Aim. High Frequency Trading poses a large number of ethical questions. The purpose of this study is to examine the ethical perceptions of those who work inside the HFT industry.
Method. The research consisted of a case study. Participants (N=30) were high frequency traders, algorithm developers, consultants, quant analysts, quantitative strategists, ultra low-latency data scientists, or managers of HFT companies. Participation involved an interview (N=27) or a completion of a questionnaire (N=3). HFT actors were asked to report what ethical considerations are involved in their work.
Results. Participants' answers showed that many HFT actors considered legal and regulatory issues a central component of their ethical conduct. However, a proportion of the participants was concerned with the social contribution of their practice and with the public image of HFT. In particular, perceiving HFT as having neutral or negative effect on the market was related with sense of meaninglessness.
Conclusions. Ethics perceptions of HFT actors are characterised by a personal nature. Beyond the overlap between the notions of ethics and legality, they reflect the human tendency to search for meaning and the need to have a positive image.


This paper analyzes the time-varying integration of the Greek stock market from a regional perspective by using a conditional version of the international capital asset pricing model (ICAPM) allowing for dynamic changes in the degree of market integration, regional market currency risk, and local market risk. We show that the prices of risk are extremely sensitive to major international economic and political events such as the different monetary and financial crises in Asian and Latin American countries in 1997, 1998, and 2001. In addition, we show that the level of market openness and development of the stock market satisfactorily explain the time-varying degree of Greek stock market integration.


OBJECTIVE
Routine coagulation testing is rarely indicated in the emergency department. Our goal is to determine the combined effects of uncoupling routine coagulation testing (i.e., international normalized ratio [INR]; activated partial thromboplastin time [aPTT]), disseminating an educational module, and implementing a clinical decision support system (CDSS) on coagulation testing rates in two academic emergency departments.

METHODS
A prospective pre-post study of INR-aPTT uncoupling, educational module distribution, and CDSS implementation in two academic emergency departments. All patients ages 18 years and older undergoing evaluation and treatment during the period of August 1, 2015, to November 30, 2017, were included. Primary outcome was coagulation testing utilization during the emergency department encounter. Secondary outcomes included associated costs, frequency of downstream testing, and frequency of blood transfusions.

RESULTS
Uncoupling INR-aPTT testing combined with educational module distribution and CDSS implementation resulted in significantly decreased coupled INR-aPTT testing, with significantly increased selective INR and aPTT testing. Overall, the aggregate rate of coagulation testing declined for both INR and aPTT testing (48 tests/100 patients/day to 26 tests/100 patients/day). There was a significant decrease in associated daily costs (median cost per day: $1048.32 v. $601.68), realizing estimated annual savings of $163,023 Canadian dollars (CAD). There was no signal of increased downstream testing or patient blood product requirements.

CONCLUSION
Compared to baseline practice patterns, our multimodal initiative significantly decreased coagulation testing, with meaningful cost savings and without evidence of patient harm. Clinicians and administrators now have a growing toolkit to target the plethora of low-value tests and treatments in emergency medicine.


Author(s): Gardner, Trevor George | Advisor(s): Weir, Margaret M | Abstract: The dissertation investigates the reemergence of "immigrant sanctuary" in the United States between 2001 and 2008. Immigrant sanctuaries are the product of state and local law or administrative policy that restricts cooperation between police and federal immigration enforcement authorities. The idea of the immigrant sanctuary arose among churches in the 1980s and returned in the 2000s among subnational governments in response to new federal perspectives on domestic security. Immigration scholars have explained contemporary immigrant sanctuaries and other subnational policies benefitting immigrants as "pro-immigrant" and as a function of liberal ideology. Upon conducting historical-comparative analysis, qualitative comparative analysis, and case study analysis of immigrant sanctuaries in the Homeland Security era, I find that the phenomenon grows largely from a desire among state and local jurisdictions to maintain autonomy in crime governance and, similarly, a political orientation against expansive federal government power. I argue that this sensibility is trans-partisan and should be distinguished from the politics of immigration. I show that public support for autonomous and decentralized crime governance has historical precedent in the subnational sanctuaries of the Prohibition era of the 1920s and also that subnational sanctuaries, regardless of their underlying motivation, can be challenged and subverted by reports of sensational crimes committed by the social group the sanctuary is meant to protect. Moreover, even when a jurisdiction continues its support of sanctuary in light of such reports, moral panics by constituencies and public officials external to the jurisdiction are sufficient to erode sanctuary policy and practice. More broadly, the dissertation presents findings and analytical frameworks that provide insight into contestation between the federal government and subnational governments regarding the quality and scope of crime governance. These insights are particularly valuable at a national moment in which federal officials claim integrated and collaborative security administration as a prerequisite for strong domestic security.


Young children frequently draw a depth relationship as a left-right relationship on the page. However, this is not a rigid habit, since they use height in picture if the depth relationship is stressed before they make their drawing. A group of 4–6-year-olds was asked to draw an array of two bricks, arranged one behind the other, and an array of three bricks containing both a depth relationship and a left-right relationship. Most 4-year-olds drew the two-item array horizontally, and there was a limited tendency to shift to vertical portrayal of depth in the three-item array. Again, most 5- and 6-year-olds drew the two-brick array horizontally, but a clear majority used vertical portrayal for the three-item array. In addition, there was significant carry-over of the vertical method from the three-item array to a subsequent drawing of the two-item array. It is concluded that, when faced with more complex draftsmanship problems, children spontaneously adopt height in picture as a depth cue.


The purpose of this work was to study how viscose fiber behaves in polypropylene (PP) matrix when maleated polypropylene (MAPP) is used as a coupling agent. The influences of processing conditions on composite properties was of interest. Composites were characterized by FTIR and mechanical testing. The most notable result was the effect of the MAPP concentration on the tensile strength of the composites; the tensile strength increased from 40 to 69 MPa when MAPP was added in amounts up to 6 wt % of the fiber weight. The interaction between MAPP and fiber was confirmed with FTIR. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 1895–1900, 2003


The shift from single to multiple core architectures means that programmers must write concurrent, multithreaded programs in order to increase application performance. Unfortunately, multithreaded applications are susceptible to numerous errors, including deadlocks, race conditions, atomicity violations, and order violations. These errors are notoriously difficult for programmers to debug.
 This paper presents Grace, a software-only runtime system that eliminates concurrency errors for a class of multithreaded programs: those based on fork-join parallelism. By turning threads into processes, leveraging virtual memory protection, and imposing a sequential commit protocol, Grace provides programmers with the appearance of deterministic, sequential execution, while taking advantage of available processing cores to run code concurrently and efficiently. Experimental results demonstrate Grace's effectiveness: with modest code changes across a suite of computationally-intensive benchmarks (1-16 lines), Grace can achieve high scalability and performance while preventing concurrency errors.


Hemorrhage of arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a rare condition during pregnancy. This study was proposed to pool the proportion of AVM hemorrhage per pregnancy. A systematic review and meta-analysis with three databases were performed to review the studies published until April 2022. The Newcastle Ottawa Scale was used for risk assessment of data quality. The meta-analysis was conducted by a generic inverse variance of double arcsine transformation with a random model using Stata software. Twelve studies were included in this review. The pooled proportion of AVM hemorrhage per pregnancy was 0.16 (95% CI: 0.08, 0.26). The subgroup analyses were carried out based on world regions and study designs, and the study duration with the highest proportion of each subgroup was Europe [0.35 (95% CI: 0.02, 0.79)], with retrospective review [0.18 (95% CI: 007, 0.32)] and 10 to 20 years of study duration [0.37 (95% CI: 0.06, 0.77)]. The AVM hemorrhage per pregnancy in this review was considered low. However, the conclusion must be carefully interpreted since this review had a small study limitation.


Anabolic steroid use is widespread and has been associated with a variety of pathological conditions. The subject of this case is a 20-year-old amateur bodybuilder who died of sudden cardiopulmonary arrest. He had no previous medical complaints but had a history of anabolic steroid abuse and a hypertrophic heart (515 g) at autopsy. This case presentation will discuss the cardiovascular effects of these drugs and the possible impact of long-term abuse.


It is shown in this paper that the successive approximation procedure simplifies computations of the optimal solution of a bilinear-quadratic optimal control problem. For a given bilinear system affected by external periodic disturbances, a sequence of linear problems is constructed, and their solutions are shown to converge to the desired solution. By solving iterative the sequences, the optimal control law is obtained. By comparing the error of quadratic performance indexes, we can obtain an approximate optimal disturbance rejection control law. A simulation example is used to demonstrate the efficiency of the new method.


This paper presents an enhancement of noisy reverberant speech signal by linear prediction analysis and spectral subtraction. The linear prediction analysis is used to suppress the short term reverberation. In general, the equalized impulse response has two detrimental effects, late impulses and pre-echo. These late impulses and pre-echo are suppressed by spectral subtraction. In LP analysis, the SNR value is improved and also the LP parameters are calculated accurately by flattering the spectral components.


Background: Avabahuka (Frozen Shoulder) is one of the type of musculoskeletal disability primarily affecting the middle aged to older persons as a degenerative and neurological condition with symptoms being pain and disability. Modern approaches comes with wide range of modalities such as analgesics, muscle relaxants, steroids, physiotherapy, and even operative procedures but none of them gives satisfactory and permanent results. Aim: To study the efficacy of Mahamasha Taila Nasya with Trayodashanga Guggulu in comparison to only administration of Trayodashanga Guggulu in Avabahuka. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 36 clinically diagnosed cases of Avabahuka from OPD of Ch. Brahm Prakash Ayurved Charak Sansthan, Khera Dabar, Najafgarh, New Delhi in a period of 18 months after taking institutional ethical clearance. Parameters to evaluate the analgesic effect were SPADI Score, Assessment of Bahupraspandanhara and Assessment of Ansa Shoola. Participants were divided into two groups: Group A – Mahamasha Taila Nasya Karma with Trayodashang Guggulu and in Group B- Tryodashanga Guggulu was given. Results: Both the groups were found equivalently significant when compared statistically with the difference found between two groups as- in Group A there was a relief of 63.41% in Bahupraspandanhara, Ansa shool- 71.05% and SPADI Score – 30.86% whereas in Group B there was a relief of 60.98% in Bahupraspandanhara, Ansa shool- 61.54% and SPADI Score – 29.57%. Clinically, Group A was found better than Group B. Conclusion: Both the groups showed mild to moderate relief in the management of Avabahuka. No major adverse or side effects were encountered during the course of study


ABSTRACT: Objective: 7q11.23 duplication syndrome (Dup7) is a genetic disorder with a variable phenotype associated with cognitive and behavioral characteristics including a high incidence of expressive language difficulties, social anxiety, and oppositional or disruptive behavior. Correlates of aggression and oppositionality were examined. Method: Participants were 63 children with genetically confirmed Dup7 between the ages of 4 and 17 years. A multimethod, multi-informant approach was used to assess aggression and oppositional behavior, and the contributions of cognitive functioning, expressive language, autism spectrum, social anxiety, and hyperactivity/impulsivity (H/I) symptomatology were considered. Results: Elevated levels of aggression and oppositional behavior were found. Cognitive functioning, expressive language, and autism spectrum disorder symptomatology were not significantly related to parent ratings of aggression, although young children who had language and nonverbal cognitive delays were most likely to demonstrate examiner-observed aggression. Social anxiety and H/I symptomatology were related to defiant/aggressive and oppositional behavior. Conclusion: Genes in the 7q11.23 region duplicated in Dup7, in transaction with the environment, may contribute to aggressive and oppositional behavior.


Current approaches to lowering the pH of basic media rely on the addition of a proton source. An alternative approach is described herein that involves the liquid-liquid extraction-based removal of cesium salts, specifically CsOH and Cs2 CO3 , from highly basic media. A multitopic ion-pair receptor (2) is used that can recognize and extract the hydroxide and carbonate anions as their cesium salts, as confirmed by 1 H NMR spectroscopic titrations, ICP-MS, single-crystal structural analyses, and theoretical calculations. A sharp increase in the pH and cesium concentrations in the receiving phase is observed when receptor 2 is employed as a carrier in U-tube experiments involving the transport of CsOH through an intervening chloroform layer. The pH of the source phase likewise decreases.


Species invasion dynamics are a core topic in ecology and the effects of species invasions on ecosystems are well described. However, the knowledge about the mechanisms during the invasion process itself is limited. Many interactions between invaders and resident species occur during the invasion process. These interactions influence individual species abundance and subsequently community composition. Even though invaders are often unsuccessful, the very short interactions with the resident species can influence species abundances and therefore community composition. The prominent effects of unsuccessful invaders on community composition were already predicted in a theoretical model. To empirically test the effect of such unsuccessful invaders on a resident phytoplankton community, we conducted a mesocosm experiment in a mesotrophic freshwater pond. Six freshwater algae belonging to three taxonomic groups (chlorophyta, cyanobacteria, and bacillariophyta) were added as potential invader species to the natural phytoplankton community of the pond (as single species or as combination of two species of the same taxonomic group). After nine days, the invasion success and the impact on the natural phytoplankton community were estimated. Results show that although all invaders were unsuccessful, they had lasting effects on the resident community. In all communities exposed to invasion, biodiversity (H') was maintained. In contrast, in control communities, the diversity at the end of the experiment was lower compared to the initial community. Furthermore, communities exposed to invasion were less similar to control communities without invasion than to the other invaded communities. Differences were found in taxonomic group composition as well as in species composition. Additionally, we found evidence for synergistic effects between the combined added species. Our results give clear evidence of strong transient effects of unsuccessful invaders on freshwater phytoplankton community composition.


This study examines human error associated with the military aviation maintenance management programs. The rationale behind this study was based on the rising human error that comes along with military aviation maintenances. To come up with a practical findings quantitative data were obtained by consulting military aviation technicians at MRO (Maintenance Repair and Overhaul) headquarters in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The main data collection tool that was used for this study was questionnaires subdivided into two sections examining demographics of the respondents alongside the objectives. The results indicate that military aviation the industry is faced with fuel and the labor costs challenges that significantly contribute to human error in the management program. Neglect and less focus on the product as well as machine safety together with complexities such as poor training enhances errors in the military aviation programs. The study finally draws to conclusion that there are varied human error associated with the military aviation maintenance management programs most of which can be


Graphite is formed by weak Van der Waals force that connecting two-dimensional graphene layers together and strong covalent bond that forms between the adjacent planes of the carbon atoms that create small carbon to carbon distance. Graphene sheet is an atomic layer of graphite and it is formed by carbon atoms that are arranged in a simple honeycomb or hexagonal lattice. Graphite intercalated compound (GIC), fewlayer graphene (FLG) and graphene are the promising materials to improve the storage capacity of capacitor. Even though graphene has the highest energy storage capacity, however, the synthesis cost of graphene is high. In this project, GIC and FLG will be used as the materials to fabricate supercapacitor. The performance of a normal capacitor will be used to compare with the capacitor that is fabricated by using GIC and FLG. The method that was utilised in this project to synthesis FLG was interlayer catalytic exfoliation. Iron (III) chloride graphite intercalated compound (FeCl3 − GIC) can be obtained by intercalating iron (III) chloride (FeCl3) into the layered structure of graphite. In order to obtain iron (III) chloride few-layer graphene (FeCl3 − FLG), FeCl3 − GIC had to be ultrasonicated for 3 hours. Next, the synthesised FeCl3 − GIC and FeCl3 − FLG will then characterise by SEM, FESEM, EDX, XRD and FTIR to validate the results. SEM results of FeCl3 − GIC shows that there were FeCl3 intercalated into the layered structure of graphite and hence formed FeCI3 − GIC. Whereas, the SEM and FESEM of FeCl3 − FLG show that it is formed by the combination of two to five layers of graphene sheets. The results of EDX and XRD supported the results of SEM and FESEM by proving that there were traces of FeCl3 found in both FeCl3 − GIC and FeCl3 − FLG samples. Moreover, FTIR results of FeCl3 − GIC and FeCl3 − FLG eliminated the possibility of the formation of graphene oxide (GO). The synthesised FeCl3 − GIC and FeCl3 − FLG were then used as the materials to fabricate supercapacitor. By comparing the performance of normal capacitor and supercapacitors, the results show that FeCl3 − GIC supercapacitor was able to store about 30 times more energy than a normal capacitor, whereas FeCl3 − FLG supercapacitor is able to store about 70 times more energy than a normal capacitor. FeCl3 − GIC and FeCl3 − FLG had showed an excellent results on energy storage system, it is definitely a missing puzzle for taking current technology to the next level.


Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC

A subset of melanoma patients (18-30%) treated with Vemurafenib (and other RAF inhibitors) develop spontaneous cutaneous squamous-cell carcinoma (cSCC) and/or keratoacanthoma (KA). Preclinical studies demonstrate that RAF inhibitors paradoxically activate the MAPK pathway and stimulate growth of RAS mutated cells. Based on these observations it has been proposed that drug induced MAPK activation in pre-cancerous tissues may account for the high incidence of cSCC and KA in treated patients. Because human cSCC is frequently positive for human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA, we hypothesized that RAF inhibitors promote tumorigenesis in HPV infected epidermis. To investigate this possibility, we used a transgenic murine model (K14-HPV16) of cSCC, driven by basal keratinocyte-specific expression (K14 promoter) of HPV type 16 early genes including E6 and E7, which inactivates p53 and pRB tumor suppressors. Exposure to Vemurafenib elevated MAPK markers in epidermis and increased cSCC incidence from 22% to 70%. Exome sequencing revealed that 100% of cSCCs from untreated mice harbored activating RAS mutations, yet 55% of cSCCs from Vemurafenib treated mice were RAS wild-type. Concomitant treatment with a MEK inhibitor reduced cSCC frequency, and MEK inhibitor alone was sufficient to completely regress established cSCCs. Together, these results suggest that cSCC is dependent upon MAPK activation induced either by a RAS oncogene or alternatively by exposure to RAF inhibitors in HPV infected keratinocytes.

Citation Format: Matthew Holderfield, Edward Lorenzana, Ben Weisburd, Lisa Lomovasky, Majid Ghoddusi, Dylan Daniel, Nancy Pryer, Frank McCormick, Darrin Stuart. Vemurafenib promotes RAS wild-type tumor formation in a mouse model of HPV-driven cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-61. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-LB-61


BACKGROUND
Mifepristone in low daily doses has contraceptive potential by inhibiting ovulation and menstruation. Because follicular development is maintained, the endometrium is exposed to estrogen for prolonged periods unopposed by progesterone.

METHODS
Endometrial biopsies were collected from 90 women in Edinburgh and Shanghai before (late proliferative) and 60 and 120 days after taking 2 or 5 mg mifepristone per day for 120 days.

RESULTS
Ovulation and menstruation were inhibited in >90% of cycles and estrogen production was similar to that observed during the follicular phase of the control cycle. By 120 days, endometrial thickness increased significantly in women in Edinburgh but decreased in Shanghai. Endometrial histology showed inactive proliferative or cystic changes with dense stroma. There was a significant decrease in markers of proliferation, i.e. mitotic index and Ki67 staining. There were no pregnancies in a total of 200 women-months in 50 sexually active women who used no other method of contraception.

CONCLUSIONS
We confirm that ovulation and menstruation were suppressed in the majority of cycles and there was asynchrony between ovarian activity and endometrial histology, which showed no signs of hyperplasia or atypia. These preliminary data suggest that daily low-dose mifepristone is potentially a safe estrogen-free contraceptive pill which has the added health benefit of amenorrhoea.


INTRODUCTION:
Adolescents are the greatest asset of any country. "Adolescence" origins from a
Latin word "adolescere" which means "to grow up". Adolescence represents a critical
stage of transition from childhood to adulthood. In these formative years of life, there is
an abrupt and greater increase in the growth and development in various dimensions
makes the adolescent girls vulnerable to various health problems. One of the major
problems among adolescent girls is anemia. The iron requirement increases dramatically
due to the expansion of the lean body mass, total blood volume and the onset of
menstruation. This demand is further challenged by reduced dietary intake, decreased
absorption, the strenuous physical work, gender disparity, lack of proper education, early
marriage. Irrespective of the background, majority of the adolescent girls in India, are
highly ignorant about anemia, its significant health consequences and the effects of
anemia in their offspring. This further augments the vulnerability of adolescent girls to
develop anemia. Anemia not only has lasting negative consequences in the adolescent
girls' growth, development, survival but also on the overall health of the children they
give birth, later in life. The prevention of anemia, among adolescent girls should aim to
improve their overall physical, cognitive and social dimensions of health and improved
pregnancy outcomes to result in decreased incidence of pregnancy loss, neonatal
mortality rate, infant mortality rate, low birth weight babies, through integrated
approaches. There is a wide variety of health programmes have been commenced and
being carried out at national and international level including iron and folic acid
supplementation, dietary modification , dietary diversification and dietary fortification. It
is essential to create awareness at the grass root level through education on adolescent
health, disseminating knowledge on iron rich foods and dietary modifications with
dietary diversification. Though it is a challenging task to modify the dietary behavior of
adolescent girls who are in their impressionable period of life, it is possible to influence
their behavior through adequate education, reinforcement on locally available dietary
resources that are rich in iron, healthy cooking practices, and introduction to cheap iron
fortified foods.
OBJECTIVE:
To assess the effectiveness of nutritional intervention package on knowledge and
level of anemia among adolescent girls.
Null Hypothesis of the study
NH1 There is no significant difference in the pre test and post test level of knowledge
and level of anemia between experimental and control group.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:
The research design adopted for this study was quasi experimental, non
equivalent control group design. The independent variable used in this study was
Nutritional intervention package and the dependent variables used for this study were
level of knowledge on anemia and level of hemoglobin of the adolescent girls with
anemia. The study was conducted at Kachkumrakali and Anderia of Taldi Panchayat of
south 24 paragnas district, West Bengal. The total adolescent girls in the age group of
13-19 years were 150 and 125 in Kachkumrakali and in Anderia respectively. The
samples were the adolescent girls with mild, moderate and severe anemia who fulfilled
the sample selection criteria. Non probability purposive sampling technique was used in
selecting the samples for this study. The intervention package prepared by the
investigator was nutritional intervention package that consisted of education on
management of anemia and nutritional supplement. The level of knowledge was assessed
by structured knowledge questionnaire, hemoglobin measurement using clinical
assessment based on modified WHO palmar pallor guidelines and photo electric
colorimeter by cyanmethemoglobin method. Analysis of data was done using descriptive
and inferential statistics.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:
The present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of nutritional intervention
package on knowledge and level of anemia among adolescent girls.
The analysis on the post-test revealed that the majority 24(80%) of the
adolescents in the experimental group had moderately adequate knowledge while
4(13.33%) had adequate knowledge and 2(6.06%) had inadequate knowledge. In the
control group all of them had inadequate knowledge.
The pretest mean score for knowledge was 8.37 with S.D 1.83 and the post- test
mean score was 16.37 with S.D 2.20. The calculated't' value was t = 20.087 which was
found to be statistically highly significant at p<0.001 level in the experimental group.
With regard to the hemoglobin level among adolescent girls in the experimental
group, in the pre-test none of them had normal hemoglobin, 15(50%) had mild anemia,
12(40%) had moderate anemia and 3(10%) had severe anemia. whereas in the post-test
majority 22(70%) had only mild anemia whereas, 8(26.67%) had moderate anemia and
1(3.03%) adolescent girls had normal hemoglobin none of them had severe anemia.
The pretest mean score for level of anemia was 9.47 with S.D 1.47 and the posttest
mean score was 10.66 with S.D 1.19. The calculated 't' value was t = 10.500 which
was statistically highly significant at p < 0.001 level.
The analysis of pretest and post- test hemoglobin level among adolescent girls in
the control group, showed that, in the pre-test and in post-test none of them had normal
hemoglobin. In the pretest alone 15(50%) had mild anemia and 14(46.67%) had
moderate anemia, 1(3.33%) had severe anemia. Similarly in the post-test 13(43.33%)
adolescent girls had mild anemia, 16(53.33%) had moderate anemia and 1(3.03%) had
severe anemia.
There was a significant improvement in the knowledge and level of hemoglobin
after the administration of nutritional intervention package. The nutritional supplement
and information on anemia was an effective interventional tool in improving the
knowledge and level of anemia among adolescent girls with anemia.
CONCLUSION:
The present study assessed the effectiveness of nutritional intervention package on knowledge and level of anemia among adolescent girls. The findings of the study revealed that there is significant improvement in the knowledge and level of anemia among adolescent girls, who received the intervention. Hence the nutritional intervention package can be utilized to prevent and treat anemia.


The problem of dynamic optimal allocation of firms finance assets is important decision process. With this importance corresponds an attention dedicated to it. In spite of fuzzy, concerning the allocation tasks this side of problem is usually leave out. The text describes general linear optimisation fuzzy model for the solution of dynamic optimal allocation tasks of company finance. The text branches out a mentioned model by fuzzy aspects.


In this report, we present bulk solid-phase major and minor element contents and Fe and S species in sediments from Site M0060 in the Anholt Basin recovered during Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 347 to the Baltic Sea. Site M0060 is characterized by alternating sand- and clay-/silt-dominated sediment sequences that indicate deposition under brackish-marine and limnic conditions, respectively. We use Al-normalized elemental ratios and transition metal data to characterize the different sediment sequences and to study the impact of early diagenetic processes on the abundance and reactivity of Fe oxide and Fe sulfide mineral phases across lithologic boundaries.

Ratios of Fe/Al and Mn/Al exceed the continental crustal average in the clay-/silt-dominated sequences, whereas low ratios are associated with the sandy units. About 10%–20% of the total bulk Fe content is associated with Fe oxides and Fe sulfides, whereas the major Fe fraction is bound in clay minerals. The transition metals (V, Ni, Cr, and Co) correlate with the depth profile of Fe/Al, which indicates that they are adsorbed onto Fe oxides and concomitantly deposited. Sequential leaching reveals that magnetite is the most abundant Fe oxide phase. Leached contents approach 1 wt% followed by crystalline and easily reducible Fe oxides. Pyrite is the dominant Fe sulfide phase and is enriched at several lithologic boundaries that can likely be associated with the formation of pyrite. Pyrite is formed through the reaction of Fe monosulfides with (1) polysulfides and/or S0 in zones dominated by organoclastic sulfate and Fe oxide reduction and (2) sulfide released during the anaerobic oxidation of methane.


We present results from a study of the X-ray cluster population that forms within the CLEF cosmological hydrodynamics simulation, a large N-body/SPH simulation of the Lambda cold dark matter cosmology with radiative cooling, star formation and feedback. With nearly 100 (kT > 2 keV) clusters at z = 0 and 60 at z = 1, our sample is one of the largest ever drawn from a single simulation and allows us to study variations within the X-ray cluster population both at low and high redshift. The scaled projected temperature and entropy profiles at z = 0 are in good agreement with recent high-quality observations of cool core clusters, suggesting that the simulation grossly follows the processes that structure the intracluster medium (ICM) in these objects. Cool cores are a ubiquitous phenomenon in the simulation at low and high redshift, regardless of a cluster's dynamical state. This is at odds with the observations and so suggests there is still a heating mechanism missing from the simulation. The fraction of irregular (major merger) systems, based on an observable measure of substructure within X-ray surface brightness maps, increases with redshift, but always constitutes a minority population within the simulation. Using a simple, observable measure of the concentration of the ICM, which correlates with the apparent mass deposition rate in the cluster core, we find a large dispersion within regular clusters at low redshift, but this diminishes at higher redshift, where strong cooling-flow systems are absent in our simulation. Consequently, our results predict that the normalization and scatter of the luminosity‐temperature relation should decrease with redshift; if such behaviour turns out to be a correct representation of X-ray cluster evolution, it will have significant consequences for the number of clusters found at high redshift in X-ray flux-limited surveys.


Land cover classification represents one of the most fundamental applications of remote sensing, and is widely used to estimate carbon stocks, hydrological parameters and biogeochemical models. Land cover classification using multitemporal and multi-spectral remote sensing observation data has been an effective technique. This paper adopts a multi-dimension classification method to classify the land cover in Western Loess Plateau of China using EOS/MODIS remote sensing image and some ancillary data. The imagery used in this study were 30-day composite Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) over the year 2003 obtained by the Maximum Value Composite (MVC) technique, and the ancillary data included phonological calendar, agricultural knowledge and existing land cover dataset. Discrete Fourier transform (DFT) as a signal decomposition method can extract periodic responses through expressing a NDVI time series curve with the sum of an additive term and a series of cosine waves and it has been used in land cover classification. Therefore the discrete Fourier transform was applied to the NDVI data set on a per-pixel basis for the whole study areas and images of the additive, amplitude and phase angle for the first two harmonics were produced on a per-pixel basis for each pixel in the NDVI dataset. After integrating the multi-dimension information, the land cover in Western Loess Plateau of China is finally classified using ISODATA unsupervised classification algorithm. At last, the accuracy of the result was evaluated with existing land cover dataset. The tentative result shows good correlations with existing digital land cover map, though the small overestimation or underestimation are recognized in several categories.


This project studies the use of church volunteers to reduce cardiovascular disease risk factors among their fellow church members. Our findings focus on the first 12 months of the project and address the following questions: 1) Can volunteers implement these programs with no on-site professional staff? 2) Are volunteer efforts facilitated by a local volunteer task force? and 3) Are implementation efforts aided by readily available professional staff involvement? In the intervention churches, 220 certified Risk Factor Leaders conducted 82 group programs with 740 registrants and 104 blood pressure screenings with 1,834 contacts. Our study shows volunteers to be effective implementers of heart health programs in churches. The involvement of a task force seemed to facilitate volunteer recruitment. Churches with a lower level of professional involvement had more blood pressure screenings. The effect of a task force or professional assistance on other volunteer efforts did not reach statistical significance.


Cerebral vasospasm following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is associated with a high degree of morbidity and mortality and is well established as a predictor of poor functional outcome, Endovascular interventions involving intra-arterial infusion of vasoactive agents or balloon angioplasty are frequently employed in the management of symptomatic cerebral vasospasm following aSAH. Many of these patients suffer from recurrent vasospasm and often require multiple endovascular treatments; however, there have been very few investigations to assess predictors of retreatment and they have produced inconsistent results.


Introduction Despite significant global improvement in occupational health and safety over the past few decades, workplace deaths and injuries are still occurring. At the same time, many countries are experiencing an increasing prevalence of chronic diseases due to ageing population and lifestyle factors. Currently, risk assessment does not commonly take into account employees' personal health risks. Our paper aims to review the association between chronic diseases and risk of workplace injuries, and recommend a health-based risk assessment framework which would incorporate employees' health factors into the risk assessment process which employers are familiar with. Methods A literature review was conducted to gather the evidence for the association between chronic diseases and risk of injuries in the workplace. A health-based risk assessment framework was constructed that incorporates employees' health factors, giving examples on how this can be done, as well as highlighting some of the challenges. Results Many recent studies found that increased body mass index was associated with higher risk of injuries, while older workers were at risk of more severe injuries. Diabetes mellitus was also associated with workplace injuries in some studies. There were fewer studies looking at other chronic diseases such as hypertension. We will share our health-based risk assessment framework incorporating employees' health into the risk assessment process, in a comparable way as that for occupational health and safety hazards. Discussion Including a health-based risk assessment framework into the Risk Assessment matrix can improve the integration of workplace health and safety management.


AIMS To explore the changes in neutrophil adhesion molecule expression and release into bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) obtained from infants who developed chronic lung disease (CLD). METHODS BAL fluid was obtained from 37 infants: 18 (median gestation 26 weeks, birthweight 835 g) who developed CLD, 12 (29 weeks, 1345 g) with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and seven control infants (33 weeks, 2190 g). RESULTS Soluble L-selectin (sL-selectin) in BAL fluid from the CLD and non-CLD groups was similar immediately after birth, but in infants who subsequently developed CLD, sL-selectin remained persistently increased (at day 7: CLD 42.6 vs RDS 6.0 ng/ml, p<0.05; CLD vs controls 1.5 ng/ml; p<0.05). CD11b/CD18 expression on neutrophils obtained by BAL increased with time to reach a maximum at 17 days of age in infants who developed CLD. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that leucocyte traffic persists in infants who develop CLD and may have an important part to play in the pathogenesis of CLD.


The aim of the current study to determine levels of Inhibin-B hormone and its relationship with some gonadal hormones, including follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) prolactin, and testosterone hormones in some males with idiopathic infertility in Shirqat city.
 Blood and seminal fluid samples from (60) idiopathic male infertile and (30) healthful individuals as (control group) aged (18 to 60 years) were collected from private clinics. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to estimate serum Inhibin B, FSH, LH, prolactin, and testosterone hormones.
According to types of sperm count, patients have divided onto two groups 49 persons as azoospermia group (zero /ml) and 11 persons as oligospermia group less than 20 million/ml. Inhibin B and testosterone levels were significantly decreased (P≤0.01) in the infertile men compared with the control group. While the FSH level, LH, and prolactin were significantly higher (P≤ 0.01) in the infertile men than in the control group, the results of Inhibin B were non-significant.
In contrast, levels of FSH, LH, and prolactin were higher significant (P≤ 0.01), except testosterone level was significant differences (P≤ 0.05) in the age groups <20-30 year, 31–40 year, and ≥ 40 years. There were significant differences (P≤ 0.01) in levels of FSH and prolactin, but the levels of Inhibin B and LH were non-significant in the infertility period ≤ 10 year, 11 – 20 years, ≥ 20 years. Smoker infertile men have low levels (P≤ 0.01) in the prolactin while had high levels in the Inhibin B and LH hormones compared with control. Patients with a family history showed a significant difference (P≤0.05) in the levels of Inhibin B, testosterone, LH, and prolactin.
 In conclusion, this study revealed a significant decrease in the Inhibin-B levels of the Azoospermic and oligospermia infertile men. The negative correlation between inhibin B and testosterone and weak correlation with other gonadal hormones. Therefore, Inhibin-B has an important role in diagnosing idiopathic male infertility, and it's one of the important markers in the diagnosis of normal spermatogenesis.


This Special Document File examines the closure of documents on the Nakba in the Israeli archives and argues that this closure must be juxtaposed with recent intensified U.S. and Israeli attempts to depoliticize the Palestine question and to delegitimize the Palestinian narrative in general, and that of 1948 in particular. The documents are important because they expose the systematic nature of the 1948 ethnic cleansing of Palestine, both in planning and execution. Many of these documents have been copied and scanned by scholars over the years, but they are now no longer accessible to the public or to researchers. Collating, digitizing, and archiving these documents is the best response to the attempt to cover up the crimes against the Palestinian people in 1948.


The article is dedicated to exploring the interaction between reflection and critical thinking in the context of developing students' intellectual abilities. Special attention is given to studying the impact of reflective practices on stimulating critical thinking in younger students and their ability to analyze and perceive information critically and objectively.
The article analyzes the fundamental aspects of reflective activities, including its role in developing students' consciousness, self-awareness, and internal processing of acquired information. The authors investigate various methods and techniques of reflection that educators can use to activate students' critical thinking. Specifically, the article offers practical case studies of implementing reflective approaches in the educational process.
The primary aim of the article is to raise educators' awareness of the significance of the interaction between reflection and critical thinking as key elements in students' intellectual development. The information presented in the article will contribute to the expansion of methodological foundations for promoting reflective processes in teaching and supporting the development of critical thinking among younger students. The research findings can be practically applied in educational institutions and contribute to improving the quality of education.


Interest in contemporary slavery has increased dramatically over the last ten years, but there remains a widespread tendency to view slavery in the past and slavery in current society as independent fields of study. This publication moves beyond this unhelpful divide, providing the first ever comparative analysis of historical slave systems and modern forms of human bondage. From this standpoint, recent concerns over human trafficking, debt-bondage, child labor and other related problems are analyzed in view of the historical strengths and weaknesses of the legal abolition of slavery. By bringing together a range of studies on different aspects of slavery, both past and present, this publication provides an innovative platform for promoting dialogue about ways of addressing both contemporary slavery and the enduring legacies of historical slave systems.


Affective factors such as anxiety, personality, self-confidence, motivation play influential role in learner's language achievement and proficiency (Chen, 2015). The purpose of this study was to investigate the third-year English majors' listening anxiety state, then further identify whether their listening anxiety vary according to their gender, and finally explore the relationship between their listening anxiety and listening achievement. Participants were 272 (41 male and 231 female) English majors learning English as a foreign language (EFL). Data were collected from a Listening Anxiety Questionnaire (LAQ) and the listening comprehension test from the Test for English Majors-4 (TEM-4). The LAQ was adapted from E.K. Horwitz, M.B. Horwitz, and Cope's (1986) Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS), covering three aspects of anxiety: communication apprehension, test anxiety, and fear of negative evaluation. Descriptive statistical analyses showed that the Chinese EFL university students experienced a moderate level of anxiety (M=2.81). Among the three categories of listening anxiety, students experienced test anxiety most (M=3.02), followed by communication apprehension (M=2.85), and the last was fear of negative evaluation (M=2.80). An independent Samples t-test indicated that female students experienced higher levels in terms of overall listening anxiety (p..01) and three categories of anxiety (p<.05). A Pearson correlation analysis revealed that anxiety and listening achievement were negatively related to each other (r=-.35**, p.01). Finally a multiple regression analysis further revealed that the fear of negative evaluation was a powerful predictor with a Beta value of -.35 in predicting listening achievement, but communication apprehension and test anxiety did not enter the regression model despite their correlation with listening comprehension achievement. It is recommended that educators pay attention to anxiety, and the gender differences should be taken into consideration too.


Phosphorus (P) flux from wetland soil can be a significant factor affecting overall wetland treatment performance. The purpose of our study was to quantify the effects of water level drawdown on P exchange between surface water and organic soil in a constructed wetland. We used 12 fiberglass mesocosms filled with 30 cm of peat soil to quantify nutrient exchange between surface water and organic soil in a wet–dry–wet cycle. Six mesocosms were planted with emergent macrophytes and six mesocosms were maintained free of emergent vegetation. We evaluated four treatments including continuously and intermittently flooded treatments, both with and without emergent macrophytes. Each treatment was replicated three times and every mesocosm was plumbed to monitor flow volumes and water chemistry. Effluent P concentrations were similar for all four treatments prior to first drawdown period. However, upon re-flooding, all intermittently flooded tanks exhibited a three to fourfold increase in surface water P concentration, which lasted for a period of up to ten weeks. The magnitude of nutrient flux to surface water and the time period over which P release took place were season dependent, with longer duration of high nutrient flux during dry-season drawdowns. Results of repeated measures analysis indicated that hydropattern was the dominant factor affecting P-flux to overlying surface water, while presence or absence of emergent vegetation had no significant influence on effluent concentrations. Organic and particulate phosphorus fluxes were substantially higher in treatments lacking emergent macrophytes, subsequent to the dry-season drawdowns. Intermittently flooded treatments with no emergent vegetation generated the most dissolved and particulate phosphorus. Our results indicate that maintaining saturated soil is sufficient to retain stored P, while plants played no significant role in P retention for a ng ra −1 g A E a T o ( w s wetland receiving P-loadi


Women in Africa, both in the traditional setup and in modern society form the cornerstone of the Church and society. They have spearheaded change in traditional and modern society and heralded the Gospel message on the African soil. Based on the formidable roles women played and the influential areas of authority they occupied in the social, economic, political, and religious dimensions of African traditional societies, such as priestesses, diviners, medicine women etc., I attempt to understand the role women play and the place they occupy in the Church and in society today taking the Catholic Church as a case study. The aim of this paper is to seek to understand the roles women play in society, as well as discerning how the roles could be promoted and improved for the betterment of the Church and society. For the discussion to achieve its objective, the following areas will be addressed: explore the place and the significance that traditional African society accorded to women;  investigate the nature of women's involvement in the life of the community as well as the precise roles that traditional society assigned to women; discover the place of women in Christianity and some of the roles the Catholic Church assigns to women members as documented; understand some of the challenges women face as members of the Church and  the roles they play in enhancing the Gospel; and finally attempt to provide some recommendations in response to some of the challenges identified.


The first generation of fully European triple junction solar cells is of 27% class (RWE3G-27%class) with an area of 8cmx4cm minus two cropped corners and an ID2 integral by-pass diode concept in which the adjacent cell is protected. An additional by-pass diode concept for extreme temperature applications is available by using a new structure of external Si diode. It is planned to use this triple junction GaAs cell (RWE3G27%class) for several European satellite projects such as Aeolus, Pleiades, Herschel (one section) and Proba 2. The paper reports the production experience and the output with this 27% class triple cell in the framework of these projects. The second generation is of 28% class (RWE3G28%class), with the same configuration and area. This cell has an improved EOL performance of R(Pmax) (1E15-1MeV electrons/cm 2 ) ≥0.85. Details on qualification testing and first production experience for this cell type will be presented. Finally the current development results for the third generation 29% to 30% class cell with further improved EOL performance of R(Pmax) = 0.88 and monolithic by-pass diode will be reported together with a road map of further potential development using cell structures made from III-V material system.


An umpolung N-alkylation reaction of α-iminonitriles with Grignard reagents affords the corresponding N-alkylated α-aminonitriles in good yields. Subsequent oxidation and cyanation of the N-alkylated products proceeds effectively to give aminomalononitriles in good yields, and the presence of dichlorodimethylsilane as an additive is crucial for obtaining the optimum yield. Furthermore, an electrophilic addition reaction of the intermediate halomagnesium vinylideneamide is shown to give the alkylated and acylated products in good yields.


Abstract The Southern Ocean has been disproportionately affected by climate change and is therefore an ideal place to study the influence of changing environmental conditions on ecosystems. Changes in the demography of predator populations are indicators of broader shifts in food web structure, but long‐term data are required to study these effects. Southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) from Macquarie Island have consistently decreased in population size while all other major populations across the Southern Ocean have recently stabilized or are increasing. Two long‐term mark‐recapture studies (1956–1967 and 1993–2009) have monitored this population, which provides an opportunity to investigate demographic performance over a range of climatic conditions. Using a 9‐state matrix population model, we estimated climate influences on female survival by incorporating two major climatic indices into our model: The Southern Annular Mode (SAM) and the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI). Our best model included a 1 year lagged effect of SAM and an unlagged SOI as covariates. A positive relationship with SAM1 (lagged) related the previous year's SAM with juvenile survival, potentially due to changes in local prey availability surrounding Macquarie Island. The unlagged SOI had a negative effect on both juvenile and adult seals, indicating that sea ice dynamics and access to foraging grounds on the East Antarctic continental shelf could explain the different contributions of ENSO events on the survival of females in this population.


In order to elucidate the relationship between virus neurotropism and neuronal maturity, two experiments were performed. First, mumps virus infectivity was compared among the different developmental stages of hamster brains inoculated with mumps virus by examining the immunohistochemical distribution of mumps virus antigen. Second, brain lesions resulting from mumps virus infection during the period of neuronal migration were histologically and ultrastructurally analyzed. Three groups of Syrian hamsters, Group E12 (fetuses on the 12th day of gestation), and Groups P2 and P30 (2 and 30 days old, respectively), were injected with mumps virus intraplacentally or intracerebrally. In Group P30, mumps virus antigen was observed specifically in ependymal cells and the choroid plexus. In addition to these areas, in Group P2, some neurons in layers II and III of the cerebral cortex also showed virus antigen immunoreactivity. In Group E12, mumps virus antigen accumulated primarily in the neuroepithelial cells within the ventricular zone. Neither specific intranuclear changes related to viral replication nor the formation of complete virions and nucleocapsids was observed. We conclude that mumps virus neurotropism to hamster brains is dependent on the degree of neuronal maturity and that mumps virus can induce an abortive infection and resultant neuronal cell necrosis in the immature developing hamster brain.


In this paper we discuss the potential role capital markets will play in health care restructuring. According to theory, agency costs, asymmetric information and strategic interactions cause the cost of capital for nonprofit entities to slope upward. Freestanding nonprofits are particularly disadvantaged in this regard. We conclude that some organizational forms will be less viable due to problems of capital access. Empirical work examines the capital structure of nonprofit entities. Our results indicate that chain hospitals are able to access more debt, both taxable and tax-exempt, than freestanding hospitals. Capital markets also associate for profit market presence with capital risk. We conclude that freestanding hospitals are at a relative disadvantage is accessing capital markets.


Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA

Despite remarkable therapeutic advances in malignant melanoma, an incomplete understanding of melanoma's extraordinary genetic diversity, complex disease course and ability to resist treatment continues to impede rational, curative clinical intervention. This is particularly true for the understudied "dark matter" of the melanoma genome, i.e. cases that lack mutations in the three most commonly-mutated melanoma genes (BRAF, NRAS, NF1) and that display extensive mutational heterogeneity. Clearly a pressing need exists for transformative approaches to melanoma medicine. We have therefore broadened our traditional focus on melanoma in human patients to include canine melanoma as a model of human disease. Given canine melanoma's clinicopathological resemblance to human non-cutaneous triple-negative subtypes, study of this disease in each species may inform the other. Further, the accelerated clinical course of canine melanoma and flexibility in veterinary clinical trial design may allow for evaluation of novel treatment designs that would not be possible in human cancer trials. Thus, we have undertaken a first-in-dog genomic characterization study of canine melanomas from a cohort of 37 dogs to further explore the landscape of this comparative model. This analysis combines comprehensive genomics (whole genome, whole genome long-insert, RNA sequencing, and array comparative genomic hybridization) in 7 matched canine melanoma/normal tissues with targeted analysis in an additional 27 tumors and 3 cell lines. These canine tumors display striking patterns of mutation and subtype heterogeneity resembling that of their non-cutaneous human counterparts with the majority being BRAF, NRAS, and NF1 wild type and lacking recurrent single nucleotide variants. Despite heterogeneity at the single nucleotide level, shared patterns of structural variation and gene expression exist and these patterns suggest core pathways that may define therapeutic vulnerabilities in these disease subtypes. These data provide the genomic framework for further clinical pursuit of melanoma in the canine model as a paradigm for drug development.

Citation Format: William P. Hendricks, Victoria Zismann, Berry Button, Christophe Legendre, Waibhav Tembe, Holly Yin, Michael Bittner, Donald Berry, Matthew Huentelman, Chand Khanna, Patricia LoRusso, Matthew Breen, Aleksandar Sekulic, Jeffrey Trent. The genomic landscape of canine melanoma reveals broad mutational heterogeneity and recurrent patterns of structural variation. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3417. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3417


This contribution describes a new filtering technique for the reduction of noise in medical X-ray images acquired with very low doses, like fluoroscopy images. In such images, only between 10 and 200 X-ray quanta contribute to each pixel. The resulting Poisson statistic causes a strong deterioration of image quality by quantum noise, which, in the observed images, is signal-dependent and exhibits a lowpass-shaped power spectrum. The central part of our approach is a linear/median hybrid filter, which is well-known for its good detail preservation properties. Noise reduction by this filter, however, depends on the presence or absence of underlying signal slopes, and is limited to a small range of spatial frequencies. Also, like median filters this filter tends to generate streaking artifacts. We show how a combination of linear/median hybrid filtering with a multiscale pyramid avoids these shortcomings, while simultaneously improving noise reduction performance substantially.


Comparison of the antimicrobial properties of textiles with amorphous coatings containing Zn and Si obtained by the sol-gel technology against microorganisms Pseudomonas fluorescens, Saccharomyces cerevisae, Trichoderma viride that can cause cotton textile destruction was made. Modified textile were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. Investigation of antimicrobial properties of the cotton fabric samples treated with different zinc acetate dihydrate concentration sols and various thermal post-treatments was made. Strong inhibition of microbial growth was detected for all cotton textile samples treated via sol-gel method according all tests microorganisms.


Background Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is classically dichotomized in limited or diffuse cutaneous subsets associated with different prognosis. However, it appears that SSc is a highly heterogeneous disease, with probably more subtle clinical phenotypes. Objectives The primary objective of our study was to identify and characterize homogeneous phenotypes in the EUSTAR SSc population using a cluster analysis. The secondary objective is to assess the survival in the different clusters. Methods The participants were SSc patients of the EUSTAR prospective cohort. Inclusion criteria were: age ≥18 years, fulfilled American College of Rheumatology criteria for SSc, and had a calculable follow up. Hierarchical clustering based on the Ward method was performed using 25 clinically meaningful variables. The clinical relevance of the clusters was analysed by their characteristics and survival outcomes. Survival curves were plotted by the Kaplan-Meier method. Crud and adjusted (on the age at diagnosis and gender) Cox models were performed. Results A total of 6.927 patients were analyzed. Cluster analysis identified 5 clusters (Table 1). The first cluster C1 (n=1,963) was mainly characterized by a low Rodnan skin score contrasting with a relatively similar percentage of anti topoisomerase 1 and anti-centromere Ab (28% and 40%) and a high percentage of lung fibrosis (48%); the second cluster C2 (n=1,186) by a large majority of limited SSc (89%) and anti-centromere (79%) and the lowest percentage of lung fibrosis (22%); the third cluster C3 (n=1,249) and the fourth cluster C4 (n=856) by a high percentage of diffuse SSc/anti topoisomerase 1 (72%/50% and 92%/77% respectively) and the highest proportion of male patients. Digital ulcers, renal crisis/anti RNA polymerase III antibodies, joint involvement were more frequently found in C4 than in the other clusters. Patients in the cluster C5 (n=1,673) were mainly female patients, older than in the other clusters, had a rather low mean Rodnan skin score, a high percentage of anti-topoisomerase 1 antibodies (46%) and a high percentage of lung fibrosis. Concerning survival, C2 had the best survival and C4 the worst. When compared to C1, C2 to C5 clusters had a significantly different prognosis (C2: adjusted hazard ratio [95% CI]: 0.70 [0.51-0.96]; C3: 2.27 [1.76-2.94]; C4: 4.52 [3.57-5.72]; and C5: 1.94 [1.51-2.44]. Conclusions This cluster analysis on the largest ever worldwide database of SSc patients showed 5 different clusters characterized by different sex ratio, maximum Rodnan skin scores, autoantibodies status, joint and organ involvement as well as by a different prognosis. Autoantibodies status seemed to play an important role for association with organ involvement. Although systemic sclerosis is a heterogeneous disease, this study shows that homogeneous groups beyond the classical limited/diffuse dichotomy can be delineated in this disease. Disclosure of Interest None declared


In this paper, I hypothesize that the Common Core State Standards Initiative's lack of creative arts training in the English Language Arts could cripple America's future in the coming world economy. Ironically, the CCSSI claims to prepare learners for college and careers; but, does not consider architects, engineers, military professionals, urban planners, and anyone who thinks visually. Moreover, this limited emphasis placed on the arts is putting the craft into survival mode in many public schools; the only hope for funding (for liberal arts) comes from private resources, a tactic that has helped save art programs in other school districts like in Los Angeles (Public Schools Slash Arts Education and Turn to Private Funding., n.d.). Theoretically, if society only knew how art education is so directly tied to literacy development, perhaps there would be a push to add detailed visual literacy requirements to the CCSSI and potentially save the arts from eminent demise. Correspondingly, in this paper, I want to advocate the view that we are culturally moving towards a modified language that is digital, visual, and written, thereby providing relevance for training globally -ready, multi-literate learners through the vehicle of art education.


In recent years, the concept of social networking combined with the Internet of Vehicles has brought to the definition of the Social IoV (SIoV) paradigm, i.e., a social network where every vehicle is capable of establishing social relationships in an autonomous way with other vehicles or road infrastructure equipment. In SIoV, social networking is applied to vehicular networks according to how social ties are built upon, i.e., either among vehicles or humans. This creates a twofold nature of SIoV i.e., both based on human social relationships, and as an instance of the Social Internet of Things (SIoT). This twofold nature of SIoV is not in contrast with itself, but allows to distinguish different applications and use-cases.
 This paper analyzes the SIoT-based social relations in a vehicular network scenario for establishing a Social Internet of Vehicles and providing insights on this growing research area.


The aim of the work presented in this paper is to explore the concept of Circumscribed Contour (CC) and the development of a methodology for its obtention. These contours correspond to significant borders between the perceptive regions of the scene. The extraction of the CC is based on the obtention of a contours image generated from the integration of the contours obtained from the Hue, Intensity and Saturation components of the scene, and their further processing. The image of Circumscribed Contours can consti~i~~~~ 1: la original I ~ ~ ~ ~ . l b circumscribed contute a significant step towards image segmentation, t o u ~ s ( ~ ~ ) providing a simplified scene representation.


Discovered in Congo in 1898, Coffea canefora var. robusta accounts for 25 to 40% of the coffee grown in the world. Most genetic diversity of robusta coffee accessions conserved in ex situ collections has been estimated from morphological characteristics. There are limited studies on genetic variability and diversity in C. robusta. Inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to assess the level of genetic variability among robusta coffee accessions from the founder gene pool in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The present study clearly established the high variability in the Congolese genepool. RAPD primers detected a higher level of polymorphic loci (95%) than ISSR markers (52%). Each accession could be genotyped using RAPD markers and both markers were efficient in revealing the genetic variability. Jaccard's similarity coefficients generated to determine the genetic distances among accessions, revealed that most of the accessions were genetically distant from each other. The accessions tested represent useful genetic materials for breeding for resistance to tracheomycose and other traits in DRC.


The study was conducted to determine the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of AA in egg from hens hyperimmunized with Escherichia coli K88 antigens (EGG) fed to weaned pigs. Spray dried porcine plasma (SDPP) was included for comparison. Eight barrows (Yorkshire-Landrace × Duroc; initial BW of 17 ± 1 kg) were fitted with a T-cannula at the distal ileum and fed 2 diets in a completely randomized design to give 4 replicates per diet. The diets were corn (Zea mays) starch based with either EGG or SDPP as the sole source of protein and were formulated to contain 130 g/kg CP. At the end of the study, a 50 g/kg casein diet was fed to all pigs (n = 8) to quantify endogenous N and AA losses to determine SID. Titanium dioxide (3 g/kg) was included in the diets as an indigestible maker. Each period lasted for 7 d. Pigs were adapted to their respective diets for 5 d followed by 12 h of continuous ileal digesta collection on days 6 and 7. Daily feed allowance was set at 4% BW at the beginning of each period and offered in 2 equal portions at 0800 and 1600 h as a dry mash. Pigs had unlimited access to water via low pressure nipple drinkers. The AID (%) of CP and indispensable AA were lower (P < 0.05) in EGG compared with SDPP. The SID (%) of CP (82 vs. 96) and indispensable AA were lower (P < 0.05) in pigs fed EGG compared with SDPP. In conclusion, the average AID and SID of N and indispensable AA in EGG are lower than in SDPP when fed at high levels.


In this paper a broadband planar dipole superstrate antenna suitable for integration with millimeter wave (MMW) transceiver ICs is presented. The dipole is printed on the bottom of a fused silica substrate with a ground plane below. This enables packaging together with a transceiver IC using flip-chip interconnect technology. A 60 GHz dual dipole array was flip-chip mounted onto a coplanar waveguide (CPW) thru line to evaluate the antenna design together with the flip-chip interconnect. In the following measured antenna return loss and far field radiation pattern will be shown and discussed.


− This paper addresses technical challenges unresolved in the calibration of angular vibration pickups. Primary and/or comparison calibration systems for angular vibration pickups can not be realised without the angular vibration exciter and the precision angular accelerometer suitable for the transfer standard. Recent attempts made to tackle these technical challenges and related achievements are introduced in this paper. Several air-bearing supported angular exciters had been machined and tested to improve their background angular vibration levels and instability conditions due to pressurised air flow characteristics A gross level of 0.01 radian/s-rms has been achieved. A new angular exciter whose rotational shaft the precision ball bearings support was designed and machined. This new model includes very improved performance characteristics, such as the reduction of size and mass, the extended frequency range, the efficiency of generated angular acceleration per unit current, much improvement of background vibration, and very low total harmonic distortion characteristics. Experimental results regarding those improved factors are presented in Section 2. The general features, including angular vibration-related, mechanical and electrical parameters, are summarised The first prototype angular accelerometer made by B&K has been used for the measurement of angular vibration in this work after it had been calibrated in KRISS, Recent measurement results of the sensitivity of the prototype angular accelerometer are presented in Section 3. The results are used to obtain the fitted model-based frequency response curve used for frequency compensation of measurements. Finally, test results, obtained to examine the transverse sensitivity characteristics, are presented. They reveal several technical issues that shall be resolved in the future.


This paper describes the involvement of patients in the Patients' Library at McLean Hospital, and the relationship between them and the librarian in library activities. The publication of a patients' magazine is discussed, with case histories of persons who had taken part in its production. The Patients' Librarian has a personal role in patient therapy, and accounts are given of various activities such as play-reading, poetry-reading, and the discussion of poems by established writers, with therapeutic aims in view. Actual clinical experiences are given.


This study aims to understand the contestation of Islamic legal thought between the scientific tradition of Dayah (Islamic boarding school) and the State Islamic Higher Education Institutions (PTKIN) in responding to global issues. The main data sources in this research are words and actions, the rest are additional data such as documents. Methods of data collection included interviews, observation, and documentation. All data obtained were analyzed by data reduction, analysis, and interpretation. Based on the objectives and research methods above, it was found that there were three factors causing the emergence of contestation between the two Islamic educational institutions, namely, (1) the different methodologies and approaches to Islamic law used; (2) the difference in the spirit of fiction between Dayah and PTKIN. Dayah has the spirit of preserving fiqh, while PTKIN's spirit is fiqh renewal; (3) Political background. The contestation between Dayah and PTKIN occurred in two areas, namely the area of worship and non-worship. Based on the references, methods of reasoning, approach, and spirit possessed by these two Islamic educational institutions, it can be understood that the two models of Islamic legal thought have the potential to be integrated. Such integration may include; integration of foundations, sources, methods, approaches, and reasoning models.


UNLABELLED
A previous review from our institution established clinically measured cut-points that defined the late implementation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) correlating to increased mortality in neonatal and pediatric respiratory patients. Using the same methods, this review evaluates pediatric and neonatal cardiac and congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) patients to determine if the same cut-points exist in this higher risk patient population. Neonatal and pediatric cardiac and CDH patients placed on ECMO between November 1989 and December 2008 were retrospectively reviewed to determine the first adjusted anion gap (AGc), the first venoarterial carbon dioxide (CO2) gradient (p[v-a]CO2), and the first Viability Index (AGc + p[v-a]CO2 = INDEX) on ECMO. These markers were then analyzed to identify the presence of specific cut-points that marked an increased risk of mortality. The timing of surgery was also reviewed to assess the surgical morbidity on survival. The review of neonatal and pediatric cardiac and CDH patients (n = 205) with an overall survival of 46% showed that all three markers were elevated to varying degrees in the expired patients (n = 110). Histograms identified the following specific cut-points for increased mortality: the AGc > or = 23 mEq/L, the p[v-a]CO2 _ 16 mmHg, and the INDEX > or = 28. An elevated AGc and INDEX correlated with a significantly higher risk for mortality (p < .05), survival to discharge being 20% or less. Patients under the cut-points had survival rates of 51% or higher. The timing of surgery (before or after ECMO initiation) did not significantly impact survival in the combined cardiac and CDH group. An INDEX > or = 28 correlates with non-survival. We speculate that the late implementation of ECMO may lead to reperfusion injury, which causes reduced survival, and that ECMO intervention prior to reaching the cut-points may improve survival in neonatal and pediatric cardiac and CDH patients.

KEYWORDS
cardiac, congenital, diaphragmatic, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, neonate, pediatric.


Some remarks and ideas for stabilizing Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy models are presented. The main contribution proposes to transform a nonlinear model into a regular form in order to reduce the stability conditions arising when using a classical parallel distributed compensation control law. This can be applied to state feedback control laws. Finally, two examples prove the efficiency of the proposed method.


As the COVID-19 pandemic sweeps into South Africa, the decades the country has spent fighting the world's worst combined epidemic of tuberculosis (TB) and HIV could give it an advantage But those infections could also worsen the pandemic's impact By 6 April, South Africa had 1686 confirmed COVID-19 infections, the highest number on the continent—and that is almost certainly an undercount At the same time, one in every five people aged 15 to 49 is HIV positive and two to three people die every hour from TB South African scientists hope the resources and health networks built to fight those diseases will help them battle the new pandemic "The COVID-19 response draws on the same skills as TB and HIV," says Gavin Churchyard, director of the Aurum Institute, a Johannesburg-based research and health care nonprofit


BACKGROUND
Malaria, anemia, and malnutrition contribute substantially to childhood morbidity in sub-Saharan Africa, but their respective roles and interactions in conferring disease are complex. We aimed to investigate these interactions.

METHODS
In 2002, we assessed plasmodial infection, anemia, and nutritional indices in 2 representative surveys comprising >4000 children in northern Ghana.

RESULTS
Infection with Plasmodium species was observed in 82% and 75% of children in the rainy and dry season, respectively. The fraction of fever attributable to malaria was 77% in the rainy season and 48% in the dry season and peaked in children of rural residence. Anemia (hemoglobin level, <11 g/dL) was seen in 64% of children and was, in multivariate analysis, associated with young age, season, residence, parasitemia, P. malariae coinfection, and malnutrition (odds ratio [OR], 1.68 [95% confidence interval [CI], 1.38-2.04]). In addition, malnutrition was independently associated with fever (axillary temperature, > or = 37.5 degrees C; OR, 1.59 [95% CI, 1.13-2.23]) and clinical malaria (OR, 1.67 [95% CI, 1.10-2.50]).

CONCLUSIONS
Malnutrition is a fundamental factor contributing to malaria-associated morbidity and anemia, even if the latter exhibits multifactorial patterns. Our data demonstrate that malaria-control programs alone may not have the desired impact on childhood morbidity on a large scale without concomitant nutrition programs.


We present a method to map the full equilibrium distribution of the primitive-path (PP) length, obtained from multi-chain simulations of polymer melts, onto a single-chain mean-field 'target' model. Most previous works used the Doi–Edwards tube model as a target. However, the average number of monomers per PP segment, obtained from multi-chain PP networks, has consistently shown a discrepancy of a factor of two with respect to tube-model estimates. Part of the problem is that the tube model neglects fluctuations in the lengths of PP segments, the number of entanglements per chain and the distribution of monomers among PP segments, while all these fluctuations are observed in multi-chain simulations. Here we use a recently proposed slip-link model, which includes fluctuations in all these variables as well as in the spatial positions of the entanglements. This turns out to be essential to obtain qualitative and quantitative agreement with the equilibrium PP-length distribution obtained from multi-chain simulations. By fitting this distribution, we are able to determine two of the three parameters of the model, which govern its equilibrium properties. This mapping is executed for four different linear polymers and for different molecular weights. The two parameters are found to depend on chemistry, but not on molecular weight. The model predicts a constant plateau modulus minus a correction inversely proportional to molecular weight. The value for well-entangled chains, with the parameters determined ab initio, lies in the range of experimental data for the materials investigated.


Solar Chimney Power Plants (SCPP) – also known as Solar Updraft Power Plants – consists in a structure composed by a glass collector, placed in a few meters from the ground, with a chimney in its center, in order to promote a pressure differential and consequently a heated air flow. On the bottom of the chimney, a turbine convert the kinetic energy from the heated airflow in electric power. Many mathematical and numerical methods for predict the performance of this kind of renewable energy plant have been conducted, but always with a divergence among them. The main objective of this work is to compare the mathematical methods of evaluation the overall performance, as well to propose a more accurate mathematical method, comparing all results with Manzanares Plant and other methods in the literature. Two approaches were studied and then modified: one based on continuity and momentum equation and the other based on the sum of all pressure drops along the system. The main reasons of the difference between the models analyzed are highlighted. The results shows that one of the proposed methods leads to a divergence of only 1.3% when compared to Manzanares pilot plant, i.e., with an excellent agreement with experimental data.


AbstractThe level 2 aerosol backscatter and extinction profiles from the NASA Micropulse Lidar Network (MPLNET) at Kanpur, India, have been studied from May 2009 to September 2010. Monthly averaged extinction profiles from MPLNET shows high extinction values near the surface during October–March. Higher extinction values at altitudes of 2–4 km are observed from April to June, a period marked by frequent dust episodes. Version 3 level 2 Cloud–Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) aerosol profile products have been compared with corresponding data from MPLNET over Kanpur for the above-mentioned period. Out of the available backscatter profiles, the16 profiles used in this study have time differences less than 3 h and distances less than 130 km. Among these profiles, four cases show good comparison above 400 m with R2 greater than 0.7. Comparison with AERONET data shows that the aerosol type is properly identified by the CALIOP algorithm. Cloud contamination is a possible source of error in the...


BACKGROUND: The use of robotic technology for neurorehabilitative applications has become increasingly important for adults and children with different motor impairments. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the technical feasibility and usability of a new interactive leg-press training robot that was developed to train leg muscle strength and control, suitable for children with neuromuscular impairments. METHODS: An interactive robotic training system was designed and constructed with various control strategies, actuators and force/position sensors to enable the performance of different training modes (passive, active resistance, and exergames). Five paediatric patients, aged between 7 and 16 years (one girl, age 13.0 ± 3.7 years, [mean ± SD]), with different neuromuscular impairments were recruited to participate in this study. Patients evaluated the device based on a user satisfaction questionnaire and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores, and therapists evaluated the device with the modified System Usability Scale (SUS). RESULTS: One patient could not perform the training session because of his small knee range of motion. Visual Analog Scale scores were given by the 4 patients who performed the training sessions. All the patients adjudged the training with the interactive device as satisfactory. The average SUS score given by the therapists was 61.2 ± 18.4. CONCLUSION: This study proposed an interactive lower limb training device for children with different neuromuscular impairments. The device is deemed feasible for paediatric rehabilitation applications, both in terms of technical feasibility and usability acceptance. Both patients and therapists provided positive feedback regarding the training with the device.


The heat transfer characteristics of a rotating pin-fin roughened wedge shaped channel have been studied. The model incorporates ejection through slots machined on the narrower end of the wedge, simulating a rotor blade trailing edge. The copperplate regional average method is used to determine the heat transfer coefficient; pressure taps have been used to estimate the flow discharged through each slot. Tests have been conducted at high rotation (≈ 1 ) and buoyancy (≈ 2) numbers, in a pressurized rotating rig. Reynolds Numbers investigated range from 10,000 to 40,000 and rotational speeds range from 0–400rpm. Pin-fins studied are made of copper as well as non-conducting garolite. Results show high heat transfer coefficients in the proximity of the slot. A significant enhancement in heat transfer due to the pin-fins, compared with a smooth channel is observed. Even the non-conducting pin-fins, indicative of heat transfer on the end-wall show a significant enhancement in the heat transfer coefficient. Results also show a strong rotation effect, increasing significantly the heat transfer coefficient on the trailing surface — and reducing the heat transfer on the leading surface.Copyright © 2010 by ASME


FOR THE WORLD DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008 Agricultural Advisory Services Jock R. Anderson The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this paper are entirely those of the authors. They do not necessarily represent the views of the World Development Report 2008 Team, the World Bank and its affiliated organizations, or those of the Executive Directors of the World Bank or the governments they represent. 41354 P ub lic D is cl os ur e A ut ho riz ed


The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of Cyperus squarrosus plant extracts in streptozotocin-induced diabetic neuropathy. Diabetes was induced by a single administration of streptozotocin (65 mg/kg/intraperitoneally). After 72 hours to measure the fasting blood glucose levels, blood glucose levels more than 220 mg/dl, consider diabetic rats. Animals were divided into six groups, animals untreated with STZ were kept in a normal control group. STZ-induced diabetic rats orally administered with ethanolic and aqueous plant extracts (EECS & AECS) dose 200 & 400 mg/kg, p.o. for eight weeks, Rats were subjected to evaluate serum glucose, biochemical parameters, and test were performed on the initial day, 2n, 4th 6th and 8th week in all groups to evaluate the neuropathy by Eddy's hot plate and tail immersion test respectively. Diabetic animals were treated with Glibenclamide (5 mg/kg) and plant extracts (200 & 400 mg/kg )for 8 weeks. Groups treated with Glibenclamide (5 mg/kg) and Cyperus squarrosus extracts (200 and 400 mg/kg) significantly reduced elevated serum glucose level & lipid profiles and restored the reduced body weight. After completion of work, we observe the changes in fasting serum glucose, triglysaroids LDL, cholesterol levels are significantly reduced in animals treated with aqueous extract 400mg/kg. Other side animals treated with extracts decrease in the severity of diabetic neuropathy compare with untreated diabetic rats. Finally concluded that Cyperus squarrosus plant exhibit anti-diabetic property and beneficial protection against neuropathy in STZ induced diabetic rats.


Purpose To evaluate the superficial vascular density of the optic nerve head in different stages of pseudoexfoliation disease using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Methods In this cross-sectional study, 57 normal eyes, 41 eyes with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PXS), 82 eyes with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PXG) and 27 non-glaucomatous fellow eyes of PXG (NL-PXG) that had OCTA were included. Circumpapillary RNFL (cpRNFL) thickness and circumpapillary capillary density (cpCD) were compared among the groups after adjusting for confounders using linear-mixed model. Results PXG eyes had thinner global RNFL and lower cpCD (74.2±14.3 µm and 36.7±10.0%) than control (103.3±8.6 µm and 52.5±2.3%), PXS (96.8±8.8 µm and 51.5±2.3%), and NL-PXG eyes (96.3±11.1 µm and 50.1±3.9%) (p<0.001). After adjustment for age, gender and signal strength index, global cpRNFL thickness was comparable among control, PXS and NL-PXG. NL-PXG had the lowest cpCD (p=0.045) and sectoral cpCD compared to PXS and control eyes. Although cpCD was comparable between control and PXS (p=0.425) eyes, sectoral differences (p=0.009 and 0.004, for inferonasal and temporal-inferior cpCD, respectively) were detectable between the two groups. AUROC for differentiating NL-PXG eyes from normal were better for cpCD (0.78) compared to cpRNLF (0.69). Conclusions OCTA can detect reduced capillary density before significant changes in cpRNFL in fellow eyes of PXG patients. This can enable earlier detection of glaucomatous loss in pseudoexfoliation disease and enhance management of the disease.


The full electric arc discharge in gases for short gaps in homogeneous electric field and pressure·distance (pd) below 150 Torr·cm, can be described as a transition between different discharge mechanisms such as: Townsend, glow, and arc. Once the arc is achieved the measured voltage drops to some volts and the current density increases several orders of magnitude. Depending upon the type of gas used, the electrode surface characteristics and type of electrical excitation, the cathode and anode voltage fall might change. The present work is directed to study the electrode fall (sum of anode and cathode falls) during a current impulse arc discharge between copper electrodes in ceramic tubes filled with argon between 0.01 and 6.5 Torr·cm. The copper electrodes were cleaned, degassed and hydrogen reduced. The arc voltages were measured with fast/slow rise times and short/long duration current impulses produced by a RLC circuit. An increasing variation of the electrode fall was found at the pressure·distance range analyzed.


Bone marrow examination plays an important role in the diagnosis of multiple myeloma. In some cases with multiple myeloma, marrow plasma cells with cytoplasmic inclusions are seen. In this study, a 46-year- old man was evaluated for multiple myeloma. In bone marrow aspiration, large intracytoplasmic azurophilic granules, resembling intracellular microorganisms were seen. IHC study demonstrated that these cells are CD138 positive. This is a rare histologic finding that usually results from the deposition of excess immunoglobulin.


Here is presented a data processing method for current sensor output signal analysis based on frequency harmonics content. Hall Effect sensors measurement setup is used for data acquisition. Measured data have been processed by fast Fourier transformation algorithm in order to decompose frequency content of sensor output signal. Harmonic spectrum could be used for sensor accuracy enhancement where magnetic core saturation is distinguished by real frequency content of primary current.


PREMISE OF THE STUDY
Microsatellite primers were developed in the functionally dioecious Ficus pumila L. to provide polymorphic markers for further population genetic studies and parentage analysis.

METHODS AND RESULTS
Eleven polymorphic microsatellite loci were developed in F. pumila. These loci were successfully amplified in four F. pumila populations from eastern China (Fodu, Xiangshan, Xianju, and Hexi). These loci had 3-11 alleles across all 80 F. pumila individuals. At the population level, the number of alleles per locus varied from 1 to 8, and the observed (H(O)) and expected (H(E)) heterozygosities ranged from 0.000 to 0.900 and from 0.000 to 0.830, respectively. Linkage disequilibrium between loci FP213 and FP435 was found in three of the four tested populations.

CONCLUSIONS
These loci showed high levels of polymorphism, indicating the utility of these primers in population genetic studies as well as parentage analysis of F. pumila.


ALFRED T A R S K I . On the calculus of relations. The journal of symbolic logic, vol. 6 (1941), pp. 73-89. In this paper the author gives two methods of setting up the foundations of the calculus of (binary) relations, one making use of a restricted functional calculus similar to tha t of Hilbert and Ackermann, the other using only the prepositional (sentential) calculus. He then formulates and discusses the present state of several metalogical questions which arise in connection with the two theories thus obtained. In the first method, the undefined symbols specific to a restricted functional calculus are supplemented by (1) a special class of variables called "relation variables," (2) a set of four "relation constants ," and (3) a set of six operation signs, the last two groups of symbols being equally divided between those symbols used in any Boolean algebra and those symbols specific to the calculus of (binary) relations. The notion of propositional (sentential) function is now extended to include certain expressions in which these additional undefined symbols occur. A set of twelve such expressions is then added to the axioms of the original theory as new axioms, and (with a slight modification of the substitution rule) an elementary theory of (binary) relations thus obtained. To obtain the calculus of relations, i t is only necessary to confine one's at tention to those propositions and theorems which contain no individual variables. A list of fifteen such theorems are stated without proof, but the author indicates how their meanings can be made intuitively apparent by means of the well-known geometric representation of relations by point sets of the Cartesian plane (classes of ordered pairs of individuals). If one is interested only in the calculus but not the theory of relations, the above method is considerably more bulky than is necessary or desirable. The second method eliminates this difficulty by deleting the individual variables and quantifiers from the original theory; then, with a new definition of what constitutes a meaningful proposition, certain propositions can be singled out as the axioms of the new theory. These axioms fall naturally into two classes, the first class comprising any set of axioms for the propositional calculus, and the second class consisting of the set of fifteen theorems obtained above. The formal proofs of theorems of the calculus of relations are then obtainable using only the rules of inference of the propositional calculus, and gain considerably both in brevity and in elegance. The author sketches the proofs of a number of such theorems, most of them known results. The first metalogical problem to arise concerns the equivalence of the two methods of constructing the calculus of relations. More precisely, are all the theorems of the calculus which are obtainable with the machinery of the first method also obtainable with the machinery of the second method? (The converse is obvious.) This problem remains open, bu t could be resolved affirmatively by an affirmative solution of the general representation problem, not yet solved for non-atomistic algebras of relations, although the analogous problem for Boolean algebras has been solved affirmatively. A similar problem concerns the relationship between the elementary theory of relations and the calculus of relations. Can every proposition of the theory which is concerned only with properties of relations be transformed into an equivalent proposition of the calculus of relations? The author states that he has resolved this question negatively, even under quite general assumptions. Since there are propositions in the theory of relations, concerned only with properties of relations, which cannot be transformed into equivalent propositions of the calculus of relations, is there any means of determining in every particular case whether such a transformation is possible? This is a new decision problem, as yet unsolved. The usual decision problem for the elementary theory of relations can be resolved negatively, using the wellknown result for the restricted functional calculus. The paper as a whole is a nice blending of original contributions to, and an expository account of, the calculus of binary relations. W. D . D U T H I E


In this paper, we present a method to project co-authorship networks, that accounts in detail for the geometrical structure of scientists' collaborations. By restricting the scope to three-body interactions, we focus on the number of triangles in the system, and show the importance of multi-scientist (more than two) collaborations in the social network. This motivates the introduction of generalized networks, where basic connections are not binary, but involve arbitrary number of components. We focus on the three-body case and study numerically the percolation transition.


Molecular docking is a study of receptor of protein fit together. The problem is like solving a 3 dimensional puzzle. For example, the action of a harmful protein in human body may be prohibited by finding an inhibitor, which binds to that particular protein. Molecular modeling encompasses all theoretical methods and computational techniques used to model or mimic the behaviour of molecules. Molecular docking software's are mainly used in drug development. The most important application of docking software is virtual screening. In virtual screening the most interesting and promising molecules are selected from an existing database for further research. This review has basic Information about molecular modeling, molecular docking, basic concepts of docking, docking approaches, and mechanics of docking, docking software's for further development in this field. Keywords Molecular docking, Molecular modelling, Virtual screening, Ligand, Computational chemistry.