A new method for detection of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) has been developed. It employees IAsys optical biosensor registration kinetics of HBsAg complexes with monoclonal antibodies. Detection of intermolecular interactions is accompanied by changes of the light refraction coefficient in the sensitive layer of the biosensor cuvette. The main advantage of this diagnostic technique consists in rapid registration of these interactions in real time, without any introduction of special labels into analysing molecules. The optical biosensor method was successfully employed for the detection of HBsAg in human blood serum. A comparative study of HBsAg detection by the optical biosensor and by immunoenzyme analysis demonstrated high specificity of HBsAg detection by this new method.


In the present work we study pattern formation in a bi-soft segment urethane/urea elastomer. The material under study is a film prepared from a polypropylene oxide based isocyanate terminated triol prepolymer (PU) and polybutadiene diol (PBDO) with 60% by weight of PBDO. Small angle light scattering (SALS) patterns were recorded as a function of elongation for different rates of extension. It was found that the process of band and stripe formation is dependent upon the sample elongation and rate of extension with a strong increase of band and stripe amplitude with increasing elongation. The SALS data also reveals that the bands' periodicity is independent of the rate of extension within the range studied.


Results from two-ship seismic refraction profiles and supplementary data from several sonobuoys show that typical oceanic crust underlies both the landward and seaward sides of the North Brazilian Ridge. The Ceara Rise is also an oceanic structure, probably formed by local tectonic activity. Sediments of the upper Amazon Cone are more than 11 km thick, but they thin both landward and seaward. Owing to the great sedimentary thickness, refraction arrival times from oceanic basement could not be identified, but basement is assumed to extend under the cone.


The subject of study in this article is modern technologies, tools and methods of building AI systems as a service using FPGA as a platform. The goal is to analyze modern technologies and tools used to develop FPGA-based projects for systems that implement artificial intelligence as a service and to prepare a practical AI service prototype. Task: to analyze the evolution of changes in the products of leading manufacturers of programmable logic devices and experimental and practical examples of the implementation of the paradigm of continuous reprogramming of programmable logic; analyze the dynamics of changes in the development environment of programmable logic systems for AI; analyze the essential elements of building projects for AI systems using programmable logic. According to the tasks, the following results were obtained. The area of application of hardware implementation of artificial intelligence for on-board and embedded systems including airspace industry, smart cars and medical systems is analyzed. The process of programming FPGA accelerators for AI projects is analyzed. The analysis of the capabilities of FPGA with HBM for building projects that require enough of high speed memory is performed. Description languages, frameworks, the hierarchy of tools for building of hardware accelerators for AI projects are analyzed in detail. The stages of prototyping of AI projects using new FPGA development tools and basic DPU blocks are analyzed. The parameters of the DPU blocks were analyzed. Practical steps for building such systems are offered. The practical recommendations for optimizing the neural network for FPGA implementation are given. The stages of neural network optimization are provided. The proposed steps include pruning of branches with low priority and the use of fixed point computations with custom range based on the requirements of an exact neural network. Based on these solutions, a practical case of AI service was prepared, trained and tested. Conclusions. The main contribution of this study is that, based on the proposed ideas and solutions, the next steps to create heterogeneous systems based on the combination of three elements are clear: AI as a service, FPGA accelerators as a technology for improving performance, reliability and security, and cloud or Edge resources to create FPGA infrastructure and AI as service. The development of this methodological and technological basis is the direction of further R&D.


Phylogeography is concerned with the observation, description and analysis of the spatial distribution of genotypes and the inference of historical scenarios. In the past, the discipline has concentrated on the historical 'phylo‐' component through the utilization of phylogenetic analyses. In contrast, the spatial '‐geographic' component is not a prominent feature of many existing phylogenetic approaches and has often been dealt with in a relatively naive fashion. Recently, there has been a resurgence of interest in the importance of geography in evolutionary biology. Thus, we believe that it is time to assess how geographic information is currently handled and incorporated into phylogeographical analysis. Geographical information systems (GISs) are computer systems that facilitate the integration and interrelation of different geographically referenced data sets; however, so far they have been little utilized by the phylogeographical community to manage, analyse and disseminate phylogeographical data. However, the growth in individual studies and the resurgence of interest in the geographical components of genetic pattern and biodiversity should stimulate further uptake. Some advantages of GIS are the integration of disparate data sets via georeferencing, dynamic data base design and update, visualization tools and data mining. An important step in linking GIS to existing phylogeographical and historical biogeographical analysis software and the dissemination of spatial phylogenies will be the establishment of 'GeoPhylo' data standards. We hope that this paper will further stimulate the resurgence of geography as an equal partner in the symbiosis that is phylogeography as well as advertise some benefits that can be obtained from the application of GIS practices and technologies.


Salivary gland aquaporins (AQPs) are essential for the control of saliva production and maintenance of glandular structure. However, little is known of their role in salivary gland neoplasia. Salivary gland tumors comprise a heterogeneous group of lesions, featuring variable histological characteristics and diverse clinical behaviors. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is the most common salivary gland malignancy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of AQP1, AQP3, and AQP5 in 24 MEC samples by immunohistochemistry. AQP1 expression was observed in vascular endothelium throughout the tumor stroma. AQP3 was expressed in epidermoid and mucosal cells and AQP5 was expressed in mucosal cells of MEC. These proteins were expressed in the human MEC cell line UH-HMC-3A. Cellular ultrastructural aspects were analyzed by electron microscopy to certificate the tumor cell phenotype. In summary, our results show that, despite the fact that these molecules are important for salivary gland physiology, they may not play a distinct role in tumorigenesis in MEC. Additionally, the in vitro model may offer new possibilities to further investigate mechanisms of these molecules in tumor biology and their real significance in prognosis and possible target therapies.


A signed graph is a pair $(G, \sigma)$, where $G$ is a graph (loops and multi edges allowed) and $\sigma: E(G) \to \{+, -\}$ is a signature which assigns to each edge of $G$ a sign. Various notions of coloring of signed graphs have been studied. In this paper, we extend circular coloring of graphs to signed graphs. Given a signed graph $(G, \sigma)$ with no positive loop, a circular $r$-coloring of $(G, \sigma)$ is an assignment $\psi$ of points of a circle of circumference $r$ to the vertices of $G$ such that for every edge $e=uv$ of $G$, if $\sigma(e)=+$, then $\psi(u)$ and $\psi(v)$ have distance at least $1$, and if $\sigma(e)=-$, then $\psi(v)$ and the antipodal of $\psi(u)$ have distance at least $1$. The circular chromatic number $\chi_c(G, \sigma)$ of a signed graph $(G, \sigma)$ is the infimum of those $r$ for which $(G, \sigma)$ admits a circular $r$-coloring. For a graph $G$, we define the signed circular chromatic number of $G$ to be $\max\{\chi_c(G, \sigma): \sigma \text{ is a signature of $G$}\}$.
We study basic properties of circular coloring of signed graphs and develop tools for calculating $\chi_c(G, \sigma)$. We explore the relation between the circular chromatic number and the signed circular chromatic number of graphs, and present bounds for the signed circular chromatic number of some families of graphs. In particular,  we determine the supremum of the signed circular chromatic number of $k$-chromatic graphs of large girth, of simple bipartite planar graphs, $d$-degenerate graphs, simple outerplanar graphs and series-parallel graphs. We construct a signed planar simple graph whose circular chromatic number is $4+\frac{2}{3}$. This is based and improves on a signed graph built by Kardos and Narboni as a counterexample to a conjecture of Máčajová, Raspaud, and Škoviera.


Image processing systems have been increasingly utilised within the paper recycling industry to determine the ink particle content of a wastepaper pulp sample. The information obtained can be used to determine the removal efficiency of a process and to set process variables. The majority of measurements are performed off-line, but a high speed on-line system could provide data for an automatic adaptive control system. This could be utilised to improve the removal efficiency of individual processes via parameter adjustment, or to reduce costs by the control of chemical additions to match the ink levels present. The system could also provide an early warning of potential failures in the process or dramatic changes in the wastepaper input.


New U-Pb age determinations and field observations combined with published field relations refine the late Taconian and pre-Acadian history of the New England Appalachians of southwestern Connecticut. Foliation within the Camerons Line shear zone was developed after 514 ± 11 Ma but prior to 445 ± 1.5 Ma. This structure probably experienced renewed movement in the Early Silurian (437 ± 2 Ma), as suggested by new xenotime growth in protomylonite. Metasedimentary and metavolcanic rocks east of Camerons Line were deposited, were isoclinally folded, and reached temperatures in excess of about 550 °C before emplacement of small dioritic plutons of the 453 ± 3 Ma Brookfield plutonic series. Igneous titanites in Brookfield plutons cooled below U and Pb diffusion (e.g., 525 ± 25 °C) in the latest Ordovician to earliest Silurian and were not reset in the Acadian. The Newtown gneiss is a composite magmatic complex composed of quartz diorite (446 ± 2 Ma), granodiorite (436 ± 2 Ma), and granite (438 ± 2 Ma). Low 207 Pb/ 204 Pb feldspar isotopic compositions and 1150 Ma zircon inheritance in the Newtown gneiss and Brookfield plutonic series are consistent with interaction with Grenvillian crust or crustally derived material. We propose that the Newtown and Harrison gneisses, and possibly the Brookfield plutonic series, make up the plutonic roots of a Late Ordovician to Early Silurian (454–438 Ma) magmatic arc complex generated during subduction along the eastern North American continental margin. Magmatic activity was coeval with that in the Bronson Hill anticlinorium to the east (ca. 454–442 Ma).


Women with influenza at delivery hospitalization are at higher risk of severe maternal morbidity, and this risk has increased over time across the United States. OBJECTIVE: To characterize trends of an influenza diagnosis at delivery hospitalization and its association with severe maternal morbidity. METHODS: We conducted a repeated cross-sectional analysis of delivery hospitalizations using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2000 to 2018. We assessed the association between an influenza diagnosis at delivery hospitalization and severe maternal morbidity excluding transfusion per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria. Secondary outcomes included maternal death and morbidity measures associated with influenza (mechanical intubation and ventilation, sepsis and shock, and acute respiratory distress syndrome [ARDS]) and obstetric complications (preterm birth and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy). We assessed trends of severe maternal morbidity by annual influenza season and the association between influenza and severe maternal morbidity using multivariable log-linear regression, adjusting for demographic, clinical, and hospital characteristics. RESULTS: Of 74.7 million delivery hospitalizations, 23 per 10,000 were complicated by an influenza diagnosis. The rate of severe maternal morbidity was higher with an influenza diagnosis compared with those without influenza (86–410 cases vs 53–70 cases/10,000 delivery hospitalizations). Women with an influenza diagnosis at delivery hospitalization were at an increased risk of severe maternal morbidity compared with those without influenza (2.3 vs 0.7%; adjusted risk ratio 2.24, 95% CI 2.17–2.31). This association held for maternal death, mechanical intubation, sepsis and shock, and ARDS—as well as obstetric complications, including preterm birth and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Pregnant women with influenza are at increased risk of severe maternal morbidity, as well as influenza-related maternal and obstetric complications. These results emphasize the importance of primary prevention and recognition of influenza infection during pregnancy to reduce downstream maternal morbidity and mortality.


"One of the problems of Islamic education today is the issue of dichotomy between "the relegious science" oriented to the hereafter happiness and "the non relegious science" oriented to worldly happiness. In fact, Islam does not distinguish between the two. This problem is directed from the formulation of an inaccurate Islamic education epistemology. Therefore, this paper seeks to unravel the epistemological foundation of Islamic education by discussing the essence of Islamic education, knowledge sources of Islamic education, the methodology of Islamic education and the alternative paradigm of integralism in religious sciences with non-religious sciences. The conclusion of this discussion explains that the essence of Islamic education is the process of adab cultivation, the process of transferring knowledge and the process of purification of the soul. These processes are actually related to the sources of knowledge in Islamic education, namely the five senses, ratios, intuition, and revelation (wahyu). The functions of these sources are complementary or integral. But in reality, the source of intuition, for example, has not yet gotten an adequate portion in Islamic education".


L-Carnitine (LC) plays an important role in the metabolism of fatty acids, and LC deficiency is associated with a feeling of weakness or general fatigue. Cancer patients receiving chemotherapy often develop LC deficiency, which is considered to be a factor contributing to general fatigue. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of LC supplementation as a treatment for general fatigue in cancer patients during chemotherapy. A total of 11 cancer patients who were suffering from general fatigue during chemotherapy in our hospital between September 2014 and December 2015 were examined (6 cases involved adjuvant chemotherapy and 5 cases involved chemotherapy for unresectable or recurrent disease). The patients were administered 1,500 mg/day of levocarnitine per os, and the change in mean daily fatigue from the baseline to 8 weeks was assessed using the Brief Fatigue Inventory. The change in the plasma levels of albumin and the lymphocyte counts from the baseline to 8 weeks were also assessed. LC supplementation reduced general fatigue in all cases. Moreover, LC supplementation maintained the plasma levels of albumin and lymphocyte counts during chemotherapy, and enabled patients to continue chemotherapy sequentially without dose reduction. Therefore, LC supplementation improved general fatigue in all the examined cancer patients during chemotherapy. This treatment may make improve the tolerability of chemotherapy in cancer patients by reducing general fatigue and improving the nutritional status.


Ultrastructural and physiological aspects of cultivar-specific resistance of tomato against Cladosporium fulvum (syn. Fulvia fulva) are subject of this thesis. The ultrastructural study described in the first paper was meant as an introduction to a physiological study of cultivar-specific resistance. Light, fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy revealed no differences between virulent and avirulent races of Cladosporium fulvum with respect to conidial germination and stomatal penetration. In incompatible interactions fungal growth was arrested very soon after stomatal penetration and the fungus became confined to stomata and surrounding cells, which showed callose deposition, cell browning and cell collapse. In addition, extracellular material was deposited on the outer surface of mesophyll cells. In compatible interactions, however, fungal growth was not inhibited and the above- mentioned host reactions did hardly occur. In compatible and incompatible interactions differential changes in soluble leaf proteins were found which might be correlated with cultivar-specific resistance (second paper). A de novo synthezised protein of host origin appeared more rapidly in incompatible than in compatible interactions. After some time this protein also appeared in non-inoculated leaflets opposite the inoculated ones. Although the appearance of the protein was strongly associated with the hypersensitive response in incompatible interactions, its presence, at the concentrations tested, was not correlated with inhibition of Cladosporium fulvum in tomato leaf. In the third paper, a possible mechanism of fungal growth inhibition of Cladosporium fulvum in incompatible interactions is described. Two phytoalexins were found in leaves which accumulated more rapidly in incompatible than in compatible interactions. Fungal growth inhibition in incompatible interactions coincided with accumulation of phytoalexins. However, in fruits neither differential accumulation of these nor of the sesquiterpene rishitin took place. The fourth paper describes the identification of the two above-mentioned phytoalexins of inoculated tomato leaves and fruits and one, which only occurred in tomato fruits, as being falcarindiol, falcarinol and cis -tetradeca-6-ene-1,3diyne-5,8-diol, respectively. Falcarindiol and falcarinol had not been found in Solanaceae before, while cis -tetradeca-6-ene-1,3-diyne-5,8-diol was a completely novel compound. Although the level to which the polyacetylenes accumulated in vivo nearly reached the ED 50 -values of hyphal and mycelial growth in vitro it is difficult to conclude that these phytoalexins can explain fungal growth inhibition in incompatible interactions completely. In the fifth paper, the induction of phytoalexins was studied, mainly of rishitin which can be readily quantified. In culture filtrates of young cultures of Cladosporium fulvum high-molecular weight glycoproteins were found which were inducers of rishitin accumulation. These elicitors contained many glucose and only a few mannose and galactose residues. They appeared not to be host-specific, as they induced also glyceollin and pisatin in soybean cotyledons and pea pods, respectively. In the sixth paper, elicitors occurring in the cell wall of Cladosporium fulvum were compared with those in culture filtrates of varying age. Elicitors present in culture filtrates of young cultures are probably other macromolecules than those in culture filtrates of old cultures. The former contain nearly only glucose, while the latter, in addition to glucose, contain many mannose and galactose residues, which are likely derived from the cell wall. Rishitin-inducing activity always appeared to be positively correlated with the mannose and galactose content of the elicitor. The elicitor from the cell wall is a peptido galactoglucomannan which occurs on the cell surface and is very similar to the peptido phosphogalactorunnan, proteo galactoglucomannan, and galactomannan of Cladosporium werneckii, Piricularia oryzae and Penicillium charlesii, respectively. Presence of terminal mannose and/or galactose residues of the peptido galactoglucomannan is likely a prerequisite for its rishitin and necrosis-inducing activity. Like the culture filtrate elicitor, the cell wall elicitor is neither race, nor cultivar or host-specific. Although the accumulation of phytoalexins in leaves was correlated with the incompatible interaction (third paper), no evidence was obtained for the induction of phytoalexins being race or cultivar-specific. Probably elicitors of phytoalexin accumulation are merely inducers of a general defence reaction (including callose deposition, lignification and cell necrosis). This mans that in the future we should rather look for substances which specifically suppress the resistance response than for those which specifically induce such a reaction.


OBJECTIVE
To identify national and international research and literature focussed on policy responses to elder abuse in rural and remote communities to generate recommendations for Australian responses.

DESIGN
Scoping literature review.

SETTING
Australia (some international policy also included).

PARTICIPANTS
National and international elder abuse policy documents relating to rural and remote responses were reviewed. Seventy-two stakeholders were invited to contribute literature that may have been missed in the scoping review.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)
Identification of the extent to which issues for rural and remote communities were discussed in elder abuse policy.

RESULT
Of the 13 Australian policy documents reviewed, only four made mention of rural and remote communities, though this was generally only in regard to increase in vulnerability. No mention of these communities were identified in reviewed global policy. One document focussing on abuse in rural and remote Indigenous communities highlighted the importance of developing culturally appropriate responses hinged on community collaboration and consultation.

CONCLUSION
Consideration of rural and remote communities in elder abuse policy is generally not meaningful. It is recommended that future policy development includes recognition of the distinct features of elder abuse in rural and remote communities, as well as how these features may impact on prevention and responses in these locations. These features include geographical isolation, lack of access to services and transportation, confidentiality and privacy issues, and the need for culturally sensitive approaches to address elder abuse for Indigenous people which take into account the impact of historical disenfranchisement.


Chile is one of the top carrageenan producers worldwide, and Sarcopeltis (ex Gigartina) skottsbergii one of the topmost exploited carrageenophytes from the wild in the world. Total yield, gel strength and viscosity from two contrasting environments Calbuco and Ancud (Inner and Outer Sea, Chile) were estimated monthly in approximately 2 years for this species. While carrageenan yields did not show differences between localities, gametophytes in spring–summer had 15% higher, compared to tetrasporophytes. Sizes (frond surface) normally did not affect carrageenan yields. Gametophytes showed clear differences in gel strength between seasons, but not between localities, with maximum peaks during winter–spring months in Calbuco and autumn‐winter months in Ancud. Seasonal variations in viscosity were also significant. While gametophyte viscosity did not exceed 120 cPs, tetrasporophytes reached 1400 cPs in Calbuco and 1000 cPs in Ancud. More remarkably, a positive correlation between viscosity and gel strength was found in S. skottsbergii gametophytes, which is significantly different between both localities. These results suggest that selective harvesting in spring–summer should be preferred to optimize cost–benefit of harvesting activities and subsequent carrageenan productivity.


This paper presents a new algorithm for multi-stage decision problems with hard constraints. The algorithm is based upon the concepts of dynamic programming and multi-parametric programming. The multi-stage problem is considered within a framework of dynamic programming where each echelon of problem is formulated and solved as a multi-parametric program. The state-space of a given stage constitutes the parametric space whereas the state-space of the next stage represents the space of control or optimisation variables. The solution of the resulting multi-parametric program is given by the control or the optimization variables as a set of explicit functions of the parameters. The dynamic recursive nature of the multi-stage problem is preserved and a set of sequential and simpler multi-parametric programs which are constrained by a reduced number of inequalities is obtained. This results in a reduction in the complexity of the overall problem. The underlying theory is described in detail and numerical examples are presented to illustrate the potential of this new approach.


Trophy hunting, the selective removal of animals for human recreation, can contribute to conservation when appropriately managed. Yet, little is known about how harvest rates or different definitions of trophy affect age structure and trophy size in harvested animals and in survivors because no controlled studies exist. To investigate the impacts of different management regimes, we developed an individual-based model for bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis), based on empirical data on survival from a protected population and data on horn growth from 2 populations that differed in their growth rates. One population showed slow horn growth and the other population fast horn growth. We subjected these model populations to varying harvest rates and 2 different hunting regulations: 4/5 curl and full-curl definitions of a trophy male. We found that the effect of hunting regulations depends on horn growth rate. In populations with fast horn growth, the effects of trophy hunting on male age structure and horn size were greater and the effect of a change in the definition of legal male smaller than in populations with slow growth rates. High harvest rates led to a younger age structure and smaller horn size. Both effects were weakened by a more restrictive definition of trophy male. As harvest rates increased past 40% of legal males, the number of males harvested increased only marginally because an increasing proportion of the harvested males included those that had just become legal. Although our simulation focused on bighorn sheep, the link between horn growth rate and harvest effects may be applicable for any size-selective harvest regime. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.


Shape coded modulation is a combined modulation and error-control coding technique. The performance of a neural network decoder for shape coded modulation is compared with a decoder based on a complex algorithm. Simulation results over a range of signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs), for rate 1/2 and rate 1/4 shape codes, show that a single neural network decoder trained at a high SNR, provides near optimum results over all SNRs.


The purpose of this study is to provide preliminary information relating to the applicability of Chinese soybean as functional food material. This study compared the manufacturing characteristics, phenolic compounds contents, and antioxidative activities of soymilk prepared with Korean(Jinpumkong) and Chinese Heinong 48) soybean. Antioxidative activities were measured by in vitro models such as 1,1-diphenyl-2-crylhydrazyl DPPH) radical scavenging activity, and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-ulfonic acid ABTS) radical scavenging activity. The physicochemical properties(solid contents, pH, and color) and suspension stability of soymilk were not significantly different between the types of raw soybean. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents of soymilk prepared with Chinese cultivar(20.71±0.34 GAE mg/g dw and 6.31±0.11 QE mg/g dw, respectively) were significantly higher than those of soymilk prepared with Korean cultivar *** p ** p *** p<0.01). The electron donating ability(EDA) of soymilk was significantly increased in a dose dependent manner(p<0.05); the soymilk prepared with Chinese cultivar showed significantly higher EDA on the concentration of 2.5 mg/mL(p<0.01) and 10.0 mg/mL(p<0.05) than that of soymilk prepared with Korean cultivar. The antioxidative activities of soymilk were significantly increased in a dose dependent manner on ABTS radical scavenging(p<0.05), and there was no significant difference between the types of raw soybean. These results suggest that Chinese soybean, which contains plenty of phenolic compounds and has superior antioxidant activity, may have great potential as a raw material for functional beverage preparation.


Use of botanical environmentally friendly and biodegradable insect repellants as opposed to chemical insecticides is increasingly becoming important as an alternative method of insect control. Housefly (Musca domestica L.) has potential of transmitting pathogen causing diseases such as typhoid, cholera, bacillary dysentery, tuberculosis, anthrax, ophthalmia, and parasitic worms. Essential oils derived from aromatic plants have exhibited biological properties and can be used to prevent and treat human diseases. The aim of this study was to formulate the housefly repellent paint and detergent. Extraction of essential oils was by hydro-distillation. Condensed oil extracts were collected in n-hexane and insect behavioral response tested using adult houseflies (Musca domestica L.). N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET) was used as the positive control and acetone as the negative control. The formulated products showed higher repellent activities against the housefly. When 1% (V/V %) insect repellent detergent and paint were compared, the housefly repellent activities occurred at 67±2.64 for detergent and 76±1.34 for the paint. When 3% (V/V%) insect repellent detergent and paint were compared, the housefly repellent activities occurred at 81±1.77 for detergent and 84±2.1 for the paint for outdoor and indoor field trials which were carried out for eight hours each day for two days. The results provide scientific rationale for traditional use of R. officinalis oil and Pelargonium citrosum in control of housefly and other common insects in the household.


Abstract. Surface water concentrations of CO2, CH4, and
N2O have rarely been measured simultaneously in river systems
modified by human activities, contributing to large uncertainties in
estimating global riverine emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Basin-wide
surveys of the three GHGs were combined with a small number of measurements
of C isotope ratios in dissolved organic matter (DOM), CO2, and
CH4 in the Han River basin, South Korea, to examine how
longitudinal patterns of the three gases and DOM are affected by four cascade
dams along a middle section of the North Han River (hereafter termed "middle
reach") and treated wastewater discharged to the lower Han River ("lower
reach") traversing the Seoul metropolitan area. Monthly monitoring and
two-season comparison were conducted at 6 and 15 sites, respectively, to
measure surface water gas concentrations and ancillary water quality
parameters including concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and
optical properties of DOM. The basin-wide surveys were complemented with a
sampling cruise along the lower reach and synoptic samplings along an urban
tributary delivering effluents from a large wastewater treatment plant (WWTP)
to the lower reach. The levels of pCO2 were relatively low
in the middle reach (51–2465 µatm), particularly at the four dam
sites (51–761 µatm), compared with those found in the largely
forested upper basin with scattered patches of croplands
(163–2539 µatm), the lower reach (78–11298 µatm), and
three urban tributaries (2120–11970 µatm). The upper and middle
reaches displayed generally low concentration ranges of CH4 and
N2O, with some local peaks influenced by agricultural runoff and
impoundments. By comparison, the lower reach exhibited exceptionally high concentrations of CH4
(1.2–15766 nmol L−1) and N2O (7.5–1396 nmol L−1),
which were significantly correlated with different sets of variables such as
DO and PO43- for CH4 and NH4+ and
NO3- for N2O. Downriver increases in the levels of DOC
and optical properties such as fluorescence index (FI) and protein-like
fluorescence indicated an increasing DOM fraction of anthropogenic and
microbial origin. The concentrations of the three GHGs and DOC were similar
in magnitude and temporal variation at a WWTP discharge and the receiving
tributary, indicating a disproportionate contribution of the WWTP effluents
to the tributary gas and DOC exports to the lower reach. The values of
δ13C in surface water CO2 and CH4 measured
during the sampling cruise along the lower reach, combined with
δ13C and Δ14C in DOM sampled across the basin,
implied a strong influence of the wastewater-derived gases and aged DOM
delivered by the urban tributaries. The downstream enrichment of
13C in CO2 and CH4 suggested that the spatial
distribution of these gases across the eutrophic lower reach may also be
constrained by multiple concomitant processes including outgassing,
photosynthesis, and CH4 oxidation. The overall results suggest that
dams and urban wastewater may create longitudinal discontinuities in riverine
metabolic processes leading to large spatial variations in the three GHGs
correlating with different combinations of DOM properties and nutrients.
Further research is required to evaluate the relative contributions of
anthropogenic and in-stream sources of the three gases and DOM in eutrophic
urbanized river systems and constrain key factors for the contrasting
impoundment effects such as autotrophy-driven decreases in
pCO2 and in-lake production of CH4 and
N2O.


The article deals with analyzing the historical trends and political, social and economic preconditions for the formation and reformation of urban transport and urban transportations in the Visegrad Group countries – Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic – firstly in the communist and post-communist periods and later after the European integration of the region. On this basis, the specifics, trends, models and effects of the development of urban transportations in the Visegrad Group countries for the entire period after the collapse of the regimes of "real socialism" have been clarified. It has demonstrated that currently urban transportations, in particular due to their incomplete reformation or involvement, are not at the appropriate level to overcome the existing modal split between road and rail transport in the Visegrad Group countries, even in spite of the fact that the countries of the region had tested different models of development and reformation of their urban transport.


"Comparative enquiry resembles foreign travel. Both are expensive, time consuming and bewildering. Both are best done in a spirit of parochialism. We learn about abroad by comparing foreigners with ourselves. The most rewarding comparison, like the most rewarding travel, thus consists in a continuous series of surprises—sometimes at the strangeness and sometimes at the familiarity of foreign practices"


Objective:To investigate changes and mechanism of bone marrow granulopoiesis after burns combined with endotoxemia in mice.Methods:Circulating granulocytes and monocytes were counted and colony forming unitgranulocyte/macrophage(CFUGM) culture was performed in mice sustained 20% total body surface area(TBSA) fullthickness burn injury combined with endotoxin (LPS,1 μg/g body weight) injection during a period of 7 days.Meanwhile,the expressions of cyclooxygenase(COX2) and transforming growth factorβ 1(TGFβ 1) of blood mononuclear cell(BMNC) were determined with immunohistochemistry,and levels of prostaglandin E 2(PGE 2) in BMNC supernatant were determined with radioimmunoassay.Results:Circulating granulocytes,monocytes and bone marrow CFUGM increased slightly within 6 hours after burn injury combined with LPS injection,then decreased gradually.Circulating granulocytes and monocytes were significantly lower from day 1 to day 5,and bone marrow CFUGM were significantly lower from 12th hour to day 5 when compared with those in control.The expression of COX2 and TGFβ 1 in BMNC were increased from day 1 to day 3 after burns combined with LPS injection.PGE 2 levels in BMNC supernatant increased from 12th hour to day 5.Moreover,negative correlation was found between PGE 2 and CFUGM.Conclusions:Bone marrow granulopoiesis was suppressed after burns combined with endotoxemia,and PGE 2 might play a pivotal role in the pathophysiological process.TGFβ 1 might be one of the contributing factors in granulopoiesis suppression.


This longitudinal study of children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and contemporary controls through puberty attempts to elucidate differences in their growth, pubertal development and the relationship with pubertal hormones.

Fifty two T1D prepubertal children aged 7.7- 14.4y and 125 control children aged 8.3 - 11.96y were recruited. Auxology and puberty were assessed and blood samples were obtained 6 monthly until the age of 16 years. Annual bone age was assessed in T1D subjects.

Puberty onset and PHV was later in T1D boys compared to controls, while T1D girls were younger at puberty onset with an advanced bone age and their peak height velocity was earlier compared with controls. Overall compared to the UK references, T1D girls had a reduced peak height velocity whereas the boys had normal pubertal growth.

T1D children had greater increases in BMI during puberty but whereas in the girls this was due to greater acquisition of fat mass, in the boys it related to gains in fat free mass.

Levels of DHEAS, IGF-I, A4, testosterone and oestradiol were lower in T1D boys and girls whereas leptin and SHBG were higher.

The pubertal delay in T1D boys was partially explained by bone age but diabetes presence was also contributory. The earlier puberty, advanced pubertal bone age and reduced height gain in T1D girls were associated with complex hormonal changes. The advanced bone age at pubertal onset was not influenced by adrenal hormones but by BMI. Loss in height gain in these girls was related to E2 levels and glycaemic control at the start of puberty.

This study helps clarify some of the relationships between hormonal changes and variation in auxological factors during normal puberty. Differences in these parameters between T1D and control children are only partially explained by endocrine relationships; other factors, relating to T1D including glycaemic control and insulin dose, are important.


A practical optical link system was prepared with a transmitter (Tx) and receiver (Rx). The optical TRx module consisted of a metal optical bench, a module printed circuit board, a driver/receiver integrated circuit, a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser/photodiode array, and an optical link block composed of plastic optical fiber (POF). For the optical interconnection between the light-sources and detectors, an optical wiring method has been proposed to enable easy assembly. The optical wiring link was constructed with POFs mounted on a v-grooved polymethylmethacrylate bench. The data transfer measurements were presented successfully.


This paper evaluates the effects of the elimination of a payroll tax on employment and wages in four manufacturing and service sectors in Brazil in early 2012. This tax, which accounted for 20 percent of the wage bill, was levied on employers and financed social security programmes. This study is based on administrative records from the Brazilian Ministry of Labour which contained information on formal employment contracts. Exploring the fact that the tax reform only covered firms not under a special tax regime for micro and small firms, a difference-in-differences approach with firm fixed effects was implemented to compare covered and uncovered firms controlling for sector, region and other covariates. The estimates suggest that, on average, the policy led to a 15 percent increase in employment, total labour input measured by contracted hours of work rose by 9 percent, and wages increased by 2 percent. These results indicate that in its first year of implementation the policy had positive employment effects and a partial shifting of the tax benefit onto labour.


In recent years, social media networking has grown to be a marvel of technology in our way of life. Facebook operates the world's leading web-based social networking system with over 2.19 billion clients(as of the first quarter of 2018). As its popularity increased, more individuals from all age demographics, have been accessing this growing phenomenon. Resultant usage of code-mixed data has become an all too common practice in the context of social media. The aim of our project was to identify different languages in the processing of code-mixed data. A comparison of different word embedding methods like Continuous Bag of Words (CBOW) and Skip-Gram models was used to generate feature vectors. These vectors are given as input to the machine learning algorithms like Support Vector Machine, Logistic Regression, K-Nearest Neighbors, Gauss Naive Bayes, Adaboost, and Random Forest which yielded in good cross-validation scores. The paper also reveals that Precision, Recall, F-Score, Micro and Macro averaging were used as evaluation measures.


Plant species exert differential effects on soil mineralogical and micromorphological characteristics. The effect of red pine and oak tree roots on the mineralogical and micromorphological characteristics of rhizosphere soils in two sampling sites in the Goksu catchment was studied. The climate, topography, and bedrock conditions were kept consistent, whereas the plant factor was kept as the only variable in each site. Rhizosphere soils under the canopies of 100 years old and naturally occurring trees were compared via macromorphology, submicroscopy, mineralogy, and physical and chemical properties. The soils of red pine (RP1 and RP2 profiles) were determined to have higher porosity when compared to the soils of the oak tree profiles (Ok1, Ok2). However, the higher amounts of welded/cemented aggregates in the Ok1 and Ok2 profiles were probable indicators of maturity and probable stability of the aggregates/MSUs. The dominant clay mineral in sampling site 1 was kaolinite, whereas it was smectite in sampling site 2.


It is axiomatic that archaeologists will expand their research to encompass the computing resources available to them and thus the use of larger and larger datasets. These often take the form of seismic, maritime and satellite surveys using proprietary equipment and software. That there might be problems preserving and reusing this data led to the commissioning of the "Big Data" project. This paper summarises the outcomes as presented in the project's final report.


The study covered the sanitation practices in the area of receiving, storage, kitchen, and dining of Tita Sally's Restaurant. It tackled the food safety procedures that the establishment practices in terms of receiving, food preparation and cooking, and food service. Moreover, the study covered the compliance of the employees of the restaurant with the sanitation standard operating procedures of the food industry. The study applied the descriptive method of research. Data were obtained using an observation checklist and an interview with the officer in-charge and staff was also conducted. The collected data were analyzed using mean computation. Findings revealed that Tita Sally's Restaurant has very good food safety and sanitation practices. Generally, the staff follows the rules and regulations given to them in terms of the different practices on maintaining food safety and sanitation in the workplace. In conclusion, the food safety and sanitation practices of Tita Sally's Restaurant meets most of the standard needed by a restaurant to be rated as very good. It was recommended that the management continue providing good service to its customers and continue its practices on food and safety sanitation.


Broadcasting is an information dissemination problem in which information originating at one node of a communication network must be transmitted to all the other nodes as quickly as possible [1, 2]. In this paper, we consider the problem in which all the nodes of a network must, by turns, broadcast a distinct message. We call this problem the successive broadcasts problem. Successive broadcasts is a communication pattern that appears in several parallel implementations of linear algebra algorithms on distributed memory multicomputers. Note that the successive broadcasts problem is di erent from the gossip problem [2] in which all the nodes must perform a broadcast in any order, even simultaneously. We present an algorithm solving the successive broadcasts problem on hypercubes. We derive a lower bound on the time of any successive broadcasts algorithms that shows that our algorithm is within a factor of 2 of the optimality.


Genome replication in picornaviruses is catalyzed by a virally encoded RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, termed 3D. The enzyme performs this operation, together with other viral and probably host proteins, in the cytoplasm of their host cells. The crystal structure of the 3D polymerase of foot-and-mouth disease virus, one of the most important animal pathogens, has been determined unliganded and bound to a template-primer RNA decanucleotide. The enzyme folds in the characteristic fingers, palm and thumb subdomains, with the presence of an NH2-terminal segment that encircles the active site. In the complex, several conserved amino acid side chains bind to the template-primer, likely mediating the initiation of RNA synthesis. The structure provides essential information for studies on RNA replication and the design of antiviral compounds.


Purpose of review Health technology assessment (HTA) of cancer drugs is important to identify whether drugs should be publicly funded. With increasing use of surrogate end points in clinical trials including breast cancer, a review of literature was done to synthesize evidence for validation of these surrogate end points and their potential role in HTA decisions pertaining to breast cancer. Findings Disease free survival (DFS) in human epidermal receptor 2 (HER2) positive early breast cancer remains the only validated surrogate end point. Other surrogate end points like pathological complete response (pCR) and event free survival (EFS) in early breast cancer (EBC) and objective response rate (ORR) and progression free survival (PFS) in advanced disease have not been validated for overall survival (OS). Moreover, surrogate end points for quality of life (QOL) have not been established and drugs that improve PFS can have detrimental effect on QOL. End points like pCR have excellent prognostic utility in individual patients but have weak correlation with survival at trial level. Summary Most surrogate end points used in breast cancer do not predict OS or QOL which makes it challenging to use them for decisions regarding public funding of cancer drugs. These findings are relevant to HTA agencies prior to making drug reimbursement decisions.


Purpose: Haemoglobinopathies are the most common inherited disorder of Red Blood Cells across globe and one of the major public health problems in many regions of India. Variation in ethnic and regional prevalence is observed. The prevalence and pattern of haemoglobinopathies in Datia region has not been reported limiting the knowledge of diseases profile in this region. Present work showed the broad view of various haemoglobinopathies in the local area and population at risk. Efforts were made to identify prevalence of Sickle cell anaemia, β-thalassemia major and G-6-P-D deficiency among patients attending various OPDs of District Hospital, Datia, Madhya Pradesh, India. Methods: All anaemia patients referred by Govt. hospitals/facilities (Datia District hospital) exhibiting anaemia were screened for various haemoglobinopathies. A total of 605 cases exhibiting anemia received from September 2017 to March 2020 at the Model Rural Health Research Unit (MRHRU), Datia, M.P. were tested for different haemoglobinopathies. Samples were received from District Hospital Datia. The samples were tested by solubility and cellulose acetate electrophoresis and HPLC and G6PD deficiency.Results: A total 605 patients were screened for haemoglobinopathies from District Hospital, Datia. It was found that 13 cases (2.14%) were of β thalassemia trait and other rare variants followed by 4 cases (0.66%)of sickle cell trait. A total of 3 cases (0.5%) of β thalassemia major was observed in total samples of 605.Conclusion: Very low prevalence rate of Sickle cell anaemia and thalassemia was observed. Large scale screening in the region is required for identifying the true burden.


Labyrinth seals are due to their non-contact function and their thermal resistance the state of the art in sealing technology for thermal turbomachinery such as jet engines. The purpose of labyrinth seals is to adjust or minimize the leakage between rotor and stator. However, because of transient flight manoeuvres and the resulting mechanical and thermal loads on the components, contact between rotating and stationary parts cannot be ruled out. The aim of this study is to extend the basic understanding of the mechanisms of hot crack formation in the components of a labyrinth seal during the rubbing process. Previous investigations at the Institute of Thermal Turbomachinery have shown that the thermally induced stress caused in connection with the thermal change of the material properties can lead to formation of the cracks in the seal fin. In order to get a deeper understanding of the complex crack initiation mechanisms, it is necessary to carry out fundamental experiments on simplified geometries. For this purpose, the stress conditions of a loaded labyrinth seal are applied to a cylindrical test specimen. It is fixed on both sides and subjected to thermo-cyclic load. To model a rubbing process of a labyrinth seal, the initial temperature of the cycle corresponds to the operating temperature of the rotor in a jet engine and the final temperature corresponds to the contact temperature during the rubbing process. The temperature change causes stress in the specimen due to the rigid mounting. In literature there are analytical considerations regarding the stress-strain curve in the seal fin and a possible pre-damage of the components by remaining tensile stress after the rubbing process. In this paper, these analytical approaches are compared with the test data. Also a residual tensile strength of the seal fin which is still to be tolerated is worked out depending on the temperature load. The stress reduction during heating is very significant and is considered in detail. Due to the high mechanical and thermal loads, the stress reduction is superimposed by relaxation and plastic deformation. For a separate consideration of these basic effects, FE simulations are carried out. The main findings are that stress and strain in the component depends on both the initial and the final temperature of the specimen. The final rubbing temperature mainly influences the remaining tensile stress. With the thus calculated remaining strength of the seal fin a probable crack formation could be determined. The evaluation of this data contributes significantly to the understanding of hot crack formation in labyrinth seal fins and is therefore the basis for the optimization of the sealing system with regard to robustness against rubbing processes.


Background: Health systems require high-quality data production for health service delivery and program improvement. Ethiopia's health sector was challenged with lack of quality data from its routine health information system which is an essential element of evidence-based decision making. To overcome this, the Ethiopian Ministry of Health introduced a health information system (HIS) performance monitoring tool named the connected woreda strategy (CWS). This study aims to assess the effectiveness of the CWS to improve culture of information use at primary health care entities. Methods: The study employed a repeated cross-sectional study design through pre and post testing of district health offices using connected woreda assessment tools. A total of 78 districts were enrolled in this study to assess their performance on the implementation of the CWS. The CWS assessment checklist is comprised of 54 questions, all of which were assigned numeric number response types and categorized into HIS capacity (30%), data quality (30%), and administrative data use (40%) and further categorized as districts that meet the highest standards, (>90% of common set of criteria) i.e. 'model woredas', districts that meet medium standards, (between 65% to 90% score of common set criteria) i.e. 'candidate woredas' and districts that meet lowest standards (<65 of common set of criteria) i.e. 'emerging woredas'. Finally, the data were analyzed using the SPSS-version 25 software. Results: A total of 78 districts were employed and described and a paired sample t-test was used to measure the performance of districts on CWS implementation. Due to CWS implementation, 10% of districts were 'models' in HIS performance; 'candidate' districts increased from 40% to 73%; and 'emerging' districts decreased from 60% to 17%. Finally, overall CWS scores showed significant improvements after the intervention with 73.4 ± 10.48 SD compared to before intervention 60.4±13.69 SD, with t (77) =-7.18 and p=0.001. Conclusions: This study has revealed that the CWS implementation has a positive effect towards cultural transformation of use of data for decision making at primary health care entities. Thus, scaling up the connected woreda implementation is recommended at the national level to improve the performance of primary health care entities.


Vaccination is an important strategy for preventing infections in patients with hematologic malignancies. Hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients have diminished immunity against vaccine-preventable diseases after transplantation. Optimal timing for initiating immunization in the context of hematologic malignancies and after HCT, however, is not well defined, and data on the magnitude and duration of immune response to vaccines in this population are lacking. Factors such as degree of immunosuppression, administration of monoclonal antibodies, time after HCT, and presence or absence of chronic graft-versus-host disease may influence the immune response to vaccines and may pose safety concerns for certain vaccines, such as live-attenuated immunogens. Patients who received certain monoclonal antibodies (eg, rituximab, alemtuzumab) less than 6 months before vaccination have poorer immune responses to vaccines. New advancements in vaccine development are warranted to improve safety and immunogenicity of vaccination in immunocompromised patients.


As we enter the 3rd millennium, with improved life expectancy, and high media coverage of health care issues, people are becoming more aware of and interested in the potential benefits of nutritional support for disease control or prevention. The review aimed to gather published information regarding nutrition and health benefits associated with the use of chia seeds for human health. Researchers have reported chia seeds to have high nutritional content in the form of protein (15-25%), dietary fibre (18-35%), fat (15-35%) and ash content (4-6%). Apart from their rich nutritional content, chia seeds can improve the nutritional content of various food products when they are blended or mixed. This article reviews the nutritional content, bioactive compounds, and nutraceutical functionality of chia seeds and their use in the development of functional foods. Also highlights functional properties of chia seeds, usage in the food industry and fortification of food with chia seeds. The results showed the potential use of chia seeds with blending with other food to produce more nutrient dense food products that can be regarded as a functional food.

 Key words: Chia seeds, functional foods, bioactive compounds, nutraceuticals, fortification.


This article examines how the major Angolan churches engaged with the search for peace from 1991 to 2002, the crucial period from the Bicesse Accords to the Luena Memorandum following the death of Jonas Savimbi, which ended the years of cyclical military conflict and broken peace agreements. It sets out how the churches analysed the causes of the conflict between the MPLA-led government and the UNITA rebel movement, as well as what they believed was required to bring about peace. This analysis is unique in Angola as no other national civic voice consistently engaged with the peace agenda over this period. The article also examines ecumenical initiatives to restore peace through the formation of COIEPA, the inter-ecclesial peace committee, following the return to war in 1998, initiatives that were strongly resisted by the government as it pursued its military strategy of bringing peace to Angola by fighting a final and decisive war.


Recently, deep-networks-based hashing (deep hashing) has become a leading approach for large-scale image retrieval. It aims to learn a compact bitwise representation for images via deep networks, so that similar images are mapped to nearby hash codes. Since a deep network model usually has a large number of parameters, it may probably be too complicated for the training data we have, leading to model over-fitting. To address this issue, in this paper, we propose a simple two-stage pipeline to learn deep hashing models, by regularizing the deep hashing networks using fake images. The first stage is to generate fake images from the original training set without extra data, via a generative adversarial network (GAN). In the second stage, we propose a deep architec- ture to learn hash functions, in which we use a maximum-entropy based loss to incorporate the newly created fake images by the GAN. We show that this loss acts as a strong regularizer of the deep architecture, by penalizing low-entropy output hash codes. This loss can also be interpreted as a model ensemble by simultaneously training many network models with massive weight sharing but over different training sets. Empirical evaluation results on several benchmark datasets show that the proposed method has superior performance gains over state-of-the-art hashing methods.


Solar energy has become the go-to solution due to its abundance, yet it is unlike many other conventional sources of energy because of its stochastic nature. To maximize the energy harvest of such intermittent source, robust controllers ought to be used. Researchers have accordingly resorted to modern control techniques, predominantly optimal control methods like model predictive control (MPC). Such modern techniques have proven to track references faster and more accurately; however, they do that at the expense of raising computational costs. The MPC framework is used to eliminate the current sensor in previous work; hence, cut down on the hardware cost of the converter. This paper discusses parity of such observer model, presents results and comparisons on the estimation error for the developed model, and explores areas of improvement for the overall system.


Some 40 years ago, in May 1970, the Radiological Protection Bill was passed by the parliament of the United Kingdom. This legislation created the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB). It lasted 35 years until absorbed by the Health Protection Agency in 2005. During that period, the NRPB discharged its basic duty of protecting the people from radiation hazards.


Objective The aim of the study was to describe the screening history in postmenopausal women diagnosed with cervical cancer during 1990–2013 by age and screening period. Materials and Methods This hospital-based cohort study included women 55 years and older diagnosed with cervical cancer at Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark, during 1990–2013. Information on their previous history of cervical cancer screening was obtained from the Danish Pathology Databank. Results Overall, 47.0% (95% CI = 42.6–51.4) had no record of screening before their cervical cancer diagnosis. This proportion declined over calendar time from 69.8% (95% CI = 61.4–77.3) in 1990–1994 to 20.0% (95% CI = 12.7–29.2) in 2010–2013 and increased by age from 22.5% (95% CI = 14.6–32.0) in women aged 55 to 59 years to 63.2% (95% CI = 49.3–75.6) in women 80 years and older. Cases living in the organized screening era (i.e., birth cohorts 1943–1960) were more likely to have a record of screening than women in the preorganized screening era (i.e., birth cohorts 1901–1942) (p < .001). Of all cases, 17.7% (n = 91) had a record of screening within 5 years of diagnosis and the proportion was highest in the most recent periods and in women aged 55 to 64 years. Of cases with a record of screening within 5 years, 84.6% (95% CI = 14.5–21.2) had a normal cytology result, whereas only 8.8% (95% CI = 2.9–14.7) had high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion or worse. Conclusions Cervical cancer in older women may partly be attributed to a lack of screening or due to a failure in screening. However, older women were in general less screened because screening was unavailable.


Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is the commonest cause of maternal death worldwide. Studies suggest that the use of misoprostol may be beneficial in clinical settings where oxytocin is unavailable. The aim of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy of oxytocin and misoprostol when used in the prevention of PPH. In a double-blind randomized controlled trial, 400 pregnant women who had a vaginal delivery were assigned into two groups: to receive either 20 IU of oxytocin in 1000 mL Ringer's solution and two placebo tablets or 400 mcg oral misoprostol (as two tablets) and 2 mL normal saline in 1000 mL Ringer's solution. The quantity of blood loss was higher in the oxytocin group in comparison to the misoprostol group. There was no significant difference in the decrease in hematocrit and hemoglobin between the two groups. Although there was no significant difference in the need for transfusions between the two groups, the patients in the oxytocin group had greater need for additional oxytocin. Results from this study indicate that it may be considered as an alternative for oxytocin in low resource clinical settings. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01863706.


Abstract. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the performance of patch-based classification technique in land use/land cover classification and to investigate the effect of patch size in thematic map accuracy. To reach desired goal, recently proposed ensemble learning classifiers (i.e., XGBoost and CatBoost) were utilized to classify produced image patches obtained from high-resolution WorldView-2 (WV-2) satellite image. . In order to analyse the effect of varying patch size on classification accuracy, three different window sizes (i.e., 3 × 3, 7 × 7 and 11 × 11) were applied to WV-2 imagery for extracting image patches. Constructed image patches were classified using XGBoost and CatBoost ensemble learning classifiers and thematic maps were constructed for varying patch sizes. Results showed that while XGBoost and CatBoost showed similar classification performances for varying patch size and the estimated highest overall accuracy were %68, %82 and %92 for 11x11, 7 × 7 and 11 × 11 patch sizes, respectively. These findings confirmed that defining class boundaries on the high-resolution image using smaller patches increases the accuracy of thematic maps. In addition, results of patch-based classification were compared the results of LULC maps produced by same classifiers using pixel-based classification method. Overall accuracy of pixel-by-pixel classification of WV-2 image reached to about %94. Furthermore, CatBoost showed superior classification performance in all time compared to XGBoost. All in all, pixel-based CatBoost was found to be more successful in LULC mapping of fine resolution image.


Today in the United States, more than ever before, children are developing habits that lead to unhealthy lifestyles. Poor nutrition and poor eating habits, coupled with increasing lack of physical activity, put children at high risk for numerous problems. Combating these issues during formative years increases the likelihood that the lifestyle changes will remain with the individuals through adulthood. Using school-based nutrition education and physical activity programs, states can help in the effort to decrease the growing number of health and economic problems stemming from obesity as children age and become adults. This study examines the current policies in each state regarding nutrition education and physical education, and determines how these differ from policies that existed in 1992. In addition, discussion of national initiatives and directives enacted in response to the obesity epidemic will shed light on the efforts being made to reverse the problem of childhood overweight. INDEX WORDS: nutrition education, physical education, health education, childhood overweight THE STATUS OF SCHOOL-BASED NUTRITION EDUCATION AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION AT THE STATE LEVEL


This paper describes a method using a multiple-beam interferometer for establishing oscillatory displacements in the range 0.25λ to 12.5λ or greater, where λ = 546.078 nm, the nominal wavelength of mercury green light. The interferometer is used to calibrate accelerometers at frequencies up to 1000 Hz and accelerations up to 2g, where g = 9.80665 m/s2. The smallest displacement in the range can be established with a precision better than 1% and the largest better than 0.05%. The oscillatory displacement of frequency f is imparted to one surface of the interferometer relative to a fixed surface, and the variation of the light flux through a fixed aperture is photo-electrically detected. The detector is tuned to the first even harmonic 2f and its variation in amplitude is observed as the displacement is increased. Provided that the fundamental in the photo-current is suppressed by continuously correcting any drift of the mid position of the oscillating mirror, a pair of characteristic curves is obtained each of which has a series of turning points corresponding to changes of about λ/2 in the displacement. The turning points of one curve are offset by about λ/4 from those of the other. The precise values of the displacement at all these turning points have been calculated. Errors in the displacement may arise from failure to take account of non-sinusoidal and non-rectilinear motion of the oscillating mirror, from the departure of the intensity distribution in the fringe image from the symmetrical Airy type, and from induced vibration of the fixed mirror. All of these possible sources of error have been investigated and their significance evaluated.


In this investigation, the extensive wear behaviour of materials was studied using SiC reinforced magnesium alloy composites fabricated through the stir casting process. The wear properties of AZ91 alloy composites with a small variation (i.e., 3%, 6%, 9% and 12%) of SiC particulates were evaluated by varying the normal load with sliding velocity and sliding distance. The worn surfaces were examined by scanning electron microscope to predict the different wear mechanisms on the pin while sliding on the hard disk in the dry sliding wear test condition. The microhardness of the SiC reinforced AZ91 composites was found to be more than the un-reinforced AZ91 alloy. Pins tested at load 19.62 N, and 2.6 m/s exhibited a series of short cracks nearly perpendicular to the sliding direction. At higher speed and load, the oxidation and delamination were observed to be fully converted into adhesion wear. Abrasion, oxidation, and delamination wear mechanisms were generally dominant in lower sliding velocity and lower load region, while adhesion and thermal softening/melting were dominant in higher sliding velocity and loads. The wear rate and coefficient of friction of the SiC reinforced composites were lower than that of the unreinforced alloy. This is due to the fact of higher hardness exhibited by the composites. The wear behaviour at the velocity of 1.39 m/s was dominated by oxidation and delamination wear, whereas at the velocity of 2.6 m/s the wear behaviour was dominated by abrasion and adhesion wear. It was also found that the plastic deformation and smearing occurred at higher load and sliding velocity.


Persistent organic chemicals include several groups of halogenated compounds, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs), and polyfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs). These chemicals remain for long times (years to decades) in the environment and cycle between different media (air, water, sediment, soil, vegetation, etc.). The environmental distribution of this type of chemicals can conveniently be analyzed by multimedia models. Multimedia models consist of a set of coupled mass balance equations for the environmental media considered; they can be set up at various scales from local to global. Two applications of multimedia models to airborne chemicals are discussed in detail: the day-night cycle of PCBs measured in air near the surface, and the atmospheric long-range transport of volatile precursors of PFCAs, formation of PFCAs by oxidation of these precursors, and subsequent deposition of PFCAs to the surface in remote regions such as the Arctic.


ABSTRACT Informal science learning has been proven to have effects on a variety of science learning outcomes. This study explored the direct and indirect influence of both prior and current informal science learning on science performance by using data from the Programme for International Student Assessment 2015. More than ten kinds of informal science learning activities were measured. Multi-level structural equation modelling was used to investigate the mediating role of science interest and self-efficacy in the relationship between informal science learning and science performance in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and South Korea. The results showed that prior informal science learning has a positive effect on current informal science learning and a direct influence on science performance. In addition, informal science learning significantly influenced science performance through science interest and self-efficacy. These results were consistent across three countries or regions with different cultures and science learning conditions even after controlling for background variables at student and school level.