron laboratory are described.


The mechanical properties of crystalline materials are influenced by their deformation behavior, which is associated with their microstructural characteristics. Specifically, crystallographic orientation greatly affects the microscale plastic deformation of individual grains. In this study, experiments and finite element simulations of Berkovich nanoindentations are conducted to investigate the impact of crystallographic orientation in polycrystalline copper. A crystal plasticity constitutive model is developed for copper materials, which accurately captures their indentation mechanical response. The results showed that the indentation behavior of polycrystalline copper exhibits a high degree of anisotropy due to significant variation in slip systems for different crystallographic orientations. This results in different mechanical responses of individual grains and distinct material pileup morphologies on the indented surface. Additionally, the study revealed that crystallographic orientation plays a critical role in determining the indentation size effect. These findings have important implications for the design of materials where plasticity is a crucial factor.


Redundancy is the basic technique to provide reliability in storage systems consisting of multiple components. A redundancy scheme defines how the redundant data are produced and maintained. The simplest redundancy scheme is replication, which however suffers from storage inefficiency. Another approach is erasure coding, which provides the same level of reliability as replication using a significantly smaller amount of storage. When redundant data are lost, they need to be replaced. While replacing replicated data consists in a simple copy, it becomes a complex operation with erasure codes: new data are produced performing a coding over some other available data. The amount of data to be read and coded is d times larger than the amount of data produced. This implies that coding has a larger computational and I/O cost, which, for distributed storage systems, translates into increased network traffic. Participants of peer-to-peer systems have ample storage and CPU power, but their network bandwidth may be limited. For these reasons existing coding techniques are not suitable for P2P storage. This work explores the design space between replication and the existing erasure codes. We propose and evaluate a new class of erasure codes, called hierarchical codes, which aims at finding a flexible trade-off that allows the reduction of the network traffic due to maintenance without losing the benefits given by traditional codes.


This paper presents a new look at the relation between language and pretend play. Considering language not only in its representational but also in its communicative function, children's verbalizations in pretend play reveal their understanding of their partners' knowledge states. Indeed, while children use language in their pretending practically from the start, a developmental change in the aspects of pretend that are verbalized is observed. with "informative" language becoming and remaining dominant. This change occurs when other types of "informative" uses of language, in particular, references to past events and justifications, appear. Language in pretend play becomes thus a simple and ecological tool to evaluate the early development of children's theory of mind.


Objective: To report a novel case of Tarceva? treatment for
small cell lung carcinoma resulting in tympanic membrane necrosis. Patient: A 49-year-old male
with tympanic membrane necrosis and presumed resistant acute otitis externa and
chronic inflammation of the left ear. Patient is status post
chemotherapy and radiation diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer in
December 2008 with on-going therapy with Tarceva? for
residual disease. Intervention: Tympanoplasty
of left ear. Results: Improvement of symptoms of irritation and improvement of hearing
and speech reception thresholds. All acid fast bacilli, fungal and bacterial
cultures of the intra-op specimen were negative. Conclusions: The possibility that long
term Tarceva? therapy could have caused the tympanic
membrane necrosis and acute otitis media like symptoms is feasible since
Tarceva? is an inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor
(EGFR) tyrosine kinase. Upon activation of EGFRs it undergoes a transition from
inactive monomeric form to active homodimer or hertodimer with another member
of the ErbB receptor family. This then initiates several signal transduction
cascades, leading to DNA synthesis and cell proliferation. Activation of the
receptor is important in the innate immune response in human skin. Some of the
common side effects include an aceiform skin rash but this is the first
reported link between tympanic membrane necrosis and Tarceva?.


Dopamine (DA) in mammalian associative structures, such as the prefrontal cortex (PFC), plays a prominent role in learning and memory processes, and its homeostasis differs from that of DA in the striatum, a sensorimotor region. The neostriatum caudolaterale (NCL) of birds resembles the mammalian PFC according to connectional, electrophysiological, and behavioral data. In the present study, DA regulation in the associative NCL and the striatal lobus parolfactorius (LPO) of pigeons was compared to uncover possible differences corresponding to those between mammalian PFC and striatum. Extracellular levels of DA and its metabolites (homovanillic acid [HVA], dihydroxyphenylacetic acid [DOPAC]) and the serotonin metabolite 5‐hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5‐HIAA) were investigated by in vivo microdialysis of urethane‐anesthetized pigeons under basal conditions and after systemic administration of D‐amphetamine. DA was reliably determined only in LPO dialysates, and DA metabolite levels were significantly higher in LPO than in NCL. The HVA/DOPAC ratio, indicating extracellular lifetime of DA, was more than twice as high in NCL than in LPO dialysates. After amphetamine, DA increased in LPO while still being undetectable in NCL, and DA metabolites decreased in both regions. 5‐HIAA slightly decreased in NCL dialysates. Amphetamine effects were delayed in NCL compared with the striatum. In conclusion, effects of amphetamine on the pigeon's ascending monoamine systems resemble those found in mammals, suggesting similar regulatory properties. The neurochemical differences between NCL and LPO parallel those between associative regions, such as PFC and dorsal striatum in mammals. They may reflect weaker regulation of extracellular DA, favoring DAergic volume transmission, in associative than striatal forebrain regions. J. Comp. Neurol. 446:58–67, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


In this research, the MaxEnt modeling approach was used to distinguish the potential niche and distribution pattern of Odontobuthus doriae, a scorpion mainly endemic to central Iran. In aggregate, 47 occurrence records and five environmental variables were applied in the modeling of current and future periods. Central Iran was confirmed as the most suitable habitat for O. doriae, which approximately corresponds to its known distribution. Among the environmental variables, temperature seasonality and precipitation of the warmest quarter were the most important driving factors. Interestingly, the current distribution of O. doriae completely corresponds to geographical limitations in the north and the west presented by the Alborz and Zagros Mountains, respectively. Future projection showed a distributional shift towards northern part of Iran. In the context of its medical importance, more studies on biology and ecology of O. doriae could help scientists to better inform, health care management activities.


Sponge is one of the biota that makes up coastal and marine ecosystems, especially in coral reef ecosystems and seagrass beds in both tropical and subtropical waters. The lack of research and knowledge about sponges (Porifera; Demospongiae), especially in the reef flat ecosystem on Barranglompo Island, is considered necessary to be studied and equipped for research on marine biological resources in the future. This research was conducted in March-November 2019 on Barranglompo Island. The purpose of this study was to determine the diversity and species composition and density of sponges (Porifera: Demospongiae) in the reef flat of Barranglompo Island, Sangkarang District, Makassar City. The method used in sponge data collection is a belt transect starting from ± 50m of shoreline drawn perpendicular to the end of the back reef at each station. The diversity of sponge species found was 22 species belonging to the Demospongiae class. The diversity of sponges on Barranglompo Island is still quite diverse, with a fairly even distribution.


The leading mode of extratropical variability or annular mode is characterized as a meridional seesaw of mass between middle and high latitudes or equivalently, a barotropic dipole in the zonal wind anomaly field. With an understanding of the spatial structure of the annular mode variability, focus has shifted to the eddy-zonal flow interaction or Rossby wave breaking that leads to the persistence of the zonal wind anomalies. Much insight has been gained from the conventional relationship between the zonal-mean flow and eddy fluxes, and the resulting mechanisms often involve eddies of different frequencies or barotropic versus baroclinic processes. Here a new perspective of the annular mode variability is presented in the Modified Lagrangian-Mean (MLM) formalism of a quasi-geostrophic (QG) and absolute vorticity model. By applying the MLM to the QG potential vorticity (PV) tendency budget, a closure equation for annular mode variability or eddy vorticity flux can be obtained. The eddy vorticity flux closure model can be described by a simple diffusive equation with the eddy fluxes absorbed in the MLM. A similar diffusive equation is obtained using absolute vorticity but with a redefinition of the wave type and wave source. Instead of a QG PV, baroclinic wave source, absolute vorticity provides a horizontally, divergent source of waves which are important for wave propagation, wave breaking, and annular mode variability. These formalisms are applied to a baroclinic eddy lifecycle and annular mode variability in an idealized model. It is shown that the shift of a zonal jet during an eddy life cycle can be attributed to horizontal wave tendency, whereas its persistence is concurrent with small-scale dissipation associated with Rossby wave breaking. Furthermore, analysis of annular modes in the idealized model suggests that the wave activity associated with the annular mode variability is short-lived, and that the persistence of the annular mode may be attributed to the eddy source and diffusion of the eddy vorticity flux also associated with Rossby wave breaking.


In multiprocessor systems with private caches, inconsistencies between blocks contained within separate catches can occur. A scheme must be devised to eliminate data inconsistencies and maintain coherency within the caches. One category of schemes for cache coherency involves using directories as an information system for the caches. In most cases the caches rely on signals from the directory as to when it can complete its operation. This paper presents a hardware based directory-arbitrator approach to the cache coherence problem. The arbitrator design is expandable and will allow parallel configuration of the directory chips to increase the number of caches that can be supported.<<ETX>>


Improving the reaction rate of each step is significant for accelerating the multistep reaction of NO reduction by H2. However, simultaneously enhancing the activation of different gaseous reactants using single-atom catalysts remains a challenge to maximize the activity. Herein, we propose a strategy that utilizes titanium-vacancy-regulated electronic properties of single atoms and defective support (Pt1/d-TiO2) to facilitate electron transfer from edge-share O atoms (OTi) to adjacent Pt single atoms. This leads to the formation of low-valence Pt and unsaturated-charge OTi sites, which causes the catalytic reaction to follow a synergistic mechanism. Specifically, experimental and theoretical analyses demonstrate that low-valence Pt sites finely tune the adsorption of H2 molecules, consequently lowering the dissociation energy from 0.15 to as low as 0.01 eV. Moreover, using quasi-in situ spectroscopy, we clearly observe NO molecules being adsorbed on interfacial oxygen sites of a defective support. Then, the bond energy of the N-O bond is weakened through an electron acceptance-donation mechanism between unsaturated-charge OTi sites and NO, thereby facilitating NO activation. The designed single-atom catalysts with synergistic sites exhibit unmatched activity at low temperatures (above 90% NOx conversion at 100 °C), along with higher turnover frequency value (0.74 s-1) and superior stability, making them potentially suitable for industrial applications.


Efficiency and emission (particulate and N0x) measurements were performed on a U.S. Coast Guard shoreside boiler. The purpose of the program was to assess any benefits and/or penalties associated with firing a water-in-oil emulsion. The project included installation of instrumentation required for efficiency measurements, identification and installation of a suitable low energy emulsifier and metallographic analysis of tube samples to determine corrosion and erosion due to firing an emulsified fuel for a heating season. Closely controlled tests were performed over the operating load range on the cleaned and tuned boiler firing both neat (straight) oil and emulsified oil. These tests were repeated after firing each of the respective oils for one normal heating season. The results showed the biggest gains in efficiency from boiler cleaning and tuning. There were no significant differences in efficiency when firing neat and emulsified oil. The boiler was slightly cleaner after firing emulsified fuel for the heating season. The particulate emissions were less for emulsified oil firing and excess air could be trimmed closer to stoichiometric.


New liquid-crystalline materials are described, which are obtained using a versatile synthetic methodology that employs the intermediacy of 1,2,4-triazines. Triazines, triazine-N-oxides, pyridine and laterally cyanated pyridines are among the compounds reported and the mesomorphism of the different structures shows how function affects mesomorphism. In particular, systems based on laterally cyanated pyridines turn out to be materials with low melting points and wide phase ranges. Lateral dipole moments, calculated at the Hartree-Fock level for the triazine-N-oxides and the cyanopyridines, showed a significant dependence on conformation and confirmed that the dipole moment was great for the latter materials. Appreciable spontaneous polarisation was measured for chiral derivatives of the triazine-N-oxides.


Sarcoidosis is a rare disease characterized by granulomatous inflammation in affected organs, primarily in lungs. Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are easy and practical methods providing valuable information in diagnosis, severity, and prognosis of various diseases. Here, we aimed to investigate the association between NLR, PLR, and hematological parameters in sarcoidosis. The study was performed with 75 sarcoidosis patients and 92 controls. Patients' NLR, PLR, and hematological parameters were compared with those of controls. Additionally, while differences between NLR and PLR were investigated in sarcoidosis patients, differences of extrapulmonary involvement, pulmonary hypertension (PH), and spontaneous remission between those with and without responses to treatment concerning stages were also assessed. NLR and PLR were significantly higher in sarcoidosis patients than controls. For NLR, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were found as 68, 61, 58, and 70% respectively, while sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV for PLR were found as 72, 67, 63, and 74%, respectively. In sarcoidosis patients, NLR and PLR were significantly higher at stage-2 and -3 than at stage -1 and -4. There was a significant weak positive correlation between C-reactive protein (CRP) and NLR and PLR. Mean platelet volume (MPV), hemoglobin (Hgb), and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) were lower among patients than controls. A positive moderate correlation was detected between NLR and CD4/CD8 in blood, while there was a strong positive correlation between CD4/CD8 in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and positive moderate correlation between PLR and CD4/CD8 in BAL. High NLR and PLR values were not significantly associated with pulmonary PH, spontaneous remission, response to treatment, and prognosis. The increase in PLR and NLR may be a guide for diagnoses of both sarcoidosis and lung parenchymal involvement. To use these entities as markers, our findings should be supported with prospective studies with larger samples.


Simulations show that the interface between two perovskite oxides can be a much stronger ferroelectric than either oxide on its own.


A system for automated traffic accident detection in intersections was designed. The input to the system is a 3-s segment of audio signal. The system can be operated in two modes: the two-class and multiclass modes. The output of the two-class mode is a label of "crash" or "noncrash." In the multiclass mode of operation, the system identifies crashes as well as several types of noncrash incidents, including normal traffic and construction sounds. The system is composed of three main signal processing stages: feature extraction, feature reduction, and classification. Five methods of feature extraction were investigated and compared; these are based on the discrete wavelet transform, fast Fourier transform, discrete cosine transform, real cepstral transform, and mel frequency cepstral transform. Statistical methods are used for feature optimization and classification. Three types of classifiers are investigated and compared; these are the nearest-mean, maximum-likelihood, and nearest-neighbor methods. The results of the study show that the optimum design uses wavelet-based features in combination with the maximum-likelihood classifier. The system is computationally inexpensive relative to the other methods investigated, and the system consistently results in accident detection accuracies of 95% to 100% when the audio signal has a signal-to-noise-ratio of at least 0 decibels.


Part I: Introduction 1. 'Inherited' Responsibility and Historical Reconciliation in East Asian Context Jun-Hyeok Kwak & Melissa Nobles Part II: Theoretical Overview 2. Owning the Misdeeds of Japan's Wartime Regime Farid Abdel-Nour 3. Historic injustice and the inheritance of rights and duties in East Asia Daniel Butt 4. Inherited Responsibility and the Challenge of Political Reconciliation Ernesto Verdeja Part III: Historical Reconciliation in East Asia 5. Historical Reconciliation in Southeast Asia: Notes from Singapore Tze M. Loo 6. Remembering and Forgetting the War: Elite Mythmaking, Mass Reaction, and Sino-Japanese Relations Yinan He 7. Appropriating Defeat: Japan, America, and Eto Jun's Historical Reconciliations Naoyuki Umemori 8. "Comfort Women" and Japan's National Responsibility: A Case Study in Reconciling Feminism and Nationalism Historical Reconciliation in China Ranjoo Herr 9. Captives of the Past: The Questions of Responsibility and Reconciliation in North Korea's Narratives of the Korean War Balazs Szalontai


The 195 K cubic-to-tetragonal structural phase transition (SPT) in RbCaF3 crystals has been investigated by electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) using Mn2+ as a probe. The rotational angle of the fluorine octahedra, which is the local order parameter of the transition, has been determined at 40 K for the first and second shells of F- ions surrounding the Mn2+ impurities. The values obtained are 5.1 degrees +or-0.2 degrees for the first shell and 7.4 degrees +or-1 degrees for the second shell. The thermal evolution of the first shell angle at temperatures close to that of the SPT has also been studied. The results have been compared with those in RbCdF3:Mn2+. The first shell angle measured at 40 K is similar to the one in RbCdF3:Mn2+. The second shell angle is almost double that in RbCdF3:Mn2+. Covalency effects through Cd2+ ions are suggested to account for this difference.


Reducing the levels of toxic protein aggregates has become a focus of therapy for disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, as well as for the general deterioration of cells and tissues during aging. One approach has been an attempt to influence the production or activity of a class of reparative chaperones called heat shock proteins (HSPs), of which HSP70 is a promising candidate. Manipulation of HSP70 expression results in disposal of misfolded protein aggregates that accumulate in aging and disease models. Recently, HSP70 has been shown to bind specifically to an amino-terminal sequence of a human diffusible survival evasion peptide (DSEP), dermcidin. This sequence includes CHEC-9, an orally available anti-inflammatory and cell survival peptide. In the present study, we found that the CHEC-9 peptide also binds HSP70 in the cytosol of the cerebral cortex after oral delivery in normal rats. Western analysis of non-heat-denatured, unreduced samples suggested that peptide treatment increased the level of active HSP70 monomers from the pool of chaperone oligomers, a process that may be stimulated by potentiation of the chaperone's adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase). In these samples, a small but consistent gel shift was observed for glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), a multifunctional protein whose aggregation is influenced by HSP70. CHEC-9 treatment of an in vitro model of α-synuclein aggregation also results in HSP70-dependent dissolution of these aggregates. HSP70 oligomer-monomer equilibrium and its potential to control protein aggregate disease warrant increased experimental attention, especially if a peptide fragment of an endogenous human protein can influence the process.


Abstract It has been well recognized that the modification of biomaterials with appropriate bioactive peptides could further enhance their functions. Especially, it has been shown that peptide-modified bone repair materials could promote new bone formation more efficiently compared with conventional ones. The purpose of this article is to give a general review of recent studies on bioactive peptide-modified materials for bone tissue repair. Firstly, the main peptides for inducing bone regeneration and commonly used methods to prepare peptide-modified bone repair materials are introduced. Then, current in vitro and in vivo research progress of peptide-modified composites used as potential bone repair materials are reviewed and discussed. Generally speaking, the recent related studies have fully suggested that the modification of bone repair materials with osteogenic-related peptides provide promising strategies for the development of bioactive materials and substrates for enhanced bone regeneration and the therapy of bone tissue diseases. Furthermore, we have proposed some research trends in the conclusion and perspectives part.


In this prospective study, we examined changes in renal function during 6 years of follow-up in relation to baseline lead levels, diabetes, and hypertension among 448 middle-age and elderly men, a subsample of the Normative Aging Study. Lead levels were generally low at baseline, with mean blood lead, patella lead, and tibia lead values of 6.5 μg/dL, 32.4 μg/g, and 21.5 μg/g, respectively. Six percent and 26% of subjects had diabetes and hypertension at baseline, respectively. In multivariate-adjusted regression analyses, longitudinal increases in serum creatinine (SCr) were associated with higher baseline lead levels but these associations were not statistically significant. However, we observed significant interactions of blood lead and tibia lead with diabetes in predicting annual change in SCr. For example, increasing the tibia lead level from the midpoints of the lowest to the highest quartiles (9–34 μg/g) was associated with an increase in the rate of rise in SCr that was 17.6-fold greater in diabetics than in nondiabetics (1.08 mg/dL/10 years vs. 0.062 mg/dL/10 years; p < 0.01). We also observed significant interactions of blood lead and tibia lead with diabetes in relation to baseline SCr levels (tibia lead only) and follow-up SCr levels. A significant interaction of tibia lead with hypertensive status in predicting annual change in SCr was also observed. We conclude that longitudinal decline of renal function among middle-age and elderly individuals appears to depend on both long-term lead stores and circulating lead, with an effect that is most pronounced among diabetics and hypertensives, subjects who likely represent particularly susceptible groups.


The paper presents the results of studying the clinical and immunological efficacy of the immunomodulator polyoxidonium in the preventive treatment of tuberculosis in children and adolescents in combination with antituberculous drugs. The study was performed in 50 children and adolescents from the most threatened tuberculosis risk groups (tuberculosis contact and tuberculosis-infected) who needed preventive antituberculosis treatment with one or two drugs for 3-6 months. The use of polyoxidonium in the study group (n = 21) could reduce the time of preventive treatment to 2 months and cause no progression of tuberculin reaction or signs of intoxication and acute respiratory disease. The administration of antituberculous drugs only in 29 children was followed by tuberculin reaction progression in 46-57% of children, which required preventive treatment for as many as 6 months. The immunological effect of polyoxidonium appeared as elevated T-cell levels, the activation of neutrophil phagocytosis and bactericidity. Inclusion of polyoxidonium into the preventive treatment of tuberculosis has shown a higher efficiency of complex preventive therapy and a reduction in the time of using antituberculous drugs for the prevention of tuberculosis, which is very important, bearing in mind fact that there may be adverse reactions when antituberculous treatment is long used.


Introduction Variation in the assessment of large non-pedunculated colorectal polyps (LNPCPs) appears to lead to variable and suboptimal management outcomes.1 Multidisciplinary discussion has been advocated to optimise management. Our ACPGBI/BSG evidence-based, expert consensus minimum dataset developed in 2014–15 has been felt to enhance LNPCP assessment and decision making.2 We propose that further refinement will ensure increased robustness. Methods A 14 person ACPGBI/BSG approved multidisciplinary panel reassessed the original minimum dataset using Delphi consensus methodology. A subcommittee tested the proforma dataset's applicability and usability for multidisciplinary discussion over 20 LNPCP cases. This process was intended to find any previously unidentified patient and polyp factors that may influence management. Proposed additional parameters were then subject to voting with >80% agreement required for consensus. The updated dataset was then assessed with a further 20 LNPCP cases. Results 8 new parameters considered helpful for LNPCP assessment were identified. Whilst patient parameters such as symptoms, treatment preferences and comorbidity had previously been identified, it was agreed that establishing patient amenability to undergo treatment at another hospital was important and may potentially increase available therapeutic options. With regards to lesion characteristics, it was felt that specification of the 'SMSA scoring system' encouraged more comprehensive and standardised lesion assessment of the complexity of lesion endoscopic resectability.2 Comprehensive photodocumentation was also considered necessary with parameters agreed relating to the capture of morphology and surface features and specific rectal imaging. Further piloting of the revised dataset identified no further required parameters (see figure). Conclusion The development of an ACPGBI/BSG minimum dataset allows for comprehensive and standardised multidisciplinary LNPCP assessment. It forms part of a structured ACPGBI/BSG management framework for LNPCPs, also comprising guidelines and key performance indicators. In addition to facilitating multidisciplinary discussion, the dataset can also serve as an aide memoire to guide detailed endoscopic assessment. The updated consensus process ensures that all factors pertinent to decision making are included whilst applicability and usability are confirmed following further piloting. References 1 Chattree A, Painter J, Silcock J, et al. Marked Variation in Endoscopic Mucosal Resection Outcomes within the UK Bowel Cancer Screening Programme. United European Gastroenterology Journal 2015;2(Supp 1) 2 Rutter MD, Chattree A, Barbour J, et al. BSG/ACPGBI Guidelines for the management of large non pedunculated colorectal polyps. Gut 2015;0:1–27 Disclosure of Interest None Declared


Background and objective: Perianal fistulae commonly occur in middle-aged men. It is important to determine the presence of fistula tracks, its grading and presence of abscess or inflammation. This study aimed to assess the role of MRI in diagnosis and classification of perianal fistula.
Methods: This study included 20 patients with perianal sepsis that were referred to the MRI section of Radiology Department in Rizgary Teaching Hospital between August 2015 and April 2016. All patients underwent MRI examination.
Results: The mean ± SD age of the 20 patients was 38.5 ± 10.4 years (range 22-55 years), of which 16 patients (80%) were males and four patients (20%) were females. Eighteen patients had a single external opening and two patients had two external opening. All the simple non-branching fistulas were successfully identified by axial and coronal planes of contrast enhanced T1Weighted image fast spin echo, of which five cases had simple intersphincter (G1) fistula and two had simple transphincter (G3), seven cases had intersphincter fistula either secondary tract or horse shoe and abscess (G2), five cases had complex transsphincter (G4). Two cases of complex G4 type had inflammation and edema in ischiorectal and ischioanal fossa and the internal openings were clearer in STIR T2axia.
Conclusion: MRI non-invasively offers important information about perianal fistula that can reduce surgical complications and postoperative recurrence of the disease. Every patient with suspicious perianal sepsis should undergo MRI examination to prevent complications and morbidity.


Background Several systematic reviews have studied the effects of exercise therapy in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although overlapping reviews on the same topic are often a waste of money and effort,[1] we used a new approach to pool only the best available evidence. It is common practice for systematic reviews to focus just on methodological validity as a marker for quality. However, perhaps we should also address the therapeutic validity (i.e., potential for effectiveness) of the studied interventions as a marker for quality. After all, interventions with low potential for effectiveness are more likely to result in negative study findings and therefore should not be pooled in a best-evidence synthesis. Objectives The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of therapeutically valid exercise therapy interventions in individuals with RA on physical functioning. Methods RCTs that evaluate the effectiveness of structured, supervised exercise therapy on self-reported and observed physical functioning in adults with RA were identified through four electronic databases (through Oct 2013). Hand programs were excluded. Two reviewers extracted data and assessed methodological and therapeutic validity (using the PEDro and CONTENT scale [2] respectively; scores of ≥6 reflect high validity). Studies with both methodological and therapeutic validity were included in the best evidence synthesis. A sensitivity analysis was performed, in which we included all papers, regardless of their quality. Effects were pooled using random-effect models. Results Of the 1181 articles retrieved, 10 studies describing 11 interventions (612 patients) were included. One study demonstrated therapeutic validity (median score (IQR) 3 (2-5)), six demonstrated methodological validity (6 (5-6)), and none demonstrated both. The latter made it impossible to perform the planned best-evidence synthesis. The sensitivity analysis on the effectiveness of low quality studies showed that exercise therapy was associated with self-reported (SMD (95%>CI), 0.19 (0.03; 0.36)) and observed (0.59 (0.01; 1.18)) functional improvements on directly after the intervention. The largest association was found for weight exercise and improvements in short-term observed functioning (-1.00 (-1.46;-0.54)). There were insufficient studies to pool long-term outcomes; individual studies showed no significant benefits. Conclusions Low quality evidence suggests that therapeutic exercise has beneficial effects on short-term physical functioning for individuals with RA. However, the magnitude of the effect of exercise therapy is limited. Perhaps the latter is explained by the poor therapeutic validity of the exercise programs. One of the major concerns was the lack of a rationale for the exercise interventions, resulting in unclear patient selection (i.e. most studies included patients without functional limitations) and unclear exercise dosing (i.e. mostly low intensity without a clear explanation). The latter should at the very least be addressed in future studies on the (long-term) effectiveness of therapeutic exercise in people living with RA. References Siontis, et al. BMJ. 2013:19;347. Hoogeboom, et al. PLoS One. 2012;7(5):e38031. Acknowledgements Thank you to the Dutch Arthritis Foundation for financially supporting this study. Disclosure of Interest : None declared DOI 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-eular.2671


Objective: The antioxidant of methanolic stem-bark extract of Pterocarpus erinaceus on indomethacin-induced ulcer in albino rats was studied. Methods: Phytochemicals in the bark extract were qualitatively and quantitatively determined. Antioxidant status of the extract was determined using DPPH, FRAP and TBARS assays. The activities of glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase and catalase effects were also determined along with total protein concentration in the stomach tissue homogenate. Thirty five (35) adult male rats were randomly divided into seven groups (Group A-G) of five rats each. The in-vitro antioxidant status of the extract was also determined. Indomethacin was orally administered as a single dose of 30 mg/kg/b.w to induce ulcer in the rats. The rats were fasted for 24 hrs, on the last day of the experiment before the animals were sacrificed. Macroscopic examinations of the stomach, quantification of gastric juice, homogenization of stomach were also carried out. The stomach homogenate of treated rats was analyzed for total protein (TP), lipid peroxidation and the antioxidant enzymes glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities. Results: Indomethacin treatment caused significant increases (p˂ 0.05) in ulcer index. The administration of the methanolic stem-bark extract of Pterocarpus erinaceus, rats previously treated with indomethacin showed significant reduction in ulcer index, volumes of gastric juice, free and total acidity, pepsin activity and lipid peroxidation in the extract treated rats compared with the group treated with indomethacin. Treatments with P. erinaceus extract showed significant dose dependent elevation (p˂ 0.05) of pH of gastric juice, total protein, GR, SOD and CAT in the treated animals. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that the plant extract may have antioxidant potentials suggesting that P. erinaceus stem bark extract at doses used have the ability to reduce gastric acid secretion and healing of the ulcer. Keywords: Antioxidant, Effect, Albino rats, Ulcer, Stem-bark Extracts, phytochemical and Indomethacin


Abstract. Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) is an advanced technique to map ground surface displacements of an area over a period. The technique can measure deformation with a millimeter-level accuracy. It overcomes the limitations of Differential Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (DInSAR) such as geometric, temporal decorrelation and atmospheric variations between master and slave images. In our study, Sentinel-1A Interferometric Wide Swath (IW) mode descending pass images from May 2016 to December 2017 (23 images) are used to identify the stable targets called persistent scatterers (PS) over Bengaluru city. Twenty-two differential interferograms are generated after topographic phase removal using the SRTM 30 m DEM. The main objective of this study is to analyze urban subsidence in Bengaluru city in India using the multi-temporal interferometric technique such as PSI. The pixels with Amplitude Stability Index ≥ 0.8 are selected as initial PS candidates (PSC). Later, the PSCs having temporal coherence > 0.5 are selected for the time series analysis. The number of PSCs that are identified after final selection are reduced from 59590 to 54474 for VV polarization data and 15611 to 15596 for VH polarization data. It is interesting to note that a very less number of PSC are identified in cross-polarized images (VH). A high number of PSC have identified in co-polarized (VV) images as the vertically oriented urban targets produce a double bounce, which results in a strong return towards the sensor. The velocity maps obtained using VV and VH polarizations show displacement in the range of ± 20 mm year−1. The subsidence and the upliftment observed in the city shows a linear trend with time. It is observed that the eastern part of Bengaluru city shows more subsidence than the western part.


Background Osteoarthritis (OA) is recognised as the most prevalent joint disorder in the world. However, accurate estimates of true disease prevalence are affected by a number of factors which include the definition of OA applied. UK guidance recommends application of a working diagnosis of OA in primary care, allowing diagnosis to be made in older adults (45 years and over) without recourse to further investigation. However, evidence shows that older adults may receive either an OA or joint pain morbidity code suggesting different diagnostic thresholds are applied by different clinicians. This may have consequences for both patient outcomes and accuracy of prevalence estimate calculations, hence healthcare service provision. Objectives By using morbidity codes as a proxy for diagnosis, this study aimed to explore whether certain patient characteristics which are known risk factors for OA alter the diagnostic threshold in older patients presenting with joint symptoms. Methods The study was set in ten UK general practices (population 66,231) which contribute anonymised consultation information to the Consultations in Primary Care Archive (CiPCA). Patients aged 45 years or over who presented in a two year period with a new episode of a joint-related problem, either coded as OA or as joint symptom (JS), were identified. Cross-sectional analysis explored the association between risk factors for OA (gender, age, BMI, deprivation status) and code attribution (JS or OA). Longitudinal analysis explored associations with final code attribution. Results Of 3,950 patients presenting with a joint-related problem, 2,711 (68.6%) received an initial JS code and 1,239 (31.4%) an OA code. Female gender [odds ratio (OR) 1.38 (95% CI 1.20-1.60)] and increasing age [60-69: OR 2.18 (95% CI 1.83-2.61); 70-79: OR 2.83 (95% CI 2.35-3.41); ≥80: OR 3.25 (95% CI 2.59-4.08)] were associated with an increase in the likelihood of being attributed an OA code as a result of initial consultation. No such association was found with BMI or deprivation status. Seven hundred (25.8%) of those receiving an initial JS code were attributed an OA code during the eight year follow-up period with the highest proportion (42.9%) occurring within the first year. The association between likelihood of OA code attribution and female gender [hazard ratio (HR) 1.24 (95% CI 1.06-1.45)] and increasing age [60-69: HR 1.83 (CI 1.52-2.20); 70-79: HR 2.03 (CI 1.67-2.47); ≥80: HR 2.03 (CI 1.56-2.65)] endured over time. Conclusions Approximately two-thirds of patients were coded as JS at initial presentation, suggesting that they did not receive a diagnosis of OA. Approximately one quarter of these patients received an OA code over the next eight years. Given UK recommendations for primary care clinicians, in a sample of older patients presenting with joint-related problems a greater proportion would have been expected to receive an OA diagnosis hence OA code. Although patient age and gender are associated with the diagnosis made, further research should investigate other factors such as clinician characteristics which may be associated with OA diagnosis and whether the diagnosis made affects long-term patient outcomes. Acknowledgements Time part supported by NIHR CLAHRC WM. Academic extension funded by West Midlands Deanery. CiPCA supported by North Staffordshire Primary Care Research Consortium and NCCRCD Disclosure of Interest None declared


Pulsation period of Cepheids should change as stars evolve through the instability strip. Rates of these changes found by other authors based on the decades-long O-C diagrams show rather good agreement with theoretical predictions. We have checked the variability on the scale of a few years on the data recently published by the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) for the Large Magellanic Cloud Cepheids and found period changes for 18% of fundamental mode and 41% of first overtone pulsators. It suggest the overtone pulsations are less stable than the fundamental ones. For stars which had the cross-references in the MACHO catalog we have checked if the period change rates derived from the OGLE and the MACHO data are consistent. It was found that there is no correlation and opposite signs of changes in both data sets are more common than the same ones. Many O-C diagrams show nonlinear period changes similarly as for some stars the diagrams derived from the OGLE data only (spanning up to 4100 days) show random fluctuations. These fluctuations are common on the long-term O-C diagrams and we conclude they dominate the diagrams for the timescales of a few thousand of days. The distributions of periods and colors for all Cepheids and for those with statistically significant period changes are the same. Times of maximum light obtained using the MACHO and the OGLE data as well as the examples of O-C diagrams are presented.


A cluster is a mini-epidemic of a rare disease. Clusters may give clues to the etiology of disease, or may signal a hazardous exposure. Unfortunately, cluster investigations seldom are conclusive, for several reasons. Statistically significant clusters can occur by chance. The probability of finding chance cancer clusters is calculated for the 200 Alaska Native villages. The problem of selection bias is explained, and other limitations of epidemiology are described. A logical, stepwise protocol for investigating cancer clusters is presented.


ABSTRACT Signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) is related to the immune microenvironment of tumorigenesis. The programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and its ligand (PD-L1) have been reported to be important in immunotherapy by mediating tumor immune evasion. Blocking the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway can restore the endogenous anti-tumor immune response. This study aimed to examine the expression of STAT1, PD-1, and PD-L1 and the correlation between selected markers in human epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). The results showed that malignant tumors contained more STAT1, PD-1, and PD-L1 positive cells. The expression of STAT1 and PD-L1 was associated with age, whereas PD-1 and PD-L1 associated with histopathological type, in patients with ovarian tumors. Moreover, the expression of STAT1 was found to be associated with disease stages and the grade of serous carcinoma. STAT1 expression was higher in OC cells than normal ovarian surface epithelial cells and was positively correlated with PD-L1 expression. The knockdown of STAT1 decreased PD-L1 expression, whereas overexpression of STAT1 increased PD-L1 expression. Furthermore, the expression of STAT1, PD-1, and PD-L1 was lower in paclitaxel-resistant cells than sensitive cells. Finally, STAT1 affected the overall survival and progression-free survival of patients with EOC. These findings suggest that STAT1, PD-1, and PD-L1 are the tissue markers of EOC and imply the possibility that the high level of STAT1, PD-1, and PD-L1 may favor the checkpoint immunotherapy in patients with EOC, but may have a limit in paclitaxel-resistant patients because of the low expression of STAT1, PD-1, and PD-L1 in paclitaxel-resistant cells.


Ultrasonic transducer arrays are extensively used for the nondestructive evaluation of materials for aerospace and other applications. However, their use with composites requires some technique development because of reflections at the layer boundaries and the effects of attenuation. When used in full matrix capture mode, algorithms such as the total focusing method (TFM) must be applied to obtain the image. In composite materials, improvement to the algorithm is required to include the effects of material anisotropy (affecting wave speed) and optimum aperture limits to optimize the signal-to-noise ratio and location detection for a defect in the material. This paper presents simulations of the ultrasonic array signals in multilayer anisotropic materials with and without a simulated defect. A kernel model for plane wave propagation in the material is combined with an angular spectrum decomposition (for finite transducer elements) and transducer frequency response, to model the full array signals. Inclusion of the defect is through its far-field scattering response. The model facilitates the study of imaging algorithm development by identification of the effects of anisotropy, signal-to-noise ratio, and aperture limit. An analytical method for the calculation of the effective group velocity in the composite at low frequency is demonstrated, permitting rapid calculation of time delay laws in practice.


The European Union (EU) faces a deep crisis. Under the impression of economic troubles, wars in and around Europe (Ukraine, Syria) and an unprecedented immigration of refugees, political leaders try to muddle through the difficult times, while political extremists and anti-European forces suggest alleged solutions and divide the Union. In view of the crisis, citizenship education is often neglected, although it is a crucial measure for long-term stability, European integration and wealth. The education of young generations needs to be considered as a core challenge for the EU. It should provide political knowledge of history, institutions, actors and procedures of democracy in the nation states and the EU, democratic values and behaviour, skills to participate in a communicational public sphere. It should enable citizens to understand how democratic politics functions, what the core values of democracy are, how interests can be articulated and promoted in a European multi-level system and how political claims or projects can gain broader attention. How to reference this article Pausch, M. (2016). Citizenship Education in Times of Crisis . Foro de Educacion , 14(20), 3-9. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14516/fde.2016.014.020.001


Interactions between beta-lactam antibiotics, particularly acylaminopenicillins, and vecuronium, a widely used muscle relaxant, leading to prolonged neuromuscular blockade have been reported in studies of experimental animals and in a few clinical case reports. In the clinical reports, however, confounding factors always existed. A clinical trial to evaluate interactions between vecuronium and cefoxitin or piperacillin was conducted. Patients having major operations requiring both muscle relaxants as part of general anesthesia and prophylactic antibiotics were entered into the trial and randomly assigned to receive either cefoxitin or piperacillin. The electromyographic twitch response was measured before and after administration of the antibiotic. Five of 27 evaluable patients had minor prolongation of the time to recovery of baseline twitch. No prolonged neuromuscular blockade was observed. There were no differences in responses between the two antibiotic treatment groups. Cefoxitin and piperacillin administered pre- or intra-operatively are not associated with clinically important prolongation of muscle relaxation induced by vecuronium. The potential for prolongation of neuromuscular blockade induced by vecuronium through concomitant administration of piperacillin or cefoxitin as antibiotic prophylaxis was investigated in a clinical trial of 30 patients having major abdominal operations. Quantitative measurement of neuromuscular blockade was done using the electromyographic twitch response to a supramaximal current stimulus.


We present EverParse, a framework for generating parsers and serializers from tag-length-value binary message format descriptions. The resulting code is verified to be safe (no overflow, no use after free), correct (parsing is the inverse of serialization) and non-malleable (each message has a unique binary representation). These guarantees underpin the security of cryptographic message authentication, and they enable testing to focus on interoperability and performance issues. EverParse consists of two parts: LowParse, a library of parser combinators and their formal properties written in F*; and QuackyDucky, a compiler from a domain-specific language of RFC message formats down to low-level F* code that calls LowParse. While LowParse is fully verified, we do not formalize the semantics of the input language and keep QuackyDucky outside our trusted computing base. Instead, it also outputs a formal message specification, and F* automatically verifies our implementation against this specification. EverParse yields efficient zero-copy implementations, usable both in F* and in C. We evaluate it in practice by fully implementing the message formats of the Transport Layer Security standard and its extensions (TLS 1.0–1.3, 293 datatypes) and by integrating them into miTLS, an F* implementation of TLS. We illustrate its generality by implementing the Bitcoin block and transaction formats, and the ASN.1 DER payload of PKCS#1 RSA signatures. We integrate them into C applications and measure their runtime performance, showing significant improvements over prior handwritten libraries. EverParse is open-source and publicly available on GitHub. You can view Antoine Delignat-Lavaud's presentation at USENIX Security 2019.


Recent evidence suggests that vitamin D is involved in the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The aim of this study was to analyze the electrophysiological and contractile properties of pulmonary arteries (PAs) in vitamin D receptor knockout mice (Vdr−/−). PAs were dissected and mounted in a wire myograph. Potassium membrane currents were recorded in freshly isolated PA smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) using the conventional whole-cell configuration of the patch-clamp technique. Potential vitamin D response elements (VDREs) in Kv7 channels coding genes were studied, and their protein expression was analyzed. Vdr−/− mice did not show a pulmonary hypertensive phenotype, as neither right ventricular hypertrophy nor endothelial dysfunction was apparent. However, resistance PA from these mice exhibited increased response to retigabine, a Kv7 activator, compared to controls and heterozygous mice. Furthermore, the current sensitive to XE991, a Kv7 inhibitor, was also higher in PASMCs from knockout mice. A possible VDRE was found in the gene coding for KCNE4, the regulatory subunit of Kv7.4. Accordingly, Vdr−/− mice showed an increased expression of KCNE4 in the lungs, with no changes in Kv7.1 and Kv7.4. These results indicate that the absence of Vdr in mice, as occurred with vitamin D deficient rats, is not sufficient to induce PAH. However, the contribution of Kv7 channel currents to the regulation of PA tone is increased in Vdr−/− mice, resembling animals and humans suffering from PAH.