In everyday situations people tend to be surprised when adults talk about their instrumental music lessons. Why might this be the case? Learning to play an instrument is often viewed as an endeavor that commences in childhood and continues through earlier adulthood for those who persevere, but musical development can occur at any time during the life span. Furthermore, once acquired, musical skills can be maintained and improved during old age. Opportunities to learn or improve music performance skills are pursued by adults of all ages and ability levels, from beginners to advanced performers. In a survey of 275 audience members attending a musical performance, Bowles (1991) found that 67% stated they would consider taking a music course, and the highest level of interest was for performance courses. Requested levels of study indicated that 72% were at the beginner level, 22% at the intermediate level, and 6% at the advanced level. Certain life events such as retirement, divorce, or the death of a spouse or relative have been cited as the catalyst for a decision to initiate or resume active music study, based on self-reports of older amateur pianists ages 53 to 87 years (Taylor, 2011). Piano was the most commonly played instrument in a small sample of older adults (Hanna-Pladdy & MacKay, 2011). Frequently cited reasons for taking piano lessons in adulthood in Cooper's (2001) sample were development of personal skills (55%) and personal pleasure (45%), with 78% reporting that they enjoyed practicing.Pioneers in the adult music education movement, Ernst and Emmons (1992) founded their instrumental music program in 1991 for adults 50 years of age and older. Called the New Horizons Band, this program was designed to provide an avenue for older adults who wanted to be actively involved in music making. Presently over 200 New Horizons organizations are listed on the New Horizons International Music Association website and many of these groups now open their membership to adults of any age ("New Horizons Groups," 2016). Although it may not be possible to develop the technical skills of an elite performer later in life, older adults can learn to perform music at a level that results in a tremendous personal pleasure and a sense of accomplishment (Ernst & Emmons, 1992). A study by Gembris (as cited in Gembris, 2012) found that an amateur musician's self-reported personal best performance on an instrument can occur anytime throughout one's life. Among the senior citizens (Mage * 71 years) interviewed in his study, 30% indicated that they currently reached 90% to 100% of their previous best instrumental performance level.Though the pursuit of musical learning is common at all age levels, much of the research that examines the developmental process in music learning is generally limited to the period of infancy through early adulthood (Prickett, 2003). Likewise, music teacher preparation programs focus almost exclusively on how to teach music to children and young adults. Coffman (2002) pointed out that the body of research on music education with adults is only beginning to emerge. Psychomusicology directed attention to the topic in 2002 with an entire special volume on the Psychology of Music and Aging (Volume 18). While advanced aging is sometimes associated with overt changes that can hinder learning, such as diminished acuity in hearing and vision, and increased orthopedic challenges, music performance skills include covert processes that may also change with age and affect learning. With practice, improvements in performance skills result from specific adaptations that are physiological, psychomotor, and cognitive in nature (Lehmann & Ericsson, 1997). Age-related changes in perceptual, cognitive, and motor functioning that are known to occur may have an effect on the process of learning music performance skills in adulthood, although, as Halpern and Bartlett (2010) pointed out, little research has examined these changes in relation to music learning. …


This study examines the complex relationship between music and cities. More specifically, it explores how, when and why distinct urban atmospheres and unique urban spaces are created through music, specific sounds or creative social practices such as busking. As Andreas Reckwitz has shown, it has become a social regime in accordance to the creativity dispositif to act creatively and to strive for originality and uniqueness. Busking and other creative expressions in public sphere seem to satisfy this demand, but at the same time, they also tend to symbolise practices of resistance against neo-liberal discourses. According to Reckwitz, this social aestheticisation can be observed especially in cities, for example, in neo-liberal discourses such as city marketing. To examine this ambivalent if not contradictory divide, this empirical study focuses on STAMP, an international street arts festival in Hamburg, Germany, and especially, on related music practices. It considers macrostructures, such as city policies, organisational and spatial politics of gentrification and micro-practices of creativity expressed in symbolic interactions or practices of participation, following specific sociocultural conventions. Using a mixed method research design including ethnography, surveys, qualitative interviews and soundscape analysis, this study explores the many different facets of urban sounds in the streets of Hamburg-Altona from different sociological perspectives. By considering not only different perspectives, such as those of the organisers of the festival, the city, local residents, audiences or musicians as well as cultural policies but also the sound of the festival, this study aims to answer the question whether such urban musical practices are at odds with or contribute to what Reckwitz refers to as "creativity dispositif" and related processes of gentrification or whether they can be related to what Henri Lefebvre has described as the "right to the city".


The synthesis and characterization of three N-annulated perylene diimide dimers with benzyl based side-chains is reported. Benzyl, 4-fluorobenzyl, and pentafluorobenzyl groups are used as side chains at the pyrrolic N-atom position of the N-annulated perylene diimide chromophore. All three compounds were used as non-fullerene acceptors in polymer based organic solar cells. Power conversion efficiencies upwards of 5.8% were achieved for both benzyl and 4-fluorobenzyl substituted acceptors, with different donor polymers.


Currently, Ukraine is developing and phased implementation of medical reform, which involves the organization of work at the primary level of providing qualified medical help by a family medicine doctor. This reform can be accompanied by the development of possible medical and social and financial problems. The transfer of funding to the primary medical level and the possibility of allocating funds allocated to a specific number of residents assigned to a family medicine doctor can lead to the following problems: 1. The examination of patients only by a family medicine doctor in order to save the allocated financial resources and not performing complex laboratory and modern apparatus-instrumental additional researchers can lead to the establishment of an incorrect diagnosis, which will lead to the choice of the wrong treatment tactic and to the patient's serious condition, and in some cases and to death. 2. Treatment of patients only by a family medicine physician in order to save allocated financial resources and failing to consult with related specialists at the second and third levels of medical care, delay in hospitalization of patients to the hospital, may lead to the establishment of an incorrect diagnosis and the choice of the wrong treatment tactics, to a serious condition the patient, and to his death. It is necessary to develop serious control conditions that will avoid the development of these problems when introducing medical reform in Ukraine.


The aim of this study is to set up statistical quality control for monitoring the volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) delivery error by using the machine's log data. Eclipse and a Clinac iX linac with the RapidArc system (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, USA) are used for delivery of the VMAT plan. During the delivery of the RapidArc fields, the machine determines the delivered monitor units (MUs) and the gantry angle's position accuracy and the standard deviations of the MU (σMU: dosimetric error) and the gantry angle (σGA: geometric error) are displayed on the console monitor after completion of the RapidArc delivery. In the present study, first, the log data were analyzed to confirm its validity and usability; then, statistical process control (SPC) was applied to monitor the σMU and the σGA in a timely manner for all RapidArc fields: a total of 195 arc fields for 99 patients. The MU and the GA were determined twice for all fields, that is, first during the patient-specific plan QA and then again during the first treatment. The sMU and the σGA time series were quite stable irrespective of the treatment site; however, the sGA strongly depended on the gantry's rotation speed. The σGA of the RapidArc delivery for stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) was smaller than that for the typical VMAT. Therefore, SPC was applied for SBRT cases and general cases respectively. Moreover, the accuracy of the potential meter of the gantry rotation is important because the σGA can change dramatically due to its condition. By applying SPC to the σMU and σGA, we could monitor the delivery error efficiently. However, the upper and the lower limits of SPC need to be determined carefully with full knowledge of the machine and log data.


Propagation modeling is an important component of system design, and helps to avoid surprises when the actual service begins, in the case of wireless systems. Testing of various available models with experimentally generated data helps to identify a suitable model that can be deployed for the design of a future generation of mobile communication systems. This requires raising new data sets, which can be achieved by conducting experiments. With this objective, the present study reports the narrowband signal-level measurements of 11 GSM base stations in the urban, dense urban, and suburban regions of Delhi, in northern India. Comparison of the observed data was carried out with electromagnetic models such as AWAS, and other empirical models, such as ITU-R, Cost 231 Hata, Walfisch-Ikegami, and Dmitry. Based on the comparisons, mean prediction errors and standard deviations were deduced. High-path-loss exponents close to the base station were observed. The AWAS electromagnetic code and ITU-R methods showed good agreement with the observed results, compared with other methods.


In this work, a novel synthetic methodology for the preparation of aryl pyrroles directly from the reaction of calcium carbide with oxime is reported. Various pyrrole derivatives are generated from the corresponding oximes in satisfactory yields (49–88%) under the optimized conditions. The one-pot synthesis of aryl pyrrole from widely available ketone is also successfully developed. A new near-infrared fluorescent BODIPY dye containing a phenyl substitution at the C-3 position is expediently prepared from the aryl pyrrole derived from this methodology. The key benefit of this methodology is the use of an inexpensive and less hazardous primary chemical feedstock, calcium carbide, in a wet solvent without any metal catalysts. This process offers a novel cost-efficient route for the synthesis of functionalized pyrrole.


Miners disabled from black lung disease (coal workers' pneumoconiosis, CWP) are entitled to disability benefits under United States federal and state laws. The determination of disability currently involves several scientific controversies. The Federal Department of Labor states that one second forced vital capacity (FEV1) is an important marker of disability from CWP. The Department of Labor also states that disability may occur in simple CWP, in the absence of progressive massive fibrosis (PMF). Both these contentions may reasonably be challenged. To investigate these issues, and to investigate the relation between exercise tolerance and several other variables, including age, weight, radiographic findings, and exposure to mining and smoking, we studied 690 miners. Simple correlation analysis was not helpful because many variables were correlated with each other. Linear regression analysis led to conclusions that were thought to be misleading. Causal modelling provided an analysis that appeared to be most explanatory. In the model tested years of coal mining did not affect FEV1; if this conclusion is substantiated by others FEV1 should be eliminated as an indicator of disability from CWP as it is not related to mining experience. On the other hand, the Department of Labor's position that disability may occur in simple CWP seems reasonable, as years of underground coal mining does affect forced vital capacity (FVC), which in turn impairs exercise capacity, even in the absence of PMF. FVC should be the major spirometric value used in determining disability from CWP because it alone is seen to decrease in relation to mining, and a decrease in FVC does affect exercise capacity. Thus this analysis addresses issues in determining black lung disability and shows the value of casual modelling.


The purpose of the article is a brief description of the experience of analyzing the conceptual foun-dations of governance in education and other spheres in post-Soviet Russia in comparison with developed democracies; a description of typical approaches to the implementation (imitation) of strategic planning in management, as well as the consequences and specific traits of contextual, a-strategic management. Conceptual management in education and in the context of others is oppose to contextual management. Modern management concepts are externally presented in Russian education and in other areas of management discourse and practice. The system of professional standards developed in the country is designed to solve a number of managerial tasks. However, the non-conceptual use of professional standards leads to an imbalance in subject-object interaction and in organization in whole. This article lists two categories of workers. Non-compliance with the professional requirements is typical to the first category of workers. Failure to comply with professional standards also take part to the professional, partners and personal deformations. These deformations are illustrated by the text of management strategies. Having strategies is an incentive for development. However, the lack of an algorithm for the compilation and evaluation of such documents, the analysis of the importance of this aspect in the process of evaluating the activities of authorities leads to the fact that this strategic management remains unclaimed in the territorial and organizational management system. The authors consider two leading aspects of the problem of territorial strategization: (1) substantiation of the reasons for poor-quality strategic developments; (2) the search for errors in the conceptual management methodology. The roots of the first problem should be found in the imbalances in the formation and development of the subject of management, starting with the problem of improper selection and de-professionalization of managerial personnel. To solve the second problem, the authors propose SEO analysis tools as a methodology for evaluating strategy texts. This tool solves the problem of audit of regional strategies in the context of administrative, socio-psychological and linguistic aspects of public servants in the field of education. The data obtained can also be disseminated to non-governmental educational institutions: in particular, in additional or global education it is extremely important to know its subject, object, purpose and objectives, etc. Otherwise, as in the case of state educational institutions, imitations will arise that are more likely to harm education and society than support it.


Since the adoption of exchange transfusion as a method in the treatment of newborn infants with severe erythroblastosis (1-3) the question of the possible toxic effects of sodium citrate added to the administered blood, to prevent coagulation, has arisen (4). In this procedure from 85 to 95% of the infant's Rh-positive erythrocytes are replaced by the donor's Rh-negative erythrocytes depending upon the volume of blood that is administered and simultaneously removed (5). In order to effectuate an exchange of 85%o, a quantity of blood equivalent to twice the infant's blood volume must be used, and for an exchange of 98%o, a quantity of blood equivalent to four times the blood volume must be used. Since the average newborn infant has a blood volume in the range of 250-300 ml. the procedure involves the use of approximately 500 ml. and approximately 1,000 ml., respectively. With the use of sodium citrate as an anticoagulant the infant receives as much as 60 to 120 ml. of a 3%o solution of sodium citrate intravenously over a period of about 11⁄2/2 hours. In the experimental animal, the intravenous administration of large quantities of sodium citrate has been shown to produce convulsions (6). This has been ascribed to the formation of a poorly ionized calcium citrate complex which removes calcium ion from the blood stream (7-9). Despite this consideration, exchange transfusions have been successfully carried out in a large number of cases, although occasionally deaths have been reported in the very severely affected cases (10). In order to study the adjustment that the newborn makes to the physiological strains to which it is subjected when an exchange transfusion is


New Zealand Journal of Ecology (1999) 23(2): 175-182 ©New Zealand Ecological Society E.C. MURPHY, L. ROBBINS, J.B. Y UNG and J.E. DOWDING 1Science and Research Unit, Department of Conservation, Private Bag 4715, Christchurch, New Zealand. 2Department of Animal Ecology, Massey University, P.O. Box 84, Palmerston North, New Zealand. 3Department of Entomology and Animal Ecology, Lincoln University, P.O. Box 84, Canterbury, New Zealand. 4P.O. Box 36-274, Merivale, Christchurch, New Zealand.


The invention relates to compounds of general formula (I), process for their preparation and their use as a therapeutic agent.


Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) combines accurate anatomic targeting of a tumor with the precise delivery of high doses of radiation per fraction in an attempt to ablate the tumor while sparing surrounding normal tissues (1). SBRT has been described in the treatment of lung cancer since the mid-1990s (2). The initial uses of lung SBRT were in patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who were medically inoperable or refused surgery, but it has also emerged as an effective treatment option for medical operable NSCLC patients (3,4), patients with early stage SCLC (5), and patients with parenchymal metastasis from lung and other malignancies.


PURPOSE
We performed a two-and-a-half year follow-up study of strategy factors in successful learning to predict academic achievements in medical education.

METHODS
Strategy factors in successful learning were identified using a content analysis of open-ended responses from 30 medical students who were ranked in the top 10 of their class. Core words were selected among their responses in each category and the frequency of the words were counted. Then, a factors survey was conducted among year 2 students, before the second semester. Finally, we performed an analysis to assess the association between the factors score and academic achievement for the same students 2.5 years later.

RESULTS
The core words were "planning and execution," "daily reviews" in the study schedule category; "focusing in class" and "taking notes" among class-related category; and "lecture notes," "previous exams or papers," and "textbooks" in the primary self-learning resources category. There were associations between the factors scores for study planning and execution, focusing in class, and taking notes and academic achievement, representing the second year second semester credit score, third year written exam scores and fourth year written and skill exam scores. Study planning was only one independent variable to predict fourth year summative written exam scores.

CONCLUSION
In a two-and-a-half year follow-up study, associations were founded between academic achievement and the factors scores for study planning and execution, focusing in class, and taking notes. Study planning as only one independent variable is useful for predicting fourth year summative written exam score.


Thrombosis and cancer have a very well-known association. Pancreatic cancer has the highest risk for thrombotic events amongst gastrointestinal cancers and is a leading direct cause of death in cancer patients. We assessed the role of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in identifying distant thrombotic events in pancreatic cancer patients. We performed a retrospective review of all EUS cases for pancreatic cancer in two centers and assessed all remotely located thrombotic events diagnosed. In a period of 6 months, a total of 55 EUS for pancreatic neoplasm were performed and the following thrombotic events were identified in 4 patients (7.3%): pulmonary thromboembolism (75%) and vena cava thrombosis (25%). The authors present these 4 cases of thrombotic disease identified by EUS, 50% of them previously missed by noninvasive imaging. EUS evaluation is not seldom limited to the targeted lesion prior identified in other imaging studies. Vascular thrombus can be an incidental finding on EUS. If untreated, pulmonary embolism has a high overall mortality. This series underlines the importance of a systematic, station approach EUS technique, namely in the mediastinum, regardless of the clinical indication.


Optimization of an aminophosphonic acid series of compounds for inhibition of endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE) has led to the discovery of CGS 31447. This compound reversibly inhibited the activity of recombinant human ECE-1 with an IC50 value of 21 nM. The effect of CGS 31447 was not due to nonspecific chelation of the zinc ion at the catalytic center of ECE-1 by the phosphonic acid of the inhibitor. Determination of kinetic parameters of ECE-1 in the presence of 5-15 nM CGS 31447 revealed the competitive nature of the compound; a K1 of 7 nM was obtained. CGS 31447 infused at concentrations of 0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 microM inhibited the mean increase in big ET-1-induced pressor responses in isolated and perfused rat kidneys by 7, 39, and 68%, respectively, compared with the controls. These results demonstrate that CGS 31447 is a potent, reversible, and competitive inhibitor of ECE-1.


Intraspecific variation may shape colonization of new habitat patches through a variety of mechanisms. In particular, trait variation among colonizing individuals can produce intraspecific priority effects (IPEs), where early arrivers of a single species affect the establishment or growth of later conspecifics. While we have some evidence for the importance of IPEs, we lack a general understanding of factors affecting their presence or magnitude across a landscape. Specifically, IPEs should depend strongly on success of colonizers in the new habitat patch. This success hinges on interactions between colonizer traits and local selective pressures, but such context dependence remains unexplored experimentally. We addressed this gap by looking for the dynamical signature of IPEs in environments with and without a selective (parasite) pressure. We tested whether IPEs affected the population dynamics of a zooplankton host species (Daphnia dentifera) collected from two populations showing a tradeoff between growth rate and resistance to a fungal parasite (Metschnikowia bicuspidata). Differences in arrival order significantly altered population growth during a period of rapid resource depletion, driving large (up to 65%) differences in population abundance. Furthermore, the presence of IPEs was context dependent, as parasites reduced the impact of early arrivers on later arrivers. Such context-dependent IPEs, mediated by colonizer traits, colonization order, and selective pressures, may play an unanticipated role in the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of natural metapopulations. This mechanism highlights the overall importance of intraspecific variation for understanding ecological patterns.


Although many anticancer therapies are used in clinic, few are tolerable for their side effects from killing of normal cells. Seeking measures to target anticancer agents to tumors or at least tumor-located organs has been one of the major tasks for researchers. Nanotechnology is greatly helpful for fulfilling this task. There are several ways to direct therapeutic agents carried by nanoparticles to tumor sites. This article focuses on the mechanisms, advantages and disadvantages of different targeting manners, understanding of which may be benefitial to researchers to develop specific targeted anticancer therapy.


Amphibalanus amphitrite is a common fouling barnacle distributed globally in tropical and subtropical waters. In the present study, the genetic (mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I) and morphological differentiation in A. amphitrite from 25 localities around the world were investigated. The results revealed three clades within A. amphitrite with a genetic divergence of ~ 4% among clades, whereas there were no diagnostic morphological differences among clades. Clade 1 is widely distributed in both temperate and tropical waters, whereas Clade 3 is currently restricted to the tropical region. The deep divergence among clades suggests historical isolation within A. amphitrite; thus, the present geographical overlaps are possibly a result of the combined effects of rising sea level and human-mediated dispersals. This study highlights the genetic differentiation that exists in a common, widely distributed fouling organism with great dispersal potential; future antifouling research should take into account the choice of lineages.


Alcohol addiction and abuse is a main contributor to the global burden of disease and is a high public health priority. Alcohol addiction is a chronically relapsing neurobiological disorder affecting multiple neurotransmitter systems. Considerable evidence suggests that the mesolimbic dopamine system is the primary substrate for the acute rewarding and reinforcing effects of alcohol. Over time, excessive alcohol intake causes chronic functional changes in this system that may trigger off the transition from controlled recreational alcohol use to the compulsive intake that characterizes true addiction. Pharmacotherapy is emerging as a valuable tool for treatment of alcohol addiction, yet the current agents approved for this condition are only modestly effective and there is a need for improved treatments. It was recently revealed that extracellular glycine levels are important for regulating alcohol consumption and that the glycine receptor (GlyR) in nucleus accumbens (nAc) is an access point for alcohol to the mesolimbic dopamine system. The glycine transporter-1 protein (GlyT-1) is the main regulator of extracellular glycine concentrations and thus a key substrate for pharmacological manipulation of brain glycine levels. The aim of this thesis was to investigate (1) how modulation of extracellular glycine levels by inhibition of GlyT-1 affects the mesolimbic dopamine system, (2) how it interacts with alcohol-induced activation of mesolimbic dopamine, and (3) how GlyT-1 inhibition influences voluntary ethanol consumption. Effects on ethanol drinking were studied by using a limited access free-choice model in out-bred Wistar rats. Effects on dopamine and glycine levels in nAc were examined by using in vivo brain microdialysis. First it was demonstrated that the GlyT-1 blocker Org25935 robustly and dose-dependently reduced voluntary ethanol intake and that the effect was reinstated after an alcohol withdrawal period. Next it was shown that Org25935 raised extracellular glycine levels by 87% in nAc, increased dopamine levels per se and most importantly prevented an ethanol-induced dopamine increase in nAc. It was then shown that the GlyR in nAc rather than the NMDA receptor is involved in mediating the effect of Org25935 on dopamine levels in nAc. The last study investigated the anti-alcohol drinking profile of another selective GlyT-1 inhibitor Org24598, and compared the effect to that of acamprosate. In summary, the results propose that the GlyT-1 blocker Org25935 increases and stabilizes extracellular glycine levels which, via the GlyR, elevate and preserve a steady dopamine level, which in turn prevents additional ethanol-mediated GlyR activation and dopamine elevation. This adds to the growing evidence for the GlyR as an important player in the dopamine reward circuitry and in ethanol's effects within this system. Two different GlyT-1 inhibitors demonstrated an excellent ability to decrease ethanol consumption in experimental animals. This thesis proposes that GlyT-1 inhibition may represent a new concept for treatment of alcohol addiction.


We have demonstrated magnetic properties of single 3d transition metal (TM) atom (from Sc to Ni) adsorbed on the surface of graphene and benzene in the framework of relativistic density functional theory. Binding energies, spin and orbital magnetic moments, and magnetic anisotropy energies (MAE) of the TM-graphene and TM-benzene structures were determined. Our calculations show that magnetic moments of most 3d TM atoms added to the surface of graphene and benzene are partially quenched when compared to their free atomic state. We found very robust orbital moments for Co adatom on graphene and benzene and Cr adatom on benzene compared to the almost quenched orbital moments for the other 3d TM adatoms. It is also found that Co-graphene and Co-benzene show very large magnetic anisotropy energies, with easy axis perpendicular to the graphene plane and aligned to the C6 rotation axis of the benzene molecule, whereas the other 3d TM adatoms behave like a soft magnet.


As computing moves to battery operated portable systems, the functionality is increasingly implemented in software with an embedded/real-time operating system (RTOS). For such systems, there is a need for power-aware applications and system software. In this paper, we present a layered software architecture that enables the application and OS programmers to design energy-efficient applications and RTOS services. The software architecture consists of a power-aware RTOS kernel and a set of standard software interfaces that enable easy exchange of timing and power information among the underlying hardware platform, the RTOS, and the applications. To demonstrate the utility of our approach we focus on making the task scheduling process in an RTOS power-aware, and incorporate an OS-directed dynamic power management technique that enables adaptive power-fidelity tradeoffs during task scheduling. We have implemented it using the RedHat eCos operating system running on a complete variable voltage system based on the Intel XScale micro-architecture. We ran four different algorithms, from a simple shutdown based scheme to a dynamic predictive and adaptive DVS algorithm. The results show an energy gain of up to 66% when comparing to the execution without any power management incorporated and 17% comparing to the simple shutdown scheme.


Reducing uncertainties in Earth System Model predictions requires carefully evaluating core model processes. Here we examined how canopy radiative transfer model (RTM) parameter uncertainties, in combination with canopy structure, affect terrestrial carbon and energy projections in a demographic land-surface model, the Ecosystem Demography model (ED2). Our analyses focused on temperate deciduous forests and tested canopies of varying structural complexity. The results showed a strong sensitivity of tree productivity, albedo, and energy balance projections to RTM parameters. Impacts of radiative parameter uncertainty on stand-level canopy net primary productivity ranged from ~2 to > 20% and was most sensitive to canopy clumping and leaf reflectance/transmittance in the visible spectrum (~400 – 750 nm). ED2 canopy albedo varied by ~1 to ~10% and was most sensitive to near-infrared reflectance (~800 – 1200 nm). Bowen ratio, in turn, was most sensitive to wood optical properties parameterization; this was much larger than expected based on literature, suggesting model instabilities. In vertically and spatially complex canopies the model response to RTM parameterization may show an apparent reduced sensitivity when compared to simpler canopies, masking much larger changes occurring within the canopy. Our findings highlight both the importance of constraining canopy RTM parameters in models and valuating how the canopy structure responds to those parameter values. Finally, we advocate for more model evaluation, similar to this study, to highlight possible issues with model behavior or process representations, particularly models with demographic representations, and identify potential ways to inform and constrain model predictions. Key points Uncertainties in vegetation radiative parameter affect carbon, water and energy balances in ecosystem models. Radiative properties can lead to significant changes in demography and canopy structure even if aggregate model responses appear unchanged


: Investigating possible ways of the increase in the rate of organic acid transport in the kidney of frogs, it has been demonstrated that animals which passed hypobiosis exhibit the increase in maximum capacity of the kidney to secretion of paraaminohippurate during substrate stimulation evoked by the injection of this salt twice a day within three days, as well as by the injection of triiodthyronine once a day within three days. The effect produced is similar to kidney reaction in adult mammals.


The resurgence of pertussis in several highly vaccinated countries has stimulated this study of the genotypic diversity and epidemiological typing of Bordetella pertussis. The genotypic variation of B. pertussis was investigated in 318 UK clinical isolates from 1920-2002, vising pertactin (prnA) and pertussis toxin SI subunit (ptxA) gene typing. To date, the evaluation of typing methods used for B. pertussis has not been performed extensively. Therefore, in this thesis, the recognised methods, namely serotyping, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) using Xbal, and IS1002-RFLP analysis, were evaluated. It was found that, PFGE typing gave a good discrimination index value, but gave a low score for reproducibility, and further work is required to optimise this method. Furthermore, if prnA and ptxA gene typing were included in the evaluation, combined with serotyping, this combination would equal the discrimination of PFGE. Other typing methods attempted for B. pertussis included direct sequencing of adenylate kinase (adk) and filamentous haemagglutinin genes (fhaB), and single-enzyme amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis with a selection of enzymes and selective primers. The type strain and a clinical strain, generated one and six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in adk and fhoB, respectively. The discriminatory ability of the single-enzyme AFLP analysis was not satisfactory, as only a few different profiles were seen in the nine isolates tested. However, at least four AFLP profiles were generated using PstI enzyme, and the selective primer Pst-C. The direct detection and epidemiological typing of B. pertussis in 20 previously untypable clinical samples was attempted using prnA, ptxA as targets. Six clinical extracts generated prnA and ptxA (5/6) sequence data, therefore confirming that these typing procedures on B. pertussis PCR-positive clinical specimens is worthwhile in order to generate the prnA and ptxA distributions from babies or adults presenting atypical symptoms. This strategy should also be encouraged in other country that have studied prnA and ptxA allele distributions, in order to update the representation of the genetic diversity of B. pertussis. (Abstract shortened by ProQuest.)


Gemini surfactants 18:1-s-18:1, where s = 2, 3, and 6 methylene groups and 18:1 refers to oleyl carbon chains, have been synthesized, characterized and a number of micelle solution properties measured by using electrical conductance, fluorescence probe emission, light scattering (DLS), surface tension and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) methods at 25 degrees C. The cmc values of 18:1-2-18:1, 18:1-3-18:1, and 18:1-6-18:1 were found to be 26.9, 23.4, and 18.0 microM, respectively, using the electrical conductance method. Surface tension results suggest that in 0.01 N NaCl solutions, the s = 2 and 3 members of the series form multilayer rather than monolayer structures, while the s = 6 homologue adopts a close-packed arrangement. This is consistent with DLS and EM measurements which show vesicle formation for the s = 2 and 3 compounds, and micelle formation for the s = 6 compound. The enthalpies of micellization (deltaH degrees (M)) are more exothermic for the 18:1-s-18:1 series of surfactants, than for the 12-s-12 series. The differences are rationalized in terms of steric and configurational contributions to deltaH degrees (M) arising from difficulties associated with packing of the bulky cis-9-octadecene tails.


Antibody titers to Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) were measured in serum samples collected from mature cows, butcher pigs, mature sows and adult sheep, horses, dogs, cats, turkeys, and chickens. The frequency of LT antitoxin titers was greatest in sows (94%) and less in cows (38%). Titers were higher in swine than in cattle. There were no LT antitoxin titers in serums from sheep, horses, dogs, cats, turkeys, and chickens. It was concluded that LT-producing Escherichia coli are prevalent in the swine population, but much less so in cattle and the other species examined.


The vast majority of the world's rivers are now being tapped for their water supplies, yet only a tiny fraction of these rivers are protected by any sort of environmental flow standard. While important advances have been made in reducing the cost and time required to determine the environmental flow needs of both individual rivers and types of rivers in specific geographies, it is highly unlikely that such approaches will be applied to all, or even most, rivers within the forseeable future. As a result, the vast majority of the planet's rivers remain vulnerable to exploitation without limits. Clearly, there is great need for adoption of a "presumptive standard" that can fill this gap. In this paper we present such a presumptive standard, based on the Sustainability Boundary Approach of Richter (2009) which involves restricting hydrologic alterations to within a percentage‐based range around natural or historic flow variability. We also discuss water management implications in applying our standard. Our presumptive standard is intended for application only where detailed scientific assessments of environmental flow needs cannot be undertaken in the near term. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


In order to achieve a signifi cant energy saving, WUR Greenhouse Horticulture and Delphy conducted research under a lighting system with Deep Red / Blue Top- LED. Objectives were consistent growth by uniform light level, improvement of fl ower size and stem weight and 25% saving on electricity. In the summer of 2016, the climate through LED and cooling using OPAC heat exchangers was nice for good quality roses. In the winter 2016/2017 the quality of the roses was strongly reduced by the occurrence of small leaves, many 7 leafl ets leaves and small buds. The colour of leaf, fl ower and stem became too dark and had a high thorn density. In spring these effects became less severe, with positive effect on quality. The reason for the quality deterioration has been extensively discussed. Temperature, cutting strategy and light spectrum are considered. Despite the quality problems, production in stems and kg per m2 was fi ne. The light use effi ciency in the full-LED test was similar to that of the SON-T test a year earlier. The energy saving for lighting achieved the desired 25%. However, more heat must be added to allow the crop to experience a higher temperature, especially at times when there is only artifi cial light


A critical problem of wireless sensor networks is the efficient handling of the nodes energy under the target coverage constraint. The sensors are randomly deployed in the field covering a set of targets. Due to the randomness of the deployment some targets are covered by a few only sensors and, thus, the maximum achieved network lifetime is upper bounded by the energy of the sensors that cover the most sparsely covered target. To tackle this problem one could move some sensors towards sparsely covered areas from areas that are covered by many sensors. In this paper we present a localized solution that can be used to redeploy the sensing nodes and balance the amount of energy between the sensors that cover each target, while it also ensures connectivity with the sink. We simulate our approach and our findings show an over 100% increase of the amount of energy of the sensors that cover the most sparsely covered target in the network. We compare our findings to the theoretical maximum solution and to the case where the nodes are considered static.


MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that have been shown to play important roles in gene regulation and various biological processes. The abnormal expression of some specific miRNAs often results in the development of cancer. In this article, we have utilized a multiobjective genetic algorithm-based feature selection algorithm wrapped with support vector machine (SVM) classifier for selecting promising miRNAs having differential expression in benign and malignant tissue samples. Subsequently, the non-dominated sets of promising miRNAs are aggregated into a single most promising miRNA subset. Finally, the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) statistic has been applied on the obtained miRNA subset for identifying potential miRNA markers that distinguish the two classes (benign and malignant) of tissue samples. The performance has been demonstrated on four real-life miRNA expression datasets for different SVM kernel functions and the identified miRNA markers are reported.


Despite recent progress in the treatment of cancer over the past several decades, effective therapeutic options for pancreatic cancer remain as an area of high unmet medical need. Most patients with pancreatic cancer will survive less than six months following diagnosis. Targeted therapies including Gemcitabine (GemzarTM), FOLFIRINOX (5-FU/leucovorin/irinotecan/oxaliplatin), and sustained release, nab-paclitaxel (AbraxaneTM) offer some modest improvement in survival, albeit at an increase in side effects and unwanted toxicities. Data presented here will center on redox factor-1 (Ref-1) and a Ref-1 inhibitor developed in our laboratories, APX3330. Ref-1 regulates multiple transcription factors (TFs) involved in pancreatic cancer cell survival signaling due to its redox-coactivator activity on oxidized TFs including HIF-1α, AP-1, NFkB, and STAT3. High expression levels of Ref-1 also indicate decreased survival in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) as well as other cancers. APX3330 has been shown in multiple in vitro and in vivo models of pancreatic cancer to be effective in reducing tumor growth and metastases as a single agent. The mechanism of action has been extensively investigated and characterized and involves APX3330 binding to Ref-1. Furthermore, the safety and dose administration of APX3330 have been established by Eisai pharmaceutical company through a previous development program including toxicology, phase I, and phase II clinical evaluation in non-cancer patients in Japan. We have partnered with ApeX Therapeutics to develop APX3330 for cancer (IND submitted; phase I trial anticipated start date early 2016). Methods: We performed in vivo studies demonstrating single and combination effects of APX3330 with gemcitabine. Additionally, we tested single and combination studies of APX3330 in anex vivo 3-Dimensional tumor-stroma model system using patient derived tumor cells along with patient derived cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Results: In our ex vivo 3D co-culture system, APX3330 decreases the tumor area and intensity in a dose-dependent manner. We can quantitate the effect on both the tumor and the CAFs as they are labeled with different fluorescent markers. The combination of APX3330 with Gemcitabine (Gem) demonstrated an additive enhancement effect in the tumor. However, the combination treatment did not appear to sensitize CAF cells to Gemcitabine, which suggests that Gem+APX3330 treatment is more specifically targeting tumor cells. This suggests that blocking redox function in both tumor and CAF cells can stop the cross-talk between tumor and fibroblast, therefore sensitizing the tumor cells to Gemcitabine-induced cell killing. Using in vivo animal models, APX3330 has been shown to be effective in reducing tumor volume and metastases as a single agent. APX3330 also reduced the number of lymph node metastatic lesions. In our current combination in vivo study, APX3330 was combined with a standard dose of Gemcitabine and carried out over 63 days. There was a significantly decreased tumor volume in the combination treatments of APX3330 with Gemcitabine compared to the single-agents alone. Based on these findings we are proposing phase I/Ib studies of APX3330 in patients with solid tumors, and in combination with Gemcitabine in patients with advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Citation Format: Melissa L. Fishel, Huiwen Cheng, Safi Shahda, Mark R. Kelley. APX3330 drug development for clinical trials targeting APE1/Ref-1 in pancreatic cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2015 Nov 5-9; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2015;14(12 Suppl 2):Abstract nr B167.


Campylobacter fetus subspecies fetus causes both systemic and diarrheal illnesses. We studied 38 strains of C. fetus isolated from 34 patients; underlying illness was present in eight (89%) of nine patients with only systemic isolates compared with three (20%) of 15 patients with only fecal isolates (P = .002). In a standardized assay of susceptibility to normal human serum, 27 (71%) strains were resistant, six (16%) had intermediate susceptibility, and five (13%) were serum sensitive. Major protein bands migrating at 100 kDa or 125 kDa on polyacrylamide gels were present in all of the 25 serum-resistant strains tested but in only four of seven serum-sensitive isolates of C. fetus from humans and animals (P = .007). The presence of these bands was associated with type A lipopolysaccharide. A low-passaged strain, 82-40, was serum resistant and contained the 100-kDa protein; however, a spontaneous mutant of this strain lacked this band and was serum sensitive. The 100-kDa and 125-kDa proteins of three strains of C. fetus were antigenically cross reactive or identical and were exposed on the surface of the C. fetus cell. Serum resistance is inherent to most C. fetus isolates from humans and is associated with the presence of cross-reactive surface proteins.


NASA not only seeks to unravel the secrets of the solar system and the universe, we have a robust program to better understand how Earth works as a system, how it's changing, and to assist when natural disasters like hurricanes and earthquakes occur.


There have been substantial improvements in measurement systems in order to meet fluctuating market demands. This rapid change and development in measurement technology has primarily been governed by demands of accuracy and precision from aerospace, automotive and other manufacturing industries. Coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) available with different technologies and configurations has efficiently been fulfilling customer demands for more than a decade. Though, current CMMs can meet needs of rapid and increased demands of customers to a greater extent but still there is lot of scope for improvement and development in CMMs. The globalization of manufacturing has resulted in development of variety of complex products and miniaturization of mechanical components. The technology of micro/nano-scale 3D measurement is still a bottleneck for industries. Therefore, precise and accurate system which is flexible enough to deal with complexities of parts and micro & nano range products has to be investigated. In this paper, comprehensive review concerning CMMs with capabilities to measure micro/nano features has been presented. This work has also discussed different methods to estimate measurement uncertainty, as well as performance evaluation of CMMs. Moreover, novel concepts such as intelligent CMM, multi-sensor CMM, virtual CMM have been presented.


We present an analytic simplified form for the 4 × 4 propagation matrix of a general homogeneous biaxial layer. The expression is applicable to any linear homogeneous, absorbing, biaxial, gyrotropic, magneto-optic, arbitrarily oriented anisotropic structure. Its simple form speeds up the calculation of the optical properties of inhomogeneous anisotropic media and allows real-time analysis of ellipsometric experimental data. A simplified analytic expression for the propagation matrix is also derived for the case of mode degeneration such as for propagation at certain angles and for the isotropic case. Using this analytic method it is found that the time required for calculating the propagation matrix is shorter by a factor of two than that using direct numerical calculation.


Background: A number of different methods can be used to determine passing standards in written examinations. At the University of Glasgow Medical School, our standard setting policy for the undergraduate MBChB course is to use a Modified Angoff method with the Hofstee method used when passing rates deviate from expected. This study set out to compare the effect of these two methods on student pass rates in year 1 and 2 of the course using historical data.
Summary of Work: This study looked at data from 5 first sittings of summative written exams (each exam was sat by approximately 240 students). Angoff panels (6-10 judges) met in advance of each exam and the average Angoff score was determined following a discussion. The Hofstee analysis was calculated using the Angoff score +/- 2 SD for the maximum and minimum pass mark boundaries. The minimum student fail
rate was 0% and the maximum was 20% of the cohort. The percentage of the cohort who would fail the exam using these parallel methods was compared.
Summary of Results: For both years 1 and 2, the Modified Angoff pass mark was higher than the Hofstee pass mark resulting in a marginally higher fail rate across the 5 years analysed. The largest discrepancy between the two methods was seen in the academic years with the highest fail rates.
Discussion and Conclusions: On average, using the Modified Angoff method results in a higher pass mark compared to using the Hofstee method. This is consistent with other studies which have shown that there can be differences in pass rates depending on the method chosen although, the direction of the differences seen in these other studies are not always the same and may reflect the type of exam or individual variations in method. The results from our analysis will inform our own future assessment policy
development.
Take-home Messages: There is a small difference in the pass mark when Modified Angoff and Hofstee methods are compared but the difference is more pronounced in terms of a higher fail rate using Modified Angoff when the overall failure rate is high.


Organizations depend heavily on information systems and their outputs to achieve organizational goals and facilitate main business processes. Quality of system's outputs "information quality" is considered an important ingredient of information system's outputs as it determines the degree to which information is used in organizations. This drives management attention towards improving information systems' quality and output quality of the systems. Information quality, provided by an information system, is a very important factor in leading people to believe in the usefulness of that information system. Quality of the system itself is also a critical factor that determines the level of information quality and system features that consequently affect the system utilization and benefits gained by the system users. This study thus focuses on user perspectives and how users perceive the characteristics of information quality. The study aims at providing a more incorporative framework and measurements to both system quality and information quality of information systems. It also aims at measuring the perceived impact of both systems quality and information quality on user evaluation and performance. Consisting with previous studies, the study provides some useful conclusions that can be used by managers to structure their information system strategies to best benefit their organizations. The study gained evidence supporting strong relationships between information quality and systems quality, and user evaluation of the information systems. The results indicated that information quality and systems quality are significant determinants of utilization and usefulness, obtained when using information systems.


This study assessed the changes in the flow carrying capacity of Ofu River in Nigeria between 2000 and 2011 using the DEMs of the respective years. The results showed that Ofu River had lost 12.88 m amounting to about 42.58 % of its flow depth at Oforachi between 2000 and 2011 at a rate of 1.171 m per year and an estimated 18.74 m amounting to about 61.95 % in 2016. The Total sediment load was 66,825,730 kg/year comprising of 56,747,260 kg/year and 10,077,470 kg/year of measured and unmeasured sediment loads respectively. The results obtained suggested that the loss in flow depth is a result of siltation of the river bed due to the high sediment load probably as a result of soil cultivation within the floodplains. The study demonstrated that remote sensing and GIS can be used to assess the changes in the discharge-carrying capacity of a river. Keywords : DEM, Discharge capacity, Flow depth, GIS, Ofu river, Sediment load


Despite the burden of mental health problems among refugees, knowledge about mental health care for this group is limited. In this context, the comprehensive discussion is important because care is more than professional care, but takes place in everyday situations and between different groups of people. In this study, we look at expert views (based on profession and lived experience) on caring environments concerning refugees' mental health on different system levels. These levels include the individual level, family level, community level and the society. Additionally, we aimed to understand how these system levels interact. We conducted interviews with 11 psychotherapists from Germany and 12 participants who fled from Arabic-speaking countries to Germany. We analyzed transcripts following Braun and Clarke's reflexive thematic analysis. Interviewees shared ideas on how society in general (e.g. increase acceptance), professional actors (e.g. be sensitive about cultural differences), other refugees (e.g. exchange information), family/friends (e.g. provide emotional help) and refugees with mental health problems themselves (e.g. be open to involve others) could provide care. Participants provided examples of how system levels interacted, for example when legal norms made care among family members harder. The interactions between different system levels point to a multidisciplinary approach towards mental health care for refugees and call for building expert networks instead of viewing refugee mental health as a medical, psychiatric issue alone. To improve the mental health of refugees, different societal actors should keep in mind the interactions across different system levels and exchange their respective expert knowledge.


Merging medical practices may be a wise business decision, but the reality of implementing changes and the emotional fallout with the individuals affected by the changes can be harrowing. This paper offers advice on easing the transitions.


The paper examines the sanitary conditions and medical care of the population in the Komi region in the second half of the XIX-early XX centuries and summarizes the factual material on incidence of infectious diseases among the inhabitants of the region. The paper presents factors that influenced morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases, analyzes measures to improve the sanitary and epidemic situation in the region.
The general situation with infectious diseases and morbidity strongly influenced the life time and mortality rate of population in the study period. The introduction of sanitary and hygienic concepts and rules, development of the system of medical institutions, vaccination and control of epidemics apparently started to have a decreasing effect on the mortality from infectious diseases. The total mortality rate of the population remained high but the mortality of the urban population by the beginning of the XX century began to decrease gradually. Such relatively simple measures as the abandonment of surface water consumption, construction of public wells and improvement of principal sanitary and hygienic conditions, significantly contributed to the decreased mortality cases from infectious diseases.


In the Portuguese railway system, narrow-gauge lines were an important part of the network, accounting for a fifth of the extent and roughly a sixth of the traffic. Portuguese historiography about these railways focuses on partial aspects of their evolution and does not provide a general critical overview of their history. In this article, I propose the analysis of Portuguese narrow gauge as a Large Technological System connecting the Portuguese center(s) to its periphery(ies) in different stages of its evolution, from its implementation to its decline. Using available literature and unpublished statistical data of operation, I demonstrate how narrow gauge was unable to compete with automobility and ceased to be an alternative for long-distance transportation, but is resurfacing with different uses and goals.


Gibson, Michael A. & Broadhead, Thomas W. 1989 07 15: Species-specific growth responses of favositid corals to soft-bottom substrates. Lethaia, Vol. 22, pp. 287–299. Oslo. ISSN 0024–1164.

Species of favositid corals from the Upper Silurian and Lower Devonian of Tennessee, USA, exhibit structural modifications related to corallum geometry, interfacial skeletal material, and biotic associations that enabled them to survive in terrigenous mud rich environments. Favosites conicus Hall (Lower Devonian) had a flat, holotheca-covered base and a radial pattern of colony growth, but apparently had a short life span and may not have survived beyond the first reproductive cycle (monocarpous). It was adapted for living between major episodes of terrigenous mud influx. F. foerstei (Lower Devonian) had a convex, pseudoholotheca-covered base and a modified axial pattern of colony growth. Its large size, in comparison to that of F. conicus, suggests a longer lived colony (polycarpous), in which continued upward and outward growth enabled it to survive episodic sediment influx. F. forbesi (Upper Silurian) exhibited radial growth to form either (1) a globose corallum that was symbiotic with the stalks of living crinoids permitting the colony to live entirely above the substrate, or (2) a Gorallum with a steeply convex, holotheca-covered base that represents a bottom-dwelling colony in which the rate of growth probably only slightly exceeded the rate of sediment accumulation. *Functional morphology, astogeny, paleoecology, Tabulata.


Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-transmitted alphavirus that has re-emerged in recent decades, causing large-scale epidemics in many parts of the world. CHIKV infection leads to a febrile disease known as chikungunya fever (CHIKF), which is characterised by severe joint pain and myalgia. As many patients develop a painful chronic stage and neither antiviral drugs nor vaccines are available, the development of a potent CHIKV inhibiting drug is crucial for CHIKF treatment. A comprehensive summary of current antiviral research and development of small-molecule inhibitor against CHIKV is presented in this review. We highlight different approaches used for the identification of such compounds and further discuss the identification and application of promising viral and host targets.


Mr. R is a 29-year-old single male with underlying Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) Deficiency since childhood. He presented with elated mood for 10days prior. He had 1 prior admission because of increased agitation and being aggressive towards his family doctor. G6PD has been linked with an increased risk of developing Bipolar Affective Disorder. Asenapine is a new antipsychotic on the market, which could be used as a mood stabilizer. It has a proven benefit in treating bipolar affective disorder. This case report highlights a very rare side effect of Asenapine induced tachycardia.


Deregulation in the labor market is accused of increasing income disparities. Nevertheless, the fundamental reason for the increasing number of non-regular employees is the persistence and significance of rigid hiring practices and the seniority wage system from high growth periods that carry over, into subsequent periods characterized by long-term stagnation of economic growth. A major factor behind the widening of income disparities is that the pursuit of employment stability by particular firms, rather than by the labor market as a whole, is having the effect of differentiating the labor market between what goes on within and outside of those firms. Amid the simultaneous advance of the globalization of economic activity, and the declining as well as the aging of the Japanese population, it is of fundamental importance to correct these disparities by raising wage levels not only by increasing the labor productivity of individual industries, but also by ensuring a smooth transfer of labor from fields of low productivity to those in which productivity is high. Only the traditional form of lifetime employment enjoyed by regular employees is considered to be a "good way of working" despite its strong restrictions such as long working hours and frequent job shifts that employees agree to in return for employment security. Other forms such as temping are "a bad way of working", considered to be insecure, and are subject to stiffening regulatory moves. However, the conversion of 17 million non-regular employees into regular employees cannot possibly be called a realistic policy. Rather, the best direction to take for carrying out a proper reform of the labor market is to lay down equable rules premised on diverse ways of working that make no distinction between regular and non-regular employees, and facilitate the extension of eligibility for employment insurance and social insurance to workers other than regular employees.


We begin a program of work aimed at examining the interior of a rotating black hole with a non-zero cosmological constant. The generalization of Teukolsky's equation for the radial mode functions is presented. It is shown that the energy fluxes of scalar, electromagnetic and gravity waves are regular at the Cauchy horizon whenever the surface gravity there is less than the surface gravity at the cosmological horizon. This condition is narrowly allowed, even when the cosmological constant is very small, thus permitting an observer to pass through the hole, viewing the naked singularity along the way.


This paper proposed a new technique for image steganography using edge detection for RGB images. There are lots of algorithms to hide data with precision level but they are also decreasing the quality of the image. In this proposed study, edges of an RGB image will be detected by scanning method using 3x3 window, and then text will be embedded in to the edges of the color image. By doing this not only high embedding capacity will be achieved, it also enhances the quality of the stego image from the HVS (human vision system).


PURPOSE
To investigate the protective effect of Bg on cisplatin (CP)-induced neurotoxicity in rats.

METHODS
Twenty eight rats were randomly distributed into four groups. The first group was kept as a control. In the second group, CP was given at the single dose of 7 mg/kg intraperitoneally. In the third group, βg was orally administered at the dose of 50 mg/kg/day for 14 days. In the fourth group, CP and βg were given together at the same doses.

RESULTS
CP treatment caused significant oxidative damage via induction of lipid peroxidation and reductions antioxidant defense system potency in the brain tissue. In addition, histopathological damage increased with CP treatment. On the other hand, βg treatment largely prevented oxidative and histopathological negative effects of CP.

CONCLUSIONS
Cisplatin has severe neurotoxic effects in rats and βg supplementation has significant beneficial effects against CP toxicity depending on its antioxidant properties. Thus, it appears that βg might be useful against CP toxicity in patients with cancer in terms of nervous system.


The aim of this study was to evaluate the potentials of fermented Cucurbita moschata extract (FCME) in the treatment of obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Five-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were assigned to 6 groups and treated for 8 weeks by feeding the normal diet (ND) and high fat diet (HFD) with and without FCME. Changes in body weight gain and consumption of feed and water were recorded. Major organs, adipose tissues, and blood samples were collected after the experimental period. The serum lipid profile, histological features of liver and adipose tissues, and mRNA expression of different adipogenic/lipogenic genes from liver tissue were evaluated. The supplementation of FCME in HFD significantly prevented HFD-induced increment of bodyweight. The adipose tissue mass, liver enzymes, and plasma lipids were also reduced significantly (p < 0.05) by the consumption of FCME. The mRNA expressions of adipogenic/lipogenic genes (PPARγ, C/EBPα, C/EBPβ, C/EBPγ, and SREBP-1C) in FCME-treated obese mice were considerably (p < 0.05) suppressed. FCME showed its antiobesity potential by suppressing the body weight gain and by modulating the plasma lipids and liver enzymes through the regulation of adipogenic/lipogenic transcriptional factors. Fermented Cucurbita moschata could be an opportunistic agent in controlling obesity and fatty liver changes.


We propose a scatterometry solution to the side wall angle measurement problem in high aspect ratios semiconductor structures such as through-silicon vias, deep holes, and deep trenches.


ABSTRACT In both basic research and applied domains, the prevailing paradigm for assessing social development has shifted from deficit-oriented measures to strength-based assessments or a combination. However, it is not yet clear the extent to which strength-based assessment reflects one end of a single dimension of children's socio-emotional skills, or a distinctly different dimension from a problem-focused examination. This validation study compares the Social Emotional Assessment Measure (SEAM) with two well-known psychopathological questionnaires (the Caregiver-Teacher Report Form; C-TRF and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire; SDQ-T. We explore the relations between and the variation of the three questionnaires' scores based on a low-risk sample of 2−5-year-old Danish children (n = 291). The SEAM Empathy Index is directly and positively related to the SDQ-T Prosocial subscale, while the SEAM Self-regulation & Cooperation Index is directly and negatively related to the SDQ-T Conduct problems subscale and the C-TRF Aggressive behaviour and Attention problems subscales. The variation in the SEAM indexes at the floor of the problem-based scales appears to reflect that strength-based assessments measure a distinct aspect of behaviour that is not identical to absence of problem-based behaviour. Thus, positive and negative aspects of socio-emotional skills are not entirely on the same dimension, and strength-based assessment improves the range of information. Abbreviations: Child Behavior Checklist: CBCL; Social Emotional Assessment Measure: SEAM; Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire: SDQ


Historically, market situation and outlook has often included some form of price forecast. Recent volatility in agricultural commodity markets is making price forecasts challenging and at times less reliable. In addressing this price volatility, changes in agricultural markets are highlighted along with price forecasts: pre- and postincreased market volatility. Given these recent challenges, the future of Extension agricultural commodity marketing is discussed.


Background. In Ghana, faecal sludge (FS) from on-site sanitation facilities is often discharged untreated into the environment, leading to significant insults to environmental and human health. Anaerobic digestion offers an attractive pathway for FS treatment with the concomitant production of energy in the form of methane. Another innovative option includes separating digestion into acidogenesis (production of volatile fatty acids (VFA)) and methanogenesis (production of methane), which could ultimately facilitate the production of an array of biofuels and biochemicals from the VFA. This work describes the development, implementation and modeling based analysis of a novel multiphase anaerobic fermentation-digestion process aimed at FS treatment in Kumasi, Ghana. Methods. A pilot-scale anaerobic fermentation process was implemented at the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly's Oti Sanitary Landfill Site at Adanse Dompoase. The process consisted of six 10 m 3 reactors in series, which were inoculated with bovine rumen and fed with fecal sludge obtained from public toilets. The performance of the fermentation process was characterized in terms of both aqueous and gaseous variables representing the conversion of influent organic carbon to VFA as well as CH 4. Using the operating data, the first-ever process model for FS fermentation and digestion was developed and calibrated, based on the activated sludge model framework. Results and Conclusions. This work represents one of the first systematic efforts at integrated FS characterization and process modeling to enable anaerobic fermentation and digestion of FS. It is shown that owing to pre-fermentation of FS in public septage holding tanks, one could employ significantly smaller digesters (lower capital costs) or increased loading capabilities for FS conversion to biogas or VFA. Further, using the first-ever calibrated process model for FS fermentation and digestion presented herein, we expect improved and more mechanistically informed development and application of different process designs and configurations for global FS management practice.


AIMS
Although conventional interventions for people at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes are usually conducted face-to-face, such interventions are burdensome for healthcare providers. We developed a lifestyle intervention program combining lifestyle coaching via a smartphone application augmented by intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM) without burdening healthcare providers. Its effectiveness for glycemic control and body weight reduction in people at risk of type 2 diabetes was investigated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
For this 12-week randomized unblinded trial with offline recruitment, participants with HbA1c 5.6-6.4% or fasting blood glucose 110-125 mg/dl and body mass index (BMI) > 23 kg/m2 but <40 kg/m2 were randomly assigned to the Intervention group (App) and Control group (C). Primary endpoint was the difference in time in range (TIR) of blood glucose 70-140 mg/dL (3.9-7.8 mmol/L) before and after the study period between the two groups.

RESULTS
Among 168 patients (mean age 48.1 y, mean BMI 26.6 kg/m2, and male 80.4%), 82 and 86 were assigned to the App group and C group, respectively. After 12 weeks, TIR of blood glucose 70-140 mg/dL significantly improved in the App group compared to the C group (-2.6 min/day vs. + 31.5 min/day, p = 0.03). Changes in time above range did not differ, whereas time below range (blood glucose <70 mg/dL;  + 23.5 min/day vs. -8.9 min/day, p = 0.02) improved in the App group. BMI (-0.26 vs. -0.59, p = 0.017) was reduced in the App group compared to the C group.

CONCLUSION
Intervention with a smartphone app and isCGM increased glycemic control accompanied by decreased carbohydrate intake and weight loss. Further trials are needed to confirm whether these interventions can reduce incident type 2 diabetes.


We report on an experimental and theoretical study demonstrating that the phase information of a surface plasmon polariton (SPP) can be retrieved by investigating the cross polarized scattered components in the SPP reflection channel. The method does not require traditional interferometric techniques, optical heterodyning, or polarimetry, instead the method is self referencing. Studies are performed for different excitation wavelengths (561 nm and 795 nm), providing an alternative access route to phase information for sensing applications while also offering a deeper understanding of the scattering behavior of SPPs.


Penalized estimation principle is fundamental to high-dimensional problems. In the literature, it has been extensively and successfully applied to various models with only structural parameters. As a contrast, in this paper, we first apply this penalization principle to a linear regression model with a finite-dimensional vector of structural parameters and a high-dimensional vector of sparse incidental parameters. For the estimators of the structural parameters, we derive their consistency and asymptotic normality, which reveals an oracle property. However, the penalized estimators for the incidental parameters possess only partial selection consistency but not consistency. This is an interesting partial consistency phenomenon: the structural parameters are consistently estimated while the incidental ones cannot. For the structural parameters, also considered is an alternative two-step penalized estimator, which has fewer possible asymptotic distributions and thus is more suitable for statistical inferences. We further extend the methods and results to the case where the dimension of the structural parameter vector diverges with but slower than the sample size. A data-driven approach for selecting a penalty regularization parameter is provided. The finite-sample performance of the penalized estimators for the structural parameters is evaluated by simulations and a real data set is analyzed.


This study aims at identifying the organisational antecedents of public service motivation (PSM). It focuses on human resources management (HRM) practices as one category of organisational factors that impact on PSM. Concretely, this research questions how intrinsic and extrinsic HRM practices are related to PSM and whether these relationships are direct or mediated by person-organisation (P-O) fit. The empirical findings are based on a survey of 6,885 civil servants working in Switzerland. Regression analyses highlight that intrinsic HRM practices are positively related to PSM, whereas extrinsic ones are negatively related to PSM. Furthermore, mediation tests shows that only the intrinsic HRM practices are mediated by PO fit. Thus, civil servants who value intrinsic work incentives maintain a high PSM level when they perceive congruence between their individual expectations and the values of their organisation.


OBJECTIVE
Although previous studies have demonstrated the association between social anxiety symptom severity and the tendency to appraise positive social events negatively among individuals with social anxiety disorder, no study has examined mediators of this relationship. The current study sought to examine whether intolerance of uncertainty and its subfactors mediate the relationship between social interaction anxiety and the tendency to interpret positive social events negatively.

METHOD
One hundred and sixty-five individuals with social anxiety disorder completed measures of social interaction anxiety symptom severity, intolerance of uncertainty, and negative interpretations of positive social events.

RESULTS
Total intolerance of uncertainty and the inhibitory-intolerance of uncertainty subscale scores significantly mediated the relationship between social interaction anxiety and negative interpretations of positive events. Exploratory post-hoc analyses regarding the possible contributing role of depression demonstrated mixed results. The same mediation pattern was found in the full sample as well as those without a secondary comorbid mood disorder diagnosis. In contrast, serial mediation showed a mediating role of depressive symptom severity.

CONCLUSION
Inhibitory-intolerance of uncertainty plays a role in the relationship between social interaction anxiety and negative interpretations of positive social events.


Study Design. Systematic review. Objective. To define preoperative factors predicting clinical outcome after lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) surgery. Summary of Background Data. LSS is the most common reason requiring lumbar spine surgery in adults older than 65 years. There are no published systematic reviews on this topic. Methods. A literature search was done until April 30, 2005. Included were randomized controlled or controlled trials or prospective studies dealing with operated LSS. The preoperative predictors had to be presented. Included articles were assessed as high-quality (HQ) and low-quality studies. The predictors in HQ studies were considered as the main results. Results. A total of 21 articles were included. Depression and walking capacity were predictors according to 2 HQ studies. Predictors reported in 1 HQ study were cardiovascular/overall comorbidity, disorder influencing walking ability, self-rated health, income, severity of central stenosis, and scoliosis. Conclusion. Depression, cardiovascular comorbidity, disorder influencing walking ability, and scoliosis predicted poorer subjective outcome. Better walking ability, self-rated health, higher income, less overall comorbidity, and pronounced central stenosis predicted better subjective outcome. Male gender and younger age predicted better postoperative walking ability. The predictive value may be outcome specific; thus, the use of all relevant outcome measures is recommended when studying predictors of LSS.


Heavy metals are considered as hazardous to the environment due to their toxicity even at low concentration. Batch experiments were conducted to know the potentiality of agricultural byproducts (Groundnut shell, Rice husk and combined adsorbents) on removal of heavy metal ions. It has been found that the percentage of adsorption increases with increase in pH and decreases with the increase in metal ions concentration. The obtained results showed that the adsorption of heavy metals by Rice husk and Groundnut shell were best fitted in Langmuir isotherm than Freundlich isotherm


Two-dimensional (2D) materials have attracted broad research interests across various nonlinear optical (NLO) studies, including nonlinear photoluminescence (NPL), second harmonic generation (SHG), transient absorption (TA), and so forth. These studies have unveiled important features and information of 2D materials, such as in grain boundaries, defects, and crystal orientations. However, as most research studies focused on the intrinsic NLO processes, little attention has been paid to the substrates underneath. Here, we discovered that the NLO signal depends significantly on the thickness of SiO2 in SiO2/Si substrates. A 40-fold enhancement of the NPL signal of graphene was observed when the SiO2 thickness was varied from 270 to 125 nm under 800 nm excitation. We systematically studied the NPL intensity of graphene on three different SiO2 thicknesses within a pump wavelength range of 800-1100 nm. The results agreed with a numerical model based on back reflection and interference. Furthermore, we have extended our measurements to include TA and SHG of graphene and MoS2, confirming that SiO2 thickness has similar effects on all of the three major types of NLO signals. Our results will serve as an important guidance for choosing the optimum substrates to conduct NLO research studies on 2D materials.


Introduction: Pyoderma gangrenosum is a rare inflammatory skin disease that unknown cause. It is a neutrophilic dermatosis, aseptic, lesions are characterized by neutrophilic infiltration.
Lesions begin as erythematous papules or pustules, edges raised, painful, tends to expand gradually ends with cutaneous ulcers. The lesions may occur spontaneously or after a minor trauma, such as can be seen after surgery.
Case report: A 37 year old female patient after cesarean section was consulted due to open wound extending vertically from the inguinal area to the umbilicus, horizontally over both sides of the lumbar area. The wound was covered with necrotic tissue and hyperemia was found on the surrounding tissues. The biopsy report was revealed with neutrophilic infiltration and other findings compatible with pyoderma gangrenosum. Methylprednisolone therapy (100 mg/day) and moist ointment was applied
Findings: No pathologies associated with pyoderma gangrenosum other than type 2 diabetes mellitus were detected. Surgical trauma was thought as the cause of pyoderma gangrenosum. The open wound was epithelialized in five months. No additional problem was seen in the patient.
Conclusion: If ulcerative defect occurs at the postoperative period and if it does not improve with standard wound care and antibiotherapy, and if the culture results are negative, Pyoderma gangrenosum should be considered. Early diagnosis and treatment is crucial for limiting scar tissue that will take place after.

Keywords: Pyoderma gangrenosum, cesarean section, methylprednisolone


Aqueous solutions of LiCl are probably the most studied electrolyte solutions related to the complexity of liquid water at low temperatures. Despite the large amount of available experimental data hardly any computational studies were performed on LiCl solutions in this context. In this study, we present molecular dynamics simulations of LiCl-water at ambient and supercooled conditions spanning a large concentration range. The molecular insight gained provides information on how the presence of the ions impacts the hydrogen bond network. It is found that this influence changes appreciably when supercooled states are considered. While the local structure of water molecules beyond the first hydration shells barely changes with concentration at room temperature, a change is found for those molecules at low temperature. Additionally, we scrutinize the possibility of a phase separation in this system as indicated by several experimental studies. Our analyses do not show signs of such a phase separation at 240 K, but are consistent with a possible separation at even lower temperatures.


An investigation was conducted to ascertain the sound pressure levels of home electric appliances in actual situations, what the ideal levels were, and the level considered to be unacceptable. Added to this, the question of what amount purchasers considered it reasonable to pay for noise reduction. It was found that impression of the "actual, " "ideal" and "intolerable" levels of sounds from home electric appliances could be obtained by psychoacoustical experiments. The results showed that there was a uniform difference of about 10dB between the three levels for the sounds used in the experiment. Subjects also suggested the acceptable cost of noise reduction in home electric appliances. Interesting information was also obtained concerning what kinds of electric appliances housewives wanted to have, what performance they expected, and what factors might contribute to the selection of electric appliances.


In this paper the polarized optical spectra (absorption and fluorescence) of the Nd3+ ion in the Gd2(MoO4)3 non-linear crystal have been investigated at low (10 K) and room temperature. Results obtained from low-temperature experiments have been used to obtain the energy level diagram and also to identify two non-equivalent centres of Nd3+ ions in this crystal. The Judd-Ofelt formalism is applied to the room temperature absorption spectra, and the relevant spectroscopic parameters (quantum efficiency and emission cross section) for laser applications have been estimated. Infrared-to-visible up-conversion in this host crystal is reported for the first time. Finally, continuous-wave laser experiments are carried out and from them, optimal conditions for generation of green laser light are established.


We study the viscous properties of a system of weakly interacting spin-1/2 fermions in one dimension. Accounting for the effect of interactions on the quasiparticle energy spectrum, we obtain the bulk viscosity of this system at low temperatures. Our result is valid for frequencies that are small compared with the rate of fermion backscattering. For frequencies larger than this exponentially small rate, the excitations of the system become decoupled from the center of mass motion, and the fluid is described by two-fluid hydrodynamics. We calculate the three transport coefficients required to describe viscous dissipation in this regime.


The moment magnitude determination for prehistorical earthquakes in the Wabash Valley seismic zone traditionally has relied on modified magnitude-bound liquefaction curves. The calibration of the moment magnitude and maximum distance to surface evidence of liquefaction curve for the central United States depended, in part, on the scaling of the 31 October 1895 earthquake as an M 6.8 event. Returning the M of the 1895 earthquake to a previously accepted value range of M 5.9 to M 6.2, and permitting the distance between the epicenter and the resulting liquefaction sites to vary, lowers the M of the prehistorical earthquakes by at least 0.6 units.


The authors have developed a method of analysis which can examine the effects of the eddy currents and hysteresis in magnetic devices. In this paper, the method is applied to investigate the recording process of the metal-in-gap head and thin-film medium in a flexible disc drive. The effects of thickness and conductivity of thin sendust, and the recording current are clarified.


Information and communication technologies as support for the inclusive education are one of the effective tools for the development, education and training of students with special educational needs. The article deals with assistive hardware and software tools that compensate some of the natural functions of the child's body. The possibilities of modern Microsoft, Google, Facebook and Youtube platforms have been described that make it possible to improve the fulfilment of educational tasks via the settings of keyboard shortcuts, virtual keyboard, word prediction functions, sound signals or screen indicators. The article also highlights the potential of messengers, social networks and e-mails as the most modern and adapted communicators for addressing teaching and educational needs of schoolchildren. The Viber and Facebook instant messaging programs have also been described and were found to be the most widespread means of communication in Ukraine having functions of voice and video calls with the interface adapted to maximize screen readability, allowing to create constructive dialogue between teachers, parents or schoolchildren with special educational needs. The use of ICT in inclusive education for didactic purposes have been presented practically by the LearningApps.org service. Examples of setting objectives for children with mild and moderate mental retardation have been presented, in particular: for pupils who suffer from autistic disorders, for schoolchildren who have problems with auditory or visual perception of information. Providing education through the suggested resource allows to carry out remedial work with children with special educational needs that intensifies their perception and attention, improves their memory and stimulates their motivation for educational activities. Introduction of information and communication technologies encompassing their three aspects - compensatory, communication and didactic purposes - makes it possible to adjust educational programmes and contribute effectively to the development of pupils according to their individuality.


Studies of dielectric spectroscopy, dc conductivity, and polarization switching allowed the observation of phase transition from the superionic to the insulating state in flux-grown KTiOPO4 (KTP) crystals at low temperature where the high mobility of potassium ions is suppressed. A low temperature method of fabrication of engineered periodic domain structures in superionic KTP and isomorphic crystals is proposed. It enabled us to tailor homogeneous domain gratings with various periods in the range 4–39 μm for quasiphase-matched nonlinear optical converters in KTP plates over whole area of 30×30 mm2.


Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is the most common cause of vertigo and dizziness. Patients with those symptoms can be diagnosed by the presence of a specific pattern of nystagmus during the Dix-Hallpike maneuver. However, almost half of dizzy patients visiting Emergency Department (ED) are misdiagnosed, leading to significant morbidity and high medical costs. This can be attributed to the lack of specialized expertise of front-line physicians and to the lack of validated automatic commercial devices and software for nystagmus detection and quantification. Here we aim to enhance saccade detection thereby improving automatic nystagmus quantification. The proposed method is evaluated on a nystagmus dataset recorded from patients in the ED as they undergo the Dix-Hallpike maneuver. Additionally, the proposed method is also tested on a publicly available saccade dataset and compared with state-of-the-art eye movement detection methods.


Quadrupole mass spectrometry (QMS) and optical emission spectroscopy (OES) have been applied to the characterization of rf plasma of tetraethylgermanium‐argon mixture. QMS analysis shows that under low power input conditions, when organogermanium plasma polymer films are deposited, the gas phase consists primarily of monomer molecules and their largest fragments. In contrast, at high power input, under conditions of hydrogenated germanium/carbon alloy film formation, tetraethylgermanium undergoes nearly complete fragmentation forming atomic germanium, atomic and molecular hydrogen, and a number of hydrocarbon species. A dramatic increase of molecular hydrogen concentration with the increasing rf power is confirmed by OES actinometric measurements. Strong dependence of atomic hydrogen concentration in the gas phase on rf power supports the concept of the formation of Ge–H bonding in the films via saturation of germanium dangling bond with hydrogen and, therefore, provides an argument to the hypothesis of a...


Abstract : A hybrid physics-based solver is developed for studying the harmonic scattering of circuit-component-loaded objects. The proposed approach features a combination of three-dimensional (3-D) electromagnetic field simulations - of both the full-wave and the asymptotic types - in the propagation and radio frequency (RF) component domains, and Simulation Program with Integrated Circuit Emphasis (SPICE) simulations in the circuit domain. In effect, a systematic framework is established for attaining generalized approximate solutions of the multiscale harmonic radar scattering problem. The solver is applied for analyzing the conventional (linear) and nonlinear scattering components from an RF circuit-loaded object placed in near-ground and through-wall settings: the scattering responses as functions of incident power, standoff distance, and azimuth angle are considered; the localization of the scatterer using both the linear and the nonlinear returns is also demonstrated by exploiting a subspace-based time-reversal method.


Abstract While most equate Mexican Olympism with the 1968 Olympic Games, few know the drama of the event that laid its groundwork. From the creation of the Ministry of Public Education in 1921, cultural and military leaders heavily invested in sports infrastructure to help regenerate its rural masses, but by the 1940s, post-war modernizers sought the hosting of large international athletic events to boost its prestige, foment national pride, and prove to the world it was ready to springboard into modernity. This paper recounts the triumphs, betrayals, corruption, and politics of Pan-American sport and the Olympic movement in Mexico in the 1940s and 1950s that culminated in the improbable success of the 1955 Mexico City Pan-American Games.


Emerging mobile technologies offer nursing faculty a broader armamentarium with which to support traditionally at-risk students. Podcasting, a type of mobile learning, uses technology that allows students to access and listen to recorded classroom audio files from a computer, MP3 player, or iPod. Podcasting also offers particular promise for non-native English speakers. This article describes how podcasting was used to offer academic support to students in a medical-surgical nursing course and to report the postimplementation test grade improvement among English as a second language nursing students. This article also discusses tips for implementing podcasting within the educational arena. Developing innovative ways to improve student retention is an ongoing process. Podcasting is one tool that should be considered for English as a second language nursing students.


Wind speeds over the oceans are required for a range of applications but are difficult to obtain through in situ methods. Hence, remote sensing tools, which also offer the possibility of describing spatial variability, represent an attractive proposition. However, the uncertainties inherent in application of current remote sensing methodologies have yet to be fully quantified. Aside from known issues regarding absolute accuracy and precision, there are a number of biases inherent in remote retrieval of wind speeds using satellite-borne instrumentation that lead to overestimation of the wind resource and are demonstrated here to be of sufficient magnitude to merit further consideration. As an interim measure, error bounds are proposed for the wind speed probability distribution parameters, which may be applied to sparse datasets such as those likely to be obtained from satelliteborne instrumentation.


Opisthorchiasis is a health problem in Thailand particularly in northeast and north regions where have been reported the highest of cholangiocarcinoma. Active surveillance is required, therefore a cross-sectional surveyed was conducted in Nong Bunnak sub-district of Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand. A total of 367 participants were selected by multistage sampling from 5 villages located near natural water resources. Participants completed a predesigned questionnaire containing behavior questions regarding liver fluke disease, covering reliability and validity knowledge (Kuder-Richardon-20) = 0.80, attitude and practice (Cronbach's alpha coefficient) = 0.82 and 0.79, respectively. Descriptive statistics included frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations. The majority of the participants were female (58.3%), age group between 21-30 years old (42.5%), with primary school education (59.9%), occupation in agriculture (38.1%), and married (80.9%). They had past histories of raw fish consumption (88.3%), stool examination (1.4%), anti-parasite medication used (4.6%). Heads of villages, village health volunteers, television, and village newstations were the main sources for disease information. Participants had a moderate level of behavior regarding liver fluke disease. The mean scored of knowledge regarding liver fluke life cycle, transmission, severities, treatment, prevention and control was 10.9 (SD=0.5), most of them had a moderate level, 95.1%. The mean score for attitude regarding liver fluke prevention and control was 45.7 (SD=9.7), and for practice was 30.6 (SD=10.5). Participants had a moderate level of attitude and practice, 94.5% and 47.7, respectively. This study indicates that health education is required in this community including stool examination for liver fluke as further active surveillance screening.


We propose a general formulation of coupling for engineering synchronization in chaotic oscillators for unidirectional as well as bidirectional mode. In the synchronization regimes, it is possible to amplify or to attenuate a chaotic attractor with respect to other chaotic attractors. Numerical examples are presented for a Lorenz system, Rössler oscillator, and a Sprott system. We physically realized the controller based coupling design in electronic circuits to verify the theory. We extended the theory to a network of coupled oscillators and provided a numerical example with four Sprott oscillators.


A considerable (by a factor of 5 or more) increase in the output power was achieved by the excitation of the active medium of a CO2 laser in a slit gap on condition that the ratio of the transverse dimensions of the discharge channel exceeded 8:1. It was found that one-dimensional cooling of the active medium in a slit discharge structure required a factor of 2.38 reduction in the volume density of the pump power, compared with two-dimensional cooling in discharge channels of square cross section. The fall of the unsaturated gain on reduction in the volume density of the pump power could be partly compensated by an approximately 30% reduction in the total pressure of the gaseous mixture.