The genus Pyramimonas Schmarda was traditionally described on observations of its periplast and internal structure of different flagellar apparatus or eyespot orientations and currently comprises of ca. 60 species that are divided into six subgenera: Pyramimonas, Vestigifera, Trichocystis, Punctatae, Hexactis, and Macrura. In order to understand the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of genus Pyramimonas members, we analyzed nuclear SSU rDNA molecular data from 41 strains isolated from different locations of the Ryukyu Archipelago. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that strains could be segregated into six clades, four of which represented existing subgenera: Pyramimonas, Vestigifera McFadden, Trichocystis McFadden, and Punctatae McFadden, and two undescribed subgenera. Most recovered subgenera were represented by established and confirmed species of Pyramimonas along with several potentially undescribed species with the exception of one undescribed subgenus. Many of the newly isolated strains were closely related with Pyramimonas aurea and P. olivacea, and were considered to belong to subgenus Punctatae. However, nuclear SSU rDNA phylogenetic trees clearly showed that they are genetically different and can be divided into two subgenera. Subgenus Punctatae comprised of Pyramimonas olivacea and related strains whilst, P. aurea and related strains belonged to an undescribed subgenus which is tentatively referred to as undescribed subgenus 1 which shared a sister-group relationship with subgenus Punctatae. The genetic similarity based on nuclear SSU rDNA ranged from 98.2% to 99.9% and 97.3% to 98.3% within and between subgenera, respectively. The present work shows high level of genetic diversity for the genus Pyramimonas from the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan.


Motorcycle is one of private transportation which has been widely used in many countries including Malaysia. However, motorcycles are the most dangerous form of motorized transport. Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) statistics recorded that motorcycle is the highest vehicle (45.9%) involved in traffic accident compared to other vehicles. The potential cause of the death to the motorcyclist was due to the head injury. One of strategy to mitigate this problem is through proper usage of safety helmet. Therefore, this paper was introduce a new approach on motorcyclist safety by using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) with additional determinants that contribute to behavioral intention and to increase the proper usage of safety helmets among Malaysian motorcyclists. The Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to test the structural TAM proposed. The evaluation for structural model showed the goodness of fit indices are excellent fit. This study found that perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness and social norm are significant towards behavioral intention to use Safety Helmet Reminder System (SHR). © Owned by the authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2016 Language: en


Moderate drought stress has been found to promote the accumulation of active ingredients in Glycyrrhiza uralensis root and hence improve the medicinal quality. In this study, the transcriptomes of 6-month-old moderate drought stressed and control G. uralensis root (the relative water content in soil was 40%-45% and 70%-75%, respectively) were sequenced using Illumina HiSeq 2000. A total of 80,490 490 and 82 588 278 clean reads, 94,828 and 305,100 unigenes with N50 sequence of 1,007 and 1,125 nt were obtained in drought treated and control transcriptome, respectively. Differentially expressed genes analysis revealed that the genes of some cell wall enzymes such as β-xylosidase, legumain and GDP-L-fucose synthase were down-regulated indicating that moderate drought stress might inhibit the primary cell wall degradation and programmed cell death in root cells. The genes of some key enzymes involved in terpenoid and flavonoid biosynthesis were up-regulated by moderate drought stress might be the reason for the enhancement for the active ingredients accumulation in G. uralensis root. The promotion of the biosynthesis and signal transduction of auxin, ethylene and cytokinins by moderate drought stress might enhance the root formation and cell proliferation. The promotion of the biosynthesis and signal transduction of abscisic acid and jasmonic acid by moderate drought stress might enhance the drought stress tolerance in G. uralensis. The inhibition of the biosynthesis and signal transduction of gibberellin and brassinolide by moderate drought stress might retard the shoot growth in G. uralensis.


Gearboxes for rolling mills are complex machines and their reliability is crucial. Condition monitoring systems are useful tools for estimating defects on main gearbox components, but their performance relies upon the training procedure, which often requires a very expensive and experimental set-up. This paper introduces a numerical approach to predict the effects of bearing failure under several working conditions. The generated outputs correspond to different fault conditions and will constitute a useful database to tune up and train the entire apparatus of the condition monitoring system (CMS) of rolling mill gearboxes. By S.Cinquemani1 F.Rosa1, E. Osto2


Salmonella is one of the most important food-borne zoonotic pathogens, causing acute or chronic digestive diseases such as enteritis. The acute form of enteritis is common in young pigs of 2 - 4 months of age. The main symptoms include high fever (41 - 42 ℃ ), loss of appetite, and increased mortality within 2 - 4 days of onset of the disease. It is often the cause of increasing mortality, decreasing growth rate and reducing feed efficiency of piglets. In the case of chronic enteritis in pigs, the main symptom is weight loss due to the continuing severe diarrhea. Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and Salmonella enterica serovar Choleraesuis are typical pig adapted serotypes, which cause one of four major syndromes: enteric fever, enterocolitis/diarrhea, bacteremia and chronic asymptomatic carriage. These syndromes cause a huge economic burden to swine industry by reducing production. Therefore, it is necessary that swine industries should strive to decrease Salmonellosis in pigs in order to reduce economic losses. There are several measures, such as vaccination to prevent salmonellosis, that are implemented differently from country to country. For the treatment of Salmonella , ongoing antibiotic treatment is needed. However constant doses of antibiotics can be a problem because of antibiotic resistance. Therefore, the focus should be made more on prevention than treatment. In this review, we addressed the basic information about Salmonella , route of infection, clinical symptoms, and prevention of Salmonellosis.


Background: In India, Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) maintain the growth record of all the under-five years' children in their area under ICDS. This task requires technical skill of proper weighing, plotting weight on growth charts, interpreting growth curve and using the growth card as a tool for educating mothers. In urban slums, their knowledge and skills are rarely assessed. Objectives: To assess the knowledge and skill of AWWs regarding growth monitoring of under-five years' children. Methods: This cross-sectional study was done in an urban slum in central part of Karnataka. After obtaining ethical clearance, data was collected from 20 AWWs and 100 under-five children using a structured questionnaire (modified and adapted from ICDS manual). Data was analyzed using MS-Excel 2010.Results: All AWWs correctly interpreted growth chart but 60.0% didn't know the expected weight for age or number of times a child should be weighed. 70% had inadequate skills to determine correct age of child and 30% erred while measuring the weight of child. Conclusions: Majority of AWW had adequate knowledge regarding growth monitoring but lacked skills in crucial steps like age determination and weighing the child. Training programme must ensure that the AWW learn and practices these skills.


Abstract:  The third molar tooth is one of the few anatomical sites available for age estimation of unknown age individuals in the late adolescent years. Computed tomography (CT) images were assessed in an Australian population aged from 15 to 25 years for development trends, particularly concerning age estimation at the child/adult transition point of 18 years. The CT images were also compared to conventional radiographs to assess the developmental scoring agreement between the two and it was found that agreement of Demirjian scores between the two imaging modalities was excellent. The relatively wide age ranges (mean ± 2SD) indicate that the third molar is not a precise tool for age estimation (age ranges of 3–8 years) but is, however, a useful tool for discriminating the adult/child transition age of 18 years. In the current study 100% of females and 96% of males with completed roots were over 18 years of age.


We have fabricated a 300GHz-band transmitter capable of quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) with 40nm CMOS technology. The transmitter successfully generates six-channel 64QAM signals using the frequency band from 275 to 305GHz. The generated aggregate data rate is as high as 123Gbps. In this paper, an appropriate channel allocation plan is discussed from the viewpoints of the allowable frequency range and backward compatibility since consideration of the channel allocation in the 300GHz band is important for designing practical transceivers. Future applications are also discussed considering the inherent features of terahertz wireless communication.


Abstract An extensive review of published record data, and the amassing of new collection data from the study of numerous collections and surveys has led to the accounting of 182 species of Ephemeroptera from the state of South Carolina. Previous listings are corrected, and all species are supported by previously available or, for the most part, new collection data. Twenty-two species are listed for the state for the first time, and supporting data are provided for the first time for another 39 species. Three species previously listed for South Carolina are discounted. Over 1000 new county records are given for 160 of the species and all 46 state counties.


Remote sensing has been increasingly used in retrieval Aerosol optical thickness (AOT) to particulate matter pollution monitoring. In this study, Moderate resolution image Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data were utilized in particulate matter pollution monitoring. Daily aerosol optical thickness (AOT) data retrieved from MODIS using Non-Linear Correlation Coefficient (NLCC) with polynomial equation Were compared with the amount of particulate matter PMIO measured at Three ground Air Quality Monitoring Stations (AQMS)-Victoria Kl, Cheras Kl and Gombak- in Kuala lumpur and surrounding area. The PMIO data were imported in geographical information system (GIS) environment to derive the PMIO maps in Kuala Lumpur stations. Results showed that the amounts of PMIO in dry season are higher than those in rainy season in stations. The NLCC between MODIS AOT and PMIO concentration was obtained higher in Victoria Kl compared to Gombak and Cheras Kl. GIS maps were found to show better distribution of PMIO compared to the ground station data. This study reveals AOT data from MODIS and GIS map can be utilized to study the air quality, especially distribution of PMIO in the places where there are ground measurements.


Small vibration sensors with the laser interferometer have been developed. However, there are some disadvantages, for example, weakness to external vibration, difficulty in optical alignment, and so on. These disadvantages are improved by making use of a self-coupling effect of a semiconductor laser, because this sensor is composed of only a laser diode and a lens. When a small vibration, whose amplitude is less than half-wavelength of the laser, is measured, a reference signal is needed. The reference signal is generated by moving the sensor head quickly. Also an output signal should be measured at maximum sensitivity. This output signal is observed by moving the sensor head slowly. The signal is controlled by a microcomputer. The vibration amplitude is evaluated from the ratio of the output signal to the reference one by the microcomputer. This sensor can detect a small vibration with minimum amplitude of about 3 nm, and a small vibration is able to be measured irrespective of the frequency in the range between 0.5 kHz and 3.0 kHz, and the target color.


Several recent studies have reviewed the extent of fungal biodiversity, and have used these data as basis for revised estimates of species numbers based on known numbers of plants and insects. None of these studies, however, have focused on fungal biodiversity in South Africa. Coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the National Collection of Fungi (PREM) in South Africa in 2005, it is thus timely to reflect on the taxonomic research that has been conducted in South Africa over the past Century. Information is presented on the extent of fungal collections preserved at PREM, and the associated research publications that have largely resulted from this resource. These data are placed in context of the known plant and insect biodiversity, and used as basis to estimate the potential number of fungi that could be expected in South Africa. The conservative estimate is of approximately 200 000 species without taking into account those associated with a substantial insect biodiversity.


Abstract Introduction The perspectives of the wider surgical community toward simulation-based assessment (SBA) in training is a gap in the literature. This study aims to explore the factors associated with the acceptable use of SBA in surgical training, through the perceptions and experiences of a broad range of stakeholder representatives, building on findings from a review of the published literature. Materials and methods Ten semi-structured interviews were conducted, using a sequential transformative qualitative methods approach, with representatives from identified key stakeholder groups; executive management, risk management, a practicing surgeon, an anaesthesiologist, a theatre-nursing representative, a representative from simulation industry, a patient, a medical student, a junior surgical trainee, and a senior surgical trainee. Interview transcripts underwent reflexive thematic analysis using an inductive and constructivist framework (NVIVO software, NVIVO 12, QSR International). Results Four themes emerged: the 'need' for SBA, the concept of a 'minimum standard', the 'optimum design' of an SBA framework, and 'fairness'. SBA is a potential solution to challenges in the current training environment. It emerged that it should not replace trainer judgement, but could ensure that trainees meet a minimum operative competency standard. SBA should be used to identify underperforming trainees early in training to provide targeted remediation. The application of SBA in high-stakes settings such as trainee selection, autonomy granting, and end-of training certification has perceived benefits over current assessment methods. Conclusions This study builds on findings from prior research to explore factors regarding the acceptable use of simulation as an assessment method in surgical training, including perspectives from a broad range of stakeholder representatives. Findings can inform the development of simulation-based assessment curricula in surgical training.


This study investigated the effects of temperature on bitter taste in humans. The experiments were conducted within the context of current understanding of the neurobiology of bitter taste and recent evidence of stimulus-dependent effects of temperature on sweet taste. In the first experiment, the bitterness of caffeine and quinine sampled with the tongue tip was assessed at 4 different temperatures (10°, 21°, 30°, and 37 °C) following pre-exposure to the same solution or to water for 0, 3, or 10 s. The results showed that initial bitterness (0-s pre-exposure) followed an inverted U-shaped function of temperature for both stimuli, but the differences across temperature were statistically significant only for quinine. Conversely, temperature significantly affected adaptation to the bitterness of quinine but not caffeine. A second experiment used the same procedure to test 2 additional stimuli, naringin and denatonium benzoate. Temperature significantly affected the initial bitterness of both stimuli but had no effect on adaptation to either stimulus. These results confirm that like sweet taste, temperature affects bitter taste sensitivity and adaptation in stimulus-dependent ways. However, the thermal effect on quinine adaptation, which increased with warming, was opposite to what had been found previously for adaptation to sweetness. The implications of these results are discussed in relation to findings from prior studies of temperature and bitter taste in humans and the possible neurobiological mechanisms of gustatory thermal sensitivity.


Background: Overexpression of the endothelin A (ETA) receptor has been found in a number of human cancer cell lines. Activation of the ETA receptor by endothelin-1 (ET-1) promotes cell proliferation and survival in these tumors, whereas activation of the endothelin B (ETB) receptor results in an opposing effect. Therefore, blockade of ETA may have antitumor effects, while sparing ETB-mediated effects such as induction of apoptosis and clearance of ET-1. Objective: ZD4054 is an orally bioavailable, specific ETA antagonist currently being investigated in prostate cancer. In receptor-binding studies, ZD4054 only bound to ETA, with no binding detected towards ETB. Prostate cancer cell lines are known to produce ET-1 and there is a relative increase in expression of ETA to ETB in these cancers. There is also an association of greater ETA expression in higher grade versus lower grade tumors, suggesting that ETA may be involved in the malignant transformation process. As ET-1 may also mediate nociceptive effects and osteoblastic effects, there is much interest in clinically assessing ZD4054 in prostate cancer. Methods: The data describing the endothelin axis, the role of ETA and ETB in malignancy, and the effects of ETA antagonist ZD4054 in prostate cancer, as demonstrated in preclinical and clinical studies, are reviewed. Results: Further investigation of ZD4054 in prostate cancer is warranted, and Phase III trials are already planned in patients with non-metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) with rising prostate specific antigen values, metastatic (asymptomatic) CRPC, and in metastatic CRPC in combination with docetaxel, assessing either differences in progression-free survival and overall survival or overall survival alone.


The partial reinforcement extinction effect (PREE) is the observation that, following training in which a response is followed by reward on only a subset of trials, the response is more resistant to extinction following the total removal of reward than it is after training in which reward is presented on all trials. The PREE is almost ubiquitous in instrumental conditioning procedures but only inconsistently observed in Pavlovian conditioning. In his classic review of animal learning, Mackintosh attributes the bulk of the PREE to generalisation decrement relating to the fact that partial reinforcement typically ensures that acquisition of responding has taken place in conditions similar to that of extinction (e.g., in the absence of the reinforcer). We report here that extinction of a conditioned taste aversion is not retarded by partial reinforcement in terms of either consumption of the taste or hedonic reactions to it (assessed through the analysis of licking microstructure). These results are consistent with Mackintosh's analysis of the PREE and the way in which it might differ between instrumental and Pavlovian conditioning.


This thesis is related to the knowledge area of real-time systems and real-time databases. The increasing complexity of the systems, specifically the embedded systems, and the need of store and share the information they use leads to the need of new technologies. For this reason a need of real-time database management system has emerged to satisfy the new requirements. Several commercial database systems claim to be real-time, but this technology is not consolidated enough. The thesis will perform an evaluation of those databases mainly in predictability terms since predictability is necessary for the correct execution of hard real-time systems. In order to complete the evaluation, a real-time database application has been implemented. This application implements two commercial databases, namely Mimer and eXtremeDB, and a monitor application which is responsible for displaying all the relevant database behavior's information at runtime. A comparative studying of both databases has been carried out in order to determine how predictable these databases are. Parameters such as response time, CPU time consumption, etc has been studied. Finally, it can be concluded that both databases are predictable to a certain level. On one hand Mimer has an estimation of the worst case response time around 12 µs and CPU overload of 36%, and the fluctuation along the transactions is nearly negligible. On the other hand, eXtreme has an estimation of the worst-case response time around 18 µs and CPU overload of 41%, and the fluctuation along the transactions are rather bigger than the Mimer's. However, it can be concluded that both databases provide real-time transactions and, thus, they are able to be implemented in real-time systems.


Botswana represents one of the few development success stories in Sub?Saharan Africa. Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth averaged almost 9 percent between 1960 and 2005, far above the Sub?Saharan Africa average. Real GDP per capita grew even faster, averaging more than 10 percent a year-the most?rapid economic growth of any country in the world. The crucial question is: why has Botswana grown the way it has done, and what lessons does it offer? This evidence?based story is an account of policy and institutional dynamics of sustained growth and development in Botswana-illuminating the role of leadership. It shows how a secure political elite has pursued growth?promoting policies and developed, modified, and maintained viable inherited traditional and modern institutions of political, economic, and legal restraint. These institutions have remained robust in the face of initial large aid inflows and spectacular mineral rents, producing a growth pattern that has been both rapid and cautious. The nature of the Botswana developmental state is illustrated by the way in which the state mobilized development resources-especially savings, investment, and human resources, widely known as the primary drivers of economic growth, and prudently managed the economy without becoming excessively involved in the nuts. It demonstrates that through intentional policy choices and countercyclical instruments, countries can shift from aid?dependent to trade?led natural resource development (though probably with narrow?based growth), to a broader development strategy as long as the state is capable and operates within effective institutional design. Botswana's story is sterling example of how the critical issue in development is not so much access to resources but how resources are managed.


Background In may 1999 a 57 year old woman presented progressive symmetric arthritis of the hand, fingers and forefoot over a period of more than 6 weeks. Laboratory testing revealed an elevated sedimentation rate, increased C reactive protein levels and secondary signs of inflammation (elevated ferritine, alpha-2-fraction in the serum electrophoreses, etc.). The radiograph showed juxtaarticular osteoporosis without further signs of joint destruction. The x-ray of the chest was normal (performed for reasons of nicotin consumption over years and the intention of methotrexate therapy) without signs of malignancy. Initially the patient was treated as an outpatient. Although the initiated DMARD-therapy with methotrexate was well tolerated at a dose of 15 mg orally per week she was finally admitted to the hospital in December 1999 for reasons of further deteriorating of the arthritis and the general feeling. Symmetrical arthritis and elevated sedimentation rate revealed continuous inflammation. An x-ray control of the hand and feet showed a fine periostal hyperostosis suspective for "osteoarthropathy hypertrophiante pneumonique Pierre Marie Bamberger". The x-ray of the chest was suspective for a malignant process of the lung, a diagnose that was confirmed by computer tomography. Histological examination revealed an adeno carcinoma of the lung. Consecutive palliative chemotherapy led to improvement of arthritis. Objectives ./. Methods ./. Results ./. Conclusion This is a case of malignant lung disease with the rare initial symptom of symmetric progressive arthritis and periostal hyperostosis, improving after chemotherapy.


This book should be of interest to all science educators, whether they teach students, advise or inspect or are involved in planning a science curriculum. The content is essentially an account of a research project undertaken to find out and to report the range and nature of school students' understanding of the nature of science. The authors designed a cross-age study, giving the same task to samples of pupils of three different ages: 9, 12 and 16 years. The collected data were analysed to see the ways in which understanding seemed to change with age and experience. The researchers' interest in students' ideas about science has grown from their observation that learners' responses to observations and ideas are constrained and limited in significant ways by their perception of the nature of scientific work and of scientific knowledge. The result is that students often misinterpret information and experiences presented in the classroom and laboratory. The authors hope that, by knowing more about these misperceptions, we may understand better the processes of science content learning and hence achieve more effective teaching. The book is divided into three sections. In the first 70 pages the authors set out the arguments for giving the nature of science a more prominent place in the curriculum. Next they present an overview of the major schools of thought about science and scientific knowledge, followed by a summary of previous research on students' ideas about the nature of science. The section concludes with the questions, methods and tools used in the research. In the next 60 pages the main findings of the study are presented and discussed. In the final chapter the authors bring together the theoretical arguments for the place of teaching about the nature of science with the results of the research study and consider the possible implications for science teaching in schools, discussing ways in which the curriculum could be adapted to assist students to become better citizens in a modern technological world. The book is well laid out, carefully planned and argued at every stage, with excellent clear headings and summaries. It is possible to read it on a superficial level, dwelling more on the conclusions, or to select sections for closer study using either the index or section headings. There are several appendices, one of which contains the 174 references to other publications quoted in the text. There is considerable food for thought and/or discussion or debate, not only for new teachers but as timely reminders to those who have been in the classroom, laboratory or management for many years, about their aims and objectives and whether they are being realized. This is a volume which should find its way into the resource library of every science teaching department.


Psychiatric patients' influence on therapists' feelings has received much clinical attention but scant interest among empirical researchers. In this study, the staff at 25 small psychiatric treatment units for mainly psychotic patients reported their feelings towards the patients twice a year over 5 years. At intake, the patients completed the self-rating version of the Structural Analysis of Social Behavior (SASB) protocol; a circumplex model intended to capture internalized perceptions of self and others. The instrument included ratings of the introject and ratings of how the individual remembered that mother and father had treated him or her in childhood. Correlations between the patients' SASB scores and the staff members' average feelings towards the patients were assessed. The associations varied in the different gender combinations, but some overarching patterns were found. Patients scoring high on both the spontaneous and the controlling introject evoked accepting staff feelings, and patients reporting low scores on both these SASB aspects evoked rejecting feelings. These associations were interpreted as reflecting influence from the patients' engagement in and struggle with themselves on the treatment process. Staff identification with a parent figure was particularly evident in the female staff–male patient combination, where the patient's positive image of mother was associated with positive staff feelings towards the patient.


Community violence and its physical health consequences are well known among youth living in urban settings. However, less is known about the cumulative effect of contextual and demographic risk factors on posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) among vulnerable youth. Longitudinal data (baseline, 9-month, 21-month) were analyzed to investigate trajectories of PTSS, internalizing, and externalizing symptoms among 188 youth (Mage 12.87, 60.6% male) treated for an assault injury in an emergency department. Youth exhibited decreased mental health problems over time. Higher levels of internalizing symptoms related to decreased PTSS over time, while higher levels of PTSS predicted increased externalizing symptoms over time, thus underscoring the importance of understanding comorbidity. Gender and stressful life events were significantly associated with initial levels of symptoms and trajectories. These findings suggest the importance of understanding PTSS in the context of environments and personal factors to support appropriate treatment.


Periodontitis is a multifactorial disease with microbial dental plaque as the initiator of periodontal disease. However, the manifestation and progression of the disease is influenced by a wide variety of determinants and factors. The strongest type of causal relationship is the association of systemic and periodontal disease. Hashimotos thyroiditis has also been considered as one of the causes of periodontal disease. As a matter of fact, on an autoimmune basis, in Hashimotos disease and periodontal disease, we have made an attempt to derive the common mechanisms, with an evidence base. The need for this kind of review was due to the fact that the outcome of periodontal therapy did not give the expected results in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Hence, a possible link between Hashimotos thyroiditis and periodontitis was considered.


This paper proposes two audio mixing algorithms in software based Multipoint Control Unit (MCU) using Automatic Gain Controller. The objectives of the proposed algorithms include performing selective mixing, minimizing audio clipping, assigning higher amplitude priority to the loudest speaker and ensuring a smooth transition as the primary speaker changes from one participant to another. The proposed algorithms are able to suppress unexpected signal spikes by considering previously computed gain value(s) in the calculation of the current gain. The proposed algorithms are also able to mix multiple VoIP packets for up to eight conference participants within 150µs, which is well below the default RTP audio packet timeframe of 20ms. The proposed mixing algorithms are integrated with the audio decoder and encoder modules to complete theMCU system. Experiments were carried out to verify the basic performances of the proposed mixing algorithms.


To study the ignition energy characteristics and explosion propagation law of coal dust cloud, a kind of coal dust cloud is studied through experiment and numerical simulation under different conditions. )e result indicated that ignition delay time and dust spray pressure have obvious effects on theminimum ignition energy of coal dust cloud. CFD theory is used to simulate the explosion flamepropagation. It is found that the simulation error of flame propagation distance is acceptable and the simulation result is consistent with the experimental result.When the spray pressure is 0.06MPa, the flame propagation distance is the farthest, indicating that the turbulence of coal dust cloud is the largest at this condition. As the ignition temperature increases, the flame propagation distance continues to increase, proving that ignition temperature has an obvious effect on the flame propagation process of coal dust cloud explosion.


Enamel fluoride concentrations in buccal and lingual surfaces were determined in successive layers obtained by the acid etch method. The 48 unerupted third molar teeth were from subjects who had lived continuously since birth in two Brazilian towns (Barretos and Ribeirão Pr-eto) with different fluoride levels in the drinking water but with similar socioeconomic conditions. The DMFT index was determined for children 7-12 years old living in the two towns. Enamel fluoride concentrations were significantly higher in the teeth from the town with higher fluoride levels in drinking water. The children residing in the community with near-optimum fluoride concentration in the water had mean DMFT scores that were less than half those found in the community with a low level of fluoride in the drinking water.


Primary cosmic rays consist of fast protons and heavier nuclei. The dependence of the number of cosmic rays on their energy and the relative abundance of the various nuclear species, together with the isotropic distribution of the cosmic radiation, has to be explained by any theory of cosmic rays. It is shown that a random acceleration process, proposed by Fermi, and a physical location of the accelerating fields in radio stars, proposed by Unsold, account satisfactorily for the main features of cosmic radiation.


The effects of pH, contact time and temperature on the ability of plantain peel charcoal to remove Zn 2+ and Cu 2+ from synthetic wastewaters were investigated. The charcoal used as the adsorbent was prepared from unripe plantain peels. The adsorption process established pH 5 and pH 9 as the respective optimal working pH values  for Zn 2+ at 30°C and Cu 2+ at 40°C. Changes in enthalpy (ΔH), entropy (ΔS) and free energy (ΔG) were also determined. Data evaluation showed that the adsorption of Zn 2+ and Cu 2+ followed the pseudo-second order adsorption kinetic model with the Langmuir model being the best fit for the isotherm model. The thermodynamic study revealed that the adsorption was a physisorption process which was spontaneous and endothermic in nature. It was concluded that plantain peel charcoal could efficiently serve as an alternative low cost adsorbent for the removal of heavy metal ions from wastewaters. Keywords : Adsorption, Heavy Metals, Thermodynamics, Charcoal, Wastewater.


The list of topics that parents need to master is almost endless, starting before birth and extending all the way to adulthood. Rather than trying to answer all of the questions parents might have, this 3-page fact sheet focuses on the ways in which parents can explore their own parenting and find information and solutions that work for them. Written by David C. Diehl, Jessica N. Wente, and Larry F. Forthun, and published by the UF Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, December 2011.


A growing number of video streaming networks are incorporating machine learning (ML) applications. The growth of video streaming services places enormous pressure on network and video content providers who need to proactively maintain high levels of video quality. ML has been applied to predict the quality of video streams. Quality of delivery (QoD) measurements, which capture the end-to-end performances of network services, have been leveraged in video quality prediction. The drive for end-to-end encryption, for privacy and digital rights management, has brought about a lack of visibility for operators who desire insights from video quality metrics. In response, numerous solutions have been proposed to tackle the challenge of video quality prediction from QoD-derived metrics. This survey provides a review of studies that focus on ML techniques for predicting the QoD metrics in video streaming services. In the context of video quality measurements, we focus on QoD metrics, which are not tied to a particular type of video streaming service. Unlike previous reviews in the area, this contribution considers papers published between 2016 and 2021. Approaches for predicting QoD for video are grouped under the following headings: (1) video quality prediction under QoD impairments, (2) prediction of video quality from encrypted video streaming traffic, (3) predicting the video quality in HAS applications, (4) predicting the video quality in SDN applications, (5) predicting the video quality in wireless settings, and (6) predicting the video quality in WebRTC applications. Throughout the survey, some research challenges and directions in this area are discussed, including (1) machine learning over deep learning; (2) adaptive deep learning for improved video delivery; (3) computational cost and interpretability; (4) self-healing networks and failure recovery. The survey findings reveal that traditional ML algorithms are the most widely adopted models for solving video quality prediction problems. This family of algorithms has a lot of potential because they are well understood, easy to deploy, and have lower computational requirements than deep learning techniques.


Deep neural networks have achieved remarkable progress in enhancing low-light images by improving their brightness and eliminating noise. However, most existing methods construct end-to-end mapping networks heuristically, neglecting the intrinsic prior of image enhancement task and lacking transparency and interpretability. Although some unfolding solutions have been proposed to relieve these issues, they rely on proximal operator networks that deliver ambiguous and implicit priors. In this work, we propose a paradigm for low-light image enhancement that explores the potential of customized learnable priors to improve the transparency of the deep unfolding paradigm. Motivated by the powerful feature representation capability of Masked Autoencoder (MAE), we customize MAE-based illumination and noise priors and redevelop them from two perspectives: 1) \textbf{structure flow}: we train the MAE from a normal-light image to its illumination properties and then embed it into the proximal operator design of the unfolding architecture; and m2) \textbf{optimization flow}: we train MAE from a normal-light image to its gradient representation and then employ it as a regularization term to constrain noise in the model output. These designs improve the interpretability and representation capability of the model.Extensive experiments on multiple low-light image enhancement datasets demonstrate the superiority of our proposed paradigm over state-of-the-art methods. Code is available at https://github.com/zheng980629/CUE.


Side-fringing is an important factor for high track density recording. Track width written with a flying single pole flying head was measured through off-track profiles. The results show almost no side-fringing. The erase band width was around 25 nm for the off-track overwrite profile.


: The effect of the communication channel size on the transport and subsequent detection of chemical messengers is investigated on millimetric and micrometric channels. The transport of the information carriers, being characterized by an advective and a diffusive contribution, was simulated by varying the flow velocity and the diffusion coefficient. Then, to evaluate the information quality, the Intersymbol Interference (ISI) between two consecutive signals at a specific release delay was estimated. This allowed us to verify that operating under micrometric channel conditions has a larger flow velocity range to obtain completely separated successive signals and smaller release delays can be used between signals. The theoretical results were confirmed by developing a prototype molecular communication platform operating under microfluidic conditions, which enables communication through fluorescent nanoparticles, namely Carbon Quantum Dots (CQDs).


Purkinje cells are one of the major types of neurons that form the neural circuitry in the cerebellum essential for fine control of movement and posture. During development, Purkinje cells also are critically involved in the regulation of proliferation of progenitors of granule cells, the other major type of neurons in the cerebellum. The process that controls differentiation of Purkinje cells from their early precursors is poorly understood. Here we report that two closely related LIM-homeobox genes, Lhx1 and Lhx5, were expressed in the developing Purkinje cells soon after they exited the cell cycle and migrated out of the cerebellar ventricular zone. Double-mutant mice lacking function of both Lhx1 and Lhx5 showed a severe reduction in the number of Purkinje cells. In addition, targeted inactivation of Ldb1, which encodes a cofactor for all LIM-homeodomain proteins, resulted in a similar phenotype. Our studies thus provide evidence that these transcription regulators are essential for controlling Purkinje cell differentiation in the developing mammalian cerebellum.


The offal (hearts, stomachs, and livers) of 24 African ostriches (Strutio camelus var. domesticus) from Polish farms were used in this study. Offal were taken directly from the production line; they were weighed and their water, fat, protein, ash and total collagen contents were determined. Ostrich hearts and stomachs were found to have high protein (18.1% and 19.0%, respectively) and low fat content (2.0% and 0.9%, respectively), typical of lean meat. Thus, the offal could be used in processed offal products or in pet food. Ostrich livers had slightly lower protein content (16.6%) and significantly higher and diverse fat content (4.4–28.4%). Heavier livers had significantly (P<0.05) higher fat and lower protein, water, and ash content. The utilization of ostrich liver should be preceded by classification of its fat content.


Following on from Peter Burke "Eyewitnessing" (2001), this article considers again the potential for collaboration between historians and art historians, and presents 'ten commandments' to be borne in mind by historians who wish to make use of visual materials in their work.


An important class of visual analytics applications has to deal with dynamic data, which is continuously updated (e.g. by receiving new additions) while the analysis process is running. For instance, a visual analysis of Wikipedia articles, based on a live feed of Wikipedia data. The analysis has to gracefully adjust to the updates; stopping the process and triggering a total re-computation is not acceptable. We have designed ReaViz, a reactive workflow platform, conceived and deployed in close connection with a database of application and workflow-related data. ReaViz enables the declarative specification of data-driven workflows, enforcing a clean separation between the process data, the process structure, and the user interaction which may or may not involve visualization. A distinguishing feature of ReaViz is the possibility provided to the process designer to specify reactive behavior in the event of data changes to one or several of the data collections involved in a process. Thus, ReaViz aims at enabling the easy, elegant specification of visual analytics applications where data dynamics is an important aspect.


Preface 1. Introduction Part I. Techniques 2. Detection of Minor Species with Laser Techniques Kermit C Smyth and David R Crosley 3. Coherent Techniques for Measurements with Intermediate Concentrations Thomas Dreier and Paul Ewart 4. Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy for Concentration Measurements Andrew McIIroy and Jay B Jeffries 5. Short-Pulse Techniques: Picosecond Fluorescence, Energy Transfer and 'Quench-Free' Measurements Andreas Brockhinke and Mark A Linne 6. Measurement of Temperature in Laboratory Flames and Practical Devices Winifried P Stricker 7. Flow Field Diagnostics Richard B Miles 8. Multi-Dimensional Diagnostics in Space and Time Clemens F Kaminski and Marshall B Long 9. Laser-Induced Incandecence Robert J Santoro and Christopher R Shaddix Part II. Applications 10. Fuel-Rich Chemistry and Soot Precursors Burak Atakan, Heidi Bohm and Katharina Kohse-Hoinghaus 11. Combustion Chemistry of Fire Supression Bradley A Williams 12. Sum-Frequency Generation (SFG) Vibrational Spectroscopy As a Means for the Investigation of Catalytic Combustion Hans-Robert Volpp and Jurgen Wolfrum 13. Pah and Soot Diagnostics by Optical Techniques Alfred Leipertz, Frederik Ossler and Marcus Alden 14. Multiscalar Diagnostics in Turbulent Flames Robert S Barlow, Campbell D Carter and Robert W Pitz 15. Laser Diagnostics for Droplet Measurements for the Study of Fuel Injection and Mixing in Gas Turbines and I C Engines Douglas A Greenhalgh and Mark Jermy 16. Optical Measurements in Di Diesel Engines Thierry Baritaud 17. Optical Diagnostics in Di Gasoline Engines Werner Hentschel 18. Tunable Diode Laser Sensing and Combustion Control Mark G Allen, Edward R Furlong and Ronald K Hanson Part III. Perspectives 19. Diagnostics for Detailed Kinetic Modeling Gregory P Smith 20. Diagnostics For Catalytic Combustion Olaf Deutschmann and Jurgen Warnatz 21. Sensor Requirements for Combustion Control Nicolas Docquier and Sebastien Candel 22. Diagnostic Challenges for Gas Turbine Combustor Model Validation Andreas Dreizler and Johannes Janicka 23. Opportunities for Diagnostics in the Combustion Synthesis of Materials Kenneth Brezinsky 24. Diagnostic Requirements for Toxic Emission Control Catherine P Koshland and Susan L Fischer 25. On-Line Trace Analysis for Time-Resolved Monitoring of Organic Combustion Effluents Ulrich Boesl 26. Tunable Infrared Laser Differential Absorption Spectroscopy (Tildas) Sensors for Combustion Exhaust Pollutant Quantification M S Zahniser, D D Nelson and C E Kolb 27. Continuing Developments Abbreviations Permissions Index


Proceedings: AACR 107th Annual Meeting 2016; April 16-20, 2016; New Orleans, LA

Malignant pediatric brain tumors, including ependymoma, medulloblastoma and atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors, frequently demonstrate a very "quiet" genome with very few nonsynonyomous single nucleotide variants or indels and a stable copy number profile. The recent advance of integrative genomics approaches from primary tumor tissue including whole-genome sequencing, RNA sequencing, whole-genome bisulfite sequencing, and ChIP sequencing for core histone marks and important transcription factors and chromatin configuration have enabled the discovery of new tumor-driving pathways and potentially druggable alterations in these cancers with quiet genomes. This knowledge after functional validation in vitro and in vivo provides critical insight in the search for the cell of origin in these tumors, the understanding of underlying pathomechanisms, and the identification of new treatment options.

Citation Format: Serap Erkek, Kristian W. Pajtler, Pascal D. Johann, Paul A. Northcott, Lukas Chavez, Marcel Kool, Stefan M. Pfister. Identification of novel oncogenic mechanisms in brain tumors with quiet genomes through mapping the enhancer landscape. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr SY15-02.


The author presents a new psychosomatic stress model. All the elements of the hypothesis are well known but, in this context, are published first. The following are the most critical aspects of the recommended chronic stress model. 1/ Stress contains both sympathetic and parasympathetic elements, but the latter predominate. 2/ The mediator of stress is carbon dioxide, the substance that can turn the psyche into soma. 3/ In humans, chronic stress is mainly social; people cause it to each other. Chronic social stress is created frequently due to deviations in civilisation, education and tolerance. 4/ The freeze response (or freezing behaviour) plays a subordinate role in the animal world; it lasts mainly for a maximum of minutes, while in humans, it dominates and can continue for decades. 5/ The decisive step of freeze is apnea, hypopnea, which occurs due to aversive psychological eff ects. After a more extended existence, mild chronic respiratory acidosis develops and most often appears in the clinical form of obstructive sleep apnea. 6/ Chronic hypercapnia can shape the metabolism into metabolic syndrome. 7/ After that, various cardiovascular and metabolic complications (hypertension, atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, depression) may develop - partly due to genetic and lifestyle reasons. (Neuropsychopharmacol Hung 2022; 24(3): 126-133).


Using a combination of the stochastic Monte Carlo technique and the iteration procedure of the solution to the Bethe–Salpeter equation, it has been shown that the simulation of the optical path of a photon packet undergoing an nth scattering event directly corresponds to the nth–order ladder diagram contribution. In this paper, the Monte Carlo technique is generalized for the simulation of the coherent back–scattering and temporal correlation function of optical radiation scattered within the randomly inhomogeneous turbid medium. The results of simulation demonstrate a good agreement with the diffusing wave theory and experimental results.


By virtue of its geological history and geographical location the Soutpansberg constitutes a refuge for a high diversity of organisms. The Western Soutpansberg forms part of the Savanna Biome and is presently the area with the highest concentration of Natural Heritage Sites in South Africa. A unique private initiative is under way to improve its national and international conservation status in a bid to conserve the mountain. A checklist of the spider species of the Western Soutpansberg collected over a five-year period is presented. Forty-six families, represented by 109 genera and 127 species have been collected. Of the species collected, 81 (64 %) were wandering spiders and 46 (36 %) web builders. The Thomisidae have the highest number of species (15) followed by the Araneidae and the Salticidae with 10 species each. Ninety-six genera are represented by a single species. Ninety six percent of the species collected are new records for the area. This survey is the first for the area and forms part of the South African National Survey of Arachnida (SANSA).


The development of high-performance Mg-alloyable anodes operable in conventional electrolytes could be a critical breakthrough for the viability of magnesium-ion batteries (MIBs). Herein, we show that 3Mg/Mg2Sn can be used as an anode with unprecedented high performance in conventional electrolytes. The as-made 3Mg/Mg2Sn consists of crystalline Mg-rich (c-Mg), amorphous Mg-rich (a-Mg), and intermetallic Mg2Sn phases. During the 1st de-magnesiation of 3Mg/Mg2Sn in Mg(HMDS)2 : MgCl2 (HMDS = hexamethyldisilazide), c-Mg is first dealloyed. After the complete dissolution of c-Mg, a-Mg and intermetallic Mg2Sn are then de-magnesiated at slightly higher voltages, resulting in a capacity of 1243 mA h g−1 (3.9 Mg2+) at 100 mA g−1. Subsequent charge/discharge reversibly delivers ca. 805 mA h g−1 (2.5 Mg2+) with no re-formation of c-Mg, which indicates that the reversibility comes mostly from Mg2Sn (Mg2Sn ⇆ Sn) with an additional contribution from a-Mg (0.5 Mg2+). Though not involved in the reversible process, the dissolution of c-Mg generates micro-to-macropores, which contribute to the excellent rate-capability and cyclability of 3Mg/Mg2Sn. The Mg2+ ions, irreversibly released from 3Mg/Mg2Sn, also compensate for a decrease in the Mg2+ concentration, which can occur when a full-cell is constructed with a Mg2+-trapping Mo6S8 cathode. Furthermore, once dealloyed in Mg(HMDS)2 : MgCl2, the 3Mg/Mg2Sn becomes compatible with various conventional electrolytes.


G-quadruplexes are types of secondary structures of nucleic acids, which are formed in guanine-rich regions. Their existence in vivo was confirmed in promoter regions of some genes and at the end of chromosomes in the telomeric regions. The specific structure of G-quadruplexes is a promising target in cancer treatment. There is a search for small ligands, which could stabilize a specific type of G-quadruplexes. Cancer cells are markedly different from normal cells in the telomeric region: the regions are profoundly shorter. Telomeric regions in cancer cells are prolonged by an enzyme telomerase, while this enzyme is inactive in almost all somatic cells. Stabilization of telomeric G-quadruplex by a specific small ligand induces disruption of a normal protective function of telomers leading to cell damage and its death. This approach could be successful in cancer treatment.


Problem While the testes represent an immune privileged organ, there is evidence that systemic inflammation is accompanied by local inflammatory responses. We therefore examined if transient systemic inflammation caused any inflammatory and functional consequences in murine testes. Method of Study Using a single systemic administration of Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists [lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or peptidoglycan (PG) or polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (polyIC)] in young adult male mice, we assessed testicular immune-inflammatory landscape and reproductive functionality. Results Our findings demonstrated a significant induction of testicular TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 transcripts within 24 h of TLR agonist injection. By day 6 these cytokine levels returned to baseline. While there was no change in caudal sperm counts at early time points, eight weeks later, two-fold decrease of sperm count and reduced testicular testosterone levels was evident. When these mice were subjected to mating studies, no differences in mating efficiencies or litter sizes were observed compared to controls. Nonetheless, the neonatal weights of progeny from LPS/PG/polyIC treated sires were significantly lower than controls. Postnatal weight gain up to three weeks was also slower in the progeny of LPS/polyIC treated sires. Placental weights at 17.5 days post-coitum were significantly lower in females mated to LPS and polyIC treated males. Given this likelihood of an epigenetic effect, we found lower testicular levels of histone methyl-transferase enzyme, mixed-lineage leukemia-1, in mice given LPS/PG/polyIC eight weeks earlier. Conclusion Exposure to transient systemic inflammation leads to transient local inflammation in the testes, with persistent sperm-mediated consequences for fetal development.


Background: G6PD deficiency, which affects 400 million individuals globally, is an X-linked hereditary enzymopathy that causes acute hemolysis after exposure to specific oxidative agents such as fava beans, more than 37 drugs, and infections viral or bacterial. Neonatal jaundice worsened by kernicterus is one of the condition's significant consequences. It can be prevented by avoiding the oxidative factors that cause a hemolytic episode alongside neonatal screening programs for early detection of afflicted individuals.
Objectives: This research aimed at investigating the variability in clinical and biochemical manifestations among children with G6PDD. This is the first study to be carried out in the Zakho area.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was used, recruiting 112 children attending Zakho Emergency Hospital from January 2022 to April 2023. Laboratory aids involved in obtaining CBC, liver enzyme activities, and blood grouping were all investigated. The IBM SPSS 26 program was used to analyze the obtained data.
Results: There was no statistically significant difference between male and female patients in terms of age, time of admission, hemoglobin level, WBC count, and liver enzymes. The majority of cases who visited Zakho Emergency Hospital within 72 hours of exposure to the triggering agent were males (67.9%), with the most common clinical features being jaundice, dark urine, and abdominal pain.
Conclusion: In this study, the three main symptoms in G6PD deficient patients with acute hemolysis were pallor, jaundice, and black urine. These signs appeared several hours or even days after consuming fava beans. The primary clinical symptoms and the patient's gender, family history, or prior newborn jaundice were not related, according to our research.


As a cultural institution of national and global significance, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) is notably absent from existing scholarship on the media industries. More importantly, BAFTA's role as an independent arts charity set up by the industry to support and develop new talent is often overlooked. Instead, references to BAFTA made by media and film scholars most frequently take the form of footnotes or digressions that detail particular awards or nominations. Drawing on a range of archival sources, including BAFTA's own records, we address this significant omission within existing scholarship on the British cultural and creative industries. In particular, we examine the period 1947–68, focusing on the 1958 merger of the British Film Academy with the Guild of Television Producers and Directors to form a new institution, known as the Society of Film and Television Arts (SFTA, later renamed BAFTA). This was achieved despite the well-documented tensions existing between the two industries throughout the period, which we identify and analyse within this historical context. We argue that a crucial factor driving the 1958 merger was the desire to develop quality training schemes across both industries. This, in turn, was partly enabled by an egalitarian turn in post-war British society towards the development of greater social equality and mobility. In reconstructing these events, we therefore interrogate and reassess the role played by this key national institution on the development of the creative and cultural industries, offering an expansion and revision of scholarship on media histories of post-war Britain.


Author(s): DeBattista, Anne Michele | Advisor(s): Weiss, Sandra J | Abstract: Factors Influencing Early Trajectories of Adaptive Behavior among Children Born PrematurelyAnne DeBattistaStatement of the Problem: Children born prematurely score lower on adaptive behavior measures compared to term born peers. Because adaptive behavior encompasses a broad spectrum of motor, communication, socialization, and daily living skills, deficiencies can have a significant impact on development throughout life. Achievement of adaptive behavior scores in the normative range has been expected by age 2 or 3. However, information is lacking regarding the likelihood of preterm children catching up to their peers or their trajectories of adaptive behavior over the first few years of life. Additionally, factors that may influence these trajectories are not well understood, including the impact of intervention services experienced by children in their communities. The overarching aims of this study were to describe the trajectories of adaptive behavior for preterm children from 4 to 36 months of life, to examine the influence of specific infant and family factors on these trajectories, and to determine whether amount and timing of early intervention services are associated with improvement in children's adaptive behavior over time. Methods/Procedures: A cohort of 218 premature infants was assessed at 4 times from infancy through preschool age using the Vineland Adaptive Behaviors Scales. Hours of intervention service received by each child between assessments were recorded by participating community agencies. Additional data was collected on neonatal illness severity, infant gender and gestational age, family income, and maternal education. Multilevel modeling was used to examine the aims. Summary of Findings: Although individual trajectories varied, mean adaptive behavior scores of children declined over time. 43 percent of the children did not achieve scores in the normative range by age 2 or 3. Younger gestational age, male sex and lower income were significant predictors of worse adaptive behavior. While the amount of intervention received by children was not associated with improved adaptive behavior on average, increasing intervention was associated with some improvement in adaptive behavior as children aged. Results suggest that additional intervention might slow decline in adaptive behavior. Interventions to prevent this decline must be studied, with attention to the needs of boys born at younger gestational ages who are living in disadvantaged environments.


The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary metabolizable energy levels on the performance and carcass yield of free-range broiler chickens from 1 to 84 days of age. A total of 900 male day-old naked neck lineage chicks were distributed in a completely randomized design between six levels of metabolizable energy (2,700; 2,800; 2,900; 3,000; 3,100 and 3,200 kcal.kg -1 diet) with six replications of 25 birds each. The increase in levels of dietary metabolizable energy resulted in a linear reduction of the feed intake, crude protein and digestible lysine intakes, as well as in the protein body deposition and protein efficiency and linear improvements in the feed conversion ratio of chickens in all experimental phases. The carcass yield, wing and abdominal fat weight and percentage of abdominal fat reduced linearly by increasing the level of dietary metabolizable energy. The diet including 2700 kcal.kg -1 of metabolizable energy in the diet of free-range broiler chickens in phases 1 to 28, 28 and 56 and 57 to 84 days of age does not interfere in the broilers performance and results in a better carcass yield in the final period of production.


Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the drivers of consumer engagement and its consequences via the experiences of mobile money services' users in Ghana and to discuss its implications for the society, financial service innovation, delivery and operations.

Design/methodology/approach
A pre-tested survey instrument was used with a sample of 595 mobile money services users in Ghana. SmartPLS application was used to analyze the data and report findings.

Findings
The study shows that perceived risk, consumer empowerment, subjective norm, performance expectancy and effort expectancy influence the affect component of consumer engagement and explain around half of its variance. The effect of perceived risk on consumer engagement was counterintuitive. Perceived risk was significant and positive for cognitive processing, whereas the effect was significant but negative for affect. The authors found support for the positive effect of cognitive processing on advocacy intention but no support for its effect on continuous usage. By contrast, affect strongly influenced both advocacy intention and continuous usage of mobile money services.

Practical implications
The authors highlight the implications of mobile money services to business and marketing/service managers, policy makers, non-banking entities (such as telecoms and financial technology firms) and to the society in general. The authors provide important insights into how service providers can manage consumer engagement process and formulate marketing strategies to target and promote this simple, but innovative service to consumers. Moreover, the authors discuss the societal implications of the study in Ghana, a developing country. The authors recommend several options for future studies in order to stimulate the research agenda on mobile financial services in general.

Originality/value
The present study shows that although mobile money was initially introduced to help consumers who hitherto have no access to formal banking services, this form of banking has become increasingly popular among various consumer segments as its usage and adoption has increased multifold largely in emerging and developing countries. The main contribution of this study is the development and testing of the "mobile money customer engagement model." Moreover, this study shows the key factors that influence the engagement process and the effects of these factors as analyzed within the context of a developing country.


This study investigated morphology of the Spanner Barb (Puntius lateristriga Valenciennes, 1842) and water quality at Thepchana waterfall. This study was conducted at Thepchana Waterfall, Khao Nan National Park from March to May 2007. There were 40 Spanner Barb collected with 20 males and 20 females. Males had an average of 5.57 cm in standard length, 6.62 cm in total length and 5.18 g in total body weight. Females had an average of 7.25 cm in standard length, 8.24 cm in total length and 10.96 g in total body weight. The length (L) – weight (W) relationships for combining sexes, males and females were LogW = -2.137 + 3.355logL, log W = -0.068 + 3.297logL, and log W = -2.068 + 3.297logL, respectively. The Spanner Barb were smaller size fish with a compressed form; terminal mouth; villiform teeth; ctenoid scale; concave tail; general body color yellowish olive, with slight reddish tint to fins; vertical band beginning below dorsal and horizontal stripe from base of tail almost to vertical band. They also had a vertical band midway between the eye and first vertical band. There was a black spot above anal fin. The bladder looked like J-shape. Inside of the bladder was found small insects and insect lava. The body length and the bowels length was 1:1 ratio. The water temperature ranged from 25.00 – 27.00 °C which was appropriate for their habitat characteristics. Acid alkalinity ranged from 6.65 – 6.90 mg/l. Dissolved oxygen ranged from 4.55 – 4.70 mg/l. Water hardness ranged from 31.00 – 48.00 mg/l. The amount of ammonia was about 0.25 mg/l. Keywords—Spanner barb, morphology, water quality.


We adapted and introduced in our laboratory a simplified animal model of radiation-induced enterocolitis. After a shielding of the parenchymatous organs, our dose-response studies revealed that 20 Gy x-ray radiation resulted in about 20% mortality and reproducible lesions in the terminal ileum and proximal colon. These changes are optimal for pharmacologic studies since they may be decreased or aggravated by drugs. Sucralfate dose-dependently decreased the clinical signs of enterocolitis (e.g., lethargy, diarrhea) as well as the number and area of ileal and colonic erosions and ulcers. The wet weight of the ileum and colon were also decreased by sucralfate. bFGF at the small doses used exerted a beneficial effect only on a few of the parameters of enterocolitis. Thus sucralfate, and maybe bFGF, might decrease the severity and accelerate the healing of radiation-induced enterocolitis.


The article reviews the book "Management Education & Development: Drift or Thrust Into the 21st Century?" by Lyman Porter and Lawrence McKibbin.


The Chinaberry tree, a member of the Meliaceae family, is cultivated in China for use in traditional medicines. In 2020, Chinaberry trees with leaf deformation symptoms were found in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China. In order to identify possible pathogenic viruses, a symptomatic sample was subjected to deep sequencing of small interfering RNAs. Assembly of the resulting sequences led to the identification of a novel badnavirus, provisionally designated Chinaberry tree badnavirus 1 (ChTBV1). With the recent development of China's seedling industry and increasing online shopping platforms, the risk of tree virus transmission has increased substantially. Therefore, it is important to detect the occurrence of ChTBV1 to ensure the safety of the Chinaberry tree seedling industry. Here, we describe the development and validation of a sensitive and robust method relying on a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay, targeting a 197 nt region, to detect ChTBV1 from Chinaberry tree leaves. The LAMP assay was also adapted for rapid visualization of results by a lateral flow dipstick chromatographic detection method.


We present a new collision free medium access control algorithm suitable for large Ad-hoc network. The algorithm is iterative and distributed, i.e., each node acquires, stores and processes only information related to its neighbors. Given a random set of nodes requesting access to the common medium during each timeslot, the algorithm attempts to allow the largest fraction of nodes to do so, subject to a "no-collision" requirement. We use the average fraction of nodes allowed access out of the nodes requesting access, as the figure of merit of the algorithm. We find this value through simulations, and compare with the results of the centrally controlled algorithm described in by Cidon and Sidi. We show that in many scenarios, two iterations of the iterative algorithm are sufficient to produce comparable results.


Because of historical upheavals and economic turmoil, about one-fourth of the Lithuanian ethno-nation is scattered across the world. Such a dispersion has played a significant role in the reshaping of an independent citizenry after Lithuania recovered independence in 1990. After the 1989 adoption of a so-called "zero-option" citizenship law, that is the granting of citizenship to all permanent residents on the territory, further legal developments of the citizenship framework, namely in terms of dual citizenship, have marked a certain selective "re-ethnicization of membership", to use Christian Joppke's expression. In this respect, the (re)definition of an ethno-national feeling of belonging disconnected from residency has proved crucially central. The political treatment of the question has been denounced as confusing and inconsistent and has been at the core of a long-lasting political and legal controversy. Issues of post-communist transition, minority protection, diaspora politics and diplomatic relations have been at stake in redefining a national citizenry in Lithuania. The implications of such a political process bear lessons for the future of European integration.


A laceration deep enough to reach the bone occurs very rarely in skiing or snowboarding. Two such cases are presented here. In one case, the popliteal fossa of a skier was cut during a collision with a snowboarder. All structures posterior to the knee were severed and the leg became ischaemic. The other case was of a snowboarder who sustained a deep cut to the distal forearm during landing after a jump, resulting in a "spaghetti wrist".


Building on the successes of the past decade's work on statistical methods, there are signs that continued quality improvement for QA, summarization, information extraction, and possibly even machine translation require more-elaborate and possibly even (shallow) semantic representations of text meaning. But how can one define a large-scale shallow semantic representation system and contents adequate for NLP applications, and how can one create the corpus of shallow semantic representation structures that would be required to train machine learning algorithms? This talk addresses the components required (including a symbol definition ontology and a corpus of (shallow) meaning representations) and the resources and methods one needs to build them (including existing ontologies, human annotation procedures, and a verification methodology). To illustrate these aspects, several existing and recent projects and applicable resources are described, and a research programme for the near future is outlined. Should NLP be willing to face this challenge, we may in the not-too-distant future find ourselves working with a whole new order of knowledge, namely (shallow) semantics, and doing so in increasing collaboration (after a vii Proceedings of the Sixteenth Computational Linguistics in the Netherlands. Edited by: Khalil Sima'an, Maarten de Rijke, Remko Scha and Rob van Son. Copyright c © 2007 by the individual authors.


In the coming years European Semiconductor companies will bring many new applications to the market to improve the way of living in Europe. Examples are linked to road safety, personal health care, secured wireless communications, and lighting and consumer electronics. These applications concern very complex semiconductor systems with highly integrated technologies where digital, memories and analogue are funnelled in one piece of silicon. In these kind of applications, reliability and trustability is a key factor which cannot be guaranteed without extensive test solutions. This may lead to expensive and unreliable test solutions when necessary preventive efforts are omitted. Within the ELESIS project, we have built a European research consortium that provides cooperation between leading semiconductors companies in Europe, small and medium enterprises that are dedicated to system test and tooling and well-recognized European Institutes and Universities. In this European research consortium, we will focus on improving the industrial test infrastructure for mixed signal and analog circuits, leading to safe, reliable, high quality and low cost semiconductors products in Europe, starting from the TOETS consortium partners and experience on digital circuits.


Selective termination in twin pregnancies with a chromosomal abnormality in one twin may be offered to prevent long-term suffering for the infant and/or the family. The procedure poses considerable risks to the remaining fetus and also to the mother, and these, together with the ethical aspects, should be discussed thoroughly with the couple. We report 2 successful cases of selective midtrimester termination by intracardiac potassium chloride injection, and recommend a management protocol for selective birth in twins with discordant chromosomal abnormalities.


A cost-benefit analysis of the use of email was carried out at the Danwood Group at Lincoln in the UK. This was a pilot exercise forming part of a larger exercise to evaluate the costs and benefits of the whole IT infrastructure at the company. The times taken to read, write and carry out other functions with the email were measured for a sample of employees. The email content was also monitored to determine which emails were business related. It was found that nearly two thirds of all emails sent were non business related and the pattern of behaviour when sending and receiving these emails was quite different to that for the business emails. Overall the findings indicate that despite the fact that only one third of email use was productive, the time taken is still worthwhile compared with other, traditional communication methods. However, it was not possible to fully quantify the benefits of email over these other methods, as the data for the alternatives has not yet been collected. The study showed that further research is necessary in this respect. The paper concludes that the analysis has been a useful learning experience for the company showing the value of cost-benefit research and highlighting the difficulties involved. It has also identified the possible benefits that could be obtained by educating employees in the best practice for the use of email.


Controlling the powder flow by the surface properties of the particles as well as understanding their flowability under different processing dynamics are amongst the major challenges of the powder industry. Indeed, handling large quantities needs powders with good flowability, adequate compressibility and few electrostatic charges. We have performed a chemical treatment in order to obtain hydrophobic glass bead and its bulk behavior has been compared with raw glass bead. We characterized flow properties under different processing conditions. Both powders presented similar flow behavior in the free fall measurement, however hydrophobic glass bead showed lower flow behavior under flow with rotating drum. Also, hydrophobic glass bead presented negative and raw glass bead almost zero electrostatic charges.


The effect of annealing temperature on the micro and the crystal structures and the ferroelectric properties of poly(vinylidene fluoride/trifluoro ethylene)(P(VDF/TrFE)) thin films was investigated. The X-ray diffraction results indicated that the crystallization of the film was enhanced at an annealing temperature above 100 °C. On the other hand, the remnant polarization was increased by annealing at temperatures between 130 and 140 °C. Therefore, the ferroelectric properties of the P(VDF/TrFE) films were formed to be improved by annealing at temperatures above Tc (123 °C). The surface morphology and the piezoelectric responses were observed by scanning probe microscopy. The results indicated that small primary grains of P(VDF/TrFE) grew up to large secondary grains with increasing annealing temperature and that some of the small primary grains had large piezoelectric responses.


BACKGROUND
There are many controversies surrounding the management of ectopic ureteroceles (EUC). The aim of this study is to review our cases with EUCs and to show our policy of choice of treatments of EUCs.

METHODS
The medical records of 39 patients with EUCs treated at Kobe. Children's Hospital from 1978 to 1998 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients' age, affected site, presentation, treatment, and postoperative course were recorded.

RESULTS
The age at presentation ranged from 0 month to 13 years (mean; 6 years). The left EUCs were found in 15 patients, the right in 17 patients, and the bilateral in 7 patients. The EUCs with duplicated system of the kidney were involved in 35 cases (42 kidneys) and single system in 4 cases (4 kidneys). The most common mode of presentation was urinary tract infection (n = 24) followed by abdominal distention (n = 6) and fetal ultrasonography (n = 6). One patient presented with incontinence and in two patients EUCs were discovered incidentaly. Thirty-five cases (42 kidneys) were followed up over six months. In these cases diversion including nephrostomy and ureterostomy was performed in 5 kidneys, heminephrectomy and/or excision of the EUC and ureteral reimplantation in 8 kidneys, nephrectomy in 3 kidneys, pyeloureterostomy in 2 kidneys, excision of the EUC and ureteral reimplantation in 10 kidneys, and transurethral incision (TUI) of the EUC in 14 kidneys. After these treatments the second surgery was totally required in 15 kidneys(36%) including 7 kidneys in which TUI was performed. Furthermore, in two kidneys the third operation was performed.

CONCLUSIONS
Reoperation was required in about one-third of patients with ectopic ureteroceles. It is easy to perform TUI, however the rate to reoperation is high.


Gastro-cutaneous fistula following splenectomy, a rare but serious occurrence, may result in death or prolonged disability. Six previous cases have been reported in detail, while 8 others have been mentioned briefly. The current report reviews the literature and describes 4 additional instances of this complication. Two of the 4 patients died. Sever factors, acting singly or incombination, may predispose to the development of post-splenectomy gastrocutaneous fistulas. These include direct surgical trauma to the gastric wall, generalized arteriosclerotic disease, hematoma in the gastrosplenic omentum, and reflection of gastric muscle fibers into the gastrosplenic ligament. The usual site of rupture of stomach is along the greater curvature in the fundic portion. In circumstances in which splenectomy is associated with known or suspected compromise of the blood supply to this portion of the stomach, a method of enfolding the greater curvature is proposed to prevent the development of a gastro-cutaneous fistula. Awareness of the possibility of this uncommon but serious complication will aid in its early recognition and treatment.


The open source components presented have been designed for use by developers creating applications for people with cognitive disabilities or low digital literacy. They provide easy access to common online activities and include configurable levels of complexity to address varying preferences.


Since the 1950's, the research and industrial communities have developed a body of experimental data and set of analytical tools and correlations for two-phase flow and heat transfer in passages having hydraulic diameter greater than 6 mm or so. These tools include flow regime maps, pressure drop and heat transfer correlations, and critical heat flux limits, as well as strategies for robust thermal management of HVAC systems, electronics, and nuclear power plants. Designers of small systems with thermal management by phase change will need analogous tools to predict and optimize thermal behavior in the mesoscale and smaller sizes. Such systems include a wide range of devices for computation, measurement, and actuation in environments that range from office space to outer space and living systems. This paper examines important proceses that must be considered when channel diameters decrease, including flow distribution issues in single, parallel, and split flows; flow instability in parallel passages; manufacturing tolerances effects; nucleation processes; and wall conductance effects. The discussion focuses on engineering issues for the design of practical systems.


The paper was aimed to study the problems that may arise when Chinese students learn an analytical chemistry course in English, read by teachers from Ukraine. In particular, the reasons for the possible excessive increase in cognitive load were investigated. The comparative analysis of the existing learning styles was carried out to achieve the goal of the study. For this purpose, the indicators were compared for respondents studying in similar chemical specialities at the Kyiv College of the Qilu University of Technology in China and Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design in Ukraine. Some students from China demonstrate more pronounced reflective, verbal and intuitive learning styles. In contrast, a decisive advantage towards active, visual and sensing styles is characteristic of Ukraine students. The structure of the lecture course was analysed from the viewpoint of e-resources used. The optimal application of different electronic resources for students with varying learning preferences was established based on the results of experiments by the method of dual-task. The difference in educational priorities should be reflected in the various forms and methods used in the teaching of chemical disciplines. Recommendations for the development of appropriate learning resources are given.


Introduction: The Self-Medication Hypothesis suggests that individuals drink to alleviate undesirable affective states. Behavioral Economics Theory states that individuals deprived of resources (i.e., physically neglected) consume more reinforcing substances when they are available than others. Childhood trauma may indirectly increase impaired control over alcohol (IC; drinking beyond one's own intentions) and thereby increase alcohol use and problems through the employment of coping-motives. Method: A structural equation model that included sex as a covariate examined mediated paths with 612 university students. Results: Men were less likely to be emotionally abused and were more likely to use greater amounts of alcohol than women did. Physical neglect was directly linked to both more IC and alcohol use. Emotional and sexual abuse were directly linked to more coping motives. Both emotional and sexual abuse were indirectly linked to more alcohol use and its related problems through increased coping motives and IC. Conclusions: Consistent with Behavioral Economics Theory, there was a direct link between physical neglect and IC. We also found partial support for the Self-Medication Hypothesis regarding the emotional and sexual abuse trauma dimensions; they indirectly contributed to alcohol use and its related problems via the mediating mechanisms of more coping motives and IC. Our findings suggest coping motives could be a therapeutic target for intervention among those sexually or emotionally abused.


Experiments are presented on reaction processes in a cellular, time-periodic fluid flow composed of a chain of oscillating vortices. Previous studies have shown that mixing of passive impurities in this flow is chaotic. Chemical fronts are studied in this flow using the excitable regime of the ruthenium-catalyzed Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction. The velocities of the fronts are measured as a function of both the frequency and the amplitude of the external forcing. Arnol'd tongues are observed, where the propagating front mode-locks to the forcing, resulting in regimes where the front propagates an integer number of vortices in an integer number of drive periods. Overlapping of the tongues results in dual-locked behavior where the propagation velocity switches between two locked values.


The demand for better indoor environment has led to a wide use of heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Employing advanced HVAC control strategies is one of the strategies to maintain high quality indoor thermal comfort and indoor air quality (IAQ). This thesis aims to analyse and discuss the potential of using advanced control methods to improve the indoor occupants' comfort. It focuses on the development of controllers of the major factors of indoor environment quality in buildings including indoor air temperature, indoor humidity and indoor air quality.
Studies of the development of control technologies for HVAC systems are reviewed firstly. The problems in existing and future perspectives on HVAC control systems for occupants' comfort are investigated. As both the current conventional and intelligent controllers have drawbacks that limit their applications, it is necessary to design novel control strategies for the urgent issue of indoor climate improvement. Hence, a concept of designing the controllers for indoor occupants' comfort is proposed in this thesis. The proposed controllers in this research are designed by combining the conventional and intelligent control technologies. The purpose is to optimize the advantages of both conventional and intelligent control methods and to avoid poor control performance due to their drawbacks. The main control technologies involved in this research are fuzzy logic control (FLC), proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control and neural network (NN). Three controllers are designed by combining these technologies.
Firstly, the fuzzy-PID controller is developed for improvement of indoor environment quality including temperature, humidity and indoor air quality. The control algorithm is introduced in detail in Section 3.2. The computer simulation is carried out to verify its control performance and potential of indoor comfort improvement in Section 4.1. Step signal is used as the input reference in simulation and the controller shows fast response speed since the time constant is 0.033s and settling time is 0.092s with sampling interval of 0.001s. The simulating result also proves that the fuzzy-PID controller has good control accuracy and stability since the overshot and steady state error is zero. In addition, the experimental investigation was also carried out to indicate the fuzzy-PID control performance of indoor temperature, humidity and CO2 control as introduced in Chapter 5. The experiments are taken place in an environmental chamber used to simulated the indoor space during a wide period from late fall to early spring. The results of temperature control show that the temperature is controlled to be varying around the set-point and control accuracy is 4.4%. The humidity control shows similar results that the control accuracy is 3.2%. For the IAQ control the maximum indoor concentration is kept lower than 1100ppm which is acceptable and health CO2 level although it is slightly higher than the set-point of 1000ppm. The experimental results show that the proposed fuzzy-PID controller is able to improve indoor environment quality. A radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) PID controller is designed for humidity control and a back propagation neural network (BPNN) PID controller is designed for indoor air quality control.
Then, in order to further analyze the potential of using advanced control technologies to improve indoor environment quality, two more controllers are developed in this research. A radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) PID controller is designed for humidity control and a back propagation neural network (BPNN) PID controller is designed for indoor air quality control. Their control algorithms are developed and introduced in Section 3.3 and Section 3.4. Simulating tests were carried out in order to verify their control performances using Matlab in Section 4.2 and Section 4.3. The step signal is used as the input and the sampling interval is 0.001s. For RBFNN-PID controller, the time constant is 0.002s, and there is no overshot and steady state error. For BPNN-PID controller, the time constant is 0.003s, the overshot percentage is 4.2% and the steady state error is zero based on the simulating results. Simulating results show that the RBFNN-PID controller and BPNN-PID controller have fast control speed, good control accuracy and stability. The experimental investigations of the RBFNN-PID controller and BPNN-PID control are not included in this research and will carried out in future work.
Based on the simulating and experimental results shown in this thesis, the indoor environment quality improvement can be guaranteed by the proposed controllers.


By using remote plasma atomic layer deposition (ALD), ruthenium thin films were deposited on SiO2 using bis(ethylcyclopentadienyl)ruthenium [Ru(EtCp)2] as a Ru precursor and an ammonia plasma as a reactant. Different plasma treatments were applied, and the best results were obtained with the Ar plasma‐treated SiO2 surface. The initial transition region usually observed with Ru deposition before continuous film formation was present, and the number of ALD cycles required to obtain a continuous film was reduced to about 35 cycles on the Ar plasma‐treated SiO2 substrates. The transition region of Ru cluster growth on Ar plasma‐treated SiO2 was investigated with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Most of the Ru clusters were larger and better crystallized on the Ar plasma‐treated SiO2 than on untreated SiO2. Also, Ru films deposited on the treated SiO2 exhibited a (002) preferred orientated structure with a film resistivity of about 10.26 µΩ‐cm. The growth rates of Ru after passing the transition region were similar on both the treated and untreated SiO2 at about 1.7 Å/cycles. From the Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) spectrum, a very low content of oxygen was observed in the Ru films. About 9% carbon was detected by a rutherford backscattering spectrometer (RBS).


This paper proposes a novel mathematical framework for understanding the control mechanisms for fly gaze stabilisation, which is a powerful reflex for achieving a stable gaze by driving the neck motor system using information from different sensors. Our model explicitly considers inherent constraints in biological systems, i.e. the ambiguity and noisiness of sensor signals and inevitable response delays in sensory information processing, and limited energy supply for the neck motor system. The proposed model consists of a state estimator with Kalman filtering and a controller with infinite-horizon dynamic programming that minimises the costs associated with muscle contraction, together with the costs for the fly to be in an imperfectly stabilised state. Closed-loop simulations of the proposed model confirm that our model qualitatively captures the overall properties of the gaze stabilisation system as observed in behavioural experiments. This work will advance our understanding of the fly multisensory gaze stabilisation system and its potential translation into technical applications including autonomous micro air vehicles.


Microbial diversity varies at multiple spatial scales, but little is known about how climate change may influence this variation. Here we assessed the free-living bacterioplankton composition of thaw ponds over a north-south gradient of permafrost degradation in the eastern Canadian subarctic. Three nested spatial scales were compared: 1) among ponds within individual valleys 2) between two valleys within each landscape type, and 3) between landscape types (southern sporadic versus northern discontinuous permafrost). As a reference point, we sampled rock-basin lakes whose formation was not related to permafrost thawing. β-diversity was low at the smallest scale despite marked differences in limnological properties among neighboring ponds. β-diversity was high among valleys, associated with greater environmental heterogeneity. The largest differences were between landscape types and appeared to reflect the concomitant effects of environmental filtering and dispersal limitation. Raup–Crick β-diversity indicated that community assembly was driven by both stochastic (random extinction, dispersal, ecological drift) and deterministic (environmental filtering) processes. Communities sampled in the most degraded valley appeared primarily assembled through stochastic processes, while environmental filtering played a greater role at the other valleys. These results imply that climate warming and ongoing permafrost degradation will influence microbial community assembly, which in turn is likely to affect the functioning of thaw pond ecosystems.


The Large Hadron Electron Collider project is a proposal to study e-p and e-A interactions at the LHC. In the design for an electron synchrotron (alternative designs for a linac are also under development), a 60GeV e beam is collided with a 7TeV LHC proton beam to produce TeVscale collisions. Despite being much lower energy than the proton beam, the electron beam is high enough energy to produce significant amounts of synchrotron radiation (SR). This places strong constraints on beam optics and bending. In particular challenges arise with the complex geometry required by the long straight section (LSS) and interaction region (IR). This includes the coupled nature of the proton and electron optics, as SR produced by the electron beam must not be allowed to quench the superconducting proton magnets or create problems with beam-gas backgrounds. Despite this, the electron beam must be deflected significantly within the IR to produce sufficient separation from the proton beam.


The hypothesis of nonspecificity as proposed by Sokal & Sneath (26) states that a genotype cannot be partitioned into disjointed classes of loci in such a way that any of those classes of loci affect exclusively a single class of phenotypic characters. Thus there are not expected to exist separate sets of loci controlling, for example, external characters independently of internal ones. The primary thrust of this hypothesis as originally proposed is that if a collection of characters for a taxonomic study are selected from some particular "class" of characters such as morphological, external, biochemical characters, or the like, under the hypothesis a broad representation of the genome may nonetheless be obtained. The notion of taxonomic congruence of different sets of characters was associated by Sokal and Sneath with their hypothesis of nonspecificity. Two different sets of characters are said to be congruent if they imply the same classification of some particular collection of OTUs3 under consideration. Stated in this general form, the idea of taxonomic congruence is actually quite an old one, occurring frequently in the prenumerical taxonomic literature. Sokal and Sneath linked congruence with-the nonspecificity hypothesis because they felt that studies of taxonomic congruence between different character sets could provide evidence for the truth or falsity of the nonspecificity hypothesis. The significance of the hypothesis of nonspecificity is best understood in terms of the intellectual milieu at the time of its proposal. Amid the controversy that accompanied the inception of numerical taxonomy, numerical pheneticists were forced in self-defense to develop a framework of concepts within which their taxonomic philosophy and techniques could be justified. Suggesting as it did that a broad sampling of components of the genotype could be achieved through a relatively restricted sampling of the phenotype, the hypothesis of nonspecificity provided the potential of strong


Freshwater biodiversity, from fish to frogs and microbes to macrophytes, provides a vast array of services to people. Mounting concerns focus on the accelerating pace of biodiversity loss and declining ecological function within freshwater ecosystems that continue to threaten these natural benefits. Here, we catalog nine fundamental ecosystem services that the biotic components of indigenous freshwater biodiversity provide to people, organized into three categories: material (food; health and genetic resources; material goods), non‐material (culture; education and science; recreation), and regulating (catchment integrity; climate regulation; water purification and nutrient cycling). If freshwater biodiversity is protected, conserved, and restored in an integrated manner, as well as more broadly appreciated by humanity, it will continue to contribute to human well‐being and our sustainable future via this wide range of services and associated nature‐based solutions to our sustainable future.


A 33-year-male with a history of plantar and cutaneous warts for six months was treated with topical salicylic acid preparation, without any improvement. He was accidentally exposed to nitric acid while working. He observed that nitric acid had a better healing index for his cutaneous warts. He then used nitric acid (10%) to treat the plantar warts for two weeks. Nitric acid showed beneficial effects on cutaneous and plantar warts, but its clinical efficacy and mechanism of action in this context remains unknown. Nitric acid was used for the treatment of skin lesions since the last century. Recent clinical studies also showed mild acids such as citric and nitric acids are beneficial against common warts. Key words: Common warts, Human Papillomavirus, Nitric acid, Topical.