PURPOSE
To assess the effects of unripe Musa sapientum peel on the healing of surgical wounds in rats.

METHODS
One hundred and twenty Wistar rats were divided into two treatment groups of 60 animals each: the control group (gel without the active ingredient) and experimental group (4% Musa sapientum peel gel). A 4 x 4 cm surgical wound was created on the back of each animal. The wound was cleaned daily with 0.9% saline, treated with 4% gel or natrosol gel (control), and covered with gauze. Animals from both groups were sacrificed after seven, 14 and 21 days of treatment; the tissue from the wound site was removed together with a margin of normal skin for histological analysis.

RESULTS
No significant differences in wound contraction rates (p=0.982) were found between time points (seven, 14 and 21 days of treatment) in both groups. However, a significantly higher wound contraction rate was observed in the control group on day 21 compared with the experimental group (p=0.029). There were no significant differences in histomorphological features between groups. The experimental group showed an increased number of polymorphonuclear cells on day 7, with a significant reduction on day 21 (p=0.026).

CONCLUSION
The use of 4% unripe Musa sapientum peel gel on surgical wounds in rats resulted in an increased number of polymorphonuclear cells on day 7, reduced wound contraction, reduced vascular proliferation and increased concentration of collagen fibers on day 21.


Analyzing the longitudinal-mode of a pump can significantly prevent optical damage to solid media and expand the applications of solid media in high repetition rate stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS). In this study, a Fabry-Pérot etalon was used to control the number of longitudinal-mode in a pump laser output. We studied the output characteristics of SBS in fused silica by considering both single- and multi-longitudinal-mode pumping. We analyzed and compared variations in the SBS threshold, energy reflectivity, linewidth, and waveform characteristics. The experimental results indicated that a pump operating in a single-longitudinal-mode had a 14% lower SBS threshold than one operating in a multi-longitudinal-mode. The proportion of the weak longitudinal-mode in the multi-longitudinal-mode was close to the threshold difference. The damage threshold of the multi-longitudinal-mode pumps was approximately 35 mJ (@12 ns, f = 300 mm). The Stokes linewidth and waveform exhibited opposite trends as the energy changed. Due to the time-bandwidth product, the linewidth and waveform tended to converge towards the pump. This study emphasizes the importance of using a single-longitudinal-mode pump in the development and use of solid-state SBS gain media.


A theory of inertial wave focusing generated by a vertically oscillating slender torus immersed in a uniformly rotating fluid is presented. The analytical solution of the velocity field shows that, under an axisymmetric annular forcing in inviscid rotating fluid, the wave rays form a double cone symmetric about the plane on which the torus is located. At the two vertices of the double cone, the waves are in a shock-like manner focused causing localized surges of energy. After focusing, the waves continue their propagation and form a new inverted cone with the same cone angle, such that both cones are symmetric about the focal point. These results are in good agreement with the experimental and numerical study by M. Duran-Matute et al. [Phys. Rev. E 87, 041001(R) (2013)]. When friction effects occur, the wave pattern changes substantially and the wave away from the focal point is significantly attenuated so that the symmetry about the focal point is broken. As a consequence, the wave beam widens and the focusing effect becomes weaker with increasing Ekman number (Ek), which indicatesthe ratio of the viscous force to the Coriolis force. Furthermore, for the same Ek, the focusing effect tends to disappear when the forcing frequency is close to zero or twice the angular velocity of rotating flow. For forcing frequency close to the angular velocity of rotating fluid, the amplitude of the vertical velocity at the focal point reaches its maximum, which corresponds to a wave propagation angle of 60 degrees.


Starting with the premise that one remembers what one sees better than what one hears, the author has written a textbook on ophthalmology which consists mainly of illustrations with a brief explanatory text. In the text will be found a description of the important symptoms, etiology and treatment of diseases of the eye. The arrangement of the subject matter is not the usual one but is the one easiest to follow in teaching; thus, the anatomic and pathologic features and the operative treatment, if any is indicated, are given for each clinical condition. The illustrations are principally photographs, but drawings are used when details are necessary. The pictures of the fundus are drawings in color. A study of the book quickly shows that it admirably fulfils its purpose, and the author is to be congratulated. The illustrations are excellent, and those in color, particularly, show up well. The


Currently, the problem of accurate metering micro-flows (up to 100 ml / min) liquid components of technological processes is acute in the chemical and nuclear industries. This problem is due to the fact that peristaltic pumps are used for batching, in which the slope of the flowrate characteristic changes with time. This is due to the wear of the flexible hose due to numerous compression cycles. Using of peristaltic pumps is due to the fact that in most technological processes in the nuclear and chemical industries, aggressive reagents are used and the use of other types of pumps is problematic because of the need to contact the moving parts of pumps directly with the environment.
This work describes the developed flowrate sensor, which is a capillary flowmeter, a measured volumetric flowrate. Metrological and production tests of the developed flowmeter are conducted and described. The variants of realization of the device of the automatic dispensing of low flowrate of aggressive and radioactive liquids.


BACKGROUND
Although intraoral scanners are known to have good accuracy in computer-aided impression making (CAIM), their effect on time efficiency is not. Little is known about the time required to make a digital impression. The purpose of the authors' in vitro investigation was to evaluate the time efficiency of intraoral scanners.

METHODS
The authors used three different intraoral scanners to digitize a single abutment (scenario 1), a short-span fixed dental prosthesis (scenario 2) and a full-arch prosthesis preparation (scenario 3). They measured the procedure durations for the several scenarios and compiled and contrasted the procedure durations for three conventional impression materials.

RESULTS
The mean total procedure durations for making digital impressions of scenarios 1, 2 and 3 were as much as 5 minutes 57 seconds, 6 minutes 57 seconds, and 20 minutes 55 seconds, respectively. Results showed statistically significant differences between all scanners (P < .05), except Lava (3M ESPE, St. Paul, Minn.) and iTero with foot pedal (Align Technology, San Jose, Calif.) for scenario 1, CEREC (Sirona, Bensheim, Germany) and CEREC with foot pedal for scenario 2, and iTero and iTero with foot pedal for scenarios 2 and 3. The compiled procedure durations for making conventional impressions in scenarios 1 and 2 ranged between 18 minutes 15 seconds and 27 minutes 25 seconds; for scenario 3, they ranged between 21 minutes 25 seconds and 30 minutes 25 seconds.

CONCLUSIONS
The authors found that CAIM was significantly faster for all tested scenarios. This suggests that CAIM might be beneficial in establishing a more time-efficient work flow.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS
On the basis of the results of this in vitro study, the authors found CAIM to be superior regarding time efficiency in comparison with conventional approaches and might accelerate the work flow of making impressions.


The paper discusses three categorial hybrids in the East Cushitic language Kambaata, viz. negative participles, agent adjectives and verbal nouns, all of which are shown to combine properties of two word classes (lexical categories) systematically. Unlike their affirmative counterparts, Kambaata negative relative verbs qualify as verbal adjectives (participles), because, apart from having verbal inflectional morphology and a completely verbal argument structure, they have also acquired adjectival morphology to indicate case/gender agreement with their head nouns. The combination of verbal and adjectival features is less balanced for agent adjectives, which retain fewer properties of the verbs they are based on; they are still able to govern objects and adverbial clauses, though. Kambaata verbal nouns behave almost entirely like verbs in relation to their dependents but as nouns in the clause they are arguments of. I argue that the negative participle formation and the verbal 1 Research for this paper was supported in part by grants from the German Research Foundation and by a La Trobe Post-doctoral Research Fellowship (2008-2011); this support is gratefully acknowledged. Revisions of this article were made during my time as a grantee of the program "Research in Paris" at the CNRS laboratory LLACAN (Langage, Langues et cultures d'Afrique noire). I am indebted to Tessema Handiso, Deginet Wotango, Philipos Paulos, Mathewos Shagana and all other Kambaata speakers that I have been working with in the past years. Thanks to two anonymous reviewers, Joachim Crass, Gerrit J. Dimmendaal, Birgit Hellwig, Gerd Jendraschek, Willem de Reuse and Joanne Taylor for helpful comments on an earlier version of this paper. All remaining shortcomings and errors are mine. noun formation are inflectional processes which change the word form word class from verb to adjective and verb to noun, respectively, but which preserve the properties of the lexeme word class (Verb). In contrast, the agent adjective formation is analysed as a derivational process with a greater impact on the lexeme word class.


The Delta Programme consists of strategies to protect the Netherlands against flooding and to safeguard fresh water supply while anticipating climate change. The programme is aimed at avoiding a disastrous flood, rather than responding to it after the event. This requires a multigovernmental approach, strategies dealing with uncertainty and adequate institutional arrangements to guarantee future‐proof implementation. The Delta Programme includes updated standards for flood protection, a policy framework regarding flood‐proof urban (re)development and efforts to improve disaster management. Uncertainties about the future climate, population, economy and society are to tackled by an adaptive way of planning i.e. maximizing flexibility, keeping options open and avoiding 'lock in'. The multifunctional design of these measures increases societal 'added value' (regarding nature, recreation or urban development) and enhances acceptance. The Delta Commissioner directs this multigovernmental process, monitors progress, reports to Parliament every year and takes the necessary steps when problems arise. From 2020 onwards, a Delta Fund of about 1 billion EUR per year will provide stability in financial resources. The new Delta Act forms the legal basis for the programme, the Commissioner and the Delta Fund.


With seismic interferometry one can retrieve the response to a virtual source inside an unknown medium, if there is a receiver at the position of the virtual source. Using inverse scattering theory, we demonstrate that, for a 1D medium, the requirement of having an actual receiver inside the medium can be circumvented, going beyond seismic interferometry. In this case, the wavefield can be focused inside an unknown medium with independent variations in velocity and density using reflection data only.


Abstract Research suggests that low fertility awareness (FA) may be a contributing factor to infertility. The aim of this study was to determine whether education improves knowledge in FA and to explore the associations between FA knowledge and time to pregnancy (TTP). A 20-point self-administered FA questionnaire (FAQ) was completed by 180 subfertile women on their first visit to a hospital-based fertility assessment and research clinic, followed by an education session on FA. Women completed the same FAQ after receiving the education session. There was an increase in the FAQ score after the women received FA education (post-education FAQ score: mean, M = 15.68, SD = 1.8) compared with the score before the session [(pre-education FAQ score: M = 13.87, SD = 1.9), t(179)=–10.547, p < 0.001]. Pregnancy was achieved in 88 women (49%). Women with a higher post-education FAQ score (≥15 points) had a shorter TTP (M = 6.4 months, SD = 4.1) than women with post-education FAQ scores <15 [M = 8.8 months, SD = 6.0, t(86)=2.231, p = 0.028]. Greater time trying to conceive was negatively predictive of the hazard for achieving a pregnancy (b=–0.021, se = 0.008, p = 0.005), while age had no significant effect. FA knowledge in women attending a fertility clinic significantly improved after education. Higher FA may reduce TTP in subfertile women who are actively trying to conceive naturally.


AbstractThe aim of the present study was to elicit how patients with delusions with religious contents conceptualized or experienced their spirituality and religiousness. Sixty-two patients with present or past religious delusions went through semistructured interviews, which were analyzed using the three coding steps described in the grounded theory. Three major themes were found in religious delusions: "spiritual identity," "meaning of illness," and "spiritual figures." One higher-order concept was found: "structure of beliefs." We identified dynamics that put these personal beliefs into a constant reconstruction through interaction with the world and others (i.e., open dynamics) and conversely structural dynamics that created a complete rupture with the surrounding world and others (i.e., closed structural dynamics); those dynamics may coexist. These analyses may help to identify psychological functions of delusions with religious content and, therefore, to better conceptualize interventions when dealing with it in psychotherapy.


Beller, Bender, and Medin question the necessity of including social anthropology within the cognitive sciences. We argue that there is great scope for fruitful rapprochement while agreeing that there are obstacles (even if we might wish to debate some of those specifically identified by Beller and colleagues). We frame the general problem differently, however: not in terms of the problem of reconciling disciplines and research cultures, but rather in terms of the prospects for collaborative deployment of expertise (methodological and theoretical) in problem-driven research. For the purposes of illustration, our focus in this article is on the evolution of cooperation.


An efficient approach to benzoxazoles via tandem migration-carboalkoxylation of o-isocyanophenyl acetals has been developed. Both a Lewis acid and base are essential for this reaction, and the BF(3)·OEt(2)/2,4,6-collidine combination is the best choice for cooperative transformation.


The English Language Proficiency Assessment (ELPA) is used in the state of Michigan in the United States to fulfill government-mandated No Child Left Behind (NCLB) requirements. The test is used to promote and monitor achievement in English language learning in schools that receive federal NCLB funding. The goal of the project discussed here was to evaluate the perceived effectiveness of the ELPA and to see if those perceptions could meaningfully contribute to a broad concept of the test's validity. This was done by asking teachers and test administrators their views on the ELPA directly after its administration. Two hundred and sixty-seven administrators took a survey with closed and open-ended questions that aimed to tap into the consequential dimensions of test validity. An exploratory factor analysis identified five factors relating to the participants' perceptions of the ELPA. Analysis of variance results revealed that educators at schools with lower concentrations of English language learners reported significantly more problems in administering the ELPA. Three themes (the test's appropriateness, impacts, and administration) emerged from an analysis of qualitative data. This article discusses these results not only as a means of better understanding the ELPA, but also to contribute to larger-scale discussions about consequential validity and standardized tests of English language proficiency. It recommends that broadly defined validity data be used to improve large-scale assessment programs such as those mandated by NCLB.


An on-axis phase-shifting reflective point-diffraction microscopic interferometer for quantitative phase microscopy based on Michelson architecture is proposed. A cube beamsplitter splits the object wave spectrum into two copies within two arms. Reference wave is rebuilt in one arm by low-pass filtering on the object wave frequency spectrum with a pinhole-mask mirror, and interferes with the object wave from the other arm. Polarization phase-shifting is performed and phase imaging on microscale specimens is implemented. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed scheme has the advantage of long-term stability due to its quasi common-path geometry with full use of laser energy.


Seizure-suppressor mutations provide unique insight into the genes and mechanisms involved in regulating nervous system excitability. Drosophila bang-sensitive (BS) mutants present a useful tool for identifying seizure suppressors since they are a well-characterized epilepsy model. Here we describe the isolation and characterization of a new Drosophila seizure-suppressor mutant that results from disruption of the meiotic gene mei-P26, which belongs to the RBCC-NHL family of proteins. The mei-P26 mutation reduces seizures in easily shocked (eas) and slamdance (sda) epileptic flies following mechanical stimulation and electroconvulsive shock. In addition, mutant mei-P26 flies exhibit seizure thresholds at least threefold greater than those of wild type. The mei-P26 phenotypes appear to result from missense mutation of a critical residue in the NHL protein-protein interaction domain of the protein. These results reveal a surprising role for mei-P26 outside of the germline as a regulator of seizure susceptibility, possibly by affecting synaptic development as a ubiquitin ligase.


Reduced bone mineral density (BMD) is frequently found in individuals with untreated celiac disease (CD), possibly due to calcium and vitamin D malabsorption, release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and misbalanced bone remodeling. A gluten-free diet (GFD) promotes a rapid increase in BMD that leads to complete recovery of bone mineralization in children. Children may attain normal peak bone mass if the diagnosis is made and treatment is given before puberty, thereby preventing osteoporosis in later life. A GFD improves, but rarely normalizes, BMD in patients diagnosed with CD in adulthood. In some cases, nutritional supplementation may be necessary. More information on therapeutic alternatives is needed.


The purpose of this paper is to empirically identify the factors that affect credit risk of microfinance institutions in Ethiopia where interventions through the delivery of microfinance services are considered as one of the policy instruments of the government to eradicate poverty. This study has identified the determinants of credit risk of microfinance institutions using Morgan Stanley's rating methodology of microfinance institutions and GLS random effect regression. Given Morgan Stanley's rating methodology, Ethiopian microfinance institutions had an excellent performance in terms of credit risk management, profitability, operating efficiency, productivity, liquidity, and leverage. However, the size of their gross loan portfolio was very poor during the period under study. In addition, the regression result has revealed that size of portfolio, return on asset, and operating efficiency have negative and significant impact on credit risk. However, productivity, liquidity, leverage, and age have no effect on credit risk. Thus, size of portfolio, return on asset, and operating efficiency are the important variables that account for variation in credit risk among microfinance institutions in Ethiopia.


Protection of Escherichia coli NIHJ and C57BL mice from the effects of 60Co gamma-rays provided by S-alk(en)yl-L-cysteines and their hydantoin derivatives was examined. E. coli (10(6) cells/ml) suspended in a 20 mM aqueous solution of one of the drugs was irradiated with 60 Gy of gamma-rays. Five week-old male mice were exposed to 5.0-9.5 Gy of gamma-rays after a single intraperitoneal injection of 0.75 mmol/kg body weight of each compound. In both E. coli and mice, S-allyl compounds afforded more effective radioprotection than S-propyl compounds. The replacement of the alpha-hydrogen of S-substituted cysteines by methyl groups decreased the radioprotective effect. Hydantoin derivatives were much more radioprotective than the original sulfur-containing amino acids. Especially, DL-5-allylthiomethyl-5-methylhydantoin had a remarkable radioprotective effect in mice. The gamma-radiolysis mechanism of thiomethylhydantoin derivatives was discussed in connection with the radioprotective effect of the drugs.


The interaction between the banking and property sectors has been the source of considerable volatility in the case of Ireland. The Central Bank of Ireland has recently introduced macroprudential instruments that aim to enhance banks' balance sheet resilience and mitigate the build-up of system risk. We use a new model of the Irish banking and property sectors to examine how both borrowerand lender-based instruments of macroprudential policy may have been effective in countering the extreme macrofinancial dynamics of the boom-bust period. Our simulation results suggest that, while instruments that work through the intermediary may help insulate banks against liquidity risk and portfolio losses, those that target credit demand are significantly more effective in dampening the Irish financial cycle.


The Indonesia economic grewth slowdown on 2015. It has impacted the competition in the automotive industry in Indonesia. All players have got to implement many strategies to keep them in the automotive business. One of the most common strategy is to how to maintain customer satisfaction.This research aimed to investigate which variables are significant and contribute the most to the customer satisfaction variable. This research was using 5 variables, i.e. product quality, after sales service, brand image, perceived value, and customer satisfaction. The sampling data was customers that used Honda Mobile. The questionnaires were distributed to 200 respondents across Indonesian provinces. Structural Equation model method was used for data processing using Lisrel program for Windows.Finally, the conclusion of this research would help Honda improve its performance to keep its customer satisfaction level high, and win the competition in the Indonesian automotive industry.


Purpose. Assess the current state of the Southern Bug River basin and the degree of anthropogenic impact on it (transformation)

Methods. The methodology of complex field geographic research (according to S. Kurlov) was chosen for the research. On its basis, water samples were taken at the appropriate points of the river basin, which directly covered the Southern Bug River itself, as well as its tributaries, and the composition of coastal soils was analyzed. Laboratory experiments were performed on the basis of a licensed laboratory of the Uman National University of Horticulture

Results. Based on the analysis of the data set of the main hydrochemical indicators of the surface water quality of the Southern Bug river basin and the analysis of the soil, it was found at some experimental points that the MPC content of the studied indicators was exceeded. The content is exceeded at all sampling points, due to the high content of complexes with humic acid salts, secondary waterlogging of reclaimed lands. The nitrite content is exceeded in the following places: r. Southern Bug (Vinnitsa and Ladyzhin), r. Ustya (Nemyriv), r. Udych

litskiy district) and r. Dohna (Bershad district). The main reason for the intake of nitrates into the water is the washout of fertilizers from fields and vegetable gardens. All surface water bodies have increased water hardness, its acidity is within normal limits. The soils adjacent to the streams under consideration bear clear signs of hydrogenic accumulation of substances (carbonates, gypsum, salts) and deltaic conditions of formation (horizontal stratification, horizons buried, remnants of freshwater fauna).

Conclusions. The concentration of pollutants increases with the approach of the tributaries of the Southern Bug River and the relief formed by them to their base of erosion. Excess concentrations of alkaline hydrolyzed nitrogen, as well as phosphorus and potassium compounds at the sampling points indicate a high level of intensity of the farming system, in which the use of agrochemicals is given priority. However, long-term ingress of these compounds into the water body will accelerate the process of eutrophication in the near future. The loss of humus in the soils of agricultural lands adjacent to the rivers Sob, Dokhna, Ustya was revealed. In general, the geosystem of the Southern Bug River suffers from a complex anthropogenic impact, the main source of which is agricultural production.


Behavioral neuroscience has made great strides in developing animal models of human behavior and psychiatric disorders. Animal models allow for the formulation of hypotheses regarding the mechanisms underlying psychiatric disorders, and the opportunity to test these hypotheses using procedures that are too invasive for human participants. However, recent scientific reviews have highlighted the low success rate of translating results from animal models into clinical interventions in humans. A potential roadblock is that bidirectional functional mappings between the human and rodent brain are incomplete. To narrow this gap, we created a framework, Neurobabel, for performing large-scale automated synthesis of human neuroimaging data and behavioral neuroscience data. By leveraging the semantics of how researchers within each field describe their studies, this framework enables region to region mapping of brain regions across species, as well as cross-species mapping of psychological functions. As a proof of concept, we utilize the framework to create a functional cross-species mapping between the amygdala and hippocampus for fear-related and spatial memories, respectively. We then proceed to address two open questions in the field: (1) Do rodents have a dorsolateral prefrontal cortex? (2) Which human brain region corresponds to the rodent prelimbic cortex?


Experiments at the European X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL) require silicon pixel sensors which can withstand X-ray doses up to 1 GGy. For the investigation of X-ray radiation damage up to these high doses, MOS capacitors and gate-controlled diodes built on high resistivity n-doped silicon with crystal orientations and produced by two vendors, CiS and Hamamatsu, have been irradiated with 12 keV X-rays at the DESY DORIS III synchrotron light source. Using capacitance/conductance-voltage, current-voltage and thermal dielectric relaxation current measurements, the surface densities of oxide charges and interface traps at the Si-SiO2 interface, and the surface-current densities have been determined as function of dose. Results indicate that the dose dependence of the surface density of oxide charges and the surface-current density depend on the crystal orientation and producer. In addition, the influence of the voltage applied to the gates of the MOS capacitor and the gate-controlled diode during X-ray irradiation on the surface density of oxide charges and the surface-current density has been investigated at doses of 100 kGy and 100 MGy. It is found that both strongly depend on the gate voltage if the electric field in the oxide points from the surface of the SiO2 to the Si-SiO2 interface. Finally, annealing studies have been performed at 60 and 80 degree C on MOS capacitors and gate-controlled diodes irradiated to 5 MGy and the annealing kinetics of oxide charges and surface current determined.


Introduction Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction is characterised by pancreaticobiliary-type pain and is difficult to diagnose without direct manometry which carries a significant risk of pancreatitis. The injection of Botulinum toxin (Botox) into the biliary element of the Sphincter of Oddi (SO) may offer temporary pain relief and predict those patients who would benefit from endoscopic sphincterotomy. Methods 24 patients underwent injection of 25 units (1 ml) of Botox into each of four quadrants close to the ampulla at Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Patients evaluated their symptoms by completing an 11-point Likert Pain Scale before Botox injection and again at 2 and 12 weeks. Patients experiencing a transient improvement of ≥2 points were offered endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES). Results There were 20 post-cholecystectomy patients (six type 2; fourteen type 3) and four gallbladder intact (all type 3) by modified Hogan-Geenan criteria. Eight (33%) patients did not respond to Botox of whom two underwent ES and one responded. The remaining six continue with medically unexplained pain. Four had a complete and two partial response (25%) that was sustained (>6 months) and required no further intervention. 10 (42%) had a transient response to Botox with worsening of pain ≥2 points at 12 weeks. Of these six (60%) chose ES and achieved a sustained pain-free response; two (20%) chose repeat Botox injection with sustained response; one declined further intervention; and one was lost to follow. There were no serious adverse events after Botox injection. Conclusion Botox injection into the SO led to a positive outcome with or without sphincterotomy in 58% of patients. A transient response to Botox accurately predicted response after ES in keeping with earlier reports. Its clinical utility should be compared to manometry in type 3 SOD.


Among the myriad of methods for polymer nanofiber production, there are only a few methods that can produce submicron range fibers in bulk from melt or solution samples. The Forcespinning™ method allows a substantial increase in sample yield while simultaneously maintaining the integrity of uniform fibers in the nanometer range. The high production yield of such a method greatly reduces the time needed to produce bulk quantities of fibers which may be critical in many fields of research and industry, in particularly in fields relating to biopolymers. The aim of this study was to use this method to form nonwoven mats of polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers and to quantitatively analyze the production and characterization of the produced fibers. The bulk PCL was dissolved in dichloromethane and the solutions were forcespun at varying speeds ranging from 3000 to 9000 rpm. It was observed that fiber diameter decreased with increasing rotational speed. The average fiber diameter at 9000 rpm was 220 nm with a standard deviation of ±98 nm. The morphology and degree of crystallinity were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012


A range of medical and neurologic disorders occurs more frequently in people with epilepsy than in the general population and constitutes its somatic comorbidity. Common examples include cardiac, gastrointestinal, and respiratory disorders; stroke; dementia; and migraine. Alzheimer's disease and migraine are not only more common in epilepsy but are also risk factors for the development of seizures, suggesting a bidirectional association and shared disease mechanisms. Less well‐appreciated associations with epilepsy include Parkinson's disease and obstructive sleep apnea. The association between epilepsy and other conditions can be due to a variety of interacting genetic, biologic, and environmental factors. We propose an etiologic classification of comorbidity into uncertain (coincidence or unknown), causal (cause), shared risk factors (common disease mechanisms or shared predisposing risk factors), and resultant (consequence). Co‐occurrence of other conditions in a person with epilepsy can complicate diagnosis or have adverse prognostic implications. Management of these conditions may facilitate the treatment of epilepsy, as in the case of obstructive sleep apnea. The presence of somatic disorders in epilepsy is associated with increased health care needs, poorer health‐related quality of life, and premature mortality. Prevention, identification, and adequate treatment of comorbid disorders in epilepsy should be an important part of epilepsy management at all levels of care.


Investigations on embryos and seeds are very difficult, owing to the fact that orchid seeds are very small, dusty, and transparent. Therefore, this study looked at how to prepare the maceration technique for orchid seeds and how to isolate orchid embryos from seeds. The seeds of Barlia robertiana (Orchidaceae) were used. Consequently, for orchid seeds, the most suitable maceration method was established and its practical importance is discussed.


Bleeding is the most common adverse effect of vitamin K antagonist (VKA) therapy. We describe the case of a patient who reported severe spontaneous bleeding episodes after starting treatment with warfarin-based anticoagulants following a mechanical mitral valve implant, although the international normalized ratio was within the therapeutic range. Exhaustive coagulation testing detected very low plasma factor IX (FIX) activity (FIX:C= 5 IU/dL) that increased to normal values(89 IU/dL) upon warfarin withdrawal. F9 gene sequencing revealed the presence of the p.Ala37Thr missense variation in the pro-peptide coding region. This substitution was previously associated with FIX hypersensitivity to warfarin. Patients with this variation are usually switched from VKA to direct oral anticoagulants or heparin. However, the current guidelines recommend warfarin for all patients with mechanical valves. Therefore, we determined the target plasma FIX levels in this patient to monitor warfarin therapy and allow effective anticoagulation without bleeding complications.


Vitamin D compounds added to the culture medium induce differentiation of human myeloid leukemia cells (HL-60 cells) by binding to a specific cytosol receptor protein. This system provides a biologically relevant and technically simple assay to examine the relationship between molecular structure and biological activity of vitamin D compounds. Using this culture system, the biological activity of 24,24-F2-1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 and 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3-26,23-lactone was assayed. 24,24-F2-1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 was four to seven times more potent than 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 in inducing phagocytosis and C3 rosette formation of HL-60 cells, though both compounds bound equally well to the cytosol receptor, suggesting that the defuorination at the 24-carbon position may stimulate membrane permeability of the compound. 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3-26,23-lactone, on the other hand, was only 1/200th as active as 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3. The binding affinity of the lactone for the cytosol receptor was identical with that of 1 alpha (OH)D3, suggesting that the lactone formation between the 26 and 23 positions masks the function of the 25-hydroxyl group. The binding affinity of vitamin D3 derivatives to the specific cytosol receptor of HL-60 cells was well correlated with that of intestinal cytosol protein specifically bound to 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3.


Difficult economic and business conditions experienced in many nations over the past few years have necessitated the need to look for different ways of ensuring business success. Many firms have found that one such way is through barter trading. This paper empirically investigates the difficulties firms face in barter trading. Data was collected from 61 barter practitioners in the media industry in South Africa. The findings show that there are many difficulties associated with barter trade but most of the difficulties relate to firms at organisational level. The findings also show that in general, the lower the level of firms' pro-activeness in barter trading, the higher the level of difficulties perceived. From the results it can be concluded that most of the problems relating to barter trade are manageable at firm level. Organisations need to be certain that they have proper measures in place to ensure optimal use and management of barter trade. Knowledge of the potential difficulties associated with barter trade is essential as it can enable firms better anticipate and manage them so as not to have significant negative impact on the benefits anticipated.

 Key words: South Africa, barter trade, media, countertrade.


Aims: This study series developed a novel psychotherapy treatment for comorbid pain and opioid addiction (COAP) based on psycho-physiological data. Study 1 evaluated psychophysiological changes pain sensitivity and tolerance with opioid treatments; and duration of this effect after treatment cessation. Study 2 developed a 12-week rolling entry CBT with Self-regulation psychotherapy treatment based on the psychophysiological data. Study 3 piloted this novel treatment, entitled Self-regulation Therapy for Opioid addiction and Pain(STOP). Method: 120 chronic pain individuals were recruited in 4 groups(n=30): 1-current methadone for opioid addiction; 2-current buprenorphine for opioid addiction; 3-history of opioid treatment for opioid addiction but with current opioid abstinence (M=121 weeks;SD=23.3);and 4-opioid-naive and completed psychopsychological assessment during a pain task, recording time to first pain (sensitivity) and time to disengagement from the pain task (tolerance). Analyses used survival analysis. In the pilot study, 20 participants completed pre-post intervention and psychophysiological testing, with weekly craving and urine toxicology. Results: Kaplan-Meier-Cox analyses showed group differences for pain sensitivity and tolerance (Log rank=20.11;p<.001). Opioid treatment groups showed sensitivity differences compared to opioid-naive(p's<.01). Tolerance improved across methadone-use to prolonged abstinence to opioid-naive participants (p's<.001). Within prolonged abstinent, pain tolerance increased as duration since last opioid increased (R=.37;p<.05); but abstinence duration did not alter sensitivity(ns). Intervention pre-post data showed improvements in pain tolerance, daily activity, decreased cravings, and no illicit substance use after week 8. Conclusion: Long-term differences in pain sensitivity do not resolve with discontinuation of opioid treatment. Although sensitivity does not change, pain tolerance increases after opioid cessation which has implications for treating COAP. The STOP pilot shows potential for improving treatment of COAP.


Abstract. The ability of communication is one of the mathematical ability to be mastered by students in learning mathematics. Students who have good mathematical communication skills will be able to create a diverse representation in solving problem. This will facilitate the students in making a variety of alternative settlement so as to enhance the students' ability in solving mathematical problems. One of approach to learning that is likely to improve mathematical communication skills and self-efficacy students is discursive approach. This research is experimental research with quantitative approach. The aim is to obtain an increase in mathematical communication skills and self-efficacy of students by using a discursive approach is reviewed by the entire student and student grouping. This study used a pretest - posttest  the control group. The data of mathematical communication ability collecting using test and the data of student self-efficacy collecting by questionnaire. Based on the analysis, it can be concluded that the improvement of students' mathematical communication skills are taught using a discursive approach is better than the improvement of students' mathematical communication skills are taught using the conventional approach based on the students' overall well-reviewed and reviewed based on level students. For self-efficacy concluded that there are differences increase in self-efficacy between students taught with the discursive approach better than students who were taught using the conventional approach. Based on the analysis concluded that there is an interaction between the factors of teaching approach and leveling students with.The improvement of students' mathematical communication skills while learning approach to factors and level of students to self-efficacy of students there is no interaction. Keywords: Mathematical Communication Ability, Self-Efficacy, Discursive Approach


Dimensionless correlations for estimating heat transfer coefficients (U and hfp) in canned high viscosity Newtonian liquids (with and without particles) were developed using stepwise multiple nonlinear regressions of statistically significant dimensionless groups using tangent as an estimate and Newton as search method. Data on overall heat transfer coefficient U and fluid-to-particle heat transfer coefficients hfpwere obtained for several processing conditions and were analyzed separately for particle and particle-free conditions. In free axial mode, a newly developed form, combining natural and forced convection, provided higher R2 = 0.93. In the absence of particles in end-over-end mode, introducing natural convection term (Gr × Pr), improved R2 from 0.81 to 0.97. Combination of the reel radius, radius of the can and radius of the particles was chosen as characteristics length.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Most earlier dimensionless correlations for a canned liquid particulate mixture subjected to free axial mode of agitation are present for either U or hfp individually due to the difficulties in obtaining time–temperature profiles of the liquid and particles simultaneously; however, the time–temperature prediction at the particle center requires appropriate correlations for both U and hfp and cannot be made with only one of these coefficients.

Additionally, importance of natural convection in forced convection heat transfer correlations has been demonstrated by developing the U and hfp correlations using the mixed convection approach as the combination of natural and forced convection heat transfer.

These developed correlations would help in modeling the time–temperature profiles of a canned particulate mixture and will be helpful in determining the contribution of natural and forced convection heat transfer. These dimensional numbers would give a better understanding of the physical phenomenon and can also be easily used for scale-up purposes.


This brief analyzes patterns of engagement among retirees and how engagement relates to their retirement satisfaction using data from the 2002 Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Engaged retirees are significantly more likely to be satisfied with retirement than their non-engaged counterparts, regardless of age, sex, race, marital status, education, mental and physical health, or income. However, retirees who only provide caregiving are significantly less likely to be satisfied. Finally, the authors examine retirement satisfaction by the intensity of engagement, finding that the retirement satisfaction is positively correlated with increasing engagement hours, but only to a point.


Enteropneusts in the family Torquaratoridae were imaged using still and video cameras in the deep North Atlantic and then collected by remotely operated vehicles. From this material, we describe Yoda purpurata n. gen, n. sp., Tergivelum cinnabarinum n. sp., and Allapasus isidis n. sp. Individuals of the first two species were browsing completely exposed on the sea floor, whereas the specimen of the last species was encountered floating ~1 m above the sea floor. Living specimens of Y. purpurata were 12–19 cm long and had a dark reddish-purple proboscis, collar, and genital wings (folded dorsally over the anterior region of the trunk). Members of this species were hermaphrodites (the first ever discovered in the phylum Hemichordata), with numerous separate testes and ovaries in the genital wings. Living specimens of T. cinnabarinum were 12–26 cm long and had a cinnabar-colored proboscis, collar, and back veils (arising from the anterior region of the trunk); sexes were separate, and body shape and internal morphology closely resemble those of its brown congener, T. baldwinae, from the eastern Pacific. The only specimen of A. isidis collected was a male 13 cm long and pale yellow when alive. Its body shape was proportionally shorter and broader than that of its orange congener, A. aurantiacus, from the eastern Pacific, but the internal anatomy of the two species is virtually identical. [Correction made after online publication August 21, 2012 to correct species name in preceding sentence.]


Objective : This paper provides an empirical literature on the methodology used in the health risk assessment of pesticide use in palm oil plantation with the aim for a comprehensive assessment framework through both semi - quantitative and quantitative methods. Method : Semi - quantitative assessment model DREAM and DERM assessed occupational dermal exposure to pesticides. The whole body dosimetry method using uranine tracer is the quantification method of the level to pesticides exposure. The biological monitoring through acetylcholinesterase (AChE) catalytic activity in saliva measures the health risk from the prolong exposure. Conclusions: Incorporate a comprehensive assessment framework through both semi - quantitative and quantitative methods allow us to model the health risk of pesticide use in the oil palm plantation. It is useful for stakeholders for the improvement of the risk assessment scheme, optimization of factors influence level of exposure and development of programs to aware workers on the appropriate use of pesticides. Keywords: Health risk, pesticide, models, whole body dosimetry, saliva


America's transportation infrastructure is the backbone of our economy. A strong infrastructure means a strong America - an America that competes globally, supports local and regional economic development, and creates jobs. Strategic investments in our transportation infrastructure are vital to our national security, economic growth, transportation safety and our technology leadership. This document outlines critical needs for our transportation infrastructure, identifies new technology drivers and proposes strategic investments for safe and efficient air, ground, rail and marine mobility of people and goods.


We are exposed to increasing numbers of chemicals, most of which have incomplete toxicological characterization. As many diseases have environmental causes, we must understand the molecular mechanisms of toxicity these chemicals elicit. Traditional toxicity testing relies on assessing indirect phenotypic outcomes, and deconvoluting the mechanism underlying these effects is challenging. Understanding the direct chemical-protein interactions of environmental chemicals is crucial for revealing their mechanisms of action to link adverse health outcomes, predict potential toxicities, and inform safer design of future chemicals. This work demonstrates how integrated chemoproteomics and metabolomics platforms can identify direct protein targets of environmental chemicals and reveal their downstream biochemical effects. After describing the chemoproteomics and functional metabolomics technologies used here, I discuss an activity-based proteomics method used to reveal the proteome wide off-targets of the widely used insecticide chlorpyrifos in vivo in mice. Then, I show how a compound-specific bioorthogonal chemical probe comprehensively reveals protein targets of the organophosphorus flame retardant triphenylphosphate, which causes dyslipidemia upon exposure. Finally, I use a broad chemoproteomic approach to profile the cysteine reactivity of multiple environmental electrophiles and identify enzyme targets of the fungicide chlorothalonil involved in fatty acid oxidation. These studies demonstrate the power and utility of combining chemoproteomics technologies to reveal the protein targets of environmental chemicals with metabolomics platforms to elucidate the biochemical effects of inhibition. This approach generated novel mechanistic detail to inform mechanism and predict toxicities of existing chemicals, and can be used to optimize design of future chemicals to protect human and environmental health.


Intercostal muscle samples obtained from autopsy of a 51 year old male, exposed to an organophosphate insecticide by inhalation, were analyzed for cholinesterase (ChE) activity and muscle fiber integrity. Muscle ChE activity, five days after exposure, was still reduced to 53% of control values. Histological analysis indicated the presence of muscle fibers with subsarcolemmal grouped granular basophilic inclusions and scattered necrotic fibers. Results indicate that acute organophosphate exposure through inhalation can lead to skeletal muscle fiber damage in humans, similar to results obtained by ingestion. Furthermore, the pathology is comparable to the histological alterations observed in rats following acute injection of organophosphates.


Three-dimensional non-oxidic extended frameworks offer the possibility to design novel materials with unique properties, which can be different from their oxide analogues. Here, we present first experimental results concerning unusual magnetic properties of FeNCN, investigated using Mossbauer spectroscopy and magnetometry between 5 and 380 K. This study reveals an unconventional behaviour of the magnetic parameters below the Neel temperature of 350 K, i.e., the hyperfine field on iron decreases with decreasing temperature. At room temperature, quadrupole and hyperfine magnetic field interaction energies are comparable in magnitude, which leads to a rare five-line absorption spectrum. We suggest that these features in the hyperfine field are caused by the combination of a small Fermi contact term and a temperature-dependent contribution from the orbital momentum and the dipole term. One additional spectral component is observed, which exhibits a magnetic relaxation behaviour and slows down at low temperatures to yield a sextet. The magnetometry data suggest that the antiferromagnetic FeNCN is rich in structural distortions, which results in a splitting of the field-cooled and zero-field-cooled curves. The lattice dynamics of FeNCN were investigated using nuclear inelastic scattering. The comparison of the obtained data with literature data of iron monoxide reveals very similar iron phonon modes with a small softening and a slightly reduced sound velocity.


After the Arab springs challenged the old dictatorial regimes across the Middle East, little did anybody expect that it will lead to destabilization of entire region. With the failure of revolution in the Syria, the Syria turned into a nightmare creating one of the worse catastrophes of 21st century. Although the Syrian civil war has widely been covered from different aspects of polity, economy, terrorism, civil rights etc. this paper analyses the gendered impacts of Syrian civil war on the natives of Syria. The Syrian population is now residing across different countries and camps in the world, but the gendered impacts of this war has impacted men and women differently. The failure of United Nation so far to control the widespread violence perpetrated by state and non-state actors has diminished the humane aspects of this tragedy. This paper examines the gendered impacts of civil war and in particular the impacts of gender-based violence against women and young girls of Syria whether they are living in refugee camps in neighboring countries or within the war-ravaged country. The impacts of this war have been uneven for men and women. The women lost not only their immediate family members but were forced to work to feed themselves and their children. The paper highlights the gendered impacts and how they need to be considered in Shaping a new Syria.


A lot of educational campaign, with different strategies has been employed to halt the spread of HIV/AIDS in Nigerian, yet the spread had keep on scaling up. Therefore, the study tried to ascertain the frequency of coverage of the HIV/AIDS in Guardian and Daily Sun newspapers, because as a mass media channel, has the potential for easy reach. Both Primary and Secondary methods were used to collect data for the study. Data generated analyzed with the use of simple descriptive statistical tools such as frequency distribution and percentages. The result of the study indicated that HIV/AIDS information was under published in the two newspapers especially in Daily Sun newspaper; the study also shows that the Guardian carried the highest number of stories (77.6%) and the Daily Sun (22.4%). The low number of news report on HIV/AIDS is surprising given that the period of study covered the month of December when the world celebrated the worlds AIDS day. In December Guardian had (9) and Daily Sun (3) porblication respectively. The study based on these findings recommends that journalists should be trained on health issues in order to have adequate knowledge of the epidemic. The coverage of the HIV/AIDS should be positioned in strategic pages of newspaper, for easy access by the public, and government should also subsidize the expenses to enable their increase coverage. The study further investigated the determinants of news coverage of news items, the result shows that (64%) of the respondents said that organizational ownership, (58%) cited interest of the editor, (70%) said audience demand of the particular newspaper, (56%) said competition among the publishing media can spur action while 78% said if government made it compulsory for a very media house to carry it regularly.


Although the name‐letter task (NLT) has become an increasingly popular technique to measure implicit self‐esteem (ISE), researchers have relied on different algorithms to compute NLT scores and the psychometric properties of these differently computed scores have never been thoroughly investigated. Based on 18 independent samples, including 2690 participants, the current research examined the optimality of five scoring algorithms based on the following criteria: reliability; variability in reliability estimates across samples; types of systematic error variance controlled for; systematic production of outliers and shape of the distribution of scores. Overall, an ipsatized version of the original algorithm exhibited the most optimal psychometric properties, which is recommended for future research using the NLT. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


The synthesis and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitory activity of a cyclam–marimastat conjugate and its metal complexes are described. The conjugate, synthesized with a copper(I)-catalyzed Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition ("click" reaction), contains two zinc-binding groups (ZBGs). The metal complexation behavior with copper(II) and zinc(II) was investigated using UV/Vis spectrophotometry and 1H NMR spectroscopy, respectively, demonstrating that the first equivalent of the metal ion was chelated by the cyclam-triazole moiety rather than the hydroxamic acid site. Thus, the corresponding mononuclear metal–cyclam complexes were successfully prepared with one equivalent of the metal salt. Both the cyclam–marimastat conjugate and its metal complexes exhibited slightly reduced potency against MMP-1, but essentially identical inhibitory activity against MMP-3. The conjugate and its metal complexes displayed little or no cytotoxicity, further supporting their potential suitability for imaging MMP localization and activity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that describes the incorporation of metal complexes into an MMP inhibitor without influencing the preexisting ZBG, and the first report of the evaluation of structures containing more than one ZBG as MMP inhibitors.


Whitefly transmitted tomato yellow leaf curl is one of the most devastating viral disease of cultivated sweet pepper (Capsicum frutescens grossum ) and other vegetables in Oman. Infected sweet pepper plants showed typical begomovirus symptoms as upward leaf curling, interveinal and leaf chlorosis, and growth stunting. Begomovirus infecting sweet pepper in Oman was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using begomovirus specific degenerate primers (PAL1v1978/PAR1c496 and AV494/AC1048). Core region (74-604 bp) of coat protein gene of the begomovirus was amplified by PCR with tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) specific degenerate primers (TycpV369/TycpC1023). Core region of coat protein gene contains highly conserved regions and is used to identify the begomovirus infecting sweet peppers. Virus identification was performed by percent sequence identity and parsimony analysis using core coat protein gene sequences of sweet pepper virus with complete genome, core region of coat protein and coat protein gene sequences from reference begomoviruses. The core region sequence identity of coat protein gene of sweet pepper virus from Oman was 92.2, 96.5, 94.0, 93.8, and 96.5% with TomGV-Lebanon, TYLCV-Guadeloupe, TYLCV-Israel, TYLCV-Kuwait, and TYLCV-Mexico, respectively. Phylogenetic trees and percent sequence identity with reference to begomoviruses permitted the identification of sweet pepper virus as TYLCV based on tree position and extent of sequence identity. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that sweet pepper tomato yellow leaf curl virus clustered with its closest relatives from Middle East regions but formed a separate strain.


This study evaluated the effects of particle temperature on deposition efficiency and critical velocity in kinetic spraying. A wide range of pressures and preheat temperatures of the process gas were used in these experiments to vary both particle velocity and temperature, and a bronze (Cu-Sn alloy) powder was deposited onto aluminum and bronze substrates. The deposition efficiency of the coatings was measured, and the critical velocity was estimated. The experimental results showed that the critical velocities of the bronze feedstock deposited onto either an aluminum or bronze substrate were different and that the critical velocity was strongly dependent on the particle temperature, which when increased, caused the critical velocity to decrease. Increasing the gas pressure caused an increase in particle velocity, while increases in the gas temperature not only affected the particle velocity but also the particle temperature. In our experiments, the critical velocity decreased by 50 m/s when the process gas temperature increased by 100 °C.


The impact of three levels of Meloidogyne incognita eggs, that is, 1000, 2000 and 3000 eggs/ plant on plant growth parameters of sugarbeet cv. Nejma and its development and reproduction under greenhouse conditions at 17 ± 5°C was studied. Results indicated that reduction percentage of sugarbeet growth parameters were greatly affected, where the marginal effect was more pronounced on roots than shoots. Moreover, as the inoculation level increased from 1000 up to 3000 eggs of M. incognita /plant, the percentage reduction of plant growth parameters increased, where the highest values were recorded to be 48.97 and 24.18% by 3000 eggs/ plant for shoot dry and whole plant fresh weights, whereas, their lowest values of 30.93 and 4.05% resulted by inoculation level of 1000 eggs/ plant for the same plant growth criteria, respectively. Moreover, the highest rate of nematode reproduction on sugarbeet plants cv. Nejma was recorded by the level of 2000 eggs per plant with value of 1.05 whereas the lowest ones of the same criterion resulted by the levels of 3000 or 1000 eggs per plant that were 0.85 or 0.84, respectively. M. incognita infection to sugar beet plants cv. Nejma at the three levels of egg inoculation obviously reduced N, P, K and total chlorophyll content on leaves of sugarbeet with values of 9.9% (N), 18.5% (P), 8.8% (K), 1.58% (chlorophyll) and 20.0% (N), 27.4% (P), 18.4% (K) and 5.9% (chlorophyll) by 1000 and 3000 eggs/ plant, respectively compared to the uninoculated plant.

 Key words: Meloidogyne incognita, sugarbeet, inoculum levels.


: Carbonation of cementitious materials is one of main causes of reinforcement corrosion and CO 2 di ff usivity influenced by microstructural characteristics of the cementitious materials is a decisive parameter for the carbonation rate. This study focused on establishing a multifactor functional model to calculate the CO 2 di ff usivity of carbonated cementitious materials. Because CO 2 gas flows through carbonated zone, it is necessary to estimate CO 2 di ff usivity of carbonated concrete. Many factors on the CO 2 di ff usivity, such as the di ff usivity in vapor, tortuosity, microstructural characteristics of cement paste, contribution of aggregate, and reduction of porosity due to carbonation, were considered. Apparent and e ff ective CO 2 di ff usivity were calculated according to the absence or presence of moisture in the pore system of concrete, and the results were compared with previous research.


Intimal calcification is the formation of mineralised tissue within atherosclerotic lesions and can lead to an increased risk of plaque rupture and mortality in man. Even though experimental data are sparse, it had been suggested that inhibiting protein kinase Cα (PKCα) may be of therapeutic benefit in atherosclerosis. However, we recently discovered that loss of PKCα increases mineral deposition by vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in a transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ)-dependent manner in vitro, suggesting that vascular calcification and its devastating consequences could be increased if patients with cardiovascular disease are treated with PKCα inhibitors. This study tests the hypothesis that PKCα regulates atherosclerosis and intimal calcification in vivo. Nine to ten week-old male PKCα knock-out (PKCα-/-) mice crossed with ApoE-/- mice (PKCα-/-ApoE-/-) were fed a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet (Western diet) for 8, 18 and 28 weeks. Male ApoE-/- mice fed the same diet were used as controls. En face Oil Red O staining was significantly increased (∼1.5-fold, P<0.05) in the aortae of PKCα-/-ApoE-/- mice after 18 weeks of Western diet feeding when compared to ApoE-/- controls. This difference in lesion size is greatest in the athero-resistant descending aorta when compared to the athero-prone aortic arch, suggesting PKCα plays a protective role in atherosclerosis; particularly in athero-resistant vascular beds. Aortic sinus lesion size was not significantly different between PKCα-/-ApoE-/- and ApoE-/- mice at any time point. However, a significant increase in intimal calcification (∼2-fold, P<0.05) accompanied by a decrease in aortic sinus cholesterol cleft/necrotic core area (∼1.5-fold, P<0.05) was observed at the 28 week time-point in PKCα-/-ApoE-/- mice versus ApoE-/- controls. Thus, loss of PKCα increases aortic sinus calcification in the absence of any effect on lesion size in ApoE-/- mice. To further characterise the calcifications in PKCα-/-ApoE-/- and ApoE-/- mice, detailed morphometric analysis of whole brachiocephalic arteries was performed using microCT. Large calcified structures (ranging from 50–850μm) containing pores (ranging from 8–35μm) were localised within lesions in the brachiocephalic artery of PKCα-/-ApoE-/- and ApoE-/- mice. These calcifications were localised solely to lesions at the base of the brachiocephalic artery in ApoE-/- mice whereas in PKCα-/-ApoE-/- mice, additional calcifications were observed at the bifurcation. In conclusion, our study has identified that PKCα may play a protective role in both atherosclerosis and intimal calcification. This suggests that inhibiting PKCα may not be of any therapeutic benefit in atherosclerosis. Activation of PKCα could instead represent a new therapeutic target for atherosclerosis-induced intimal calcification. Conflict of interest None


Objectives The University of Buckingham Medical School (UBMS) is an independent medical school in the UK. Following feedback from students that they struggled to understand the relevance of Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) to clinical practice, the EBM curriculum was revised. A longitudinal, competency based, multifaceted, clinically integrated curriculum, with assessments has been designed and implemented. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the new EBM curriculum to improve students' competency using the validated Fresno test and their attitudes. Method Blended learning approaches have been incorporated with a mix of didactic lectures, facilitated small group discussions and peer teaching of phase I (years one and two) students of the relevance of EBM to clinical practice by phase II (years three and four) students using their personal experiences in clinical rotations. Formative and summative assessments have been designed to capture written demonstration of EBM knowledge and skills as applied to clinical scenarios in short answer format. All students from the 2017 cohort that experienced the first iteration of the integrated curriculum were invited to participate. The Fresno test of EBM competence was administered as a formative assessment test before and after the EBM teaching through our virtual learning environment. Self-reported students' attitudes and knowledge of EBM, its relevance to clinical practice were assessed and students were invited to participate in a focus group discussion at the end of EBM teaching. Results Of the 83 students invited, 31 participated at baseline (37.3%) and 55 participated at the end of the study (66.3%). 18 students attempted the Fresno test at baseline as well as at follow-up. The average score for the test was significantly higher after teaching than at baseline, with the average score increasing by 38.7 marks, from 29.3 at baseline to 68.0 after teaching (p< 0.001). Analyzing responses to questionnaires from the same 18 students, showed that compared to baseline, after EBM teaching, a higher proportion of students felt confident in critically appraising journal articles and in formulating clinical questions to search for evidence. Five students participated in the focus group discussion and key themes identified were increased students' perceptions of the relevance of EBM to clinical practice, preference for interactive workshops over didactic lectures for literature searching skills and incorporating EBM teaching across the curriculum. Conclusions It has been feasible to design and implement a multi-faceted, clinically integrated EBM curriculum in undergraduate medical education. Early evaluation of the curriculum using the Fresno test and focus group discussions has shown an improvement in EBM knowledge, skills and students' perceptions of the clinical relevance of EBM. The Fresno test has been a useful formative assessment to assess medical students' competency in EBM- the first three steps- ask, acquire and appraise.


Abstract Oligo-Miocene outcrops along the southern margin of the western Greater Caucasus preserve a record of sediments shed from the range into the northern and central parts of the Eastern Black Sea. Sandstones in the Russian western Caucasus are significantly more quartz-rich than those located farther SE in western Georgia. The latter contain appreciably more mudstone and volcanic rock fragments. Oligo-Miocene turbidite systems derived from the Russian western Caucasus in the Tuapse Trough and central Eastern Black Sea may therefore form better-quality reservoirs at shallow to moderate depths than sediments derived from west Georgian volcaniclastic sources in the easternmost part of the basin. Palynomorph analysis indicates sediment derivation predominantly from Jurassic and Cretaceous strata in the Russian western Caucasus and from Eocene strata, and an increasing proportion of Cretaceous strata upsection, in western Georgia. An Eocene volcaniclastic source is proposed for the increased rock fragment component in west Georgian sandstones. Eocene volcaniclastic rocks are no longer exposed in the Greater Caucasus, but similar rocks form the inverted fill of the Adjara–Trialet Basin farther south in the Lesser Caucasus. The former presence of a northern strand of this basin in the west Georgian Caucasus is supported by earlier thermochronological work. Supplementary material: A sample data table, petrographic data table, petrographic key, QFL sandstone compositional plot and palynomorph reworking Stratabugs™ charts are available at www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18662.


Background:
Achilles tendon rupture is not uncommon injury, however, the incident of open Achilles tendon injury is frequently reported. It is generally perceived that open Achilles tendon injury is associated with a poor outcome and severe complication.
Objective:
To study the demographic feature of open Achilles tendon injury and their functional outcome following surgical intervention.
Methodology:
A retrospective investigation was done at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan (HTAA) Kuantan, Pahang from January 2001 until December 2005. Universal sampling was used t include all open Achilles tendon rupture cases we reviewed the records of these patients as well as performing clinical assessment on them. We reviewed the demographic data, the etiology of the injury and the functional outcome using the Olerud and Molande scoring system. Patients were asked about satisfaction to the current condition either through the telephone or during follow-up.
Results:
33 patients were available for review (26 male and 7 female patients). Their age ranged from 12 to 58 years old. Toilet bowl injury is the most common cause of these open injury (23 cases, 68%) followed by motor vehicle accidents (6 cases, 21%). Excellent and good outcome were achieved in 69% cases.
Conclusion:
Operative treatment of open Achilles tendon ruptures restores sufficient ankle function and a significant percentage of patients has excellent and good outcome. Early intervention, proper debridement and good antibiotic coverage are important to ensure the outcome. Some sort of prevention is required to reduce the rate of toilet bowl injuries resulting in open Achilles tendon injuries.


A considerable number of schizophrenic persons also abuse illegal drugs. This comorbidity raises problems of diagnosis which become particularly important when concerning forensic questions. The hypothesis of a distinct psychopathological syndrome of drug induced psychosis is widely criticized in the literature. A case report is presented to demonstrate the problems of differential diagnoses and the difficulties for psychiatric expertizing arising from these problems.


This study tested social cognitive theory of posttraumatic adaptation in the context of mass violence, hypothesizing that pre-event protective factors (general self-efficacy and perceived social support) would reduce posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and depression severity through boosting post-event coping self-efficacy appraisals (mediator). We qualified hypotheses by predicting that post-event social support barriers would disrupt (moderate) the health-promoting indirect effects of pre-event protective factors. With a prospective longitudinal sample, we employed path models with bootstrapping resampling to test hypotheses. Participants included 70 university students (71.4% female; 40.0% White; 34.3% Asian; 14.3% Hispanic) enrolled during a mass violence event who completed surveys one year pre-event and 5-6 months post-event. Results revealed significant large effects in predicting coping self-efficacy (mastery model, R2 = .34; enabling model, R2 = .36), PTSS (mastery model, R2 = .35; enabling model, R2 = .41), and depression severity (mastery model, R2 = .43; enabling model, R2 = .46). Overall findings supported study hypotheses, showing that at low levels of post-event social support barriers, pre-event protective factors reduced distress severity through boosting coping self-efficacy. However, as post-event social support barriers increased, the indirect, distress-reducing effects of pre-event protective factors were reduced to nonsignificance. Study implications focus on preventative and responsive intervention.


A cross sectional study to assess the incidence and antibiotic sensitivity patterns of Salmonella isolates in septicaemic children who were presented at the children's emergency unit and children out -patient clinic, University College Hospital, Ibadan was undertaken. A total of 442 samples from children (6 months and 11 years) with the history of fever were investigated, using blood culture method. The frequency of 151 bacteria isolated, were as follows: Staphylococcus aureus 50 (33.1%), Escherichia coli 29 (19.2%), Salmonella typhi 19 (12.6%), Staphylococcus albus 14(9.3%), Klebsiella species 12(7.9%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 10(6.6%), Enterococcus faecalis 9(5.9%), Salmonella paratyphi 6(3.9%) and Haemophilus species 2(1.3%). Septicaemia due to Salmonella species showed the highest among children aged 5-11years bracket (56%), followed by 1- 5 years group (36%); while those within 0-1 year group showed the lowest frequency of (8%). In the antibiotic sensitivity patterns of Salmonella typhi and Salmonella paratyphi, only Ceftriaxone showed 100% sensitivity in-vitro. While Gentamicin, Ofloxacin, Cefrazidime; Augmentin, Pefloxacin, Chloramphenicol, Amoxycillin, Cotrimoxazole showed varied sensitivity/resistance in descending order. These findings suggest an increasing resistance to the antibiotics commonly used for salmonellosis and the rate at which bacteria become resistant to antimicrobial agents is of public health concern. This calls for routine bacteriological culture and sensitivity test in the management of bacterial infections. Furthermore, the provision of adequate health care, wholesome water for drinking and domestic use by governments cannot be overemphasized.


Each year, hundreds of firms are prosecuted for violating environmental laws and hundreds of millions of dollars in penalties are assessed. At the same time, a much larger number of firms escape the various costs associated with litigation by adhering to the provisions of the same laws and regulations. It is not a priori apparent why this dichotomy exists. In this paper we draw on corporate governance and stakeholder theories to empirically investigate environmental lawsuits. Specifically, we compare the pre-lawsuit profile of 209 violators to a sample of matched control firms between 1994 and 1998. We find that the likelihood of becoming a lawsuit defendant increases with board size, with the fraction of directors in industrial firms, and with the fraction of inside ownership, and decreases with the number of directorships held by outside directors. These findings are robust to alternative dependent variable specifications. Together, our results suggest that managers, researchers, and policy-makers need to direct their attention to the corporate board as the core decision-making unit forming corporate environmental policies. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Summary Pollen grains of 14 Muscari species, five of which are endemic to the Turkey, belonging to the subgenera Muscari , Leopoldia and Botryanthus , were investigated under LM (light microscope), SEM (scanning electron microscope), and pollen of two species under TEM (transmission electron microscope). Pollen grains are shed as monads. They are monosulcate, isopolar and of bilateral symmetry. M. coeleste Fomin sometimes sheds the pollen as dyads. The characteristic structures of pollen ornamentation, observed in SEM micrographs, are reticulate and suprareticulate. The exine is semitectate and the tectum perforate.


Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLCBL) is a heterogenous disease, with many phenotypic subtypes and occasional paraneoplastic syndromes being present. Herein, we describe a case of a 63-year-old woman, with relapsed/refractory DLBCL (RR-DLBCL) with artifactual hypoglycemia on laboratory testing, likely related to the mechanical effects of a new factor VIII inhibitor. We demonstrate our workup, consideration, treatment, and her clinical course. This patient did not present with a bleeding phenotype despite her aberrant laboratory results, and therefore determining her risk of bleeding to weigh against further diagnostic procedures presented a difficult decision. We utilized rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) to assist with clinical decision making regarding her paraneoplastic factor VIII inhibitor and the patient's bleeding risk. This led to a short course of dexamethasone. Her ROTEM improved, and an excisional biopsy was performed without any bleeding. To our knowledge, this is the only reported instance where this technology was utilized in this setting. We believe utilizing ROTEM to determine bleeding risk may be a beneficial tool for clinical practice in such additional rare cases.


Objective The aim of this study was the preoperative evaluation of patients with solitary thyroid nodules (STNs) for the presence of malignancy to avoid unnecessary total thyroidectomy. Patients and methods A total of 83 patients with STNs who underwent hemithyroidectomy, total thyroidectomy, and total thyroidectomy with modified neck dissection in Ain Shams University Hospitals and Helwan University Hospital between September 2016 and December 2017 were evaluated. Parameters including demographics, ultrasonographic, and pathological data were analyzed. Results After evaluation of the final pathology, results showed that malignancy was found in 33/83 (39.8%) patients. A total of 24 (72.7%) of these lesions were papillary carcinoma. Multinodular goiter accounted for 90% of all benign cases. Of 19 malignant cases, 14 (73.7%) were males, whereas of 64 benign cases, 45 (70.3%) were female patients. Nodule echogenicity, nodule calcification, nodule vascularity, nodule shape, and nodule margins were found to have significant prediction for malignancy. Among these factors, increased vascularity and irregular nodule margins were the most important factors. Nodule size did not affect the risk of malignancy. Moreover, lymph node characteristics were found to have significant prediction for malignancy. The FNA results of BII-V reports showed that 17.2% of patients with STN nodule had false negative results. Conclusion Multivariate analysis revealed that in STN, the highest malignancy predictor was the 'No halo and irregular Margin' in ultrasound, and that microcalcifications, hypoechoic, and taller nodules were highly suspicious factors for malignancy.


This study examined the teachability of collocations through cultivating EFL learners' collocation dictionary skills. Fifty-nine EFL college students participated in the study, and they received two 75-minute instructions between pre- and post-tests: one on the definition of collocation and its importance, and the other on the skill of looking up collocational information in the Naver Dictionary — an English–Korean online dictionary. During the second instruction, the students were trained to consult the dictionary for collocation production in the order of node word selection, word sense distinction, collocate type location, and feasible collocate identification. A comparison of collocation production test scores through a paired-samples t -test indicated that teaching collocation dictionary skills substantially improves learners' ability to produce natural collocations regardless of proficiency differences. In addition, the survey data collected at the end of the semester suggested that the participants perceive the instruction as necessary and helpful in gaining collocational competence and that their dictionary consultation behaviors have changed after receiving the instruction. Equipping EFL learners with collocation dictionary skills was also found to help them raise a sense of learner autonomy.


Membrane trafficking in plants is involved in cellular development and the adaptation to various environmental changes. SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment receptor) proteins mediate the fusion between vesicles and organelles to facilitate transport cargo proteins in cells. To characterize further the SNARE protein networks in cells, we carried out interactome analysis of SNARE proteins using 12 transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged Qa-SNAREs (SYP111, SYP121, SYP122, SYP123, SYP132, SYP21, SYP22, SYP31, SYP32, SYP41, SYP42 and SYP43). Microsomal fractions were prepared from each transgenic root, and subjected to immunoprecipitation (IP) using micromagnetic beads coupled to anti-GFP antibodies. To identify Qa-SNARE-interacting proteins, all immunoprecipitated products were then subjected to mass spectrometric (IP-MS) analysis. The IP-MS data revealed not only known interactions of SNARE proteins, but also unknown interactions. The IP-MS results were next categorized by gene ontology analysis. The data revealed that categories of cellular component organization, the cytoskeleton and endosome were enriched in the SYP2, SYP3 and SYP4 groups. In contrast, transporter activity was classified specifically in the SYP132 group. We also identified a novel interaction between SYP22 and VAMP711, which was validated using co-localization analysis with confocal microscopy and IP. Additional novel SNARE-interacting proteins play roles in vesicle transport and lignin biosynthesis, and were identified as membrane microdomain-related proteins. We propose that Qa-SNARE interactomics is useful for understanding SNARE interactions across the whole cell.


A 65–77GHz low power, meander-type transmission line CMOS low-noise amplifier for E-band millimetre-wave communication using 90 nm MS/RF CMOS process is demonstrated. The low-noise amplifier consists of multi-stage cascaded common-source amplifiers with optimized noise figure, power gain, and power consumption. The LNA achieves 11.7 dB power gain, 5.5 dB noise figure, and 17.7mW power consumption. The meander-type transmission line circuit design is adopted to reduce chip area; the total transmission line area in LNA is only 0.024mm2.


Background Nocardia asteroides and Mycobacterium tuberculosis are worldwide-distributed bacteria. These infectious agents can cause many infections in humans, especially in immunocompromised individuals. Pulmonary infections are more common and have similar clinical symptoms. Proper diagnosis and treatment of these patients are important for accurate treatment and could be lifesaving. Methods In this study, a multiplex real-time PCR assay was established for the simultaneous detection of the N. asteroides and M. tuberculosis. Both this homemade multiplex real time PCR and routine commercial tuberculosis tests were performed on 150 pulmonary specimens collected from individuals suspected to have tuberculosis. Results From 150 specimens, 20 samples were acid fast positive, 14 positives for M. tuberculosis by singleplex real time PCR, 10 positives for N. asteroides by singleplex real time PCR and 2 positives for M. tuberculosis and N. asteroides by multiplex real time PCR whereas 14 samples were positive for M. tuberculosis with commercial test. Differential diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis is useful for their proper treatment. Conclusion Our test had good performance for differential diagnosis of tuberculosis and nocardiosis. Therefore, it is recommended to be used to diagnose such patients.


This work, which is a first advance of a project in development, presents a study whose objective is to establish if the success of information systems affects the job satisfaction and work commitment among the people, affecting the organizational performance considering as a study area the university education institutions. It is also analyzed if certain capacities associated with information systems can influence the success of these systems. To this end, surveys have been applied to non-academic professionals with at least one year of seniority in the institution and who use information systems as a support tool in their usual work. Given that this study is in the process of development, an analysis of the results obtained for 50 people surveyed from these institutions is presented. The analysis of results indicates that there are capacities associated with information systems that influence the success of these systems, and that this success affects job satisfaction and work commitment, and through the latter to organizational performance.


We have used the publicly released Dark Energy Survey data to hunt for new satellites of the Milky Way in the Southern hemisphere. Our search yielded a large number of promising candidates. In this paper, we announce the discovery of 9 new unambiguous ultra-faint objects, whose authenticity can be established with the DES data alone. Based on the morphological properties, three of the new satellites are dwarf galaxies, one of which is located at the very outskirts of the Milky Way, at a distance of 380 kpc. The remaining 6 objects have sizes and luminosities comparable to the Segue 1 satellite and can not be classified straightforwardly without follow-up spectroscopic observations. The satellites we have discovered cluster around the LMC and the SMC. We show that such spatial distribution is unlikely under the assumption of isotropy, and, therefore, conclude that at least some of the new satellites must have been associated with the Magellanic Clouds in the past.


Experimental validation and testing of solutions designed for heterogeneous environment is a challenging issue. Wrekavoc is a tool for performing such validation. It runs unmodified applications on emulated multisite heterogeneous platforms. Therefore it downgrades the performance of the nodes (CPU and memory) and the interconnection network in a prescribed way. We report on new strategies to improve the accuracy of the network and memory models. Then, we present an experimental validation of the tool that compares executions of a variety of application code. The comparison of a real heterogeneous platform is done against the emulation of that platform with Wrekavoc. The measurements show that our approach allows for a close reproduction of the real measurements in the emulator.


ABSTRACT The completion of the Southland Royalty No. 1-A Harris in the Austin Chalk formation on November 7, 1974, touched off a massive exploration effort by the oil and gas industry in a trend approximately 325 miles long and 20 miles wide from the Rio Grande River to Robertson County, Texas. The No. 1-A Harris was drilled in the Pearsall Field located in Frio County, Texas. An index of the activity that followed can be seen in the fact that as of February, 1977, 554 new wells were producing in this field alone. In addition, there are 182 Austin Chalk tests currently in progress or listed as a location in Frio County. The rest of the trend has been extensively leased and drilling activity is increasing rapidly. The primary objectives of this exploration program are the Austin Chalk and the Buda formations. Both of these are dense limestones that owe their reservoir qualities to fracturing. The fracturing is due to tensional forces that developed as a result of subsidence in the Gulf Coast Basin. The average Austin Chalk-Buda well costs $260 thousand to drill and complete. While drilling, mud weights should be kept at near balance to avoid losing circulation into the fracture system. Perforating and treating should be accomplished promptly after setting casing to prevent any mud in the fractures from gelling, thereby plugging the fractures. Most of the wells require fracture treating to attain the best possible production rates. Extensive acid treatments should be avoided as they free argillaceous material in the lime that can plug the fractures. Economic production from the Austin Chalk-Buda was not generally possible until the price of oil approached $12 per barrel and modern fracturing techniques were developed. Based on the results of production to date, it is estimated that 50 percent of the wells in the trend will produce at a rate of 40 bbl/d or more and will have average reserves of 100,000 to 120,000 bbl. The remaining 50 percent will produce a lesser amount and their economic success will depend on future prices and improvement in recovery techniques.


The absorption process is being widely used by various researchers for the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions. In the recent years the use of various natural products has been widely investigated as an alternative for the currently expensive methods of water treatment. Some of the natural products can be effectively used as a low cost absorbent. Heavy metals can be absorbed by living or non-living biomass. Phytoremediation uses plants to remove pollutants from the environment. About two aquatic species were examined as potential, phytoremoval agents for chromium in aqueous solutions. Aquatic plants can be used for the removal of heavy metals. For the present study batch studies were conducted and the uptake of chromium from aqueous solutions by Hydrilla sp. and Chara sp. were investigated thoroughly. The daily chromium uptakes was recorded, analyzed the results and were compared with other aquatic plants. The present study revealed that these aquatic plants Hydrilla sp. and Chara sp.can be successfully used for heavy metal removal.


We recently demonstrated serine/threonine phosphatase (protein phosphatase 2A, PP2A), a crucial enzyme in apoptosis control, within the plasma membrane as well as soluble fraction. This study aimed to determine whether gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) affects the membrane PP2A-associated apoptosis and the enzyme activity in ovarian cancer cells. PP2A activity was assessed by measuring the dephosphorylation of phosphopeptide highly selective for the PP2A in plasma membranes isolated from ovarian cancer SK-Ov-3 and Caov-3 cells. Apoptosis was quantified by nuclear morphology after staining with Hoechst 33342 and by loss of plasma membrane phospholipid asymmetry using Cy3-conjugated annexin-V. Treatment with doxorubicin (1 microM) for 48 h caused parallel increases in the percentage of cells undergoing apoptosis (71.3+/-5.5% vs. 2.2+/-0.8% for control, P<0.01) and decrease in the membrane-associated PP2A activity (to 38.5+/-8.2% of control, P<0.01). In cells simultaneously incubated with GnRH agonist leuprolide (1 microM) for 48 h, the maximum doxorubicine-induced apoptosis and membrane PP2A inhibition were reduced to 38.4+/-6.2% (P<0.01) and to 82.1+/-7.3% of control (P<0.01), respectively. The GnRH agonist alone caused apoptotic cell death accounting for only 6.8+/-2.1% (P<0.01) and had no effect on membrane PP2A activity. These findings demonstrate that PP2A inhibition is closely coupled to the onset of apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells exposed to doxorubicin. GnRH agonist may protect against the inhibition of membrane-associated PP2A activity and thus retard doxorubicin-induced apoptosis, suggesting an additional activity of GnRH to protect ovarian cancer cells from stimulated apoptotic cell death.


In this study, hybrid and 100% carbon woven fabrics have been investigated for their electromagnetic shielding performance in the frequencies, ranging from 700 MHz to 3 GHz. The shielding effectiveness of plain, twill, and satin woven fabrics was assessed by free space measurement technique. The experimental results showed that carbon-based woven fabrics have an optimum electromagnetic shielding efficiency at different measured frequencies. As expected, the shielding effectiveness of the structure improved with the amount of carbon yarn in the fabric structure. Analyses of the different weave types revealed that twill 2/1 fabric construction showed the best performance compared to the others due to the large number of intersection points of yarns in the fabric structure.


Background: The ear is a common site for keloid formation, usually after trauma or ear piercing. This study is a meta-analysis to identify effective treatments for ear keloids after surgical excision. Methods: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis were performed using core databases. Postoperative adjuvant treatment modalities for ear keloids and recurrence rates were extracted and analyzed. Fixed and random effect models were applied. Results: Twenty-five studies published before August of 2015 were identified. The recurrence rate after surgical excision of an ear keloid in the triamcinolone group was estimated as 15.4 percent (95 percent CI, 9.4 to 24.1 percent; p < 0.001). The recurrence rate in the radiation therapy group was estimated as 14.0 percent (95 percent CI, 9.6 to 19.9 percent; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Although a large-scale, randomized study is required for confirmation, both triamcinolone and radiation therapy provided outstanding treatment for ear keloids after surgical excision without a significant difference between the two treatments.


A study on diversity and abundance of insects in rice field was conducted at farmer field of Lamahi, Dang during July to October in 2019. Insects were collected using sweep net and light trap. Overall, 414 insect specimen representing 11 families and 8 orders were collected during the period. Grasshopper (23.98%) with including all species was the most abundance insect found in rice field as it followed by brown plant hopper (16.62%). Among the eight insect orders captured Orthoptera (29.16%) was the most abundance insect order followed by Homoptera (16.62%). As the diversity of insect pest in this area may responsible economic losses was found which will be useful to adapt appropriate management practices to keep them at normal area. The presence of natural enemies should conserve to enhance the natural biological control of insect pests.


Herein, we present for the first time a general methodology for obtaining arbitrary-order nuclear coordinate derivatives of electronic energies derived from quantum chemistry methods. By leveraging modern advances in automatic differentiation software, we demonstrate that exact derivatives can be obtained for any method. This innovation completely bypasses the issues associated with the computational stability of applying numerical differentiation methods and dispenses the need to derive challenging formulae for analytic energy derivatives. We describe a freely available and open-source software implementation of our scheme and demonstrate its use in obtaining exact nuclear derivatives of energies from Hartree-Fock theory, second-order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2), and coupled cluster theory with single, double, and perturbative triple excitations [CCSD(T)]. Our sample computations include up to sextic derivatives and span a variety of test systems with up to 100 basis functions, confirming the viability of this scheme for a wide range of applications. Many of the results obtained have hitherto been unobtainable by exact means due to a lack of higher-order derivative formulae. The details of our implementation and possible further developments are discussed.


Objective: The aim of the study was to make a comparison between skin incisions made with electrocautery versus scalpel in terms of their safety, efficacy and post-operative complications. Design: A randomized controlled study. Setting: The study was conducted in Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Kharian, Pakistan airforce (PAF) Hospital Sargodha. Duration of Study: May 2008 to August 2011. Patients and Methods: Ninety seven patients who underwent open cholecystectomy were randomly divided into two groups on the basis of the use of electrocautery versus steel scalpel for making skin incision and subcutaneous tissue dissection. Parameters recorded were, time taken from skin incision to full incising of the peritoneum, length of the wound, amount of blood loss during this step of surgery in each group. Post-operative pain scoring using visual analogue scale was done. Wound complications such as infection, haematoma/seroma and dehiscence were noted too. One month of follow up was recorded in each group. Subsequently a comparison of these findings was done. Results: Incision time (sec/cm2) was longer in scalpel group than in diathermy group (p = 0.001), whereas, incision blood loss (ml/cm2) was significantly less in diathermy group than in scalpel group (p = 0.03). There was no difference in post-operative pain perception as delineated by visual pain analogue scoring system between the two groups (p = 0.57). Post-operative wound complications and the final healing of wound at 01month of followup were almost similar in both groups. Conclusion: Electrocautery may be used safely without any untoward complication in making skin incision and sub-cutaneous tissue dissection with an advantage of reduced incision time and and less blood loss.


Innovation in new mixtures of constituents can lead to discover exciting new materials with unexpected properties and revolutionary applications [1,2]. It is known, the Gibbs energy needs to be minimized, as the main requirement, to achieve a stable single phase compound. Conventional approach to minimize the total energy of system is searching for a large and negative enthalpy. However, in this work, we show that the phase stability can be reached where the configurational entropy is maximized with mixing as many diverse elements as possible.


The polar regions of Mercury are important sources of material for its ionized exosphere. Global measurements by MESSENGER of the fluxes of heavy ions at Mercury, particularly sodium (Na+) and oxygen (O+), exhibit distinct maxima in the northern magnetic-cusp region, indicating that polar regions are important sources of Mercury's ionized exosphere, presumably through solar-wind sputtering near the poles. The observed fluxes of helium (He+) are more evenly distributed, indicating a more uniform source such as that expected from evaporation from a helium-saturated surface. In some regions near Mercury, especially the nightside equatorial region, the Na+ pressure can be a substantial fraction of the proton pressure.