Understanding the complexities that are involved in the genetics of multifactorial diseases is still a monumental task. In addition to environmental factors that can influence the risk of disease, there is also a number of other complicating factors. Genetic variants associated with age of disease onset may be different from those variants associated with overall risk of disease, and variants may be located in positions that are not consistent with the traditional protein coding genetic paradigm. Latent Variable Models are well suited for the analysis of genetic data. A latent variable is one that we do not directly observe, but which is believed to exist or is included for computational or analytic convenience in a model. This thesis presents a mixture of methodological developments utilising latent variables, and results from case studies in genetic epidemiology and comparative genomics. Epidemiological studies have identified a number of environmental risk factors for appendicitis, but the disease aetiology of this oft thought useless vestige remains largely a mystery. The effects of smoking on other gastrointestinal disorders are well documented, and in light of this, the thesis investigates the association between smoking and appendicitis through the use of latent variables. By utilising data from a large Australian twin study questionnaire as both cohort and case-control, evidence is found for the association between tobacco smoking and appendicitis. Twin and family studies have also found evidence for the role of heredity in the risk of appendicitis. Results from previous studies are extended here to estimate the heritability of age-at-onset and account for the eect of smoking. This thesis presents a novel approach for performing a genome-wide variance components linkage analysis on transformed residuals from a Cox regression. This method finds evidence for a dierent subset of genes responsible for variation in age at onset than those associated with overall risk of appendicitis. Motivated by increasing evidence of functional activity in regions of the genome once thought of as evolutionary graveyards, this thesis develops a generalisation to the Bayesian multiple changepoint model on aligned DNA sequences for more than two species. This sensitive technique is applied to evaluating the distributions of evolutionary rates, with the finding that they are much more complex than previously apparent. We show strong evidence for at least 9 well-resolved evolutionary rate classes in an alignment of four Drosophila species and at least 7 classes in an alignment of four mammals, including human. A pattern of enrichment and depletion of genic regions in the profiled segments suggests they are functionally significant, and most likely consist of various functional classes. Furthermore, a method of incorporating alignment characteristics representative of function such as GC content and type of mutation into the segmentation model is developed within this thesis. Evidence of fine-structured segmental variation is presented.


The relative free energy of binding the anions Cl- and Br- to the macrotricyclic receptor SC24 in water has been computed by a computer simulation technique. This result and an incidental result for the relative free energy of hydration of the anions are in excellent agreement with experimental data. The simulation approach to ligand-receptor interactions that is described here has significant potential as a predictive tool in chemistry, biochemistry, and pharmacology.


Ovarian cancer carries significant mortality in the absence of effective methods for prevention and screening. Preventive salpingo-oophorectomy is currently the only method known to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer-related death. Histopathological analyses of these surgical specimens indicate that a high proportion of ovarian cancers in women at high risk and in the general population arise from the fallopian tube. This paradigm shift in our understanding of the cell of origin for the most common subtype of ovarian cancer, high-grade serous carcinoma, has sparked a major effort within the research community to develop new and robust model systems to study the fallopian tube epithelium, it susceptibility to neoplastic transformation, and opportunities for therapeutic intervention. These models include primary cell line cultures, fallopian tube-derived lines, epithelial-stromal co-cultures, genetically-engineered mouse models, and patient-derived tumor xenografts or 'avatars'. There has also been a re-evaluation of the fidelity of established ovarian cancer cell lines and the need to develop new lines that represent the human disease. Critical to this effort is the need to go beyond genomics and critically evaluate the functional utility of new cell lines. The deploying of these new models is already have a profound effect on our ability to identify unique susceptibilities in ovarian cancer through genetic screens, chemical screens, and targeted approaches. In addition, the search for novel biomarkers that can play a role in early detection or prognostication is being re-defined by looking at the fallopian tube fimbria as the source. Citation Format: Ronny Drapkin, Anna Budina, Yi Feng, Kai Doberstein. Developing and deploying experimental models systems towards novel drug discovery in ovarian cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Ovarian Cancer Research: Exploiting Vulnerabilities; Oct 17-20, 2015; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2016;22(2 Suppl):Abstract nr IA24.


Mechanical testing of connective tissues such as tendons and ligaments can lead to collagen denaturation even in the absence of macroscale damage. The following tensile loading protocols, ramp loading to failure, overloading and release, cyclic overloading and cyclic fatigue loading, all yield molecular damage in rat or bovine tendons. Single collagen fibrils extracted from the positional common digital extensor tendon of the forelimb also show molecular damage after tensile loading to failure. Using fibrils from the same source we assess changes to the molecular and supramolecular structure after tensile stress relaxation at strains between 4 and 22% followed by release. We observe no broken fibril and no significant change in D-band spacing. However, we observe significant binding of a fluorescent collagen hybridizing peptide to the fibrils indicating that collagen denaturation occurs in a strain dependent way for relaxation times between 1 s and 1500 s. We also show that peptide binding is associated with a decrease of the cross-sectional area of the fibrils providing an estimate of the dry volume loss due to molecular denaturation as well as an estimate of the mechanical energy density required, 25-110 MJ m-3. In summary we show that collagen molecular damage can occur in the absence of fibril failure and without visible changes to the supramolecular structure.


US homeland security concerns regarding the potential misuse of some radiation sources used in radiobiological research, for example, cesium-137 (137Cs), have resulted in recommendations by the National Research Council to conduct studies into replacing these sources with suitable X-ray instruments. The objective of this research is to compare the effectiveness of an X-RAD 320 irradiator (PXINC 2010) with a 137Cs irradiator (Gammacell-1000 Unit) using an established bone marrow chimeric model. Using measured radiation doses for each instrument, we characterized the dose–response relationships for bone marrow and splenocyte ablation, using a cytotoxicity-hazard model. Our results show that the X-RAD 320 photon energy spectrum was suitable for ablating bone marrow at the 3 exposure levels used, similar to that of 137Cs photons. However, the 320-kV X-rays were not as effective as the much higher energy γ rays at depleting mouse splenocytes. Furthermore, the 3 X-ray levels used were less effective than the higher energy γ rays in allowing the successful engraftment of donor bone marrow, potentially as a result of the incomplete depletion of the spleen cells. More defined studies are warranted for determining whether bone marrow transplantation in mice can be successfully achieved using 320-kV X-rays. A higher X-ray dose then used is likely needed for transplantation success.


Computing the FFT of a single channel is well understood in the literature. However, computing the FFT of multiple channels in a systematic manner has not been fully addressed. This paper presents a framework to design a family of multi-channel FFT architectures using folding and interleaving. Three distinct multi-channel FFT architectures are presented in this paper. These architectures differ in the input and output preprocessing steps and are based on different folding sets, i.e., different orders of execution.


Multivalency is an important phenomenon in protein–carbohydrate interactions. In order to evaluate glycodendrimers as multivalent inhibitors of carbohydrate binding proteins, we displayed them on a microarray surface. Valencies were varied from 1 to 8, and corrections were made for the valencies so that all surfaces contained the same amount of the sugar ligand. Five different carbohydrates were attached to the dendrimers. A series of fluorescent lectins was evaluated, and for each of them a binding profile was obtained from a single experiment showing both the specificity of the lectin for a certain sugar and whether it prefers multivalent ligands or not. Very distinct binding patterns were seen for the various lectins. The results were rationalized with respect to the interbinding distances of the lectins.


The article defines the importance of sea and river cruises. Shows the dynamics of the development of the cruise of the cluster. It is proved that Russia has enough potential. There is a possibility of development of sea and river cruise tourism. It is noted that the state of the domestic cruise market has deteriorated significantly. It was determined that for the domestic market of cruise tourism there are a number of problems that hinder effective work. The most serious of these are: conceptual basis and structure of the internal market river cruise tourism, the absence of a state regulatory framework. You need to adjust the evaluation of the effectiveness of the cruise market. The authors propose a method of assessing socio-economic efficiency. Developed a mechanism to enable companies in the cluster. Assesses the multiplier effect for the region due to the formation of clusters. A comprehensive approach to the problem of domestic cruise tourism is possible by the formation of tourism clusters in the regions. World practice shows that forming of tourist cluster will give impetus to the development of the region.


Paraneoplastic glomerular diseases (GNs) are rare manifestations in patients with underlying hematologic and solid organ malignancies and can occur before or after the detection of cancer. In the absence of established algorithms for investigation and reliable tests, they remain difficult to diagnose. Given the heterogeneity and infrequency of cases, the pathogenesis of most paraneoplastic GNs is poorly understood. Most of our recent understanding of paraneoplastic GNs has emerged from the discovery of target antigens in membranous nephropathy such as thrombospondin type-1 domain-containing protein 7A and neural epidermal growth factor-like 1 protein that appear to be promising in differentiating a primary vs paraneoplastic cause of membranous nephropathy. Treatment of paraneoplastic GNs is usually directed at the underlying malignancy. This review will focus on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and diagnosis of paraneoplastic glomerular processes.


Distributed intelligence, fault tolerance, and fiber optic technology hold significant promise when applied to complex sensor/actuator systems such as those found in primary and secondary flight control systems. This paper outlines the theory of operation and configuration of a fault tolerant distributed control system jointly developed by Raytheon Company and Beech Aircraft Corporation. The system's benefits accrue from the union of fiber optic performance advantages with the low cost of fault-tolerant distributed sensing and control techniques. The initial configuration is comprised of low-cost fault-tolerant computers which control, monitor and display the functions of two JT15D-5 engines and their thrust reversers across redundant fiber networks. Pilot inputs are transmitted digitally over a redundant fiber optic network using a distributed fault-tolerant processing architecture. In the Distributed Control-By-Light (CBL) system, low-cost intelligent nodes are placed at the site of the sensors, actuators, control inputs, feedback devices, and displays across the entire aircraft. The nodes communicate across redundant fiber optic networks using an industry standard open architecture protocol. Firmware at each node monitors or controls the local function and responds to commands from or passes digitized processed sensor data to other functions on the aircraft. Proven hardware and software fault-tolerance techniques are applied to provide the ability to withstand multiple faults. The Distributed Control-By-Light system achieves all of the benefits traditionally ascribed to FlyBy-Light: reduced cost and weight, reduced EM!, HIRF, and lightning susceptibility, reduced system grounding problems, reduced certification costs, and increased aircraft range and payload. The distributed architecture also provides decreased production and assembly costs, improved reliability, enhanced operational utility and decreased pilot workload, and enhanced maintenance and diagnostics capabilities.


Grounded in achievement goal theory and self-determination theory, the aim of this study was to analyze the motivational determinants of precompetitive anxiety in the sports context, considering the horizontal motivational sequence: adaptive social factors (task-involving climate, autonomy support style), competence need, types of motivation (autonomous motivation, controlled motivation, amotivation), and consequences (precompetitive anxiety and self-confidence). This study was also conducted in order to analyze the mediating role of the need for competition and motivational regulations on social factors and consequences. The sample consisted of 217 athletes of both sexes engaged in elite sport, who answered a series of questionnaires to measure study variables to develop an analysis of the structural equation model. The results showed that both the task-involving climate and autonomy support were associated with competence need, and competence need was associated with autonomous motivation in a positive way and with controlled motivation and amotivation in a negative way. On the other hand, autonomous motivation was positively associated with self-confidence, while amotivation was positively related to somatic and cognitive anxiety before a competition. Furthermore, there was a total mediation of competence need and autonomous motivation between task climate and self-confidence. In conclusion, these social factors favor self-confidence, and besides, these climates disfavor anxiety before a sport competition.


This paper investigates the problem of fault tolerant control (FTC) design for nonlinear Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) models with measurable premise variables. The idea is to synthesize a fault tolerant controller ensuring state trajectory tracking. Based on Lyapunov theory, new less conservative approaches are proposed in term of Linear Matrix Inequality (LMI). A PI observer is needed to estimate simultaneously the faults and the faulty system states in order to reconfigure the FTC law. A numerical example is considered to compare the conservatism of the proposed FTC approaches with the existing one and to illustrate the effectiveness of the FTC technique vs. the classical controller design methodology.


We present the results of calculations of the {[FeCl6-n(CN)n]m-×(VNa)5-m}5- impurity complex incorporated in the NaCl crystal lattice. A number of characteristic defect configurations are calculated quantum mechanically using an embedded cluster method, and compared with the results of Mott-Littleton (ML) calculations. We investigate the electron affinity and the orientation of CN- ligands. The dependence of vibrational frequencies of the CN stretching mode on the ligand orientation, charge of the impurity and the relative position of the ligands and the charge compensating vacancies are calculated. Analysis of these results demonstrates the ability of ML calculations to predict the relative stability of different configurations of this particular family of defects. Comparison of the ML and embedded cluster calculations reveals the contributions to the defect energy and stability.


The purpose of the study was to identify medicinal plants and document associated indigenous knowledge of the Amaya District's people related to differentiating the parts of medicinal plants, and their modes of preparation and administration to treat human and livestock diseases in South West Ethiopia. A total of 112 medicinal plant species belonging to 96 genera and 56 families were identified and documented. Most of the medicinal plants harvested were herbs followed by trees. Leaves were the most frequently used medicinal plant parts, followed by seeds and roots to prepare traditional remedies. Pounding was the most widely used mode of preparation in the study area, followed by crushing and chewing. The most commonly used route of administration was oral. The majority of medicinal plants were used in fresh condition to treat diseases. A Pearson correlation test indicated a significant difference between age of informants and number of medicinal plant species cited, and between level of education and number of medicinal plant species cited in the District. Ocimum lamiifolium specie was cited by the highest proportion of informants, and ranked first in treating febrile illness human disease in the study area. Malaria disease category scored the highest number of informant consensus factor value. Acmella caulirhiaz ranked first to treat tonsillitis infections. Cordia africana ranked first as a multipurpose medicinal plant. Farm expansion, firewood collection and lack of interest of the young and learned groups towards traditional medicines were the major threats to medicinal plants. Hence, identification and documentation of the medicinal plant species and the knowledge of the local people on how to prepare and use them is so vital for preserving them. Community based cultivation in home gardens and farmlands besides conserving them in wild, where they grow, are recommended to minimize the loss of those medicinal plants.


This paper presents a new approach for secure hiding of textual data in a colored digital image. Use of images as a cover media in steganography is based on the deficiencies in the human visual system (HVS). The proposed technique employs two independent chaotic sequences for specifying the locations where the message bits are embedded in the cover image using an adapted version of the least significant bit (LSB) method. Message bits are embedded using the 3-3-2 LSB insertion method for the chaotically selected pixels of the cover image. This technique provides sufficient security as the same sequence of numbers cannot be generated without knowing the exact key; that is; the initial conditions of the two chaotic maps used in the index selection process. Moreover, the preliminary results ensure that eavesdroppers will not have any suspicion that there is a message hidden within the sent image since the peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) is high and the mean-squared-error (MSE) is low. Furthermore, the length of the secret message is another important component of the key, which standard steganography detection methods cannot estimate correctly. Finally, the proposed approach provides better PSNR values and MSE values compared to other existing techniques as


The surface distributions of many tracers in the ocean are highly correlated in time and space on meso (∼100 km) and smaller scales ( Figure 1 ). However, their characteristic scales of variability differ. Some variables like sea surface chlorophyll (Chl) are very fine‐scaled or patchy, while others like sea surface temperature (SST) are not. We characterize the patchiness of a distribution quantitatively by the dependence of the variance V on the length scale L as V ∼ Lp; smaller p corresponds to greater patchiness. Using scaling and a numerical model we show that patchiness, p, varies with the characteristic response time τ of the tracer to processes that alter its concentration in the upper ocean as p ∼ log τ. This suggests that sea surface Chl is more patchy (has smaller p) than SST at mesoscales because the characteristic time scale of phytoplankton growth in response to the availability of nutrients is less than that for the equilibration of temperature in response to heat fluxes. Similarly, sea surface dissolved oxygen (O2) exhibits more fine‐scaled variability than total dissolved inorganic carbon (TCO2) because O2 equilibrates with the atmosphere much more rapidly than TCO2. Tracers that are more patchy require higher resolution to model and sample; the sampling or model grid spacing required scales as exp(−1/log τ). The quantitative relationship between p and τ can be used to relate various biogeochemical distributions, particularly to those that are remotely sensed, and to deduce biogeochemical response times of various tracers or plankton species from the characteristics of their distributions in space or time.


Herein, a mediated Gluconobacter oxydans biosensor was constructed by immobilizing the intact cells on the modified gold electrode. The surface was initially modified with gold nanoparticles and then, self-assembled monolayers were formed by using 6-(ferrocenyl) hexanethiol. Finally, G. oxydans cells were adsorbed onto the surfaces and the bio-active layer was covered with a dialysis membrane. As well as the response characteristics, stabilities and substrate specificities ere investigated.


Anomaly detection in videos refers to the identification of events that do not conform to expected behavior. However, almost all existing methods tackle the problem by minimizing the reconstruction errors of training data, which cannot guarantee a larger reconstruction error for an abnormal event. In this paper, we propose to tackle the anomaly detection problem within a video prediction framework. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work that leverages the difference between a predicted future frame and its ground truth to detect an abnormal event. To predict a future frame with higher quality for normal events, other than the commonly used appearance (spatial) constraints on intensity and gradient, we also introduce a motion (temporal) constraint in video prediction by enforcing the optical flow between predicted frames and ground truth frames to be consistent, and this is the first work that introduces a temporal constraint into the video prediction task. Such spatial and motion constraints facilitate the future frame prediction for normal events, and consequently facilitate to identify those abnormal events that do not conform the expectation. Extensive experiments on both a toy dataset and some publicly available datasets validate the effectiveness of our method in terms of robustness to the uncertainty in normal events and the sensitivity to abnormal events. All codes are released in https://github.com/StevenLiuWen/ano_pred_cvpr2018.


2-hydroxy-5-methylacetophenoneisonicotinoylhydrazone (HMAINH) is used as new reagent for spectrophotometric determination of palladium(II). The method is simple, rapid and highly sensitive and reagent forms a 1:1 yellow coloured complex with Pd (II). The complex shows absorption maximum at 385 nm, where as absorption due to reagent is negligible. The extraction was carried out at 0.010-0.015M sulphuric acid into chloroform. The Beer's law is obeyed over the concentration range of 2.0 - 9.0 ppm of palladium (II) at 385 nm. Optimum range as defined by Ringbom's plot was 3.0 – 7.0 ppm. The molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity of extracted species are 5.320 x 103 dm3 mol-1cm-1 and 0.02 μg cm-2 respectively. The standard deviation is 0.8755. The effect of various diverse ions on the estimation of Pd (II) has been studied.


Electron microscopic and morphometrical methods were used to study axospinal synapses as well as reactions of continuous posttetanic potentiation of neurons in surviving slices of sensomotor cerebral cortex in white mice. Under the same experimental conditions electron microscopic and electrophysiological studies have established that the result of high frequency electrical stimulation consisted in the appearance of continuous posttetanic potentiation, and quantitative and morphometrical changes in the ultrastructure of axospinal synapses: decreased active zone, increased summary greatest width of the spine apparatus cisterns. A supposition is made that high frequency electrical stimulation results in changed content of Ca2+ in spine cytoplasm, which may be considered as a trigger factor influencing the changes of cable properties and synaptic efficiency of axospinal synapses at the initial period of the continuous posttetanic potentiation.


The article is devoted to the relevant issues of determining factors and ways to intensify financial and lending support for the agricultural sector of the economy. In the wider sense, financial and lending support for agricultural enterprises is necessary for financing, growth and development of the state economy. National and foreign experiences demonstrate that the finances of agricultural enterprises have certain specific nature and require permanent crediting. Due to the length of production cycle, seasonality, nature of cost formation and supplies of agricultural enterprises, its own permanent funding source is impossible. Consequently, the attraction and usage of borrowed financial resources is the key aspect of the financial activity of the agricultural sector of the economy aimed at the achieving successful final results. The research shows that in all developed countries the agricultural sector of the economy enjoys the benefits of state support as it directly affects the country's food safety. It is revealed that the introduced system of funding state support of the agricultural complex does not provide legally determined promotion of agricultural enterprises, their competitiveness, food safety, improvement of the level of social protection for rural population mainly due to imperfect financial system. The issues that impede development for lending to agricultural enterprises and the development of agricultural insurance have been determined which make obstacles to improve their financial security and effective risk management in the agricultural sector in order to enhance the potential of their rapid development. It has been proved that the efficiency of financial and credit arrangement of ensuring the development of the agricultural sector depends on the effective financial policy of the industry and the state as a whole which can help to combine economic interests of agricultural enterprises and the state.


The two westernmost Galapagos Islands, Isabela and Fernandina, comprise six large, active, basaltic shield volcanoes, which are closely related in space and in the time of their formation. The volcanoes have marked morphological and structural similarities, but gradational differences exist which show relative volcano ages. These features also indicate the mechanisms of volcano origin and development. The unusual subaerial profiles are typified by steep upper slopes and a broad, flat top. Profiles, including submarine portions, show that all six volcanoes have four slope segments: two submarine and two subaerial. Distinct profile differences provide evidence for various formational processes; the subaerial upper segments are sensitive indicators of these processes. Superimposed profiles show that erupted lavas move far down the volcano slopes to be deposited on the subaerial lower segment and especially on the submarine segments. Relative slope maturities on a volcano can be determined that depend upon the volume of lava added to different profile directions. Different ranges of slope maturities indicate the relative volcano ages. Subaerial profiles are influenced by the submarine base which formed prior to subaerial accumulation. The "flattish" volcano tops are mostly large calderas, although some calderas are surrounded by a wide, flat rim area. Caldera characteristics, such as diameter, circularity, and depth, show trends which agree with the age sequence determined from the profiles. Volcano elevations decrease regularly with increasing caldera diameter. A radial fissure pattern is well developed on the younger volcanoes but becomes less well defined with age. When present, this pattern is restricted to the subaerial upper segment of the volcano. Fissures on subaerial lower segments have a linear nature; they extend upslope to the calderas and downslope to link adjacent volcanoes. A circumferential fissure pattern around the caldera is well displayed by some volcanoes. The diameter of the circumferential fissure pattern increases with age; on the youngest volcano, circumferential fissures have a strong linear nature. Coalescence of circumferential and linear fissures, caldera elongation, and eruption locations define dominant, throughgoing lineaments which cross each volcano and link the six volcanic centers. Subordinate lineaments can also be defined which intersect dominant lineaments at each caldera. Two lineament orientations are present which correspond to previously proposed trends for the Galapagos Islands. A model for the origin and development of the volcanoes outlines five main periods: (1) submarine base construction, (2) subaerial construction, (3) tumescence and radial fracturing, (4) caldera development, and (5) morphological decline. A key concept in the model is the formation of a dome by tumescence and associated radial fracturing. The dome is supported by radial dikes so that a steep upper slope segment is formed and maintained during caldera development. Circumferential fissures are viewed as "passive" features which form during collapse of the central part of the dome. Calderas are initially grabenlike because of the control of the throughgoing dominant lineament. Caldera growth is accompanied by increasing circumferential fissure diameter; radial fissures become less distinct as tumescence decreases in importance. During morphological decline, the caldera consumes the upper portion of the volcano while eruptions broaden and flatten the profile. The resulting landform is similar to shield volcanoes of other areas and to the older Galapagos Islands.


Numerous research studies are carried out in order to investigate various properties and implement the potential of hybrid carbon/flax composites for technical applications. This review aims to present a summary of materials and manufacturing techniques, which are currently used for the fabrication of the carbon/flax composites, and describe the reported tensile, bending, impact, and damping properties of the resulting hybrid materials as well as the attempts to model some of these properties.


Recombinant growth factors have proven to be a paradigm-changing technology in the area of bone repair and regeneration. In the foreseeable future, growth factors are likely to be incorporated into cartilage resurfacing technologies as well. In this article, we review in vitro and in vivo studies that lay the scientific foundation for future strategies that exploit growth factors to enhance cartilage repair and regeneration. Particular attention is given to how recombinant growth factors can impact critical aspects of cartilage resurfacing, including (1) chondroprotection, (2) cellular recruitment/proliferation, and (3) chondrocyte differentiation.


Remote coalition network elements (CNEs) are proposed for base station (BS) cooperation, where the CNEs carry traffic in the second hop for the primary BS in support of its cell-edge mobile stations (MSs) by exploiting the unused frequency bands of the main BS network while considering a range of practical impairments. We derive the coalition probability of the CNEs by taking into account both the specific system load and the CNE's greediness factor. Our simulation results demonstrate that the proposed solution is capable of substantially increasing the attainable signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) in a wide range of scenarios, and it is also robust to diverse practical imperfections. We demonstrate that the maximal sum profit of the main BS network and the CNE network is achieved at a greedy factor of 0.45 when the MSs are located in the range of r <; 0.25R of the CNE, where is the cell's radius.


The Warner-Lambert group, which incorporates Parke-Davis and Goedecke, is ranked outside the top twenty pharmaceutical companies in terms of sales. However, it is an interesting and innovative company which has a very distinctive patenting policy. The company specialises in the neurological, musculoskeletal and cardiovascular areas; immunologicals, anti-infectives and anticancers are of secondary importance. This article analyses the patenting activity of the company over the past four years and indicates the research areas of interest.


A new species of the genus Caucaseuma Strasser, 1970, Caucaseuma strasseri Antić sp. nov., is described from a cave in the Western Caucasus, representing the eighth species of the genus, and the fourth presumed troglobiontic Caucaseuma. An updated key to and a distribution map of all eight species of Caucaseuma is presented, including new records. In addition, the cave millipede fauna of the Caucasus is briefly discussed, with the inclusion of the most relevant references.


This paper provides an overview of DOCSIS 2.0, the main objective of which is to achieve a significant increase in upstream bandwidth, while providing more robustness against channel impairments. This has been achieved through inclusion of an enhanced physical layer that supports higher order modulations with increased forward error correction capabilities.


Background: Recent years have witnessed a dramatic increase in the number of malignant goiters among adolescents and adults.Aim: The aim of this work is to review patients with goiter, as regards, their nature, demographic characterization, clinical presentation and preoperative histopathological data obtained by Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC). It also aimed to review; the operative data and post-operative histopathological pattern of all patients from a tertiary care hospital in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Moreover, the current retrospective study was designed to evaluate the nature, line of management and outcomes of malignant goiter in the same geographical region.Patient and Methods: The study took place in a period of 4 years from December 2015 to January 2019. Patients demographic data, clinical presentation, Intra-operative findings. Pre and postoperative histopathological staging and grading were all recorded. postoperative follow up whether early or late were also included.Results: A total of 65 patients underwent surgery. The female to male ratio was found to be 5:1 (48 females and 17 males). Patients' age ranged from 8 to 70 year with the mean of 34.4 ±11.7 (mean ± SD). Solitary nodule was the main presentation in 80% of cases while 20% were multinodular swellings. Symptoms of increased thyroid hormone functions were recorded in 13 patients (20%). Papillary carcinoma was recorded in 52 patients (80%) while 10 patients were having follicular carcinoma. The remaining three patients (4.6%) suffered of lymphoma, no medullary or anaplastic tumors were recorded.Conclusion: Thyroid cancer is quiet high among Saudi patients within the Eastern Province, the reason needs to be thoroughly investigated. Papillary type of carcinoma is the most commonly encountered pathological type of malignancy followed by follicular carcinoma and lymphoma. Further prospective and meta analytic studies may be needed for a more accurate and thorough assessment of the reasons that led to the increasing number of thyroid malignancies and their correlation to environmental factors.


Integrative Sequential Psychotherapy (ISP) is a new way to integrate psychotherapeutic interventions from different orientations. The therapeutic process reproduces in the clinical setting the natural process of crisis management by resilient individuals. There are seven phases, named after the central task of each one: Owning oneself, Keep calm, Harm minimization, Understand the situation, Deciding the condition, Action no reaction and Creating new reality. In this article the three first are described. The integrative axis of PSI is the sequence of tasks central to each phase. An approach useful for one task may be irrelevant or even counterproductive in another. Surmounting one phase gets the patient ready to work in the next one; conversely, difficulty in the working of one phase indicates that he has to return to the previous one. The entire sequence has to be repeated several times, until it is fully internalized and the patient is able to follow the whole process with ease in every adverse circumstance.


The 2014 Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemic in West Africa was unprecedented in its geographical distribution, scale, and toll on public health infrastructure. Standard public health measures were rapidly overwhelmed, and many projections on outbreak progression through the region were dire. At the beginning of the outbreak there were no treatments or vaccines that had been shown to be safe and effective for treating or preventing EVD, limiting health care providers to offer supportive care under extremely challenging circumstances and at great risk to themselves. Over time, however, drugs and vaccines in the development pipeline were prioritized based on all available research data and were moved forward for evaluation in clinical trials to demonstrate safety and efficacy. The armamentarium against EVD eventually included biologics such as monoclonal antibodies, convalescent plasma, and vaccines as well as small molecule therapeutics such as small interfering RNAs and nucleoside analogs. This article provides a high-level overview of the interventions and prophylactics considered for use in the outbreak and discusses the challenges faced when attempting to deploy investigational countermeasures in the midst of an evolving epidemic.


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Adrenomedullin is a recently discovered vasoactive peptide that is structurally related to calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). Adrenomedullin is produced by vascular endothelium and smooth muscle and is present in the brain. The goals of this study were to determine (1) whether adrenomedullin produces dilatation of cerebral arterioles and whether this effect is mediated by activation of CGRP receptors and (2) whether vasodilatation to adrenomedullin was mediated by K+ channels.

METHODS
Diameter of cerebral arterioles (mean +/- SE baseline, 46 +/- 1 microns) was measured using a closed cranial window in anesthetized rats.

RESULTS
Application of rat adrenomedullin (10(-7) and 10(-6) mol/L) increased vessel diameter by 16 +/- 3% and 45 +/- 8% (n = 5), respectively. Vasodilator responses to repeated application of adrenomedullin were reproducible. Pretreatment of cerebral arterioles with the specific CGRP1 receptor antagonist CGRP-(8-37) (5 x 10(-7) mol/L) selectively inhibited the vasodilator responses to adrenomedullin without inhibiting responses to ADP (10(-5) to 10(-3) mol/L). Responses to adrenomedullin (10(-7) and 10(-6) mol/L) were 14 +/- 1% and 40 +/- 3% before and 2 +/- 2% and 6 +/- 1% after CGRP-(8-37), respectively (P < .01). Glibenclamide (10(-6) mol/L), an inhibitor of ATP-sensitive K+ channels, reduced the responses to adrenomedullin without attenuating responses to ADP. Responses to adrenomedullin were 19 +/- 4% and 35 +/- 6% before and 6 +/- 3% and 19 +/- 5% after glibenclamide, respectively (P < .05). Iberiotoxin (10(-7) mol/L), an inhibitor of calcium-dependent K+ channels, also significantly attenuated responses to adrenomedullin and did not inhibit vasodilatation to papaverine. Responses to adrenomedullin were 16 +/- 2% and 55 +/- 8% before and 12 +/- 4% and 26 +/- 3% after iberiotoxin, respectively (P < .01 for 10(-6) mol/L adrenomedullin).

CONCLUSIONS
Adrenomedullin produces substantial dilatation of cerebral arterioles in vivo, and the response is mediated in large part by activation of CGRP1 receptors. Cerebral vasodilatation to adrenomedullin appears to be dependent on activation of K+ channels.


Summary Patients diagnosed as reactively or endogenously depressed were given electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The endogenously depressed patients tended to respond to the treatment more quickly and favourably. Measures of age and severity of depression were as predictive as the classification into endogenous or reactive depression using the Newcastle rating scale. The degree of psychological stress ascertained and presumed to be operating did not contribute to the prediction of outcome.


The main goal of "Design by Contract" is to improve correctness and robustness of software systems. For this purpose, the interfaces of classes or modules are augmented with precise specifications containing assertions. By means of these assertions, a supplier of a service imposes contractual obligations that his clients have to fulfill. " Componentware " introduces a new software development paradigm. Systems are no longer implemented from scratch, but glued together from existing components. In this paper, we show why and how the concepts of pure design by contract fail in the context of component-based system development. In order to leverage the vision of design by contract to its full extent for component-based system development, we introduce the new concept of " Design by Signed Contract ". Signed contracts enable us to specify not only what a supplier provides to its environment, but also what a client needs from its environment. Signed contracts guarantee that client needs are satisfied by corresponding properties provided by suppliers. We show how signed contracts can be used for a more precise specification of the composition of component-based systems and a more formal verification of the correctness of these systems. Thereby, software system defects can already be detected and prevented at the specification level.


Statement of purpose Injury prevention professionals are part of a complicated system that works collectively to address injury prevention through development, implementation, participation in and evaluation of an injury prevention program. While the responsibilities of an IPC are vast, and often accompanied by minimal support or funding – the need for extensive reach of injury prevention programs remain. Understanding the causes for injury and prevention frameworks, theories, curriculum development, evaluation, research and program implementation are Methods/Approach We conducted a gap analysis of We determined the parameters of injury prevention manager's and safety officer's roles in cross fertilisation and involvement in activities based on a review of national norms, focus groups and key informant interviews. We also convened hospital-based taskforce and community stakeholders to refine the roles and scope of injury prevention priorities for the hospital. Results Based on these findings, program priorities were set to reflect the following: Develop innovative approaches utilising non-traditional partnerships and networks; Engage Office of Safety and Security to participate in related trainings and obtain required certifications in injury prevention; Collaborate with the Office of Safety and Security on injury prevention internal activities to include patient safety measures (child passenger safety), staff safety (seat belt and pedestrian safety) and environmental modifications/enhancements to improve safety/injury prevention capacity (resources, trainings) Develop new systems to provide childhood safety information to patients and families; Develop creative strategies and partnerships to address resource gaps that will provide program support externally. Conclusions While the IPM is responsible for developing, implementing and identifying injury prevention programming, we believe that enhancing injury prevention occurs through sharing best practices and programs and building meaningful partnerships to sustain programmatic reach, establish policy and practice and improve patient and community education. Unfortunately, the impact/reach of these internal partnerships are often limited to hospital-based initiatives if external/community-based priorities unsupported. Elevating the magnitude and critical nature of injury prevention through interdepartmental engagement to secure ongoing support are among the highest priorities for IPMs. Significance and contribution to the field The unique partnership with the Injury Prevention Program and Office of Safety and Security yielded significant outcomes for both the hospital and community-at-large. As a result, more than 8 members from both departments have successfully completed reciprocal trainings to work in concert as Child Passenger Safety Technicians and in disaster training and response to improve the health and safety of patients and families in the community. This interdepartmental collaboration has yielded more than 25 community-based events, 3 internal hospital policies, 6 certification courses and more than 60,000 contacts. Both areas have fully immersed activities and policies to support this partnership long-term.


Single particle ICP-mass spectrometry (spICP-MS) has been used to define the size and number concentration of nanoparticles (NPs). In this study, we have developed a new analytical approach to extend the analytical size range of NPs toward a larger region. To achieve this, the signal intensities of Au related polyatomic ions such as 197Au12C+, 197Au14N+, 197Au16O+, and 197Au40Ar+, instead of 197Au+, were used for the size calibration of Au NPs. With the 197Au40Ar+ signal, the signal intensities emanating from the Au NPs can be reduced to the 10−5 level, and thus, the resulting signal intensity for 400 nm Au NPs was about 1 000 000 cps, which was well within the analytical range. For the size analysis of Au NPs of size 200–400 nm, the intensity of the 197Au40Ar+ signal was used, whilst, the 197Au+ signal was used for the size calibration for Au NPs of size 10–100 nm. The reliability of the technique can be evaluated from the slope of the regression line defined by NPs of three sizes (200, 300, and 400 nm). The wider analytical range achieved here (i.e., 10–400 nm) shows that this technique can be applied for the size analysis of NPs present in nature.


7 that the addition of fumed silica stiffens the aerogel network and reduces shrinkage during the supercritical-drying stage. Minimization of shrinkage enables establishment of intimate contact between thermoelectric legs and the composite material, thereby maximizing the effectiveness of the material for thermal insulation and suppression of sublimation. To some extent, the properties of the composite can be tailored via the proportions of titania and other ingredients. In particular (see figure), the addition of a suitably large proportion of titania (e.g., 0.6 g/cm) along with a 10-percent increase in the amount of tetraethylorthosilicate [TEOS (an ingredient of the sol)] to an aerogel component having a density 40 mg/cm makes it possible to cast a high-average-density (>0.1 g/cm) aerogel/particle composite having low shrinkage (2.3 percent). This work was done by Jong-Ah Paik, Jeffrey Sakamoto, and Steven Jones of Caltech for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Further information is contained in a TSP (see page 1). In accordance with Public Law 96-517, the contractor has elected to retain title to this invention. Inquiries concerning rights for its commercial use should be addressed to: Innovative Technology Assets Management JPL Mail Stop 202-233 4800 Oak Grove Drive Pasadena, CA 91109-8099 (818) 354-2240 E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com Refer to NPO-42031, volume and number of this NASA Tech Briefs issue, and the page number.


Interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) using specific tuberculous antigens is a rapid, specific and sensitive method for the detection of tuberculous infection, and usually done in peripheral blood sample. We examined IGRA in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in a patient strongly suspected of having tuberculous meningitis. A 53-year old woman had a month history of headache and fever with meningeal sign. Routine systemic bacterial, tuberculous and viral analyses all resulted in negative study except for increase of adenosine deaminase in CSF. Neither of antibacterial or antiviral treatments were effective, but she was successfully treated with antituberculous agents. In IGRA, the interferon-gamma concentration in her CSF was high in the background level and increased further after the antigen stimulation, suggesting theoretically that tuberculous antigen-specific T cells were presented in her CSF. IGRA of CSF in combination with peripheral blood-IGRA could be a useful and rapid method for diagnosing active tuberculosis in the central nervous system.


A sensitive method for the clinical determination of cyclophosphamide in 0.2 ml plasma by capillary gas chromatography with nitrogen-phosphorus detection is described. A detection limit of 50 nl/ml is readily obtainable, which is sufficiently low to measure the cyclophosphamide concentrations occurring in clinical practice. The selection of internal standards and the use of the nitrogen-phosphorus detection system is discussed, as well as eventualities for determination of cyclophosphamide metabolites.


The dynamics of fluence noise of an optical pulse at free-space (e.g., vacuum) propagation has been studied. It has been shown that the fluence noise with high spatial frequency is effectively cleaned out from the primary smooth pulse either by spatial walk-off or by temporal delay at a relatively small propagation distance. This effect can be referred to as spatial and temporal self-filtering and is of major interest in ultra-high-power and ultra-short-pulse applications. The study comprises a rigorous theory and a few relevant numerical simulation examples.


As researchers continue to improve speech in noisy microwave frequencies will achieve better penetration into the environments, more interest is being placed on sensors with body. modalities that can be fused with traditional acoustic sensors. The surface vibration electromagnetic speech sensor The standard literature has shown that electromagnetic sensors concept uses electromagnetic waves in the millimeter wave can be used to detect glottal motion. Also, accelerometers placed region to measure the slight vibrations of the body on the skin on the throat and nasal areas have been used to detect skin corresponding to human speech, down to micron levels of surface vibrations corresponding to speech and that data has beenuse fornoie rducton.The eoria ech eserch motion. At the proposed operational frequency of 35.0 GHz, been used for noise reduction. The Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is transitioning a 24 GHz radar technology the electromagnetic waves pass through clothes but do not originally used for non-contact vital signs monitoring to a penetrate into the body as does the GEMS sensor. The radar technology able to measure surface motion on the order of is detecting only surface vibrations and therefore directly microns, which can detect skin surface vibrations corresponding measures the surface skin vibration and not the internal body to speech. The radar has been shown to measure the same structures. Since the device is directly picking up speech motion as accelerometers using electromagnetic waves. This vibrations, it will be referred to as a "radar microphone". A paper describes the theory and preliminary work in developing a diagram of the concept is shown in Figure 1. surface vibration electromagnetic speech sensor to be used for noise reduction in conjunction with acoustic sensors.


As of 1986 a laboratory for the diagnosis of Malignant Hyperthermia (MH) was established at the University of Antwerp which since then served as the national reference laboratory for this rare anesthetic complication. Our unit is an accredited lab within the network of the European Malignant Hyperthermia Group and thus has had the chance to attain a solid practical expertise in this disorder, as well as to collaborate in several multicentre studies on MH.

The present review summarizes what collaborative international research has taught us about MH over the last 3,5 decades, and covers evolving insights in such topics as pathophysiology, clinical presentation, treatment, anesthesia for patients with an increased risk of developing MH, molecular genetics, diagnostic work-up and relationship to other myopathies.


A metachronous bilateral pulmonary resection was executed on 11 cases of primary bronchogenic carcinoma. Of the 11 cases of secondary tumors, 5 were double primaries and 6 were metastatic foci. Except for 1 wedge resection, radical lobectomy was done for the first resection of the 11 cases. Modes for the second resections were lobectomy in 2, segmentectomy in 3, and wedge resection in 6. At the second operation, 2 cases underwent a complete regional lymphnode dissection but in the other 9 cases lymph node dissection was incomplete. Tumor infiltration was proven on the margin of surgical specimen for 2 cases. There was a necessity of ventilatory support for 3 cases after the operation but there were no surgical deaths. Of the 6 cases of recurrent diseases that underwent second resection, 1 case died of respiratory insufficiency a year after operation. The 5 remaining cases are living from 1 to 4 years. Of the 5 double primaries, 1 case died of respiratory insufficiency 7 months after operation and 1 case died of metastatic disease 10 months after operation. One case died of an accident 3 years 6 months after the operation. For the remaining 2 cases, one is living for 1 year and 6 months, the other for 3 years and 4 months following resection. The demand for second resection in primary bronchogenic carcinoma is increasing from year to year.


Transport selectivity is a challenge in the design of biomimetic transmembrane channels. In the present study, specific ion-dependent lipophilic G-quadruplexes displaying different conformations were designed for the construction of highly selective artificial transmembrane channels. The presence of Pb2+ and K+ ions prompted the folding of lipophilic PS2.M sequence into G-quadruplexes with antiparallel and parallel conformations. Membrane immobilization of the G-quadruplex channels restricted the reversible configurational changes between different topologies, which was confirmed by Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) analysis. 8-Hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonic acid (HPTS) transport assays revealed that Pb2+-stabilized antiparallel isomers and K+-stabilized parallel isomers exhibited significant differences in the transmembrane transport. The former showed high Pb2+ transport activity (EC50 = 1.55 μM) and selectivity (Pb2+/K+ selectivity = 30.6), while the latter demonstrated high K+ transport activity (EC50 = 0.56 μM) and selectivity (K+/Pb2+ selectivity = 31.8). The cation selectivity of these channel mimics was also consistent with the outcomes of the conducted fluorescent probe assays. The results described herein provide a platform for effective development of conformation-dependent ion-selective biomimetic transmembrane channels. The G-quadruplex channels demonstrate high potential for application in the fields of molecular diagnostics, logic biocomputing, selective separation, and single-molecule biosensing.


An 84-year-old female with a history of hypertension and dyslipidemia was referred for a retinal artery macroaneurysm with exudation that had extended into the macula. She underwent a total of six injections of bevacizumab, with some improvement in visual acuity and retinal thickness. Due to persistent macular edema, focal laser photocoagulation was performed around the macroaneurysm. The vision remained at 20/30 during 20 months of follow up. Although anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy may improve vision and decrease retinal thickness in retinal artery macroaneurysm, recalcitrant cases may be treated with laser photocoagulation to seal the leaking vessel.


A microreactor competent to control the microprecipitation environment is exploited to investigate the direct precipitation process between iron and phosphorus sources. The dependency of the reaction species on the purity of the final products is revealed. The Fe3+ hydrolysis and the pH of the mixture are confirmed to have decisive influences on the generation of byproducts. The addition of phosphoric acid in the iron source is verified to be an effective method to simultaneously inhibit Fe3+ hydrolysis and adjust the pH of the mixture. By optimizing the amount of phosphoric acid addition, pure nanoiron phosphate with an average size of ca. 20 nm is successfully prepared by a continuous precipitation process. Assuming instantaneous mixing and fast precipitation reactions, Fe3+ and HPO42– are indicated as the main species during the pure iron phosphate precipitation. The criteria would lay a practical guidance for achieving a continuous synthesis of nanoiron phosphate with high purity.


Student mental health and wellbeing is a focus of great attention and concern. While research is increasingly investigating institutional factors that might affect mental health and wellbeing, university infrastructures and frameworks themselves are rarely considered. This Short Communication takes the United Kingdom as an exemplary case to outline the implementation and intensi fi ed use of digital technologies, infrastructures, and data, as well as the expansion of new relationships between universities and other (often corporate) entities. We outline the need for greater scrutiny and deliberation concerning: (i) gaps in evidence and evaluation; (ii) uncertainty regarding how systematically students are being consulted; and (iii) broader implications of these new markets and data uses. These approaches are in fl uencing conceptualisations of student mental health and well-being, and affecting which actors and which tools are measuring and intervening in students ' mental health. Many ethical, political and clinical issues are raised by such approaches: they deserve greater critical attention from all in mental health.


The aim of this paper is to focus on the problems encountered in digitizing public administration. It puts emphasis on what is at stake with e-administration and underlines the contrast with the high rate of failure in managing such projects. After a review of why so many projects fail, the paper outlines, through the experience of a pilot project implemented in the Ministry of Finances in France, which key competencies need to be improved in the public sector and what could be an appropriate training program.


PURPOSE
Inflammatory processes may increase the urothelial thickness of the renal pyelon. Purpose of the study was to assess sonographic measurement of pyelon wall thickness (PWT) in adult patients with acute pyelonephritis, chronic urinary tract infection (UTI) and indwelling ureteral stents.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Four study groups (acute pyelonephritis n=50, chronic UTI n=10, indwelling ureteral stents n=10, controls n=25) underwent renal ultrasonography (Acuson Seqouia, Mountain View, CA; 6 MHz Transducer). The renal pyelon was imaged in transverse and longitudinal planes. PWT measurements of patients with acute pyelonephritis were repeated after successful antibiotic treatment.

RESULTS
Mean PWT in healthy controls was 1.0 mm+/-0.19. In patients with acute pyelonephritis, PWT was significantly increased to 2.9 mm+/-0.89 (p<0.001). PWT decreased significantly after antibiotic treatment to 1.4 mm+/-0.47 (p<0.001). Kidneys with indwelling stents presented with a PWT of 2.7 mm+/-0.68, kidneys with chronic UTI demonstrated a PWT of 2.8 mm+/-0.62. PWT in these patient groups was significantly greater than PWT in healthy volunteers (p<0.001). The interobserver agreement was excellent (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION
PWT is a reproducible diagnostic criterion for acute pyelonephritis. Based upon our experience, we suggest a cut-off value of 2.0 mm to distinguish healthy kidneys from those with urothelium thickened by inflammation. PWT cannot be used to distinguish acute pyelonephritis from chronic inflammation of the urothelium.


OBJECTIVES
This study examined predictors of low back pain onset in a British birth cohort.

METHODS
Univariate and multivariate analyses focused on individuals who experienced onset of low back pain at 32 to 33 years of age (n= 571) and individuals who were pain free (n = 5210). Participants were members of the 1958 British birth cohort.

RESULTS
Incident pain was elevated among those with psychological distress at 23 years of age (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 2.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.65, 3.86) and among persistent moderate or heavy smokers (adjusted OR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.23, 2.17). Significant univariate associations involving other factors (e.g., social class, childhood emotional status, body mass index, job satisfaction) did not persist in multivariate analyses.

CONCLUSIONS
This prospectively studied cohort provides evidence that psychological distress more than doubles later risk of low back pain, with smoking having a modest independent effect. Other prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings before implications for low back pain prevention can be assessed.


Listed property trusts (LPTs) have been a successful indirect property investment vehicle in Australia, accounting for over 1,500 institutional-grade properties valued at over $100 billion in both diversified and sector-specific portfolios. With LPTs accounting for 49% of all institutional-grade property in Australia, the lack of local investment opportunities has seen LPTs seeking international property investments in recent years, particularly in the US and more recently in Europe and Asia. This has seen the establishment of LPTs to invest solely in international property, as well as LPTs which have merged their international and domestic property portfolios, with international property now accounting for 35% of LPT total assets. Given these increasingly significant levels in international property in these LPT portfolios, it is important for LPTs to use a variety of financial mechanisms to mitigate foreign exchange risk arising from their foreign currency exposures. This paper will assess the significance of the foreign exchange risk management procedures utilised by LPTs for both capital and income risk management; this will be based on a survey of all LPTs in Australia, as well as in-depth interviews with LPT fund managers.


The current governance model is a fundamental change in the corporate culture, given the constant change and globalization of markets, it serves to strengthen the organizational structure of the company, particularly Mexican small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are more vulnerable to change, what comes the interest of "Analyze corporate governance as a competitive strategy in SMEs of Mexico" under the assumption that SMEs are more competitive by adopting management as corporate governance, and if not adopted this strategy, the company may be displaced from the national or international market. As a result the long term, this strategy aims to create social and economic welfare of SMEs, being labor strength in Mexico.


The performance of AC circuit breakers (CBs) has been well analyzed and standardized, but current interruption with HVDC CBs is very different and therefore its functionalities will be different. Considering also that several fundamentally different HVDC CB technologies are emerging (IGBT-based hybrid, thyristor-based hybrid and mechanical), there is a need for a universal set of modelling requirements. This paper investigates a simulation test circuit set up and a set of PSCAD-simulated scenarios which reveal essential performance for most common HVDC CB technologies. Universal test circuit and tests will enable comparisons between technologies and set the ground for interoperability and standardization. Demonstration of low current interruption is required since it leads to longer interruption time for some DC CBs. Not all DC CBs are capable of interrupting reverse current, while others have different performance compared with positive current interruption. The study shows that various DC CBs respond differently under high current in circumstances where there is no trip signal from the protection system in which case its self-protection activates. DC CBs may respond differently with change in system parameters like different cable.


The article deals with development, approval and implementation of the basic educational program of preschool education in the light of the Federal government requirements for the basic structure of the educational program of preschool education, an analysis of modern approaches to structuring of educational programs for preschool educational institutions.


Recent results regarding steady state noninductive long pulse discharges by using new plasma feedback control systems, the heat and particle exhaust capability of the various actively cooled plasma facing components, radiative layers in the ergodic divertor configuration, improved confinement linked with magnetic shear and progress towards current profile control are reported.


We investigate toric varieties defined by arrangements of hyperplanes and call them strongly symmetric. The smoothness of such a toric variety translates to the fact that the arrangement is crystallographic. As a result, we obtain a complete classification of this class of toric varieties. Further, we show that these varieties are projective and describe associated toric arrangements in these varieties.


Background The predictive value of biomarkers such as neuron specific enolase (NSE), S100B, neurofilament (NFL), interleukin-6 (IL-6), coagulation factor R, and D-Dimer (DD) after acute Stanford A type aortic dissection (AAAD) with neurological complications has recently gained much attention from the research community. However, results from these studies are conflicting. This meta-analysis is conducted to assess the relationship between the biomarkers and the risk of neurological complications after AAAD. Methods Two reviewers performed a systematic literature search across eight databases (CNKI, Wan Fang, VIP, CBM, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE). The studies regarding biomarkers in AAAD patients published up to February 2022 were included. These studies were subjected to rigorous scrutiny and data extraction to determine the weighted mean difference (WMD) and the 95% confidence interval (CI), which were analyzed using the RevMan 5.4 and Stata software 14.0. Results A total of 12 studies including 360 cases with neurological complications and 766 controls were incorporated into our meta-analysis. WMD analysis showed that there was a higher NSE levels in AAAD patients with postoperative neurological complications compared with controls (WMD = 0.640, 95% CI: 0.205 ~ 1.075, P = 0.004 < 0.005), and the level of S100B was related to the 6 h and 24 h postoperative neurological complications (6 h: WMD = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.27 ~ 1.02, P = 0.0007 < 0.001; 24 h: WMD = 0.281, 95% CI: 0.211 ~ 0.351, P < 0.001). Moreover, S100B levels at 6 hours after operation were significantly higher than that at 24 hours (WMD = 0.260, 95% CI: 0.166 ~ 0.354, P < 0.001). Conclusion NSE and S100B are both candidate biomarkers to predict postoperative neurological complications in patients with AAAD. Other markers are also valuable when used in conjunction with clinical judgement. The findings accentuate the necessity of further research to establish standardized values for these biomarkers in predicting neurological complications.


The dielectric constant and loss tangent of SrTiO3 thin films were characterized under the influence of an applied dc voltage at about 3.64 GHz. The measurement was carried out utilizing a gold resonator with a flip-chip capacitor at cryogenic temperatures. The analysis of the experimentally observed capacitance and quality factor served to give a measure of the dielectric constants and the loss tangents of the SrTiO3 film at microwave ranges, respectively. A dielectric constant of 830 and a low loss tangent of 6×10−3 at 3.64 GHz were observed at 90 K and 100 V. The dielectric loss decreases as the bias voltage increases. In addition, the quality of the SrTiO3 film is presented in terms of fractional frequency under the bias voltages and cryogenic temperatures.


In this paper we consider the D2D (Device-to-Device) communication taking place between Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) elements operating in vegetation environments in order to achieve the radio channel characterization at 2.4 GHz, focusing on the radio links blocked by oak and pine trees modelled from specimens found in a real recreation area located within forest environments. In order to fit and validate a radio channel model for this type of scenarios, both measurements and simulations by means of an in-house developed 3D Ray Launching algorithm have been performed, offering as outcomes the path loss and multipath information of the scenarios under study for forest immersed isolated trees and non-isolated trees. The specific forests, composed of thick in-leaf trees, are called Orgi Forest and Chandebrito, located respectively in Navarre and Galicia, Spain. A geometrical and dielectric model of the trees were created and introduced in the simulation software. We concluded that the scattering produced by the tree can be divided into two zones with different dominant propagation mechanisms: an obstructed line of sight (OLoS) zone far from the tree fitting a log-distance model, and a diffraction zone around the edge of the tree. 2D planes of delay spread value are also presented which similarly reflects the proposed two-zone model.


BASED ON A SERIES OF SURVEYS ON THE LIVING AND MIGRATION CONDITIONS OF CHILDREN, THIS STUDY HIGHLIGHTS THE MAGNITUDE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF CHILD LABOUR IN BURKINA FASO, COTE D'IVOIRE AND MALI. FOUR (04) MAJOR LESSONS WERE LEARNT : (I) THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF CHILDREN WORKING IN VIOLATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL NORMS AS ISSUED BY THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION (ILO) ; (II) THE LEVEL OF POVERTY INFLUENCES CHILD LABOUR ONLY IN COTE D'IVOIRE. THE DIRECTION OF THIS INFLUENCE CONFIRMS THE LUXURY AXIOM SINCE POOR HOUSEHOLDS RELATIVELY SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO WORK ; (III) WHATEVER THE LEVEL OF EDUCATION OF THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD, EARLY ENTRY OF CHILDREN INTO THE LABOUR MARKET APPEARS TO REMAIN A STABLE DEAL IMPACTED BY OTHER FACTORS. IN ADDITION, SCHOOL DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE DISCRIMINATING CHILD LABOUR, AS MOST WORKING CHILDREN ARE IN SCHOOL ; (IV) FINALLY, THERE IS INTERDEPENDENCE BETWEEN THE DECISIONS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES STUDIED.


Binary geothermal power plants (GPPs) are mostly encountered in geothermal fields with medium and low temperatures. The design and operation of dual binary GPPs can be difficult due to the geothermal fluid properties. This affects their performance and feasibility. Thermoeconomics are essential elements for the design and operation of the GPPs. In this study, advanced exergoeconomic analysis is applied to a true dual binary GPP (as a case study) to further evaluate it from performance and economic perspectives. In analysis, the specific exergy cost (SPECO) method is used. Then, some specific indicators are presented to evaluate the performance and economics of the GPP. Thus, technical and economic solutions have been developed in the design and operation stages through the analysis. The results of the study indicated that the total operating cost of 1218 USD/h could be reduced to 186 USD/h by improving the operating conditions. This corresponds to an 85% decrease. The cost per electricity generated, cost per geothermal energy input, and cost per CO2 emission of the GPP are determined as 0.049 USD/kWh, 5.3 USD/GJ, and 0.13 USD/kg, respectively. As a result, while the savings potential of the GPP is 15%, it can result in a 15% reduction in CO2 emission cost.


Purpose: Regarding the efficacy of e-governance in a developmental state, the central demand is whether the policy and practice of e-governance has, as espoused and executed, been effective in Uganda? In a bid to address this touchy demand, it would at the outset be indispensable to develop some cognizance of the anatomy and challenges hindering its efficacy in developmental governance. E-governance policy, as a universal idea of modern governments encapsulate a system by facilitating the numerous functions and activities of Ministries, Departments and Agencies. This article wishes to evaluate a selection of functions, in the public sector, that encountered a digital migration to e-governance in terms of their effectiveness as developmental state functions.
Methodology: This study was entirely based on a review of literature on e-governance covering specific aspects of policy and practice in Uganda, the region and other places outside the continent.
Findings and unique contribution to theory, policy and practice: This study offers the policy context of e-governance along with debates on the effectiveness of selected functions in a developmental state. The article centres on the efficacy of e-governance operation within a rather multifaceted environment. Consequently, the authors suggest that research on e-governance can be embraced as a means, by government, to improve both the policy and practices at both central government and local government levels.


GH/STAT5 signaling is desensitized in the liver in adult transgenic mice overexpressing GH; however, these animals present greater body size. To assess whether the STAT5 pathway is active during the growth period in the liver in these animals, and how signaling modulators participate in this process, growing transgenic mice and normal siblings were evaluated. STAT5 does not respond to an acute GH-stimulus, but displays higher basal phosphorylation in the livers of growing GH-overexpressing mice. GH receptor and the positive modulators glucocorticoid receptor and HNF1 display greater abundance in transgenic animals, supporting the activity of STAT5. The negative modulators cytokine-induced suppressor and PTP1B are increased in GH-overexpressing mice. The suppressors SOCS2 and SOCS3 exhibit higher mRNA levels in transgenic mice but lower protein content, indicating that they are being actively degraded. Therefore, STAT5 signaling is increased in the liver in GH-transgenic mice during the growth period, with a balance between positive and negative effectors resulting in accelerated but controlled growth.


Digital watermark technology has been developed quickly during the recent few years and widely applied to protect the copyright of digital image. A digital watermark is the information that is imperceptibly and robustly embedded in the host data such that it cannot be removed. This paper proposes a method based on the independent component analysis (ICA) for the digital image watermarking. The experimental results indicate that the presented approach is remarkably effective in detecting and extracting the digital image watermark. The problem of robust watermarking is also tested to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.


Experiments were conducted on dogs (18-22 days, 2-3-month-old and adult). The central hemodynamics indices were studied after intravenous administration of 0.8 U/kg of synthetic vasopressin. The pressor effect was mostly expressed in adult dogs, and bradycardia--in 18--22-days-old puppies. All dogs displayed an increase of the total peripheral resistance accompanied by reduction of the minute output. External work of the left ventricle and expenditure of the energy by the heart rose in adult dogs. As to puppies, a reduction of the cardiac output and of the external heart work was accompanied by a lesser increase of energy expenditure.


The Tower of Hanoi has been widely accepted as an evaluation of cognitive procedural learning in amnesia but inconsistent findings have raised questions about the nature of the learning process involved in this task. This article presents the performance of a hippocampal amnesic, MS, who, showing poor learning across daily sessions of a formal evaluation, subsequently solved the puzzle through spontaneous use of a declarative-level strategy (the odd-even rule), suggesting that his primary approach to the task was the deployment of declarative solution-searching strategies. The presented data suggest normal learning within daily sessions, but subnormal learning across daily sessions due to the forgetting of acquired declarative information. It is suggested that tasks that are potentially solvable by an algorithm or rule, as is the Tower of Hanoi, be regarded as inappropriate for use in cognitive procedural assessments.


This paper uses asymptotic techniques to find the shape of a two dimensional liquid bridge suspended between two vertical walls. We model the equilibrium bridge shape using the Laplace–Young equation. We use the Bond number as a small parameter to deduce an asymptotic solution which is then compared with numerical solutions. The perturbation approach demonstrates that equilibrium is only possible if the contact angle lies within a hysteresis interval and the analysis relates the width of this interval to the Bond number. This result is verified by comparison with a global force balance. In addition, we examine the quasi-static evolution of such a two dimensional bridge.


In this paper, we consider estimation and compensation of the I/Q imbalance generated by the direct-conversion receiver in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems. Two methods for I/Q imbalance compensation are proposed: the maximum-likelihood estimation (MLE)-based method and the least-square estimation (LSE)-based method. Computer simulations are conducted for comparisons of the performance. Effects of timing and frequency offsets on performance are also analyzed. The MLE-based method generally performs well even at low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and is robust against timing and frequency offsets. The LSE-based method outperforms the MLE-based method at higher SNR. Both methods are robust against different gain and phase imbalances.


Joseph Conrad's work Heart of Darkness is seen as racist by many, most notably Chinua Achebe, and is either under the threat of or actually banned from some schools and libraries. This paper would like to demonstrate, with the help of the transactional reader-response theory, that rather than being racist, Conrad, with this unique travelogue into the depths of the Congo at the turn of the 20th century, uses a stereotype, a cliché of the era, in particular the main character Charles Marlow, to capture the reader of the time through their own communal schemata and knowledge. In so doing, he offers an opportunity for the readers to connect and follow the character and educate themselves in the evils and wrongdoings of their own norms and those of the society they lived in.


Cyclopentenone prostaglandins (cyPG) are naturally occurring derivatives of prostaglandin E1, E2, and D2 containing an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl group in the cyclopentane ring structure (cyclopentenone). These molecules exhibit a wide array of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory effects, by interacting with intracellular target proteins. A large body of evidence shows that cyPG mainly interact with signal proteins and transcription factors, such as "Nuclear Factor-kB" (NF-κB), "Heat Shock Factor-1" (HSF1), and Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor-γ (PPAR- γ), which play crucial and opposite roles in inflammatory diseases. NF-κB is an early mediator of immune and inflammatory responses whereas HSF1, and PPAR-γ activation have been related to mechanisms leading to the resolution of inflammation. The identification of cyclopentenone as the active moiety of cyPG responsible for HSF1 activation as well as for the inhibition of inflammatory genes in human cells, opens new perspectives for the design and development of a new class of cytoprotective molecules devoid of the pleiotropic effects of natural eicosanoids. In this review we summarize the recent information on the anti-inflammatory effect of cyclopentenones and discuss the possible development of novel therapeutic strategies relying upon the simultaneous activation of cytoprotective genes and down-regulation of inflammatory genes.


OF THE THESIS Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Solid Waste Recycling in San Diego County Hospitals by Karmyn Laverghetta Garcia Master of Public Health with a Concentration in Environmental Health San Diego State University, 2011 Global climate change is an issue of increasing public health concern, as levels of atmospheric greenhouse gases [GHG] continue to rise. Vector-born disease, air pollution, and heat-related deaths are projected to grow as global temperatures increase. Higher frequency and severity of weather events such as droughts, floods, and fires will threaten resources for fresh water, food and shelter. Although carbon dioxide (CO2) is the main GHG implicated for climate change, methane (CH4) is also a major GHG, 72 times more potent than CO2 over 20 years. As organic waste decomposes in landfills, the biogas produced is 50% CO2 and 50% CH4. Landfills emit a significant amount of U.S. CH4 emissions. Recycling programs focus on diverting waste from landfills; however, recycling processes also emit GHGs. The USEPA's Waste Reduction Model (WARM) provides material-specific GHG emissions estimates that result from changes in waste management practices for 40 different waste materials. Healthcare is a sector that produces significant amounts of waste. Hospitals are under financial pressure, with few resources available to startup and staff solid waste recycling programs. Programs that have begun must prove to be a beneficial use of resources. The objectives of this research were to calculate rates of recycling and waste disposal at 5 hospitals in San Diego County, to quantify net GHG emissions from current waste management efforts, and to identify healthcare waste streams with the greatest opportunity for GHG emissions reductions, through waste minimization and/or source reduction. Average recycling rate (RR) for San Diego County hospitals was 25.7%. Using WARM, net GHG emissions (alt-base) for San Diego County hospitals waste management activities were estimated to be 3,778.38 metric tons (MT) carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2Eq) per year. Waste streams with greatest opportunity for GHG emissions reductions were "Office Paper" and "Computers." It was found that if San Diego County hospitals reduced office (copy) paper usage by 50% and extended the working life of computers for one year (without recycling or replacing), net GHG emissions (as compared to a baseline recycling scenario) would be (-18,802.39) MTCO2Eq. A 50% reduction in Office Paper usage alone would result in 8.96 lbs less CO2 emissions per staffed bed per day. This study's results illustrate that maximum potential GHG emissions savings was achieved through a combination of adjustments to waste management practices: a simple recipe of recycling, waste minimization and source reduction. More specifically, an average hospital can reduce GHG emissions by over 1,000 MT CO2Eq per year by establishing (1) a baseline recycling program of at least 25%, (2) waste minimization of 10-20%, (3) source reduction of office (copy) paper by 50%, and (4) extending the life of computers by one year.


The unitary group U(N) acts by conjugations on the space H(N) of NxN Hermitian matrices, and every orbit of this action carries a unique invariant probability measure called an orbital measure. Consider the projection of the space H(N) onto the real line assigning to an Hermitian matrix its (1,1)-entry. Under this projection, the density of the pushforward of a generic orbital measure is a spline function with N knots. This fact was pointed out by Andrei Okounkov in 1996, and the goal of the paper is to propose a multidimensional generalization. Namely, it turns out that if instead of the (1,1)-entry we cut out the upper left matrix corner of arbitrary size KxK, where K=2,...,N-1, then the pushforward of a generic orbital measure is still computable: its density is given by a KxK determinant composed from one-dimensional splines. The result can also be reformulated in terms of projections of the Gelfand-Tsetlin polytopes.


An incumbent allocates in period 1 of a two period game, a resource into production, fighting with the challenger, and producing public goods, which impact the probability of winning an election. In period 2 the incumbent may accept the election result, or a coalition or standoff may follow. We analyze the strategic choices. Econometric analysis of 653 African elections 1960-2010 shows that the incumbent wins with no contestation 64%, coalition 6%, and standoff 2%. The incumbent loses and accepts defeat 16%, coalition 12%, and standoff 0%. The impact of economic performance, education, political factors, natural resources, formercolonizer, etc, are scrutinized. JEL Codes: C72, D72, D74, D8


The European Commission has initiated infringement proceedings against virtually half of the Member States, accusing many of, inter alia, failing to take the necessary measures to ensure that racist and xenophobic hate crimes are effectively criminalised. The article looks at the right of a Member State to limit prosecution for incitement of violence or hatred to acts that are carried out in a manner likely to disturb the public order. The authors argue that application of the 'risk to public order' criterion if interpreted appropriately, will in most cases reduce the threat of 'taking it too far'. They argue also that there is a risk of confusion between 'public order' and 'public nuisance', due to the national criminal courts being more familiar with the latter. This could lead to unreasonably loose application of criminal punishments and pose a risk breaching the nullum crimen nulla poena sine lege certa principle. Perhaps because of having suffered censorship and absence of fundamental rights under the Soviet Union, Estonian society voices strong concerns about criminalisation of hate speech. In the authors' view, these concerns may be reduced by narrow interpretation of the 'risk to public order' notion.


Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare survival outcomes of open radical hysterectomy and minimally invasive radical hysterectomy (MIS) in early stage cervical cancer. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 148 patients with stage IB1 - IIA2 cervical cancer who underwent either minimally invasive or open radical hysterectomy. Tumor characteristics, recurrence rate, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) were compared according to surgical approach. Results: In total, 110 and 38 patients were assigned to open surgery and MIS groups. After a medical follow-up of 42.1 months, the groups showed similar survival outcomes (recurrence rate, DFS, and OS). However, in patients with tumor size >2 cm, recurrence rate was significantly higher in MIS group (22.5% vs 0%; p=0.008). And in patients with tumor size >2 cm, MIS group showed significantly poorer DFS than open surgery group (p=0.017), although OS was similar between the two groups (p=0.252). Conclusion: In patients with tumor size >2 cm, MIS was associated with higher recurrence rates and poorer DFS than open surgery. However, in patients with tumor size ≤2 cm, MIS did not seem to compromise oncologic outcomes.


World Wide Web is hosting huge information regarding lots of areas and education is not an exception. Given the huge amount of data, searching for any educational resource manually is very difficult. To overcome this, an intelligent repository of educational resources that helps to decide among the available resources is needed. This paper discusses an attempt to build such repository. This will help users to decide among the available solutions for their needs by providing a comparative analysis among the solutions. The user will also be provided with user experience of the solutions. As the content over the web changes regularly and also new resources get added to the web, the repository will be updated dynamically. And all these tasks are done automatically as far as possible. This work uses crawling, classification, and information extraction techniques for the task of identifying the softwares/tools for education from the web. Our implementation focuses on the free open source softwares (FOSS) for education domain. The final framework of this system would be generic so that it can be extended to any other domain.


In the middle current education system competition, pesantren as institute of eldest education that stills to withstand up to now indeed has to be realised that pesantren's orientation that at only region keagamaan( tafaqquh fi al at n )   no longer is equal to. Therefore pesantren shall proactive and give room for fix and education system update pesantren, so collegiate pesantren can become of change's agent in the middle mansyarakat is productive, egaliter, and openended to social changed reality, without trasedentalnya's point loss. This research included descriptive research, study is case at pesantren Al's cabin Joresan Mlarak Ponorogo's Islam. In data collecting, writer utilizes to methodic interview, observation, and documentation as tech as its data collecting. tech that is chosen in analisis data is data reduction, data display and conclusion or verification take. Of research result is found, that (1 ) rorientasi's Backgrounds Islam education that done by pesantren Al's cabin Islam, menunjukan that pesantren Al's cabin Islam unawaring to challenge of social change, involve self in social change and makes her as center as that social change alone (2 ) education developmental Aims Islamic at pesantren Al's cabin Islam Joresan Mlarak Ponorogo is correspond to new modernist Model which is method which get effort to understand mendasar's teaching and point that consists in al Qur ' an and al Sunnah al Shahihah with mengikut attaches and regard classic moslem intellectual treasury (3 ) reorientation Form at pesantren Al's cabin Islam is developmental curriculum, development evaluates and institute.


We have investigated the effects of germ-line variants that influence skin tumor susceptibility loci on the patterns of somatic genetic alterations in mouse skin cancers. Using a two-stage skin carcinogenesis model, we previously identified at least 13 skin tumor susceptibility (Skts) loci in a large interspecific F1 backcross [(NIH/Ola x M. spretus) x NIH/Ola] study. In this report, we describe the analysis of allele-specific alterations at these loci in skin tumors from the same backcross animals. The mouse Hras gene, located close to Skts2 on chromosome 7, had specific activating mutations in the Mus musculus allele in 23 of 26 carcinomas. In all cases, tumors with Hras mutations also showed specific imbalance of chromosome 7 markers that favored the chromosome carrying the mutant allele. Allele-specific quantitative microsatellite analysis was also carried out, using DNA from 62 carcinomas from (NIH/Ola x M. spretus) x NIH/Ola mice. Frequent allelic imbalance was detected at five additional tumor-susceptibility loci on chromosomes 4, 6, 7, 9, and 16 (Skts7, Skts12, Skts1, Skts6, and Skts9, respectively). At all except Skts7, we found loss of the allele inherited from the resistant strain or amplification of the allele from the susceptible strain. We conclude that polymorphisms in some low-penetrance tumor modifier genes are reflected in the pattern of somatic alterations in tumors. Analysis of such allele-specific changes in tumors may facilitate the identification of functional germ-line variants that control tumor susceptibility.


Summary In Bedouin goats maintained outdoors during the summer, fed lucerne hay and watered once daily, drinking was followed by a 35% increase in rumen fluid volume, with a concomitant drop in osmolality from 300 to 150 m-osmol/kg. When water was provided to these goats only once every 4 days, a three-fold increase in the rumen fluid volume was recorded and osmolality dropped from 360 to 80 m-osmol/kg. Feeding, which was depressed during the hot hours of the day, resumed in the afternoon and was followed by an expansion of rumen fluid volume. This expansion occurred irrespective of drinking and was sustained throughout the night. On the 1st day of water denial it amounted to 40% of the noontime rumen fluid volume and was less pronounced during the rest of the water deprivation period. An evening increase in the concentrations of volatile fatty acids, along with a compatible increase in the osmolality and a drop in the pH, also followed the afternoon resumption of feeding. In goats maintained on wheat straw, drinking as well as feeding time affected the physico-chemical conditions in the rumen to a lesser degree than in goats maintained on lucerne hay.


Common subexpression elimination (CSE) algorithms try to minimize the number of adders (or subtracters) required to implement constant multiplication by searching and substituting common patterns in the CSE representation of a constant. CSE algorithms, in general, cannot find certain patterns due to inherent restrictions in the CSE representation. We propose overlapping digit patterns (ODPs) to remove some of these restrictions. We integrate ODPs into H(k), the best existing heuristic algorithm for single constant multiplication (SCM). H(k) is not applicable to the multiple constant multiplication (MCM) problem, so we cannot consider this problem. Generally, H(k) finds solutions very close to optimal, so there is a strict limitation on any further improvement which applies to any new heuristic. Instead, by integrating ODPs within H(k), we can on average significantly improve the run time of the algorithm (typically by one order of magnitude) while still reducing the number of adders.


The dielectric properties of the amorphous BaSm2Ti4O12 (BSmT) film with various thicknesses were investigated to evaluate its potential use as a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor. An amorphous 35-nm-thick BSmT film grown at 300 degC exhibited a high capacitance density of 9.9 fF/mum2 at 100 kHz and a low leakage current density of 1.790 nA/cm2 at 1 V. The quadratic and linear voltage coefficients of capacitance of the film were 599 ppm/V2 and -81 ppm/V at 100 kHz, respectively. The temperature coefficient of capacitance of the film was also low about 236 ppm/degC at 100 kHz. These results confirmed the suitability of the amorphous BSmT film as a high-performance MIM capacitor


There is something very odd about the weather in Beijing.It's mid-February when, according to my experience ,my bones should be rattling and all the city's lakes should be frozen solid.


OBJECTIVE
To study the levels and roles of cytokines TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP).

METHODS
The levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10 in BALF were measured using ELISA in children with MPP at acute stage (n=45) and at remission stage (n=30). Twenty children without lung lesions severed as the control group.

RESULTS
The TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10 levels in BALF were higher in children with MPP at acute stage than those in the control group (P<0.05). The levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in BALF at remission stage were reduced to the levels similar to the control group and were significantly lower than those at the acute stage in children with MPP. However, the levels of IL-10 in BALF remained at higher levels at remission stage in children with MPP.

CONCLUSIONS
The levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10 in BALF increase in children with MPP at acute stage, suggesting that the cytokines may be involved in the pathogenesis of MPP.


Research on relations between esotericism and science exhibits a fundamental asymmetry. While historians of science have been eager to uncover esoteric contexts for early modern sciences, scholars of modern esoteric movements look almost solely at esotericism in the context of scientific progress. This asymmetry is largely due to a division of intellectual labor following lines of specialization in the humanities. The early modern period has been of supreme interest for historians of science, who have applied their expertise to uncovering important connections. In contrast, late modern esoteric thought has almost exclusively fallen under the purview of religious studies scholars, who lack the tools (and often the interest) to dissect the workings of the sciences. The result has been that, for relations of science and esotericism in the late modern period, the prevailing picture has been one of a unidirectional influence from "proper" science to a culturally parasitic esoteric discourse. The present article aims to remedy this asymmetry. A systematization and evaluation of existing approaches to esotericism/science leads to an argument that new methodology and conceptual tools are needed for a sufficient analysis of esotericism/science relations in the modern world to develop. These tools are found in the interdisciplinary field of science and technology studies.