In the pre-school period, children learn a lot from discovering and exploring through games, where they are led by internal motivation and curiosity. However, when the learning is carried out in an interaction with peers and other adults, they also learn about social norms, communication skills and skills in general as well as how to cooperate with other peers. The latter to me seems to be of crucial importance when connecting the kindergarten and the school which is a child's immediate environment in which the child develops and learns, and at the same time, with the child's participation, it facilitates the transition to a new era and the experience with entering the school.
In my thesis, I was interested in what the cooperation of preschool and elementary school children is like, so I decided to observe the latter with conducting the experiments in the first stage of natural science, since because the children already show an extraordinary interest in nature in the first couple of months of their life. They show immense interest in people and objects around them. I have presented the general cooperation between kindergarten and the school, and how important this is for the later transition of preschool children to kindergarten. In the following, I focused a lot more intensively on the cooperation of both institutions that "live" under the same roof of the primary school Jurij Vega and the educational protection unit Vojka Napokoj, where I am also employed. I emphasized the importance of learning in a social environment and on collaborative learning, where I have presented a more in depth presentation of the "peer teaching" method, which is among the more successful methods.
I have presented the course of the project in the empirical work, which took place in April and in May, with pre-school children aged 4-6 and students aged 14. Through experiments selected by students, I investigated the cooperation of children and the motivation to work on the experiments, and what kind of attitude the children have with the students and vice versa. The results have showed that the children were even more motivated to carry out experiments because they were carried out by students. This was also confirmed in the survey questionnaire. In the interview, all of the students answered that they feel that it is reasonable for the school and the kindergarten to connect in such a way or a form of cooperation. Students also agree that this in way helps the children ease with the transition from kindergarten to school, where children can see the school in a pleasant and in an entertaining way, while at the same time the children learn a lot from the students which they have as examples.


Osteochondroma is a benign lesion of osseous and cartilagenous origin. It is a relatively common benign tumor of the skeleton, occurring most often in the metaphyseal region of long bone. However, it is rare in the facial bones. Reported foci in the mandible were the condyle, coronoid process, and symphysis region. Synovial chondromatosis is an uncommon benign condition of unknown etiology which affects the articular joints. Foci of cartilage develop through metaplasia in the underlying connective tissue of the synovial membrane. These cartilagenous foci and fragments may undergo calcification and ossification. We experienced 4 patients with abnormal appearance of mandibular condyle. This report describes 3 cases of osteocondroma and 1 case of synovial chondromatosis of the mandibular condyle with review of the literature.


The mission operations room for NASA's Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) satellite is the first of its kind to use an expert system to work with the human operators. This expert system monitors the communication links between the spacecraft and the mission operations room, diagnoses problems, and offers advice. The authors describe the domain of satellite ground control, the features of the expert system called CLEAR, and the methodology and results of a case study that examined how and why human operators made use of this expert system. Three types of data were collected: questionnaire, informal interview, and video- and audio-tape of real-time supports. The results for all three approaches are analyzed.<<ETX>>


AIM
Lacosamide is an antiepileptic drug approved for the treatment of focal epilepsy in adult patients. The aim of this observational study was to review our centre's experience with lacosamide and to characterize its effectiveness and tolerability as an adjunctive antiepileptic drug in a retrospective cohort of children with refractory focal epilepsy.

METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 22 patients who received lacosamide from November 2009 to April 2014 at the CHU Ste-Justine, University of Montreal. Treatment responders were defined as children with a ≥50% reduction in seizure frequency compared to baseline, and this was determined three months after the initiation of treatment and at the last follow-up visit.

RESULTS
We included 14 boys and eight girls with a mean age of 12.9 years (SD: 5.2; range: 5.2-20.7 years) at the initiation of treatment. The average length of follow-up was 11.9 months. Patients had previously received an average of 7.5 antiepileptic drugs. The mean number of concomitant antiepileptic drugs was 2.3. The mean initial and maintenance doses were 2.9 and 8.4 mg/kg/d, respectively. Thirteen (59%) and ten (45%) patients were responders after three months of treatment and at the last follow-up visit, respectively. One became seizure-free. Adverse effects were reported in 11 patients and none were severe. Responders and non-responders were identical with respect to all studied parameters except gender, with the proportion of responders being greater in girls than in boys (75% vs 29%; p=0.035).

CONCLUSION
Our study adds evidence that lacosamide appears to be a safe and effective adjunctive therapy for children with refractory focal epilepsy.


Background : Burns are a major cause of death and disability worldwide. Today biological dressings have become an integral part of modern burn care. Using this method, in otherwise healthy young adults, the size of burn relative to the total body surface area (TBSA) correlating with a 50% mortality rate has increased from 30% to 80% . Due to a lack of experience and an interest in using biological dressings in Iran, as a developing country, the aim of this study was to compare patient outcome using the biological dressing vs. conventional treatment in patients with massive burns. Methods : In this clinical trial study, 118 burn patients ( 30 to 75% TBSA ) were enrolled. The patients were divided in two groups. Those in the conventional treatment group had not accepted treatment with a biological dressing. The second group agreed to treatment with biological dressing, a pig skin xenograft known as Xenoderm. Significant differences were evaluated using the unpaired Student's t test, the Mann-Whitney U test and the χ 2 test. Results : Mortality rates in the conventional treatment group (n= 53 ) and biological dressing group (n= 65 ) were 35% (19) and 10.8% (7 ), respectively (p= 0.001 ). Excluding those patients who died, the mean hospital stay was 31.3 days in the conventional treatment group versus 18.2 days in the biological dressing group (p= 0.0005 ), and number of dressings was 22.1 versus 9.9 (p= 0.0005 ), respectively. Three patients in the conventional treatment group were transferred to a tertiary-care hospital after three weeks of treatment. The most commonly burned areas were the upper limb, lower limb and trunk. Conclusions : The results of this study indicate that biological dressings give a better outcome and decrease the hospital stay and the number of dressings. A randomized clinical trial is warranted.


AbstractThe deep layers of the nasoethmoid region comprise a thin-walled lacrimal bone, a paper-thin ethmoid plate, and ethmoidal cells, forming an extremely fragile and easily crushed structure. In a nasoethmoid complex fracture where the support structure itself is destroyed, epithesis and immobilization are difficult and can lead to residual saddle nose deformities. Therefore, bone grafts are often necessary at a later date. Recently, the authors occasionally see reports of nasoethmoid complex fractures that are treated with Halo distraction devices. Advantages of this device are that it applies constant traction to maintain the shape of the structures until the ruptured nasoethmoid bone and mucosa are repaired, thus minimizing relapse. There is no need for rigid fixation with a plate, no limitations on how much distraction is possible, and no major skin incisions are required for the approach. The authors treated a 30-year-old man who suffered a severe and widespread depressed facial deformation due to a nasoethmoid fracture that included a midface comminuted fracture using a Halo-type distraction device. A gentle traction was maintained on the nasoethmoid bone and part of the maxilla pulling it forward, and resulted in an extremely good outcome both esthetically and functionally. This method is believed to be extremely useful and effective, requiring only minimally invasive surgery for comminuted midface fractures involving a nasoethmoid fracture with a depressed frontal process of the maxilla. Below, the authors provide a detailed description of their experience with this device.


A cDNA that codes for an Hsp70-interacting protein (HspBP1) was isolated from a human heart cDNA library using the yeast two-hybrid system. The derived amino acid sequence is unique and therefore represents a new regulator of Hsp70. Northern blots of RNA from human tissues indicate that HspBP1 mRNA has a size of approximately 1.7 kilobase pairs and is present in all tissues analyzed but is most abundant in heart and skeletal muscle. Western blot analysis revealed a protein of approximately 40 kilodaltons detected in cell extracts. The ATPase domain of Hsp70 demonstrated binding to HspBP1. Further experiments showed binding of HspBP1 to Hsp70 and Hsc70 in a total heart extract. HspBP1 (8 μm) inhibited approximately 90% of the Hsp40-activated Hsp70 ATPase activity. HspBP1 prevented ATP binding to Hsp70, and therefore this is the likely mechanism of inhibition. Hsp40-activated ATPase activity is essential for the renaturation activity of Hsp70; therefore, the effects of HspBP1 on renaturation of luciferase in a reticulocyte lysate and a defined system were examined. HspBP1 inhibited renaturation with half-maximal inhibition at 2 μm. These data indicate that we have identified a novel Hsp70-interacting protein that inhibits Hsp70 chaperone activity.


We propose a design optimization framework for adaptive real-time streaming applications. The main contribution is a hybrid approach for performance analysis combining formal analysis and simulation using a two-phase framework. We formulate the scheduling problem of adaptive streaming applications with ILP analysis, and use the simulation based on the synchronous model of computation to ensure throughput guarantees. We finally illustrate the capabilities of our methodology by experiments.


Genetic eye disease is an important and common cause of blindness in the developed World. The choroidoretinal dystrophies make up a significant proportion of this group of conditions. Cone-rod retinal dystrophies are important examples and the term covers a range of phenotypes with common, characteristic electrophysiologic abnormalities. This phenotypic variation may reflect genetic heterogeneity. Working with one large cone-rod dystrophy pedigree, a two part study was undertaken. Initial work was directed at phenotypic characterisation using clinical, electrophysiological and psychophysical techniques. Secondly, a molecular genetic study using the techniques of linkage analysis was undertaken to locate the responsible gene. An early onset, severe, progressive phenotype was identified with central^ then peripheral areas of cone and rod functional deficit. Macular pigmentary abnormalities with later-onset peripheral intraretinal pigmentation, progressed to extensive chorioretinal atrophy. The phenotype had some features in common with previously described subtypes of cone-rod dystrophy, but differences suggested that clinical subclassifications had not identified different genotypes. Examination of the extended pedigree revealed a segregation distortion superimposed upon the autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. The likelihood of a person being affected was significantly influenced by the sex of the affected parent. This phenomenon, meiotic drive, is rarely observed in man. After exclusion from linkage to known candidate gene loci, multipoint linkage and haplotype analysis localised the cone-rod dystrophy gene to a 5 centimorgan region bounded by genetic markers D19S219 and D19S246. The disease locus is therefore assigned to chromosome 19ql3.3-ql3.4 and is phenotypically and physically distinct from two other retinal dystrophies (myotonic dystrophy-associated retinopathy and autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa) also assigned to this region. Tightly linked flanking markers are now available, sufficient to allow for prenatal diagnosis if requested by family members. Also, the interval containing the disease locus is sufficiently refined to undertake a positional cloning strategy to identify the responsible retinal gene mutation.


Based on the Gummel–Poon model of BJT, the change of the DC bias as a function of the AC input signal in RF linear power amplifiers is theoretically derived, so that the linearity of different DC bias circuits can be interpreted and compared. According to the analysis results, a quantitative adaptive DC bias circuit is proposed, which can improve the linearity and efficiency. From the simulation and test results, we draw conclusions on how to improve the design of linear power amplifier.


The adoption of carbon market trading in the European Union (EU) was far from assured. Prior to the Kyoto Protocol, the EU had been critical of market trading and had expressed grave reservations regarding its potential contribution to climate governance. Given this historical backdrop, the EU's conversion to market trading and subsequent vocal championing of the merits of this regulatory approach, is particularly intriguing. Whilst emissions trading gradually garnered support within the EU, institutionally the Union remained trapped by the normative objections, which it had initially articulated against the idea. Such norm entrapment – the inability to pursue a preferred policy that violates a norm because of prior rhetorical affirmation of the norm – presented a particular dilemma for the EU. Paradoxically, the contribution of individual norm entrepreneurs, located within the Commission, in reframing emissions trading as an effective and efficient instrument for climate governance in the EU proved considerable to unlocking this entrapment dilemma. As a result, a concept, which the EU had previously delegitimised as evasive of domestic responsibilities, was instead reconstructed as a legitimate strategy to salvage the Kyoto Protocol. As market trading internationalises, understanding the drivers and processes by which the EU ETS came to occupy the cornerstone of EU climate policy may offer valuable insights to policy-makers and stakeholders endeavouring to promote global emissions trading initiatives.


This paper deals with testing distributed software systems. In the past, two important problems have been determined for executing tests using a distributed test architecture: controllability and observability problems. A coordinated test method has subsequently been proposed to solve these two problems. In the present article: 1) we show that controllability and observability are indeed resolved if and only if the test system respects timing constraints, even when the system under test is non-real-time; 2) we determine these timing constraints; 3) we determine other timing constraints which optimize the duration of test execution; 4) we show that the communication medium used by the test system does not necessarily have to be FIFO; and 5) we show that the centralized test method can be considered just as a particular case of the proposed coordinated test method.


Abstract. Sodium chloride (NaCl) is one of the key components of atmospheric
aerosols. The surface tension of aqueous NaCl solution (σNaCl,sol)
and its concentration dependence are essential to determine the equilibrium water vapor
pressure of aqueous NaCl droplets. Supersaturated NaCl solution droplets are observed in
laboratory experiments and under atmospheric conditions, but the experimental data for
σNaCl,sol are mostly limited up to subsaturated solutions. In this
study, the surface tension of aqueous NaCl is investigated by molecular dynamics (MD)
simulations and the pressure tensor method from dilute to highly supersaturated
solutions. We show that the linear approximation of concentration dependence of σNaCl,sol at molality scale can be extended to the supersaturated NaCl
solution until a molality of ∼10.7 mol kg−1 (i.e., solute mass fraction
(xNaCl) of ∼0.39). Energetic analyses show that this monotonic
increase in surface tension is driven by the increase in excess surface enthalpy (ΔH) as the solution becomes concentrated. After that, the simulated σNaCl,sol remains almost unchanged until xNaCl of ∼0.47
(near the concentration upon efflorescence). The existence of the "inflection point" at
xNaCl of ∼0.39 and the stable surface tension of xNaCl
between ∼0.39 and ∼0.47 can be attributed to the nearly unchanged excess
surface entropy term (T⋅ΔS) and the excess surface enthalpy term (ΔH). After a "second inflection point" at xNaCl of ∼0.47, the
simulated σNaCl,sol gradually regains the growing momentum with a
tendency to approach the surface tension of molten NaCl (∼175.58 mN m−1
at 298.15 K, MD simulation-based extrapolation). This fast increase in σNaCl,sol at xNaCl>0.47 is a process driven by excess surface
enthalpy and excess surface entropy. Our results reveal different regimes of
concentration dependence of the surface tension of aqueous NaCl at 298.15 K: a
water-dominated regime (xNaCl from 0 to ∼0.39), a transition regime
(xNaCl from ∼0.39 to ∼0.47) and a molten NaCl-dominated regime
(xNaCl from ∼0.47 to 1).


Copyright © Korean Carbon Society http://carbonlett.org Abstract Adsorption is one of the best methods for wastewater purification. The fact that water quality is continuously decreasing requires the development of novel, effective and cost available adsorbents. Herein, a simple procedure for the preparation of a magnetic adsorbent from agricultural waste biomass and ferrofluid has been introduced. Specifically, ferrofluid mixed with wheat straw was directly pyrolyzed either by microwave irradiation (900 W, 30 min) or by conventional heating (550°C, 90 min). Magnetic biochars were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, Mössbauer spectroscopy, textural analysis and tested as adsorbents of As(V) oxyanion and cationic methylene blue, respectively. Results showed that microwave pyrolysis produced char with high adsorption capacity of As(V) (Qm= 25.6 mg g–1 at pH 4), whereas conventional pyrolysis was not so effective. In comparison to conventional pyrolysis, one-step microwave pyrolysis produced a material with expressive microporosity, having a nine times higher value of specific surface area as well as total pore volume. We assumed that sorption properties are also caused by several iron-bearing composites identified by Mössbauer spectroscopy ([super] paramagnetic Fe2O3, α-Fe, non-stoichiometric Fe3C, γ-Fe2O3, γ-Fe) transformed from nano-maghemite presented in the ferrofluid. Methylene blue was also more easily removed by magnetic biochar prepared by microwaves (Qm=144.9 mg g–1 at pH 10.9) compared to using conventional techniques.


Our model shows that it is optimal for shareholders to choose boards of directors whose preferences do not align with those of the shareholders. Such a board composition works as the shareholders' commitment to providing an incentive for risk-averse CEOs.


Received (received date) Revised (revised date) Communicated by (Name of Editor) ABSTRACT Leader-based protocols rest on a primitive able to provide the processes with the same unique leader. Such protocols are very common in distributed computing to solve synchronization or coordination problems. Unfortunately, providing such a primitive is far from being trivial in asynchronous distributed systems prone to process crashes. (It is even impossible in fault-prone purely asynchronous systems.) To circumvent this diiculty, several protocols have been proposed that build a leader facility on top of an asynchronous distributed system enriched with synchrony assumptions. This paper introduces a novel approach to implement an eventual leader protocol, namely a time-free behavioral assumption on the ow of messages that are exchanged. It presents a very simple leader protocol based on this assumption. It then presents a second leader protocol combining this timeless assumption with eventually timely channels. As it considers several assumptions, the resulting hybrid protocol has the noteworthy feature to provide an increased overall assumption coverage. A probabilistic analysis shows that the time-free assumption is practically always satissed.


Background. Community-dwelling, chronic stroke survivors are at risk of falling during turning and are more likely to sustain a hip fracture when they fall. Objective. This study quantifies kinematic differences between stroke survivors (mean ± SD: 38.3 ± 31.3 months poststroke, 59.9 ± 10.1 years of age), with (n = 9) and without a falls history (n = 9), and age-matched healthy counterparts (n = 18) in turning coordination during the 180° turn around in the Timed "Up & Go" (TUG) test. Methods. Full-body kinematics were recorded while participants performed the 180° turn around in the TUG. Dependent measures were time to turn, number of steps to turn, and measures of axial segment coordination. Result. Although participants who had a stroke and falls history took significantly longer to turn (mean ± SD: 4.4 ± 1.7 seconds) than age-matched controls (2.5 ± 0.6 seconds), no kinematic differences were found in performance or in the axial segment coordination during turning that could contribute to falls history or falls risk. Conclusions. These results indicate incidences of falls during turning following stroke may not be due to impaired movement patterns but due to the many other factors that are associated with falls, such as deficits in cognitive processes—attention or central integration—and/or sensory deficits.


Aims of the study were long term follow-up (FU) of bisphosphonates-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) in 35 cases observed by Gruppo Italiano Studio Linfomi (GISL) between 2002 and 2005 and the evaluation of its frequency in multiple myeloma patients over time. We asked the centres to up-date cases with ONJ, and to report new cases of ONJ diagnosed between 2006 and 2008. After a median FU of 31 months, 19 patients are alive, 13 died, mainly from progression of the primary disease, and three patients are lost to follow-up. Treatment was mainly conservative, however, nine patients underwent surgery. Overall improvement was reported in 13 patients, 11 stabilized, and eight patients progressed. One patient relapsed after dental procedure. ONJ impacted quality of life, causing pain and interfering with the ability to eat. Although the frequency of ONJ in myeloma patients in the period 2006-2008 was slightly increased (3.6% vs. 1.9% in 2002-2005), we confirm the rarity of the complication.


Introduction. Since ancient times to the present day the minds of scientists are busy with the question of determining the legal nature of the insurance contract. Some of them believe that this agreement is a type of sales contract, the contract of guarantee, etc.; another group of scientists consider the treaty as an independent and selfsufficient institution of civil law. This research work is aimed at trying to resolve the doctrinal issues and bring legal certainty to the insurance relationship. Methods. The methodological framework of this study constitutes a set of methods of scientific knowledge, among which the main place is occupied by historicist methods of systematic analysis and comparative law. Results. The author's viewpoint is based on the historical experience of scientistslawyers on the legal nature of the insurance contract, the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation legislation. As a result of analysis, the author concludes that the insurance contract is an independent civil transaction. Conclusions. As a result of the research the author highlights the main historical-scientific concepts, defending views on the legal nature of the insurance contract. It was determined that the institution of the contract of insurance is unique in its kind, has an independent legal nature and occupies a special place in the science of civil law, as well as in the Russian legislation.


The signature patterns of cocaine samples were examined by capillary gas chromatography using 14 impurities commonly found in illicit cocaine samples. The procedure is based on acidic, basic, and neutral impurities introduced from the coca plant and from the processing of cocaine in clandestine laboratories. Impurities containing either alcoholic, N- nor, or carboxylic acid functional groups were analyzed as their silyl derivatives. The reported procedure provides a simple one-step assay for obtaining chromatographic impurity signature profile analyses (CISPA) of illicit cocaine samples using flame ionization detection (FID).


[1] A 1/36° high-resolution nested structure ocean model for Indonesian seas that combines atmospheric and tidal forcings (hereafter referred to as IP3-tide) has been developed based on the modified Princeton Ocean Model (POM). Prior to model application, in 2004, we analyzed the IP3-tide by using observational data, derived data, and a global atlas model. A comparison between IP3-tide with 13 tide gauge points and 11 T/P points resulted in 76–92% certainty. Correlation of temperature from scattered depths and points between the model and XBT data reached 97.5% agreement. The modeled velocity successfully captured the low and high frequency variability shown in INSTANT mooring and TAO/TRITON data. Explicit simulation of tidal processes by regional ocean circulation model improved the representation of circulation in the Indonesian seas. At the tidal frequencies, vertical mixing is increased due to the impact of baroclinic tides and horizontal mixing is enhanced by presence of barotropic tidal motion. Enhanced mixing is responsible for eroding the salinity maximum found in the water masses advected from the Pacific Ocean. On the other hand, seasonal variability changes the vertical density structure of water column, which influences the distribution of internal tidal waves. These results demonstrated the importance of explicit tide simulation by regional ocean circulation model for correct presentation of ocean circulation structure and its variability in the Indonesian seas.


This paper demonstrates the efforts in mitigating uncertainties and minimizing risks while monetizing hydrocarbon and evaluating its evacuation in a highly integrated and complex offshore network environment by means of integrated network modelling approach. In oil and gas industry, it is always a challenge to determine the best evacuation path for a new offshore development tying-in to an existing infrastructure complex that has a network of more than 80 gas fields, 100s of export pipelines, multiple hubs, highways and receiving terminals. These network also has varying degree of ullages and bottlenecks as well as dissimilarities in accepted level of gas specification and blended fluid quality. Having a standalone development with its own dedicated evacuation infrastructure to shore would be a safer option but it may not be cost prudent in a highly competitive market.
 Tie back options to an existing complex network would entails uncertainties and risks in the evacuation path such as ullage unavailability, pressure imbalance, ambiguous performance of critical elements, the potential violation of the facility constraints, uneven flow distribution (reverse flow, cross flow) as well as infringement to the end product specifications commitment. These may result in (a) concerns for system operability (b) vague results of end product specifications which may pose a threat in designing a production plant and facilities improvement requirements as well as firming up investment decisions for offshore development.
 It is essential to evaluate these uncertainties and risks in a complex network by performing circumstantial analysis to cater for technical requisite prior to determining the evacuation route for a new development tie-in. It was apprehending that the availability of relevant simulation model for an integrated system in the market is limited hence a different approach was considered. A steady state network model that caters for an end to end value chain for a complex offshore network was developed using available tools from the industry. These integrated network model was validated against actual data and then deployed to optimize the evacuation options for new development tie-in to the existing network. Multi-faceted scenarios were evaluated in coming up with evacuation options considering system ullage, pipeline hydraulics (adhering to first principles), honoring the end product specifications commitments and network constraints. Sectionalization of sweet and sour gas corridor was performed and analyzed for these multiple tie-in options using the integrated network model and derived its effects on the overall network. It was assured that system parameters such as operating pressure, velocity limits and required specifications for the selected scenarios honors operating envelope and product specification commitments.
 It was demonstrated that the integrated network model could optimize the best evacuation route in terms of technical and business requirements, has resulted into monetization of new offshore development. Impediments (uncertainties and risks) across network in terms of ullages, pressure imbalance, system constraints, cross flow, reverse flow, violations in the Gross Heating Values (GHV), CO2 levels etc. at terminal were forecasted as outcome from the model and its mitigations such as change in operating strategies, alternations in the evacuation path, modifications in the offshore network, was planned much in advance and was implemented accordingly.
 Uniqueness of this concept is the ability to attain an optimized hydrocarbon evacuation route within the existing network with minimal changes to operating philosophy. A holistic solution was achieved by eliminating the dependancies on the multiple applications for optimization at various levels of integration. Output from the simulation suggested on the alleviations that lead to CAPEX optimization by letting new development evacuation within existing system boundaries.


We used the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Survey and Chronic Illness Resources Survey to determine the personal resources that influence health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of 128 individuals receiving treatment for end-stage renal disease in Antofagasta, Chile. The results showed that personal and community resources protect against disability and physical deterioration among individuals receiving hemodialysis. Further, these resources had a direct influence on HRQOL, especially in relation to the burden of the disease and for those who are not in paid employment. Our findings show the importance of the availability and use of measures required for the community to improve HRQOL, and to protect the physical health of people undergoing hemodialysis.


We introduce a memory storage scheme allowing conflict-free parallel access to rows, columns, square blocks, distributed blocks, and positive and negative diagonals of two dimensional arrays. Unlike the existing schemes, the proposed scheme can be used for an arbitrary number of memory modules and an arbitrary size of the arrays. We develop a systematic procedure for the memory allocation based on a placement matrix constructed using circulant matrices.<<ETX>>


Immune dysfunctions in endometriosis are widely documented but the effectiveness of immunotherapies for the management of the disease is still debated. Progress in this field has also been limited by the lack of an appropriate animal model of the disease. In this study, we created a model of endometriosis in immunocompetent mice to verify the ability of endometrium to implant in ectopic sites and to investigate the potential application of the cytokine interleukin (IL)-12 in preventing this ectopic implantation. Endometriotic lesions were induced in both C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice by inoculating syngenic endometrial fragments through a small laparotomic incision into the peritoneal space. All the animals challenged with syngenic endometrium showed evidence of peritoneal endometriosis at 3 weeks. Histologically, endometriotic lesions consisted of cystic endometrial glands surrounded by a stroma. Intraperitoneal injection of IL-12 was able to reduce total weight and total surface area of endometriotic lesions respectively of 77 and 61% in C57BL/6 and of 42 and 28% in BALB/c mice. These results demonstrate that IL-12 is able to induce a significant prevention of ectopic endometrial implantation in an in-vivo model of endometriosis. These findings support the possibility of using the immune system to generate novel therapies for the management of the disease.


The relationship between ethylene biosynthesis and cyanide metabolism was investigated in apple fruit during their development and during storage after harvest. The rate of ethylene production and the activity of j3-cyanoalanine synthase, which catalyzes the reaction between cysteine and HCN to form j3cyanoalanine, were very low in young immature apple fruit but increased markedly with the onset of ripening. At the same time, corresponding increases in the ACC and cyanide content were also observed, although the changes in the cyanide content were not so large. The rapid parallel increase in '~-cyanoalanine synthase activity with the increase in ACC content and rate of ethylene production clearly demonstrates that an active cyanide metabolism begins to operate with the onset of ripening of apple fruit. Since the development of cyanide-resistant respiration has so far been recognized in ripening fruits, the active cyanide metabolism by 3-cyanoalanine synthase may be involved in the development of the alternative pathway. The localization of cyanide in the tissues of apple flesh was tentatively investigated. Some component(s) which react with bromine to yield BrCN were found in the precipitated fraction of the apple flesh homogenate indicating that the cyanide is closely associated with membrane structures. Its function and subcellular localization are, though, not clear at present.


Predissociation thresholds corresponding to dissociation at ground state separated atom limits (SALs) have been recorded in this group for more than 100 d- and f-block metal-containing molecules. The metal atom electronic degeneracies in these molecules generate a dense manifold of electronic states that allow high-lying vibronic levels to couple to pathways leading to dissociation. However, CrN, CuB, and AuB fail to dissociate at their ground SAL. Instead, the molecules remain bound at energies that far surpass their bond dissociation energies (BDEs), and their bonds break only when excited at or above an excited SAL. Sharp predissociation thresholds at excited SALs nevertheless allowed BDEs to be derived: D0(CrN): 3.941(22) eV; D0(CuB): 2.26(15) eV; D0(Au11B): 3.724(3) eV. A previous measurement of D0(AlCr) is re-evaluated as dissociating to a higher energy limit, giving a revised value of D0(AlCr) = 1.32(2) eV. A discussion of this physical behavior is presented.


Exploratory testing is an effective testing approach which leverages the tester's knowledge and creativity to design test cases to provoke and recognize failures at the system level from the end user's perspective. Although some principles and guidelines have been proposed to guide exploratory testing, there are no effective tools for automatic generation of exploratory test scenarios (a.k.a soap opera tests). Existing test generation techniques rely on specifications, program differences and fuzzing, which are not suitable for exploratory test generation. In this paper, we propose to leverage the scenario and oracle knowledge in bug reports to generate soap opera test scenarios. We develop open information extraction methods to construct a system knowledge graph (KG) of user tasks and failures from the steps to reproduce, expected results and observed results in bug reports. We construct a proof-of-concept KG from 25,939 bugs of the Firefox browser. Our evaluation shows the constructed KG is of high quality. Based on the KG, we create soap opera test scenarios by combining the scenarios of relevant bugs, and develop a web tool to present the created test scenarios and support exploratory testing. In our user study, 5 users find 18 bugs from 5 seed bugs in 2 hours using our tool, while the control group finds only 5 bugs based on the recommended similar bugs.


During the COVID-19 pandemic, Chineseness has been embedded in a set of efficacious public health practices employed by China, Hong Kong and Taiwan to prevent virus spread. These measures were interpreted apprehensively by the West, including Canada, highlighting the knowledge hierarchies between the West (norm) and the East (other) as constructed by an Orientalist mindset. To Canadian Sinophone communities, these knowledge conflicts serve as a medium through which identity is constructed or deconstructed. Their trust in the public health measures has competed against other forces in political dynamics, which allowed them to generate a unique positionality to examine any given discourses, such as Chineseness and Canadianness.


Energy harvesting shock absorbers (EHSA) have made great progress in recent years, although there are still no commercial solutions for this technology. This paper addresses the question of whether, and under what conditions, an EHSA can completely replace a conventional one. In this way, any conventional suspension could be replicated at will, while recovering part of the wasted energy. This paper focuses on mimicking the original passive damper behavior by continuously varying the electrical parameters of the regenerative damper. For this study, a typical ball-screw EHSA is chosen, and its equivalent suspension parameters are tried to be matched to the initial damper. The methodology proposes several electrical control circuits that optimize the dynamic behavior of the regenerative damper from the continuous variation of a load resistance. The results show that, given a target damper curve, the regenerative damper can adequately replicate it when there is a minimum velocity in the damper. However, when the damper velocity is close to zero, the only way to compensate for inertia is through the introduction of external energy to the system.


Possibility of finding the fundamental frequency of concrete specimen by using multi-impact loading is presented in this paper. Solenoid acts as an impact generator to generate pulse trigger for the multi-impact loading. An accelerometer, ADXL330 from Analog Device detects the vibration signal resulted from the impact loading. Observation from the accelerometer output shows oscillatory signal once the concrete specimen receives a single impact. However, if the applied impact is repeated periodically or called multi-impact loading, the fundamental and harmonic will add up and constitute a pulse in the frequency domain. Duality property in Fourier theorem states that a pulse in frequency domain is a sine wave in time domain and vice versa. Each impact received by the concrete produces a vibration that comprises of fundamental and harmonic frequency The signals are analyzed using a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) toolbox in Matlab®. The results from the study provide valuable information for a better understanding to indicate the defect in the concrete.


Structural characterization was performed on an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), composed of an IgG1 monoclonal antibody (mAb), mertansine drug (DM1), and a noncleavable linker. The DM1 molecules were conjugated through nonspecific modification of the mAb at solvent-exposed lysine residues. Due to the nature of the lysine conjugation process, the ADC molecules are heterogeneous, containing a range of species that differ with respect to the number of DM1 per antibody molecule. The DM1 distribution profile of the ADC was characterized by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and capillary isoelectric focusing (cIEF), which showed that 0-8 DM1s were conjugated to an antibody molecule. By taking advantage of the high-quality MS/MS spectra and the accurate mass detection of diagnostic DM1 fragment ions generated from the higher-energy collisional dissociation (HCD) approach, we were able to identify 76 conjugation sites in the ADC, which covered approximately 83% of all the putative conjugation sites. The diagnostic DM1 fragment ions discovered in this study can be readily used for the characterization of other ADCs with maytansinoid derivatives as payload. Differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) analysis of the ADC indicated that the conjugation of DM1 destabilized the C(H)2 domain of the molecule, which is likely due to conjugation of DM1 on lysine residues in the C(H)2 domain. As a result, methionine at position 258 of the heavy chain, which is located in the C(H)2 domain of the antibody, is more susceptible to oxidation in thermally stressed ADC samples when compared to that of the naked antibody.


This study investigates "soundbites" and "metacoverage" using content analysis of TV evening news broadcasts during national election campaigns. Combining these perspectives provides insights into election campaign reporting styles: While soundbite indicators are concerned with the form of news stories, metacoverage represents news content. Using an internationally comparative sample of Swiss, German, US, British, French and Italian elections, the analysis consists of three main steps: Describing, classifying and explaining reporting styles. These aims are completed using ANOVAs, correspondence analysis, cluster analysis and QCA. The findings indicate three distinct election campaign reporting styles: A non-interventionist, candidate-centered reporting style, an interventionist, journalist-centered reporting style and a further interventionist, campaign-centered reporting style. QCA is used to relate these election campaign reporting styles to contextualfactors. Thus, thecontribution ofthisdissertationistwofold:Firstly, the study shows how mixed methods can be applied for mutual benefit. Secondly, the identification and explanation of election campaign reporting styles contributes to the discussion on the relation between media and political actors.


Native to the Neotropics, Wasmannia auropunctata has spread to numerous other tropical and subtropical areas, where it is can reach extremely high densities and threaten the local biota. To evaluate the worldwide spread of W. auropunctata, I compiled published and unpublished specimen records from > 1700 sites. I documented the earliest known W. auropunctata records for 53 geographic areas (countries, island groups, major West Indian islands, and US states), including many with no previously published records: Anguilla, Antigua, Barbuda, Caicos Islands, El Salvador, Guam, Montserrat, Nevis, St Kitts, St Martin, and Texas. In the New World, W. auropunctata has a seemingly continuous distribution from central Argentina to southernmost Texas, suggesting that it may be native throughout this expanse. Wasmannia auropunctata has also spread throughout the West Indies and to peninsular Florida, though it is unclear which West Indian islands may constitute part of its native range. The earliest Old World reports of W. auropunctata, in the 1890's, came from West Africa: Sierra Leone and Gabon. Although no additional records have come from Sierra Leone, W. auropunctata has spread broadly across Gabon and into neighboring countries, where it is a serious pest. In Oceania, the earliest records of W. auropunctata date to 1972 from New Caledonia and 1974 from the Solomon Islands. Pacific populations of W. auropunctata are actively spreading within these islands and to many other island groups. In the past decade, first records of W. auropunctata have been reported from several Old World areas, including the Central African Republic, Papua New Guinea, Australia, Guam, Italy, and Israel. Wasmannia auropunctata appears to still have much potential for future spread in the Old World.


A 15-year-old boy who presented with a short history of a diarrhoeal illness associated with encephalopathic features is described. Salmonella enteritidis phage type 4 was cultured from his stool. Although encephalopathy in the absence of CNS infection or electrolyte disturbance is well described in enteric fever, it is very rare in infections with non-typhoidal Salmonella serotypes and has not previously been described in association with S. enteritidis infection.


Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) intracellular signaling in endothelial cells is initiated by the activation of distinct tyrosine kinase receptors, VEGFR1 (Flt-1) and VEGFR2 (Flk-1/KDR). Because the tyrosine kinase-dependent transcription factors known as STAT (signal transducers and activators of transcription) proteins are important modulators of cell growth responses induced by other growth factor receptors, we have determined the effects VEGF of on STAT activation in BAEC (bovine aortic endothelial cells). Here, we show that VEGF induces tyrosine phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of STAT1 and STAT6. VEGF also stimulates STAT3 tyrosine phosphorylation, but nuclear translocation does not occur. We found that placenta growth factor, which selectively activates VEGFR1, has no effect on the STATs. However, upon VEGF stimulation, STAT1 associates with the VEGFR2 in a tyrosine kinase-dependent manner, indicating that VEGF-induced STAT1 activation is mediated primarily by VEGFR2. Thus, our study shows for the first time that VEGF activates the STAT pathway through VEGFR2. Because the growth-promoting activity of VEGF depends upon VEGFR2 activation, these findings suggest a role for the STATs in the regulation of gene expression associated with the angiogenic effects of VEGF.


52 persons with bronchial carcinoma found by reason of complaints by the Chest Clinic were critically evaluated. Cough, hemoptysis and thoracic pain are of the first place in the range of frequency of complaints caused by the tumour. The time elapsing between the onset of the troubles to the first medical visit and from this consultation to the hospital admission was analysed. The complaints were existing more than 4 weeks in nearly half of all patient before they went to a physician. The causes of delay are discussed. The necessity of immediate x-ray examination of persons in the age endangered by cancer is emphasized if complaints suspicious to carcinoma especially the three symptoms mentioned above persisting more than three weeks inspite of treatment. For that purpose the personal conversation with persons from risk groups and continuous cooperation with other physicians in the territory are important.


ABSTRACT Pathogen life cycles in mammalian hosts have been studied extensively, but studies with arthropod vectors represent considerable challenges. In part this is due to the difficulty of delivering a reproducible dose of bacteria to follow arthropod-associated replication. We have established reproducible techniques to introduce known numbers of Francisella tularensis strain LVS from mice into Dermacentor variabilis nymphs. Using this model infection system, we performed dose-response infection experiments and followed bacterial replication through the molt to adults and at later time points. During development to adults, bacteria replicate to high numbers and can be found associated with the gut tissues, salivary glands, and hemolymph of adult ticks. Further, we can transmit a mutant of LVS (LVS ΔpurMCD) that cannot replicate in macrophages in vitro or in mice to nymphs. Our data show that the LVS ΔpurMCD mutant cannot be transstadially transmitted from nymphs to adult ticks. We then show that a plasmid-complemented strain of this mutant is recoverable in adult ticks and necessary for bacterial replication during the molt. In a mixed-infection assay (ΔpurMCD mutant versus ΔpurMCD complement), 98% of the recovered bacteria retained the plasmid marker. These data suggest that the ΔpurMCD mutation cannot be rescued by the presence a complemented strain in a mixed infection. Importantly, our infection model provides a platform to test specific mutants for their replication in ticks, perform competition studies, and use other genetic techniques to identify F. tularensis genes that are expressed or required in this unique environment.


Online Engineering allows users to perform tele-operation over the Internet. It is used in collaboratories, distance learning curriculum, and remote maintenance processes. Tele-operation over the Internet is however restrained by the development time and cost of ad hoc solutions. These solutions a) are hardly reusable, b) present a low fidelity of the human computer interface, and c) barely enable pervasive accesses (standalone clients or Web forms). We present in this paper a novel approach for building tele-operation Human Computer Interfaces based on interactive multimedia. The end-user commands the remote device using interactive elements in the multimedia interface. The feedback information is seen as a combination of natural video content, produced by an IP camera capturing the instrument and synthetic graphics corresponding to elements of the device input interface (control panel). The proposed architecture fosters the reuses and gives a high level of interoperability between command terminals, since the interface can be displayed in any terminal able to lay out multimedia content.


We used multivoxel pattern analysis (MVPA) of functional MRI (fMRI) data to gain insight into how subjects' retrieval agendas influence source memory judgments (was item X studied using source Y?). In Experiment 1, we used a single-agenda test where subjects judged whether items were studied with the targeted source or not. In Experiment 2, we used a multiagenda test where subjects judged whether items were studied using the targeted source, studied using a different source, or nonstudied. To evaluate the differences between single- and multiagenda source monitoring, we trained a classifier to detect source-specific fMRI activity at study, and then we applied the classifier to data from the test phase. We focused on trials where the targeted source and the actual source differed, so we could use MVPA to track neural activity associated with both the targeted source and the actual source. Our results indicate that single-agenda monitoring was associated with increased focus on the targeted source (as evidenced by increased targeted-source activity, relative to baseline) and reduced use of information relating to the actual, nontarget source. In the multiagenda experiment, high levels of actual-source activity were associated with increased correct rejections, suggesting that subjects were using recollection of actual-source information to avoid source memory errors. In the single-agenda experiment, there were comparable levels of actual-source activity (suggesting that recollection was taking place), but the relationship between actual-source activity and behavior was absent (suggesting that subjects were failing to make proper use of this information).


Nonelongating modules with condensation-incompetent ketosynthase (KS0) are frequently found in many trans-acyltransferase polyketide synthases ( trans-AT PKS). KS0 catalyzes translocation of carbon chain without decarboxylative condensation. Unlike typical elongating modules where malonylation of acyl carrier protein (ACP) precedes elongation, the malonylation of ACP downstream of KS0 is assumed to be prevented. In this study, the regulation mechanism(s) of ACP malonylation in a non-elongating module of difficidin biosynthase was investigated. In vitro reconstitution, protein mass spectrometry, and enzyme kinetics demonstrated that KS0 controls the pathway by inhibiting the trans-AT activity. Protein-protein interactions of the surrounding domains also contribute to the regulation. Enzyme kinetics further identified the DfnKS05 as an allosteric inhibitor of trans-AT. The principle and knowledge discovered from this study will enhance the understanding of this unusual PKS system.


This study examines the effect on the family farm economy of an agrarian reform and a tax reform. For this purpose, we study five farmers in the Yamagata prefecture for the period 1942 to 1948. Our findings are as follows. First, the fund circulation is sound, largely during the war and post-war periods. Second, the investment and capital required by a tenant farmer are large because of the agrarian reform and the increase in the sale of farm produce. Third, income expenditures are large because of the tax reform. キーワード:農家経済,農地改革,税制改革,資金循環


A growing consensus exists that climate change risks have important implications for financial stability. Following Weyzig et all (2014) methodology, this paper quantifies the (syndicated) loan exposure to elevated environmental risk sectors of the banking system in the US, EU, China, Japan and Switzerland in USD 1.6 trill and highlights the importance in terms of total banking assets. Hence, the relevance of exploring prudential policy responses including a harmonized statistical and reporting framework, which could contribute to internalizing the negative externalities associated with climate risks by both banks and their supervisors. Among the prudential supervisory tools, credit registers facilitate the assessment of environmental risk drivers in "carbon stress tests" (ESRB, 2016) formulated to assess the sensitivity of loan quality to changes in climate risk factors such as disruptive technology shocks. These recommendations could contribute to make the Recommendations of the Task Force on Climate operational – related Financial Disclosures for banks (TCFD b, June, 2017).


By Kendall Lombard, Neurobiology
 Advisor: Brent Stoffer
 Presentation ID: AM_C19
 Abstract: Team-based learning and individual readiness are tools that have been increasingly more popular. They are used to increase participation, aid students in complex subjects, and help them apply difficult topics. Our study examined multiple objectives to determine whether team-based learning strategies improve student assessment in undergraduate freshman biology labs. First, we examined whether the length of time an individual spent preparing for class influenced the assessment performance. Students completed a survey, addressing whether they worked on the individual readiness assessment test (iRAT) individually or in groups and how long they spent working on the assignment. In one assignment, students performed better on their iRAT if they spent more time working on the assignment. Students scored better on their iRAT if they worked on their iRAT with their peers. Second, we examined whether groups of students perform better than individual students. We analyzed the scores students received on their iRAT in comparison to the score for their team-readiness assessment test (tRAT). Groups performed significantly better on the tRAT than the iRAT. Finally, we examined the overall impact of changing the curriculum to emulate team-based learning. We analyzed the improvement in group scores relative to individual scores across both formats. Overall improvement was greater in the new format. Taken together, we conclude that team-based learning has been effective. Not only have we observed improved scores on students assessments, but overall student engagement and instructor feedback has been positive as well.


Endonasal sinus surgery requires a great amount of training before it can be adequately performed. The complicated anatomy involved, the proximity of relevant structures, and the variability of the anatomy due to inborn or iatrogenic variations make several complications possible. Today, cadaver dissections are the "gold standard" for surgical training. To overcome the drawbacks of traditional training methods, the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics is currently developing a highly interactive medical simulation system for nasal endoscopy and endonasal sinus surgery, in cooperation with the Mainz University Hospital. For the simulation of a rhinoscopic procedure, not only are the realization of the 3D interaction and the geometric representation of the anatomical structures necessary, but also a real-time simulation of the deformation behavior constrained by the instrument collisions. The challenge is to close the gap between a maximal degree of realism and the required real-time conditions.


This research paper tries to clarify the differences between population estimation and projection. The main objective of this study is to introduce basic concept of population estimation and projection. It also explains the tools and techniques for estimation and projection of population in both regional and national levels. However, the perception of population estimation and projection is frequently confusing to the readers. Though the difference between the two is relatively normal and straightforward. Both concepts generate numbers that is intended to indicate the size of the population of a given geographical area at a specific point of time. Most of the developing countries, censuses are taken at every ten years' interval. Major changes of demographic events and features of the population are obtained for short periods. In this way, the foremost purpose of this study is to provide reliable and satisfactory projected data in both provincial and national levels. Various tools and techniques have been developed for estimation and projection of population i.e. mathematical, economic and cohort component. These techniques require accurate data and reliable information related to the fertility, mortality and migration of the country. In conclusion, the reliable projected data are vital for business and program planning, transparency, prosperity, policy discourse and good governance in different sectors of the nation for the upcoming days.


Abstract Numerical solutions of a simple theoretical model of the wind-driven circulation with inertia for a constant density ocean depend strongly upon whether the western boundary is modeled with a vertical sidewall or a smooth continental shelf. In the basin with the continental shelf, unsteady single-gyre inertial solutions are obtained for anticyclonic winds while steady single-gyre inertial solutions typically are obtained for cyclonic winds. In the flat-bottom basin, however, the corresponding model solutions are steady for both anticyclonic and cyclonic winds. In addition, for cyclonic forcing, multiple equilibria are found in the basin with the western continental slope but not in the flat-bottom basin (although the uniqueness of the solutions in the flat-bottom basin has not been proven). The dependence of the model solutions on the topography and the sign of the wind forcing is attributed to the effects of friction, which are localized in the southwest corner of the basin for the continental sl...


Whole-directional scanning methodology is required to observe distinctive features of an entire physical structure with a three dimensional (3D) visualization. However, the implementation of whole-directional scanning is challenging for conventional optical coherence tomography (OCT), which scans a limited portion of the sample by utilizing unidirectional and bidirectional scanning methods. Therefore, in this paper an integrated quad-scanner (QS) strategy-based OCT method was implemented to obtain the whole-directional volumetry of a sample by employing four scanning arms installed around the sample. The simultaneous and sequential image acquisition capabilities are the conceptual key points of the proposed QS-OCT method, and were implemented using four precisely aligned scanning arms and applied in a complementary way according to the experimental criteria. To assess the feasibility of obtaining whole-directional morphological structures, a roll of Scotch tape, an ex vivo mouse heart, and kidney specimens were imaged and independently obtained tissue images at different directions were delicately merged to compose the 3D volume data set. The results revealed the potential merits of QS-OCT-based whole-directional imaging, which can be a favorable inspection method for various discoveries that require the dynamic coordinates of the whole physical structure.


This documentary tells the life story of Argentinian journalist Jorge Ricardo Masetti, one of the first reporters to interview Fidel Castro and Che Guevara in the Sierra Maestra guerrilla, yet in 1958, who later became a revolutionary himself. With them, he founded the Prensa Latina news agency, aimed at reporting to the whole continent and countries in the Third World through a post-colonial perspective, against the bias of the major global agencies. He also took part in the resistance to the invasion at the Bay of Pigs, in 1961, and later left Cuba to fight for the independence of Algeria, in 1963, and set a guerrilla of his own in the jungle of Salta, Argentina, where he went missing the following year. The film contains testimonies by fellow journalists, former guerrilla fighters, friends and others who shared work and life with Masetti, and it puts forth a reflexion on the role of counter-hegemonic information and struggle in international communication.


The fundamental challenge in the synthesis/design optimization of energy systems is the definition of system configuration and design parameters. The traditional way to operate is to follow the previous experience, starting from the existing design solutions. A more advanced strategy consists in the preliminary identification of a superstructure that should include all the possible solutions to the synthesis/design optimization problem and in the selection of the system configuration starting from this superstructure through a design parameter optimization. This top–down approach cannot guarantee that all possible configurations could be predicted in advance and that all the configurations derived from the superstructure are feasible. To solve the general problem of the synthesis/design of complex energy systems, a new bottom–up methodology has been recently proposed by the authors, based on the original idea that the fundamental nucleus in the construction of any energy system configuration is the elementary thermodynamic cycle, composed only by the compression, heat transfer with hot and cold sources and expansion processes. So, any configuration can be built by generating, according to a rigorous set of rules, all the combinations of the elementary thermodynamic cycles operated by different working fluids that can be identified within the system, and selecting the best resulting configuration through an optimization procedure. In this paper, the main concepts and features of the methodology are deeply investigated to show, through different applications, how an artificial intelligence can generate system configurations of various complexity using preset logical rules without any "ad hoc" expertise.


Economic organizations represent order and structure. They may be characterized as coalitions of agents bound by multilateral contracts. When a new organization is formed, new information comes into being. This paper defines and measures the amount of information which an economic organization represents. Both information of structure and process are characterized. Information laws of scale are derived. An ``impossibility'' theorem is stated which shows that ``large'' organizations cannot be optimal and realizable in finite time. Large (where even 15 members is large) organizations must contain relationships between agents that are inconsistent or incomplete. This result gives a direct rationale for the theory of bounded rationality and for the existence of internal governance procedures that reconcile the inconsistency and incompleteness of relationships. It also shows why certain, universal social institutions are public goods.


Erosive gastritis is a common disease, but no etiologic significance has been attributed to the size or shape of these gastric erosions. However, in 12 cases of erosive gastritis caused by aspirin (nine) and other nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (indomethacin, two; naproxen, one) double-contrast upper gastrointestinal studies revealed incomplete linear and/or serpiginous erosions in the stomach. In nine cases, these distinctive erosions were clustered focally in the body of the stomach, on or near the greater curvature. All but one patient were symptomatic (epigastric pain, eight; upper gastrointestinal bleeding, two; nausea and vomiting, one), and marked clinical improvement occurred within several days after withdrawal of the offending agent. This experience suggests that incomplete linear or serpiginous erosions, particularly along the greater curvature of the stomach, should be strongly suggestive of aspirin- or other NSAID-induced gastritis. If recent ingestion of these drugs is confirmed, withdrawal of the offending agent should lead to a rapid clinical response in these patients.


When the top ASR hypothesis is incorrect, often the correct hypothesis is listed as an alternative in the ASR N-Best list. Whereas traditional spoken dialog systems have struggled to exploit this information, this paper argues that a dialog model that tracks a distribution over multiple dialog states can improve dialog accuracy by making use of the entire N-Best list. The key element of the approach is a generative model of the N-Best list given the user's true hidden action. An evaluation on real dialog data verifies that dialog accuracy rates are improved by making use of the entire N-Best list.


How do media affect voting behavior? What difference can an independent media outlet make in a country with state-controlled media? Our paper addresses these questions by comparing electoral outcomes and votes reported by survey respondents during the 1999 parliamentary elections in Russia for those geographical areas that had access and those that had no access to the only national TV channel independent from the government ("NTV"). The effect is identified from exogenous variation in the availability of the signal, which appears to be mostly idiosyncratic, conditional on controls. The findings are as follows. 1) The presence of the independent TV channel decreased the aggregate vote for the government party by 2.5 percentage points and increased the combined vote for major opposition parties by 2.1 percentage points. 2) The probability of voting for opposition parties increased for individuals who watched NTV even controlling for voting intentions measured one month prior to the elections. 3) NTV had a smaller effect on votes of people with higher political knowledge and those using alternative sources of political news and a larger effect on retired persons who watch TV substantially more than working individuals.


The purpose of the article is to analyze the activity of the Department of Musicology of the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan from its foundation in 1922 to the beginning of the XXI century. The methodology consists of applying the historical-system method - to study the problems of musicology as an academic discipline in close connection with the socio-historical context and reproducing a holistic picture of its development, as well as biographies - to outline the figures of Polish general and special musicological school. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the coverage of the Poznan School of Musicology, which covers traditional musicological issues and develops a methodology for new interdisciplinary research in the humanities. Conclusions. The formation of musicology as a discipline at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan took place on the basis of the European music-educational tradition. The article emphasizes the importance of this process of organizational experience and methodological position of German musicology and departments of musicology of Lviv and Jagiellonian universities.


The stimulating effect of rHuEPO on erythropoiesis has been shown in several studies, using bone marrow cell culture or animal models. To investigate the effect of rHuEPO on bone marrow findings in vivo, we studied the bone marrow cellularity, the myeloid: erythroid (M:E) ratio, an estimate of the number of megakaryocytes, any cytomorphologic or maturation abnormalities, and an estimate of the storage iron before and after 3 months of treatment with rHuEPO in 10 chronic hemodialyzed patients. Nine patients showed a slight or moderate decrease of erythropoiesis in bone marrow in comparison to normal bone marrow before rHuEPO treatment. The bone marrow cellularity was a mean of 28.5% and decreased in 8 out of 10 patients compared to normal values. However, megakaryopoiesis and granulopoiesis were normal. Three months of treatment with rHuEPO had increased erythropoiesis in all 10 patients, including one patient whose bone marrow proved to be normal erythropoiesis on baseline examination. The M:E ratio was significantly decreased from 4.0 +/- 1.2:1 to 2.4 +/- 1.1:1 (p < 0.005). The bone marrow cellularity was also increased in 9 patients, except in 1 patient whose specimen was inadequate for diagnosis, after 3 months of treatment with rHuEPO. On baseline examination of bone marrow, iron staining was undetectable in one, low in one, normal in 2 and high in 5 sections. According to grading, iron staining had decreased from 3.1 +/- 1.7 to 2.1 +/- 0.9 (p < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


We report the results of our archaeoastronomical investigation of the unique building at Chamaizi in eastern Crete. The structure has been an enigma to Aegean archaeologists because of its oval shape, which is unparalleled in Minoan architecture. Religion has figured prominently in the discussions of the house's function, primarily due to the discovery of a well and some figurines. We had included it in our pilot study of Minoan astronomical interest since some scholars have categorized it as a peak sanctuary, and these sites are ideally located for astronomical observations. An axial symmetry for the building, however, was impossible to calculate, and this discouraged us to the extent that we left its evaluation to a late stage in our work. When we returned to our data, with the knowledge acquired from our study of a number of other Minoan buildings, we were in a better position to study the house and understand its function. The main entrance was orientated to sunrise on the morning of the winter solstice in the early Middle Minoan period (ca 2000 BCE) and the door on the northern side framed the heliacal setting of Arcturus in the same period. The orientation to sunrise at the winter solstice occurs also at the important villa of Vathypetro, and the orientation to Arcturus is the fourth that we have found at Minoan sites. Thus our results from Chamaizi add to the accumulating data that the Minoans consistently oriented important monuments to major celestial events and precisely those events important for maintaining a calendar. A hypothesis that may be made from these results is that the contacts between Minoan sites known from trade can be understood to have included also the intellectual exchange of scientific information resulting in a common calendar and probably also common rituals in connection with it: celebrations of the new year, the beginning and end of the sailing season, and important events in the agricultural year such as ploughing, as we have tried to show in earlier studies.


Renal angiomyolipoma (AML) is a common benign tumor in the urinary system, mainly composed of adipose tissue, blood vessels and muscle tissue. Renal AML is sporadic in most of patients, while a few are associated with tuberous sclerosis. Classical renal AML occurs predominantly in middle-aged females. Most cases are found incidentally during imaging examinations. The fat content makes AML have unique imaging characteristics and is easy to be identified with other renal tumors. However, the amount of fat varies in each tumor. AML that contains only microscopically detectable fat and whose amount of intratumoral fat may be too small to be identified on unenhanced computed tomography (CT) images is termed minimal fat or fat-poor renal AML, which appears as a high density shadow in the renal parenchyma on unenhanced CT images. Thus, it can be difficult to distinguish it from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) on imaging. Since the imaging findings are atypical, the diagnosis depends on pathological results. In addition, a few of AML can mimic malignant neoplasms. Recent studies suggested that AML might involve to peri-renal or renal sinus fat, regional lymphatics and other visceral organs, as well as inferior vena cava, which further makes the diagnosis more difficult. However, there is currently no reports about involvement of regional limphatics in minimal fat renal AML. In this article, we report a 27-year-old female patient without family history of tuberous sclerosis, who came to visit the hematologist because a high density shadow near the left kidney was found during CT scan which was accompanied by neck, armpits, groin, abdominal cavity and retroperitoneal lymph nodes enlargement. She was suspected of lymphoma in the beginning and transferred to Department of Urology to perform laparoscopic left renal mass and retroperitoneal lymph node excision and pathological examination for a definitive diagnosis. Finally, pathologic results revealed AML. Postoperative continuous lymphatic fistula developed and the retroperitoneal drainage of chylous fluid was 100-200 mL per day, lasting for 12 weeks. The fistula was successfully closed after conservative treatment including fasting and rehydration. This article summaries and discusses the diagnosis and treatment of renal AML with lymph nodes enlargement and the management of postoperative refractory lymphatic fistula by reviewing the related cases and literature.


A generalized frequency-hopping (GFH) orthogonal frequency-division multiple-access (OFDMA) system is developed in this paper as a structured long code direct-sequence code-division multiple-access (DS-CDMA) system in order to bridge frequency-hopped multicarrier transmissions with long code DS-CDMA. Through judicious code design, multiuser interference is eliminated deterministically in the presence of unknown frequency-selective multipath channels. Thanks to frequency-hopping, no single user suffers from consistent fading effects and constellation-irrespective channel identifiability is guaranteed regardless of channel nulls. A host of blind channel estimation algorithms are developed trading off complexity with performance. Two important variants, corresponding to slow- and fast-hopping, are also addressed with the latter offering symbol recovery guarantees. Performance analysis and simulation results illustrate the merits of GFH-OFDMA relative to conventional OFDMA and long code DS-CDMA with pseudorandom noise codes and RAKE reception.


The analytical value of peaks arising by a proximity effect in the electron ionization mass spectra of benzanilides has been established by examining the spectra of numerous examples of general structure XC6H4NHCOC6H4Y. Significant [M-X]+ signals are observed only when X = Cl, Br, I or CH3O in the 2-position. The presence of strong [M-X]+ signals, but negligibly weak [M-Y]+ peaks, even when the C-Y bond would be expected to break more readily than the C-X bond, indicates that these diagnostically useful signals do not arise by simple cleavage. Similarly, the presence of an appreciable [M-Cl]+ signal, but no [M-Br]+ signal, in the spectra of representative examples of 4-Br-2ClC6H3NHCOC6H4Y, reveals that loss of a substituent from the 2-position occurs much more rapidly than fission of a weaker bond to a substituent in the 4-position. These trends are interpreted in terms of cyclization of the ionized 2-substituted benzanilide, followed by elimination of the substituent originally in the 2-position, to form a protonated 2-arylbenzoxazole.


Nonstandard trioctahedral serpentine polytypes are proving to be abundant, at least on a submicroscopic scale. These nonstandard poly'types have intermixing within the same crystal of either zero and +b/3 interlayer shifts or -b/3 and +b/3 shifts in patterns other than -,*,-,+, neither of which occurs in the l2 standard polltypes. They may also have more complex ordered sequences along c of occupation of the two sets of octahedral cation positions not found in the standard polytypes. All possible nonstandard, interlayer shift sequences and octahedral cation sequences up to nine layers were generated by a computer program. Diffraction patterns were calculated for all sequences with periodicities encountered in our studies'ofnatural serpentines to date (regular-stacking sequences up to four layers and ordered octahedral sequences up to seven layers). Thirty-two theoretical, nonstandard, regular-stacking polytype models are reported here. They consist of 14 regular interlayer stacking sequences (one two-layer, four three-layer, and nine four-layer) and four ordered octahedral cation sequences. The nine four-layer regular-stacking sequences can each exist with any of three possible ordered octahedral cation sequences along c (I,II,I,II, I,I,I,II, or I,I,II,I!. Most of the nonstandard regular-stacking polytypes have triclinic geometry and cl symmetry. Two have monoclinic cc symmetry, and in one of these a and b are reversed. Assuming no a/3 interlayer shifts, the octahedral cation sequence present in any polytype up to seven layers can be identified by the periodicities and intensities ofthe 20lreflections. The regular interlayer stacking sequences up to four layers can be identified uniquely by the a angle and the intensities of specific 02/ reflections. Although it may not be known which ofthe pseudohexagonal a* or b* axes is present along with c* on a given diffraction pattern, identification is possible by assuming that true a* or b* is present and using prescribed identification rules. We report intensities suitable for both X-ray and electron diffraction analysis. We have determined that the distortional and compositional differences likely to be encountered in natural serpentines are not gleat enough to obscure the diffraction characteristics that we recommend for identification.


Hyperpolarized [1-13C] fumarate has been shown to be a reliable imaging biomarker for monitoring cellular necrosis with conversion of [1-13C]fumarate to [1-13C]malate via Fumarate hydratase. However, the inherently low 13C-sensitivity limits biomedical applications with a need for accessible and low-cost hyperpolarization methods. In this abstract we show that parahydrogen-induced polarization methods can overcome these limitations by providing highly polarized and purified [1-13C]fumarate as a non-toxic perfusion agent with the capabilities of acting as a biomarker of cell necrosis in metabolic 13C MRI.


Nanocomposites of chitosan and nanoclays (MMT-Na+ and Cloisite 30B) were prepared by solvent casting. The structural properties, thermal behaviors, and mechanical properties were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry analyses, and an Instron universal testing machine. XRD and TEM results indicated that an exfoliated structure was formed with addition of small amounts of MMT-Na+ to the chitosan matrix. Intercalation along with some exfoliation occurred with up to 5 wt % MMT-Na+. Micro-scale composite (tactoids) formed when Cloisite 30B was added to the chitosan matrix. Surface roughness increased with addition of a small amount of clay. Tensile strength of a chitosan film was enhanced and elongation-at-break decreased with addition of clay into the chitosan matrix. Melt behavior and thermal stability did not change significantly with addition of clays. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99: 1684–1691, 2006


Hydroforming has attracted the attention of manufacturing industries for vehicles and transportation systems. A wide range of products such as subframes, camshafts, radiator frames, axles and crankshafts are made by the hydroforming process. Hydroformed parts often need to be structurally joined to other components during assembly. Therefore it is useful if the hydroformed automotive parts can be attached with a localized flange. In this study, a hydroforming process to produce a rectangular shape flange is proposed. FE analysis to form the flanged rectangular shape was performed by Dynaform 5.5. The hydroforming characteristics at various die aspect ratios and feeding conditions were analyzed and optimal process conditions which can avoid defects are suggested. For validation purposes, hydroforming experiments to form the flange were conducted with the optimized conditions. The results show that the flanged parts can be successfully formed with a hydroforming process without additional processing steps.


In this work we explore how the complexity of a problem domain affects the performance of evolutionary search using a performance-based restart policy. Previous research indicates that using a restart policy to avoid premature convergence can improve the performance of an evolutionary algorithm. One method for determining when to restart the search is to track the fitness of the population and to restart when no measurable improvement has been observed over a number of generations. We investigate the correlation between a dynamic restart policy and problem complexity in the context of genetic programming. Our results indicate the emergence of a universal restart scheme as problems become increasingly complex.


We provide a scheme with which the transfer of the entangled state and the entanglement swapping can be realized in a system of neutral atoms via the Rydberg blockade. Our idea can be extended to teleport an unknown atomic state. According to the latest theoretical research of the Rydberg excitation and experimental reports of the Rydberg blockade effect in quantum information processing, we discuss the experimental feasibility of our scheme.


Our work presents a novel way for compressing image sets that form multiview stereo images used in three dimensional display devices. These image sets exhibit high inter-image correlation that remains unexploited when classic image compression techniques are applied. Our efforts are focused in the development of a compression algorithm based on the three dimensional discrete cosine transform (3D-DCT) which is an extension of the two dimensional case, used widely in image compression. An adaptive 3D-DCT scheme is implemented based on the exploitation of the increased spatial redundancy of certain parts of the image set. This is primarily achieved by locating image parts that belong to the distant background and hence remain unaltered throughout the image set. This technique achieves high compression ratios while maintaining the quality needed for correct stereoscopic viewing


It is well known that xylem embolism can be repaired by bark water uptake and that the sugar required for embolism refilling can be provided by corticular photosynthesis. However, the relationship between corticular photosynthesis and embolism repair by bark water uptake is still poorly understood. In this study, the role of corticular photosynthesis in embolism repair was assessed using Salix matsudana branch segments dehydrated to -1.9 MPa (P50 , water potential at 50% loss of conductivity). The results indicated that corticular photosynthesis significantly promoted water uptake and nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) accumulation in the bark and xylem during soaking, thereby effectively enhancing the refilling of the embolized vessels and the recovery of hydraulic conductivity. Furthermore, the influence of the extent of dehydration on the embolism refilling enhanced by corticular photosynthesis was investigated. The enhanced refilling effects were much higher in the mildly dehydrated (-1.5 MPa) and moderately dehydrated (-1.9 MPa) branch segments than in the severely dehydrated (-2.2 MPa) branch segments. This study provides evidence that corticular photosynthesis plays a crucial role in xylem embolism repair by bark water uptake for mildly and moderately dehydrated branches.


Desired far-field radiation patterns of 5 × 11 conformal antenna array are synthesized using a hybrid genetic algorithm (HGA), which combines the simplified quadratic interpolation (SQI) method and the real-coded genetic algorithm (RCGA). This hybrid genetic algorithm is shown to outperform standard genetic algorithm (GA) when used to synthesize amplitude weights of the elements to satisfy specified deep notches, nulls and average sidelobe level constraints. The HGA procedure appears to be a high effective means to compensate the mutual coupling effects on the individual element patterns for the conformal antenna array.


Background/Aims: Lipoproteins have been reported to be associated with prognosis in various cancers; however, the prognostic value of lipoproteins in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains largely unknown. We aim to asses the role of circulating lipoproteins in locoregionally advanced NPC patients. Methods: Between October 2009 and August 2012, a total of 1,081 patients with stage III-IVB NPC were included in the analysis. Circulating high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) are the two key lipoproteins, which were measured at baseline. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate different cut-off points for lipoproteins. Actuarial rates were performed using Kaplan–Meier methods and the log-rank test. Results: The cutoff points of HDL, LDL, and LDL/HDL ratio were 1.17 mmol/L, 3.75 mmol/L, and 2.73, respectively. At 5 years, high HDL (> 1.17 mmol/L) was significantly associated with better overall survival (OS, 86.6% vs. 78.9%; P=0.004), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS, 86.9% vs. 80.8%; P=0.004), locoregional relapse-free survival (LRFS, 90.8% vs. 85.4%; P=0.010), and progression-free survival (PFS, 79.1% vs. 70.2%; P= 0.001) than low HDL (≤1.17 mmol/L). In contrast, high LDL (> 3.75 mmol/L) tend to be inferior OS (79.1% vs. 84.9%; P= 0.016) in compassion with low LDL (≤3.75 mmol/L). Likewise, patients with high LDL/HDL ratio (> 2.73) tend to be inferior OS (79.3% vs. 86.9%; P=0.001), DMFS (81.9% vs. 86.5%; P=0.030), and PFS (72.6% vs. 77.8%; P= 0.034) than those of low LDL/HDL ratio (≤2.73). In multivariate analysis, baseline HDL was found to be a significant prognostic factor for LRFS (HR= 0.65; 95% CI, 0.45-0.93; P= 0.019) and PFS (HR=0.75; 95% CI, 0.58-0.98; P= 0.034). Conclusions: Circulating HDL is significantly associated with treatment outcomes in patients with locoregionally advanced NPC. We suggest that HDL measurements will be of great clinical significance in the management of NPC.


The present study aimed to try to find natural substances stimulate the production of bacteriocin, as well as "for detection of bacteriocin producing isolates. Two hundred and eighty ( 280)  bacterial isolates, gram negative only, were collected from 760 different pathogenic samples, consist: (Urinary tract infection, septicemia, Vaginal inflammation and diarrhea).  The isolated bacteria are: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella  pneumonia Pseudomonas  aeruginosa,, Salmonella typhi, Enterobacter cloacae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Serratia  liquefaciens, Citrobacter  freundii,  Proteus  mirabilis and Serrattia  odorifera.  Cup assay method was  used to detect bacteriocin production. Locally media prepared (  Nutriernt agar + Brassica rapa   roots extract ) to detect bacterial bacteriocin production, compared with ( N. agar ) only. The results showed, the percentage of bacteria production of  bacteriocin were (28.57%)/(80)  isolates only on  N. agar, while the ratio reached to (82.5%)/ (231) isolates by local media.Also this media gave (45 mm) in dimeter of inhibition zone in E. coli. Brassica rapa roots extract was used to stimulate bacteriocin production compared with mitomycin-c (Mt-c )  in five isolates of the E. coli. It was found the extract emulate Mt-, in dimeter of inhibition zone , protein concentration and activity. But it was better than Mt-c in some isolates.


As a result of love being an important reason for individuals to enter marriage, this study aims to explore the relationships between components of love and marital satisfaction. A total of 64 married urban Malay males who volunteered to participate in a larger study exploring the psychological aspects of close relationships were chosen in this study. Questionnaires consisting of questions relating to personal background, love and marital satisfaction were distributed. Completed questionnaires were collected and analyzed to determine relationships among variables. The results showed that there was a significant relationship between love, specifically, the passion component of love and marital satisfaction. The total number of children and age of spouse were also significantly negatively related to marital satisfaction. The results in this study indicated the importance of love especially the passion component of love in promoting marital satisfaction among married Malay individuals. Thus, this suggests future research to focus on love aspects in studying gender, marital relationships and psychological well-being.


This paper presents the results of the adsorption of textile dyes in static systems, using adsorbent materials prepared from broccoli waste collected after harvest. The adsorption capacities of the non-activated lignocellulosic residue (BrocNat), the chemically activated waste using sodium hydroxide (BrocNaOH), the thermally activated at 823 K ash (AshBroc), and the chemically activated carbon using phosphoric acid at 673 K (CarBrocQ) were tested. Aqueous solutions containing cationic and anionic dyes as well as textile effluents generated after the dyeing process of a cotton-processing factory containing vat and reactive dyes were treated. Lignocellulosic materials were only effective in removing dyes when they were found in aqueous solution. The carbonaceous adsorbent CarBrocQ presented removal percentages close to 100% and between 13 and 75% for reactive and vat dyes contained in the effluents respectively. To accomplish the complete elimination of color from effluents containing vat dyes, these were treated before adsorption, using aluminum chlorohydrate and poly(acrylamide-co-sodium acrylate) as coagulant and flocculant agents, respectively. The COD of the effluent containing vat dyes was reduced up to 93% after both treatments were combined, and the removal of color was absolute. The high adsorption capacity of CarBrocQ occurs because of its high specific surface area, which was determined by N2 adsorption to be 1177 m2g-1. In the case of the lignocellulosic material, the specific surface area was determined by means of adsorption of methylene blue, and it was 485 m2g-1 for both. The adsorption capacity of CarBrocQ was compared with that of commercial carbons, and proved to be similar. The adsorption results obtained indicate that broccoli waste can be used to prepare activated carbon with applications in the removal of dyes present in textile effluents.


In the literature, English rise-fall-rise (RFR) intonation is known both as a marker of secondary information and as a marker of topics.�is paper aims to make plausible that these two uses can be derived from a common core, which in turn can be derived from a recent theory of intonational meaning more generally, according to which rises and falls indicate (non-)compliance with the maxims (Westera 2013, 2014, 2017).�e core meaning of RFR, I propose, is that the main question under discussion (Q��) is not compliantly addressed, while some secondary Q�� is. Several more concrete predictions are derived from this core meaning, pertaining to secondary information, topic marking, exhaustivity, and discourse strategies.�e resulting account is shown to generate certain ingredients of existing accounts, while also doing some things di�erently in ways that may be empirically accurate. If the proposed account is on the right track, it provides an important new intonational window on Q��s.


The second Dagstuhl seminar on event processing took place in May 2010. This five-day meeting was oriented to work toward a comprehensive document that would explain event processing and how it relates to other technologies and suggest future work in terms of standards, challenges, and shorter-term research projects.
The 45 participants came from academia and industry, some of them out of the event processing field. The teams continued the work after the conference and have summarized their findings in this document. The chapters were written by different teams and then edited for consistency.


Abstract The treatment paradigm in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is rapidly changing. The incidental finding of small renal tumours combined with the development of novel therapeutic agents targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathways or inhibiting the interaction of the programmed death 1 (PD 1) receptor with its ligand have dramatically improved the prognosis of patients suffering from this malignancy. At the same time, the availability of multiple effective options with similar indications complicates the development and applicability of guidelines in this disease. We conducted a systematic review of the existing guidelines. Our study revealed areas of agreement as well as of discrepancies amongst the published scientific papers included. By critically evaluating these areas, we developed a therapeutic algorithm for RCC. We suggest that this methodology can define the practices of wide applicability and areas of future research.


Many banks are facing with identity crisis and increased customer migration rates that negatively affect the level of business profitability. Gaining customer loyalty becomes a key objective for banking companies that are focused on sustainable marketing and customer oriented business philosophy. In the retail banking practice, there are various evidences that corporate image is a main determinant of customer loyalty. Image highlights a cumulative construct that is updated each time the customer experiences specific services. The present study contributes to marketing literature and banking practice by providing qualitative evidences about the corporate image of banking organizations acting in the Romanian retail sector. Results show that Romanians value judgments are determined by various attributes related to a bank marketing-mix policy, from product quality and services to price levels, staff competence and the effectiveness of delivery and communication methods.


Eighteen children between 6 and 14 years of age with perennial asthma were studied over two four-week treatment periods. Ipratropium bromide, given in addition to their current treatment, was compared with placebo using a double-blind crossover technique. The period of treatment with ipratropium was associated with a significant reduction in symptoms during both day and night and significantly higher morning peak expiratory flow rates.


Traditional optimizing compilers are limited in the scope o f their optimizations by the fact that only a single function, or possibly a single module, is available for anal ysis and optimization. In particular, this means that library routines cannot be optimized to specific calling con texts. Other optimization opportunities, exploiting information not available before linktime such as addresse s of variables and the final code layout, are often ignored because linkers are traditionally unsophisticate d. A possible solution is to carry out whole-program optimization at link time. This paper describes alto, a link-time optimizer for the Compaq Alpha architecture. It is able to realize significant performance improvements e ven for programs compiled with a good optimizing compiler with a high level of optimization. The resulting co de is considerably faster that that obtained using the OM link-time optimizer, even when the latter is used in conju nction with profile-guided and inter-file compiletime optimizations. The work of Robert Muth, Saumya Debray and Scott Watterson wa s supported in part by the National Science Foundation under grant numbers CCR-9502826, CCR-9711166, and CDA-9500991. Koen D e Bosschere is a research associate with the Fund for Scienti fi Research – Flanders.


In this study, a brief instrument (the Mental Health Change Indicator Scale, MHCIS) was developed for use in assessing the impact of a negative event on mental health. The instrument was then used to compare the reported impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of Chinese university students studying either in China (n = 734) or Australia (n = 108). Perceived discrimination and social support were also evaluated as possible mediators of the relationship between country of residence (Australia vs China), and mental health impact. Results suggested that the 10-item MHCIS was unidimensional and psychometrically sound, and that the pandemic had a significantly (p < 0.001) more negative impact on the mental health of Chinese students studying in Australia than on those studying in China. Perceived discrimination was identified as a key mediating factor in this relationship. Possible implications for higher education institutions in Australia are discussed.