ABSTRACT For the adsorption of malachite green (MG), 'purified by thermo-acid (HCl) diatomite' (DTA) and its derivative '3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane functionalised diatomite' (DTA-MTMS) were prepared as adsorbent and the effects of thermo-acid activation and surface functional groups on adsorption were investigated. Many acids dissolve certain substances in diatomite and change their chemical composition. Thermo-acid treatment and silane-modified diatomite fractions were characterised byBrunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), scanning electron microscope (SEM-EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and thermal analysis (TG-DTA). The effects of contact time, solution pH, temperature and initial dye concentration on adsorption were investigated. Equilibrium isotherms are defined using nonlinear Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubinin – Radushkevich (D – R) and Sips adsorption isotherm equations. Isotherm data for both adsorbents are best fitted on the Freundlich and Sips model. The qmax values determined from the Sips model are 18.8415 mgg−1 and 21.4713 mgg−1 for DTA and DTA-MTMS, respectively. It was determined that DTA-MTMS performed better than DTA for MG adsorption. The results showed that MG adsorption was compatible with the pseudo-second-order (PSO) kinetic model. From the adsorption energy value (E < 8 kJ mol−1), it was confirmed that physical adsorption was dominant in the adsorption process. The nature of the sorption process is exothermic and spontaneous (due to negative values ΔH° and ΔG°). The results of the study showed that prepared DTA and synthesised DTA-MTMS can be considered as an economical and promising adsorbent in removing organic dyes from wastewater.


Purpose
This paper aims to study the interlink between work-life integration, job contentment and employee engagement. The notion of how far work-life balance (WLB) policies have a throwback on employee engagement has been presented with shreds of evidence of previous studies carried out in the timeline of 2005–2021 in India. The purpose is to bring forward comprehensive studies together, which are available on piecemeal form in the fragmentary form, to draw a firm conclusion about work-life integration policies and their parallelism with job engagement and organizational effectiveness. Furthermore, this study intends to develop a theoretical framework using Dubin's methodology on organizational effectiveness in relation to work-life integration, job contentment and employee engagement.

Design/methodology/approach
This study is based on systematic literature review of papers reviewed from across databases of Scopus, Emerald, EBSCO and Google Scholar. The keywords used for the search were WLB, work-life integration, job satisfaction, job contentment and organizational effectiveness and also a combination of these words was used to pull down the relevant papers. A systematic literature review was undertaken on the topics of work-life integration, employee engagement and organizational effectiveness. These articles were then read and scanned with the overview on abstract and further these articles were selected on the basis of relevance to the current study. Those articles which showed interconnectedness between the identified variables of organizational effectiveness in relation to work-life integration, job contentment and employee engagement as antecedents were reviewed and a theoretical framework model is put forth using first part of Dubin's methodology (1978) for theory building. The posited Model named A4 on organizational effectiveness using deductive approach is built on constructs, interaction, logic and propositions (Whetten, 1989).The theory will be functional in nature. With the given wealth of evidence, the injecting effect of work-life integration on employee engagement and pouring impact on organizational effectiveness becomes more transparent and clear. The authors have proposed a model for better organizational effectiveness through work-life integration policies.

Findings
One of the essential ingredients for better employee engagement is work-life integration policies, and organizational effectiveness becomes the by-product of the same. Innovative and friendly WLB policies assist employees to be more productive, dedicated and committed, resulting in better employee engagement which in the long run benefits the company in terms of effectiveness. WLB policies help to flatter down the burgeoning impact of complex work life on employee productivity and engagement. This paper concludes on the healing effects of WLB policies on employee engagement and organizational effectiveness and also proposes a model at the end. The posited model presents the antecedents for achieving organizational effectiveness.

Research limitations/implications
Because the study is conceptual in nature with the proposed model, more empirical-based studies by experts with relevant stakeholders will add more rationalization to the current study.

Originality/value
Organizational effectiveness is the key to survival in today's complex and competitive world. The authors investigated how organizational effectiveness can be achieved with WLB policies, which can have a linear impact on employee engagement, and ultimately organizations can bear the flowerings of positive output. This linkage and coupling between WLB policies, job contentment, employee engagement and organizational effectiveness deserve attention which the authors have attempted to explore. The outcome and results of the study will contribute to the existing literature in a more meaningful manner and will assist human resource development and policymakers to achieve organizational goals with driving employees. Managers will gain insight into the identified theoretical framework model for its implementation in organization. Future researchers with empirical studies can test the proposed theory to determine its success at organizational level.


The mukàndà/leetrè, a form of heroic Luba-Kasayi poetry that is of relatively recent origin, testifies to the vitality, dynamism, and the adaptive capability of oral literature. Contrary to indications in its name and the name given its producer—leetrè/mukàndà (letter), mubadi/mwedi wa mukàndà (reader, promoter of mukàndà)—this literary form is declaimed rather than read, before a participating public, by a male performer, at events that have their origin in the contact of the Luba/Kasayi with the West, especially First Communion, Ordination, graduation, and Holy Matrimony. During the performance, the poet holds a blank sheet of paper which he occasionally looks at in order to simulate a reading. Beyond the function of praise, the mukànda entertains and instructs.


The article discusses selected papers of foreign geographers who seek correlation between biomedical characteristics of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in various parts of the world and socioeconomic factors that either fuel or prevent the spread of infection. It also points out the benefit from the interconnection between medical sciences, epidemiology and geography and outlines the research areas in which the Czech Republic could participate in the future.


Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology promises to be an inexhaustible source of any type of cell needed for therapeutic and research purposes. It is unclear that how distal enhancer-promoter associations/ 3D chromatin conformation involving in the capacity of self-renewal and pluripotency maintenance. In this study, we have selected a few defined enhancer-promoter associations. After screening of enhancer specificity and activity individually, we design the different combinations and transfect these enhancers into the MEF cells. We simultaneously transfect 7 determined enhancers which represents various specific distal chromatin associations into a GFP tracing MEF cell line. We observe that the MEF cells start generating iPS-like clones at day 22. Importantly, our validations with three germ layer marker genes and in vitro experiments have further confirmed the pluripotency of these clones. Here, our study proposes a potential de novo method of a low-genetic risk iPS generation by introducing spatiotemporal distal chromatin associations. This result also paves out the way on utilizing 3D genomic information to alter cell identity and reprogramming for potential therapeutic strategy.


Aim. To investigate the characteristics of elderly Japanese people sitting in a wheelchair using pressure mapping and an objective method to classify sitting patterns. Method. This descriptive observational study was conducted in a senior care facility and a geriatric hospital, with 107 elderly subjects (37 group A (house-bound), 34 group B (chair-bound) and 36 group C (bed-bound)) and 36 able-bodied. Maximum pressure, total support area, distance from backrest to coccyx and sitting pattern were collected by using a pressure mapping system. Results. Maximum pressure was significantly lower for able-bodied than groups B and C (p < 0.001 and p = 0.024, respectively). Total support area was significantly larger for able-bodied than each elderly group (group A p = 0.014, group B p = 0.021, and group C p < 0.001). Distance from backrest to coccyx was significantly longer for group C than able-bodied (p < 0.001). The occurrence of proper sitting pattern significantly decreased as the degree of independence reduced (p < 0.001). Conclusion. Elderly people with disabilities have high interface pressure on a small support area, malposition, which is confirmed by longitudinal and lateral supporting balance indices, and imbalance in a wheelchair. The following concepts for developing cushions should be considered: low interface pressure with large support area, individual adjustment of sitting position and stability of body trunk.


The Ratio-Bias phenomenon, observed by psychologist Seymour Epstein and colleagues, is a systematic manifestation of irrationality. When offered a choice between two lotteries, individuals consistently choose the lottery with the greater number of potential successes, even when it offers a smaller probability of success. In the current study, we conduct experiments to confirm this phenomenon and test for the existence of Bias as distinct from general irrationality. Moreover, we examine the effect of introducing a monetary incentive of varying size (depending on the treatment) on the extent of irrational choices within this framework. We confirm the existence of the Bias. Moreover, the existence of an incentive significantly reduces the extent of irrationality exhibited, and that this effect is roughly linear in response to changes in the size of the incentive within the magnitudes investigated.


The NH-He van der Waals complex was characterized via laser excitation of bands associated with the NH A (3)Pi-X (3)Sigma(-) transition. It was demonstrated that the ground state supports a bound level with a rotational constant of B"=0.334(2) cm(-1). These results are in agreement with the predictions of recent high-level theoretical calculations. Spin-orbit predissociation of the excited complex was observed, and the spectra yield insights regarding the NH(A)+He potential energy surfaces.


This document contains the following full and short papers on cognition and conceptual change from ICCE/ICCAI 2000 (International Conference on Computers in Education/International Conference on Computer-Assisted Instruction): (1) "A Method of Creating Counterexamples by Using Error-Based Simulation" (Tomoya Horiguchi and Tsukasa Hirashima); (2) "An Interactive Game System To Stimulate Word Associations" (Naoko Nitsu, Takeyuki Kojima, Bipin Indurkhya, and Yoshiyuki Kotani); (3) "Applied the Gray Relationship Matrix and Learning Obstacles Analysis on the Discovery Teaching" (Chao-Fu Hong, En-Yih Jean, Pei-Chin Wu, Chien-Miing Lia, and Tsai-Hsia Wu); (4) "Collaborative Learning vs. Cognition" (Madhumita Bhattacharya); (5) "Impacts of Unintellect Factors on the Design of CAI Courseware" (Xiaohua Yu and Qinzhu Zhang); (6) "Towards a Meta-Knowledge Agent: Creating the Context for Thoughtful Instructional Systems" (Elspeth McKay); (7) "Microgenetic Analysis of Conceptual Change in Learning Basic Mechanics" (Gary Chon-Wen Shyi and Shih-Tseng Tina Huang); (8) "Scientific Revolutions and Conceptual Change in Students: Results of a Microgenetic Process Study" (Benson M. H. Soong and Yam San Chee); (9) "The Effect of Virtual Reality Learning Transfer with Different Cognitive Style" (Jia-Rong Wen and Li-Ling Hsu); (10) "The Externalization Support System of Self-Explanation for Learning Problem-Solving Process" (Kazuhide Kanenishi, Takahiko Mendori, Masafumi Sawamatsu, and Yoneo Yano); and (11) "The Use of Animation as a Tool for Concept Learning" (Hung-Liang Lee). (MES) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ICCE/ICCAI 2000 Full & Short Papers (Cognition and Conceptual Change) 1 PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY


Abstract Objective: To assess the potential prognostic relevance of serial serum measurements of S100B and NSE in patients with spinal intradural lesions. Methods: Forty-four patients with spinal intradural lesions were included in this prospective study. S100b and NSE serum levels were measured on admission and daily after operative treatment. The pre-operative values of both markers were correlated with degree of paresis and duration of symptoms, the post-operative levels with functional outcome. Outcome was dichotomized into favorable and unfavorable. Neurological recovery with retrieval or preservation of gait function was regarded as favorable, whereas non-improvement without restoration of gait function was considered as unfavorable. Results: No correlation was found between S100b or NSE serum levels and degree of paresis or duration of symptoms before surgery. The post-operative time course of S100b and NSE serum concentrations was not correlated with functional outcome. Conclusion: Serial serum measurements of neither S100b nor NSE allow for an individual prediction of neurological outcome in patients with spinal intradural lesions. Despite their limited validity for the individual patient, 'classical' predictors as degree and duration of paresis before therapy are still the most important prognostic parameters in these patients with chronic spinal lesions.


Summer learning loss remains an ongoing concern for K12 students. Learning loss varies based on subject matter, with summer learning loss associated with math at the higher end of the scale. Greater effects of summer learning loss are generally associated with lower income families. Additionally, minorities and women remain underrepresented in the STEM Fields. Based on this information and desires to engage with community in effective and scholarly ways, founders of the Lafayette College Summer camp established a summer STEM education venue for young children in 2011. Recognizing that inclusion of the Arts added interest to our general theme and education modules, and served to enhance our education messaging, STEM Camp became STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, ARTS, and Math) Camp in 2014. An additional highlight of this camp is the fact that the leadership, ideas, design and organization of all modules is a production led by two undergraduates, one student majoring in Arts-Humanities and a second majoring Science-Engineering. A group of volunteers made up of faculty, local K12 teachers, college and high school students, and community members, support all camp activities throughout the four-day event. This "Work in Progress" manuscript lays out the structure of the camp, goals and objectives, and assessment strategies, as well as initial formal and informal findings.


The importance of cf cytoreductive surgery is discussed with special reference to the bowel resection for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. In the 10.5-year period from January 1978 to June 1988, 134 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer were seen at Toranomon Hospital. Two (15%) out of 13 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer at stage II underwent bowel resection to achieve cytoreduction, 10 (31%) out of 32 at stage III, and 4 (36%) out of 11 at stage IV, respectively. Modified posterior pelvic exenteration was the most common operative procedure among the bowel resections. In this procedure, resection of both sigmoid colon and rectum and end-to-end anastomosis was carried out. Besides bowel resection, all patients at stage II-IV had abdominal hysterectomy, and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with or without omentectomy. Comparison of the treatment was by the method of Kaplan-Meier and the Wilcoxon test. The following results were obtained. 1) Five-year survival rate for patients with bowel resection was 60%, compared to 39% for those undergoing operation without bowel resection (p less than 0.05). 2) Two-year survival for patients having residual cancer even after bowel resection was 61%, compared to 28% for those with residual cancer without bowel resection (p less than 0.05). 3) Two-year survival for patients with residual cancer greater than 2 cm was 8%, compared to 62% for those with residual cancer less than 1.9 cm (p less than 0.05). 4) Four patients who died of cancer 15-26 months after the initial treatment including bowel resection spent 65-85% (mean 76%) of the survival period with normal or subnormal activity, against 0-85% (mean 30%) for 6 patients without bowel resection and with the matched survival period of 15-26 months. Also, the former spent 19-33% (mean 27%) of their survival period in the hospital, against 20-67% (mean 39%) by the latter. These results suggest that bowel resection should be encouraged in order to achieve optimal cytoreduction in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer because of its effectiveness in prolonging survival and the inherent benefits for quality of life.


Two-photon polymerization has been employed to fabricate three-dimensional structures using the biodegradable triblock copolymer poly(epsilon-caprolactone-co-trimethylenecarbonate)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(epsilon-caprolactone-co-trimethylenecarbonate) with 4,4'-bis(diethylamino)benzophenone as the photoinitiator. The fabricated structures were of good quality and had four micron resolution. Initial cytotoxicity tests show that the material does not affect cell proliferation. These studies demonstrate the potential of two-photon polymerization as a technology for the fabrication of biodegradable scaffolds for tissue engineering.


A method for the determination of manganese in blood and animal tissue has been developed involving wet digestion of the sample by perchloric and nitric acids, complexing with sodium diethyldithiocarbamate, and extracting with methyl isobutyl ketone at pH 6.7. The methyl isobutyl ketone is removed, and the residue is dissolved in 0.05N HCl in acetone-water (9 + 1) and is aspirated into an air-acetylene flame of an atomic absorption spectrometer. The limit of detectability is about 10 ng Mn/ml in the solution aspirated or 2 ng Mn/ml in bovine blood for a 20 ml sample.


How can an international organization be made adaptable? Having been designed to fulfil a specific mandate, international organizations should disappear from the world stage once .the initial conditions that led to their establishment no longer exist: their constituents (governments or activists) will not support them when their mandate becomes obsolete or their added value is reduced. Nonetheless, they survive external shocks, resource traps, and even the growing indifference of their founding fathers. The explanation lies in their successful resistance to constituents' control; counter-intuitive adaptation to external change; unplanned expansion through mandate enlargement; and a snowballing albeit unintentional trend to build up networks. Overall, the relative success of international organizations can be measured as a global balance between performance and resilience, exploitation and exploration, autonomy and cooperation. To reach that balanced stage they must be altogether dualistic (coupling the technical with the political); adaptive (converting slack into innovation); organic and ambidextrous (setting new challenges while pursuing current activity). Since they combine components that come from local, national, regional and transnational recipes for survival and performance, they are complex hybrids made up of public agencies, private firms, third sector associations, and expert, activist, or lobbying interest groups.


Research that combines dark triad traits and positive leadership styles or outcomes is welcome but still scarce. A quasi-experimental study investigated the mediating role of transformational leadership in linking dark triad leader traits with followers' extra effort, leadership effectiveness, satisfaction with a leader and the moderating role of culture to these relationships. The moderated mediation model was tested with data from 189 respondents (109 from Lithuania and 80 from Turkey). Participants were asked to answer sociodemographic questions, read one out of five scenarios with hypothetical leaders, and rate those leaders with Dirty Dozen and Multifactor Leadership Questionnaires. Results showed that transformational leadership mediated the relationships for dark triad leader traits with followers' extra effort, leadership effectiveness and satisfaction with a leader. Conditional indirect effects of a leader's dark triad traits on three leadership outcomes (followers' extra effort, leadership effectiveness and satisfaction with a leader) were significant only for Lithuanians. Negative traits were related to less positive outcomes through lower transformational leadership. This effect was stronger in the Lithuanian sample.


The term 'crop biotechnology' did not occur in the scientific literature in the 1970s and was sparse in the 1980s. In the following decade its oc currence increased by an order of magnitude, reflecting the dramatic way in which the new range of molecular genetic tools and novel approaches for investigating and manipulating living organisms influenced biological and agricultural research. Understanding and develo ping the process of genetic transformation was a key element in this movement, starting with s tudies of prokaryotic systems and advancing later to more complex ones. The trend is clearly continuing exponentially into the 21st century. Within the biotechnological revolutio n there have been many sub-developments producing novel biological insights, ultimately aff ecting crop production and strategic management of agriculture.


Background Loss-of-function mutations in CDKN1C cause overgrowth, that is, Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS), while gain-of-function variants in the gene's PCNA binding motif cause a growth-restricted condition called IMAGe syndrome. We report on a boy with a remarkable mixture of both syndromes, with developmental delay and microcephaly as additional features. Methods Whole-exome DNA sequencing and ultra-deep RNA sequencing of leucocyte-derived and fibroblast-derived mRNA were performed in the family. Results We found a maternally inherited variant in the IMAGe hotspot region: NM_000076.2(CDKN1C) c.822_826delinsGAGCTG. The asymptomatic mother had inherited this variant from her mosaic father with mild BWS features. This delins caused tissue-specific frameshifting resulting in at least three novel mRNA transcripts in the boy. First, a splice product causing CDKN1C truncation was the likely cause of BWS. Second, an alternative splice product in fibroblasts encoded IMAGe-associated amino acid substitutions. Third, we speculate that developmental delay is caused by a change in the alternative CDKN1C-201 (ENST00000380725.1) transcript, encoding a novel isoform we call D (UniProtKB: A6NK88). Isoform D is distinguished from isoforms A and B by alternative splicing within exon 1 that changes the reading frame of the last coding exon. Remarkably, this delins changed the reading frame back to the isoform A/B type, resulting in a hybrid D–A/B isoform. Conclusion Three different cell-type-dependent RNA products can explain the co-occurrence of both BWS and IMAGe features in the boy. Possibly, brain expression of hybrid isoform D–A/B is the cause of developmental delay and microcephaly, a phenotypic feature not previously reported in CDKN1C patients.


In this paper, we study screen quasi-conformal irrotational half lightlike submanifolds M of a semi-Riemannian space form f M(c) admitting a semi-symmetric non-metric connection, whose structure vector fleld ‡ is tangent to M. The main result is a classiflcation theorem for such Einstein half lightlike submanifolds of a Lorentzian space form admitting a semi-symmetric non-metric connection.


Enzymatic hydrolysis and in-vivo ocular studies were performed on a novel series of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) pivaloyl ester prodrugs to assess their therapeutic potential. These novel PGF2 prodrugs were esterified at the 9-, 11-, and 15-OH positions. Their enzymatic hydrolysis rates were compared to PGF2 alpha 1-isopropyl ester in dog, monkey, and human ocular tissues. Intraocular pressure (IOP) studies were performed in monkeys and dogs, and ocular surface hyperemia was monitored in dogs. PGF2 alpha 9-monopivaloyl ester was not enzymatically hydrolysed in dog and human ocular tissues. PGF2 alpha 11- and 15-monopivaloyl esters and PGF2 alpha 11,15-dipivaloyl ester were converted to PGF2 alpha by all ocular tissues at a substantially slower rate than PGF2 alpha l-isopropyl ester. Despite their slow enzymatic hydrolysis rates, the ocular hypotensive activity of PGF2 alpha mono and dipivaloyl esters, where positions 11- and 15- were functionalized, closely approached the activity achieved with PGF2 alpha l-isopropyl ester. The degree of ocular surface hyperemia associated with PGF2 alpha 11-pivaloyl ester and PGF2 alpha 11,15-dipivaloyl ester was less than that associated with equivalent doses of PGF2 alpha l-isopropyl ester. It appears that rapid enzymatic hydrolysis rates are not necessary to obtain efficacious ocular hypotensive PGF2 alpha ester prodrugs. Slow enzymatic hydrolysis rates may assist in reducing the degree of ocular surface hyperemia. A further contributory factor in this regard could be the approximately ten-fold favorable difference in enzymatic hydrolysis rates between iris-ciliary body and conjunctival tissue for these novel pivaloyl esters of PGF2 alpha. These factors appear to translate into an improved therapeutic index for separating ocular hypotensive and ocular surface hyperemic effects.


We present some important results related to Micromegas-TPC development for rare event detection: First, we show the influence of the detection plane structure on the energy resolution, where, replacing the wires planes (MWPC) by the Micromegas micropattern, gave a high collection efficiency with good uniformity and good energy resolution. Second, we prove that the increase of the height of the amplification zone permits a good charge collection at higher gas pressure. Third, we present a new gas mixture ''Xe(98)CF4(2)'', which is convenient for the search of neutrinoless double beta decay in 136Xe. Fourth, large size Micromegas, with 50 cm of diameter is operated in the Gotthard-TPC (200 l) and showed high effciency and good energy resolution with low energy sources.


It is commonly held that asynchronous consensus is much more complex, difficult, and costly than partially-synchronous algorithms, especially without using common coins. This paper challenges that conventional wisdom with que sera consensus QSC, an approach to consensus that cleanly decomposes the agreement problem from that of network asynchrony. QSC uses only private coins and reaches consensus in $O(1)$ expected communication rounds. It relies on "lock-step" synchronous broadcast, but can run atop a threshold logical clock (TLC) algorithm to time and pace partially-reliable communication atop an underlying asynchronous network. This combination is arguably simpler than partially-synchronous consensus approaches like (Multi-)Paxos or Raft with leader election, and is more robust to slow leaders or targeted network denial-of-service attacks. The simplest formulations of QSC atop TLC incur expected $O(n^2)$ messages and $O(n^4)$ bits per agreement, or $O(n^3)$ bits with straightforward optimizations. An on-demand implementation, in which clients act as "natural leaders" to execute the protocol atop stateful servers that merely implement passive key-value stores, can achieve $O(n^2)$ expected communication bits per client-driven agreement.


This review considers a number of recent important developments in nuclear medicine, and possible future introductions, priority being given to those products which are most likely to find a place in clinical practice. This includes both novel radiopharmaceuticals and progress with new types of imaging equipment. Three areas are chosen as being of particular importance: brain imaging, heart imaging, and diagnosis and therapy of cancer. In the brain, the clinical value of imaging regional cerebral blood flow and certain aspects of the neuroreceptor/neurotransmitter system are discussed. Cardiac imaging is considered in the light of recent work on diagnosis and risk assessment, investigating the hibernating myocardium, and the possible place of fatty acid imaging. Both diagnosis and therapy of cancer are increasingly important, and the use of radionuclides in these areas in considered.


58  Abstract— as the smarphone industry grows rapidly, the smartphone application needs to be faster and consumes lower power because the smartphone is only powered by a battery. In this paper, two Android applications based on video processing method are introduced; one by using OpenCV library, the other one is using Android library with self-implemented algorithm called CamTest. Eight image processing methods are applied to each frame of the video captured from the Android smartphone. The smartphone used in this study is the Samsung Galaxy S, with Android 2.3 Gingerbread Operating System. The efficiencies and power consumptions of the two applications are compared by observing their frame processing rate and power consumption. The experimental results show that out of the eight image processing methods, six methods that executed using OpenCV library are faster than that of CamTest with a total average ratio of 0.41. For the power consumption per frame test, six methods that executed using OpenCV library consume less power than that of CamTest with a total average ratio of 0.39.


Objective: To study the effectiveness and safety in bronchoscopy under anesthesia with fentanyl combined with midazolam. Methods: We randomly allocated 132 patients( male 69, female 63, median age 62.9 years)requiring bronchoscopy in Beijing Xuanwu Hospital into 2 groups during January 2015 to December 2016.The trial group included 66 patients, receiving fentanyl combined with midazolam for anesthesia, while the control group of 66 patients receiving 2% lidocaine for topical anesthesia.In the trial group, there were 37 males and 29 females, with a median age of 63 years (range 26-82). In the control group, there were 36 males and 30 females, with a median age of 62.8 years (range 30-82). The pulse, mean arterial pressure, and the oxygen saturation of the patients were recorded before anesthesia and 5 minutes after deep anesthesia was reached. Changes of vital signs and adverse reactions during the bronchoscopy were also observed. Results: The fluctuation of pulse(12.3±2.3)/min, mean arterial pressure(5.9±2.2)mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) and oxygen saturation(4.4±1.3)%was lower in the trial group as compared to that of the control group, pulse(21.9±1.8)/min, mean arterial pressure(7.1±2.3)mmHg, oxygen saturation(13.3±4.2)%, P<0.001.Five minutes after anesthesia, the pulse(80.0±11.9)/min, the mean arterial pressure(95.0±9.7)mmHg and the oxygen saturation(90.0±5.67)%of patients in the trial group were lower than those in the control group [pulse(90.3±17.0)/min, mean arterial pressure(102.7±12.4)mmHg, oxygen saturation(96.5±3.0)%], the differences being statistically significant(P<0.001). The trial group also showed smaller fluctuation, better tolerance, and fewer adverse reaction sthan the control group. Conclusion: Fentanyl combined with midazolam is safe and effective in bronchoscopy with fewer adverse reactions, but its early effect on the vital signs should be monitored and stricter indications may be needed.


The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a highly conserved atypical serine-threonine kinase that controls numerous functions essential for cell homeostasis and adaptation in mammalian cells via 2 distinct protein complex formations. Moreover, mTOR is a key regulatory protein in the insulin signalling cascade and has also been characterized as an insulin-independent nutrient sensor that may represent a critical mediator in obesity-related impairments of insulin action in skeletal muscle. Exercise characterizes a remedial modality that enhances mTOR activity and subsequently promotes beneficial metabolic adaptation in skeletal muscle. Thus, the metabolic effects of nutrients and exercise have the capacity to converge at the mTOR protein complexes and subsequently modify mTOR function. Accordingly, the aim of the present review is to highlight the role of mTOR in the regulation of insulin action in response to overnutrition and the capacity for exercise to enhance mTOR activity in skeletal muscle.


We consider a logistic planning problem for simultaneous optimization of the storage and the delivery. This problem arises in the consolidate shipment using an intermediate storage in a supply chain, which is typically found in the automobile industry. The vehicles deliver the items from the origin to the destination, while the items can be stored at some warehousing facilities as the intermediate storage during the delivery. The delivery plan is made for each day separately, but the storage at a warehouse may last for more than one day. Therefore, the entire logistic plan should be considered over a certain period for the total optimization. We formulate the storage and delivery problem as a mixed integer programming. Then, we propose a relax-and-fix type heuristic method, which incrementally fixes decision variables until all the variables are fixed to obtain a complete solution. Moreover, a semiapproximate model is introduced to effectively fix the variables. Based on the formulation, the delivery plan can be solved for each day separately. This has the advantage especially in the dynamic situation, where the delivery request is modified from the original request before the actual delivery day. Numerical experiments show that the simultaneous optimization gives the effective storage plan to reduce the total logistic cost, and the proposed heuristics efficiently reduce the computational time and are robust against the dynamic situation.


Concurrent engineering is a product development approach in which engineers simultaneously design products and processes to improve customer satisfaction, enhance product quality, and reduce product costs. While various design methodologies have been proposed to support concurrent engineering, development of a systematic methodology that comprehensively integrates product and process design is still an ongoing research need. Traditional design for assembly (DFA) has been extended to concurrently design subassemblies and assembly sequences; however, the optimum assembly sequence depends on the efficiency of the assembly line and how assembly tasks are assigned to workstations without causing extensive idle time. This study extends past approaches in the concurrent design of products and processes by integrating assembly line balancing, assembly line design, and sensitivity analysis of assembly line design in addition to assembly line sequencing. In particular, this study proposes an approach to simultaneously design products and processes by integrating (1) a liaison diagram augmented with additional information on the type of liaisons (e.g., screw fixing, snap fitting, or contacting) to find stable subassemblies and corresponding assembly tasks, (2) assembly sequencing to generate all feasible assembly sequences that satisfy requirements for stable subassembly, (3) assembly line balancing to identify all possible assignments of tasks to workstations and to find corresponding cycle times and utilization, (4) assembly line designs that include the types and number of assembly lines for each product design, and (5) sensitivity analysis to evaluate the robustness of the assembly line design.


BACKGROUND
Previous data suggest that elevated serum total homocysteine (tHcy) may be a risk factor for bone fracture and osteoporosis. Nutritional causes of elevated tHcy are suboptimal B-vitamin status. To our knowledge, this is the first nationally representative report on the relation of B vitamins and bone health from a population with folic acid fortification.

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this analysis was to examine the relation between B-vitamin status biomarkers and bone mineral density (BMD), risk of osteoporosis, and biomarkers of bone turnover.

DESIGN
We examined the relation of tHcy, methylmalonic acid (MMA), and serum/red blood cell folate and total-body and lumbar spine BMD in women aged ≥50 y participating in the NHANES 1999-2004 (n = 2806), a nationally representative cross-sectional survey. These are the only years with concurrent measurement of tHcy and whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. We also examined B-vitamin biomarkers relative to bone turnover markers, bone alkaline phosphatase, and urinary N-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen in a 1999-2002 subset with available data (n = 1813).

RESULTS
In comparison with optimal concentrations, women with elevated tHcy were older with lower serum vitamin B-12, red blood cell folate, and dietary micronutrient intakes and had significantly higher mean ± SE markers of bone turnover (bone alkaline phosphatase: 15.8 ± 0.59 compared with 14.0 ± 0.25 μg/L; urinary N-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen: 48.2 ± 2.9 compared with 38.9 ± 0.90 nmol bone collagen equivalents per mmol creatinine/L). Elevated MMA (OR: 1.88; 95% CI: 1.10, 3.18) and tHcy (OR: 2.17; 95% CI: 1.14, 4.15) were related to increased risk of lumbar osteoporosis. When examined as a continuous variable, tHcy was negatively associated, serum folates were positively associated, and MMA and vitamin B-12 were not significantly associated with lumbar and total-body BMD.

CONCLUSION
In this nationally representative population of older US women with high exposure to B vitamins through food fortification and dietary supplements, only elevated tHcy and MMA were independently associated with risk of lumbar spine osteoporosis.


Background: The morbidity and mortality of gastric cancer (GC) remain high worldwide. With the advent of the Human Genome Sequencing Project, circular RNAs (circRNAs) have attracted widespread attention in cancer research due to their stable ring structure. Our aim was to identify differentially expressed circRNAs in GC and explore their potential roles in GC diagnosis, treatment, and prognostic prediction. Methods: Large-scale gene screening was performed in three pairs of GC tissues and adjacent noncancerous tissues using high-throughput sequencing. The expression of hsa_circ_0001821 was detected in 80 pairs of tissue samples by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Stability of the ring structure of hsa_circ_0001821 RNA was verified by exonuclease digestion assay, and its diagnostic value was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. In addition, the location of hsa_circ_0001821 in GC cells was detected by nucleoplasm separation assay. Results: A total of 25,303 circRNAs were identified, among which 2,007 circRNAs were differentially expressed (fold change > 2.0, P < 0.05). Further validation disclosed that hsa_circ_0001821 was significantly downregulated in the 80 pairs of GC tissues and 30 whole-blood specimens obtained from the GC patients. The specificity of hsa_circ_0001821 in GC was higher than that in other solid tumors. In addition, hsa_circ_0001821 was relatively stable after RNA exonuclease digestion. Clinicopathological parameter analysis showed that hsa_circ_0001821 was negatively correlated with tumor depth (r = −0.255, P = 0.022) and lymph node metastasis (r = −0.235, P = 0.036). Area under the curve (AUC) analysis showed that the diagnostic efficiency of circulating hsa_circ_0001821 in distinguishing GC patients was higher than that in GC tissues (0.872, 95%CI: 0.767–0.977 vs. 0.792, 95%CI: 0.723–0.861). Combined use of circulating hsa_circ_0001821 with the existing tumor markers yielded the largest AUC of 0.933. Finally, hsa_circ_0001821 was demonstrated to mainly locate in the cytoplasm, implying that it played a potential regulatory role in GC at the posttranscriptional level. Conclusion: Hsa_circ_0001821 may prove to be a new and promising potential biomarker for GC diagnosis.


The RAKE receiver for spread spectrum communication is a countermeasure against frequency-selective fading. In order to operate the RAKE receiver, the impulse response of the fading channel must be sounded. For this purpose, some reference signal is transmitted together with the information signal in conventional systems. A method in which no reference signal is required is proposed. In this method, different codes are assigned corresponding to input binary data. Techniques are proposed which reduce the harmful effects of residual autocorrelation and cross-correlation of the spectrum-spreading code. In this method, a threshold value is used, and the residual response of autocorrelation and cross-correlation is subtracted from the matched filter output signal determining the channel impulse response. Computer simulation results under a two-path fading model are shown. Bit error rate performance of the RAKE receiver is improved with the proposed channel estimation method.


The first reports on promyelocytic leukaemia came from Norway and France in 1957. Little by little, acute promyelocytic leukaemia acquired its rightful place in nosology as a hyperacute, invariable and rapidly fatal disease. In 1973, a high frequency of complete remissions induced by strong doses of daunorubicin and an acceptable frequency of true recovery, was demonstrated. After these preliminary events, the history of promyelocytic leukaemia was that of an important discovery: the first remissions of human acute leukaemia were obtained by cell differentiation, as all-trans retinoic acid induces complete remission of acute promyelocytic leukaemia in nearly all cases. The consequences of the discovery are discussed. For the long or middle term, we can hope for improved understanding of the action of retinoic acid, and possibly the preparation of new compounds with longer efficiency.


Laminated bamboo timber (LBT) are found to have a high tensile strength and modulus, good resistance to fatigue loadings, primarily due to its fiber properties. However, it is reported that LBT production is quit inefficient and are not well accepted due to the presence of nodes that disfigures the surface appearance of the board. Accordingly, V-grooving method was developed to counteract these inefficiencies but still with other problems requiring the lengthening of the short clear bamboo strips with finger-joints. The mechanical properties of the finger-jointed clear Gigantochloa scortechinii bamboo species was therefore evaluated in static bending test using the bamboo strips selected for strip with finger joints specimens, with node and without node. Based on the distance between the joints, the best finger-jointed LBT strength was found to increase from 5 to 10cm and 5 to 15cm by 30.26% and 49.12% respectively. In the case is glue spread rate, there was an increase in MOR of 61.49% and 41.79% with phenol formaldehyde over the use of polyvinyl acetate at 250g/m2 and 200g/m2 respectively. The structural performance of finger-jointed LBT also showed a 31.87% higher in MOR than its counterpart with nodes.


Fears that Libya will become the next Somalia are probably over-blown, but any democratic transition is likely to be protracted and fragile.


A brief summary on and comprehensive understanding of fuzzy optimization is presented. This summary is made on aspects of fuzzy modelling and fuzzy optimization, classification and formulation for the fuzzy optimization problems, models and methods. The importance of interpretation of the problem and formulation of the optimal solution in fuzzy sense are emphasized in the summary of the fuzzy optimization.


Attempts to produce immunity against malaria in birds by the injection of killed malaria parasites have almost always failed. Gingrich (1) and Jacobs (2) however obtained results suggesting that protection against malarial infection in birds can be produced. Gingrich using P. cathemerium in canaries injected excessive numbers of heat or formalin killed parasites intravenously and challenged the birds two days after vaccination. Although evidence of protection was obtained, such a procedure could have little or no practical application. Jacobs employing P. lophurae in white Pekin ducks combined killed parasites with staphylococcus toxoid and used this preparation as a vaccine. Four of six ducks injected with this vaccine appeared to be protected as compared with non-vaccinated control ducks. Two ducks showed little if any protection, one died with high parasitemia whereas the other survived after high parasitemia. The birds were challenged in this experiment on the third day after the last of five injections of vaccine.


Objective: To evaluate the presence and relation of depression and anxiety among patients seeking rhinoplasty
Study Design: A cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: Departments of Psychiatry, department of Plastic Surgery and ENT, Combined Military Hospital Multan, from Jan 2019 to Mar 2020.
Methodology: A total of 102 patients were recruited that reported to Plastic surgery and ENT unit. Patients were divided equally in two groups of 51 each. One group included patients seeking rhinoplasty while other group included those patients that reported in Plastic surgery and ENT unit for reasons other than rhinoplasty. Symptom were assessed using Beck Depressive Inventory for depression and Beck Anxiety Inventory for anxiety.
Results: A total of 102 participants were included in the study, of these 51 were patients seeking rhinoplasty and 51 were controls. Significant correlation exist between anxiety and depression (p<0.00).
Conclusion: There is a very high frequency of anxiety and depression among patients seeking Rhinoplasty along with significant positive correlation.


In situ UV/Vis diffuse reflectance spectra of ammonium paratungstate tetrahydrate at increasing temperatures were recorded in oxidative as well as in reductive atmospheres. From the edge energy of the ligand-to-metal charge transfer transition of tungsten ions, the number of bridging W–O–W bonds, N, was determined. The increase of N with temperature indicates a stepwise enhancement of the condensation of WO6 octahedra to finally form WO3 in an oxidative atmosphere.


Author(s): Qiu, Jiaheng | Advisor(s): Wong, Weng Kee | Abstract: The theory of optimal experimental design provides insightful guidance on resource allocation for many dose-response studies and clinical trials. However, as more and more complicated models are developed, finding optimal designs has become an increasingly difficult task; therefore, the availability of an efficient and easy-to-use algorithm to find optimal designs is important for both researchers and practitioners. In recent years, nature-inspired algorithms like Particle Swarm Optimization(PSO) have been successfully applied to many non-statistical disciplines, such as computer science and engineering, even though there is no unified theory to explain why PSO works so well. To date, there is virtually no work in the mainstream statistical literature that applies PSO to solve statistical problems.In my dissertation, I review PSO methodology and show it is an easy and effective algorithm to generate locally D- and c-optimal designs for a variety of nonlinear statistical models commonly used in biomedical studies. I develop a new version of PSO called Ultra-dimensional PSO (UPSO) to find D-optimal designs for multi-variable exponential and Poisson regression models with up to five variables and all pairwise interactions. I use the proposed novel search strategy to find minimally supported D-optimal designs and ascertain conditions under which such optimal designs exist for such models. A remarkable discovery in my work is that locally D-optimal designs for such models can have many more support points than the number of parameters in the model. This result is both new and interesting because almost all D-optimal designs have equal or just one or two more number of points than the the number of parameters in the mean response function, see the examples in monographs by Fedorov [1972], Atkinson Atkinson et al. [2007], and recent papers by in Yang and Stufken [2009], Yang [2010]. This discovery also disproves the conjecture by Wang et al. [2006] that for M-variable interaction model (M g 2), D-optimal designs are also minimally and equally supported and have a similar structure as D-optimal designs for 2-variable model.In addition to single objective optimal designs, I apply PSO to find optimal designs for estimating parameters and interesting characteristics continuation-ratio (CR) model with non-constant slopes. Such a model has a great potential in dose finding studies because it takes both efficacy and toxicity into consideration. The optimal design I am interested in constructing is a three-objective optimal design, which provides efficient estimates for efficacy, adverse effect and all parameters in the CR model. This work is quite new because there are virtually no three-objective designs for a trinomial model reported in the literature. Through multiple objective efficiency plots, practitioners can construct the desired compound optimal design by selecting appropriate weighted average of three optimal criteria in a more flexible and informative way.I also conduct simulation studies for parameters selection in PSO, and compare the performance of PSO with other popular deterministic and metaheuristic algorithms in terms of the CPU time and the precision of the generated designs. I show that PSO outperforms its competitors for finding D- and c-optimal designs for different models I considered in my dissertation.


s: 10th World Congress on Emergency and Disaster Medicine 73/S5 Hellenic MEDEVAC Operations in 1995 and 1996 E. Kontospyru; N. Zachopulos; V. Stergiopulos; D. Lambropulos; S. Bakas; G. Letsios; M. Kokoliu, C. Bachtis; M. Vaphiadu 1. Nursing Office of the HNEMS, 2. Medical Department of the HNEMS, Hellenic National Emergency Medical Service, Athens, Greece Objectives: Retrospective evaluation and analysis of all emergency air transports, during the two consecutive years 1995 and 1996, carried out by the Hellenic National Emergency Medical Service (HNEMS). Methods: We analyzed all calls received by HNEMS concerning an emergency air transport (medevac) and all medevac operations made by the HNEMS in 1995 and 1996. 1995 1996 Calls, total Patients transported, total from.islands from mainland from abroad Void calls Transports without the participation of HNEMS Organ transplantation Deceased patients before arrival Deceased patients during medevac 1,888 1,492 1,386 43 0


The impact of steering committees on project performance and their role in creating value from project management capabilities is not well understood. A case study analysis was chosen to analyze the configurations and specific functions of project steering committees. A measurement model for steering committee configurations was developed to enable further survey-based studies. One of the major insights resulting from the authors' interviews with project managers and senior managers was that they perceived the existence of a project steering committee only when the context was defined and clarified. Furthermore, a large variety of committee involvements was identified, concluding that steering committees per se are very rare. On the project level, the cases clearly demonstrate that committees with project steering functions play an important role in the selection, initiation, definition, and control of projects. On the organizational level, they are important to implement and maintain project management standards. Finally, the results clearly indicate that steering committees directly support project success and are instrumental for attaining value from an organization's investments in its project management system.


Abstract. We present a new technique for the quantitative simulation of the "Ring effect" for scattered light observations from various platforms and under different atmospheric situations. The method is based on radiative transfer calculations at only one wavelength λ0 in the wavelength range under consideration, and is thus computationally fast. The strength of the Ring effect is calculated from statistical properties of the photon paths for a given situation, which makes Monte Carlo radiative transfer models in particular appropriate. We quantify the Ring effect by the so called rotational Raman scattering probability, the probability that an observed photon has undergone a rotational Raman scattering event. The Raman scattering probability is independent from the spectral resolution of the instrument and can easily be converted into various definitions used to characterise the strength of the Ring effect. We compare the results of our method to the results of previous studies and in general good quantitative agreement is found. In addition to the simulation of the Ring effect, we developed a detailed retrieval strategy for the analysis of the Ring effect based on DOAS retrievals, which allows the precise determination of the strength of the Ring effect for a specific wavelength while using the spectral information within a larger spectral interval around the selected wavelength. Using our technique, we simulated synthetic satellite observation of an atmospheric scenario with a finite cloud illuminated from different sun positions. The strength of the Ring effect depends systematically on the measurement geometry, and is strongest if the satellite points to the side of the cloud which lies in the shadow of the sun.


The development of earth-abundant and efficient electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is one of the keys to success for future green energy systems using hydrogen fuel. Nanostructuring of electrocatalysts is a promising way to enhance their electrocatalytic performance in the HER. In this study, pure pyrite-type beaded stream-like cobalt diselenide (CoSe2) nanoneedles are directly formed on flexible titanium foils through treating a cobalt oxide (Co3O4) nanoneedle array template with selenium vapor. The beaded stream-like CoSe2 nanoneedle electrode can drive the HER at a current density of 20 mA cm−2 with a small overpotential of 125 mV. Moreover, the beaded stream-like CoSe2 nanoneedle electrode remains stable in an acidic electrolyte for 3000 cycles and continuously splits water over a period of 18 hours. The enhanced electrochemical activity is facilitated by the unique three-dimensional hierarchical structure, the highly accessible surface active sites, the improved charge transfer kinetics and the highly attractive force between water and the surface of the nanoneedles that exceeds the surface tension of water.


Dialog interaction in conversational applications is subordinated to the goal of completing a domain-specific task. In this paper we present a basic architecture, a knowledge representation system, and a planning algorithm for dialogue management that decouples the interaction process from the planning task. In our system, the interaction is driven by the planner. We use logic programming, automatic planning and problem solving algorithms for representing information states and performing interaction management in the dialogue system. Our approach leverages recent advances in formalisms, inference engines, planning and problem solving, and is particularly suitable when implementing negotiation-intensive conversational applications.


Abstract : Complete experimental results are presented from tests of an axial compressor with rotor-mounted vortex generators. The design objectives were for a flow per unit frontal area of 39.7 1b/sec sq. ft., a total pressure ratio of 1.912 and a tip spread of 1500 ft/sec. These experimental results were achieved with one of a series of minor parametric modifications to the baseline compressor stage. No conclusions concerning the effects of these modifications will be drawn until the complete series of tests has been reported. (Author)


This paper presents the application of a new genetic algorithm for the optimal design of large distribution systems, solving the optimal sizing and locating problems of feeders and substations using the corresponding fixed costs as well as the true nonlinear variable costs. It can be also applied to single stage or multistage distribution designs. The genetic algorithm has been tested with real size distribution systems achieving optimal designs in reasonable CPU times compared with respect to the dimensions of such distribution systems. On the other hand, these distribution systems present significantly larger sizes than the ones frequently found in the technical literature about the optimal distribution planning. Furthermore, original operators of the genetic algorithm have been developed in order to obtain global optimal solutions, or very close ones to them. An integer codification of the genetic algorithm has also been used to include several relevant design aspects in the distribution network optimization.


ABSTRACT This article examines the thermostatic responsiveness of EU public policy. It inquires into the conditions under which EU policy decisions are responsive to wavering public demands for policy change and how European citizens in turn respond to policy change. The main argument holds that the politicization of EU policy processes facilitates both public and policy responsiveness. My expectations are tested based on a novel database containing information on 15 EU policy issues (2010–2016). The analyses draw from panel data based on Eurobarometer polls and a large-scale content analysis of 5887 media statements in eight European news outlets. The results demonstrate that under politicized conditions, the adoption of EU policy decisions is preceded by increased public support and followed by decreased public support for EU policy change. The facilitating role of politicization is primarily triggered by the mobilization of civil society groups, while media salience and polarization are less consequential for responsiveness.


MPs have accused the UK Department of Work and Pensions of causing avoidable "misery and hardship" to thousands of benefit claimants who are too sick to work, by putting them through work capability assessments.

People with mental health problems or rare or variable conditions were especially likely to be penalised by the "one size fits all" tick box process, said the report published by the Public Accounts Committee on 8 February.1 The system's inflexibility made it "extremely difficult for individuals with particular conditions to demonstrate the impact of their conditions on their ability to work," it said, and the stressfulness of the process could have a further detrimental effect on applicants' health.

Work capability assessments are used to assess applications for Employment and Support Allowance, the benefit brought in to replace Incapacity Benefit in 2008. The work has been outsourced to the private sector …


Abstract
Authors: Mariam Maghder & Valmira Sylejmani Title: It's mostly about the veil, that's what's visible- A qualitative study of how young Muslim women, religious practitioners, manage their Muslim identity in Sweden Supervisor: Johan Cronehed Assessor: Mats Hilte

The purpose of this study was to examine and analyze how Muslim women manage their religious identity in a secular Christian society, Sweden. Our questions are; What opportunities and limitations are there for Muslim women to practice their religion in Sweden? And what is the relation between the Muslim and non-Muslim population in Sweden? Our study is based on interviews with six Muslim women. The results were analyzed with the help of social constructivism and Zygmunt Baumans theory of freedom and dependency. We also used Judith Butlers theory of gender as a social construction. The main outcome of this study is that it highlights the Muslim woman's social situation in Sweden, and the relationship between Muslims and non-Muslims in Sweden. We also discuss the significance of the Muslim veil and the concept of Islamophobia.


Abstract This paper describes a preschool to kindergarten transition project in which families and teachers participated as part of the National Center for Early Learning and Development's Kindergarten Transition Project. Over 80 high-risk children and families were followed from preschool through kindergarten. Family workers employed by the school system facilitated transition activities such as parent orientations, newsletters, and interactions with kindergarten teachers. Families and teachers were interviewed, and they completed questionnaires about their participation in and satisfaction with these activities. Results indicated that, when offered the opportunity, the vast majority of families participated in transition activities. Work schedules were the greatest barrier to families' participation. With respect to teachers, the majority of preschool teachers visited kindergarten classrooms with their preschool children. Although kindergarten teachers were involved in these visits, fewer kindergarten teachers reported participating in transition activities overall. Kindergarten teachers reported summer work not supported by salaries and class lists being generated too late as the greatest barriers to participating in transition activities. Results are discussed in relation to parent involvement with schools, and have implications for the implementation of transition plans in preschools and kindergartens.


Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) originated in South America as a low cost alternative to incubators for low birth weight (LBW) infants. The key feature of KMC is early, continuous, and prolonged skin-to-skin contact between LBW newborn and mother. Ideally, KMC also includes exclusive breastfeeding; early hospital discharge; and close follow-up at home. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis examined the association between KMC and neonatal outcomes. A total of 124 studies met inclusion criteria, of which half were randomized controlled trials and the others observational. Results were resoundingly positive. Among LBW newborns, KMC (compared to conventional care) was associated with a 36% reduction in mortality (RR = 0.64; 95% CI 0.46 to 0.89). KMC also significantly decreased risk of neonatal sepsis (RR = 0.53; 95% CI 0.34 to 0.83); hypothermia (RR = 0.22; 95% CI 0.12 to 0.41); hypoglycemia (RR = 0.12; 95% CI 0.05 to 0.32); hospital re-admission (RR = 0.42; 95% CI 0.23 to 0.76); and increased exclusive breastfeeding (RR =1.50; 95% CI 1.26 to1.78). Not surprisingly, the authors concluded; "interventions to scale up KMC implementation are warranted". Scabies control with ivermectin


AIM
For the successful approval and clinical prescription of insulin biosimilars, it is essential to show pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) bioequivalence to the respective reference products sourced from the European Union and the United States.

METHODS
Three phase 1, randomized, double-blind, three-period crossover trials compared single doses of the proposed biosimilar insulin analogues aspart (GL-Asp, n = 36), lispro (GL-Lis, n = 38) and glargine (GL-Gla, n = 113), all manufactured by Gan & Lee pharmaceuticals, to the respective EU- and US-reference products in healthy male participants (GL-Asp and GL-Lis) or people with type 1 diabetes (GL-Gla). Study participants received 0.2 U/kg (aspart and lispro) or 0.5 U/kg (glargine) of each treatment under automated euglycaemic clamp conditions. The clamp duration was 12 h (aspart and lispro) or 30 h (glargine). Primary PK endpoints were the total area under the PK curves (AUCins.total ) and maximum insulin concentrations (Cins.max ). Primary PD endpoints were the total area under the glucose infusion rate curve (AUCGIR.total ) and maximum glucose infusion rate (GIRmax ).

RESULTS
Bioequivalence to both EU- and US-reference products were shown for all three GL insulins. Least squares mean ratios for the primary PK/PD endpoints were close to 100%, and both 90% and 95% confidence intervals were within 80%-125% in all three studies. There were no noticeable differences in the safety profiles between test and reference insulins, and no serious adverse events were reported for the GL insulins.

CONCLUSION
GL-Asp, GL-Lis and GL-Gla are bioequivalent to their EU- and US-reference products.


The purpose of the study is to determine if general control and application control at PT AJ is sufficient in running the system of cash sale in an efficient and effective. Conclusion obtained are more adequate level of internal control reliability in handling the risks that may occur so that the information produced will be more rapid, accurate, and reliable to support decision making from management. Therefore, it is very important for companies to conduct an audit of internal control, management control, application control, particularly software application on a regular basis so that cash sale can be more reliable anymore.


We discuss the theoretical uncertainties attendant to the determination of IVcdl/lVcs 1 from semileptonic D decay. Four different theoretical approaches are considered. Currently, agreement at the level of a factor of 2 for the various theoretical approaches exists so that, indeed, precise experimental data-such as precise lepon energy spectra and decay width data-wou-ld discriminate among the models considered.


Overexpression of the renin-angiotensin system is important in the pathogenesis of macroangiopathy (MA). Patients with diabetes with end-stage renal failure have elevated serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity compared with their nonuremic counterparts. Because their major cause of death is MA, the significance of serum ACE activity on outcome of this group of patients is studied. We performed a prospective cohort study of 49 patients with type 2 diabetes on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) therapy. Baseline serum ACE activity was determined by a modified spectrophotometric method and followed up at a median of 34 months. The prevalence of MA (defined as ischemic heart disease, sudden cardiac arrest, stroke, or peripheral vascular disease) and all-cause mortality rates were studied. Risk for MA is associated with serum ACE activity (median with MA, 69.0 U/L [range, 46.0 to 100.1 U/L] versus without MA, 57.2 U/L [range, 36.3 to 81.0 U/L]; P = 0.02). At the end of follow-up, 48% of patients (24 of 49 patients) died, 70% of MA. The group that died had increased baseline serum ACE activity (nonsurvivors, 65.0 U/L [range, 33.5 to 100.0 U/L] versus survivors, 49.4 U/L [range, 36.4 to 86.5 U/L]; P < 0.05) and MA rates (nonsurvivors, 77% versus survivors, 36%; P < 0.01). Cox regression analysis performed with age, sex, mean blood pressure, body mass index, metabolic control, Kt/V, residual renal function, serum albumin level, and ACE activity showed that baseline serum ACE activity (P = 0.033) is an independent predictor for mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes on CAPD therapy. Among patients with type 2 diabetes on CAPD therapy, serum ACE activity is associated with risk for MA and is an independent predictor for mortality. Whether ACE inhibition will have a beneficial effect on the outcome of these patients needs further investigation.


The heat dissipation of a system has been observed. In this study, the Arduino Nano as a microcontroller of web based rainfall gauge calibrator will be analyzed through the application of an automatic pump, the DHT22 sensor as a detector for temperature change on the microcontroller on standby for 5 minutes and operate for 55 minutes. Electrical energy can be obtained from voltage and current measurements using a multimeter and heat energy can be obtained from temperature changes detected by the DHT 22 sensor. The temperature sensor readings are displayed from the microcontroller to the PC into the PLX-DAQ application as an interface. From the results of observations and calculations, the data obtained on the percentage of electrical energy dissipation into heat energy has 4 stages, that is on standby 8.9%, from the end of standby to operate at 1.0%, transition 0.2%, and ideal stable 0.1%-0% . After 20 minutes until finished operating shows an ideal stable state. This is due to the microcontroller heat dissipation and energy absorbed by the ambient is the same.


The underlying mechanism(s) of improved left ventricular function (LV) due to mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) administration after myocardial infarction (MI) remains highly controversial. Myocardial regeneration and neovascularization, which leads to increased tissue perfusion, are proposed mechanisms. Here we demonstrate that delivery of MSCs 3 days after MI increased tissue perfusion in a manner that preceded improved LV function in a porcine model. MI was induced in pigs by 60-min occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery, followed by reperfusion. Pigs were assigned to receive intramyocardial injection of allogeneic MSCs (200 million, approximately 15 injections) (n = 10), placebo (n = 6), or no intervention (n = 8). Resting myocardial blood flow (MBF) was serially assessed by first-pass perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) over an 8-wk period. Over the first week, resting MBF in the infarct area of MSC-treated pigs increased compared with placebo-injected and untreated animals [0.17 +/- 0.03, 0.09 +/- 0.01, and 0.08 +/- 0.01, respectively, signal intensity ratio of MI to left ventricular blood pool (LVBP); P < 0.01 vs. placebo, P < 0.01 vs. nontreated]. In contrast, the signal intensity ratios of the three groups were indistinguishable at weeks 4 and 8. However, MSC-treated animals showed larger, more mature vessels and less apoptosis in the infarct zones and improved regional and global LV function at week 8. Together these findings suggest that an early increase in tissue perfusion precedes improvements in LV function and a reduction in apoptosis in MSC-treated hearts. Cardiac MRI-based measures of blood flow may be a useful tool to predict a successful myocardial regenerative process after MSC treatment.


This article aims to analyze the relation between individual, collective and organizational levels of learning in a hospital. In order to meet this objective, according to previous studies, a quantitative survey was carried out, from the application of questionnaires, with the hospital nurses. The data were analyzed followed by the technic of structural equation modeling. The results demonstrate that learning in groups is related to the learning that occurs at the individual and organizational levels. However, individual learning was not significantly associated with organizational learning. Furthermore, it was found that the collective learning substantially influences the organizational learning, compared to individual learning. The results are consistent to those found in other similar studies.


In this research an internet of things (IoT) system is designed for the purpose of industrial environment monitoring and control. The system is mainly composed of control and sensor units. Control unit has the responsibility of managing the received data form the sensor unit and then executing the developed control algorithm based on the measured parameters.  NodeMCU development kit is used as the core of the control unit. The senor unit contains gas and temperature sensors utilized for measuring the temperature and concentration of toxic gases in the monitored space. A buzzer has also been embedded in the sensor unit for alerting the occupants acoustically in the danger situations. If the monitored temperature gets higher or lower than the set levels, the air conditioning system will be automatically operated. Similarly, the fan (ventilation) system will be operated if the level of toxic gases becomes high. A mobile application, based on Blynk platform, is then developed to enable the wireless monitoring and control of the environment by the in charge people. In addition to the automatic and wireless control the manual control capability is considered in the developed IoT system.


In this paper, we proposed an enhanced transform-domain intra prediction method for H.264/AVC. In the proposed scheme, H.264/AVC intra prediction can be described by generalized linear operation after defining both H-filter and V-filter. Since intra prediction operation can be decomposed into some sparse matrices, we can reduce computational complexity for intra prediction. Our scheme can reduce the number of multiplication and addition operations more than Chen's by 22.4% and 21.6%, respectively, in each 4times4 block. Furthermore, we show that matrix multiplication can be simply processed using a look-up table which consists of 9 types of 4times4 constant matrices corresponding to 9 prediction modes in H.264. Consequently, we can insist that the proposed scheme in this paper can be used for fast transform domain intra prediction in the area of transcoding MPEG-2 streams into H.264/AVC streams.


The almost universal employment of the absorbable ligature in surgery of the broad ligament is in itself a confession of the imperfection of our present methods, a protest against the retention of the foreign body in peritoneal wounds, an admission that the less ligature material we use the better. A glance back over the last few decades gives an impressive showing of efforts to do away with it altogether, and while no instrument or appliance has yet been offered upon which we can rely in all circumstances, the ecraseur. thermocautery, torsion, retention forceps, electrothermic forceps and the angiotribe mark the several stages of progression towards the ideal hemostatic. This should insure: 1. Absolute security against hemorrhage, primary or secondary. 2. Protection against septic contamination. 3. The minimum injury to the parts treated. 4. Absence of foreign bodies from the wound. By the use of the electrothermic forceps and the angiotribe


With the recent international proliferation of architectural projects, expansions, and renovations, particularly in the art and museum worlds, critics have accused architecture of entering too fully into the 'society of the spectacle', yielding to consumerist display, and trading its historical aims, ambitions, and obligations for celebrity and ostentation.This important and timely volume examines the current state of contemporary architecture worldwide and the ways in which it is caught between the art of display and the accommodation of use. Eleven distinguished scholars from the fields of architecture, art history, and architectural criticism explore the problems and possibilities of contemporary architecture in the light of the history of its modern reception, new approaches to design technologies, and philosophical issues about the 'meaning' of architecture. They also consider whether the new buildings, projects and ideas that have generated such excitement and public interest are a creative response to society's fundamental social, cultural, and economic needs.


The gut microbiota consists of a dynamic multispecies community of bacteria, fungi, archaea, and protozoans, playing a fundamental role in the induction, training, and function of the host immune system. The liver is anatomically and physiologically linked to the gut microbiota via enterohepatic circulation, specifically receiving intestine-derived blood through the portal vein. The gut microbiota is crucial for maintaining immune homeostasis of the gut-liver axis. A shift in gut microbiota composition can result in activation of the mucosal immune response causing homeostasis imbalance. This imbalance results in translocation of bacteria and migration of immune cells to the liver, which is related to inflammation-mediated liver injury and tumor progression. In this review, we outline the role of the gut microbiota in modulating host immunity and summarize novel findings and recent advances in immune-based therapeutics associated with the gut-liver axis. Moving forward, a deep understanding of the microbiome-immune-liver axis will provide insight into the basic mechanisms of gut microbiota dysbiosis affecting liver diseases.


This study predicted that variations in the content of a narrative organ donor appeal (i.e., the age of the donor, the age of the person whose life was saved, the donor's cause of death, and the number of people whose lives were saved) would have a differential impact on a person's affective and cognitive reactions to that message, which would in turn influence a person's attitude toward signing an organ donor card. Two hundred sixty-eight individuals who had not signed an organ donor card previously read one of several narratives and then answered a series of questions designed to measure their attitudes toward signing an organ donor card. These data revealed that how a person dies (accident vs natural causes) and the number of people who are saved through organ donation indirectly influence a person's attitude toward signing an organ donor card with vividness, sympathy, and happiness acting as mediating variables. These findings and their implications are discussed.


[1] Two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) simulations are used to explore the effects of continental distribution on mantle convection. In both 2D and 3D, at total surface areas   50%, the dependence of mantle heat loss on continental configuration becomes stronger. Mantle temperature continues to increase with total continental area but now varies by 5%–7% with changing configurations. When distributed, continents can cause flow patterns to become locked. This leads to significant variations in mantle temperature below continental and oceanic regions. This differs from the expectation that supercontinents would preferentially lead to large lateral variations in mantle temperatures and suggests that insulation-induced thermal anomalies could exist below continents today if they have remained fixed relative to mantle flow (e.g., Africa).


Inspired by her successful blog of the same name, life coach Slim shows readers how to navigate the terrifying yet gratifying transition from corporate drone to entrepreneur. She strikes a perfect balance between emotional encouragement and practical advice: "Hating your job intensely," she writes, "is not a business plan." What's here is: the nitty-gritty of getting a business off the ground, legal considerations, making the best use of social networking sites, the components of a business model, organized creative brainstorming, financial advice, shopping for self-paid insurance and benefits, and helpful anecdotes of real-life entrepreneurship. With her humorous insights into corporate life and an appealing no-nonsense yet empathic tone, Slim deals swiftly and incisively with anxiety, fear and hesitation. Readers will cheer as she teaches the tricks behind finding "what makes you purr"—what people will pay you to do, what you have a great passion for and what you are genetically encoded to do. This is a standout in the start-your-own business genre.


An F2 population derived from the cross between Jiucaiqing (japonica) and IR36 (indica) was used to analyze the inheritance of salt tolerance in rice by genetic model of major-genes plus polygenes, and to map the corresponding QTLs by SSR molecular markers. Rice plants of P1, P2, F1 and F2 at 5- to 6- leaf stage were treated under 140 mmol/L NaCl for 10 days. Three indices representing the ability of salt tolerance of rice seedlings were measured, including salt tolerance rating (STR), Na + /K + ratio in roots and dry matter weight of shoots (DWS). STR, Na + /K + and DWS were all controlled by two major genes with modification by polygenes. Heritability of these traits from major genes was 17.8, 53.3 and 52.3%, respectively. The linkage map constructed by 62 SSR molecular markers covered a total length of about 1 142 cM. There were three QTLs detected for STR located on chromosome 1, 5 and 9, two QTLs for DWS on chromosomes 8 and 9, and two QTLs for Na + /K + on chromosomes 2 and 6, one on each chromosome respectively. Single QTL accounted for 6.7 to 19.3% of phenotypic variation. Identification method of salt tolerance in rice and breeding of rice varieties with salt tolerance based on molecular markers assisted selection had been discussed.


The assessment of disease activity and damage in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myositis remains inadequate. In this review we describe current approaches to the assessment of disease activity and damage. These include serologic, biochemical, radiographic, and histologic approaches. None of these methods are individually effective in differentiating disease activity from damage. Invariably combinations of these methods are needed to comprehensively assess the extent of both muscular and extramuscular disease. Recent developments (in serology, imaging, and genetics) are mentioned. These may prove to be useful in assessing the full extent of idiopathic inflammatory myositis; however, they are not widely available at present and are confined to research studies


Advanced producer services have long been theorized as pivotal in organizing the global economy. Finance takes centre stage in the advanced producer services complex as orchestrator of global flows, particularly in underwriting investment and evaluating corporate performance. The ascent of financialized globalization raises the suspicion that key advanced producer services act as rent-extracting 'obligatory passage points' in the orchestration of global financial flows. Competition within the financial sector is contentious given the sustained profits by globally connected banks operating in concentrated markets. Investment banks and other advanced producer services play key roles in underwriting of securities, raising questions whether underwriting is a competitive process. This paper interrogates the microeconomic foundations for the role of investment banks in investment chains to shed light on their rent extraction practices. Using a sample of 2940 initial public offerings for the USA, Canada, and Europe in the 1998–2017 period, we examine the structure of fees charged by investment banks for underwriting of equity securities. Our results are consistent with the proposition that investment banks with more market power and stronger network ties with institutional investors utilize their dominant position in the marketplace to extract rents from both issuers and institutional investors. Taken together, at times of spatial and sectoral consolidation, these results show compelling evidence for the status of investment banks and by extension the wider advanced producer services complex as obligatory passage points under financialized globalization.


Patient: Female, 37-year-old Final Diagnosis: Diabetic ketoacidosis • Fournier's gangrene Symptoms: Dysuria • pain Medication: Canagliflozin Clinical Procedure: Incision and drainage Specialty: Endocrinology and Metabolic • General and Internal Medicine Objective: Adverse events of drug therapy Background: Sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have become an appealing treatment for diabetes due to their favorable cardiac and renal outcomes. However, reports continue to emerge describing potentially life-threatening adverse events such as Fournier's gangrene and diabetic ketoacidosis associated with their use. Herein, we present a case of simultaneous Fournier's gangrene and diabetic ketoacidosis after initiation of treatment with canagliflozin. Case Report: A 37-year-old female with diabetes presented to the hospital with a chief complaint of left gluteal pain associated with dysuria 1 month after canagliflozin was added to her regimen. On initial evaluation, the patient was afebrile and hemodynamically stable. Physical examination revealed suprapubic tenderness and induration in the left gluteal region extending to the perineum. Laboratory testing was significant for anion gap metabolic acidosis with the presence of serum ketones. Computed tomography of abdomen and pelvis revealed features suggestive of Fournier's gangrene. The patient was treated for Fournier's gangrene and diabetic ketoacidosis. Management included empirical antibiotic treatment, multiple surgical explorations with debridement as well as insulin infusion with aggressive fluid resuscitation. The patient was discharged with a urinary catheter, vacuum dressing, and colostomy with instructions to start a basal bolus insulin regimen and discontinue canagliflozin. Conclusions: This is the first case describing a simultaneous occurrence of Fournier's gangrene and diabetic ketoacidosis with SGLT2 inhibitor therapy. Considering the growing popularity of these drugs, it is important to be aware of their more serious and potentially fatal complications. It is also important to promptly terminate SGLT2 inhibitors when harmful adverse effects are suspected.


OBJECTIVE
To explore the correlation between expression of surviving gene in acute leukemic cells and its clinical effects.

METHODS
By using semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique, surviving gene expression in 50 previously untreated acute leukemia (AL) patients was analysed. The apoptosis of primary leukemia cells cultured in vitro was assayed with terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL).

RESULTS
Surviving gene expression levels in cells of AL patients at diagnosis were significantly higher than that in normal bone marrow mononuclear cells (MNCs) (82.0% vs 33.3%, P < 0.05). The expression level was higher in ALL cells than in ANLL cells (89.5% vs 75.0%). Among 22 cases of ANLL, bone marrow remission (BMR) rate was higher in surviving gene negative expression cells from patients accepted a course of chemotherapy than in positive expression cells (83.3% vs 25.0%, P = 0.023). Among 13 ANLL patients received a course of HA regimen chemotherapy, the BMR was higher in patients surviving mRNA negative expression cells than in positive cells (100.0% vs 27.3%). Patients with surviving/beta-actin ratio>0.6 attained lower BMR.

CONCLUSION
Higher expression level of surviving mRNA in AL cells may be one of the reasons that leukemic cells are insensitive to chemotherapy.


The paper gives an illustrated introduction to the theory of hyperbolic virtual polytopes and related counterexamples to A.D. Alexandrov's conjecture.


Abstract I discuss various theoretical issues concerning maximizing, matching, and melioration. The model of addiction based on melioration has the key feature that a reduction in drag use increases both the value of drag-taking and the value of conventional activities. I found Heyman's target article stimulating. I don't feel competent to comment on drags but I do have some thoughts, both general and specific, on the theoretical issues.


This essay examines the visual techniques that Fitzgerald applies in the party-scenes in his fiction. It explores the tension between spectatorship and participation throughout and argues that he draws on the resources of the cinema in his fine control of perspective, close-up, and long shots—as well as montage. Although he acquired the reputation of the chronicler of the new generation, the essay argues that Fitzgerald constantly brought out the ironies of parties, particularly their fleeting and theatrical aspects, especially their dependence on material display. Comparisons are drawn with Zelda Fitzgerald's party scenes and with contemporaries such as Carl Van Vechten in order to bring out Fitzgerald's implicitly critical dramatization of sexual motifs.


Hidden Markov models using finite Gaussian mixture models as their hidden state distributions have been applied in modeling of time series that result from various noisy signals. Nevertheless, Gaussian mixture models are well-known to be highly intolerant to the presence of outliers within the fitting sets used for their estimation. Finite Student's-i mixture models have recently emerged as a heavier-tailed, robust alternative to Gaussian mixture models, overcoming these hurdles. To exploit those merits of Student's-i mixture models, we introduce in this paper a novel hidden Markov chain model where the hidden state distributions are considered to be finite mixtures of multivariate Student's-i densities and we derive an algorithm for the model parameters estimation under a maximum likelihood framework. We apply this novel approach in automatic gesture recognition and we show that our model provides a substantial improvement in data representation performance and computational efficiency over the standard Gaussian model.


Interspecific crosses between the mosquitoes Aedes polynesiensis and Aedes malayensis have shown a unidirectional pattern of compatibility. Aedes polynesiensis females inseminated by Ae. malayensis males fail to produce viable offspring while the reciprocal cross is viable. In both crosses, rates of insemination are comparable to control rates. The Ae. polynesiensis females fail to lay eggs. One apparent reason for this is that the Ae. polynesiensis females have a high rate of mortality after insemination by Ae. malayensis males. Such mortality is an effective barrier to hybridization in that cross, and is a new class of isolating mechanism.


Hydroxymethyl furanoic acid and its derivatives have been synthesized in high yields and purity from gluconolactone. The reaction sequence allows the recovery of reagents and the use of bio-friendly chemicals and solvents, and can easily be scaled up. The reaction product on a >100 gram scale can be purified by a single purification method, such as distillation or precipitation. The overall yield is above 50%.


The Savannah River Site liquid waste system consists of multiple facilities to safely receive and store legacy radioactive waste, treat, and permanently dispose waste. The large underground storage tanks and associated equipment, known as the 'tank farms', include a complex interconnected transfer system which includes underground transfer pipelines and ancillary equipment to direct the flow of waste. The waste in the tanks is present in three forms: supernatant, sludge, and salt. The supernatant is a multi-component aqueous mixture, while sludge is a gel-like substance which consists of insoluble solids and entrapped supernatant. The waste from these tanks is retrieved and treated as sludge or salt. The high level (radioactive) fraction of the waste is vitrified into a glass waste form, while the low-level waste is immobilized in a cementitious grout waste form called saltstone. Once the waste is retrieved and processed, the tanks are closed via removing the bulk of the waste, chemical cleaning, heel removal, stabilizing remaining residuals with tailored grout formulations and severing/sealing external penetrations. The comprehensive liquid waste disposition system, currently managed by Savannah River Remediation, consists of 1) safe storage and retrieval of the waste as it is prepared for permanent disposition; (2) definition of themore » waste processing techniques utilized to separate the high-level waste fraction/low-level waste fraction; (3) disposition of LLW in saltstone; (4) disposition of the HLW in glass; and (5) closure state of the facilities, including tanks. This paper focuses on determining the effectiveness of waste removal campaigns through monitoring the volume of residual solids in the waste tanks. Volume estimates of the residual solids are performed by creating a map of the residual solids on the waste tank bottom using video and still digital images. The map is then used to calculate the volume of solids remaining in the waste tank. The ability to accurately determine a volume is a function of the quantity and quality of the waste tank images. Currently, mapping is performed remotely with closed circuit video cameras and still photograph cameras due to the hazardous environment. There are two methods that can be used to create a solids volume map. These methods are: liquid transfer mapping / post transfer mapping and final residual solids mapping. The task is performed during a transfer because the liquid level (which is a known value determined by a level measurement device) is used as a landmark to indicate solids accumulation heights. The post transfer method is primarily utilized after the majority of waste has been removed. This method relies on video and still digital images of the waste tank after the liquid transfer is complete to obtain the relative height of solids across a waste tank in relation to known and usable landmarks within the waste tank (cooling coils, column base plates, etc.). In order to accurately monitor solids over time across various cleaning campaigns, and provide a technical basis to support final waste tank closure, a consistent methodology for volume determination has been developed and implemented at SRS.« less


The present invention relates to novel quinoline compounds of formula (I), and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts and process for their preparation. The compounds of formula (I) are useful in the treatment of various disorders that are related to 5-HT4 receptor agonists.


An innovative design approach was employed in the present study to enhance the electricity generation and wastewater treatment in a microbial fuel cell (MFC). A dual-chambered MFC with a ceramic separator was coupled with an acidogenic chamber. Acidogenic bioconversion of rice mill wastewater into volatile fatty acid (VFA) represents an interesting approach for wastewater valorization. The VFA containing effluent could be used as an effective substrate for bioelectricity generation in MFCs. A short hydraulic retention time (HRT) can be used for the two-stage anaerobic process (acidogenesis and electrogenesis), thus preventing the proliferation of methanogens. The effect of pH (5.5–7.5) and HRT (0.5 d–0.75 d) were investigated to understand the influence of operational parameters on the performance of the integrated system. The maximum VFA concentration of 1065.15 ± 5.08 mg COD/L was achieved at pH 7.5 and HRT 0.5 d. Under these operating conditions, the general activity of acid-forming microorganisms and exoelectrogens improved remarkably, and the power density obtained from the system was 4.72 ± 0.10 W/m3. The current research indicates excellent potential for simultaneous treatment and electricity production from rice mill wastewater. The use of low-cost, locally manufactured, and customized membranes and the two-stage treatment can pave the way for the practical application of this technology.


Thyrotropin (TSHR) receptor antibodies that bind to the TSHR without stimulating the TSHR have been identified with a direct binding assay. Moreover, TSHR antibodies that exhibit thyroid epithelial cell stimulation without inhibition of 125I-bovine thyrotropin (bTSH) binding and vice versa have been described. These data suggest that stimulation or blocking of the TSHR by stimulating (TSAB) or blocking (TSBAB) TSHR antibodies could be possible without detectable bTSH-displacement activity. However, to date, possible differences between TSAB or TSBAB activity and inhibition of 125I-bTSH binding have not been systematically investigated. Therefore we compared inhibition of 125I-bTSH binding and TSAB or TSBAB activity of sera from 113 patients with Graves' disease treated with antithyroid drugs. To exclude the different assay conditions of previous investigations as possible confounding factors, we determined TSAB or TSBAB and inhibition of 125I-bTSH binding (TBIIW) with the same Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing the human TSHR. Furthermore inhibition of 125I-bTSH binding was also determined as thyrotropin-binding inhibitory immunoglobulin (TBII) with solubilized porcine thyroid membranes (TRAK, Brahms, Berlin Germany) and the highly sensitive recombinant human TSH receptor assay (hTRAK, Brahms, Berlin Germany). Only 78% (54/69) of TSAB-positive and 78% (21/27) of TSBAB-positive sera detected with JP26 cells exhibit inhibition of 125I-bTSH binding measured as TBII or TBIIW. Furthermore, 59% (10/17) of sera without TSAB and TSBAB activity revealed inhibition of 125I-bTSH binding measured as TBII or TBIIW. We found significant differences between TSHR bioactivities (TSAB or TSBAB) and inhibition of 125I-bTSH binding. Moreover, there was no agreement between the detectable TSHR bioactivities (TSAB or TSBAB) and their detectable inhibition of 125I-bTSH binding. Therefore, it is very likely that TSH displacement by TSHR antibodies and stimulation or blocking of the TSHR by TSHR antibodies are different functions that do not need to occur together.