In this issue of Cancer Research and Treatment, Kwon H-C et al. reported the results of oxaliplatin, infusional fluorouracil (FU) and leucovorin (LV) as first-line therapies for metastatic colorectal cancer. In this study, 55 patients were treated with oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2 each as a 2-hour infusion at day 1 and LV 20mg/m2 over 10 minutes. This was followed by a 400 mg/m2 bolus and a 22-hour continuous infusion of 600 mg/m2 FU at day 1~2, repeated every 2 weeks. The objective response was 40%; the median time to progression was 6.6 months (95% CI: 4.98~8.02 months); and the overall survival was 17 months (95% CI: 9.15~24.85 months). Major toxicities were neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, neuropathy, which ranged from grade 1 to 2 in terms of severity (1). The treatment schedule was same as FOLFOX4 protocol with the exception of the leucovorin dose.

Fluorouracil has been the standard treatment for advanced colorectal cancer. The response rate of fluorouracil for metastatic colorectal cancer is approximately 20%. There are various ways to administer fluorouracil, and a "loading" regimen (consisting of an intravenous bolus of the drug for five consecutive days every four to five weeks) and a weekly regimen (consisting of one intravenous bolus every week) are the two most commonly used methods in the United States. In Europe, on the other hand, the schedule of prolonged intravenous infusion is popular. Several controlled trials and a meta-analysis suggest that the prolonged-infusion approach results in a marginally higher rate of response, but only a negligible difference in survival (2). Another pharmacologic strategy that is used to increase the efficacy of fluorouracil is the use of reduced folate leucovorin. A meta-analysis of nine randomized trials in which the combination of fluorouracil and leucovorin was compared with fluorouracil alone in patients with advanced colorectal cancer who had received no prior therapy revealed that the combination significantly increased the probability of the tumor response but only minimally increased the survival (3).

Recently, new drugs for advanced colorectal cancer have been introduced, including oxaliplatin, irinotecan, and capecitabine. Oxaliplatin, a third-generation platinum compound with a 1, 2 diaminocyclohexane carrier ligand, is active against human colon-cancer cell lines and synergistic with fluorouracil in vitro (4). It has a different spectrum of activity compared to cisplatin. Single-agent oxaliplatin showed objective response rates between 10% and 11% in previously treated patients (5). Phase III trial that compared an oxaliplatin/FU/LV (FOLFOX4 protocol) with standard infusional FU/LV (LV5FU2 protocol) as the first-line treatment in advanced colorectal cancer was reported by de Gramont et al. (6). The oxaliplatin-based protocol showed a substantial increase in activity, with significant effects on the response rate (50.7% vs 22.3%; p=0.0001) and the progression-free survival (9.0 vs 6.2 months; p<0.0001). However, this increased efficacy did not translate into a significant prolongation of overall survival (16.2 vs 14.7 months). Neutropenia, diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, and mucositis were significantly more likely to occur in the oxaliplatin group with moderate severity, exception of neutropenia.

The results of Kwon's trial were similar to the de Gramont et al. trial in terms of survival and toxicities, although the response rate was minimally lower in Kwon's trial. The difference of these two trials was that de Gramont et al. used a high dose, while Kwon used a low dose. In comparing high and low doses of leucovorin in the adjuvant therapy for colorectal cancer in the INT0089 trial, there was no difference, and the high dose arm had a greater incidence of diarrhea (7). Ducreaux M et al. (8). compared LV5FU2 and low dose leucovorin LV5FU2 in metastatic colorectal cancer. There were no survival differences. Thus, the dosage of leucovorin for colorectal cancer has little effect on the variability of responses. The low dose leucovorin FOLFOX4 schedule is less expensive yet has the equivalent effect of the classic FOLFOX4.

Irinotecan, a semi-synthetic derivative of camptothecin, inhibits topoisomerase I. In previously treated patients, the objective response to irinotecan is approximately 15%, and the major toxicity is troublesome diarrhea. Saltz LB et al. reported irinotecan plus fluorouracil and leucovorin (IFL) comparing FU/LV or irinotecan alone for metastatic colorectal cancer. In this trial, patients who were treated with IFL had a higher probability of an objective response (39% vs. 21% and 18%, respectively), a longer time to progression (7 months vs. 4 months and 4 months), and a longer median survival (15 months vs. 13 months and 12 months). Diarrhea and neutropenia were the most prominent side effects (9). Douillard JY et al. compared infusional FU/LV (de Gramond protocol) with irinotecan plus FU/LV infusion (FOLFIRI) in a randomized phase III trial. The irinotecan combination demonstrated a significantly higher efficacy by demonstrating a longer survival time (overall survival 17.4 vs. 14.1 months, p=0.031) (10).

Goldberg et al. reported a large randomized trial, in which trial patients were randomly assigned to receive irinotecan and bolus fluorouracil plus leucovorin (IFL), oxaliplatin and infused fluorouracil plus leucovorin (FOLFOX), or irinotecan and oxaliplatin (IROX). The FOLFOX regimen is more active in terms of the response rate and time to progression, more efficacious in overall survival, and less toxic than the IFL regimen. The IROX regimen is better than IFL as well, but only in terms of overall survival because its toxicity is worse with regard to vomiting and paresthesias(11). This finding supports the conclusion that the FOLFOX may be a first-line standard treatment for advanced colorectal cancer.

The summary of the advancements in the first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer through randomized trials during the last 20 years is as follows. FU was superior to the best supportive care, and FU/LV was in turn superior to FU, though with more toxicity. IFL was subsequently more efficacious than FU/LV at the cost of additional toxicity. FOLFOX is more efficacious than both IFL and IROX without the additional toxicity. IROX regimen is as efficacious as IFL, but is more toxic. In conclusion, oxaliplatin or irinotecan combined with FU/LV is more efficacious than FU/LV, and infusional FU/LV is less toxic than bolus FU/LV, and oxaliplatin, irinotecan, and FU/LV triple combination, which is unlikely used due to severe toxicity. Finally, the infusional FU/LV is the best partner for a combination with oxaliplatin or irinotecan. It will be necessary to compare FOLFOX vs FOLFIRI in order to further confirm that FOLFOX is the first-line standard treatment for advanced colorectal cancer. Another unresolved problem is that the prolonged infusion is inconvenient, cumbersome, and more expensive. Because oral fluoropyrimidines are as effective as infusional FU, oral fluoropyrimidines, such as UFT, capecitabine (Xeloda) and TS-1, can be substituted with infusional FU. Further more, we can choose the combined use of chemotherapy and a targeted agent, such as cetuximab and bevacizumab. Phase III trials of these agents are ongoing now.


As microelectric device sizes continue to shrink, the monitoring and control of the fabrication processes are becoming more important for reliable yields. Traditional process parameters are pre-set, and thus can not compensate for slight variations in a given run. This thesis researches the use of a CCD camera to monitor the plasma etch process in real time. The monitor's data will be used in other research as the input for real time control. Laser interferometry, a commonly used diagnostic, can only monitor one small part of the wafer. If one desired to look at more points on the wafer, more lasers could be used, each aimed at a different location. A CCD camera monitoring the wafer acts as a 1000x1000 array of lasers. Thus, by looking at one pixel only, the CCD interferometer can function like a laser interferometer. Or several points can be looked at, as if there were several laser interferometers. The interferometry signal can be processed to yield an etch rate and an endpoint at each pixel. Data from different parts of the wafer provide uniformity information that can be used for real time control. This thesis implements a system capable of real time image acquisition and analysis. Algorithms to perform etch rate, endpoint, and film thickness measurements are discussed. A discussion of interferometry modeling, including non-ideal device characteristics which affect the models, is also presented. Finally, the system architecture, both hardware and software, is discussed. Thesis Supervisor: Duane S. Boning Title: Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering


The invention relates to an optical fiber raster multiplexing demodulation method and a device thereof. The auto fluorescence of an optical amplifier of the invention enters an optical circulator through an optical insulator and a tunable filter and then enters an optical fiber raster sensing network which is formed by a plurality of optical fiber raster groups in series to be reflected by each optical fiber raster. Reflection light enters the optical circulator, then enters an optical fiber coupler and enters the optical amplifier from a power large shunt ratio output end, so as to reciprocate to obtain the output of resonance laser, and partial resonance laser is output by the power small shunt ratio output end of the optical fiber coupler. The frequency of the output triangular wave of a signal generator is respectively adjusted to the frequency of the corresponding triangular wave of each optical fiber raster group. A data collecting card obtains the output signal of the resonance laser, and the time interval variation between two pulses is measured to obtain the central wavelength drift rate of the corresponding optical fiber raster. The method confirms the wavelength drift rate of the optical fiber raster according to the measured time interval of time domain pulses, has the advantage of the low cost and is suitable for the integration, the instrumentation and the networking.


A large atrial myxoma was discovered fortuitously in a patient that had a seizure, showing the importance of further investigations even after assuming a diagnosis.
 A 63-year-old male with no medical issues was admitted to the emergency department after having tonic-clonic seizure. Initial examination found a hemodynamically stable patient scored 8/15 Glasgow, 48 hours later a contrast cerebral CT was performed showing no abnormalities, but electroencephalogram revealed epileptic foci in the left temporal-parietal territories. The staff decided to complete the investigations with a transthoracic echocardiography which visualised an enormous left atrial mass. A cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) confirmed the atrial mass, measuring (87*47) mm over 73mm attached to the interatrial septum with a surface of insertion of 30mm that does not protrude through the mitral valve. The patient underwent open heart surgery. Left atriotomy found a myxoid-looking mass adhering to the posterior-inferior wall of the left atrium of 11 cm over 5 cm. The patient was discharged uneventfully on his 8th post-operative day and pathoanatomical analysis revealed a myxoma. We oriented the patient to neurology after surgery and no complications were reported on his 3 months follow-up.
 The aim of this case is to highlight three points: myxomas can remain asymptomatic for a long time despite their size, transthoracic echocardiography is a rapid and efficient bedside assessment, and a symptom can reveal more than one diagnosis.


Objective: To assess the long-term efficacy of percutaneous vertebroplasty for the treatment of pain resulting from osteoporotic vertebral fractures. Method: 26 percutaneous vertebroplasty proce - dures were performed for osteoporotic vertebral fractures in 15 patients during the period between July 2001 and may 2004. Before and after the procedure, a 10-point scale of pain was obtained. These scale was repeated at long-term follow up in two different moments after the procedure with one year interval. Du - ring these moments, the satisfaction, ambulation and ability to perform activities of daily living (five-point scale) were also analyzed. Results: The majority of patients (n=13) presented the 10-point pain scale be - tween 8 and 10 before the percutaneous vertebroplasty. After the procedure, there was important impro ve of the pain, and nine patients presented zero point-scale and three patients between 1 and 4 (p<0.001). At long-term follow up with one year interval, there was no significant difference between the pain sca - le, the ambulation and the ability to perform activities of daily living. Fourteen patients reported a future willingness to undergo the procedure for treatment in case of a new compression fracture. Conclusion: Percutaneous vertebroplasty can be a useful procedure for the treatment of pain and disability after se -


IP services networks are supporting diverse applications with increasing scalability, performance, security, and quality of service requirements. Any fault or degradation of the network may result in violation of the SLAs or even halt the requested service. New emerging issues are related to the dynamic aspects of service provisioning, including on-the-fly changes in service definitions, dynamic re-specification of SLAs, changes in resources, requests for rapid near real-time deployment of new services, mobility of the new services. Monitoring (in real-time) of services, SLAs, resources, QoS is becoming a critical aspect of successful service provisioning. This paper addresses the challenges of monitoring of IP services, and proposes a solution based on distributed component architecture and real-time event correlation. The paper discusses the nature of dynamic IP services for a variety of enterprise management applications and, as in example describes several IP service management scenarios. It presents the architecture of a dynamic IP service management. The focal point of the architecture will be core component services including event analysis, correlation, explanation and notification services. The issues of implementation of these services will be discussed.


An inter-system adapter design is described which links the web service based DR NEP and WebSimP simulation platforms. The adapter enables the PSS Sincal electrical simulator to share results with the DR NEP which coordinates the data exchange among interdependent simulators. In this paper, we describe an adapter which supports decision makers involved in natural crisis management by calculating constraints on electrical loads based on the state of the electrical grid. By eliminating non-feasible electrical distribution options, the adapter reduces the deliberation time and improves the decision outcome. This inter-system adapter can be generalized to other infrastructure systems.


INTRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT
Organophosphorus compounds are worldwide employed as insecticides and are yearly responsible of several millions of poisonings. The chemical structure of most of the warfare nerve agents also corresponds with an organophosphorus compound. Organophosphorus insecticides and warfare nerve agents exert their main toxicological effects through inhibition of acetylcholinesterase. Current treatments of patients poisoned with organophosphorus compounds include atropine (in order to protect muscarinic receptors), oximes (in order to accelerate the reactivation of the inhibited acetylcholinesterase) and benzodiazepines (in order to avoid convulsions). The administration of phosphotriesterases (enzymes involved in the detoxication of organophosphorus compounds through hydrolysis) is a very effective treatment against poisonings by organophosphorus insecticides and warfare nerve agents. There are experimental preventive treatments based on the simultaneous administration of carbamates and certain antimuscarinic drugs, different from atropine, which notably improve the efficacy of the classical treatments applied after poisonings by warfare nerve agents.

CONCLUSIONS
The treatments based in the administration of phosphotriesterases might be the response to the call of the World Health Organization for searching new treatments with capability to reduce the high mortality recorded in the cases of poisonings by organophosphorus compounds. These treatments can be applied in a preventive way without the intrinsic neurotoxicity associated to the preventive treatments based on carbamates and antimuscarinic drugs. Therefore, these treatments are specially interesting for people susceptible to suffer severe exposures, i.e. sprayers in the farms.


As specific stem cells of skin tissue, epidermal stem cells (ESCs) have been proved to be closely related to the wound repair. As a result, studying more targeted markers for a rapid acquisition of ESCs has become a hot issue for TES. For server burn wound or ulcer, the creation of ideal scaffold as matrix for cell proliferation and differentiation was needed for TES as useful ESCs being rare. In this review, the common use of the markers for the isolation and identification of ESCs are summarized. Furthermore, the research and development of tissue engineering skin scaffold during the past years were also discussed.


ABSTRACT In Drosophila melanogaster, achaete (ac) and m8 are model basic helix-loop-helix activator (bHLH A) and repressor genes, respectively, that have the opposite cell expression pattern in proneural clusters during Notch signaling. Previous studies have shown that activation of m8 transcription in specific cells within proneural clusters by Notch signaling is programmed by a "combinatorial" and "architectural" DNA transcription code containing binding sites for the Su(H) and proneural bHLH A proteins. Here we show the novel result that the ac promoter contains a similar combinatorial code of Su(H) and bHLH A binding sites but contains a different Su(H) site architectural code that does not mediate activation during Notch signaling, thus programming a cell expression pattern opposite that of m8 in proneural clusters.


Purpose: This study was conducted to identify the effects of a self-monitoring rehabilitation program based on the Bandura"s self-efficacy theory on the activities of daily living (ADL), 6-minute walking distances, self-efficacy and quality of life (QoL) among stroke patients after three to six months. Methods: The participants consisted of 29 patients in the experiment group and 28 patients in the control group who admitted at rehabilitation specific hospital. Self-monitoring program developed by the researcher lasted twice a week for 8 weeks from August to September, 2013. Results: ANCOVA showed that all of dependent variables of this study, ADL and 6-minute walking distances as a physical function, self-efficacy and QoL for intervention group were higher than those for control group(p<.001). Conclusion: The self-monitoring rehabilitation program based on the self-efficacy theory was found to be effective in improving physical function, self-efficacy and QoL for early post-stroke patients. Early rehabilitation program for stroke patients was recommended to consider the self-monitoring of current physical and psychosocial status as a strategy of self-management.


Tree ring chronologies from 24 mixed—conifer stands were used to reconstruct the long—term history of western spruce budworm (Choristoneura occidentalis) in northern New Mexico. Temporal and spatial patterns of budworm infestations (within—stand occurrences) and outbreaks (more—or—less synchronous infestations across many stands) were investigated to identify local—scale to regional—scale forest disturbance patterns. Nine regional—scale outbreaks were identified from 1690 to 1989. One ancient stand of Douglas—fir trees (Pseudotsuga menziesii) exceeding 700 yr in age revealed that budworms and overstory trees can coexist for extraordinary lengths of time. Using spectral analysis we found that the regional outbreak record contained important cyclical components with periods varying from ≈20 to 33 yr. The statistically significant (P < .05) but variable periodicity of regional outbreaks suggests the forest—budworm dynamic is pseudoperiodic (i.e., a stable limit cycle or damped oscillator perturbed by noise). Duration of infestations within stands was ≈11 yr and has not obviously changed in the 20th century; however, infestations tended to be more synchronous among stands in this century than during earlier centuries. Regional budworm activity was low from the mid—1920s to late 1930s and mid—1960s to late 1970s, and the most recent outbreak, beginning in the late 1970s, was unusually severe. These results, and contrasting infestation patterns in mountain ranges with different land use histories, generally support a hypothesis that human—induced changes in Southwestern forests have led to more widespread and intense budworm outbreaks in the late 20th century. Despite human—induced changes in the 20th century, climate variation also appears to have been important to budworm regimes in this century as well as in earlier times. Regional outbreaks in the 20th century tended to occur during years of increased spring precipitation, and decreased budworm activity coincided with decreased spring precipitation. No clear association with temperature was identified. Comparisons of regional outbreak history since AD 1600 with a reconstruction of spring precipitation from limber pine (Pinus flexilis) ring width chronologies also shows that periods of increased and decreased budworm activity coincided with wetter and drier periods, respectively. This finding contrasts with results from shorter time—scale studies conducted in northwestern U.S. and Canada (western spruce budworm) and eastern Canada (spruce budworm C. fumiferana), where low precipitation and/or warmer temperatures were generally associated with outbreaks. Different patterns of budworm population response to changing moisture regimes might be due to differences in regional forest—budworm systems, or to differences in the spatial and temporal scales of observation. We conclude that changes in forest structure in the southwestern U.S. may have shifted the spatial and temporal pattern of budworm outbreaks. The dynamic behavior and statistically significant association between multicentury, regional budworm and climate time series also suggest that complex budworm dynamics are driven by a combination of internal and external factors.


Background

The usual primary evaluation in patients with acute non-traumatic chest pain is investigation for signs of ischemic heart disease in a coronary care unit. Frequently, standard chest radiograph (CXR) is obtained in order to rule out differential diagnoses and complications. A high prevalence of lung disease may be suspected, even if acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is ruled out, since both symptoms and risk factors for lung disease and heart disease are overlapping.

Aim

To investigate the occurrence of radiologic signs of lung disease in patients admitted with non-traumatic chest pain, and to evaluate whether such findings subsequently led to further pulmonary examination.

Methods

244 randomly selected patients under evaluation for ACS were included in this observational study. Demographic, clinical and successive follow up data were extracted from charts. Patient CXRs were scored independently by 2 trained investigators.

Results

136 patients were discharged with no definitive diagnosis of heart disease. Radiologic signs of lung disease on CXR (new opacity, fibrosis, hyperinflation and coarse bronchovascular markings) were detected in 84 of these patients. Twenty-six patients previously had a known pulmonary condition and received treatment. Of the remaining 58 patients (69%), who were eligible for further evaluation, only a minority were referred to pulmonary examination.

Conclusions

In the setting of acute non-traumatic chest pain and a primary suspicion of ACS, a routine standard chest radiograph may be recommended, since it holds the potential of early recognition of lung disease in many patients.


ABSTRACT Bispecific monoclonal antibodies (BsAbs) are engineered proteins with multiple functionalities and properties. The "bi-specificity" of these complex biopharmaceuticals is a key characteristic for the development of novel and more effective therapeutic strategies. The high structural complexity of BsAbs poses a challenge to the analytical methods needed for their characterization. Modifications of the BsAb structure, resulting from enzymatic and non-enzymatic processes, further complicate the analysis. An important example of the latter type of modification is glycation, which can occur in the manufacturing process, during storage in the formulation or in vivo after application of the drug. Glycation affects the structure, function, and stability of monoclonal antibodies, and consequently, a detailed analysis of glycation levels is required. Mass spectrometry (MS) plays a key role in the structural characterization of monoclonal antibodies and top-down, middle-up and middle-down MS approaches are increasingly used for the analysis of modifications. Here, we apply a novel middle-up strategy, based on IdeS digestion and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) MS, to analyze all six different BsAb subunits in a single high-resolution mass spectrum, namely two light chains, two half fragment crystallizable regions and two Fd' regions, thus avoiding upfront chromatography. This method was used to monitor glycation changes during a 168 h forced-glycation experiment. In addition, hot spot glycation sites were localized using top-down and middle-down MALDI-in-source decay FT-ICR MS, which provided complementary information compared to standard bottom-up MS.


This study considers the numerical analysis on parametric roll for container ships. As a method of numerical simulation, an impulse-response-function approach is applied in time domain. A systematic study is carried out for the parametric roll of two container ships, particularly observing the sensitivity of computational results to some parameters which can affect the analysis of parametric roll. The parameters to be considered are metacentric height (GM), simulation time window, and the discretization of wave spectrum. Based on the result of parametric roll simulation, numerical sensitivity and uncertainty in computational analysis are discussed.


The arterio-venous balance (A-V balance/difference) technique has been used by a number of groups, including ours, to study skeletal muscle fatty acid metabolism. Several lines of evidence indicate that, like glycogen, intramyocellular triglycerides (imcTG) are an energy source for local use. As such, the report that increased release of free fatty acids (FFA) via lipolysis from skeletal muscle, but not from adipose tissue, is responsible for the increased systemic lipolysis during IL-6 infusion in healthy humans is somewhat unexpected (26). It appears that given the complex anatomy of human limbs, as to be discussed in this review, it is virtually impossible to determine whether any fatty acids being released into the venous circulation of an arm or leg derive from the lipolysis of intermuscular fat residing between muscle groups, intramuscular fat residing within muscle groups (between epimysium and perimysium, or bundles), or the intramyocellular triglyceride droplets (imcTG). In many cases, it may even be difficult to be confident that there is no contribution of FFA from subcutaneous adipose tissue. This question is fundamentally important as one attempts to interpret the results of skeletal muscle fatty acid metabolism studies using the A-V balance technique. In this Perspectives article, we examine the reported results of fatty acid kinetics obtained using the techniques to evaluate the degree of and how to minimize contamination when attempting to sample skeletal muscle-specific fatty acids.


This work studies the mechanical and morphological properties of
polypropylene (PP)/polyoxymethylene (POM) blends. The PP/POM blends were prepared by melting-blend
with an internal mixer. The contents of PP were used at 10%, 20%, 30%, 70%, 80% and 90% by weight. The phase morphology of the blends was observed by
scanning electron microscope (SEM) due to the mechanical properties depended on
the phase morphology. The results show the decrease of the impact strength,
Young's modulus and tensile strength of POM/PP blends with increasing of PP
content up to 30 wt% and then increase again with a high PP content. The
percent strain at break of the blends increases after adding PP in a range of
70 - 90 wt%. SEM study reveals that the POM/PP blends
clearly demonstrate a two-phase matrix-particle microstructure. The results
also show that the domain size of dispersed PP or POM phase increases with
increasing PP or POM content. The POM domain size is smaller than the PP domain
size which leads to a little change of mechanical results of PP.


We present the results of a mid-infrared survey of 26 asteroids in comet-like orbits, including six Damocloids and six near-Earth asteroids (NEAs). We define a "comet-like" orbit as one having a Tisserand invariant TJ under 3 (but only including objects that are NEAs or otherwise unusual). Visible-wavelength data were also obtained, so geometric albedos (in the Cousins R band) and effective radii are presented for 25 objects (plus one more with 3 σ limits) as derived using the NEA Thermal Model. Nine of our objects were observed at two or more mid-infrared wavelengths, and in all cases the low-thermal inertia thermal model was found to be applicable, with various values of the beaming parameter. Our work more than quintuples the total number of observationally constrained albedos among TJ < 3 asteroids to 32. Defining the "comet-like" albedos as those below 0.075, we find that 64% ± 5% of the sample has comet-like albedos. Objects in comet-like orbits with comet-like albedos are candidates for being dormant or extinct comets. Indeed, one of our targets, 2001 OG108, became active again a few months after our observations. We find a very strong correlation between the albedo distribution and TJ, with the percentage of dark TJ < 3 asteroids being much greater than that of the TJ > 3 NEAs. There are 10 NEAs among the 32 objects, and of those, 53% ± 9% have comet-like albedos. With the current crop of NEAs, this implies that about 4% of all known NEAs are extinct comets. A comparison of the histogram of TJ < 3 asteroid albedos with that of active cometary nuclei shows that the former has a larger spread.


Existing welded steel moment frames are designed to tolerate substantial yielding and plastic rotation under earthquake loads. This sacrificial design approach can lead to permanent, and often irreparable damage when interstory drifts exceed 2%. The experimental seismic performance of a 50% full-scale damage avoidance designed structural steel beam-column connection is presented. The beam-column joint region consists of a top flange-hung beam connected to the column by an angle bracket. High-force-to-volume (HF2V) devices are attached from the column to the beam to provide joint rigidity and energy dissipation as the joint opens and closes. The HF2V devices are connected either below the beam flange or concealed above the beam's lower flange. Reversed cyclic lateral load tests are conducted with drift amplitudes up to 4%. No damage is observed in the principal beam and column structural elements. The need for stiff device connections to achieve optimal device performance is demonstrated, and potential design solutions presented. Stable hysteresis and repeatable energy dissipation for a large number of cycles up to the 4% drift level is observed. It is concluded that superior and repeatable energy dissipation without damage can be achieved for every dynamic motion cycle, in contrast to conventional sacrificially designed welded moment frame connections.


Any incident can arise in a pressurised water nuclear reactor. It can provoke a temporary increase of the temperature. In these conditions, fission gases diffuse rapidly and form bubbles specially in grain boundaries. These bubbles participate in the swelling of the irradiated material.  These increases of temperature have been simulated in laboratory by thermal treatment on irradiated materials. A morphological study is necessary to understand the phenomenon and to allow the construction of a model of swelling.The goal of this paper is to propose a method based on automatic image analysis that allows to quantitatively characterise the micro structure of the polycrystalline uranium oxide after intergranular swelling.Irradiated and annealed samples are polished and observed by scanning electron microscope.An automatic threshold method is used to obtain the binary bubble image. Grain boundaries are reconstructed from bubbles by using mathematical morphology operators (closing, distance function, watershed...). One can thus count bubbles per boundary length unit and know the specific boundaries perimeter of grains.An observation of the intergranular fracture surface shows that the distribution of bubble size is narrow.  Their shape is approximately constant.  That allows to use a stereometric relationship and to estimate the number of bubbles by unit of grain boundary surface from polished sections.These stereological parameters are introduced in the model of swelling which has been validated experimentally.


This paper reviews the current state of power supply technology platforms and highlights future trends and challenges toward realizing fully monolithic power converters. This paper presents a detailed survey of relevant power converter technologies, namely power supply in package and power supply on chip (PwrSoC). The performance of different power converter solutions reported in the literature is benchmarked against existing commercial products. This paper presents a detailed review of integrated magnetics technologies, primarily microinductors, a key component in realizing a monolithic power converter. A detailed review and comparison of different microinductor structures and the magnetic materials used as inductor cores is presented. The deposition techniques for integrating the magnetic materials in the microinductor structures are discussed. This paper proposes the use of two performance metrics or figures of merit in order to compare the dc and ac performance of individual microinductor structures. Finally, the authors discuss future trends, key challenges, and potential solutions in the realization of the "holy grail" of monolithically integrated power supplies (PwrSoC).


In order to identify and describe the effectiveness of transdermal testosterone pretreatment on poor ovarian responders, MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane library and the Chinese biomedical database were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Three RCTs, which compared the outcomes of female pretreatment with transdermal testosterone prior to in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) with those of control groups, were included in the present review. The three RCTs enrolled a total of 221 randomized subjects. The meta-analysis revealed that females who received transdermal testosterone treatment prior to their IVF/ICSI cycle had a two-fold increase in live birth rate [risk ratio (RR)=2.01, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03–3.91], clinical pregnancy rate (RR=2.09, 95% CI 1.14–3.81) and a significantly more oocyte retrieved [mean difference (MD)=1.36, 95% CI 0.82–1.90]. The current findings provide evidence that pretreatment with transdermal testosterone may improve the clinical outcomes for poor ovarian responders undergoing IVF/ICSI. However, the results should be interpreted with caution due to the small sample size of the studies used and the heterogeneities. Further good quality RCTs would be needed to reach further conclusions.


A technique of partial intercarpal fusion used in the treatment of Kienbock's disease and paintul non-union of fractures of the carpal navicular bone with avascular necrosis is described. The results are presented for twenty-seven patients followed from one to four years after operation. The advantages of the method are that the wrist need be immobilized for only two months and the patient can resume normal activity three to four months after operation. Although motion of the wrist after operation was limited in all patients, pain was relieved in all but two instances, and a strong grip was restored in all but on patient. During the time covered by this study, only four patients showed roentgenographic evidence of arthrosis of the radiocarpal joint after intercarpal fusion.


The limits of S-band dual-polarization radars in Korea are not reflected on the recent weather forecasts of Korea Meteorological Administration and furthermore, they are only utilized for rainfall estimations and hydrometeor classification researches. Therefore, this study applied four merging methods [SA (Simple Average), WA (Weighted Average), SSE (Sum of Squared Error), TV (Time-varying mergence)] to the QPE (Quantitative Precipitation Estimation) model [called RAR (Radar-AWS Rainfall) calculation system] using single-polarization radars and S-band dual-polarization radar in order to improve the accuracy of the rainfall estimation of the RAR calculation system. As a result, the merging results of the WA and SSE methods, which are assigned different weights due to the accuracy of the individual model, performed better than the popular merging method, the SA (Simple Average) method.In particular, the results of TVWA (Time-Varying WA) and TVSSE (Time-Varying SSE), which were weighted differently due to the time-varying model error and standard deviation, were superior to the WA and SSE. Among of all the merging methods, the accuracy of the TVWA merging results showed the best performance. Therefore, merging the rainfalls from the RAR calculation system and S-band dual-polarization radar using the merging method proposed by this study enables to improve the accuracy of the quantitative rainfall estimation of the RAR calculation system. Moreover, this study is worthy of the fundamental research on the active utilization of dual-polarization radar for weather forecasts.


The optometry waste being generated from the optometry industry under study includes cutting, smoothing and polishing waste. During the glass smoothing and polishing stage the liquid has a pH of 11.80 and 11.05 respectively. This basic pH can be neutralized by adding a mineral acid like sulphuric acid. The plastic glass smoothing stage produces acidic liquid waste of around 4.70. This pH can be neutralized by adding calcium hydroxide before disposal into the municipal system. The optometry waste had high solids content ranging from 0.8-10.1 g/L and these must be filtered off and disposed off safely in metal containers or plastics. A proper environmental management plan must include proper record keeping, training of personnel and managing of multi-hazardous waste.


Beef flavor attributes of USDA Top Choice and Select beef top loin steaks were evaluated that differed in thickness (1.3 or 3.8 cm) and grill surface temperature (177 or 232°C) when cooked on a commercial flat top grill. A trained descriptive attribute panel and consumer sensory panels were used to evaluate steak flavor and texture. As thickness and temperature increased, beef identity and brown/roasted flavor aromatics increased (P < 0.05). Steaks cooked at 232°C and cut 3.8-cm thick had the highest (P < 0.05) levels of burnt flavor and bitter basic tastes. Thicker steaks cooked at 177°C had more intense umami basic taste and beef identity (P < 0.05). Steaks cut 1.3 cm had lower levels of beef identity and brown/roasted flavor aromatics and the thin cut steaks cooked at 177°C had more sour basic taste (P < 0.05). Consumers rated 232°C, 3.8 cm steaks lowest (P < 0.05) for overall, beef flavor, overall flavor, and grilled flavor liking; whereas, the 177°C, 3.8 cm steaks were highest (P < 0.05) in beef flavor liking. Beef identity, brown/roasted, bloody/serumy, fat-like, umami, sweet, salty, overall sweet, overall tenderness, and muscle fiber tenderness were positive attributes, and metallic, bitter, and burnt were negative attributes in predicting consumer overall liking. Thick steaks cooked at low temperatures or thin steaks cooked at high temperatures resulted in more positive sensory panel traits and consumer liking scores.


AIM--To investigate whether enumeration district (ED) level data reflect the aggregate characteristics of people living in that district better than ward level analysis. DESIGN AND SETTING--Reanalysis of the fourth national morbidity survey in general practice (MSGP4). Socioeconomic data on patients who had consulted 60 practices over one year were linked via postcode to ED and thence to small area statistics data for that ED and to the corresponding electoral ward. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS--There was no evidence that patients were likely to be more representative samples of the population of an ED than of a ward.


Next-generation augmented reality (AR) promises a high degree of context-awareness - a detailed knowledge of the environmental, user, social and system conditions in which an AR experience takes place. This will facilitate both the closer integration of the real and virtual worlds, and the provision of context-specific content or adaptations. However, environmental awareness in particular is challenging to achieve using AR devices alone; not only are these mobile devices' view of an environment spatially and temporally limited, but the data obtained by onboard sensors is frequently inaccurate and incomplete. This, combined with the fact that many aspects of core AR functionality and user experiences are impacted by properties of the real environment, motivates the use of ambient IoT devices, wireless sensors and actuators placed in the surrounding environment, for the measurement and optimization of environment properties. In this book chapter we categorize and examine the wide variety of ways in which these IoT sensors and actuators can support or enhance AR experiences, including quantitative insights and proof-of-concept systems that will inform the development of future solutions. We outline the challenges and opportunities associated with several important research directions which must be addressed to realize the full potential of next-generation AR.


Disintegrins are a family of small cysteine-rich peptides, found in a wide variety of snake venoms of different phylogenetic origin. These peptides selectively bind to integrins, which are heterodimeric adhesion receptors that play a fundamental role in the regulation of many physiological and pathological processes, such as hemostasis and tumor metastasis. Most disintegrins interact with integrins through the RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) sequence loop, resulting in an active site that modulates the integrin activity. Some variations in the tripeptide sequence and the variability in its neighborhood result in a different specificity or affinity toward integrin receptors from platelets, tumor cells or neutrophils. Recombinant forms of these proteins are obtained mainly through Escherichia coli, which is the most common host used for heterologous expression. Advances in the study of the structure-activity relationship and importance of some regions of the molecule, especially the hairpin loop and the C-terminus, rely on approaches such as site-directed mutagenesis and the design and expression of chimeric peptides. This review provides highlights of the biological relevance and contribution of recombinant disintegrins to the understanding of their binding specificity, biological activities and therapeutic potential. The biological and pharmacological relevance on the newest discoveries about this family of integrin-binding proteins are discussed.


Conductive fabrics with new properties and applications have been the subject of extensive research over the last few years, with wearable respiration sensors attracting much attention. Different methods can be used to obtain fabrics that are electrically conducting, an essential property for various applications. For instance, fabrics can be coated with conductive polymers. Here, indium tin oxide (ITO)-coated conductive fabrics with cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol (C-PVA) were prepared using a doctor-blade. The C-PVA was employed in the synthesis to bind ITO on the fabrics with the highest possible mechanical strength. The feasibility of a respiration sensor prepared using the ITO-coated conductive fabric was investigated. The ITO-coated conductive fabric with the C-PVA was demonstrated to have a high potential for use in respiration sensors.


Effective classroom discussion is improvisational, because its effectiveness derives from the fact that it is not scripted. Instead, the flow of the class is unpredictable, and emerges from the actions of both teachers and students. In this article, I apply principles from training classes for improvisational actors to provide practical suggestions for teachers. To identify the improvisation community's own views on creative collaboration, I draw on recent observations of rehearsals, performances, and improvisation training classes, and interviews with actors and directors. I conclude that teachers could become more effective discussion leaders by becoming aware of improvisational acting techniques, and I make a case for instructing teachers in improvisational exercises.


Most research has a preliminary story embedded in earlier writings, which raise questions and spawn new inquiries conducive to new findings. The present study was born of other circumstances: I was asked by the directors of the early music group Ensemble Lucidarium if, for purposes of performance, I knew of a translation of Samuel Archivolti's Hebrew wedding ode "Keḥi kinnor" (Take a lyre). I had run across the ode in various listings, but was unfamiliar with any translation, so I suggested doing my own. That is where the problems began. To establish a clean reading for the poem, I consulted its manuscript and printed sources; to confront its verbal obscurities, and pinpoint its meanings, I traced its references to biblical and rabbinical literature; and to satisfy my own curiosity about how it was sung, I looked into the few recorded examples of its melodies. It follows that in this article, I shall be concerned mainly with semantics and music. Yet, to begin, I shall present some information about the author, sources, and prosody of the poem; and, to conclude, I shall compare it with other wedding odes of his and his contemporaries, and, in an epilogue, appraise its singularity.


Two previously unknown blue alkaloid pigments, sanguinone A (1) and sanguinone B (2), and one new red indoloquinone alkaloid, sanguinolentaquinone (3), have been isolated from Mycena sanguinolenta fruiting bodies. In addition, decarboxydehydrosanguinone A (4) was identified as an oxidative decarboxylation artifact of 1. The structures of these alkaloids have been established by 2D NMR and ESIMS methods. The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were determined by comparison of their CD spectra with the CD spectrum of mycenarubin A (5), which we isolated recently from fruiting bodies of the mushroom Mycena rosea. The sanguinones are structurally related not only to the mycenarubins A (5) and B but also to a large number of marine alkaloids such as the discorhabdins.


Sand production is one of the major challenges for mature fields in Austria. With increasing water production, the severity of the sand migration augments, leading to the shut-in of the wells. Eliminating or substantially reducing sand production at the sand face is the most viable option to continue hydrocarbon production. The project's target was to research and apply a technically sound solution readily available in Europe, with reduced HSSE risks and little economic impact.
 To control intervention costs, it was decided to favor sand control solutions for rig-less interventions. Collaboratively, the teams evaluated formation rock consolidation with the help of an internally catalyzed aqueous-based emulsion of curable epoxy resin (ICABECER). Laboratory testing demonstrated the system's suitability for the target wells and confirmed the viability of the planned operations scheduled to deploy the treatment via coiled tubing (CT), as well as limiting concerns about permeability reduction. Finally, field operations of the application, clean-up, and production face were monitored and evaluated.
 The major concern when using resins to agglomerate sand grains in a reservoir rock is that the pore space is reduced, jeopardizing the rock permeability. Laboratory testing confirmed that the permeability of the rock can be retained. Due to the simplicity of the intervention, the treatment could be deployed with standard equipment keeping it within the budgetary constraints of very mature fields.
 To mitigate possible risks, wells having challenging production backgrounds and scheduled for plug and abandon were selected. In these wells, previous conventional sand control measures failed, such as gravel pack installations or attempting to produce sand and separate it on surface. Post-job results demonstrated that the in-situ consolidation generated a reduction of sand content to a level allowing production of the wells. During the clean-up period of the gas well, sufficient sand was produced to erode the choke. After the well start-up period, sand production was eliminated, and the well was returned to the target rate. Monitoring of solid contents in the flow and the evaluation of coupons confirmed the suitability of the technique to establish flow with acceptable risks contributing to economic success.
 The cost-effective ICABECER chemical treatment, along with the methodology, opens new opportunities for the asset to prolong well life and increase the overall recovery factor from the reservoir. Technical simplicity and the reduced environmental impact of the chemicals are key for resource-saving and sustainable operations in mature fields.


A new generation of intelligent applications can be enabled by broad-coverage, up-to-date repositories of knowledge. One emerging approach to constructing such repositories is proactive knowledge collection from volunteer contributors. In this paper, we study the quality of the knowledge repository resulting from collecting spontaneous, little guided contributions of volunteers. In a representative collection of part-of information contributed by volunteers, we study the coverage and quality of the resulting collection. As a possible way to address the deficiencies, we outline a more managed, three-stage approach to the collection process, consisting of collection, evaluation & revision, and publication.


Background: Numbering of the thoracic spine on MRI can be tedious if C2 and L5–S1 are not included and may lead to errors in lesion level. Purpose: To determine whether anatomic landmarks or external markers are reliable as an aid for accurate numbering of thoracic vertebrae on MRI. Material and Methods: Sixty-seven thoracic spine MR studies of 67 patients (30 males, 37 females, age range 18–83 years) were studied, composed of 52 consecutive MR studies and an additional 15 MRI in which vitamin E markers were placed over the skin. In the 52 thoracic MR examinations potential numbering aids such as the level of the sternal apex, pulmonary artery, aortic arch, and osseous or disc abnormalities were numbered on both cervical localizer (standard of reference) and thoracic sagittal images. The additional 15 examinations in which vitamin E markers were placed over the skin were evaluated for consistency in the level of the markers on different sequences in the same exam. Results: The sternal apex level ranged from T2 to T5 [T3 in 28/51 patients (55%), T2 in 10/51 (20%)]. The aortic arch level ranged from T2 to T4 [T4 in 18/48 (38%) and T3 in 17 (35%)]. Pulmonary artery level ranged from T4 to T6–7 disc [T5 in 20/52 patients (38%) and T6 in 14/52 (27%)]. In 3 of 12 patients who had abnormalities in a vertebral body or disc as definite point reference, the non-localizer image mislabeled the level. In 11/15 (73%) patients with vitamin E markers that were placed over the upper thoracic spine, the results showed consistency in the level of the markers in relation to the reference points or consistent inter-marker gap between the sequences. Conclusion: There are only two reliable ways to accurately define the levels if no landmarking feature is available on the magnet. The first is by including C2 in the thoracic sequence of a diagnostic quality, and the second is by using an abnormality in the discs or vertebral bodies as a point of reference.


The Free Energy Principle (FEP) and Integrated Information Theory (IIT) are two ambitious theoretical approaches. The first aims to make a formal framework for describing self-organizing and life-like systems in general, and the second attempts a mathematical theory of conscious experience based on the intrinsic properties of a system. They are each concerned with complementary aspects of the properties of systems, one with life and behavior, the other with meaning and experience, so combining them has potential for scientific value. In this paper, we take a first step towards such a synthesis by expanding on the results of an earlier published evolutionary simulation study, which show a relationship between IIT-measures and fitness in differing complexities of tasks. We relate a basic information theoretic measure from the FEP, surprisal, to this result, finding that the surprisal of simulated agents' observations is inversely related to the general increase in fitness and integration over evolutionary time. Moreover, surprisal fluctuates together with IIT-based consciousness measures in within-trial time. This suggests that the consciousness measures used in IIT indirectly depend on the relation between the agent and the external world, and that it should therefore be possible to relate them to the theoretical concepts used in the FEP. Lastly, we suggest a future approach for investigating this relationship empirically.


Some algorithms for particle identification in PTV, which are classified in a category "particle mask correlation method", are presented and tested. A typical brightness pattern of a particle image is referred as a particle mask; it is placed on an image plane and correlation coefficient between the particle mask and the image is calculated; the particle mask is scanned on the plane with the calculation of correlation coefficient; the small subareas with high correlation value indicate central areas of particle images.


Abstract Combined chemo-photothermal therapy is attracting increasing attention in the treatment of cancers. In this work, PEGylated mesoporous SiO2-coated gold nanostars (GNS@mSiO2-PEG) were synthesised without using the cytotoxic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as the template. Mesoporous nanostructures were obtained by poly(vinylpyrrolidone) protection of the outer silica shell and NaOH etching of the inner shell. GNS@mSiO2-PEG exhibited good dispersity in medium and excellent photothermal effects. Loading capacity for the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) was ∼17.9%, and the drug release profile was pH- and light-responsive. In vitro studies revealed that the as-prepared nanocomposites featured good biocompatibility. Furthermore, the nanocomposites were readily internalised by cancer cells, and a combined chemo-photothermal therapy assay revealed that DOX-loaded GNS@mSiO2-PEG have a higher therapeutic efficiency than individual therapies, demonstrating suitable synergistic effects.


Heat and mass transport properties of heterogeneous catalysts have significant effects on their overall performance in many industrial chemical reaction processes. In this work, a new catalyst micro-architecture consisting of a highly thermally conductive SiC core with a high-surface-area metal-oxide shell is prepared through a charge-interaction-induced heterogeneous hydrothermal construction of SiC@NiAl-LDH core-shell microstructures. Calcination and reduction of the SiC@NiAl-LDH core-shell results in the formation of Ni nanoparticles (NPs) dispersed on SiC@Al2O3, referred to as Ni/SiC@Al2O3 core-shell catalyst. The Ni/SiC@Al2O3 exhibit petal-like shell morphology consisting of a number of Al2O3 platelets with their planes oriented perpendicular to the surface, which is beneficial for improved mass transfer. For an extended period of methane-stream-reforming reaction, the Ni/SiC@Al2O3 core-shell structure remained stable without any significant degradation at the core/shell interface. However, the catalyst suffered from coking and sintering likely associated with the relatively large Ni particle sizes and the low Al2O3 content. The synthesis procedure and chemistry for construction of supported Ni catalyst on the core-shell microstructure of the highly thermal conductive SiC core, and the morphology-controlled metal-oxide shell, could provide new opportunities for various catalytic reaction processes that require high heat flux and enhanced mass transport.


In this paper we present results from administering the Determining and Interpreting Resistive Electric Circuit Concepts Test (DIRECT) concept inventory to first-year honors engineering students (n≈150). This study was coordinated around a one-week module on electrical circuit theory, with the concept inventory administered immediately before and after the module. Students were also given an open-ended questionnaire during the pre-test, and a survey to evaluate the instructional module with the post-test. We discuss details of the instructional module and present several findings from our analysis of the survey data. We find that while a majority of the students had completed Advanced Placement (AP) physics and/or electronics courses and were currently enrolled in college-level physics courses, they still had many difficulties solving basic problems involving resistive circuits and did not show significant improvements after completing the instructional module. Our findings highlight many of the persistent difficulties faced by students in this conceptual domain. Factors such as prior educational experiences and intended major (i.e., ECE vs. non-ECE) were shown to predict student performance on the concept inventory. We conclude the paper by first describing how this study has informed a new stage of research involving a more in-depth qualitative study of misconceptions in this domain, including across student levels (i.e., first-year to junior/senior). We also discuss how a number of insights from this study can help instructors and curriculum developers assess and improve conceptual understanding in the context of their own courses.


Calcareous corpuscles are a characteristic structure found in larval and adult stage cestodes. These corpuscles are known to contain several protein components and to possess protein-binding activity. However, the proteins bound to calcareous corpuscles in situ have not been studied. The present study was undertaken to identify the proteins on calcareous corpuscles. Calcareous corpuscles were purified from the plerocercoids (= spargana) of Spirometra erinacei, and serially dissolved using 0.1 M sulfamic acid solution. Collected supernatants were examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and silver staining. The results showed that only the fraction remaining after the 19th dissolved fraction contained proteins. A total of 20 protein molecules were detected in gel, with major bands at 56, 53, 46, 40, 35, 29, 28, 24.5, 21, 19, 16, 13, 10 and 8 kDa. In particular, the proteins corresponding to the 21 and 16 kDa bands were most abundant. Our results demonstrated for the first time the protein contents of the calcareous corpuscles of spargana. Further studies on the functions of these proteins are required.


In this article, we investigate the question of who benefits from language minority research by analyzing the discourses of language rights and human rights jointly, because language rights are perforce part of human rights. We argue that some 'small' minority languages flourish and others fail unless speakers of these languages articulate their voices and needs. We also explore how human rights discourses relate to traditional practices. The interests of local communities and the involvement of linguists do not enhance the status of minority communities unless linguists traverse the gap between academic discourses on rights and vernacular discourses on similar topics. African linguists are themselves in a double bind: on the one hand, they seek to promote the interests of local communities and, on the other hand, they have to meet their professional obligations. They are not able to address the material needs of local communities because advocating language and human rights cannot resolve Africa's intractable problems. In addition, epistemologically, African scholarship is not sufficiently contextualized to be relevant to complex, labile, and polyvalent contexts. The defining epistemological trope contributing to the crises in African scholarship on rights and other sociolinguistic topics is 'theoretical extraversion': African linguists construe their professional work as a space to test Western constructs rather than to develop endogenous knowledge practices, a situation that is difficult to overcome.


This study investigated the links between referrals to police child protection units (CPUs) and domestic violence units (DVUs) during November 1994 in one police force in an urban area of England. DVU files and CPU files were analyzed and cross-referenced by investigating types, severity, and frequency of abuse; and a number of background factors. The rate of overlap (families with files at both units) was 21.6%, although 46.3% of child protection files indicated the presence of domestic violence in the family home. The severity of maltreatment and the extent of injury for both spouse abuse and child maltreatment were significantly related to police response, with greater use of cautions or charges in more severe cases. Families with records in both units showed a higher number of prior referrals relating to both spouse abuse and child maltreatment. In addition, these cases showed greater severity of domestic violence.


Nowadays, small vertical axis wind turbines are receiving more attention due to their suitability in micro-electricity generation. There are few vertical axis wind turbine designs with good power curve. However, the efficiency of power extraction has not been improved. Therefore, an attempt has been made to utilize high lift technology for vertical axis wind turbines in order to improve power efficiency. High lift is obtained by double-element airfoil mainly used in aeroplane wing design. In this current work a low Reynolds number airfoil is selected to design a double-element airfoil blade for use in vertical axis wind turbine to improve the power efficiency. Double-element airfoil blade design consists of a main airfoil and a slat airfoil. Orientation of slat airfoil is a parameter of investigation in this paper and air flow simulation over double-element airfoil. With primary wind tunnel test an orientation parameter for the slat airfoil is initially obtained. Further a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has been used to obtain the aerodynamic characteristics of double-element airfoil. The CFD simulations were carried out using ANSYS CFX software. It is observed that there is an increase in the lift coefficient by 26% for single-element airfoil at analysed conditions. The CFD simulation results were validated with wind tunnel tests. It is also observe that by selecting proper airfoil configuration and blade sizes an increase in lift coefficient can further be achieved.


Abstract : Under the Monitoring of Completed Coastal Projects (MCCP) work unit, Periodic Inspections, past MCCP structures and structures with unique design aspects that have probable applications to other projects are considered for inclusion in a periodic monitoring program. The emphasis of the work is to measure the long-term response of the above-water portions of the structures to their environment. The rubble-mound breakwaters at Kahului Harbor, Maui, Hawaii, and Laupahoehoe Boat Launching Facility, Laupahoehoe Point, Hawaii, Hawaii, are armored with concrete armor unit and concrete rib caps. By means of limited land surveys, low-level helicopter inspections with 35-mm photography, aerial photography, and photogrammetric analysis base conditions have been established for the breakwaters. Now that the base (control) conditions have been defined and a method has been developed to closely compare subsequent years of high- resolution aerial photography of the Kahului and Laupahoehoe breakwaters, these sites will be revisited during future years to gather data by which assessments can be made on the long-term response of the structures to their environment. Insight gathered from these efforts will allow definite decisions to be made based on sound data as to whether or not closer surveillance and/or repair of a structure is required to reduce the chance that it will fail catastrophically.


abstract: The Aristotelian concept of magnitude (megethos) can expand our understanding of how abundant information accumulates in ways that expand beyond epistemic registers, creating a sense of coherence. This sense of coherence, in turn, is more of an aesthetic effect than the result of epistemic validity drawn from that evidentiary abundance. In this article, I explore two different examples of archival magnitude: one is the fine-grained enormity of conspiracy discourse and the second is the large-scale quantities that power big data. These examples of archival magnitude are simply two narratives through which to explore the aesthetic and rhetorical operation of megethos. By redefining discourses that call on magnitude—the power of more—as aesthetic discourse, we may also find that the most fitting response is likewise an aesthetic one.


This study attempted to explore how Asian managers learn differently in accordance with their cultures. For this purpose, a total of 600 managers from Japan, China, and Malaysia were selected, who work for AEON Co. Ltd., a leading Japanese retail firm strategically expanding over Asian countries. Results illustrate that their ways of learning varied with each three countries. Japanese managers showed their preferred ways of learning more towards feeling and reflecting; Chinese managers tended to use thinking and reflecting ways of learning; and Malaysian managers were inclined to thinking and acting modes of learning. Furthermore, in the learning dimension between integration and specialization, Chinese managers were the most balanced learners, Malaysian managers were comparatively placed in the middle, and Japanese managers exhibited the most specialization of their learning orientation. In addition to the investigation about cross-cultural differences in learning styles, this study also examined a change of learning styles in management positions of organizational hierarchy. Results indicate that Japanese and Malaysian managers became more active in learning situations to the extent that their management positions shifted to higher hierarchical ranks, whereas the learning ways of Chinese managers remained stable regardless of their management position.


We map a binding site for small-molecule compounds that target voltage-gated K channels at the lipid bilayer–channel interface. Many pharmaceutical drugs against neurological and cardiovascular disorders exert their therapeutic effects by binding to specific sites on voltage-gated ion channels of neurons or cardiomyocytes. To date, all molecules targeting known ion channel sites bind to protein pockets that are mainly surrounded by water. We describe a lipid-protein drug-binding pocket of a potassium channel. We synthesized and electrophysiologically tested 125 derivatives, analogs, and related compounds to dehydroabietic acid. Functional data in combination with docking and molecular dynamics simulations mapped a binding site for small-molecule compounds at the interface between the lipid bilayer and the transmembrane segments S3 and S4 of the voltage-sensor domain. This fundamentally new binding site for small-molecule compounds paves the way for the design of new types of drugs against diseases caused by altered excitability.


It is well known that while forward scattering has no effect on the conductance of one-dimensional systems, backscattering off a static impurity suppresses the current. We study the effect of a time-dependent point impurity on the conductance of a one-channel quantum wire. At strong repulsive interaction (Luttinger liquid parameter g<1/2), backscattering renders the linear conductance greater than its value e{sup 2}/h in the absence of the impurity. A possible experimental realization of our model is a constricted quantum wire or a constricted Hall bar at fractional filling factors v=1/(2n+1) with a time-dependent voltage at the constriction.


The world is an ever growing one and would not be possible without telecommunications. The communication industry is one which connects all individuals and even machines through data to truly make the world a global village. The Indian mobile market has undergone a revolutionary change over the past few years to become one of the leading mobile markets on the global map. The telecom industry has enjoyed a significant upswing and is presently on a high-speed growth path, enjoying a growth rate of approximately 45% pa, among the highest in the world. This growth in the telecom sector has been facilitated by liberal policies of the Government has played a crucial role in attracting FDI in India. The paper aims to analyze the changing features of mobile communication services in India. The current technological advancements have caused a paradigm shift. The advent of 3G in India has brought with it a host of expectations not only by consumers but also service providers alike. As if this wasn't enough, Mobile Number Portability (MNP), which has been launched nationally, will further fuel the already strong wars between operators. This in turn will further consumer churn rate and enhance quality of service provided by operators. The paper provides an insight on the implication of these changes on service delivery of mobile communications and its influence on the continuously expanding subscriber base.


Osteoporosis is the most common of the metabolic bone diseases, and is an important cause of morbidity in the elderly. Bone scintigraphy is used to detect skeletal lesions at the earliest possible time, to monitor the course of the skeletal discase and to evaluate the metabolic activity of skeletal lesions. The aim of this study was to determine, by using the bone scan age of vertebral fractures in patients with severe osteoporosis, and make correlation between bone scintigraphy and mineral bone density. Material and methods 30 female patients were studied with bone scintigraphy after BMD.BMD was measurred with DEXA Hologic QDR 4500 Elite System. Correlation between T-score and uptake of radiofarmaceutical (Tc-99mMDP) was 0.849, and it was high. Intensity of uptake of Tc-99m MDP scintigraphy is an accurate method for the detection and ageing of fractures in osteoporotic patients.


Tachykinins are a family of structurally related peptides that were originally thought to be of neuronal origin. The pre-eminent member of this family is substance P, which was identified in 1931. Neurokinins A and B; endokinins A, B, C, and D; hemokinins; and others were subsequently identified. Tachykinin receptors (NK1, NK2, and NK3) have also been identified.1 Tachykinins are widely expressed in central and peripheral nervous systems and participate in neurotransmission. Substance P and neurokinin A are required to produce moderate to severe pain.2 Over the past several years, a steadily increasing number of peripheral actions of tachykinins have been reported. Tachykinins function in airways, the gastrointestinal tract, and the urinary tract, and mediate neurogenic inflammation.3 The elaboration of high concentrations of neurokinin B by the placenta has been linked to pre-eclampsia.4 Since platelet dysfunction is associated with pre-eclampsia, Graham and colleagues addressed the possibility that platelets respond to tachykinins. The results of their studies hold a number of surprises. First, platelets aggregated and secreted granules in response to substance P. The authors demonstrated that tachykinin receptors NK1 (the preferred receptor for substance P) and NK3 (the preferred receptor for neurokinin B) are present in human platelets. Antibodies directed at NK1 impaired, but did not abrogate, platelet aggregation in response to substance P. Similarly, platelets from NK1 null mouse showed only a modestly impaired response to substance P. Thus, NK1 participates in substance P–induced platelet activation, but other receptors likely contribute as well. Another surprise was that NK1 receptors are expressed in an activation-dependent manner. For example, stimulation with thrombin resulted in a 9-fold increase in NK1 receptor surface expression. In addition, the authors found that platelets released a substance P–like peptide upon activation. The fact that platelets express tachykinin receptors and release a substance P–like peptide upon activation raised the possibility that tachykinins could behave in an autocrine/paracrine manner. To test this possibility, the authors stimulated platelets with submaximal concentrations of thrombin in the presence of antibodies directed at the NK1 receptor. Under these conditions, anti-NK1 receptor antibody inhibited thrombin-induced aggregation. Platelets from NK1 receptor–deficient mice also displayed a modest impairment of thrombininduced aggregation induced by low thrombin concentrations. Taken together, these studies form strong evidence that tachykinins influence platelet function. Historically, platelets have served as an easily accessible cell model for neurons.5 The studies of Graham and colleagues reveal that platelets and neurons share a common set of stimulatory peptides and receptors. It is conceivable that under certain physiologic conditions tachykinins mediate cross talk between these 2 cell types. More plausibly, platelet tachykinins may participate as secondary agonists in hemostasis. The sharing of a common stimulatory axis has clinical implications. For example, do small molecule antagonists of tachykinin receptors, presently in clinical trials, represent bleeding risks? Might such therapeutics pose bleeding risks in combination with commonly used antiplatelet medications? These concerns await proof in a physiologic system that tachykinins function in hemostasis as they do in neurotransmission. ■


Due to the shielding of dense and small targets, real-time detection of whether construction workers are wearing safety helmets suffers from low detection accuracy and missed detection. In this paper, a new detection algorithm based on YOLOv3 is proposed. Firstly, the parallel network RepVGG Skip Squeeze Excitation (RSSE) module is used to replace the Res8 module in the original YOLOv3 network. The RSSE module consists of 3 × 3 convolutional fusion channels and SSE branches fused. The introduction of the R-SSE module increases the network width, reduces the network depth, and improves the network detection speed and accuracy. Secondly, to avoid gradient disappearance and improve feature reuse, the residual module Res2 is used to replace the CBL×5 modules. Finally, the resolution of the input image is improved, and the four-scale feature prediction is used instead of the three-scale feature prediction to further improve the efficiency of detecting small targets. This paper also introduces the complete joint crossover (CIOU) to improve the loss function and positioning accuracy. The experimental results show that, compared with the original YOLOv3 algorithm, the improved algorithm improves the precision (P) by 3.9%, the recall (R) by 5.2%, and the average precision (mAP) by 4.7%, which significantly improves the performance of the detection.


This study examined how a traditional society such as Saudi Arabia that is currently experiencing significant reforms has employed various theories of leadership originally developed and applied in the West. Specifically, the research chiefly evaluated the usage and effectiveness of three leadership styles: transformation, transactional, passive; with passing reference where appropriate to situational leadership.

This study applied a sequential mixed method design which consisted of a two-phase survey and interviews. The sample size for this study was 271 (questionnaires), which were distributed to leaders and teachers; 30 leaders and teachers were also interviewed. In the first phase, the aim was to explore the implemented leadership styles (leaders' daily behaviour and actions) in Saudi Arabian boys' secondary state schools. Further, the aim was to determine the relationship between the full range of leadership theory developed by Bass and Avolio (1994), and teachers making an extra effort, teacher's job satisfaction and leader effectiveness. In the second phase, these leadership styles were evaluated in greater depth, exploring what school principals and teachers thought were the characteristics that distinguished an effective leader. Descriptive and correlational analysis techniques were employed in the first phase. A thematic analysis technique was utilized for the second phase.

Evidence from this study demonstrated that the transformational leadership style was most used by school principals, followed by the transactional and then situational leadership styles. Moreover, it was evident that the transformational and transactional leadership styles were positively correlated with the specified outcomes. The results of the second phase also confirmed that transformational leadership behaviours were frequently mentioned by the participants. In addition, in order for principals to be effective they should employ some attributes of the transformational leadership style, such as being a role model, visionary and providing training for teachers. In addition, they should employ some attributes of the transactional leadership style, such as using rewards and critical reporting approaches. In summary, this study found that effective leaders combine transformational and transactional attributes. To be more effective, principals should use the transformational leadership behaviours more than transactional behaviours. The research is therefore a relevant and timely contribution to research on the effectiveness and improvement of the Saudi educational system, where theories are increasingly informing practice.

In a Saudi context the adoption of a transformational approach to leadership should be progressive and gradual as the traditional system is still strongly accustomed to transactional leadership. The significance of ethical features of leadership such as respect, trust and vision were emphasized by the participants, especially by teachers, who were evidently more open to innovation than their more traditional leaders. Teachers also called for improved communications. It was stressed that teachers and leaders need more effective and more appropriate training courses. These points should be adopted by the MOE in future planning and development, to improve the effectiveness of leadership and to create a more modern educational system that works best for Saudi Arabia.


This article examines short- and long-run performance of one special class of penny stocks. It examines initial public offerings (IPOs) filed for and issued as penny stocks, as defined by the amended SEC Act of 1990. Short- and long-run performance analysis reveals that, in general, penny stocks show high performance with raw returns of 18% to 20% in the first year of issue, but the returns decline sharply after the initial 13-month period. The study find an 11-month optimal holding period over which an investor could maximize returns in a portfolio of penny stocks. It further shows that a passive buy-and-hold investment in penny stocks with an investment horizon beyond the optimal period of 13-months can be a poor investment, but an actively managed penny stock portfolio can outperform comparable benchmark portfolios of various market indices on both a raw and a risk-adjusted basis.


Abstract Lots of water and surfactants are poured into the oil well to enhance the exploiting efficiency, so the crude-oil emulsions exploited by this technology contain much water, which is very hard to be separated at present. The demulsifying and separating experiments of the crude-oil emulsion were conducted by using the thermal chemical method and the ultrasonic chemical method separately. The crude oil emulsion samples were provided by the Dagang oil field of China and the water content was 35% volume/volume (v/v). The key influencing factors on demulsification effect were explored by changing the ultrasonic output power, the irradiating time, and the demulsifier amount in the experiments. The dehydrating ratios were compared among the self-made emulsions of different water content with the ultrasonic chemical method. The demulsifying velocity and dehydrating ratio for the high water content crude-oil emulsion was better than that of the emulsion with lower water content in the demulsifying experiments with the ultrasonic chemical method. For the crude-oil emulsion used in this experiment, the result was a dehydrating ratio of 97.7% under the condition of 100 W of ultrasonic output power, 10 min of irradiating time, 50 mg/L of demulsifier, and 75°C of water bath temperature.


Conclusive empirical evidence on whether virtual classrooms result in higher performance, satisfaction, or an improvement in problem solving skills when compared with traditional face-to-face lecturing does not exist. Various studies point in different directions. However, blended learning outperforms the traditional classroom in student performance and satisfaction. A flipped classroom is one type of blended learning. For more than 20 years, this approach has been used at a European executive MBA (EMBA) program delivering online content combined with six residential weeks where students collaborate and reflect upon their online learning. Our research examined the overall setup of this program, and assessed one course in depth. As part of the course—International Management—an intercultural negotiation project was chosen to highlight the integration of online and offline activities. The flipped classroom is a demonstration of the reform-based teaching approach. The power of reform-based learning in executive education is the engaging combination of practice and theory, which improves the performance of executives. The participants considered the flipped approach exciting, dynamic, and insightful. The emphasis on a negotiation process involving classmates from around the world increased their global understanding. Beginning with a negotiation experience in the digital story project gave them a better appreciation of the relevant theories, techniques, and applications. Focusing on the practice of international negotiation and a cross-cultural analysis with reflection on cultural intelligence improved the competencies of the participants both during the course and after it.


For many emerging market economies, over reliance on monetary policy may bring worse macro results, when compared to a more balanced framework of countercyclical fiscal and monetary policy. The use of countercyclical fiscal policy requires as a precondition solvent and sustainable fiscal accounts and the re-engineering of fiscal institutions to increase the timeliness and flexibility of fiscal policy. A higher degree of tax or pension fund and/or unemployment insurance contribution flexibility may help in economies subject to significant external shocks. Automatic indexing rules to terms of trade or country risk spreads for pension contributions and interest payments on public debt may also contribute to the stabilization effort. If fiscal revenues are highly volatile, structural budget rules and commodity stabilization funds may provide the necessary framework to achieve saving (dissaving) during expansions (contractions).


ABSTRACT
 Coxsackievirus A19 (CVA19) is a member of Enterovirus (EV) C group in the Picornaviridae family. Recently, we reported a case of CVA19-infected hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) for the first time. However, the current body of knowledge on the CVA19 infection, particularly the pathogenesis of encephalomyelitis and diarrhoea is still very limited, due to the lack of suitable animal models. Here, we successfully established a CVA19 mouse model via oral route based on 7-day-old ICR mice. Our results found the virus strain could directly infect the neurons, astrocytes of brain, and motor neurons of spinal cord causing neurological complications, such as acute flaccid paralysis. Importantly, viruses isolated from the spinal cords of infected mice caused severe illness in suckling mice, fulfilling Koch's postulates to some extent. CVA19 infection led to diarrhoea with typical pathological features of shortened intestinal villi, increased number of secretory cells and apoptotic intestinal cells, and inflammatory cell infiltration. Much higher concentrations of serum cytokines and more peripheral blood inflammatory cells in CVA19-infected mice indicated a systematic inflammatory response induced by CVA19 infection. Finally, we found ribavirin and CVA19 VP1 monoclonal antibody could not prevent the disease progression, but higher concentrations of antisera and interferon alpha 2 (IFN-α2) could provide protective effects against CVA19. In conclusion, this study shows that a natural mouse-adapted CVA19 strain leads to diarrhoea and encephalomyelitis in a mouse model via oral infection, which provides a useful tool for studying CVA19 pathogenesis and evaluating the efficacy of vaccines and antivirals.


Numerous studies have been conducted to research substances useful for preventing or reducing pigmentation in the skin. Pigment spot is a serious cosmetic concern, particularly for the Asian elderly. Oral ingestion of antioxidant supplements is known to prevent skin pigmentation. Glutathione is an intracellular antioxidant that plays an important role in cell protection against oxidative stress and shows antimelanogenic activity. In our previous study, it was shown that olive leaf extract stimulated intracellular glutathione synthesis in human fibroblasts, melanocytes and keratinocytes. Here, a double-blind placebo-controlled study was performed to investigate whether the ingestion of a supplement containing olive leaf extract, L-cystine and ascorbic acid affects tanning of skin induced by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. We determined the minimal erythema dose (MED) in 24 healthy volunteers before and after supplementation. Small sites on the subjects'arms were exposed to UV light for three successive days, and subjects were then administered tablets containing 47.7 mg olive leaf extract, 40.0 mg L-cystine and 50.0 mg ascorbic acid every day for 8 weeks. The present study showed that the subjects'MED increased significantly after an 8-week course of supplementation. The increment of skin lightness at the sites of UV irradiation from Day 10 to Day 17 was significantly higher in the test sample group than in subjects who received a placebo. These results suggest that the supplement containing olive leaf extract, L-cystine and ascorbic acid reduces UV-induced erythema and tanning by its antioxidative activity.


Adolescence and young adulthood are times of multiple developmental changes, including physiological, social, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral transformations. The adolescent or young adult living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes must navigate the vicissitudes of these developmental stages while managing the rigors and self-care demands of these conditions. Diabetes in children is managed by adults, mainly by parents. As the child matures, diabetes management tasks transition from parents to the developing teen. This transition in care is a process that generally begins in early adolescence and culminates when the older teen successfully accepts and manages diabetes self-care tasks. Along with the transitions in diabetes management tasks, older teens and young adults must be prepared for transfer from the pediatric diabetes care team to an adult-focused health care team. Numerous publications have described the challenges associated with both the process of transition and the act of transfer. Lack of preparation during transition followed by unsuccessful transfer often results in gaps in diabetes care exceeding 6 months, deterioration in glycemic control, increase in emergency room use and hospitalization, and emergence of diabetes complications among older teens and young adults. There is need for ongoing research internationally to address these deficiencies in order to improve the short- and long-term health of young persons with diabetes.


Knowledge transfer is important in the educational system. Most universities emphasize the effectiveness of knowledge transfer from the instructors to learners since the
effectiveness of knowledge transfer can improve teaching methods. In the process of knowledge transfer from the instructors and learners, the three key characteristics of
knowledge, knowledge ambiguity, knowledge disruption and knowledge distribution can cause problems in the knowledge transfer and thus affect the externalization of learners.
This study is aimed in constructing a framework for assessing the knowledge transfer, by way of online learning, from the instructors to the learners and to examine the three key characteristics of knowledge and their relationship with the transfer process and the
learning outcomes. The study used a mixed method design using the data collected from three universities in Southern Thailand. The data was analyzed using descriptive
statistics and multiple regressions. The study too used the qualitative design for content analysis of the data collected from weblogs. The data was analyzed to determine the knowledge that learners gained and also the learners' reflection of the knowledge transfer. Using this analysis the effectiveness of online instructions from the instructors to learners was determined. The research findings revealed some significant results involving the three key characteristics of knowledge. The knowledge of learners was explained by 21.5 percent of knowledge ambiguity. In addition, 40.3 percent of perceived knowledge was explained by knowledge distribution. Finally, 41.3 percent was explained the learners' satisfaction when using tools and teaching techniques for knowledge distribution. The three key characteristics of knowledge together were, therefore, able to explain 64.3 percent of the learning outcomes, There are major important implications, for theory, as developed from this study: (1) A framework for assessing knowledge transfer can contribute much to the instructors and learners in knowing what knowledge that the instructors can transfer to learners and what knowledge is gained by the learners. This framework is useful for the instructors in their evaluation of knowledge transfer by learners. The knowledge can be transferred through online learning from the instructors to learners using methods and tools that are appropriate for knowledge transfer. (2) The knowledge gained is influenced by knowledge ambiguity. It is hoped that the instructor or instructors first of all find the appropriate methodology, in their efforts, to transfer knowledge to learners in the classroom and thus improve or make clear the knowledge before the transfer occurs. (3) A strong predictor of learners' behavior is knowledge disruption and as such it would be useful for the instructors to know the behavior of learners when using
technology as a tool in transferring knowledge. (4) Another strong predictor for perceiving knowledge is knowledge distribution. The instructors need to know the prior
knowledge of learners by testing the level of knowledge of the learners, whether it is low, medium or high before selecting the right methods to transfer knowledge. (5) Learners' satisfaction of tools and teaching techniques are also influenced by knowledge distribution. The instructors need to create information details which are
suitable for the course. The study suggests that the instructors should allow learners time to study and use a program. In addition, the feedback of learners from weblogs do tell the instructors what the learners think of the knowledge transfer process, and what knowledge that can be externalized into documents from the process of knowledge
transfer between the instructors and learners.


According to the editors, the aim of this book is to increase awareness in the health sector of the need to embrace knowledge management. On the one hand, healthcare is facing the twin challenges of escalating costs and increasing demands for quality. On the other, there is growing recognition that healthcare organizations are knowledge-intensive and that they need to manage their informationand knowledge-bases more effectively. The central message of the book is that by harnessing knowledge management strategies, processes, tools and techniques, healthcare organizations can create greater value by delivering higher quality services more cost effectively. The book comprises 24 chapters written by 51 authors. It is divided into four sections, which form a logical sequence that moves along the path from concept to practice. The first section (Knowledge management in the healthcare industry) consists of four chapters and begins by introducing knowledge management as a set of principles and processes, before going on to outline the forces in healthcare that are driving the need to embrace it. The second section (Approaches, frameworks and tools to create knowledge-based healthcare organizations), at nine chapters the longest, introduces an array of knowledge management tools and techniques, and discusses the impact of the internet, the use of data mining and knowledge discovery tools, medical records management, evidence-based medicine, and quality management. Section three (Key issues and concerns of various knowledge management implementations– evidence from practice) consists of six case studies that cover a wide range of healthcare organizations: a national hospital in Japan, telemedicine in New Zealand, a disability service in Australia, public hospitals in Ireland, and the pharmaceutical industry in India. The final section (Managing knowledge as an asset in healthcare organizations) has six chapters, three of which deal with measuring the contribution of knowledge management to business performance. The main strength of the book is its international approach, covering as it does research and case studies from Asia, Australia, Brazil, India, Ireland, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, and USA. There is a clear emphasis on systems and process architectures, planning frameworks, and data security. Useful chapters examine the connection between knowledge management and evidence-based medicine, quality management and patient safety.


We report in this paper on a photogeneration of traps in semi-insulating GaAs (Horizontal Bridgman and Czochralski) under YAG excitation. We have experimentally observed this phenomenon from TSC (Thermally Stimulated Current) and near intrinsic (1.42 eV) photoconductivity after YAG excitation. The results provide evidence that YAG excitation introduces changes in the distribution of the band gap levels.


PURPOSE
To identify exercise patterns and perceived barriers, enablers, and motivators to engaging in exercise for older adults following hip fracture.

METHOD
Telephone interviews were conducted with older adults (aged 62-97 y) within 1 year after hip fracture. Participants were asked about basic demographic information; level of mobility before hip fracture; current level of mobility; and barriers, enablers, and motivators to participating in exercise.

RESULTS
A total of 32 older adults successfully recovering after hip fracture completed the telephone interviews. Participants reported few problems with their mobility, and all were engaging in exercise. There were few reported barriers to exercise; the most common were health-related concerns (pain, fatigue, illness, or injury). The most frequently reported enablers were intrinsic factors (determination, seeing improvements, and making exercise part of their daily routine); in particular, the most common motivator to exercise was recovery of function to improve mobility and complete daily and leisure activities.

CONCLUSIONS
This study highlights the responses of a group of older adults recovering well after hip fracture. Older adults engage in exercise despite the potential limitations associated with a hip fracture. Participants' responses underscore the importance of intrinsic factors and suggest avenues for future investigation.


Kidney transplantation is the most effective method of renal replacement therapy. The constantly increasing number of patients awaiting kidney transplantation as compared to the number of potential donors means that other solutions are sought than a transplantation from a deceased or living human donor. Kidney organoids are among the methods that hopes for the future. Kidney organoids are three-dimensional structures whose anatomical structure and functional properties reflect some aspects of kidney structure and function in vivo. The beginning of research on kidney organoids dates back to the 1950s. Three reasons justify research on kidney organoids. Kidney organoids can be used to study kidney deve- lopment. With the help of organoids it will be possible to study congenital and acquired kidney diseases. Organoids may also become functional kidney- like organs used in the treatment of patients with end-stage kidney disease. To date, methods have been developed for producing kidney organoids from mouse fetal cells and from human pluripotent stem cells.