It is with interest that we read the recently published article titled "Effects of Scheduled Exercise on Cancer-Related Fatigue in Women with Early Breast Cancer" [1].

We are interested in the reported levels of physical activity levels found with the IPAQ-SF in this cancer population. Research has shown that physical activity levels in the cancer population at diagnosis are in line with noncancer population, followed by deterioration as they proceed through cancer treatment [2].

Therefore we were surprised when it was reported in this article that 100% of the control and intervention group met exercise recommendations before chemotherapy, immediately after chemotherapy, and 18 weeks later using the IPAQ-SF tool.

The IPAQ has been reported in the past to allow overreporting of physical activity, resulting in inflated reports meeting exercise recommendations. A recent systematic review [3] reported the IPAQ to be responsible for degrees of overreporting of physical activity levels of between 36% and 173% above the objective measure. Compared to other self-reporting tools in the cancer population, in which the 7-day Physical Activity Recall demonstrated overreporting by 13%, the IPAQ-SF overreported by 247% [4]. Multiple reasons for overreporting in the IPAQ-SF have been cited in research, for instance, difficulty in recall of average time of physical activity [5], multiple domain reporting including nonleisure activities [6], and lack of participant comprehension of terminology [5].

Our recent research has also demonstrated the possibility of inflated IPAQ-SF results with large proportion of the cancer population meeting exercise recommendations at the end of treatment in excess of the normal population.

In addition to all the mentioned reasons for overreporting particularly in the cancer population, another possible cause is the inclusion of walking in the calculation for meeting exercise recommendations. Walking as a form of exercise has been reported to be a very common choice of exercise in the cancer population [2, 7] with 81–88% of a sample making walking their chosen activity [8]. As intensity of walking is not specified in the IPAQ-SF questionnaire, low intensity walking (<3 Metabolic Equivalents) may be erroneously reported and included in meeting exercise recommendation calculations which only include intensities of "moderate" and "vigorous" [9]. Also, through self reporting "walking" activities separate to "moderate" intensity activities there is a chance for duplication of physical activity reporting. There are warnings to not duplicate, however, these are not always heeded. Overreporting may also be further exacerbated in the cancer population in the health care setting with the desire to give socially acceptable responses.

The IPAQ-SF has demonstrated overreporting of physical activity levels in the past and therefore is at risk of incorrectly identifying an active population. The cancer population may be at greater risk of misrepresentation by the IPAQ-SF due to the popularity and ease of walking as a form of physical activity throughout cancer treatment. From the work we have recently completed and from the evidence base we have reservations in using this tool to accurately identify the inactive population within cancer survivors.

What are the thoughts on the overreporting of physical activity with the use of the IPAQ tool? Could this have any wider impact on the conclusions drawn from this research?


We propose a reinforcement learning algorithm for stationary mean-field games, where the goal is to learn a pair of mean-field state and stationary policy that constitutes the Nash equilibrium. When viewing the mean-field state and the policy as two players, we propose a fictitious play algorithm which alternatively updates the mean-field state and the policy via gradient-descent and proximal policy optimization, respectively. Our algorithm is in stark contrast with previous literature which solves each single-agent reinforcement learning problem induced by the iterates mean-field states to the optimum. Furthermore, we prove that our fictitious play algorithm converges to the Nash equilibrium at a sublinear rate. To the best of our knowledge, this seems the first provably convergent single-loop reinforcement learning algorithm for mean-field games based on iterative updates of both mean-field state and policy.


We explore graphical comparisons of the radiation forces calculated via the multipole expansion of optical force up to electric and magnetic quadrupole terms with the rigorous and exact generalized Lorenz–Mie theory (GLMT) on a homogeneous spherical particle. Examples are presented for a Gaussian beam in its fundamental mode and for a higher-order ideal Bessel beam. We also compute forces for a nondiffracting structured beam composed of a discrete superposition of copropagating Bessel beams with the same order and frequency, known in the literature as frozen waves. The results show a great agreement for moderately sized Mie particles, up to radius of about one-fifth the wavelength, thus suggesting an intrinsic connection between both methods and the possibility to extend recent theoretical works related to the identification between the Rayleigh limit of the GLMT and the dipole theory of forces.


C. chauvoei is the causative agent of blackleg, an endogenous bacterial infection which usually affects cattle and other ruminants. Due to the fact that the symptoms of this severe disease are very similar to the phenotype caused by an infection with C. septicum, a reliable differentiation of C. chauvoei from other Clostridium spp. is mandatory. Traditional microbiological detection methods are time consuming and the proper specification is hampered by the overgrowing tendency of swarming C. septicum colonies when both species are in the clinical sample. Thus, there is an urgent need to improve and simplify the specific detection of C. chauvoei and C. septicum. We report an easy and fast Clostridium spp. discrimination method via a magnetic bead-based fluorescence assay. To that end, the target DNA was amplified using 16S-23S rDNA spacer region specific primers. These PCR products were employed to generate single-stranded capture probe DNA, which was immobilized on magnetic beads. Functionalized magnetic particles exhibit numerous advantages, like their simple manipulation in combination with a huge binding capacity of biomolecules and make therefore excellent biosensors. In this context, the discrimination between C. chauvoei and C. septicum was realized by means of hybridization with complementary detection probe DNA. Finally, fluorescence spectroscopy allowed the signal readout. With this approach a precise discrimination between C. chauvoei, C. septicum and C. carnis was accomplished.


As of August 2007, 96 900 people are awaiting organ transplantation in the United States, while only 28 930 transplants were performed in 2006. With such a large gap between organ need and organ availability, it is inevitable that many will die while awaiting transplantation. This organ shortage has become a national public health crisis, and as a response, the United States Department of Health and Human Services launched the Organ Donation Breakthrough Collaborative, an ambitious campaign to dramatically increase the number of transplantable organs. One of the suggested strategies involves maximizing the number of organs obtained from the available cadaveric ``brain dead'' donor pool by using donor management protocols that optimize and treat the profound physiological disturbances that are associated with brain death. The use of these standardized and aggressive donor management protocols has been shown to increase the number of transplanted organs and prevent the number of donors lost due to medical failures. A protocol-driven approach by a dedicated organ donor management team should be considered a key component of any program designed to bridge the gap between organ supply and demand.


The technique of stop-motion model animation - bringing models to life by filming them one frame at a time - was the most important way of creating cinematic monsters and fantasy creatures before the advent of computer-generated imagery. It is a technique that will forever be associated with names of Willis O'Brien, the creator of King Kong, and Ray Harryhausen, whose films thrilled a generation of post-World War II movie-goers. But the first crude model animations were made in the 1890s and in the first two decades of the twentieth century pioneers producing short animated films before O'Brien created the first two animated features, The Lost World and King Kong in the dying days of silent film. Moreover, stop-motion model animation is still alive and flourishing, most notably in the work of directors Tim Burton and Aardman Animation's Nick Park, whose plasticine creations have starred in major hits such as Chicken Run and The Curse of the Were-rabbit. In this book Ray Harryhausen and his co-author Tony Dalton trace the history of the genre to which Ray devoted the whole of his working life, from the almost accidental discovery that inanimate objects could be brought to life on the screen to movies such as Jurassic Park, which combined model animation with computer-based techniques to bring a new generation of prehistoric creatures to life. In doing so he gives his readers a fascinating insight into the patience and ingenuity of the animators, explains the development and refinement of the technology, especially that which enabled actors and animated models to interact on the same screen, and gives us tantalising glimpses of the many abandoned projects which litter the history of model animation. The book is lavishly illustrated with stills, many of them from forgotten movies and never before published in book form, sketches and storyboards for projects, explanatory diagrams, rare photographs of animators and artists at work and a host of memorabilia.


Historically the anti-abortion movement has opposed abortions through reference to the fetus' human status. However, recently there has been a rhetorical shift whereby abortion is criticized based on its alleged negative psychological impact on women, with some authors voicing concerns related to this medicalized repertoire undermining women's capacity to act as rational decision-makers. However, no research to date has systematically analyzed how women's agency over their abortions features in anti-abortion rhetoric. In this discourse analysis of interviews with 15 anti-abortion supporters, I explore how psychological concepts are employed to indirectly undermine women's agency to abort. Participants construct the termination of a pregnancy as psychologically damaging when women's agency is evident (e.g., in abortions or rape pregnancy abortions). Also women's choice appears as enforced by society, victimizing them and removing accountability over it. However, unintentional termination (e.g., miscarriage) is constructed as "natural" and psychologically harmless due to the lack of agency. Overall, the pathologization of abortion through reference to psychological trauma stemming from the exercise of agency allows anti-abortionists to naturalize motherhood and oppose abortions in an "objective", depoliticized, non-restrictive, and pro-woman manner, without explicitly disregarding women's ability to choose or breaching Western norms of autonomy and freedom of choice.


In the presented study, ye'elimite-aluminate-calcium (YAC) cement was synthesized. Complete synthesis of crystalline phases was achieved at a temperature of 1300 °C, which is 150 °C lower than the temperature standardly used in the processes of obtaining calcium aluminate cements (CAC). The greatest amount of ye'elimite phase (Klein complex), roughly 87% by mass, was acquired utilizing a sulphur ion transporter derived from artificial dihydrate gypsum obtained in the flue gas desulphurization process (variation I). In the case of anhydrite, the amount of synthesized crystalline ye'elimite in the clinker was 67% by weight (variant II). Depending on the synthesis conditions in the clinkers, the quantity of obtained calcium aluminates (C12A7, CA, and CA2) ranged from 20 to 40% by weight. Studies on the hydration process of YAC cement samples showed that the main products are hydrated calcium aluminates and dodecahydrate calcium alumino-sulphate. In sinters of YAC and OPC, no crystalline ettringite was observed. Hydration analysis of Chinese cement revealed the presence of crystalline ettringite and dodecahydrate calcium alumino-sulphate, as well as hydrated calcium silicates of the CSH type accompanied with pseudo-crystalline Al(OH)3. The obtained clinkers from variants I and II constitute a special binder, which, due to its phase composition after hydration, can be used in the construction of reactors for biogas production in eco-energy applications.


Different primary lysosomal trafficking defects lead to common alterations in lipid trafficking, suggesting cooperative interactions among lysosomal lipids. However, cellular analysis of the functional consequences of this phenomenon is lacking. As a test case, we studied cells with defective Niemann‐Pick C1 (NPC1) protein, a cholesterol trafficking protein whose defect gives rise to lysosomal accumulation of cholesterol and other lipids, leading to NPC disease. NPC1 cells also develop a secondary defect in acid sphingomyelinase (SMase) activity despite a normal acid SMase gene (SMPD1). When acid SMase activity was restored to normal levels in NPC1‐deficient CHO cells through SMPD1 transfection, there was a dramatic reduction in lysosomal cholesterol. Two other defects, excess lysosomal bis‐(monoacylglycerol) phosphate (BMP) and defective transferrin receptor (TfR) recycling, were also markedly improved. To test its relevance in human cells, the acid SMase activity defect in fibroblasts from NPC1 patients was corrected by SMPD1 transfection or acid SMase enzyme replacement. Both treatments resulted in a dramatic reduction in lysosomal cholesterol. These data show that correcting one aspect of a complex lysosomal lipid storage disease can reduce the cellular consequences even if the primary genetic defect is not corrected.


The study explored the influence of type of school on fourth-year secondary school girls" selfperception of ability and achievement in Mathematics. The study sample comprised of 90 girls from one girls-only school and one coeducational school in Harare district, who were selected using stratified random sampling techniques. Girls" perception of their ability in mathematics was measured using a selfadministered questionnaire with both open- and closed-ended questions Mathematics achievement was assessed using document analysis of the two >schools" national examination results over an eleven year period.. The findings indicate that the self-perception of mathematical ability of girls in the single-sex school is higher than those in coeducational school. However, there is no significant difference in the achievement of ordinary level girls in mathematics attending either the single-sex or the co-educational school (x² = 0.4368 p < 0.05).


In Vietnam, energy consumption in building sector is accounted for a large portion of the country's total energy use. Vietnam is currently implementing policies to reduce building energy consumption. However, Vietnamese building construction market is actively accepting imported technologies from oversea countries due to their limitations of domestic technologies in Vietnam. While Korean stakeholders in building sector are currently focusing on localizing high-level passive technologies to the oversea countries for exporting them. And also it needs to be verified in the same environmental condition of oversea climates. This study utilizes KS L 9107 to analyze the cooling load reduction effect of building insulation package considering Vietnamese climate, through the experiment, SHGC of building insulation package by solar radiation was compared and analyzed. In addition, the energy saving performance of buildings in Vietnam's climate conditions was analyzed through simulation. The insulated walls with solar reflected paint have a greater effect on the reduction of thermal transmittance under the environmental condition simulated as Vietnamese daytime than when only thermal reflective insulation is applied. In case of windows, the energy reduction performance of film blinds and glass-attached films are compared. The results show the energy reduction effect of the window films compared to the none - applied film curtain wall windows is greatly increased. Lastly, building energy simulation is conducted by applying wall and window technology already verified, the results show a cooling energy saving in building unit is about 10% compared to the existing technology under the Vietnamese climate condition.


The main objective of this study is to ascertain the elements that lead to the adoption of internet banking. By examining customers' viewpoints, this research seeks to provide valuable insights into the fundamental determinants of this technological transition. A questionnaire survey was done among 398 banking customers in the Kathmandu Valley. The banking sector is currently experiencing a notable shift as a result of developments in telecommunications and information technology. These developments are facilitating transformative transformations through the introduction of novel distribution channels and the enhancement of banking value systems. These factors encompass the cost reduction, acceleration of service delivery, expansion of market reach, and enhancement of overall customer service quality. From a consumer's perspective, internet banking has the potential to reduce service prices and provide users with the ability to effortlessly manage their accounts at any time and from any location. The research findings have identified that security and trust as the most influential factors that lead customers' adoption towards internet banking, so bank managers should develop strategies to enhance overall service quality of internet banking services by delivering customized and quick financial services that help in meeting international standards with promising internet banking products and design.


Recombinant chimeric α-amylase (Ba-Gt-amy) has been produced extracellularly in Pichia pastoris under AOX promoter. Clones of P. pastoris with multiple gene copies have been generated by multiple transformations and post-transformational vector amplification, which led to 10.7-fold enhancement in α-amylase titre as compared to a clone with a copy of the gene. The recombinant P. pastoris integrated eight copies of Ba-Gt-amy in the genome of P. pastoris, as revealed by real time PCR data analysis. Heterologous protein expression as well as mRNA level of Ba-Gt-amy was higher in multi-copy clone than that with single copy. The pure Ba-Gt-amy expressed in P. pastoris is a glycoprotein of 75 kDa, which is optimally active at pH 4.0 and 60°C with T1/2 of 40 min at 70°C. The Kinetic parameters and end product analysis suggested that glycosylation has no effect on catalytic properties of Ba-Gt-amy. The enzyme saccharifies soluble as well as raw starches efficiently and generates maltose and maltooligosaccharides, thus, useful in baking and sugar syrup industries. The strategy for generating multi-copy clones is being reported for the first time, which could be useful in enhancing the production of other recombinant proteins.


1. We compared leaf-level carbon, nitrogen and water use for a deciduous (Larix occidentalis Nutt.) and sympatric evergreen (Pseudotsuga menziesii, Beissn., Franco, or Pinus contorta Engelm.) conifer along a resource availability gradient spanning the natural range of L. occidentalis in western Montana, USA.

2. We hypothesized that leaf photosynthesis (A), respiration (r), specific leaf area (SLA) and foliar nitrogen concentration (N) would be higher for deciduous than sympatric evergreen conifers in mixed stands, and that these interspecies differences would increase from high to low resource availability. We also hypothesized that leaf-level nitrogen and water-use efficiency would be higher for the co-occurring evergreen conifer than L. occidentalis.

3. In general, mass-based photosynthesis (Am) was significantly higher for L. occidentalis than co-occurring evergreen conifers in the drier sites, but Am was similar for evergreen and deciduous conifers at the mesic site.

4. Mass-based foliar nitrogen concentration (Nm) was positively correlated to SLA for all species combined across the gradient (R2 = 0·64), but the relationship was very weak (R2 = 0·08–0·34) for evergreen and deciduous species separately. Mass-based Am and rm were poorly correlated to Nm for all species combined across the gradient (R2 = 0·28 and 0·04, respectively).

5. For each site-species combination, daily maximum Am was negatively correlated to vapour pressure deficit (VPD) (R2 = 0·36–0·59), but was poorly correlated to twig predawn water potential (R2 < 0·04).

6. Instantaneous nitrogen-use efficiency (NUEi; Am divided by Nm) and water-use efficiency (δ13C) increased significantly (P = 0·05) from high to low resource availability for both evergreen and deciduous conifers, except for NUEi in L. occidentalis.


Human C5a is a plasma protein with potent chemoattractant and pro-inflammatory properties, and its overexpression correlates with severity of inflammatory diseases. C5a binds to its G protein-coupled receptor (C5aR) on polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) through a high-affinity helical bundle and a low-affinity C terminus, the latter being solely responsible for receptor activation. Potent and selective C5a antagonists are predicted to be effective anti-inflammatory drugs, but no pharmacophore for small molecule antagonists has yet been developed, and it would significantly aid drug design. We have hypothesized that a turn conformation is important for activity of the C terminus of C5a and herein report small cyclic peptides that are stable turn mimics with potent antagonism at C5aR on human PMNLs. A comparison of solution structures for the C terminus of C5a, small acyclic peptide ligands, and cyclic antagonists supports the importance of a turn for receptor binding. Competition between a cyclic antagonist and either C5a or an acyclic agonist for C5aR on PMNLs supports a common or overlapping binding site on the C5aR. Structure-activity relationships for 60 cyclic analogs were evaluated by competitive radioligand binding with C5a (affinity) and myeloperoxidase release (antagonist potency) from human PMNLs, with 20 compounds having high antagonist potencies (IC(50), 20 nM-1 microM). Computer modeling comparisons reveal that potent antagonists share a common cyclic backbone shape, with affinity-determining side chains of defined volume projecting from the cyclic scaffold. These results define a new pharmacophore for C5a antagonist development and advance our understanding of ligand recognition and receptor activation of this G protein-coupled receptor.


Acute kidney injury (AKI) is an ominous predictor of mortality in cardiogenic shock. The present review examines the pathophysiology of AKI in cardiogenic shock (CS), summarizes the pertinent literature including the diagnostic criteria/definitions for AKI and possible role of biomarkers, and identifies risk factors and possible therapeutic interventions for AKI in CS. Our review finds that AKI is common in patients with CS and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Urinary biomarkers of renal tubular injury appear more sensitive for detection of AKI but have yet to be incorporated into daily practice. Emerging data would suggest vasopressor choices, mechanical circulatory support, and renal replacement therapy may have important therapeutic roles in the management of CS.


During the course of chemotherapy, certain drugs are predominant in their bactericidal activities. Isoniazid is responsible for an initial kill of about 95% of organisms during the first 2 days of treatment. Its bactericidal role is then replaced by rifampicin and pyrazinamide during the intensive phase. In the continuation phase with an isoniazid/rifampicin regimen, rifampicin is the only effective drug against persisters, as shown by the similarity of response by patients with initially isoniazid-resistant or sensitive strains. If the continuation phase regimen does not contain rifampicin but does contain isoniazid, the dominant bactericidal drug is isoniazid. In this case, the response of patients with initial isoniazid resistance is appreciably less good than in those with sensitive organisms. The review suggests exploration in randomised control trials of a continuation phase of rifampicin (or rifapentine) alone. It also suggests the importance of the dose size of rifampicin and the need for exploring a higher dose. Finally, it emphasises the importance of finding drugs that act on persisting organisms that are phenotypically but not genetically resistant to rifampicin.


The winter North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) has varied on interannual and decadal timescales over the last century, associated with variations in the speed and latitude of the eddy‐driven jet stream. This paper uses hindcasts from two operational seasonal forecast systems (the European Centre for Medium‐range Weather Forecasts's seasonal forecast system, and the U.K. Met Office global seasonal forecast system) and a century‐long atmosphere‐only experiment (using the European Centre for Medium‐range Weather Forecasts's Integrated Forecasting System model) to relate seasonal prediction skill in the NAO to these aspects of jet variability. This shows that the NAO skill realized so far arises from interannual variations in the jet, largely associated with its latitude rather than speed. There likely remains further potential for predictability on longer, decadal timescales. In the small sample of models analyzed here, improved representation of the structure of jet variability does not translate to enhanced seasonal forecast skill.


Abstract Background Meningiomas of the anterior skull base are attractive tumors for resection via an endoscopic endonasal route. The use of the vascularized Hadad-Bassagasteguy nasoseptal flap has dramatically reduced the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak rate—the veritable Achilles heel of this surgical approach. Benign meningiomas, however, can erode through the nasal mucosa—the very same mucosa that is used to reconstruct the anterior cranial fossa floor. The goal of this study was to describe the presence of meningioma invasion into the mucosa in patients who underwent endoscopic endonasal resection of ventral skull base meningiomas. The implications of this finding are discussed with respect to resection, reconstruction, and recurrence. Patients, Materials, and Methods This is a retrospective review of three patients who underwent endoscopic endonasal complete resection of ventral skull base meningiomas. Surgically excised tissues were processed for routine histopathological analysis. Results A complete resection of the bone, dura, and tumor was performed in all three cases. Both patients with visual deficits improved. The first patient to undergo endoscopic surgical resection developed a CSF leak, but the later two patients with larger tumors did not. Histopathological analysis demonstrated mucosal invasion by World Health Organization (WHO) grade I meningioma in two of the three cases. Conclusion Ventral anterior skull base meningiomas can invade through bone into the mucosa. Because the endoscopic endonasal resection of these meningiomas often requires the use of a vascularized nasoseptal flap to minimize CSF leak complications, it is possible that the nasoseptal flap itself may be compromised by tumor tissue. The creation of the nasoseptal flap should take the findings of this study into consideration to minimize late recurrence.


Purpose of review To describe the state-of-the-art of the surgical management of stage IIIA-N2 nonsmall cell lung cancer. Recent findings When completely resected, occult N2 found at thoracotomy, skip metastases, and single-level N2 in selected locations are reported to portend acceptable survival rates. Conversely, preoperatively proven ipsilateral mediastinal nodal involvement requires a multidisciplinary approach on the basis of neoadjuvant chemotherapy or chemoradiation. In these patients, complete resection of the primary tumor remains among the strongest prognosticators of survival. When technically feasible, radical mediastinal lymphadenectomy could be of added value. Given the demonstrated increase in postoperative morbidity and mortality, pneumonectomy should be avoided when possible, whereas lobectomy and parenchymal sparing resections should be favored if compatible with the resection of the original extent of the primary on tumor-free margins. Summary Only selected patients with N2 disease may benefit from primary surgery. The impact of postoperative morbidity after induction treatment is still being evaluated. In this setting, differences in treatment sequence and combination (chemotherapy alone or chemoradiation) may influence postsurgical outcome. Patients' selection revolves around the modern concepts of oncologic operability and surgical resectability intended as assessment of survival benefit and ability to completely resect all residual tumor after neoadjuvant therapy.


In this paper, a MOS-driven energy efficient power allocation scheme (MEEPA) is proposed for video transmission over downlink orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) networks. In the proposed framework, system power consumption and MOS for users based on end-to-end video distortion have been jointly optimized. We also define a novel energy efficient utility as the unifying metric based on the MOS model and the system power consumption. The main objective is to maximize the energy efficiency by balancing the MOS and the power consumption for each user. The power allocation problem is solved by using constrained particle swarm optimization (CPSO). Moreover, simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can improve energy efficiency greatly in terms of lower power consumption with a comparable video quality performance compared with the traditional algorithm.


With Changchun's economic development, atmospheric particulate pollution has become a significant challenge in Changchun. The spatiotemporal patterns of particulate matter emissions are an inherent characteristic for particulate matter emissions. By using hourly PM (particulate matter) mass concentration measured at 10 atmospheric automatic monitoring stations and meteorological parameters, the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) and its relationship with meteorological parameters of Changchun have been analyzed. Pollution pathways and source distribution were investigated using HYSPLIT (Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory) model and cluster analysis. Results indicated that the quarterly average PM2.5 and PM10 mass concentrations in Changchun were higher in the first quarter and the fourth quarter. PM concentrations observed in all seasons generally exhibited two peaks, at 07:00–10:00 and 21:00–23:00, with the exception of PM10 in spring. PM pollution was concentrated mainly in the central, northern, and western areas of Changchun in most seasons, mainly due to anthropogenic activities and soil dust transported outside the region. PM concentrations were negatively correlated with relative humidity and temperature. PM2.5 concentrations were negatively correlated with wind speed, while PM10 concentrations were positively correlated with wind speed. The results of backward trajectory clustered showed that the northwest airflow had the greatest impact on PM of Changchun, except summer.


The purpose of this study was to find out the residents' consciousness of the unit plan on condominium apartment and to contribute to develop a condominium apartment unit plan in Daejeon City. This research was performed by a questionnaire survey method, 464 data was collected from apartment residents lived in about 85 m2 unit with 3 rooms and the apartments was limited to the complexes within 1-4 years of the length of building at Yuseong-gu and Seo-gu. By analyzing those data, findings are as follows: 1) Residents thought living room, kitchen and bathroom were importment space in a unit plan. They needed a storage function in an entrance and a intermediate room, and Anbang(mater bedroom) so did. 2) L-DK plan type was very popular and the type of front DK with L on the floor plan was preferred. This was unique results. 3) Sub-kitchen was needed for a refrigerator of Kimchi, the location of it was related to a main kitchen and a utility. the third room was needed for library, home office and storage space. 3) Bath-tub in An-bang and showe-booth in public bathroom was preferred. This was same to the popular trend of Korean condominium apartment. 4) The enlargment remodeling of balcony was showed livingroom balcony or personal bedrooms at the time of occupancy. They needed the balcony near a kitchen or an utility to equip a storage facility. Additionally, residents were preferred to their taste rather than a choice of interior concept package services.


Fluorescence of quinacrine in the presence of different polynucleotides was studied to attempt to identify the specific nucleotides responsible for the fluorescence of stained chromosome preparations. A marked enhancement of fluorescence was seen in the presence of bihelical polynucleotides, such as poly(dA-dT), poly(dA).poly(dT), and poly(rA).poly(rU), but not in the presence of single-stranded polynucleotides, such as poly(dA), poly(dT), poly(rA), or poly(rU) alone. The higher was the GC content of natural DNAs, the more they quenched. Quenching was also seen with poly(dG) or poly(rG) alone, but not with poly(dC) or poly(rC) alone. Native and denatured DNA were both effective in quenching fluorescence. Thus, a bihelical conformation is not required for fluorescence quenching. Nearly all of these properties are shared with proflavine. In contrast, acridine orange, which stains most areas of chromosome preparations, shows enhanced fluorescence in the presence of all members of a series of natural DNAs. These data suggest that base-pairs composed of AT (rather than GC) residues are responsible for the observed fluorescence of specific chromosome regions after treatment with quinacrine, and support the proposal of Ellison and Barr (Chromosoma, in press) that the highly localized quinacrine fluorescence in their cytological preparations reflects the presence of DNA that has a high (A + T)/(G + C) ratio.


Self-assembly of nanoparticles provides unique opportunities as nanoplatforms for controlled delivery. By exploiting the important role of noncovalent hydrophobic interactions in the engineering of stable assemblies, nanoassemblies were formed by the self-assembly of fluorinated quantum dots in aqueous medium through fluorine-fluorine interactions. These nanoassemblies encapsulated different enzymes (laccase and α-galactosidase) with encapsulation efficiencies of ≥74 %. Importantly, the encapsulated enzymes maintained their catalytic activity, following Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Under an acidic environment the nanoassemblies were slowly disassembled, thus allowing the release of encapsulated enzymes. The effective release of the assayed enzymes demonstrated the feasibility of this nanoplatform to be used in pH-mediated enzyme delivery. In addition, the as-synthesized nanoassemblies, having a diameter of about 50 nm, presented high colloidal stability and fluorescence emission, which make them a promising multifunctional nanoplatform.


ABSTRACT Artificial intelligence (AI) has been widely affecting our lives in many ways for the last ten years. Potential applications of AI are currently being used in many sectors. However, the usage of AI has been very limited in sports science compared to the other sectors. In this study, we developed an artificial neural network model to estimate the market values of the players in the Turkish Super Football League. While the market value was selected as an output, the input values were: minutes played; goals scored; xG: assists; xA; defensive duels won %; tackle success %; shots on target %; Short-middle pass accuracy %; long pass accuracy %; and accuracy of passes to penalty area. After creating a neural network based on the input-output values with high training, validation and testing statistical values, input values were computed with the neural network created and then the output values were estimated. In conclusion, an artificial neural network is becoming one of the important modeling methods in all areas of life. Although the application of artificial neural networks is very limited in sports science, it is one of the suitable science disciplines where there is a lot of statistical data. The methodology proposed in this paper can also be used for talent selection in football. Moreover, it may help stop criticism by TV sports programmes and newspapers because market value estimation is based on fair performance parameters. Further studies are strongly recommended, not only for football but also for other sports disciplines.


Recently, many novel and exotic phases have been proposed by considering the role of topology in non-Hermitian systems, and their emergent properties are of wide current interest. In this work we propose the non-Hermitian generalization of semi-Dirac semimetals, which feature a linear dispersion along one momentum direction and a quadratic one along the other. We study the topological phase transitions in such two-dimensional semi-Dirac semimetals in the presence of a particle gain-and-loss term. We show that such a non-Hermitian term creates exceptional points (EPs) originating out of each semi-Dirac point. We map out the topological phase diagram of our model, using winding number and vorticity as topological invariants of the system. By means of numerical and analytical calculations, we examine the nature of edge states for different types of semi-Dirac models and establish bulk-boundary correspondence and absence of the non-Hermitian skin effect, in one class. On the other hand, for other classes of semi-Dirac models with asymmetric hopping, we restore the non-Hermitian skin effect, an anomalous feature usually present in non-Hermitian topological systems.


Background and Objective: Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis M.) as a medicinal herb is practiced in wound healing. This study was carried out to assess the effect of Aloe vera gel (mucilage) on TGF-β gene expression in incisional skin wound in BALB/c mice. Method: In this experimental study, 36 BALB/c male mice with weight range 22±2 gr were allocated equally into negative control (no wound), sham-operated (wound treated with physiological serum) and teratment (wound treated with Aloe vera gel). Two equal full-thickness skin wounds of 10±2mm were made on either side of the vertebral column in the sacral region. The animals in the teratment group were received daily, 2 gram of Aloe vera gel (without any bandage) as a thin layer for a period of 16 days. On 8th and 16th post wounding day, TGF-β gene expression in incisional wounds and Malonyldialdehyde (as end-product of lipid peroxidation) in serum samples was measured using RT-PCR and spectrophotometry methods, respectively. Results: TGF-β gene expression in incisional skin wound increased in Aloe vera gel treated group in compared to negative control and sham-operated groups (P<0.05). Malonyldialdehyde concentration was significantly reduced in Aloe vera treated group in comparision with negative control and sham-operated groups. Conclusion: Aloe vera gel can induce growth factor TGF-β gene expression and reducing the lipid peroxidation content can play an important role in incisional skin wound healing process.


The big-data analysis of complex data associated with maize genomes accelerates genetic research and improves agronomic traits. As a result, efforts have increased to integrate diverse datasets and extract meaning from these measurements. Machine learning models are a powerful tool for gaining knowledge from large and complex datasets. However, these models must be trained on high-quality features to succeed. Currently, there are no solutions to host maize multi-omics datasets with end-to-end solutions for evaluating and linking features to target gene annotations. Our work presents the Maize Feature Store (MFS), a versatile application that combines features built on complex data to facilitate exploration, modeling and analysis. Feature stores allow researchers to rapidly deploy machine learning applications by managing and providing access to frequently used features. We populated the MFS for the maize reference genome with over 14 000 gene-based features based on published genomic, transcriptomic, epigenomic, variomic and proteomics datasets. Using the MFS, we created an accurate pan-genome classification model with an AUC-ROC score of 0.87. The MFS is publicly available through the maize genetics and genomics database. Database URL  https://mfs.maizegdb.org/.


The continued fraction method (CFM) is used to solve the Fokker-Planck equation with arbitrary dc and ac fields. With an appropriate choice of basis functions, the Fokker-Planck equation is converted into a set of linear algebraic equations with short-ranged coupling and then CFM is implemented to obtain numerical solutions with high efficiency. Both a proposed perturbative CFM and the numerically exact matrix CFM are used to study the nonlinear response of driven systems, with their results compared to assess the validity regime of the perturbative approach. The proposed perturbative CFM approach needs scalar quantities only and hence is more efficient within its validity regime. Two nonlinear systems of different nature are used as examples: molecular dipole (rotational Brownian motion) and particle in a periodic potential (translational Brownian motion). The associated full dynamics is presented in the compact form of hysteresis loops. It is observed that as the strength of an AC driving field increases, pronounced nonlinear effects are manifested in the deformation of the hysteresis loops.


Author(s): Gerhardt, MR; Wong, AA; Aziz, MJ | Abstract: © The Author(s) 2018. Published by ECS. We demonstrate the effect of varying the channel and land width dimensions of an interdigitated flow field experimentally and through computational modeling. Measured polarization curves (overpotential versus current density) are reported for a symmetric cell with a ferrocyanide-ferricyanide electrolyte in aqueous potassium chloride. A two-dimensional, coupled fluid dynamic and electrochemical model is developed to interpret polarization results from the symmetric cell. This model suggests that stagnant fluid zones above the center lines of the interdigitated channels negatively impact cell performance. A three-dimensional computational fluid dynamic model is used to calculate the pressure drop and power losses associated with flowing fluid through these flow fields. The voltage efficiency of the cell, corrected for pumping power losses, is evaluated and reported as a function of channel and land width to identify high-efficiency flow fields. The implications for the engineering of large-area flow fields are discussed.


A laboratory study of the aggressive behaviour of the vole (Microtus agrestis) has been made as part of an investigation of the consequences of CHITTY's hypothesis concerning the cause of vole population cycles. Adult male voles will attack other voles, whether male or female. Some males are more successful in fights than others and they come to be the dominants of the groups to which they belong. Females in advanced pregnancy or those nursing a litter will attack any animals which come near the nest, including dominants that had formerly chased them. Before a male attacks another vole he may move in a jerky fashion through the cage. The jerky movements possibly indicate conflict between aggression and flight. Or an aggressively motivated male may stay in one small area of a cage with his body hunched and with hair erected. While staying at the same spot his legs may make walking movements (marking time), he may turn round on the spot (waltzing), or still retaining the hunched posture and erected hair, he may travel with frequent changes of direction and with short, rapid, leg movements through part of the cage (dancing). This behaviour seems also to indicate activation of both the aggressive and the flight drives, the walking movements being part of the appetitive behaviour of both drives. Waltzing and the frequent changes in direction of movement in dancing, can be regarded as representing the taxis component of attack (moving towards an opponent) and of escape (moving away from an opponent). If an aggressive vole succeeds in catching a subordinate, he may settle upon him and inflict severe wounds. However, a subordinate, before being caught, may retaliate by turning and facing the pursuer. The subordinate then lunges with his incisors bared at the oncoming aggressive animal, or, squatting on his hindquarters, squeals loudly each time the aggressive animal comes near. The retaliation of a subordinate often causes a dominant to retire. Occasionally a subordinate vole that is being chased stops suddenly with his tail erected sharply. The dominant may still be quite near, yet there will not be an attack. This posture of the subordinate may subserve appeasement, as may also the supine posture sometimes assumed by subordinates immediately in front of dominants. When a dominant retires from a retaliating subordinate, he may go to another part of the cage and dig in the sawdust with his fore and hindlegs. This behaviour seems to be a displacement activity, the digging being autochthonously employed in food seeking, tunnel construction and defaecation or urination. The displacement digging is probably caused by the activation of the flight drive in an animal whose aggressive drive is highly activated. Following such digging activity, the dominant animal may re-approach the subordinate inducing it to flee, or the subordinate's repeated retaliation may once more cause the dominant to retire and to do some further displacement digging. In between the successive approaches of an aggressive dominant to a retaliating subordinate, the subordinate may briefly brush its nose with its fore paws. This also seems to be a displacement activity, autochthonously forming part of toileting. Displacement toilet can be interpreted as being caused by slight activation of the aggressive drive of an animal whose flight drive is highly activated.


The definitive master class in performance tuning Java applicationsif you love all the gory details, this is the book for you. James Gosling, creator of the Java Programming Language Improvements in the Java platform and new multicore/multiprocessor hardware have made it possible to dramatically improve the performance and scalability of Java software. Java Performance covers the latest Oracle and third-party tools for monitoring and measuring performance on a wide variety of hardware architectures and operating systems. The authors present dozens of tips and tricks youll find nowhere else. Youll learn how to construct experiments that identify opportunities for optimization, interpret the results, and take effective action. Youll also find powerful insights into microbenchmarkingincluding how to avoid common mistakes that can mislead you into writing poorly performing software. Then, building on this foundation, youll walk through optimizing the Java HotSpot VM, standard and multitiered applications; Web applications, and more. Coverage includes Taking a proactive approach to meeting application performance and scalability goals Monitoring Java performance at the OS level in Windows, Linux, and Oracle Solaris environmentsUsing modern Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and OS observability tools to profile running systems, with almost no performance penaltyGaining under the hood knowledge of the Java HotSpot VM that can help you address most Java performance issues Integrating JVM-level and application monitoringMastering Java method and heap (memory) profilingTuning the Java HotSpot VM for startup, memory footprint, response time, and latencyDetermining when Java applications require rework to meet performance goalsSystematically profiling and tuning performance in both Java SE and Java EE applicationsOptimizing the performance of the Java HotSpot VM Using this book, you can squeeze maximum performance and value from all your Java applicationsno matter how complex they are, what platforms theyre running on, or how long youve been running them.


The programmable assembly of functional nanomaterials has been extensively addressed; however, their selective reversible assembly in response to an external stimulus has been more difficult to realize. The specificity and programmable interactions of DNA have been exploited for the rational self-assembly of DNA-conjugated nanoparticles, and here we demonstrate the sequence-controlled disaggregation of DNA-modified gold nanoparticles simply by employing two complementary oligonucleotides. Target oligonucleotides with perfectly matching sequence enabled dissociation of aggregated nanoparticles, whereas oligonucleotides differing by one nucleotide did not cause disassembly of the aggregated nanoparticles. Physical aspects of this process were characterized by UV-vis absorption, light scattering, and transmission electron microscopy. This strategy for programmed disassembly of gold nanoparticles in response to biological stimuli demonstrates a fundamentally important concept anticipated to be useful for diverse applications involving molecular recognition.


Utilization of different agricultural waste for production of different species of mushroom could be more economically and ecologically practical to meet the nutritional and health  needs of ever increasing world population. Mushrooms are grown on a great variety of substrates and the  choice of substrate depends on availability and cost.  This is on the background that momentous variation on  biological efficiency, mushroom nutritive content and  yield on different substrate weight have been reported worldwide. This discussion attempt to explore the influence of  substrate on mushroom  productivity parameters. The use of additives to imrove biological efficiency is   highlighted as means of  increasing mushroom production. The influence of substrate type and weight have been  assessed on  mushroom yield to ascertain the exact weight for optimal weight of  production. In certain cases mushroom yield have increased with  increased  in substrate type and  weight. Different biological efficiency have been associated with different substrates supplemented with different additives resulting into specific  nutritional composition of the product. It is reasonably to suggest that in order to be able to adequately address  issues related to mushroom productivity,  there is need for  thorough assessment of  the effects of different substrates on mushroom yields. Thus, interventions that seek to improve mushroom production need to consider the trade-offs inherent in  availability and suitability of substrates in mushroom cultivation.


Objectives Identify barriers and facilitators to integrating community tuberculosis screening with mobile X-ray units into a health system. Methods Reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation and maintenance evaluation. Setting 3-district region of Lima, Peru. Participants 63 899 people attended the mobile units from 7 February 2019 to 6 February 2020. Interventions Participants were screened by chest radiography, which was scored for abnormality by computer-aided detection. People with abnormal X-rays were evaluated clinically and by GeneXpert MTB/RIF (Xpert) sputum testing. People diagnosed with tuberculosis at the mobile unit were accompanied to health facilities for treatment initiation. Primary and secondary outcome measures Reach was defined as the percentage of the population of the three-district region that attended the mobile units. Effectiveness was defined as the change in tuberculosis case notifications over a historical baseline. Key implementation fidelity indicators were the percentages of people who had chest radiography performed, were evaluated clinically, had sputum samples collected, had valid Xpert results and initiated treatment. Results The intervention reached 6% of the target population and was associated with an 11% (95% CI 6 to 16) increase in quarterly case notifications, adjusting for the increasing trend in notifications over the previous 3 years. Implementation indicators for screening, sputum collection and Xpert testing procedures all exceeded 85%. Only 82% of people diagnosed with tuberculosis at the mobile units received treatment; people with negative or trace Xpert results were less likely to receive treatment. Suboptimal treatment initiation was driven by health facility doctors' lack of familiarity with Xpert and lack of confidence in diagnoses made at the mobile unit. Conclusion Mobile X-ray units were a feasible and effective strategy to extend tuberculosis diagnostic services into communities and improve early case detection. Effective deployment however requires advance coordination among stakeholders and targeted provider training to ensure that people diagnosed with tuberculosis by new modalities receive prompt treatment.


Aim: The aim of this study is to ascertain the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in diabetic patients across the nation and attempt to establish history-based risk factors. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study of diabetic patients was conducted as an initiative of the All India Ophthalmological Society from 14th November to 21st November 2014. Known diabetics were evaluated voluntarily by members of the society at 194 centers using a structured protocol provided by the society for examination. The results were evaluated to ascertain the prevalence of DR in the population studied and to establish relation with gender, age, and history-based risk factors such as duration of diabetes, insulin use, and other end-organ disease using the Chi-square test. Results: A total of 6218 known diabetics were screened. Totally, 5130 data entry forms were considered suitable for further evaluation. About 61.2% were males, 88.6% were between 40 and 80 years of age, almost two-thirds of the patients were from the west and south zones, and over half had diabetes more than 5 years. The data set was predominantly urban 84.7% and 46.1% had no family history. DR prevalence in the entire data set was 21.7%. Prevalence was more in males (P = 0.007), diabetics more than 5 years (P = 0.001), those above 40 years (P = 0.01), insulin users (P = 0.001), and history of vascular accidents (P = 0.0014). Significantly 22.18% of patients detected with DR had a vision of 6/18 or better in the worse eye. Conclusion: The study reiterated the findings of earlier regional studies on a pan Indian scale and put data in perspective.


ABSTRACT Responding to current and future climate change demands urgent, transformative adaptation, yet in many policy systems inaction continues to prevail. This paper examines apparent resistance to policy change and the persistence of business-as-usual through a 'lock-in perspective', which means that attention is paid to how reinforcing mechanisms drive stabilisation and resistance in policy systems. Offering a fresh synthesis of known lock-in mechanisms in the literature, this paper explores the role of those mechanisms in two empirical cases of coastal adaptation: England (U.K.) and Schleswig-Holstein (Germany). While several known lock-mechanisms are observable, some are newly identified in this adaptation context. We offer a critical reflection on the added value of the lock-in perspective for understanding policy stability. In turn, the identification of self- and mutually reinforcing mechanisms provides a much-needed foundation for targeted policy interventions and efforts to 'unlock' climate adaptation pathways.


The aim of this study was to determine chemical composition, in vitro organic matter digestibility and energy contents of H. microcarpum silage. H. microcarpum was harvested at growing stage. Forage was chopped and divided into trial two groups for the control and 5% molasses. H. microcarpum ensiled in special 1.0 liter anaerobic jars. Chemical and in vitro cellulase method were conducted on the silage which was opened on the 60th day of storage. According to the analysis of the control, 5% mollases treatments, dry matter reached 18.97%, 23.41% and metabolisable energy reached 7.65, 9.81 MJ/kg KM; while organic matter digestibility was 55.50% and 72.35%, respectively. In conclusion, addition of molasses can increase dry matter content and organic matter digestibility of canola silage.


Graptolite species have long been considered to have been world-wide in occurrence. Consideration of interregional correlation has revealed that 3 faunal regions may be recognized for the Lower and in the early part of the Middle Ordovician. Camaroids, tuboids, stolonoids, and many dendroids were benthonic, encrusting shells or other firm objects, or attached to the bottom. Graptoloids were planktonic and lived in the surface layers of the water; many floated at some depth beneath the surface. The latter types were not so widely dispersed as the former. Many geographically widespread species had visible float structures, whereas those without such structures were limited in their geographic range. Graptolites are not restricted in general to black shales or to fine-grained or quiet-water deposits. They do occur in many sedimentary rock types and in those that formed under turbulent as well as quiet conditions. Graptolites are not restricted to eugeosynclinal deposits. Many well-preserved specimens and the most nearly complete successions of assemblages are known from miogeosynelinal deposits. A broader knowledge of graptolite occurrence should lead to a better understanding of their mode of life and their usefulness for correlation.


A new RC active network synthesis procedure for realizing a given open-circuit voltage transfer function is presented. The interconnection of an ideal voltage amplifier of gain greater than unity and two RC sub-networks in a grounded 2-port configuration is considered for this purpose. It is shown that a general rational transfer function of any order can be realized by such a configuration, provided the transfer function does not have zeros on the positive real axis of the s plane. The method compares favourably with other active RC synthesis procedures using a single finite-gain amplifier.


Using first-principles density-functional calculations, we investigated two competing pathways for the dissociation of water and ammonia on a Si(001) surface. For both systems, we found that, in addition to the conventionally accepted intradimer transfer of the H atom, the interdimer transfer of the H atom can be equally probable with the same reaction mechanism. Our analysis shows that the two dissociation pathways occur through the Lewis acid-base reaction between the partially positive H ion and the electron-abundant up atom of the buckled Si dimer. The result of the interdimer H transfer not only supports a recently proposed model for C-defect on Si(001) but also corresponds to the recent scanning tunneling microscopy data of ammonia dissociation on Si(001).


Abstract : LONG-TERM GOALS. Much effort has gone on in the hydrodynamic modeling community to build oceanic models of the littoral region. The spectral shoaling wave SWAN model, the phase-preserving shoaling wave Boussinesq models, and the DELFT3D flow model are all examples of such development. All of these require a description of the local environment as input in order to be able to run the models and generate either a more complete description of the current environment, or a prediction of future conditions. In order to make these models useful to the operational Navy, there must be some way to generate the required model inputs in locations where the local environment has not been completely characterized, if at all. Remote sensing data provides an intriguing possibility to generate these inputs, allowing the Navy to utilize these models anywhere that the remote sensing data is available. However, directly estimating the required input values from remote sensing data can be very difficult if not impossible. Another possibility is to assimilate the remote sensing data into the model. Figure 1 illustrates what such assimilation means (green arrows), and compares it to directly estimating the required environmental information (red arrows). Remote sensing assimilation requires that we have an image simulation capability that can take the model outputs and use them to generate a simulated remote sensing data set. The assimilation process then derives the model inputs such that the simulated remote sensing data set has the closest possible match to the actual remote sensing data set.


: Handwritten signatures are widely utilized as a form of personal recognition. However, they have the unfortunate shortcoming of being easily abused by those who would fake the identification or intent of an individual which might be very harmful. Therefore, the need for an automatic signature recognition system is crucial. In this paper, a signature recognition approach based on a probabilistic neural network (PNN) and wavelet transform average framing entropy (AFE) is proposed. The system was tested with a wavelet packet (WP) entropy denoted as a WP entropy neural network system (WPENN) and with a discrete wavelet transform (DWT) entropy denoted as a DWT entropy neural network system (DWENN). Our investigation was conducted over several wavelet families and different entropy types. Identification tasks, as well as verification tasks, were investigated for a comprehensive signature system study. Several other methods used in the literature were considered for comparison. Two databases were used for algorithm testing. The best recognition rate result was achieved by WPENN whereby the threshold entropy reached 92%.


Various applications in the field of terahertz technology are in urgent need of compact, wide-tunable solid-state continuous wave radiation sources with a moderate power. However, satisfactory solutions for the THz frequency range are scarce yet. Here we report on coherent radiation from a large planar array of Josephson junctions (JJs) in the frequency range between 0.1 and 0.3 THz. The external resonator providing the synchronization of JJ array is identified as a straight fragment of a single-strip-line containing the junctions themselves. We demonstrate a prototype of the quasioptical heterodyne receiver with the JJ array as a local oscillator and a hot-electron bolometer mixer.


In this paper, we use a methodology of listening and identifying word-by-word in order to define 'burst', which enables users to identify if they are satisfied with their experiences in a short burst period which could be less than 1 second. Investigating the relationship between PESQ MOS and the gap ratio that can be easily obtained from the burst measurement, we derive the charging ratio that can be used as the proportion of quality-based prices to 'delivered packet amount'-based prices. The charging ratio model can be used as a key component of quality-based VoIP charging mechanism.


This note deals with the one-dimensional facility location model in which the weights, which can represent either demand volumes or demands and costs combined, are known only probabilistically. The demand points themselves, or at least the "feeder" routes to the demand points, for the facility are located on a straight line which represents a road or some other transportation route. It is assumed that the weights of the demand points have a multivariate normal distribution. The probability of the facility being optimally located at any point on the route is derived; it is shown that only the demand points have non-zero probabilities. In addition, the expected value of perfect information EVPI is found. In this problem, the EVPI is the expected difference in costs between the actual best location and the optimum location obtained by using expected weights. The EVPI, therefore, is the maximum amount the decision maker should pay for information about weights if expected values are acceptable as a decision criterion.


Abstract 1520 Purpose: Older patients are likely to have more comorbidities or a poor clinical condition. Deciding which older acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients would benefit from intensive chemotherapy, especially in most patients ≥70 years of age is not clear. We conducted a phase 2 study exploring the feasibility, safety, and biologic activity in vitro of combination of decitabine, low-dose cytarabine and aclarubicin with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) priming for the induction chemotherapy of older patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and AML. Patients and Methods: Fifty consecutive patients (median age 65 years, range 60 to 80 years, 15 of age ≥70 years) with MDS (n= 15) or AML (n= 35) were enrolled. Cytogenetic analysis was performed in all the patients, showing 3 patients have inadequate mitotic cells. According to WHO, only 15 patients had MDS, and 35 AML (22 de novo, 11 AML/MDS, 2 AML/MDS therapy-related). Ten patients (71.4%) had low-risk cytogenetics according to IPSS. Two patients (14.3%) had intermediate-risk and 2 (14.3%) had high-risk cytogenetics. According to the Grimwade definition for AML, none of patients had favorable cytogenetics, 31(91.2%) had intermediate-risk karyotypes and 3 patients (8.8%) had adverse cytogenetics. All patients were treated with low-dose decitabine 15 mg/m2 intravenously for 5 consecutive days (d1–5) in combination with cytarabine 10 mg/m2 q12h for 7 days (d3–9) and aclarubicin 10mg every day for 4 days (d3–6) and G-CSF 300 μg every day (d 0–9) priming (D-CAG). G-CSF was withdrawn when the white blood cell count (WBC) >20×109/L. Hydroxyurea was given until WBC was Results: The combination of DAC, cytarabine and aclarubicin showed synergistic induction of cell death in HL60 cell lines. A degree of combination effect was observed at point that decitabine was administered before cytarabine and aclarubicin, which was maximal at 48h before cytarabine and aclarubicin. In older patients, of the 48 patients evaluable for response, the overall response rate (ORR) was 42/48 (87.5%), complete remission (CR) 77.1% (n=37) after one cycle. Two patients were not evaluable for response because of early death. Five patients with partial remission (PR) or non-response received second cycle of induction therapy and four attained CR. ORR in 30 patients with normal karyotype was 90%, CR 73.3% after first cycle, and 90% after second cycles. Eleven of the 13 patients with aberrant chromosome achieved a CR. Patients with cytogenetic alterations, excluding −5/-7, had an CR of 88.9%. After first cycle, in the 11 evaluable patients with aberrant chromosome, 9 patients achieved CR, including −5/-7, were as always accompanied by CR as assessed by conventional cytogenetics. All patients completed the treatment and there was no induction mortality. The 4-week death rate was 5.7% (2 patients). Grade 4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia was universal. Median duration of granulocyte recovery (0.5×109/L) was 12 days (0–40), and that of platelet recovery (x109/L) was 11 days (0–40).10 days and there were no thrombotic complications including one patient with atrial fibrillation. The most common toxicities were myelosuppression, febrile neutropenia. With a median follow-up of 34.2 weeks (range, 8–116 weeks), median overall survival (OS) for the whole group was 34.2 weeks (range, 8–116 weeks), and event free survival (EFS) was 30 weeks (range, 8.6 to 107 weeks). EFS was poorer in patients with −5/-7 cytogenetic. There was no different survival in the patients aged 60 to 69 years versus the group aged ≥70 years (p=0.283). OS for responders is significantly longer than that of nonresponders (p=0.000). Conclusion: The study suggests D-CAG improved outcomes in older patients with untreated/relapsed AML, MDS and was well tolerated. The response rate was not adversely influenced by poor-risk cytogenetics or MDS and was associated with low induction mortality and high rates of CR Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


In the thesis the content of zinc of thirteen dishes obtained
in Military University of Ground Forces in Vyskov was defined
by means of the chemical analysis and theoretical calculation.
According to the chemical analysis, the biggest amount of zinc
was proven in the following dishes: roast chicken with rice and
cucumber salad, while the smallest amount of zinc contained
fried cauliflower, chips and tatar sauce. Having compared the
results of the chemical analysis and of the theoretical
calculation, we realized that it is not possible to compare
these two methods because their results differ. Based on theory
that midday meal presents 50% of recommended day intake of all
nutrients and minerals, it should be the optimum intake of zinc
for adult person in ordinary food configuration 6 – 7,5 mg.
These requirements subserve only the dish "Fried cheese,
potatoes dumplings, tartar sauce". According to the chemical
analysis results, the largest amount of zinc was found in the
dishes including roast chicken with rice and cucumber salad (it
was 32 mg), while the smallest amount of zinc contained fried
cauliflower, chips and tatar sauce (1,7 mg). The chemical
analysis results are not possible to replace by theoretical
calculations because they do not respond to each other.


Developing stress tolerant crops to cope with the rapid environmental degradation that is occurring is an absolute requirement in order to provide enough food for growing population. One of the basic genetic engineering approaches currently being used to improve crop stress tolerance is generation of transgenic plants by introducing novel genes into the genome of agriculturally important crops or altering the expression of existing genes. Understanding stress response signaling pathways is the prime requirement to manipulate stress tolerance of crop plants by this approach. SFR6 (SENSITIVE TO FREEZING6) is one of plant mediator protein which has identified first with its involvement to tolerance against freezing in Arabidopsis. The freezing sensitivity of SFR6 mutant is lack of expression of downstream genes in CBF cold response pathway. SFR6 also mediates tolerance to osmotic stress induced by drought and salinity. However, the over expression of SFR6 in wild type Arabidopsis did not increase COR (Cold on regulated) gene expression under ambient temperature. Therefore, the effect of SFR6 on cold gene expression was further characterized in this study. Results showed that over expression of SFR6 did not alter CBF1 expression levels under ambient temperature as well as COR gene expression under cold and osmotic stress indicating SFR6 alone cannot use as a molecular tool to improve stress tolerance of crop plants. Further over expression of both SFR6 and CBF1 also did not have additive effect on COR gene expression. Therefore, further studies of the mechanism of SFR6 on COR gene regulation need to be conducted to evaluate the potential of use of SFR6 as a molecular tool to increase stress tolerance of crop plants.


The main focus of the paper is the corporate performance measurement. At present, it is necessary to monitor this corporate performance and mostly try to improve it, because it could be very crucial competitive advantage in the market. The article provides an overview of key performance indicators (KPIs) in the companies. Based on the theoretical data there are applied statistical methods, which should be achieved of main aim of the paper. The main aim of the paper is to describe which groups of Key Performance Indicators are connected with corporate performance system of measurement in the area of Information and Communication Activities. To support this approach theoretical information from the area of Key Performance Indicators connected with data from primary research were used, focused on the performance evaluation of enterprises.Successful companies are aware of the need for long-term strategic development, which is based on teamwork, respect of external environment and all subjects, which influence the business activities of the company directly or indirectly. It can be more effective to conceptualize relationship complete than limit to only consumer market and customer relations. Marketing moves more and more away from individual transaction orientation and rather focus on value creating relations, where the objective is to provide long- term stakeholder value. Day after day the company gets in touch with different groups of stakeholders, that influence the corporate development and it can not to access to these interest groups individually for reason of corporate limits. It is therefore necessary to define homogenous stakeholders groups, which are differ from each other in terms of their impact on business management. The authors of article put the question, which classification is the most statistical explaining the difference of stakeholders in term of evaluation their impact on business management. It was made cluster analysis for data mining including its graphic presentation through dendogram by statistical software IBM SPSS Statistics 20 to obtain relevant answer.


The amount of data in the CMS inner tracker system at the LHC interaction rate is so large that it cannot be read out at each bunch crossing. A pipeline memory is then needed to store the data at the front–end level until a Level 1 Trigger accept signal marks the interesting data which will then be read out. Due to the random arrival of triggers with a maximum average rate of 100kHz a queue may develop in the pipeline which in the end can become full and cause errors. Some triggers must then be vetoed. In the present version of the chip to be used in the Tracker read–out, the APV6, the memory (storage, marking of interesting data, read–out and clearing) is governed by a very complex embedded logic: precise predictions concerning the inefficiency due to vetoing the triggers can be done only by means of computer simulation. This document is mainly intended to give an extensive description of the logic and to present the results obtained by running an updated version of the simulation. A further generation of the chip, the APV25 (based on silicon submicron technology) is under development: its digital logic will be simplified with respect to the APV6. Results on the efficiency expected from the APV25 are also shown.


GW170817 began gravitational-wave multimessenger astronomy. However, GW170817 will not be representative of detections in the coming years because typical gravitational-wave sources will be closer the detection horizon, have larger localization regions, and (when present) will have correspondingly weaker electromagnetic emission. In its design state, the gravitational-wave detector network in the mid-2020s will consist of up to five similar-sensitivity second-generation interferometers. The instantaneous sky-coverage by the full network is nearly isotropic, in contrast to the configuration during the first three observing runs. Along with the coverage of the sky, there are also commensurate increases in the average horizon for a given binary mass. We present a realistic set of localizations for binary neutron stars and neutron star–black hole binaries, incorporating intra-network duty cycles and selection effects on the astrophysical distributions. Based on the assumption of an 80% duty cycle, and that two instruments observe a signal above the detection threshold, we anticipate a median of 28 sq. deg. for binary neutron stars, and 50–120 sq. deg. for neutron star–black hole (depending on the population assumed). These distributions have a wide spread, and the best localizations, even for networks with fewer instruments, will have localizations of 1–10 sq. deg. range. The full five instrument network reduces localization regions to a few tens of degrees at worst.


OBJECTIVE:The aim of the study was to examine the effect of external pressure of the bed surface on heel skin temperature in adults in the first 3 days after hip surgery. DESIGN:A quasi-experimental study in a prospective, within-subjects, repeated-measures design. SETTING:This study was performed at 2 acute-care hospitals. PARTICIPANTS:Eighteen subjects (9 men and 9 women) with a mean age of 58.3 (±16.1) years were recruited after hip surgery at the 2 hospitals. METHODS:Temperature sensors were placed on the plantar surface of each foot, close to the heels. Measures were taken when the heels were (1) suspended above the bed surface for 20 minutes (preload), (2) on the bed surface for 15 minutes (loading), and (3) suspended again above the bed surface for 15 minutes (unloading). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Heel skin temperature and demographic data. RESULTS:Heel temperature increased during loading and unloading in both legs on postoperative days 1 (P = .003) and 3 (P = .04) but not on postoperative day 2. Heel temperature in the nonoperative leg decreased in the first 3 minutes of unloading on postoperative days 2 (P = .02) and 3 (P .01). CONCLUSION:Heel temperature increased with loading and unloading on postoperative days 1 and 3. Upon immediate unloading, hyperemic response was present only in the nonoperative leg. Keeping the heels off the bed surface at all times may avoid heel skin temperature changes and prevent tissue damage. Further research is needed to identify the mechanisms that explain the effect of external pressure on heel temperature.


The Post-Fordist welfare state thesis locates contemporary social welfare change within a wider analysis of the transformation of capitalist accumulation regimes. Whilst this analysis is useful in directing attention to macro socio-economic change, it has for the most part contained three shortcomings. First, the Post-Fordist thesis has overemphasized the role of historical 'breaks' in the development of social welfare as it purportedly passes from Fordism to Post-Fordism. Second, the thesis has assumed a degree of convergence between welfare states as a result of global economic forces. In doing so, it has underemphasized the mediating impact of existing institutional arrangements within nations. Third, the thesis has assumed, rather than demonstrated, the specific changes which are alleged to be taking place in various fields of social welfare. As a consequence, aspects of continuity in social welfare have been neglected. These three lacunae are addressed through a comparative analysis of developments in the personal social services in Australia and Britain. Services to older people are employed as the specific context of comparison in relation to three dimensions of measuring transformation along a Post-Fordist trajectory: a shift from a unitary economy to a mixed economy of service provision; changes in the model of service delivery and consumption; and strengthening the governance function of the central state. This comparative analysis suggests the need for refinement of the Post-Fordist welfare state thesis concerning the restructuring of social welfare and its impact on the personal social services.


This investigation evaluated the relationship between smoking status and body fatness, dietary intake, and physical activity in adults. Subjects were 210 males who were either regular cigarette smokers (n = 35) or nonsmokers (n = 175). Estimated body fat and waist-to-hip (girth) measurements were carefully obtained. Additionally, a sensitive assessment of long-term dietary intake and a multifactorial approach to the assessment of physical activity were made. Results indicated that smokers had lower estimated body fat as calculated by multiple skinfold thickness assessments. In contrast, smokers reported the same total energy intakes as nonsmokers and their levels of physical activity were significantly lower than those of nonsmokers. The differences in intake and expenditure in smokers and the role of metabolism as a possible determinant of the body fat differences in smokers vs nonsmokers are discussed.


Macrophages are the principal innate immune cells that populate all major organs and provide the first line of cellular defense against infections and/or injuries. The immediate and early‐responding macrophages must mount a robust pro‐inflammatory response to protect the host by eliminating deleterious agents. The effective pro‐inflammatory macrophage response requires the activation of complex transcriptional programs that modulate the dynamic regulation of inflammatory and metabolic gene expression. Therefore, transcription factors that govern pro‐inflammatory and metabolic gene expression play an essential role in shaping the macrophage inflammatory response. Herein, we identify the basic helix‐loop‐helix family member e40 (BHLHE40), as a critical transcription factor that promotes broad pro‐inflammatory and glycolytic gene expression by elevating HIF1α levels in macrophages. Our in vivo studies revealed that myeloid‐BHLHE40 deficiency significantly attenuates macrophage and neutrophil recruitment to the site of inflammation. Our integrated transcriptomics and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) studies show that BHLHE40 deficiency broadly curtails inflammatory signaling pathways, hypoxia response, and glycolytic gene expression in macrophages. Utilizing complementary gain‐ and loss‐of‐function studies, our analyses uncovered that BHLHE40 promotes LPS‐induced HIF1α mRNA and protein expression in macrophages. More importantly, forced overexpression of oxygen stable form of HIF1α completely reversed attenuated pro‐inflammatory and glycolytic gene expression in BHLHE40‐deficient macrophages. Collectively, these results demonstrate that BHLHE40 promotes macrophage pro‐inflammatory gene expression and functions by elevating HIF1α expression in macrophages.


In experimental investigations on male-mice Balb/c studied morphological changes in lungs, myocardium, liver, kidney, thymus and lymphatic glands after splenectomy at 30 th and 60 th day. Morphology facts showed about infection and inflammatory process, that originated by secondary immunodeficit status in remote period after splenectomy.


Department of Food Engineering, Dankook UniversityAbstract To quantitatively evaluate the total phenolics, total flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity in the leaves, bulbs, androots of fresh Allium hookeri, they were extracted using various solvents including water, aqueous methanol (20, 40, 60,and 80%; v/v), and absolute methanol. The leaves had the highest levels of total phenolics (240.4-276.6 mg gallic acidequivalents/100 g) and total flavonoids (9.7-34.1 mg catechin equivalents/100 g). The highest antioxidant capacities of 78.7-103.4 mg vitamin C equivalents (VCE)/100 g, 24.4-59.0 mg VCE/100 g, and 1,798.8-2,169.7 mg VCE/100 g in the leaveswere also observed using 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH), and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assays, respectively. The total phenolics had a higher linearcorrelation with antioxidant capacity than the total flavonoids. In general, 60% (v/v) aqueous methanol extract had higherlevels of total phenolics and flavonoids, and higher antioxidant capacity than any other solvents used. This study suggestedthat A. hookeri might be a good source of phenolics and antioxidants.Keywords: ABTS, DPPH, ORAC, solvent polarity, vitamin C equivalent antioxidant capacity


Hyper-adaptability is an ability of humans and animals to adapt to large-scale changes in the nervous system or the musculoskeletal system, such as strokes and spinal cord injuries. Although this adaptation may involve similar neural processes with normal adaptation to usual environmental and body changes in daily lives, it can be fundamentally different because it requires 'construction' of the neural structure itself and 'reconstitution' of sensorimotor control rules to compensate for the changes in the nervous system. In this survey paper, we aimed to provide an overview on how the brain structure changes after brain injury and recovers through rehabilitation. Next, we demonstrated the recent approaches used to apply computational and neural network modeling to recapitulate motor control and motor learning processes. Finally, we discussed future directions to bridge the gap between conventional physiological and modeling approaches to understand the neural and computational mechanisms of hyper-adaptability and its applications to clinical rehabilitation. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT


At the current technology level, a human examiner's review must be accompanied to compensate for the insufficient commercial artificial intelligence (AI) performance. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the human examiner's expertise on the efficacy of AI analysis, including time-saving and error reduction. Eighty-four pretreatment cephalograms were randomly selected for this study. First, human examiners (one beginner and two regular examiners) manually detected 15 cephalometric landmarks and measured the required time. Subsequently, commercial AI services automatically identified these landmarks. Finally, the human examiners reviewed the AI landmark determination and adjusted them as needed while measuring the time required for the review process. Then, the elapsed time was compared statistically. Systematic and random errors among examiners (human examiners, AI and their combinations) were assessed using the Bland-Altman analysis. Intraclass correlation coefficients were used to estimate the inter-examiner reliability. No clinically significant time difference was observed regardless of AI use. AI measurement error decreased substantially after the review of the human examiner. From the standpoint of the human examiner, beginners could obtain better results than manual landmarking. However, the AI review outcomes of the regular examiner were not as good as those of manual analysis, possibly due to AI-dependent landmark decisions. The reliability of AI analysis could also be improved by employing the human examiner's review. Although the time-saving effect was not evident, commercial AI cephalometric services are currently recommendable for beginners.


ABSTRACT Ecumenical Alethic Pluralism (EAP) is a novel kind of alethic pluralism. It is ecumenical in that it widens the scope of alethic pluralism by allowing for a normatively deflated truth property alongside a variety of normatively robust truth properties. We establish EAP by showing how Wright's Inflationary Arguments fail in the domain of taste, once a relativist treatment of the metaphysics and epistemology of that domain is endorsed. EAP is highly significant to current debates on the nature of truth insofar as it involves a reconfiguration of the dialectic between deflationists and pluralists.


To evaluate if seasonal changes in photoperiod and temperature were associated with changes in total daily motor activity we recorded the total daily motor activity of five clinically healthy goats at four different times of the year (vernal equinox, summer solstice, autumn equinox and winter solstice). Goats were housed under natural photoperiod and natural ambient temperature in a 12-m2 sound-proof box equipped with 50 × 100 cm opening window, which allowed natural ventilation. Total motor activity of each goat was recorded by Actiwatch-Mini®, actigraphy-based data loggers that record a digitally integrated measure of motor activity. Our results show the existence of clear seasonal variations in daily activity rhythms in goats, with the highest daily amount of activity during the vernal equinox (769.21 ± 82.56 movements h-1) and the lowest during the winter solstice (401.65 ± 61.82 movements h-1) (P < 0.0001). There was also a change in the amount of motor activity observed during photophase and scotoph...


Electrochemsitry and electrocatalysis are useful techniques for energy conversion and energy storage applications. In this project, the electrocatalytic activation of small molecules, H₂O, methanol and ethanol, and CO₂, has been studied as potential methods for energy storage and conversion.
A hexaniobate Lindqvist ion assisted Co and Ni nanostructure deposition method has been developed. Efficient catalytic activity towards water oxidation has been observed with high TOF values obtained in alkaline 1 M NaOH solution and even one cycle of potential for film deposition generating significant catalytic activity. CoIV and NiIV may be responsible for the high catalytic activities as results showed by FTAC voltammetry.
Four cobalt phosphonate coordination polymers were also studied and showed catalytic activity for water oxidation in both phosphate buffer and water-saturated ionic liquid [BMIM][PF₆]. The catalytic activity shows a structural dependence and presumably due to the different intrinsic catalytic activities of these catalysts towards water oxidation reaction or/and their different rates of decomposition to form the well-known CoOx water oxidation catalysts.
Voltammetric studies of the Ru-containing water oxidation molecular catalyst, [{Ru₄O₄(OH)₂(H₂O)₄}(-SiW₁₀O₃₆)₂]10- have been carried out in aqueous media over a wide range of pH (2 to 12) and ionic strength conditions. Well defined voltammograms in the buffered media are only obtained when Frumkin double layer effects are suppressed by the presence of a sufficient concentration of additional supporting electrolyte (LiNO3, NaNO3, KNO3, Ca(NO3)₂, Mg(NO3)₂, MgSO₄ or Na₂SO₄). Analysis of the reversible potentials reveals that (i) K+ has a significantly stronger interaction with the one-electron oxidized form 1(1) than the other cations investigated; (ii) proton transfer may not necessarily be coupled to all electron transfer steps to generate active water oxidation catalysts; (iii) the four-electron oxidized form, 1(4), is capable of oxidizing water under all conditions studied and (iv) under some conditions, the three-electron oxidized form, 1(3), also exhibits considerable activity.
These electrochemical knowledge obtained for the molecular water oxidation catalyst [1(-SiW₁₀O₃₆)₂]10- have been also applied to the electrooxidation of methanol and ethanol. In both aqueous and alcohol media, the one-electron oxidized form 1(1) is able to catalyze methanol and ethanol under all conditions, and the 1(0) showed some catalytic activity especially for ethanol oxidation under some conditions. Methanol and ethanol were oxidized into aldehyde and acid through two- and four-electron transfer pathways, respectively, as shown by analysis of products after bulk electrolysis.
One Cu and two Ni macrocyclic complexes have been studied for electrocatlytic CO₂ reduction. N,N´-ethylenebis(acetylacetoniminato) complexes of nickel(II) and copper(II) both showed catalytic activity for CO₂ reduction in organic and ionic solvents, and also for proton reductions. C₂O₄2- was formed after bulk electrolysis as shown by spectroelectrochemical data. A novel square-planar nickel(II) Schiff base complex, [Ni(L´)]PF6 (where L´ is 2,4,9,11,11-pentamethyl-2,3,4 triaza-1-one-4-amine), has been synthesized and shown with electrocatalytic activity for CO₂ reduction with oxalate and bicarbonate as the reduction products after bulk reductive electrolysis under a CO₂ atmosphere.


The studies, The Essential Amino Acid Requirements of Infants , by Synderman et al. 1,2 may seem of remote value in the "practical" everyday feeding of infants. Yet these studies, and numerous similar ones by others, are significant contributions to the science of nutrition. Holt et al. 3 have demonstrated "under the conditions" of their studies that histidine is an indispensable amino acid for the young infant and that arginine is not—in contrast to the findings for adults. From quantitative measurements of the concentration of each amino acid in the plasma during short periods of deficiency of a single amino acid, unexpected plasma concentration variations have been found. These clues will stimulate further investigation of the inter-relationships of the metabolism of individual amino acids, lead to clarification of the concept of "amino acid imbalance," and hasten the elucidation of additional metabolic disorders analogous to phenylketonuria and maple syrup disease. The performance


Abstract: New Zealand faces a housing shortage with construction struggling to meet demand. Structurally insulated panels (SIPs) have been demonstrated internationally as a method of construction which could reduce construction time frames, improve the standard insulation in housing, as well as reduce the amount of waste generated on construction sites. However, anecdotal evidence shows that the SIPs' adoption is lacking, which is, perhaps, attributed to its industry-wide acceptance level. Thus, in this study, the construction stakeholders, such as architects/designers, builders, territorial authorities and homeowners were targeted to shed light on current status of SIPs use, benefits offered and any barriers inhibiting its industry-wide implementation. This was done through a survey, which was designed to understand the construction stakeholders' experience levels regarding SIPs use in New Zealand as well as their opinions about any problems associated with the SIPs adoption. Although the stakeholders were happy with the thermal performance offered by SIPs, the results indicate that lack of familiarity and understanding are one of the main barriers to the widespread use of SIPs in New Zealand. Moreover, proper training and clear design information are reported to be crucial to make the building and consenting processes efficient, which will ultimately improve the cost-effectiveness. Despite the barriers (to SIPs adoption) documented by stakeholders, the common belief is that SIPs offer wide-range of benefits to improve performance of the built environment; hence, the stakeholders expressed their willingness to design/build/recommend SIP homes. It is hoped that the findings of this study will guide the industry practitioners in investing their efforts in wider adoption of SIPs in New Zealand.


The problem of designing a locally optimum (LO) detector to remove autoregressive interference from spread spectrum system is considered. The interference is modeled as pth order autoregressive process (AR(p)). Expressions for output signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) are derived in terms of model parameters and verified by comparing with simulation results. The performance of this technique is compared to that of the adaptive Wiener filtering technique based on the system bit error rate (BER). An FIR filter interpretation of the LO detector is also explored which simpler implementation.


Gonorrhea, as the term is ordinarily understood, is usually thought of as an affection of the urethra, or at most as a urethritis complicated by affection of the eye or joints, but the possibility of its being complicated by metastatic abscesses in various other parts of the body is not so generally kept in mind. It has only been within the last half century that practitioners as a whole have recognized the connection which exists between gonorrheal infection of the urethra and certain joint affections, and a thorough understanding of the nature of this connection has been possible for a much less time. It is generally admitted that Selle and Swediaur 1 were the first to recognize in the coincident urethritis the cause of what is now known as gonorrheal arthritis. Swediaur describes this complication of gonorrhea in his work entitled "Practical Observations on the More Obstinate Venereal Complaints," which


The US Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) has several provisions to increase access to health insurance among Americans. Prior to ACA, emergency departments (ED) served as a safety net to uninsured as most hospitals are required to provide stabilizing treatment to patients with emergency medical conditions regardless of their ability to pay. The ACA increased the number of insured, improved access to primary care and was expected to reduce high cost ED utilization

 This retrospective cross-sectional study used ED data from a US Midwest suburban medium size hospital (November 2009 - January 2017) to analyze the patterns of ER utilization pre- and post-ACA. The data (n = 423,548) excluded ambulance deliveries; 5-level Emergency Severity Index was re-coded as urgent/non-urgent for each visit. Analysis included age, sex, race, mode of arrival, disposition, insurance, visit day and time as other predictors in binary logistic regression.

 Non-urgent visit proportion increased from 34.5% in 2009 to 49.1% in 2016; odds of a visit being urgent are lower after ACA (Exp(B)=0.684; 95%CI 0.675,0.694) with stronger effect for pediatric (age<18) population (Exp(B)=0.487, CI 0.471, 0.503). ACA did not change ED utilization by working population, however, in comparison to people with commercial insurance, patients without recorded insurance are less likely to have a true urgent visit (Exp(B)=0.845; CI 0.83, 0.86). Among other factors predicting ED visit urgency are race and insurance type.

 Expensive ER care is still provided for non-urgent care. Access to alternative type of care and public health awareness efforts should focus on subpopulations with high inappropriate ED use.

 Affordable Care Act (2010) did not improve efficiency of emergency room utilization. Additional effort are needed to increase access to primary care and awareness of ER use for specific subpopulations.