In the present article, the possible mitigation of the toxic effect of imidacloprid low-concentration chronic exposure on Danio rerio by the probiotic strain Lactobacillus brevis 47f (1 × 108 CFU/g) was examined. It was found that even sublethal concentration (2500 µg/L) could lead to the death of some fish during the 60-day chronic experiment. However, the use of Lactobacillus brevis 47f partially reduced the toxic effects, resulting in an increased survival rate and a significant reduction of morphohistological lesions in the intestines and kidneys of Danio rerio. The kidneys were found to be the most susceptible organ to toxic exposure, showing significant disturbances. Calculation of the histopathological index, measurement of morphometric parameters, and analysis of principal components revealed the most significant parameters affected by the combined action of imidacloprid and Lactobacillus brevis 47f. This effect of imidacloprid and the probiotic strain had a multidirectional influence on various pro/anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8). Therefore, the results suggest the possibility of further studying the probiotic strain Lactobacillus brevis 47f as a strain that reduces the toxic effects of xenobiotics. Additionally, the study established the possibility of using imidacloprid as a model toxicant to assess the detoxification ability of probiotics on the kidney and gastrointestinal tract of fish.


This paper aims to review major issues and findings on teacher talk in the first language (L1) content classroom and that in the second language (L2) classroom and to reestablish directions for future teacher talk research. The importance of teacher talk has its grounding on how it relates to learning. Recently teacher talk research is receiving attention again along with the development of research on Focus on form, corrective feedback, and the views of looking at classroom interaction as contexts for meaning negotiation and thus for learning. Research on L1 teacher talk has focused on development of descriptive frameworks and on investigation of various pedagogical functions of it. The primary concern of L2 teacher talk research has been how to make it comprehensible and work to facilitate learning of L2. Earlier studies paid great attention to various types of linguistic modifications. Research has also examined characteristics of conversational modifications, questioning and feedback behaviors in TT. Findings from the critical review suggest several new directions for future research on teacher talk as one the most viable and in-demand research areas in the field of second and foreign language learning and teaching these days.


We consider a four-dimensional charged hyperbolic black hole as working matter to establish a black hole holographic heat engine, and use the rectangular cycle to obtain the heat engine efficiency. We find that when the increasing of entropy is zero, the heat engine efficiency of the hyperbolic black hole becomes the well-known Carnot efficiency. We also find that less charge corresponds to higher efficiency in the case of q∼>0 . Furthermore, we study the efficiency of the flat case and spherical case and compare the efficiency with that of the hyperbolic charged black holes. Finally, we use numerical simulation to study the efficiency in benchmark scheme.


Background: Music is such an art form that conveys emotions and perceptions even without using a language. The research activities focusing on the effects of art forms on health and well-being has been evidently increasing over the past two decades. Music therapy is a widely accepted and popular form for improving health through arts. Studies have shown that women being more sensitive and sentimental can be influenced more easily by music. Materials and Methods: Review of relevant literature from modern medical science, Ayurvedic classics, text books of Indian Musicology, previous research works, articles published in peer reviewed journals and other genuine sources of internet. Results: Music plays a significant role in improving the health and wellbeing of a female both in preventive and therapeutic aspects. Discussion: Music being the product of Akasha and Vayu Mahabhuta is capable of controlling the bodily Vata Dosha. Ayurveda consider music as a means to tackle Pitta Dosha mainly. Previous research works have shown the effect of Indian classical music on gastric and allied secretions in digestive system where there is a major role for Pitta Dosha. The coordinated activity of Hypothalamo- Pituitary- Ovarian Axis (HPO Axis) is responsible for normal menstrual and reproductive mechanism in females where Vata and Pitta are having the main roles. So music can play an appreciable role in maintaining the normal functions in HPO axis.


ABSTRACT Background: According to the World Health Organization, every minute, one woman is diagnosed with cervical cancer, and every 2 minutes, one woman dies of cervical cancer globally (World Health Organization, 2022). The biggest tragedy is 99% of cervical cancer is caused by a preventable sexually transmitted infection known as human papilloma virus (World Health Organization, 2022). Local problem: Many US universities indicate approximately 30% of their admissions are international students. The lack of Pap smear screening in this population has not been clearly identified by college health care providers. Methods: Fifty-one participants from a university located in the northeastern United States completed an online survey between September and October 2018. The survey was designed to identify disparities between United States residents and internationally admitted female students in their knowledge, attitudes, and practice of the Pap smear test. Interventions: One hundred percent of US students had heard of the Pap smear test as compared with 72.7% of international students (p = .008); 86.8% of US students considered a Pap smear as opposed to 45.5% of international students (p = .002), and 65.8% of US students previously had a Pap smear test as opposed to 18.8% of international students (p = .007). Results: Results revealed statistically significant differences between US and internationally admitted female college students in knowledge, attitudes, and practice of the Pap smear test. Conclusions: This project helps to bring awareness to college health clinicians the need for cervical cancer education and Pap smear screening for our college age international female population.


Vegetative incompatibility is a ubiquitous phenomenon in many filamentous fungi. Neurospora crassa vegetative incompatibility involves the prevention of vigorous heterokaryons, mediated by genetic dissimilarity at eleven heterokaryon incompatibility (het) loci. During the vegetative phase, the mating-type (mat) locus functions as a het locus, while in the sexual phase, the mat locus confers mating identity and post-fertilization functions for completion of the sexual cycle, tol is an unlinked recessive mutation that suppresses mating-type vegetative incompatibility. TOL encodes a 1044 amino acid polypeptide that contains putative proteinprotein interaction domains. TOL contains a region called the SET domain that has similarity to HET-6 in N. crassa and HET-E in Podospora anserina (SET = HET-SIX, HET-E and TOL) . Searches of the N. crassa genome yielded a large number of TOL-like sequences, which also share the SET domain and may indicate a novel motif region. BLASTP searches with TOL have identified similarity to Mms21p, a D N A repair protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To identify additional proteins in the mating-type vegetative incompatibility pathway, TOL was used as bait in a yeast two-hybrid system. One of the putative pit genes (proteins that interact with TOL) was ncvipl, which has homology with vipl, an uncharacterized gene in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. RIP (repeat-induced point) mutational analyses of the ncvipl was conducted and progeny examined as to their effects on mating-type associated vegetative incompatibility. At the termination of this study, the influence of ncvipl remained unclear. Strains were constructed that will provide the tools for future analyses. A novel mutation was discovered that caused a partial suppression of mating-type vegetative incompatibility (Sup [mvi]) phenotype. This mutation appears to be linked to or in mat a, localizing the gene causing the Sup (mvi) phenotype to linkage group I. Partial diploid analysis and complementation assays failed to determine i f the mutation was in mat a or not and demonstrated that the Sup (mvi) phenotype does not suppress mating-type vegetative incompatibility when the mating-type gene products are in the same nucleus. Further analysis is needed to determine the nature of the mutation and the full influence of the Sup (mvi) phenotype in a homoallelic condition.


Along the International Program of Ocean Drilling (IPOD) Japan Trench transect, a mid-Cenozoic period of tectonism without arc volcanism separated an earlier Cretaceous to Paleogene and a later Neogene period of plate convergence and subduction. The Cretaceous to early Paleogene period of convergence is evidenced by andesitic volcanism associated with a large syncline, probably a forearc basin. The seaward flank of the basin is a tectonically thickened sediment sequence inferred to be an accretionary complex. The arc, the syncline, and the thickened sediment sequence resemble an arc-trench system of the size and structure of the Great Valley forearc basin and Franciscan accretionary complex of California, and they were probably continuations of the Yezo geosyncline and associated sequences exposed to the north on Hokkaido. The arc-trench system is contemporaneous with the adjacent Shimanto arc-trench system southwest of Tokyo Bay. In the early Paleogene, volcanism ceased, and part of the thickened sediment sequence of the Cretaceous-Paleogene margin was emergent as a 160-km-wide landmass which is recognized in seismic records as a later Paleogene sediment source. At the end of the Paleogene, this landmass began to subside and volcanism began again, but it was located first briefly on the east, and then on the west of the Cretaceous arc along the present arc of northern Honshu. The land-mass erosion surface is clearly visible as an angular unconformity in multichannel seismic-reflection records; the sequence of Neogene sediment, explosive volcanism, and benthic foraminiferal assemblages recording subsidence from subareal conditions to the present bathyal depths have been studied in Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) cores. Cretaceous subduction appears to have resulted in a very extensive accretionary complex, whereas the Neogene subduction period appears to have been marked by little net accretion in the forearc area but massive subsidence and some erosion of the front of the convergent margin.


Chemical decomposition of an epoxy resin (E-51) cured with methyl tetrahydro phthalic anhydride (MeTHPA) in near-critical water conditions was investigated under different concentrations of acid–base catalyst. The optimal catalytic concentration of KOH catalyst ranged from 0.5 mol L−1 to 1.0 mol L−1, while that of H2SO4 catalyst was 0.4 mol L−1. Meanwhile, the decomposition ratio of the E-51/MeTHPA system could reach up to 97.7–100%. In addition, FT-IR results of the solid residue of the E-51/MeTHPA system before and after near-critical water treatment showed that the changes of the molecular structure were mainly reflected in the changes of the relative contents of mixed ether bonds, cross-linked bonds and other functional groups. The decomposition products in the acetone phase were identified by GC-MS. The results suggested that the main compositions and relative peak areas of the decomposition products varied with the change of the concentration of acid–base catalyst. Finally, a possible decomposition reaction mechanism was proposed for the E-51/MeTHPA system.


A technique for monitoring interferometric sensors by correlation of the optical signal from the sensor with the signal from a phase-modulated reference interferometer is described. The technique is applied to temperature measurement with a fiber Fabry-Perot sensing head. We extend the 7 degrees C unambiguous measurement range obtained with a 1.3-mum laser diode as the light source to 43 degrees C by adding a second laser diode emitting at 1.55mum . Experimentally, a rms phase-measurement error of +/-0.28rad , corresponding to a temperature error of +/-0.32 degrees C , was achieved with a low-quality multimode Fabry-Perot laser. The phase error was improved to +/-0.14rad , corresponding to a temperature error of +/-0.16 degrees C , by use of a distributed-feedback laser diode.


The so-called "continuing Anglican churches" in North America were launched in the wake of die General Convention of the Episcopal Church at Minneapolis in 1976, which admitted women to all orders of ministry, declared that "homosexual person . . . have a full and equal claim . . . upon the . . . care of the Church," and adopted a new Book of Common Prayer. A year earlier, the Anglican Church of Canada had authorized the ordination of women to the priesthood. Unsettled by what they took to be a discarding of fundamental doctrines and practices, and a subversion of the catholicity and apostolicity of the church, two thousand clergy and lay leaders attended a "Congress of Concerned Churchmen" in St. Louis in 1977. They composed and promulgated what came to be known as the Affirmation of St. Louis; it charged "that the Anglican Church of Canada and the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, by their unlawful attempts to alter Faith, Order and Morality (especially in their General Synod of 1975 and General Convention of 1976) , have departed from Christ's One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church." For reasons that are still debated today, there was born not one catholic, traditional Anglican church for North America but a myriad of predominantly Anglo-Catholic jurisdictions, comprehensively inventoried by Don S. Armentrout ("Episcopal Splinter Groups," Historical Magazine of the Episcopal Church 55 (1986): 295-320). Today there are about twenty continuing Anglican denominational bodies, representing a total of five hundred parishes. This number excludes the hundreds of churches that, in discouragement with the General Convention of 2006, have connected ttiemselves with foreign Anglican provinces in the "realignment" movement, or have joined the Anglican Church in North America which was founded in 2008. St. George's Church in Las Vegas belongs to one of these continuing Anglican groups, called the Anglican Province of Christ the King (APCK) . This church body began in 1977 as the Anglican Diocese of Christ the King with six parishes. Today it has forty parishes, of which St. George's is a relatively recent member. St. George's began in the early 1990s as a group of families meeting in homes. They moved their worship to space in other churches, and then to a cafeteria in a local school, but found that it was failing to grow. Then, with a loan from a financial institution belonging to the APCK, they purchased a parcel of land in a new neighborhood in Las Vegas (nowhere near the main casinos in downtown or on The Strip) and in 2001 completed Phase I of a long-range building plan. About the same time, they hired a full-time priest, with degrees in history and theology. With its new priest and its attractive worship space, the congregation grew significanuy. Today, according to the estimate of two lay leaders (a lay reader and a vestry member), the parish has 125 members, with a typical Sunday attendance of eighty, and a Sunday school of twenty children. Towards the end of August 2010, a visitor to Las Vegas, checking the Internet for local churches, happens across a website for St. George's. He calls the telephone number he finds there to ask for directions by public transportation. He is greeted by an answering machine, but the priest soon returns his call and offers to have a parishioner drive him and his family from their hotel. The visitor accepts the gracious offer, and on the morning of Sunday, 22 August, he and his family are picked up at their hotel by a parishioner who, as it turns out, has been involved with St. George's since its formation. The parishioner proves to be a valuable source of information, and his reminiscences and observations will later be confirmed in various details by others at the church. The visitor arrives at the church in time for 10:30 mass. The building, long and rectangular, has been inspired by the Spanish colonial revival architecture that is common in the American southwest, with flat walls giving an impression of thick adobe and a hipped red tile roof; at one end the wall is shaped like a Spanish mission bell tower, although there is no bell. …


Summary This study describes a multilevel examination of person–group (PG) fit perceptions in a sample of 1023 individuals working in 92 teams at a private sector R&D firm. Using confirmatory factor analysis and multilevel random coefficient modeling, we provide evidence that perceptions of team-level collective fit are unique from aggregated individual-level PG fit perceptions at the individual and team levels. We demonstrate that collective values-based and abilities-based fit perceptions showed unique and positive relationships with team cohesion, team efficacy, and team performance, after accounting for aggregated individual perceptions of PG fit. Results also demonstrate that cohesion partially mediates the relationship between collective fit and team performance. Cross-level effects were also supported, indicating that collective fit explains additional variance in individual-level outcomes, beyond individual-level PG fit perceptions. The usefulness of employing a multilevel approach to studying PG fit is discussed. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


In this work, we propose NARRATE, a novel pipeline that enables simultaneously editing portrait lighting and perspective in a photorealistic manner. As a hybrid neural-physical face model, NARRATE leverages complementary benefits of geometry-aware generative approaches and normal-assisted physical face models. In a nutshell, NARRATE first inverts the input portrait to a coarse geometry and employs neural rendering to generate images resembling the input, as well as producing convincing pose changes. However, inversion step introduces mismatch, bringing low-quality images with less facial details. As such, we further estimate portrait normal to enhance the coarse geometry, creating a high-fidelity physical face model. In particular, we fuse the neural and physical renderings to compensate for the imperfect inversion, resulting in both realistic and view-consistent novel perspective images. In relighting stage, previous works focus on single view portrait relighting but ignoring consistency between different perspectives as well, leading unstable and inconsistent lighting effects for view changes. We extend Total Relighting to fix this problem by unifying its multi-view input normal maps with the physical face model. NARRATE conducts relighting with consistent normal maps, imposing cross-view constraints and exhibiting stable and coherent illumination effects. We experimentally demonstrate that NARRATE achieves more photorealistic, reliable results over prior works. We further bridge NARRATE with animation and style transfer tools, supporting pose change, light change, facial animation, and style transfer, either separately or in combination, all at a photographic quality. We showcase vivid free-view facial animations as well as 3D-aware relightable stylization, which help facilitate various AR/VR applications like virtual cinematography, 3D video conferencing, and post-production.


Achievement of target intraocular pressure is the goal of every efficient antiglaucoma therapy. Target intraocular pressure is the level of intraocular pressure which is associated with minimal likelihood of visual field or optic nerve lesion, or an existing lesion progression due to elevated intraocular pressure. Results of large clinical studies which have offered some new concepts on target intraocular pressure in the management of glaucoma are reviewed. An association between the curve of intraocular pressure decrease and glaucoma progression was demonstrated in these studies. Generally, a lower value of target intraocular pressure implies better protection from the loss of vision and visual field impairment in glaucoma patients. In advanced glaucoma, the greatest possible reduction from the initial intraocular pressure should be attempted. A 20% reduction from the initial intraocular pressure or decrease to < 18 mmHg in advanced glaucoma has been recognized as a favorable strategy to reach target intraocular pressure. In normal tension glaucoma, a lower value of target intraocular pressure is associated with a slower disease progression. In patients with initial glaucoma, 25% reduction from the initial intraocular pressure will slow down the disease progression by 45%. The value of target intraocular pressure depends on the pretreatment level of intraocular pressure, optic nerve condition, glaucoma disease state, rate of glaucoma progression, patient's age, and other risk factors for the development of glaucoma.


The K = 200 separated-sector cyclotron (SSC) of the National Accelerator Centre (NAC) will be used to accelerate both light and heavy ions and requires a vacuum of ~10-5N/m2 for sufficient beam transmission. A vacuum chamber which fits into the narrow (60 mm) pole gap of the sector magnets of this SSC and excludes the pole pieces and the main excitation and field trimming coils from the vacuum has been designed. Factors to be considered in such a design and some design alternatives are discussed. The mechanical design of the thin-walled chamber and of the support structure preventing its collapse is described. An analysis of magnetic field perturbations showed that they can be kept sufficiently small. Necessary precautions and methods to achieve this are presented together with results of the analysis.


Previously, Discrete Wavelet Transform(DWT) is widely used as the image processing method. Some of the DWT, Complex Discrete Wavelet Transform(CDWT) and Complex Wavelet Packet Transform(CWPT) have directional selection that can detect the directional edges from the high frequency components. This property is expected to be used for shape and texture analysis such like a circuit pattern images. However, the principle of directional selection is still unclear. Therefore, fundamental properties such as the detect direction and detection angular range(resolution) are also still unclear. Thus, it is difficult to apply the defect detection that has the directional shape and textures. In this research, we firstly consider the principle of directional selection and we proposed the evaluation method of directional selection based on the consideration result. Proposed evaluation method can make clear the detect direction and resolution quantitatively. Finally we apply the directional selection to defect recognition of semiconductor wafer circuit in combination with Kmeans method. As the result, directional selection of 2D-CDWT and 2D-CWPT achieved highest recognition rate and lowest miss recognition rate compared with previous DWT and FFT.


Data on health care utilization are used to address important questions about what is done for whom, and can shed light on why and with what outcome, in the large segment of economic life that "delivers" health care services to populations. We describe the purposes of and major issues associated with common study types (e.g. small area variations, disparities, provider profiling, cost effectiveness). Methodologic issues include: defining the study scope in accordance with its purpose (data source, population, timeframe, units of analysis and units of inference); choosing appropriate models (dealing with clustered observations, skewness, heteroscedasticity, and "point masses" at zero); and addressing the "censoring" effect of death on cost.

Keywords:

cost;
window of observation;
modeling;
outcomes;
comparing providers


OBJECTIVE: To analyze the regional governance of the health systemin relation to management strategies and disputes. METHODOLOGICAL PROCEDURES: A qualitative study with health managers from 19 municipalities in the health region of Bahia, Northeastern Brazil. Data were drawn from 17 semi-structured interviews of state, regional, and municipal health policymakers and managers; a focus group; observations of the regional interagency committee; and documents in 2012. The political-institutional and the organizational components were analyzed in the light of dialectical hermeneutics. RESULTS: The regional interagency committee is the chief regional governance strategy/component and functions as a strategic tool for strengthening governance. It brings together a diversity of members responsible for decision making in the healthcare territories, who need to negotiate the allocation of funding and the distribution of facilities for common use in the region. The high turnover of health secretaries, their lack of autonomy from the local executive decisions, inadequate technical training to exercise their function, and the influence of party politics on decision making stand as obstacles to the regional interagency committee's permeability to social demands. Funding is insufficient to enable the fulfillment of the officially integrated agreed-upon program or to boost public supply by the system, requiring that public managers procure services from the private market at values higher than the national health service price schedule (Brazilian Unified Health System Table). The study determined that "facilitators" under contract to health departments accelerated access to specialized (diagnostic, therapeutic and/or surgical) services in other municipalities by direct payment to physicians for procedure costs already covered by the Brazilian Unified Health System. CONCLUSIONS: The characteristics identified a regionalized system with a conflictive pattern of governance and intermediate institutionalism. The regional interagency committee's managerial routine needs to incorporate more democratic devices for connecting with educational institutions, devices that are more permeable to social demands relating to regional policy making.


Although the frequency of ahaptoglobinemia in the newborn has been determined in Caucasians, little is known about the frequency of this condition in other populations. We are studying ahaptoglobinemia in cord blood specimens from 314 infants born in Puerto Rico, a sample from a heterogeneous population: Caucasian, Negro and mulatto. The frequency of ahaptoglobinemia, as defined by lack of a haptoglobin pattern on starch gel electrophoresis, was found to be 0.777 in 94 samples of the Puerto Rican newborn group studied to date. When this result was compared to the frequencies found in an American-USA (0.873), two southern Italian (0.809 and 0.800) and two Scandinavian (0.767 and 0.900) newborn populations, significant heterogeneity was found in the data (X2(5) = 16.612). Data from the American (USA) and one of the Scandinavian populations account for the heterogeneity; our data do not differ from those of the remaining three Caucasian populations. Ahaptoglobinemia in the Puerto Rican sample was analyzed by studying the effects of several variables. The frequency of ahaptoglobinemia was not affected by sex of the child, birth weight and race of the mother. Parity did not affect the frequency of ahaptoglobinemia, a finding which argues against an isoimmune process as the cause of this condition in the newborn. Finally, no association was found between the frequency of ahaptoglobinemia and the ABO or Rh (D) phenotypes of the infants. These data permit us to tentatively conclude that the frequency of ahaptoglobinemia in the newborn is stable in various populations. Moreover, the data support the contention that ahaptoglobinemia of the newborn represents impaired or absent synthesis of functional haptoglobin. (SPR)


Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is the cause of paracoccidioidomycosis, one of the most important systemic mycoses in Latin America. Human disease has been observed in a limited geographic and ecological niche, and it is attributed to exposure to the fungus in soil. Most primary infections are subclinical, as the infection is contained by the host mainly through cell‐mediated immune response. However, as the fungus has the ability to survive in a dormant state for long periods, an impairment of the immune response may lead to reactivation and clinical disease. Surprisingly, paracoccidioidomycosis has rarely been reported in transplanted patients. The aim of this communication is to report a case occurring in a kidney recipient in an acute clinical form immediately after transplantation, and to review the available information on previously reported cases.


Drowsy driving is a major cause of road accidents. This paper analyses the drivers' behavior in the state of fatigue driving and introduces the latest developments of drowsy driving detection technology. In this study we also propose a drowsy driving detection based on the driver's physiological signals such as eye activity measures, the inclination of the driver's head, sagging posture, heart beat rate, skin electric potential, and electroencephalographic (EEG) activities, as well as response characteristics, decline in gripping force on the steering wheel and lane keeping characteristics. By developing a hierarchical model that is able to collect the sensing data, analyze the driving behavior and the reactions to the driver, it can provide a safe and a comfortable driving environment. Combining different indications of drowsiness and processing the contextual information to predict whether a driver is drowsy, the system not only issues a warning for the driver, but also provides the drowsy driving information to transportation control center and other vehicles if necessary.


Visualization of vascular structures is a common and frequently performed task in the field of medical imaging. There exist well established and applicable methods such as Maximum Intensity Projection (MIP) and Curved Planar Reformation (CPR). However, when calcified vessel walls are investigated, occlusion hinders exploration of the vessel interior with MIP. In contrast, CPR offers the possibility to visualize the vessel lumen by cutting a single vessel along its centerline. Extending the idea of CPR, we propose a novel technique, called Centerline Reformation (CR), which is capable of visualizing the lumen of spatially arbitrarily oriented vessels not necessarily connected in a tree structure. In order to visually emphasize depth, overlap and occlusion, halos can optionally envelope the vessel lumen. The required vessel centerlines are obtained from volumetric data by performing a scale-space based feature extraction. We present the application of the proposed technique in a focus and context setup. Further, we demonstrate how it facilitates the investigation of dense vascular structures, particularly cervical vessels or vessel data featuring peripheral arterial occlusive diseases or pulmonary embolisms. Finally, feedback from domain experts is given.


In this study, Intersecting Tensegrity System that is integrated solid compression members with tension members was presented. This system is set up by connecting upper and lower compression members of pyramid shape with exterior tension members. In this system, the solid compression members are intersected each other and connected by a tension member in the center. This system is a variation of Tensegrity system, has a improved feature that the system is able to induce prestresses in all of tension members easily by adjusting the distance of a tension member in the center. The proposed system was studied by modeling, and the structural behavior of the system was investigated by mechanical analysis of the model. Furthermore, the features of the structural behavior variations was investigated when the composition elements(total height, size of surface, intersection length, etc.) are changed variously. It was also showed that the system is able to be used as a temporary space structure system with a membrane roof of inverse conical shape.


The recent CoViD-19 emergency has made particularly evident not only the importance of the relationship between science and law for the protection of fundamental rights, but also its complexity This paper analyses the impact that different kinds of relationships between public decision-makers and the scientific community may have on the protection of the rights involved, the main problems occurred during the CoViD-19 emergency and some possible solutions


To the author's knowledge, this is the first Australian study to empirically compare the use of a multiple-choice questionnaire (MCQ) with the use of a written assignment for interim, summative law school assessment. This study also surveyed the same student sample as to what types of assessments are preferred and why. In total, 182 undergraduate property law students participated in this study. Results showed that scores for the MCQ (assessing five topics) and assignment (assessing one topic) followed a similar distribution. This indicates that an MCQ does not necessarily skew students towards higher grades than an assignment. Results also showed significant but low correlations of test scores across instruments. When asked which instrument best assessed their knowledge of property law, students expressed a strong preference for an assignment over an MCQ or examination. Comments revealed a strong belief that, because lawyers write, law schools must assess legal writing – a skill not captured by MCQs. This study is important as many Australian law schools face increasing marking loads due to higher student numbers and compulsory mid-term assessments. This article endorses the use of MCQs but only as part of a diverse suite of law school assessment.


Introduction. The objective was to evaluate the efficacy of active pedicle epithelial flap transposition combined with amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) in treating nonhealing corneal ulcers. Material and Methods. Eleven patients (11 eyes) with nonhealing corneal ulcer who underwent the combined surgery were included. Postoperatively, ulcer healing time was detected by corneal fluorescein staining. Visual acuity, intraocular pressure, surgical complications, and recurrence were recorded. Corneal status was inspected by the laser scanning confocal microscopy and anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). Results. The primary diseases were herpes simplex keratitis (8 eyes), corneal graft ulcer (2 eyes), and Stevens-Johnson syndrome (1 eye). All epithelial flaps were intact following surgery, without shedding or displacement. Mean ulcer healing time was 10.8 ± 3.1 days, with a healing rate of 91%. Vision significantly improved from 1.70 to 0.82 log MAR (P = 0.001). A significant decrease in inflammatory cell infiltration and corneal stromal edema was revealed 2 months postoperatively by confocal microscopy and AS-OCT. Corneal ulcer recurred in 1 eye. None of the patients developed major complications. Conclusion. Active pedicle epithelial flap transposition combined with AMT is a simple and effective treatment for nonhealing corneal ulcers.


Protecting public health requires the acquisition, use, and storage of extensive health-related information about individuals. The electronic accumulation and exchange of personal data promises significant public health benefits but also threatens individual privacy; breaches of privacy can lead to individual discrimination in employment, insurance, and government programs. Individuals concerned about privacy invasions may avoid clinical or public health tests, treatments, or research. Although individual privacy protections are critical, comprehensive federal privacy protections do not adequately protect public health data, and existing state privacy laws are inconsistent and fragmented. The Model State Public Health Privacy Act provides strong privacy safeguards for public health data while preserving the ability of state and local public health departments to act for the common good.


Background : The present article addresses the links between the real-estate factors of the workspace on employee satisfaction and their impact on the overall health of employees. The purpose of the research is to facilitate the improvement of employee health through the application of base parameters, and consequently, the changes of workspace and work processes. The research tests two hypotheses: real-estate factors have a significant impact on employee satisfaction with the workspace; and that satisfaction of employees with the workspace has a significant impact on the overall health of employees. Methodology : We carried out a quantitative research with a broad range of different questions, scales and differentials, whereby the majority of instruments was originally constructed with suitable measurement characteristics. Testing of the questionnaire with the method of internal consistency showed that the questionnaire demonstrates a high level of consistency. The entire questionnaire includes 163 variables divided into content sections: general questions, business building and workspace, workspace design, habits, conditions in the workspace, organisational culture, health care, physical health condition, mental health condition. In July and August 2010, the questionnaire was completed by 1,036 employees from entities in the service sector, i.e. the financial sector, health sector, civil service and others. All the respondents included in the research sample worked in offices. The questionnaire was anonymous in accordance with ethical standards. The results were statistically analysed with the application of factor analysis, which served as a basis for identifying the important factors, while we applied structural equation modelling for verifying the statistically significant mutual effects. Furthermore, we analysed the results and carried out statistical calculations to test the hypotheses. Results : The results show that real-estate factors of the workspace – both in terms of the assessment of business building and position of the employee, as well as the workspace design – have an impact on the satisfaction of employees, and consequently, their assessment of health. On the basis of solutions of structural equation modelling, we established that: the cleanliness of the workspace, lighting of the workspace, orientation of the workspace, regulation of lighting and regulation of air-conditioning in the premises, have a statistically significant impact on the satisfaction of employees with the workspace. With the aid of factor analysis and analysis of the structural equation modelling, as well as in accordance with the set hypotheses, we tested whether the 'employment satisfaction' factor affects the 'overall health' factor. We established a significant negative link between these two factors. Conclusions : We established a statistically significant impact of real-estate factors of the workspace on the satisfaction of employees, and consequently, the assessment of their overall health. We highlight the need for additional analysis and research of the effect of relevant factors on the health of employees, as well as monitoring thereof through preventive and periodic testing of the health of employees in the work environment.


Shrub-depth is a graph invariant often considered as an extension of tree-depth to dense graphs. We show that the model-checking problem of monadic second-order logic on a class of graphs of bounded shrub-depth can be decided by AC0-circuits after a precomputation on the formula. This generalizes a similar result on graphs of bounded tree-depth [3]. At the core of our proof is the definability in first-order logic of tree-models for graphs of bounded shrub-depth. 2012 ACM Subject Classification Theory of computation → Graph algorithms analysis; Mathematics of computing → Graph theory


The Nicoya Peninsula is part of the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica and is characterized by a tropical climate with a pronounced dry season marked by droughts. On 25 of July 2016, the Association of organic hillside producers Organicos el Cerro Negro was recognized with the first price in the first Regional Contest on Drought Adaptation Strategies in Guanacaste, organized by CIRAD and Fundacion Nicoyagua, HIDROCEC-UNA, CATIE, ASADA de Huacas, MAG-Chorotega, UCR and La Voz de Guanacaste as part of the FuturAgua Project. Two elements are considered key in the sustainable development of Organicos el Cerro Negro and of the agricultural value chain for organic products: 1) the innovative water harvesting solutions that the association has developed with the Universidad Nacional (UNA), 2) Organic certification of their production. In 2012 Organicos el Cerro Negro started the transition towards a Participatory Guarantee System which was enabled by Costa Rican legislation in 2002. In this system the interaction with end consumers is part of a strategy to build trust, and to create feedback loops in the value chain towards a circular flow of information. This enables better production planning for the producers. Nevertheless, the association supplies a group of clients that they believe is too small, therefore they are looking for ways to increase sales and diversify products and services in order to expand their client base and reduce financial risks. We present a value chain approach that was applied to describe and quantify the route from producer to consumer for the main organic products. On that base a strategic business plan was developed in a participative process, based on CATIE methodology for the development of strategic planning for rural associations (Gottret 2011) and on modeling farms productive hydro-agro-systems. We show how this strengthens the association by securing the consumer base, and increases its autonomy relative to government and NGO aid. The application of General Algebraic Modeling System software (GAMS Development Corporation 2013) to simulate production on farm level and the use of irrigation systems is used to back discussions to evaluate the profitability of Organicos el Cerro under various constraints and scenarios. We take into account the short term seasonal variations in climatologic and hydrologic conditions and long term climate prognostics, and a fluctuating, but growing demand for organic products, as well as the effect of organic certification schemes. The development of a sound model business strategy based on innovative water harvest solutions that enables sustainable production by reducing climate variability – and financial risks can be shared and expanded in the wider Guanacaste region and other draught sensitive regions. (Texte integral)


Dendritic cells (DCs) in the periphery capture and process Ags, migrate to lymphoid organs, and initiate immune responses in T cells. IL-16, the soluble ligand for CD4, is a potent chemoattractant for CD4+ T cells, eosinophils, and monocytes and is mainly derived from activated T cells. Because migration is a fundamental property of DCs, we asked whether IL-16 induces chemotaxis in DCs and whether DCs are a source of IL-16. DCs were generated by culture of monocytes in IL-4 and GM-CSF for 6 days and subsequently highly purified employing magnetic beads. Migration was assayed by nitrocellulose and polycarbonate filter-based assays, and distinction of chemotaxis and chemokinesis was performed by a checkerboard analysis. Messenger RNA and protein data revealed constitutive expression and release of IL-16 by day-6 DCs. Gradients of rIL-16 induced a chemotactic response of DCs. Furthermore, the chemotactic activity of DC supernatant toward DCs themselves and T cells was mainly due to IL-16, because the addition of neutralizing Abs completely abrogated the migratory response. However, after induction of maturation by the addition of TNF-alpha and PGE2 DCs, neither expressed IL-16 mRNA nor produced IL-16 protein. We conclude that IL-16 may play a role in the trafficking of DCs and may be a major chemotactic signal from DCs toward themselves and toward T cells.


Reliable estimates of background O3 in the planetary boundary layer are needed as part of the current review by the U.S. EPA of O3 health and welfare criteria and of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for O3. Such estimates are especially necessary for comparing O3 concentrations at which vegetation effects occur to O3 concentrations reported to represent background levels. Some vegetation researchers have used the seasonal average of the daily 7-h (0900- 1559 h) average as the exposure parameter in exposure-response models. The 7-h (0900-1559 h) seasonal mean reference point for O3 was assumed to be 0.025 ppm. Ozone aerometric data are presented from the monitoring sites in the United States which experience some of the lowest maximum hourly average concentrations, as identified in the U.S. EPA AIRS database. Criteria are enumerated and discussed for determining whether O3 concentrations at a given site can be considered to be "background" O3. The paper also suggests statistical techniques for estimating background O3 concentrations. Linear regression techniques yield valuable information about O3 concentration data from the literature. Coupled with other criteria, such analyses can be used to select sites that represent "background" sites for O3. Selection of such sites thus allows estimations of background O3 in different areas of the country, at different elevations, and for different averaging times. Using several techniques, the current O3 background at inland sites in the United States and Canada for the daylight 7-h (0900-1559 h) seasonal (April-October) average concentrations usually occurred within the range of 35 ± 10 ppb. For coastal sites, the corresponding O3 concentrations were somewhat lower, occurring within the range of 25 ± 10 ppb for locations in the northern hemisphere, but with most O3 concentrations at the coastal sites in the range of 30 ± 5 ppb. The 50th percentile concentrations range from 16 ppb to 45 ppb at inland sites and range from 10 ppb to 33 ppb at coastal sites. The maximum hourly concentrations range from 50 ppb to 98 ppb at inland sites and range from 44 ppb to 80 ppb at coastal sites. We believe that the maximum hourly concentration of 98 ppb experienced in 1988 was influenced by the massive fires in Yellowstone National Park. These ranges suggest that the background O3 is somewhat dependent on a number of conditions such as the nature of upwind flow, lack of pollution sources, and terrain conditions including deposition with respect to forest or agricultural areas.


ALK is overexpressed on the surface of neuroblastoma (NB) and is associated with high risk disease. We developed a second generation CAR based on a monoclonal antibody against ALK. ALK CAR T-cells significantly delay the growth of human NB cell lines in murine xenograft models, but animals eventually succumb to tumors. In order to understand how target antigen density limits the effectiveness of this CAR, we created a library of NALM-6 B-cell leukemias with variable amounts of ALK expressed on the surface of each clone. In vitro, ALK CAR T-cells lyse high ALK expressing leukemias but have reduced activity against leukemias with low expression of ALK. In co-culture assays, we found that there is a minimum target antigen density required for CAR T-cells to produce appreciable amounts of Th1 cytokines. This threshold of ALK expression is above the expression on human NB lines. There is also a threshold target antigen density at which maximum cytokine production occurs. Above this density, no additional cytokines are produced. In xenograft models, ALK CAR T-Cells are significantly more effective against high ALK expressing leukemia than against low ALK expressing leukemia. To our knowledge, this is the first report of greater in vivo efficacy of CAR T-cells against tumors with higher antigen expression. The level of surface expression of the CAR on T-cells also alters the function of CAR T-cells. We have identified a phenomenon in which both ALK and CD19 CAR T-cells lose surface expression of CAR over time in culture. Additionally, both the ALK CAR and the CD19 CAR downregulate quickly after T-cells are exposed to antigen. Using a fluorescently tagged CD19 CAR, we demonstrate that CARs are rapidly internalized upon antigen encounter. We created an assay to understand the interplay of target density and CAR surface expression. We transduced T-cells with different amounts of supernatant to achieve different ALK CAR surface densities and then exposed these T-cells to varying amounts of immobilized protein-L in order to crosslink the CAR. T-cell activation (measured by an NFAT reporter) is greatest when both CAR surface expression and target antigen density are highest. As both variables are decreased, there is a significant loss of T-cell activity. Thus, diminished CAR surface density due to antigen-dependent and independent CAR downmodulation may limit CAR T-cell efficacy, especially in the context of low tumor antigen expression. In conclusion, we have created a novel CAR targeting ALK that demonstrates in vivo efficacy against NB. Efficacy is limited by low target antigen density on NB and low CAR surface expression. We have identified phenomena in which CAR T-cells lose surface expression of CAR over time and also quickly internalize their receptors in response to antigen. These factors contribute to the efficacy of other CAR T-cells and this data provides important insights into future CAR target selection. Citation Format: Robbie G. Majzner, Alec J. Walker, Meera Murgai, Ling Zhang, Adrienne H. Long, Kelsey M. Wanhainen, Rimas J. Orentas, Crystal L. Mackall. Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy against anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) is limited by target antigen density and CAR surface expression. [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 2648.


Intermittent drugs seen highly protective against malaria Malaria drugs given intermittently at the same time as routine childhood vaccinations could cut malaria episodes by nearly twothirds, according to a randomised, placebo controlled trial reported in the 12 May issue of The Lancet. Dr David Schellenberg and colleagues from the Hospital Clinic in Barcelona, Spain, and the Ifakara Health Research and Development Centre, United Republic of Tanzania, randomly assigned either sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine, a commonly used antimalarial drug combination, or placebo to 701 infants living in a rural area of the United Republic of Tanzania. The treatment was given at 2, 3 and 9 months of age alongside routine vaccinations delivered through WHO's Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI). All the children also received iron supplementation between 2 and 6 months of age. The Ifakara area where the trial was conducted has a high rate of malaria transmission and malaria is especially severe in under-1-year-old children. The treatment, the study found, reduced the rate of clinical malaria by 59%, the rate of severe anaemia by 50%, the number of hospital admissions by 30%, and the rate of all febrile episodes by 13%. The treatment was well tolerated and no drug-attributable side-effects were observed. Professor Pedro Alonso, head of epidemiology and international health at the Hospital Clinic Barcelona, and one of the study authors, told the Bulletin: ''This drug costs less than 20 cents and our approach to using it makes use of existing contacts between the target population and health care workers. So this approach appears to be an extremely good buy.'' One concern about using chemoprophylaxis is that drug resistance may develop. However, Alonso argues that because the treatment is directly observed there can be no under-dosing, with its associated increased risk of inducing resistance. ''And the drug is only given in three doses, so it is unlikely to constitute a major contribution to the problem of resistance when you consider the large quantities of malaria drugs consumed in countries with high rates of malaria.'' During a previous trial in the same area, full chemoprophylaxis between 2 and 12 months was associated with a large increase in the rate of malaria once treatment stopped, suggesting that the development of malaria-specific immunity had been delayed. However, no such rebound effect was seen in this study. ''Because the children received only intermittent treatment they developed their own immunity tomalaria just like those in the placebo group,'' says Alonso. ''Once the treatment stops the children will still go on to get malaria but they have been protected when they are most vulnerable.'' Professor Brian Greenwood, head of the malaria centre at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, comments: ''This is a very important study. The difficulty in the past has been finding the right balance between protecting children from malaria at the most vulnerable time without impairing their natural immunity. This approach seems to have got it right.'' Greenwood is currently participating withGhanaian colleagues in a similar study in the north of Ghana, which is due to be completed in 18 months' time. ''Hopefully our study, which has larger numbers, will provide independent confirmation about the value of intermittent drug treatment.'' n Jacqui Wise, London, UK


Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) provide a novel bioprocessing strategy to produce sustainable energy and wastewater treatment. It produces electricity and under certain conditions, biogas from biodegradable compounds and simultaneously reduces carbohydrates and complex substrates in wastewater. MFC with saline catholyte was used in this laboratory scale study. Salt-bridge of dimensions of 5 cm length and 2 cm diameter was used in a plastic MFC unit with electrodes manufactured to the same dimensions (5×5). Dairy wastewater was used as the substrate, with its microorganism as the biocatalyst. The dual chambered MFC was operated at room temperature. The study was carried out in three experiments. In the first experiment, the maximum voltage of 0.36 V and current of 0.35A was generated. In experiment 2 and 3 the maximum voltages were 0.42 V, 0.46 V and maximum current were 0.36A and 0.42A respectively were obtained per liter of the dairy wastewater. The MFC was operated for 7 days while the performance was monitored every 1 hr. The main aspects of MFC research are to produce the cost of treatment as well as simplifying operational or functional conditions. MFCs can be the next generation of fuel cell technology and thus might play an important role in energy conservation, electricity generation, bio-hydrogen production, biosensors and wastewater treatment as well as in alternate fuel utilization using microbes to generate electricity.


Most of the patient suffering from tuberculosis can be managed on anti-tuberculous therapy. Spinal TB patients can present with various signs and symptoms which include leg or back pain, palpable mass in the paraspinal region, kyphotic deformity and neurological compromise, out of these most important sequelae of TB spine are kyphotic deformity and neurological compromise. The spinal cord undergoes intrinsic changes due to tuberculosis and late-onset paraplegia is produced, with consequent poor chances of neural recovery even after surgery. When treatment is started the diseased segment of the spine or vertebral body is the weakest portion and it must be protected by suitable external braces. Fracture and dislocation of a diseased vertebral body may occur secondary to mechanical trauma and surgical decompression adds further instability. So indications for instrumented stabilisation can be advised. Surgical management or instrumentation in Pott's spine helps regain motor function and ameliorates disability. Material and Methods: 38 patients were included with Thoracic and Thoracolumbar Pott's disease.  Included patients were having severe kyphosis with an active disease. Clinical evaluation of the outcome measures were evaluated at baseline, postoperatively and at 3rd, 6th and 1 year. Preoperative and postoperative X-ray, loss of kyphotic correction. Average operation time, bony fusion and implant failure were observed. Results: During study period total 1456 patients were diagnosed as TB out of which 99 were extra pulmonary cases and 58 were diagnosed as pott's spine with thoracic and  thoracolumbar TB and 38 patients were included in the study who meet the inclusion criteria for our study. In our study of the 38 patients 18 were male and 20 were female patients. Mean age was 43.82. In Dorsal group D1 to D4, D5 to D8 and D9 to D12 involvement was seen in 4(10.53%), 10 (26.32%) and 13 (34.21%) respectively. Multi-segment involvement was observed in 3 (7.89%) patients. Dorsolumbar and lumbar involvement was seen in 5 patients. In lumber, L1 to L2, L2 to L3, L3 to L4 and L4 to L5 involvement was 1(2.63%), 0, 1(2.63%) and 2 (5.26%) respectively. Mean operation time was 290±41minutes and mean hospital stay was 16 days ranging from 8 days to 72 days. 34 patients had a successful bony fusion within a mean of 7±1.2 months, whereas 4 patients had late fusion or nonfusion because of secondary infections. Mean preoperative kyphosis was 21 degrees which was corrected to 9 degrees in final follow up after instrumentation. Conclusion: Instrumented stabilisation is safe in spinal TB. Posterior transpedicular approach is a safe surgical procedure for thoracic and thoracolumbar Pott's spine. Also Posterior transpedicular approach shows improved functional status and significantly improves neurological pain and fusion rate. However clinical trials with a larger sample size and a longer follow-up period are required.


This paper studies asymmetric particle clouds confined within electrostatic particle traps in the presence of a molecular drag force. The drag force, due to flow of neutral Ar gas around a particle, is proportional to the gas flow, which can be controlled by a mass flow controller. Our system has a component of the drag force parallel to the wafer electrode surface. The particle clouds associated with a cube and a disc are seen to be highly asymmetric in the direction of the drag force, as would be expected. The asymmetry increases as gas flow increases. In order to visualize the clouds quantitatively, we have introduced a technique called spot scanning in which we move the laser beam slowly with a serpentine path through the particle cloud. The forward scattered light is recorded by a charge-coupled device camera onto videotape. The image of the scattered light on a frame of the videotape is a nearly circular red spot. Using commercially available computer software, the red spots can be used to determine the boundary of the cloud as well as to find contours of constant power density scattered from the cloud.


The assessment of the exposure to bioaerosols among workers engaged in the collection and disposal of municipal waste is presented. The workers were divided into the following groups, depending on the job performed: waste collectors (loaders, drivers), composting plant workers (heavy equipment operators, waste site workers), sorters (heavy equipment operators, waste sorters) and landfill site workers (heavy equipment operators, weighers). Air samples were also collected on the city streets and in flats. They were reference points to the results obtained. Air samples were collected at the breathing zone. The concentrations of dust, viable microorganisms (mesophilic and thermophilic bacteria, and fungi), endotoxins and the total number of microbiol cells were determined. The highest, individual exposure to dust was found in composting plant workers and waste collectors. The values exceeded considerably maximum allowable concentrations (by ten times at composting plant). The mean values for the above listed groups also exceeded the concentration of 4 mg/m3. Dust concentrations at other workposts were substantially lower. The concentrations in the city streets and in flats maintained at the level of 0.1 mg/m3. Endotoxin concentration at a protecting upper airway inflammation level (10 ng/m3) was exceeded in the majority (above 50%) of samples. That is why the average concentration in individual groups was also higher than 10 ng/m3. Street and flat samples included endotoxins at the level of 1 ng/m3. Taking as a criterion the obligatory total dust and endotoxin MAC value of 10 ng/m3 for assessing work hygiene conditions, it should be stated that waste collectors and composting plant workers were employed in conditions of poor hygiene.


Abstract The mechanism of senescence, permanent G1 arrest, is gradually becoming elucidated; however, the exact function of senescence remains unclear. A marker assay detecting the acidic senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (saβgal) has been used as an indicator for cellular senescence. However, more recently, others have shown that expression of this low pH saβgal may not be solely limited to senescent cells. This study has extended the findings on stress induction of saβgal by assessing the enzyme activity in additional species (monkey and rat) and determining if saβgal is stimulated by the stresses of temperature and alkalinity. Our results support previous data that saβgal is not solely a marker of senescence but may in fact be a highly conserved, ubiquitous marker of cellular stress. Additionally, we feel that our data, in conjunction with the literature, indicate that this sa (stress associated) βgal may play a pivotal role in multiple signal pathways in the cell.


Background: Elderly patients with non-thyroidal illness syndrome (NTIS) have relatively severe symptoms and a poor prognosis. However, there are few studies on the correlation between NTIS and mortality among hospitalised elderly patients. This study aimed to investigate the characterization of NTIS inpatients with biochemical indicators and mortality prediction.Methods: In the present study, 931 male veteran inpatients ≥ 60 years of age who visited our hospital from January 2012 to December 2013 were selected and divided into the NTIS group (n = 193) and normal thyroid function (non-NTIS) group(n = 738). Following propensity score matching to match the two groups according to age and body mass index, the NTIS group and non-NTIS group consisted of 192 and 660 patients, respectively. Data on biochemical indicators and mortality were collected. Results: Patients had more primary care and more respiratory disease and chronic kidney disease in the NTIS than in the non-NTIS group. Serum total protein (TP), albumin (Alb), prealbumin (PA), haemoglobin (Hb), uric acid (UA), triglyceride (TG), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) levels were significantly lower, and fasting blood glucose (FBG) and urea nitrogen (UN) levels were higher, in the NTIS than in the non-NTIS group. Triiodothyronine, TP, Alb, and PA levels correlated positively with the Hb level and negatively with FBG, UN, and creatinine (Cr) levels. The free T3 level correlated positively with TP, Alb, PA, Hb, and UA levels and negatively with FBG, UN, and Cr levels. A lower free T3 level was associated with increased all-cause mortality after adjusting for covariates. Patients in the NTIS group had a lower survival rate at 6-month (78.65% vs. 97.73%), 1-year (68.23% vs. 96.97%) and 2-year (64.58% vs. 86.52%). Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis showed that a cut-off free T3 level of 3.45 pmol/L yielded the highest sensitivity and specificity for predicting all-cause mortality at 2 years.Conclusion: Among elderly male inpatients, the survival rate was lower in the NTIS group. Serum protein levels and renal function decreased and the FBG level increased with decreasing triiodothyronine and free T3 levels. A decreased free T3 level in hospitalized elderly male patients was a predictor of poor prognosis.


This is a retrospective clinical study on 2,955 patients who had visited the Emergency Room of Sang-gye Paik Hospital and then been treated in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery during recent 4 years from Aug. 2002 to Dec. 2006. The obtained results were as follows. The total number of patients was 2,955 and the ratio of male to female was 1.72:1. The age distribution peak was the 1st decade (30.8%), followed by the 3rd decade (14.3%) and the 4th decade (14.0%). Trauma (62.3%) was the most frequent cause in dental emergency patients, pulpitis (13.0%) and infection patients were next in order of frequency. In trauma patients group, facial bone injury, tooth injury, soft tissue injury were included and soft tissue injury group was most prevalent, followed by tooth injury group and facial bone group. In total patient, the ratio of admission was 3.5%. We obtained the results of the distribution of primary emergency care in the traumatic injury, causal distribution of the jaw fracture, distribution of related medical department in multiple associated injuries, distribution of emergency care in infection, causal distribution and control methods of oral bleeding, distribution of TMJ disorder. The trauma patient group was major in the dental patients who had visited the emergency room, but other various groups were included. So we should analyze the pattern and the variation of the dental emergent patient to provide the proper treatment.


Deep learning has contributed to major advances in the prediction of protein structure from sequence, a fundamental problem in structural bioinformatics. With predictions now approaching the accuracy of crystallographic experiments, and with accelerators like GPUs and TPUs making inference using large models rapid, genome-level structure prediction becomes an obvious aim. Leadership-class computing resources can be used to perform genome-scale protein structure prediction using state-of-the-art deep learning models, providing a wealth of new data for systems biology applications. Here we describe our efforts to efficiently deploy the AlphaFold v.2 program, for full-proteome structure prediction, at scale on the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility's resources, including the Summit supercomputer. We performed inference to produce the predicted structures for 40,526 protein sequences, corresponding to four prokaryotic proteomes and one plant proteome, using under 4,400 total Summit node hours, equivalent to using the majority of the supercomputer for a little over one hour. We also designed an optimized structure refinement that reduced the time for the relaxation stage of the AlphaFold pipeline by over 10X for longer sequences. We demonstrate the types of analyses that can be performed on proteome-scale collections of sequences, including a search for novel quaternary structures and implications for functional annotation.


Multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) techniques have been widely proposed as a means to improve capacity and reliability of wireless channels, and have become the most promising technology for next generation networks. However, their practical deployment in current wireless devices is severely affected by antenna correlation, which reduces their impact on performance. One approach to solve this limitation is relaying diversity. In relay channels, a set of wireless nodes aids a source-destination communication by relaying the source data, thus creating a distributed antenna array with uncorrelated path gains. In this paper, we study this multiple relay channel (MRC) following a decode-and-forward (D&F) strategy (i.e., regenerative forwarding), and derive its achievable rate under AWGN. A half-duplex constraint on relays is assumed, as well as distributed channel knowledge at both transmitter and receiver sides of the communication. For this channel, we obtain the optimum relay selection algorithm and the optimum power allocation within the network so that the transmission rate is maximized. Likewise, we bound the ergodic performance of the achievable rate and derive its asymptotic behavior in the number of relays. Results show that the achievable rate of regenerative MRC grows as the logarithm of the Lambert W function of the total number of relays, that is,. Therefore, D&F relaying, cannot achieve the capacity of actual MISO channels.


Background and Aims: Community nurses have been providing health care to communities for many decades and have assumed a variety of roles, including community empowerment, the provision of services, and linking communities with health facilities. They face many challenges while providing community service. The present study has been conducted to assess the role of community nurses toward maternal and child health (MCH) services and to find out the challenges toward providing MCH services. Materials and Methods: After Institutional Ethics Committee approval, data were collected from 100 community nurses through multistage sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured and structured interview schedules. All tools were tested for validity and reliability before data collection. Data analysis was done through descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Most of the community nurses adopted the role of educator (98.43%), administrator (97.63%), supervisor (95.5%), and coordinator (93.63%), respectively, toward MCH services; however, only 84.9% and 80%, respectively, performed a care provider's and a collaborator's role. The most common challenges faced by the community nurses were overburden, due to a high inflow of patients at the OPD (78%), the overload of handling written documents, and online data entry (69%). Conclusion: Administrators need to take proper steps to reduce the challenges faced by the community nurses, and there is a need for constant supervision and timely training for the community nurses.


Objective: To analyze prodromal phase and prodromal events of anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis. Methods: Clinical data of 179 patients hospitalized and diagnosed during 2010-2016 including adults and children in Peking Union Medical College Hospital and Beijing Children's Hospital were collected.Patients with prodromal phase or prodromal events were selected.A retrospective analysis of clinical characteristics including prodromal phase or prodromal events, course of disease, brain imaging, laboratory results and therapeutic effect was performed. Results: Prodromal phase was presented in 31.8% (57/179) of patients.Most common symptoms included fever (73.7%) and headache (68.4%). Prodromal phase was prolonged in 6 patients, the longest being 64 days.Among those 6 patients (10.5%), headache and fever were the only symptoms throughout disease courses in 3 cases.Prodromal events were reported in 6.1% (11/179) of patients, including 5 patients after HSV1 encephalitis, 1 after Japanese encephalitis, and 2 after resection of melanocytic nevi. Conclusions: Anti-NMDAR encephalitis can be preceded with prolonged prodromal phase.In some patients prodromal symptoms are the only clinical presentation.Clinical features of those atypical cases suggest that infection may be the precipitating factor.Viral encephalitis including HSV1 encephalitis and Japanese encephalitis may be prodromal events in some cases.


Background and importance Drug shortages have become a worldwide phenomenon which has repercussions on patient care and on the hospital's budget. Aim and objectives The aim of our study was to assess the risk of shortages of drugs included in our hospital therapeutic formulary (HTF), for which there is shortage reporting, using a hazard vulnerability analysis (HVA). Material and methods We performed an HVA on 43 drugs in our HTF, which were also included in the Italian Medicines Agency list of shortages. The HVA used to assign the risk of shortage (ROS) included three macro areas: probability that the shortages will occur based on shortages in the past 2 years; magnitude factors which increase the risk of shortages; and mitigation factors which reduce it. Probability was assigned a score from 0 to 2 based on previous shortages. Magnitude factors were relevance of active substance; budget impact; and percentage of patients treated. Mitigation factors were: therapeutic alternative; stock availability; and import of drug. For each of these items a score from 0 to 3 was assigned. For magnitude factors, a higher score was assigned for increasing severity values. In contrast, for mitigation factors, a higher score was assigned in relation to mitigation reduction. The value of the risk was calculated multiplying the percentage of probability (P) and the percentage of severity (S). According to the score obtained, three classes of ROS were assigned: low (<30%); medium (30–60%); and high (>60%). Results No drug was found to be at high risk of shortage (>60%), 32/43 (74.4%) were at low risk of shortage and 11/43 (25.6%) were at medium risk of shortage. The latter had previously been lacking; 6/11 had the same active ingredient as a therapeutic alternative, 3/11 had a different active ingredient as an alternative while 2/11 had no alternative. Conclusion and relevance The HVA is an important method to assess the ROS and implement targeted strategies for drugs at risk of shortages. Knowledge of the risk level facilitates the timeliness of the interventions to resolve the shortages themselves. References and/or acknowledgements No conflict of interest.


Background and Objectives: Evaporative dry eye disease is frequently associated with meibomian gland dysfunction. Patients are often unhappy because of daily drops, care burden, and suboptimal conventional treatments. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of a novel device, the Eye-light®, a combination of intense pulsed light therapy and low-level light therapy, as a novel treatment for meibomian gland dysfunction and dry eye disease. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective, single-center study carried out over a 6-week period, in which 22 eyes from 11 patients were included. Each patient received four combined light therapy treatment sessions, once weekly over 4 weeks. Patients underwent a clinical examination and filled out a standardized questionnaire to evaluate symptoms one week prior to treatment, and one week after the fourth session. Results: Combined light therapy improved several ocular surface outcome measures in our patients. This study demonstrates that this adjunctive treatment significantly improves the ocular surface and quality of life of patients with dry eye disease and meibomian gland dysfunction. Conclusions: Combined light therapy may be included in meibomian gland dysfunction treatment protocols as an adjunctive rescue treatment.


Based on data in the literature and his own clinical experience the author submits a historical reminiscence of the nowadays already obsolete indication of methylfenidat in the treatment of acute drug intoxications. Methylfenidat, being a central stimulant, reduces and alleviates quantitative disorders of consciousness or prevents a relapse of unconsciousness in acute drug intoxications. Even when large doses are administered by the parenteral route, it is very safe. The author recommends therefore to workers in anaesthesiology and resuscitation departments to test methylfenidate in this indication and include it again in the comprehensive treatment of acute drug intoxications. A prerequisite is the registration of RITALIN amp. à 20 mg of Ciba Geigy (British branch) in Czech Republic.


Employers are currently seeking for employees with added value on top of the relevant technical content knowledge and skills (Generic employability skills).However, recent studies have shown that most employers in Nigeria are not
satisfied with the affective skills (Generic Employability Skills) possessed by the Polytechnic graduates especially in terms of language communication skills, social
and interpersonal skills, and critical thinking and problem solving skills among others. The Polytechnic's Mechanical Engineering curriculum for National
Diploma Certificate is criticized for not reflecting generic employability skills development with learning outcome of Oral Communication Skill. It is therefore
needful to identify the learning outcomes that should be considered while integrating generic employability skills into the curriculum in Nigerian Polytechnics. The design of the study was quantitative research which made use of questionnaire for data collection. The sample of the study consisted of randomly selected 536 respondents comprising of 234 polytechnic lecturers and 302
industrial workers. One research question was raised and analyzed with descriptive statistics and Confirmatory factor Analysis (CFA) using SPSS version 20 and AMOS 18 for data analysis. The results of the studys howed that the learning outcomes of oral communication to be considered towards integrating employability skills into mechanical engineering curriculum in Nigerian Polytechnics
met the modification indicescriteria (CFI=1.000, IFI=1.001and TLI=1.002).

TheChi-square=1.769 with the df=2. Hence, the ratio of the Chi-square and the df (less than3) =.885. The RMSEA(< or =.080) =.000. The items retainedinclude the Ability to speak clearly using correct grammar, Ability to present ideas confidently and effectively, Ability to listen attentively and ask questions and Ability to give a clear direction. The Cronbach Alpha obtained was 0.74.


Notes on two constructions of zero-difference balanced (ZDB) functions are made in this letter. Then ZDB functions over $\mathbb{Z}_{e}\times \prod_{i=0}^{k}{\mathbb{F}_{q_i}}$ are obtained. And it shows that all the known ZDB functions using cyclotomic cosets over $\mathbb{Z}_{n}$ are special cases of a generic construction. Moreover, applications of these ZDB functions are presented.


Abstract A calcium-rich ralstonite, forming colourless octahedral crystals up to 2 mm across, occurs in a F-rich assemblage at the Cleveland Mine, northwestern Tasmania. Other minerals present include well-crystallized morinite, gearksutite, vivianite, siderite, K-rich feldspar (adularia), fluorite and quartz. The F-rich assemblage probably formed during greisenization when Na and F-rich magmatic brines reacted with enclosing carbonate host rocks to produce hydrothermal Na-Ca-Mg-bearing solutions. Chemical analysis of the ralstonite-like mineral gave a formula (Na1.47Ca0.52)(Mg1.49Al0.55P0.04)F6 [(OH)0.43O0.36F0.21)]. This differs from the 'pyrochlore' formula, due to the substitution of Ca + (OH,O,F) for H2O, in addition to the coupled substitution of Na + Mg for Al in 'normal' ralstonites. The Cleveland Mine ralstonite has the highest recorded Ca, Na and Mg contents. While the mineral is likely to be a new species on chemical grounds, single crystal X-ray photographs indicate the structure is disordered, possibly composed of small compositional domains.


Based on the conservation of nucleotides at splice sites, the characteristics of base composition and base correlation in the adjacent segment sequences, the distance between alternative donor or acceptor splice sites and the content of GC and TC near splice sites, the donor and acceptor splice sites for alternative and constitutive introns are predicted by use of the method of diversity measure combined with quadratic discriminant analysis. For alternative splice sites the total prediction accuracies are 87.9% and 89.9% for donors and acceptors respectively (with the chosen threshold -2). For constitutive splice sites the total accuracy are 92.8% and 94.3% for donors and acceptors respectively (with the chosen threshold -1).


The R5 assessment procedure for Integrity of High Temperature Structures employs a Weld Strain Enhancement Factor (WSEF) (dependent only upon classified weld type) for predicting creep-fatigue crack initiation at weldments (V2/3 Appendix 4). This serves to amplify the calculated total strain at the weld toe for full penetration welds to account for geometric concentration and material mismatch between weldment zones. The value of WSEF recommended for fillet welds was derived from a review of a limited number of tests on thin welds which were not wholly representative of a typical fillet weld.
 The objective of this paper is to present a comparison of the predicted cyclic creep defect initiation damage at a fillet weld toe using a multi-material finite element (FE) model of the weldment, against the damage predicted using the traditional R5 V2/3 approach, which uses only the parent material properties to derive the weld toe strain range in combination with the WSEF. In this example, the fillet weld joins a high temperature tube to an anti-vibration strap. There is pressure loading in the tube and displacement loading due to thermal expansion.
 The FE model incorporates material properties associated with both the parent and the weld metal, including elastic modulus, plastic yield properties, creep deformation, and creep ductility (to determine damage via ductility exhaustion). The finite element analysis is run for 30 cycles (pressure and thermal cycling) with an average dwell period of 736 hours, with predicted damages for 100 cycles estimated using extrapolation. Sensitivities considering the stress-strain properties of the weld are included.
 The cycle to cycle evolution of damage after 100 cycles including the weld-parent interaction in the FE modelled weldment is shown to be significantly lower than that predicted by the traditional R5 V2/3 route.


During 1961, there were 4,401 wells drilled for oil or gas in Kansas. Excluding the shallow stripper area of southeastern Kansas, the total drops to 3,276. Of this latter figure, 49% were successful. Production in Kansas for 1961 amounted to 112,210,936 bbls. of oil, 6,150,086 bbls. of LPG and natural gasoline, and 676,235,505 MCF of natural gas. Exploratory tests in Kansas during 1961 numbered 1,165 and included 103 oil discoveries, 33 gas discoveries, 68 extensions to oil pools, 28 extensions to gas pools, and 933 dry holes. New-field, new-pool, and outpost discoveries numbered 115. There were 20 deeper-pool discoveries and 1 shallower-pool discovery during 1961. Available information indicates that 20 exploratory tests were drilled during 1961 in Iowa, Missouri, and that part of Nebraska east of the 98th Meridian. None of these 20 tests was successful.


Energy efficient models have become the path to reduce energy consumption and Greenhouse gas emissions in the built environment in many developed countries. According to the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), new buildings constructed within the European Union (EU) countries are expected to be nearly zero energy buildings (nZEBs) by 2020, while new public buildings are expected to adhere to this target by 2018. The Passivhaus approach has been identified by several researchers as a possible roadmap to achieve nZEBs. The meticulous engineering and high standards of the Passivhaus building fabric, in addition to the high comfort levels, are the main reasons behind the success and widespread of the standard. Recently, in 2013 the Passivhaus principles have been applied to an experimental residential project in the hot and arid climate of Qatar. The project is composed of two identical buildings, one built according to the Passivhaus standard and the other according to normal practices in the country. The thermal performance and comfort levels of both buildings were assessed through dynamic simulation and on-site measurements. Results indicated that at least 50% reduction in annual operational energy, water consumption, and CO2 emissions were achieved in the Passivhaus model in comparison to the standard model. This paper aims to highlight the lessons learned through the Passivhaus project; first by exhibiting the Passivhaus criteria that have been met, second by showcasing the outcomes of the project, and third by displaying the barriers and difficulties that have been associated with building according to the standard in Qatar. Finally, recommendations and general guidelines are suggested towards a possible adoption of the Passivhaus standard in Qatar and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries


Abstract. Nitrous acid (HONO), one of the reactive nitrogen oxides (NOy), plays an important role in the formation of ozone (O3) and fine aerosols (PM2.5) in the urban atmosphere. In this study, a simulation model of Reactive Nitrogen species using Deep neural network model (RND) was constructed to calculate the HONO mixing ratios through a deep learning technique using measured variables. A Python-based Deep Neural Network (DNN) was trained, validated, and tested with HONO measurement data obtained in Seoul during the warm months from 2016 to 2019. A k-fold cross validation and test results confirmed the performance of RND v1.0 with an Index Of Agreement (IOA) of 0.79 ~ 0.89 and a Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 0.21 ~ 0.31 ppbv. The RNDV1.0 adequately represents the main characteristics of HONO and thus, RND v1.0 is proposed as a supplementary model for calculating the HONO mixing ratio in a high- NOx environment.


According to David Chalmers and Frank Jackson, conceptual competence puts one in a position to have a priori knowledge of conditional claims of the form 'If my environment is thus and so, then water = H2O'. The rationale for this position, I argue, rests on controversial semantic assumptions about the individuation of meanings or concepts. I sketch a new model of conceptual competence, which undermines the apriority of such conditionals.


The aims of this study were to investigate the role of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)-1 in dyslipidemia-associated vascular dysfunction as well as autonomic nervous system dysregulation. Apolipoprotein (ApoE)−/− mice fed a high-fat diet were used as a model of atherosclerosis. Vascular and autonomic functions were measured in conscious mice using telemetry. The study revealed that PARP-1 plays an important role in dyslipidemia-associated vascular and autonomic dysfunction. Inhibition of this enzyme by gene knockout partially restored baroreflex sensitivity in ApoE−/− mice without affecting baseline heart-rate and arterial pressure, and also improved heart-rate responses following selective blockade of the autonomic nervous system. The protective effect of PARP-1 gene deletion against dyslipidemia-induced endothelial dysfunction was associated with preservation of eNOS activity. Dyslipidemia induced PARP-1 activation was accompanied by oxidative tissue damage, as evidenced by increased expression of iNOS and subsequent protein nitration. PARP-1 gene deletion reversed these effects, suggesting that PARP-1 may contribute to vascular and autonomic pathologies by promoting oxidative tissue injury. Further, inhibition of this oxidative damage may account for protective effects of PARP-1 gene deletion on vascular and autonomic functions. This study demonstrates that PARP-1 participates in dyslipidemia-mediated dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system and that PARP-1 gene deletion normalizes autonomic and vascular dysfunctions. Maintenance of eNOS activity may be associated with the protective effect of PARP-1 gene deletion against dyslipidemia-induced endothelial dysfunction.


In this paper, we report a study on performance comparisons of discriminative training methods for phone recognition using the TIMIT database. We propose a new method of phonediscriminating minimum classification error (P-MCE), which performs MCE training at the sub-string or phone level instead of at the traditional string level. Aiming at minimizing the phone recognition error rate, P-MCE nevertheless takes advantage of the well-known, efficient training routine derived from the conventional string-based MCE, using specially constructed one-best lists selected from phone lattices. Extensive investigations and comparisons are conducted between the PMCE and other discriminative training methods including maximum mutual information (MMI), minimum phone or word error (MPE/MWE), and the other two MCE methods. The P-MCE outperforms most of experimented approaches on the standard TIMIT database in terms of the continuous phonetic recognition accuracy. P-MCE achieves comparable results with the MPE method which also aims at reducing phone-level recognition errors.


We have performed 0.5-micros-long molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of 0%, 50%, and 100% acetylated third- (G3) and fifth-generation (G5) polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers in dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) bilayers with explicit water using the coarse-grained (CG) model developed by Marrink et al. (J.Phys. Chem. B 2004, 108, 750-760), but with long-range electrostatic interactions included. Radii of gyration of the CG G5 dendrimers are 1.99-2.32 nm, close to those measured in the experiments by Prosa et al. (J. Polym. Sci. 1997, 35, 2913-2924) and atomistic simulations by Lee et al. (J. Phys. Chem. B 2006, 110, 4014-4019). Starting with the dendrimer initially positioned near the bilayer, we find that positively charged un-acetylated G3 and 50%-acetylated and un-acetylated G5 dendrimers insert themselves into the bilayer, and only un-acetylated G5 dendrimer induces hole formation at 310 K, but not at 277 K, which agrees qualitatively with experimental observations of Hong et al. (Bioconj. Chem. 2004, 15, 774-782) and Mecke et al. (Langmuir 2005, 21, 10348-10354). At higher salt concentration (approximately 500 mM NaCl), un-acetylated G5 dendrimer does not insert into the bilayer. The results suggest that with inclusion of long-range electrostatic interactions into coarse-grained models, realistic MD simulation of membrane-disrupting effects of nanoparticles at the microsecond time scale is now possible.


Anaesthesia related complications in plastic surgeries are fortunately rare, but potentially catastrophic. Maintaining patient safety in the operating room is a major concern of anaesthesiologists, surgeons, hospitals and surgical facilities. Circumventing preventable complications is essential and pressure to avoid these complications in cosmetic surgery is increasing. Key aspects of patient safety in the operating room are outlined, including patient positioning, airway management and issues related to some specific conditions, essential for minimizing post-operative morbidity. Risks associated with extremes of age in the plastic surgery population, may be minimised by a better understanding of the physiologic changes as well as the pre-operative and post-operative considerations in caring for this special group of patients. An understanding of the anaesthesiologist's concerns during paediatric plastic surgical procedures can facilitate the coordination of efforts between the multiple services involved in the care of these children. Finally, the reader will have a better understanding of the perioperative care of unique populations including the morbidly obese and the elderly. Attention to detail in these aspects of patient safety can help avoid unnecessary complication and significantly improve the patients' experience and surgical outcome.


Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) are among the best-motivated dark matter candidates. In the standard scenario where the freeze-out happens well after the end of inflationary reheating, they are in tension with the severe experimental constraints. Here, we investigate the thermal freeze-out of WIMPs occurring during reheating, while the inflaton ϕ coherently oscillates in a generic potential ∝ ϕn . Depending on the value of n and the spin of the inflaton decaying products, the evolution of the radiation and inflaton energy densities can show distinct features, therefore, having a considerable impact on the freeze-out behavior of WIMPs. As a result of the injection of entropy during reheating, the parameter space compatible with the observed DM relic abundance is enlarged. In particular, the WIMP thermally averaged annihilation cross-section can be several magnitudes lower than that in the standard case. Finally, we discuss the current bounds from dark matter indirect detection experiments, and explore future challenges and opportunities.


It is well known that galaxies falling into clusters can experience gas stripping due to ram-pressure by the intra-cluster medium (ICM). The most spectacular examples are galaxies with extended tails of optically-bright stripped material known as "jellyfish". We use the first large homogeneous compilation of jellyfish galaxies in clusters from the WINGS and OmegaWINGS surveys, and follow-up MUSE observations from the GASP MUSE programme to investigate the orbital histories of jellyfish galaxies in clusters and reconstruct their stripping history through position vs. velocity phase- space diagrams. We construct analytic models to define the regions in phase-space where ram-pressure stripping is at play. We then study the distribution of cluster galaxies in phase-space and find that jellyfish galaxies have on average higher peculiar velocities (and higher cluster velocity dispersion) than the overall population of cluster galaxies at all clustercentric radii, which is indicative of recent infall into the cluster and radial orbits. In particular, the jellyfish galaxies with the longest gas tails reside very near the cluster cores (in projection) and are moving at very high speeds, which coincides with the conditions of the most intense ram-pressure. We conclude that many of the jellyfish galaxies seen in clusters likely formed via fast (~1- 2 Gyr), incremental, outside-in ram-pressure stripping during first infall into the cluster in highly radial orbits.


We have reviewed the pertinent literature on rigid gas permeable (RGP) extended wear contact lenses, and we discuss the benefits and adverse reactions of this contact lens modality, drawing conclusions from reviewed studies. We suggest parameters for success with these lenses and guidelines for the prevention of adverse reactions.


The notion of a complete Boolean algebra, although completely legitimate in constructive mathematics, fails to capture some natural structures such as the lattice of subsets of a given set. Sambin's notion of an overlap algebra, although classically equivalent to that of a complete Boolean algebra, has powersets and other natural structures as instances. In this paper we study the category of overlap algebras as an extension of the category of sets and relations, and we establish some basic facts about mono-epi-isomorphisms and (co)limits; here a morphism is a symmetrizable function (with classical logic this is just a function which preserves joins). Then we specialize to the case of morphisms which preserve also finite meets: classically, this is the usual category of complete Boolean algebras. Finally, we connect overlap algebras with locales, and their morphisms with open maps between locales, thus obtaining constructive versions of some results about Boolean locales.


Designing of plants with wave expander-compressor (WEC) demands the special approach owing to operating conditions inherent in him and feature of realizable processes. Base circuit and principles of plants construction with use of WEC are considered. The calculated parameters and circuits of plants for processing of oil gas are resulted at various initial pressure, receptions of liquefied natural gas, and also extraction of metane from hydrocarbonic gases with its lowered contents (mine gas, biogas). The plant circuit for additional extraction of propane from natural gas on gas-distributing stations is submitted.


In this study, we report the synthesis and biological evaluation of four 6- and 17-substituted progesterone derivatives (7–10). These compounds were prepared from the commercially available 17α-acetoxyprogesterone. The biological effect of these steroids was demonstrated in in vivo as well as in vitro experiments. In the in vivo experiments, we measured the activity of 6–10 on the weight of the prostate glands of gonadectomized hamsters treated with testosterone (T). For the studies in vitro, we determined the IC50 value by measuring the concentration of steroidal derivative that inhibited 50% of the activity of 5α-reductase present in the human prostate. The results from this work indicated that compounds 6–9 significantly decreased the weight of the prostate as compared to testosterone-treated animals and this reduction of prostate weight was comparable to that produced by finasteride. Steroid 8 was the most effective of the tested compounds. However, compound 10 did not exhibit this capacity. On the other hand, 6–9 exhibited a high inhibitory activity for the human 5α-reductase enzyme with IC50 values of 10, 70, 22, and 19 nM, respectively. However, 10 was not effective for the inhibition of 5α-reductase activity. In conclusion, the compounds that contained the acetate ester moiety in the molecule (6, 7, 8, and 9) inhibited the activity of 5α-reductase and decreased the weight of the prostate. Nevertheless, the double bond in ring B seems to diminish the inhibitory potency (7 and 9), since 6, which does not possess a double bond at C-6, had the highest inhibitory activity (the lowest IC50 value).


In evaluating the status of diseased organs, certain attempts might be directed to the deviations in the normal functions of synthesis and excretion. In the liver such tests have diagnostic limitations, since the degree of parenchymatous involvement does not necessarily parallel the impairment of the various individual functions; moreover, the process of regeneration in the liver is frequently extensive. The tolerance tests for levulose and galactose, which have received much attention, have not always been very fruitful in the elucidation of the problem. The results obtained with the dye excretion method are too sensitive, and the presence of jaundice causes errors in the quantitative estimation; moreover, there is some hesitancy in employing this method if the liver is already damaged, especially if there is also marked diminution in the excretion of bile. The study of the biliary pigments in the blood enables one to detect the presence of jaundice before