Effective use of technology has led to medical advances that have not only extended life expectancy, but also fuelled an increasingly well informed public's desires to expect more and more from today's healthcare providers. A phenomenal amount of medical information is now present, facilitated by the virtually unrestricted ability to publish on the Internet. The WWW grows by roughly a million pages per day with a significant number devoted to some element of healthcare. As a consequence of the web's rapid, chaotic growth, the resulting network of information lacks organisation and structure and the quest for a method of finding relevant and reliable information quickly is spawning the growth of the Internet Portal Sites. The use of intranets confers some degree of organisation, allowing for structured growth of an organisation's web site but the majority of sites are not sheltered within an intranet. Millions of dollars are being invested in researching the technologies powering search engines and well designed portals, in the hope of imposing some kind of order on the existing chaos. The winner will most likely reap huge financial rewards as advertisers climb on board, hoping to gain massive exposure and the public will undoubtedly gain from relevant and timely answers to their searches and queries. Information is a valuable commodity, but the true value is seen only when it is organised into an accessible and useable form. The coming of age of the Internet has heralded radical changes in the fabric and economics of healthcare and as a consequence our expectations from professionals involved in this industry are greatly increased. Although significant challenges need to be overcome, there are huge benefits to be gained for consumers, although it remains to be seen whether the world becomes a more healthy place.


Due to the high impact that energy consumption of buildings has at global scale, it has been stated the need of achieving energy-efficient buildings to reduce CO2 emissions and energy consumption at global scale. In this work we propose to model the energy consumption associated with services provided in buildings to help select the best strategies to save energy. To verify the feasibility of the proposed approach using measurements of relevant parameters affecting, we carry out some analysis in a reference building of which we have contextual data. Firstly, we provide a complete characterization of this building in term of its energy consumption and generate accurate building models able to predict its energy consumption given a concrete set of inputs. Finally, considering the generated energy usage profile of the building, we propose some concrete control actions and strategies to save energy.


In a recent summary of the literature on neoplasms in cold-blooded vertebrates, Lucke listed reports of 10 instances of this condition in various types of Reptilia. Two of these animals were snakes (Serpentes). Because of the apparent rarity of tumors in this type of animal it seems worth while to report the present case.

The animal, Say's pine snake, Pituophis sayi , approximately 150 cm. in length, died at the Philadelphia Zoological Garden. At autopsy the major pathologic changes were acute enteritis and abscesses in the lung. The pancreas attracted attention because of its increased size, the presence of caseous foci in the parenchyma, and distention of the duct by caseous material.

The pancreas in this and many other types of snakes is oval in cross-section, with tapering rounded ends. Normal organ to body weight ratios and measurements have not been determined accurately, but in this instance the organ measured 2.5 × 1.0 × 1.0 cm. in its greatest diameters; an increase of approximately five times in volume. The tissue was moderately firm; the cut surface was the usual dull pale gray color except in several circumscribed, soft, caseous areas.


This article builds on the emerging discourse on "ecosystems of social innovation" and develops a model to identify and analyse driving and hindering factors for social innovation initiatives. Social innovation – especially in the context of social entrepreneurship – is increasingly gaining momentum in the European welfare landscape. That growing importance challenges the scientific discourse as it asks for criteria of how to support, foster and sustain social innovation. This article utilizes two case studies illustrating different levels of drivers and barriers and develops a model for understanding contexts of social innovation. Four interrelated context levels are identified which constitute social innovation ecosystems: actors, structures, functions, and norms. The "onion"-model can be used by social innovators, financiers and policy makers alike in order to better and more strategically support social innovations themselves and to improve the framework conditions promoting or impeding them. The model allows for a better understanding of the diversity of supporting and hindering factors initiatives can face in any given urban or national social innovation ecosystem. DOI:  https://doi.org/10.31637/epsir.16-2.3


High speed data transmission in wireless networks demands better radio resource management schemes. The research work for this thesis considers packet scheduling in downlinks of a cellular CDMA system for delay-tolerant applications. In this thesis, a packet scheduling scheme is proposed that attempts to provide fair allocation of individuals throughout and obtain relatively high system throughput. It is based on combined consideration of channel conditions, required throughput and achieved average throughput. A priority factor and system tolerance factor are introduced. We confirmed the trade-off between system throughout (i.e., efficiency) and individual throughput (i.e., fairness) by both analysis and simulation. Relative performance between the proposed scheme and traditional schemes is evaluated through simulation to confirm the analytical observations. The sensitivity of system tolerance factor towards efficiency and fairness was also investigated. Overall, the proposed scheme performs between absolute unfairness scheme and absolute fairness scheme in term s of system throughput and fair allocation of individual throughput.


As mobile visualization is increasingly used and new mobile device form factors and hardware capabilities continuously emerge, it is timely to reflect on what has been discovered to date and to look into the future. This workshop will bring together researchers, designers, and practitioners from relevant application and research fields, including visualization, personal informatics, and data journalism. We will work on identifying a research agenda for mobile data visualization as well as to collect and propagate practical guidance for mobile visualization design. Our overarching goal is to bring us closer to making an effective use of ubiquitous mobile devices as data visualization platforms.


The taxanes play a significant role in the treatment of various solid tumors of epithelial origin. Docetaxel is the most extensively studied taxane in prospective head and neck cancer trials and has been investigated as induction chemotherapy or in combination with radiotherapy in locally advanced squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (HNSCC) and as palliation in recurrent or metastatic disease. The data in locally advanced disease are particularly compelling. Three recently reported randomized trials, carried out in patients with locally advanced disease who were receiving induction chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy, demonstrated that adding docetaxel to the standard induction regimen of cisplatin/5-fluorouracil (PF) significantly improved survival compared with PF alone, without significantly increasing toxicity. On the basis of these trials, docetaxel/PF (TPF) has become the current standard induction regimen and TPF-based sequential therapy can be considered a standard treatment alternative to chemoradiotherapy alone in patients with locally advanced HNSCC. This review article discusses the current developments of docetaxel-based chemotherapy and the optimal use of this agent in patients with HNSCC.


This method is easily applied and useful for the estimation of the actual length of the gastric tube in situations of reconstruction after subtotal esophagectomy. The actual length of the gastric tube was almost identical to that of the stomach which was measured from the preoperative roentgenogram. In the end, a safe reconstruction by this approach will decrease the operative mortality rate caused by the leakage of the anastomosis.


Fluorine is an essential element for living organisms, but it also needs to be limited in intake. Theoccurrence form of fluorine has a significant effect on its toxicity. The occurrence form of fluorine in Antarctickrill is complex, and its toxicity can not be simply equal to that of normal food. A view of its broad applicationprospects in food, it is necessary to evaluate the acute and chronic toxicity of fluoride in Antarctic krill from theperspective of accumulation and metabolism. In acute toxicity test, the maximum dosage of Antarctic krill powderwas 20g/kg Bw, and the oral lethal dose of Antarctic krill powder was LD50 > 20g/kg Bw. Fluoride in Antarctickrill meal had no significant effect on the lipid metabolism related indicators of the tested animals, but it couldcause oxidative stress reaction in the tested animals and reduce the antioxidant capacity of the body; and it couldcause potential kidney damage and clear liver damage through oxidative stress reaction. Fluoride in Antarcticphosphatide powder accumulated significantly in bone and teeth, but the degree of fluoride accumulation wassignificantly weaker than that of sodium fluoride; in organs vulnerable to oxidative stress, fluoride in Antarctickrill only showed slight accumulation in lungs, similar to that in sodium fluoride level, but not significant; fluorideand sodium fluoride in Antarctic krill accumulated slightly in other soft tissues such as brain, spleen, heart andbrain. No accumulation was found in testes and ovaries of reproductive organs.


Sera from 657 men from infertile couples were tested for sperm agglutinins and spermatozoal antibodies detectable by the indirect immunofluorescense technique (IFT), and the results were correlated to the clinical examinations of the couples. Sperm agglutinins were found in 6.7%. Spontaneous agglutination of the ejaculated spermatozoa was observed only among these men, most commonly among those with high serum titres. IF-antibodies against the four spermatozoal antigens located beneath the cell membrane occurred in 15.2% of the patients. Antibodies against the front part of the acrosome and the postnuclear cap were mainly IgM. Antibodies against the equatorial segment of the acrosome were predominantly IgG and in a few cases IgA, whereas straining of the main tail piece was caused by IgG antibodies. Considering the clinical fertility status of the couples, sperm agglutinins in high titres (greater than or equal to 10) against the equatorial segment and the main tail piece of the spermatozoa were found significantly more often among men from couples with unexplained infertility than among clinically normal men from couples where the findings in the women could be assumed to cause infertility. These results support the view that sperm agglutinins can cause infertility, whereas the significance of the IF-antibodies is still unclarified as, in some cases, these can be found even in high titres in men with proven fertility. The possible mechanism of autosensitization were evaluated by means of an anamnestic study.


Some people report visual discomfort when watching 3D displays. For both the objective measurement of visual fatigue and the subjective measurement of visual discomfort, we would like to arrive at general indicators that are easy to apply in perception experiments. Previous research yielded contradictory results concerning such indicators. We hypothesize two potential causes for this: 1) not all clinical tests are equally appropriate to evaluate the effect of stereoscopic viewing on visual fatigue, and 2) there is a natural variation in susceptibility to visual fatigue amongst people with normal vision. To verify these hypotheses, we designed an experiment, consisting of two parts. Firstly, an optometric screening was used to differentiate participants in susceptibility to visual fatigue. Secondly, in a 2×2 within-subjects design (2D vs 3D and two-view vs nine-view display), a questionnaire and eight optometric tests (i.e. binocular acuity, fixation disparity with and without fusion lock, heterophoria, convergent and divergent fusion, vergence facility and accommodation response) were administered before and immediately after a reading task. Results revealed that participants found to be more susceptible to visual fatigue during screening showed a clinically meaningful increase in fusion amplitude after having viewed 3D stimuli. Two questionnaire items (i.e., pain and irritation) were significantly affected by the participants' susceptibility, while two other items (i.e., double vision and sharpness) were scored differently between 2D and 3D for all participants. Our results suggest that a combination of fusion range measurements and self-report is appropriate for evaluating visual fatigue related to 3D displays.


After the transition to full democracy in 1994 a new South African language-in-education policy was formulated to meet the needs of a society in transformation (Department of Education 1997). The policy was designed to allow freedom of choice, while adhering to the underlying principles of equity, practicability, and the need to redress the results of the past discriminatory laws and practices. The new policy has been descriptionbed as one of the most progressive in the world (Probyn et al. 2002:29). Critics, however, believe that the implementation of the policy leaves much to be desired. In order to appraise the policy, it is necessary to understand the sociohistorical factors that have impacted on the formation of current policies and approaches to multilingualism in South Africa (Bekker 1999:99; St. Clair 1982:164). This paper will therefore begin with a brief sketch of the historical background against which the current language-in-education policy can be analysed and evaluated.


In Poland, the number of newborn infants suffering from congenital dysplasia of the hip (CDH) is high. Its percentage has not changed during the past 30 years. The aim of this paper was (1) to find the frequency of occurrence of CDH based on the highest possible number of cases and to obtain the most objective data from examination performed by orthopedic surgeons; (2) to gather information about methods of treatment used; (3) to establish time of treatment (depending on how advanced the dysplastic process was); and (4) to determine the number of complications. The data are based on 17,094,000 inhabitants, or 46.2% of the Polish population. During the years 1980 to 1984, about 350,000 deliveries were annually registered. On the basis of the data, the following were concluded: (1) The frequency of CDH among children in Poland comes to 6.8%. (2) Cases of dysplasia with dislocation are 1.06%. (3) Almost half the number of children (46.2%) are being treated in outpatient departments run by orthopedic surgeons. The remainder are being cared by pediatric and general surgeons, or pediatricians. (4) Necrosis of the femoral head occurred in 10.4% of patients. (5) The most satisfactory therapeutic results (almost 100% cured) are obtained when treatment begins during the first week of the child's life.


Most of the world's societies are violent in the sense that they have high rates of physical assault, homicide, and war. The United States (US) is the most violent of the advanced industrial societies. The current US homicide rate of 8.5 per 100 000 is three times the Canadian rate of 2.3 per 100 000, and about eight times the rate of Western European countries. Nevertheless, many societies are even more violent. The Mexican homicide rate of 19.4 is more than double that of the US, and the rate for the cities of Columbia (110.4 per 100 000) is more than ten times higher.
 Most of the world's societies also bring up children violently through the use of corporal punishment. Perhaps the correspondence between the preponderance of violence and that of corporal punishment is just a coincidence. Obviously, corporal punishment and assaults and murders differ in severity, and also in the cultural definition that makes one legitimate and the other criminal. However, there is also a correspondence between the behavior involved in corporal punishment and the behavior involved in criminal assaults and homicides that is seldom perceived. Everyone understands that corporal punishment is carried out to correct or control misbehavior. What is not understood is that almost all assaults by adults and about two thirds of homicides are also carried out to correct what the offender perceives as misbehavior. Typical examples include a confrontation between two men over a loan of $50 that is to be paid back in 1 week.


High-frequency mechanical impact (HFMI) post-treatment is a proven method to improve the fatigue life of welded structures. The positive effects of HFMI treatment are influenced by the weld toe geometries and residual stresses. This study investigates the effect of geometric and mechanical improvements by HFMI treatment on fatigue strength with explicit consideration of the weld toe magnification factor. General fatigue life estimation method is based on experiment data, and residual stress may be considered in addition. In terms of HFMI-treated structures, geometric improvement also affects the fatigue life. Thus, a more efficient method is suggested by considering the weld toe magnification factor to assess the effects of HFMI treatment. First, the weld toe magnification factor in HFMI-treated conditions is calculated to consider the geometrical effect of HFMI treatment at the weld toe region. Second, a stress ratio model is introduced to consider the compressive residual stress by HFMI treatment based on the Paris equation. The results were validated by comparing them with the estimated fatigue life from previous studies on HFMI-treated welded specimens.


We review the cosmological implications of a relic population of pseudo Nambu-Goldstone bosons (pNGB) with an anomalous coupling to two photons, often called axion-like particles (ALPs). We establish constraints on the pNGB mass and two-photon coupling by considering big bang nucleosynthesis, the physics of the cosmic microwave background, and the diffuse photon background. The bounds from WMAP7 and other large-scale-structure data on the effective number of neutrino species can be stronger than the traditional bounds from the primordial helium abundance. These bounds, together with those from primordial deuterium abundance, constitute the most stringent probes of early decays.


Plasma levels of several soluble factors were assayed in 31 untreated patients with high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL). The results showed statistically significant higher average levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2r) and transferrin receptor (TF-r) in NHL patients compared to controls (p = 0.045, p = 0.047, p = 0.020, p = 0.026 and p = 0.033 respectively). IL-2, IL-2r and TF-r levels were found more elevated in Stages III/IV than in Stages I/II (p = 0.031, p = 0.016 and p = 0.048 respectively), whereas IL-6 concentrations were higher in patients presenting B symptoms (p = 0.011). Significant correlations were found between the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and IL-6 (r = 0.681), and between beta 2 microglobulin (B2-m) and IL-2r (r = 0.622).


ABSTRACT BMS-790052, a first-in-class hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication complex inhibitor, targeting nonstructural protein 5A (NS5A), displays picomolar to nanomolar potency against genotypes 1 to 5. This exceptional potency translated into robust anti-HCV activity in clinical studies with HCV genotype 1-infected subjects. To date, all BMS-790052-associated resistance mutations have mapped to the N-terminal region of NS5A. To further characterize the antiviral activity of BMS-790052, HCV replicon elimination and colony formation assays were performed. Replicon was cleared from genotype 1a and 1b replicon cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Elimination of the genotype 1a replicon required longer treatment durations and higher concentrations of BMS-790052 than those for the genotype1b replicon. Single amino acid substitutions that conferred relatively low levels of resistance were observed at early time points and at low doses. Higher doses and longer treatment durations yielded mutations that conferred greater levels of resistance, including linked amino acid substitutions. Replicon cells that survived inhibitor treatment remained fully sensitivity to pegylated alpha interferon (pegIFN-α) and other HCV inhibitors. Moreover, genotype 1a replicon elimination was markedly enhanced when pegIFN-α and BMS-790052 were combined. Resistant variants observed in this study were very similar to those observed in a multiple ascending dose (MAD) monotherapy trial of BMS-790052, validating replicon elimination studies as a model to predict clinical resistance. Insights gained from the in vitro anti-HCV activity and resistance profiles of BMS-790052 will be used to help guide the clinical development of this novel HCV inhibitor.


Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins have been found in a number of anhydrobiotic (i.e., a state of anhydrobiosis or life without water) organisms that are adapted to severe water deficit as a result of extreme drought and cold in nature. However, the precise mechanism by which LEA proteins protect the organisms in response to water depletion remains to be defined. Because protein functions are generally determined by its structure, molecular dynamics simulations were performed in this study to understand the structure and its stability of a 66-amino acid fragment of a group 3 LEA protein from an anhydrobiotic nematode during desiccation. It was found that, unlike the vast majority of proteins, the fully hydrated LEA protein in an aqueous solution is by and large unstructured (mainly in the form of random coils and turns). The protein gradually becomes folded into a hairpin-like, double-bundled, alpha-helical 3D conformation in response to the loss of water. Major structural formation was observed to occur only when the water content is less than about 20 wt %. It was further found the protein structure and its stability during desiccation are determined primarily by hydrogen bonding interactions followed by electrostatic interactions, both of which are a result of the extremely hydrophilic nature of the LEA protein. The Lennard-Jones interactions (van der Waals interactions) are the least important in determining the protein structure and its stability during water deficit.


Bacteria use quorum sensing to probe and respond to population densities in their external environment. The detection of quorum signaling molecules causes a virulence response in many pathogenic bacteria. Blocking this signaling pathway, without interfering with critical metabolic functions, would produce compounds that can disarm pathogens without killing them. By not blocking growth per se, this therapeutic approach would have a lower associated risk for the development of bacterial resistance. Modified forms of l-methionine can yield analogues of the essential methyl donor, S-adenosyl-l-methionine (AdoMet), by serving as substrates for AdoMet synthetase [Zano, S., et al. (2013) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 536, 64]. The AdoMet analogues examined here were chosen for their putative inability to serve as precursors for the synthesis of the acylhomoserine lactone class of quorum sensing molecules. We now show that these AdoMet analogues can still function as methyl donors, for methylation of both DNA and catechol-based neurotransmitters. The rates of methyl transfer for several of these altered AdoMet analogues are comparable to those observed with unmodified AdoMet. Additional refinement of these structures is expected to produce lead compounds to be tested as selective therapeutic agents against infections by a broad range of pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria.


The aim of the thesis is to measure the propeller slipstream properties (velocity and vorticity) and to assess the unsteady and instantaneous behavior of the propeller flow field at high disk loadings, zero thrust and thrust reverse using the image based measurement techniques. Along with its implementation of the techniques in industrial facilities particular propeller phenomena are addressed, such as the propeller slipstream behavior at varying angles of attack, and its interaction with the wing for thrust cases and no thrust. In addition the flowfield behavior at propeller thrust reverse is investigated. The application of PIV in industrial facilities requires special attention. Accurate and timely calibrations are performed with a tachymeter. Laser light sheet reflections are reduced using Rhodamine acrylic paint on wind tunnel models and black adhesive foils at wind tunnel walls. Very fruitful is the application of a traversing system, which enables additional time-efficient calibration procedures while only disparity corrections are necessary as well as a timely acquisition of data in multiple planes. Using these methods industrial measurements are performed with the focus on the determination of unsteady propeller phenomena. Initial measurements are performed for the investigation of a single sting propeller. Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) is applied in order to study the vortex pattern behind the propeller. Now, several planes are measured with the intent to determine the forces on the propeller using a simplified momentum method approach. It is shown that this method depends severely on the inflow boundary conditions, making such a method impracticable for engineering estimations. Nevertheless is the investigation of the vorticity distribution considerably useful in the quantification of high loading events. Additional BOS measurements show that the propeller slipstream contraction can be determined which is useful for a validation of less advanced CFD codes. PIV is then applied to propeller flow features at high lift conditions. The slipstream of a propeller on a half-model is investigated for increasing angles of attack. The root vortices from the propeller blade are shown to introduce secondary vortices in the flow field distribution over the nacelle and the wing. A numerical calculation is available which allows addressing several aspects of the level of agreement between unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes calculations and phase-locked Particle Image Velocimetry measurements. Although in general the flow field distributions are comparable there are distinct differences in the vortical regions. In particular the secondary vortices caused by the root vortices are not visible in the boundary layer in the numerical computations. A comparison of the circulation strength of the tip vortices indicates that the numerical calculations suffer from significant numerical dissipation. During the analysis of the final PIV data is was found that the symmetric phase-only filter has a detrimental effect on the peak-locking. A more detailed analysis based on synthetic images shows that the phase-only filter performs badly in regions with varying particle diameter and fluctuation free flows. An artificial introduced fluctuation field shows that it overshadows the peak-locking. The symmetric phase-only was originally introduced for PIV measurements with significant reflections. It is suggested to use this filter only if it can be shown that no peak-locking is present in the data (e.g. on a sample of the free stream flow). The final PIV measurement is performed for the investigation at propeller thrust reverse. Thrust reverse is investigated for two cases. One setting has identical blade pitch angles and the second setting has alternating blade pitch angles. It is shown that the phase-locked flow fields at both cases differ significantly, although both settings deliver the same amount on negative thrust. The lesser amount of fluctuations in the second case is supported by hot-film measurements. The alternating blade pitch angles are thus a viable option for producing negative thrust on propellers. The outlook presents PIV measurements and CFD calculations on an 'open rotor' which indicate that there is future need for PIV measurements, in order to get an understanding of the flow field behavior as well as for the validation of numerical codes.


In the present paper we study the Lie sphere geometry of Legendre surfaces by the method of moving frame and we prove an existence theorem for real-analytic Lie-minimal Legendre surfaces.


Brunei is an interesting read for scholars and public interested in the success story of Brunei's 'welfare monarchy' and adds value to the hitherto sparse literature on the public administration in petro-states. Using an 'area studies' approach, it offers rich contextual understanding to appreciate its modern institutions. Brunei is a timely reminder, to the fields of public administration and international relations, on the enduring utility of 'area studies' approach to complement the theoretical/discipline-based approach.


This study explores the interdependence of Finnish and Swedish newsprint prices. Since newsprint represents a very homogenous product, the law of one price (LOP) is assumed to hold between the Finnish and the Swedish common currency newsprint prices in the long run. The results support the LOP hypothesis, and the Swedish prices are found to be weakly exogenous, implying that the Finnish prices follow fundamentally the Swedish ones in the long run. Moreover, deviations from the LOP are found to be economically relatively small and short-lived.


Focus is a program designed as a way to bring eligible African American students to the Tech campus, and to interest them in Tech's graduate programs.


The goal of this study was to investigate whether pulmonary edema could become a specific diagnostic marker for fatal hypothermia using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy in combination with chemometrics. The spectral profile analysis indicated that hypothermia fatalities associated with pulmonary edema fluid contained more β‐sheet protein conformational structures than the control causes of death, which included sudden cardiac death, brain injury, cerebrovascular disease, mechanical asphyxiation, intoxication, and drowning. Subsequently, the results of principal component analysis (PCA) further revealed that the content of β‐sheet protein conformational structures in the pulmonary edema fluid was the main discriminatory marker between fatal hypothermia and the other causes of death. Ultimately, a robust postmortem diagnostic model for fatal hypothermia using a partial least‐squares discriminant analysis (PLS‐DA) algorithm was constructed. Pulmonary edema fluid spectra collected from eight new forensic autopsy cases that did not participate in the construction of the diagnostic model were predicted using the model. The results showed the causes of death of all these eight cases were correctly classified. In conclusion, this preliminary study demonstrates that FTIR spectroscopy in combination with chemometrics could be a promising approach for the postmortem diagnosis of fatal hypothermia.


This Research aim to to get information and data about Effort Recycle Waste Plastic In District Of Great Tenayan of Pekanbaru. got Data use the following indicator ; (1) Processing of plastic waste, (2) Area product marketing of recycle, (3) Amount of managed plastic waste, (4) Earnings of labour, (5) yielded Type product. Research type the used is descriptive, meaning research method or resolving procedure investigated depicting and defining objective situation of research at the time of now pursuant to visible facts or as it is, Arikunto ( 2006). Research Subjek is entrepreneur recycle plastic waste as especial informan and labour as additional informan. Technique data collecting pass/through observation, filling photograph and enquette. Technique analyse data which is used in research is by data discount, displayed by data, data interpretation and decision making. Result of research show processing of plastic waste done/conducted in 5 phase that is election, wash, draining, stitching and clip or matting. This matter is done/conducted product to which in recycle with quality. Marketing done/conducted directly sell goods result of recycle to society, advertisement of diinternet, and exhibition. Target of marketing area among others Pekanbaru and have to Java. Amount of waste the managed is 300 singk / month;moon. Amount of the managed waste yielded from household plastic waste. Earnings of month;moon labour at effort mean recycle of Rp. 500.000 / months.


In order to identify factors which might contribute to the premature abortion of young inflorescences of white clover Trifolium repens L. in low irradiances, a study was made of the possible role of limiting photosynthetic assimilates to the developing inflorescence. The relationship between the irradiance and distribution pattern of assimilates in the clover plant under different irradiances was determined. Besides driving the photosynthetic supply of sucrose, light seems to play an indirect role in controlling partitioning of photoassimilates. Under low irradiance, the growing tip of the shoot and roots were major sinks and negligible amounts of 14C-labelled assimilates were supplied to the inflorescence. In medium and high irradiances, the inflorescence competes for assimilates with stolon apex and roots.


The resonant layer equations governing tearing and micro-tearing modes in toroidal geometry are formulated and solved for a plasma in the banana regime and for wavelengths in the intermediate collisionality range nu e< omega *e< nu e/ epsilon . It is shown that stability of such tearing modes is determined by a competition between destabilizing trapped electron dissipation and stabilizing effects arising from ion magnetization and collisional broadening of the passing-electron Landau resonance. Analytic stability criteria are derived, but for realistic parameters these modes are predicted to be stable.


Three new compounds of formula [Pt2(SSCR)4] (R = CH3, (CH2)4CH3, cyclohexyl) have been prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction. Their crystal structures consist of one-dimensional linear chains formed by stacking of the dimetallic complexes in which the alkyl group on the dithioacetate modulates the intermetallic distances between dimetallic entities. Direct current electrical conductivity studies show that crystals of the three compounds behave as semiconductors and their conductivity values are directly connected to the intermolecular metal-to-metal distances. These experimental results are supported by density functional theory calculations.


OBJECTIVE:
To explore and confirm feasibility the T2 maps and readout-segmented echoplanar imaging (rs-EPI) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) characteristics of the thigh muscles for dermatomyositis (DM) patients.

METHODS:
This study was approved by the University Institutional Review and written informed consent was obtained from all subjects before enrollment (trial registration number: TJ-C20121221). 28 patients with DM proven by diagnostic criteria were enrolled in the study along with 9 healthy control subjects. Conventional MR, T2 maps and rs-EPI DWI were obtained for all subjects. Both of T2 and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values for thigh muscles were compared between the DM and healthy control groups. The amount of inflammation and fatty infiltration were respectively assigned a score of 0 to 5 for all thigh muscles. The Kruskal-Wallis tests were utilized and the Spearman correlation coefficients models were used to correlate both of the T2 and ADC value with non-quantitative MRI. P-values <0.05 reflected statistical significance.

RESULTS:
Both of the T2 and ADC values among all affected muscles, unaffected muscles and the control groups were respectively statistical difference (p < 0.05 respectively), the T2 value of affected muscles was greater than that of unaffected muscles in DM patients (p < 0.05). Differences of the T2 value in DM patients among the combination the edematous with fatty infiltration score groups were statistically significant (p < 0.001). The T2 value showed a significant correlation with the non-quantitative MRI score for edema and fatty infiltration.

CONCLUSIONS:
T2 maps may have a specialized ability for the detection severity of damaged muscles in comparison to the rs-EPI DWI sequence.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE:
A new application of rs-EPI DWI is proposed for DM patients. First, comparison of T2 maps and rs-EPI DWI technology are applied for DM. The results demonstrate that T2 maps may be more potential value in determining the severity of diseased muscles for DM patients.


Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the main organelle for protein synthesis, trafficking and maintaining intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis. The stress response of ER results from the disruption of ER homeostasis in neurological disorders. Among these disorders, cerebral ischemia is a prevalent reason of death and disability in the world. ER stress stemed from ischemic injury initiates unfolded protein response (UPR) regarded as a protection mechanism. Important, disruption of Ca2+ homeostasis resulted from cytosolic Ca2+ overload and depletion of Ca2+ in the lumen of the ER could be a trigger of ER stress and the misfolded protein synthesis. Brain cells including neurons, glial cells and endothelial cells are involved in the complex pathophysiology of ischemic stroke. This is generally important for protein underfolding, but even more for cytosolic Ca2+ overload. Mild ER stress promotes cells to break away from danger signals and enter the adaptive procedure with the activation of pro-survival mechanism to rescue ischemic injury, while chronic ER stress generally serves as a detrimental role on nerve cells via triggering diverse pro-apoptotic mechanism. What's more, the determination of some proteins in UPR during cerebral ischemia to cell fate may have two diametrically opposed results which involves in a specialized set of inflammatory and apoptotic signaling pathways. A reasonable understanding and exploration of the underlying molecular mechanism related to ER stress and cerebral ischemia is a prerequisite for a major breakthrough in stroke treatment in the future. This review focuses on recent findings of the ER stress as well as the progress research of mechanism in ischemic stroke prognosis provide a new treatment idea for recovery of cerebral ischemia.


Since hematopoietic stromal cells play a major role in regulating the growth and differentiation of hematopoietic cells, we have studied the effects of stromal cells on the in vitro growth of highly malignant murine RAW117-H10 lymphoma cells. These cells, when grown on a preformed layer of syngeneic Balb/c macrophage/monocyte cell line, J774A.1, stop proliferating 48 h after coculture. This stromal-cell-mediated growth regulation appears to require cell-to-cell contact between stromal cells and RAW117-H10 cells, since the J774A.1 cell supernatant did not significantly inhibit the in vitro growth of RAW117-H10 cells. Because one of the cytokines produced by the macrophages is tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, which is known to inhibit certain tumor cells, we also studied the effects of various concentrations of TNF-alpha on the in vitro growth of RAW117-H10 lymphoma cells. TNF-alpha did not significantly affect the growth of these cells in vitro. However, TNF-alpha induced significant morphologic changes in these cells similar to those seen in plasma cytoid differentiation. Thus, our results indicate that the macrophage-like stromal cells regulate the in vitro growth of malignant lymphoma cells, and that direct cell surface contact between stromal and lymphoma cells is necessary for the growth regulation, and the growth inhibition is not due to TNF-alpha secreted by the macrophages. TNF-alpha is associated with differentiation of these lymphoma cells.


Abstract Hurricane Claudette was successfully tracked for three days using the 2-s (7 m) surface wave direction field mapped by the U.S. Air Force OTH-B over-the-horizon radar 2400 km away on the coast of Maine. Inflow and fine structure of the surface circulation are apparent in streamline plots derived from surface wave direction measured with 60-km resolution in the vicinity of the storm for five radar runs. The radar-derived track is within 60 km of that published by the NOAA National Hurricane Center.


A novel parallel interference cancellation receiver for QAM modulated turbo coded uplink MC- CDMA systems has been proposed. In the receiver, the multi-stage partial soft parallel interference cancellation has been applied. The receiver employs the new adaptive minimum mean square combining, so that the system is able to adjust the equalization gain coefficients in every iterative stage adaptively. In addition, unlike some previous work that has drawbacks of the complexity, latency and error amplification resulting from the decoder in every iteration step, the soft in soft out (SISO) inverse bit mapper and simplified SISO bit mapper are used in the receiver. The partial cancellation is also implemented to further improve the receiver performance. The simulations are carried out in a realistic multi-user environment: modified 802.16 Stanford University Interim (SUI) channel model. Both analysis and simulations indicate that our proposed receiver can achieve a considerably good performance with a low complexity structure compared with traditional systems.


Two unrelated male children, aged 15 and 2 months, with congenital contractural arachnodactyly (CCA) are described. CCA is an autosomal dominant disorder of benign evolution, affects the connective tissue and its morphologic phenotype is similar to Marfan syndrome. Differential diagnosis and management are discussed.


This article describes the synthesis of poison frog alkaloids using the highly stereoselective conjugate addition reaction as the key step. First total synthesis of the alkaloid 223A has been achieved. The proposed structure for natural 223A was revised and the relative stereostructure was determined by this total synthesis. First total syntheses of tricyclic alkaloid 205B and quinolizididne 207I have been achieved, and the absolute stereochemistry of both natural products was determined by these total syntheses. Investigations of the inhibitory effects of synthetic poison frog alkaloids on neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors have also been conducted, and we found the 5, 8-disubstituted indolizidine 235B'is a promising lead compound for the drug design to treat autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (ADNFLE).


In this work, long-period waveguide grating-based tunable wavelength filters using organic–inorganic grafting poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) materials are designed and fabricated by metal-cladding directly defined technique. The thermal stabilities and optical properties of the organic–inorganic grafting PMMA core materials are analyzed. Structures and performance parameters of the waveguide gratings and self-electrode heaters are designed and simulated. The contrast of the filter is about 15 dB and the resonant wavelength can be tuned by different electric powers applied to the metal-cladding self-electrode heaters. The temperature sensitivity is 3.5 nm/°C and the switching time is about 1 ms. The technique is very suitable for realizing the optoelectronic integrated wavelength-division-multiplexing systems.


This study, dealing with cardiac and cancer surgeons' reactions to treatment failure (i.e., situations where surgeons despite their best efforts were unable to successfully treat their patients) found changes in the surgeons that bore striking resemblance to certain changes in people undergoing psychotherapy. Twenty surgeons participated. Each reported on two of his patients, all of whom had undergone surgery that failed to stem the progress of their disease. The life expectancy of these patients was approximately one year. Each surgeon saw one of his patients only until completion of the customary postoperative care and then referred him/her back to the original physician. The other patient was seen by the surgeon on a once-monthly basis even after postoperative care had been completed. While the surgeons had decided to be part of the study "for the possible good of the patients," many reported experiences of transformations in their own self-understanding. The particular elements of healing and self-understanding included a sense of self-forgiveness and acceptance, a strengthened feeling of human connectedness, an enhanced sense of meaning about what they were doing, and a sense of openness and hope for the future. Perhaps this self-transformative process and the possible mechanisms for change discussed mimic what happens in psychotherapy patients.


Cerebral blood flow (CBF) measurements were made in 75 adult patients with closed head injuries (mean Glasgow Coma Scale score 6.2) using the xenon-133 intravenous injection method with eight detectors over each hemisphere. All patients were studied acutely within 96 hours of trauma, and repeatedly observed until death or recovery (total of 361 examinations). Arteriojugular venous oxygen differences (AVDO2) were obtained in 55 of the patients, which permitted assessment of the balance between metabolism and blood flow, and provided estimates of cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen (CMRO2). Based on mean regional CBF, the patients were classified into two groups: those who exhibited hyperemia on one or more examinations, and those who had a consistently reduced flow during their acute illness. "Hyperemia" was defined as a normal or supernormal CBF in the presence of coma, a definition that was independently confirmed by narrow AVDO2's indicative of "luxury perfusion". During coma, all patients showed a significant depression in CMRO2. Forty-one patients (55%) developed an acute hyperemia with an average duration of 3 days, while 34 patients (45%) consistently had subnormal flows. Although more prevalent in younger patients, hyperemia was found at all age levels (15 to 85 years). There was a highly significant association between hyperemia and the occurrence of intracranial hypertension, defined as an intracranial pressure above 20 mm Hg. Patients with reduced flow showed little or no evidence of global cerebral ischemia, but instead revealed the expected coupling of CBF and metabolism. The CBF responses to hyperventilation were generally preserved, with the hyperemic patients being slightly more reactive. In 10 patients with reduced flow, hyperventilation resulted in wide AVDO2's suggestive of ischemia.


We study the approach to energy eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of Hamiltonian matrices with band structure from diagonalization of their truncated matrices. Making use of a generalization of Brillouin-Wigner perturbation theory, it is shown that in order to obtain approximate energy eigenvalues and eigenfunctions the sizes of truncated matrices should be larger than the nonperturbative regions of the eigenfunctions by several band width of the Hamiltonian matrix, with the nonperturbative regions being able to be estimated before the eigenfunctions are known. This prediction is checked numerically by the Wigner-band random-matrix model, which shows that 99% of eigenfunctions can be obtained when the sizes of truncated matrices are larger than those of the nonperturbative regions of the eigenfunctions by three band widths of the Hamiltonian matrix, on average.


ATP, released from the urothelium in response to bladder distension, is thought to play a significant sensory role in the control of micturition. Therefore, accurate measurement of urothelial ATP release in a physiological setting is an important first step in studying the mechanisms that control purinergic signaling in the urinary bladder. Existing techniques to study mechanically evoked urothelial ATP release utilize cultured cells plated on flexible supports or bladder tissue pinned into Ussing chambers; however, each of these techniques does not fully emulate conditions in the intact bladder. Therefore, an experimental setup was developed to directly measure ATP concentrations in the lumen of the rodent urinary bladder. In this setup, the bladders of anesthetized rodents are perfused through catheters in both the dome of the bladder and via the external urethral orifice. Pressure in the bladder is increased by capping the urethral catheter while perfusing sterile fluid into the bladder through the dome. Measurement of intravesical pressure is achieved using a pressure transducer attached to the bladder dome catheter, akin to the setup used for cystometry. Once the desired pressure is reached, the urethral catheter's cap is removed, and fluid collected for ATP quantification by luciferin-luciferase assay. Through this experimental setup, the mechanisms controlling both mechanical and chemical stimulation of urothelial ATP release can be interrogated by including various agonists or antagonists into the perfusate or by comparing results between wildtype and genetically modified animals.


Mandela's Ego (2006), Nkosi says, developed from a fantastical ideal, which is, of course, why it is a novel, in a certain sense of the word anyway. It can be seen against what Lewis Nkosi has said about writing by black South Africans in English, namely, that ... its [writing by black South Africans in English] formal insufficiencies, its disappointing breadline asceticism and prim disapproval of irony, and its well-known predilection for what Lukacs called 'petty realism, the trivially detailed painting of local colour' ... can be seen to be a result, in part, of a claustrophobia related to ... internal colonialism from which, it is hoped, a post-apartheid condition will set it free (1998:77).Whereas this line of inquiry into black South African writing in English has become all too familiar, albeit its credentials remain contested, what is a more urgent question today is whether the hope of the freedom to experiment (with irony and fantastical tales, for instance) post-apartheid has been realised in the recent literature by black South African writers, including Nkosi's Mandela's Ego as a case in point.


Patients with haemophilia A who have similar FVIII levels show clinical heterogeneity, and 10–15% of patients with severe haemophilia do not have a severe bleeding phenotype. The aim of this study was to assess whether global haemostasis tests, such as thrombin generation assay (TGA) and thromboelastography (TEG), can predict the bleeding pattern of severe haemophilia better than trough levels and pharmacokinetic profiles, particularly in the prophylactic setting. The study group consisted of 39 patients with haemophilia A and 75 healthy controls. The annual bleeding rate (ABR) and Hemophilia Joint Health Score 2.1 (HJHS) of the patients were determined. Basal factor FVIII, inhibitor levels, TEG and TGA of participants with prophylaxis were performed after a washout period. Then, a recombinant FVIII product was administered to patients. After factor replacement, the above tests were repeated at 30 min, 6 and 48 h. There was a significant difference in the ABR and HJHS between the groups according to the basal factor VIII activity of patients after wash-out. TEG and TGA parameters of patients with factor activity above 1% were significantly better than those of patients with factor activity below 1%. After factor concentrate administration, factor activities, TEG and TGA parameters at 30 min, 6 and 48 h were similar in the two groups. We showed that the 1% trough level but not for the 3% trough level is critical for both clinical phenotypes and thrombin generation for haemophilia patients in the prophylactic setting.


The aim of this study was to clarify the influences of extraction methods and ethanolconcentrations of precipitation on the extraction ratios, components and antioxidant activities ofpolysaccharides from Palmaria palmate. Based on the DPPH/hydroxyl radicals scavenging tests, the order of antioxidant activities of extracts was A75 (microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) with 75% ethanol precipitation) > A0 (MAE without precipitation) > B75 (hot reflux extraction (HRE) with 75% ethanol precipitation) > B0 (HRE without precipitation). A75 was purified by anion-exchange chromatography and three fractions (F1 to F3) were obtained, and their antioxidant activities decreased in the order: F3 > F2 > F1. But F4 (the lyophilized supernatant of 75% ethanol precipitation of A0) showed the strongest activities among the crude polysaccharides and their fractions. The weaker activities of B0 than A0 (purity was50.97 ± 0.86% and the content of F3 was 23.21 ± 0.88%) was due to the coactions of lowerpurity (39.55 ± 0.70%), total lack of F3, and the stronger activity of A75 was owed to the higherpurity (60.31 ± 1.42%). The results indicated that MAE with ethanol precipitation possessed higher selectivity for polysaccharides from P. palmate than HRE and it was necessary to attach importance to study the bioactivities of minor components.

 Key words: Palmaria palmata, polysaccharides, microwave-assisted extraction, heat-reflux extraction, ethanol precipitation, antioxidant activity.


The origin of the Internet is credited to the United States Department of Defense7,26, which developed ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network) in the 1960s to allow researchers across the country to collaborate reliably with use of linked supercomputers in the event of a nuclear war or another emergency. Stanford University, the University of California at Santa Barbara, the University of Utah, and the University of California at Los Angeles were the first four universities to be connected to ARPANET, by means of telephone lines, in 1969. By 1971, twenty-three institutions were participating. In 1973, the first international connections were made. The first Usenet was founded in 1979, by students at the University of North Carolina and Duke University, as an electronic forum for discussing various topics. The term Internet was coined in 1981.

In response to the growing body of relatively unorganized electronic information, the University of Minnesota released Gopher, the first software program for using the Internet, in 1991. Many educational institutions used Gopher to send and retrieve electronic data and communications. Information that was shared with use of Gopher was restricted to text and was presented to the user in a menu format. There were no images or multimedia capabilities. That same year, Tim Berners-Lee, working at the European Council for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Switzerland, developed the World Wide Web, which allowed computers to work together to transfer information more readily. He was able to improve communication between computers by standardizing the program language (hypertext markup language [HTML]) that they used and the way that files were created and stored (with use of hypertext transport protocol [HTTP]). The Web allows the use of software, termed Web browsers, to communicate with Web servers, which are the computers that house the information. The important …


PURPOSE. To improve the effectiveness of primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) treatment in the initial stage in patients with hyperopia.MATERIAL AND METHODS. The study observed 18 patients (36 eyes) with the initial stage of PACG who also had low (8 subjects, 16 eyes) or moderate (10 subjects, 20 eyes) hyperopia. Study patients were divided into two groups: the main group — 12 patients (24 eyes) aged 43–67 years (mean age 55.6±1.1 years); the control group — 6 patients (12 eyes) aged 48–60 years (mean age 56.4±2.4 years). Prescribed treatment in the main group: selection and application of universal progressive correction, then laser iridecotomy (LIE) and management without pilocarpine instillations. Prescribed treatment in the control group: selection and application of monofocal correction for near vision, then LIE and instillations of 1% pilocarpine solution 3 times a day. All patients underwent visometry with correction, refractometry, ophthalmoscopy, tonometry, tonography, gonio-scopy, optical coherence tomography of the anterior eye segment, ultrasound biometry. Indicators of hydrodynamics and parameters of the anterior chamber were recorded before using spectacles correction, after the start of correction, after LIE, and 1 month after the start of all therapeutic measures.RESULTS. The use of progressive spectacle correction led to a significant decrease of true intraocular pressure (IOP) (p<0.001), an improvement of aqueous humor outflow (p<0.05) and an increase in the size of anterior chamber angle (p<0.001). Performing LIE in patients of the main group did not significantly change these indicators. The results obtained in this group made it possible to abandon the use of pilocarpine. In patients of the control group, the improvement in aqueous humor outflow (p<0.001) and increase in the size of anterior chamber angle (p<0.002) were more significant after LIE than after prescription of adequate monofocal correction for near vision (p<0.02–0.05 and p<0.2, respectively).CONCLUSION. The use of progressive spectacle correction in patients with hyperopia and initial stage of PACG before LIE leads to normalization of hydrodynamic parameters and an increase in the magnitude of anterior chamber angle without the use of miotic drugs. Prescription of progressive spectacle correction is advisable in these patients as a part of the complex of therapeutic measures aimed at normalizing ocular hydrodynamics.


A model MDS-2002A microwave digestion sample preparation system with auto control pressure in obturation was developed for the determination of microelements in clearing-up plant's ash and environment soil sample by ICP-AES. The authors discussed sample preparation result influenced by mixed acid system, scale of mixed acid dispensation, proportion between solid and liquid and time of microwave clearing. Excellent project was A2B1C2, work procedure 2 in microwave process. When the dispensation scale was 6 : 2 : 1 : 1 and mixed acid system was HNO3-HCl-HF-HClO4, the result was the best in 10 min of microwave clearing at highest power. The reagent was dried at constant temperature electric heating board, with its salinity being dissolved by aqua fortis. The method was validated through the soil (GBW07401) and plant (GBW07603) for national standard matter. The relative error of its result is between 0.00% and 7.14%, and the relative standard deviation is between 0.87% and 5.25%. The method is quick, handy, saving reagent and completely digesting in dealing with plant's ash and soil sample, and the accuracy and precision of results are satisfying.


Recent events have convincingly shown that public opinion is very sensitive to possible unfair use of the patent system in the field of genetic inventions. Witness the strong reactions evoked by the grant of three patents covering the breast cancer gene, its mutations and the diagnostic and therapeutic applications based on the gene's sequence by the European Patent Organization and by the restrictive license policy of the patent holder Myriad Genetics.The first part of this paper will analyze the objections which have been put forward against the patenting of biological material over the years. Initially, objections to deny biological material patent protection mainly related to the specific nature of living organisms, the lack of novelty, inventive step or industrial applicability, the impossibility of description and the non-reproducibility of the method of making. However, in recent years, new objections have been raised against bio-patents and a clash between patents and social and ethical concerns appears to have materialized.The second part will examine measures and tools which might help to remove the public reserve with regard to the current use of bio-patents. Instruments that will be examined are the toughening of patent standards, the implementation of an origin and informed consent requirement, a renewed look at the scope of protection, the monitoring of patent proprietor's licensing practices and the creation of patent pools and of compulsory licences for public health. We claim that such tools, either internal or external to patent law, should be used in order to reduce the negative social impact and to restore trust in the patent system.


1. Saccular microphonic potentials in cod ( Gadus morhua ) were recorded by means of implanted electrodes during sound stimulation with different swimbladder volumes. To obtain acceptable acoustic conditions, the experiments were conducted at 6 m depth in the sea. 2. Swimbladder volume had no effect on the microphonic potentials at 100 Hz, whereas its effect was marked at higher frequencies. The sound pressure necessary to evoke microphonic potentials just above the electric background noise was about 20 dB higher for the empty bladder, compared to the full bladder at 300 Hz. 3. The microphonic potentials are ultimately linked to excitation of eighth-nerve fibres, and it is concluded that the existence of gas in the cod swimbladder has a positive effect on hearing sensitivity for all frequencies from a lower transient frequency to the upper frequency limit of hearing. Gas in the swimbladder will furthermore extend the audible frequency range. 4. The upper frequency limit for the saccular microphonic potentials is in good agreement with the upper audible frequency limit determined from behavioural audiograms for cod, thus indicating that this frequency cut-off may be due to inadequacy of the peripheral auditory apparatus.


Well-designed games are good motivators by nature, as they imbue players with clear goals and a sense of reward and fulfillment, thus encouraging them to persist and endure in their quests. Recently, this motivational power has started to be applied to non-game contexts, a practice known as Gamification. This adds gaming elements to non-game processes, motivating users to adopt new behaviors, such as improving their physical condition, working more, or learning something new. This paper describes an experiment in which game-like elements were used to improve the delivery of a Master's level College course, including scoring, levels, leaderboards, challenges and badges. To assess how gamification impacted the learning experience, we compare the gamified course to its non-gamified version from the previous year, using different performance measures. We also assessed student satisfaction as compared to other regular courses in the same academic context. Results were very encouraging, showing significant increases ranging from lecture attendance to online participation, proactive behaviors and perusing the course reference materials. Moreover, students considered the gamified instance to be more motivating, interesting and easier to learn as compared to other courses. We finalize by discussing the implications of these results on the design of future gamified learning experiences. Keywords—Gamification; Education; Student participation; Classroom learning; Evaluation


Holographic three-dimensional television systems provide a natural 3D visualization. Fast calculation of the diffraction field from a three-dimensional object is essential to achieve video rate. In the literature, there are myriads of fast algorithms for diffraction field calculation from three-dimensional objects, but most of them omit the pixelated structure of the dynamic display devices which are used in the reconstruction process. In this chapter, the look-up table-based fast algorithm for diffraction field calculation from a three-dimensional object for a pixelated dynamic display device is presented. Real-time diffraction field calculations are obtained by running the algorithm in parallel on a graphical processing unit. Performance of the algorithm is evaluated in terms of computation time of the diffraction field and the normalized mean square error on the reconstructed object. To have optimization on the required memory space for the look-up table, two different sampling policies along the longitudinal axis are implemented. Uniform sampling policy along the longitudinal axis provides better error performance than nonuniform sampling policy. Furthermore, optical experiments are performed, and it is observed that both numerical and optical reconstructions are similar to each other. Hence, the proposed method provides successful results.


The incidence of caliceal diverticula, mostly found on routine excretory urography, is very low. The indications for treatment include chronic or recurrent pyelonephritis, pain, gross hematuria and renal damage. There is controversy as to which treatment is best: extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL), percutaneous techniques, or traditional open surgery. Since 1984, 27 patients with 28 caliceal diverticula calculi have been treated. Ten patients underwent ESWL, 13 patients percutaneous treatment, and 4 patients open surgery. The success rates as far as a stone-free status is concerned were: 1 patient (ESWL), 10 (percutaneous), and 4 (open surgery). There were no complications due to ESWL or open surgical treatment. Direct traumata such as severe bleeding in two and hydrothorax in one patient occurred during the training phase of the percutaneous techniques. Due to the low complication rate, non-invasive ESWL treatment should be tried first. The indications for percutaneous removal of calculi in caliceal diverticula depend on two aspects: it should be possible to puncture the caliceal diverticula via by a short parenchymal route coaxial to the axis of the calix and, if the intercostal approach is used, a pleural lesion must be excluded. If these requirements cannot be fulfilled, open surgical treatment should be performed, especially if the diverticula are located in the upper and anterior part of the kidney.


In order to validate the grid erosion evaluation code for the lifetime validation of ion thrusters, the electron number density/temperature in the vicinity of a screen gird in a 30 W class microwave discharge ion thruster were measured by means of laser Thomson scattering (LTS) technique. A photon counting method and a triple grating spectrometer were used against a small Thomson scattering signal and a strong stray laser light. Observed Thomson scattering spectrum tells that the electron energy distribution function was Maxwellian. From this spectrum and the Rayleigh scattering calibration using nitrogen gas, electron number density and electron temperature were calculated to be (3.8±0.2)×10 m and 6.2±0.1 eV, respectively at incident microwave power of 8 W and krypton mass flow rate of 6.2 μg/s. The ion saturation currents estimated from the LTS measurement are in good agreement with ion beam currents through the screen grid for several conditions. These results show that LTS technique is a useful non-intrusive tool for measuring plasma property in the vicinity of the screen grid.


This study aims to know of understanding of authoritative parenting style and affected the children behaviour while using a gadget. This is qualitative with data collection from an interview, observation, and document. Analysis of the data used by Miles and Huberman. The subject is parent's and their children lived at Yogyakarta. This result is the parents with authoritative parenting can classify, analyze, comparing, and evaluate their parenting style. With those understanding gives the effect on children when the children used gadget at home such as show discipline and follow the parent's rules; the children have critical thinking and independent using the gadget. Even though authoritative parenting identical with gives freedom, they have to give limit time for children to use a gadget, 6 - 7 hours in a week. Another recommendation does not give the children a gadget even though a gadget is one of the basic need for communication.


Abstract. To date, long short-term memory (LSTM) networks have been successfully applied to a key problem in hydrology: the prediction of runoff. Unlike
traditional conceptual models, LSTM models are built on concepts that avoid the need for our knowledge of hydrology to be formally encoded into the
model. The question, then, is how we can still make use of our domain knowledge and traditional practices, not to build the LSTM models themselves, as we do for conceptual models, but to use them more effectively. In the present paper, we adopt this approach, investigating how we can use information concerning the hydrologic characteristics of catchments for LSTM runoff models. In this first application of LSTM in a French context, we use 361 gauged catchments with very diverse hydrologic conditions from across France. The catchments have long time series of at least 30 years. Our main directions for investigation include (a) the relationship between LSTM performance and the length of the LSTM input sequence within different hydrologic regimes, (b) the importance of the hydrologic homogeneity of catchments when training LSTMs on a group of catchments, and (c) the interconnected influence of the local tuning of the two important LSTM hyperparameters, namely the length of the input sequence and the hidden unit size, on the performance of group-trained LSTMs. We present a classification built on three indices taken from the runoff, precipitation, and temperature regimes. We use this classification as our measure of homogeneity: catchments within the same regime are assumed to be hydrologically homogeneous. We train LSTMs on individual catchments (local-level training), on catchments within the same regime (regime-level training), and on the entire sample (national-level training). We benchmark local LSTMs using the GR4J conceptual model, which is able to represent the water gains/losses in a catchment. We show that LSTM performance has the highest sensitivity to the length of the input sequence in the Uniform and Nival regimes, where the dominant hydrologic process of the regime has clear long-term dynamics; thus, long input sequences should be chosen in these cases. In other regimes, this level of sensitivity is not found. Moreover, in some regimes, almost no sensitivity is observed. Therefore, the size of the input sequence in these regimes does not need to be large. Overall, our homogeneous regime-level training slightly outperforms our heterogeneous national-level training. This shows that the same level of data adequacy with respect to the complexity of representation(s) to be learned is achieved in both levels of training. We do not, however, exclude a potential role of the regime-informed property of our national LSTMs, which use previous classification variables as static attributes. Last but not least, we demonstrate that the local selection of the two important LSTM hyperparameters (the length of the input sequence and the hidden unit size) combined with national-level training can lead to the best runoff prediction performance.


This paper is concerned with H∞ filter design for a class of networked control systems (NCSs) with multiple state-delays via Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy model. The transfer delays and packet loss which are induced by the limited bandwidth of communication networks, are considered. The focus of this paper is on the analysis and design of a full-order H∞ filter such that the filtering error dynamics is stochastically stable and a prescribed H∞ attenuation level is guaranteed. Sufficient conditions are established for the existence of the desired filter in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). An example is given to illustrate the effectiveness and applicability of the proposed design method.


Deep learning has been successful at predicting epigenomic profiles from DNA sequences. Most approaches frame this task as a binary classification relying on peak callers to define functional activity. Recently, quantitative models have emerged to directly predict the experimental coverage values as a regression. As new models continue to emerge with different architectures and training configurations, a major bottleneck is forming due to the lack of ability to fairly assess the novelty of proposed models and their utility for downstream biological discovery. Here we introduce a unified evaluation framework and use it to compare various binary and quantitative models trained to predict chromatin accessibility data. We highlight various modeling choices that affect generalization performance, including a downstream application of predicting variant effects. In addition, we introduce a robustness metric that can be used to enhance model selection and improve variant effect predictions. Our empirical study largely supports that quantitative modeling of epigenomic profiles leads to better generalizability and interpretability.


Abstract : This document lists and describes research the authors judged necessary to determine the optimal design and use of Army flight training simulators. Two major lines of research are described; the first addresses the design fidelity issue. Specifically, research is described that is judged necessary to determine the most cost- and training-effective level of fidelity for four simulator components: the visual system, the motion systems, the math models that determine the handling qualities of the flight simulator, and the cockpit displays and controls. The purpose of the second line of research is to determine how best to use production simulators that have been or are soon to be acquired by the Army. This line of research focuses primarily on the use of production simulators for field unit aviators who have completed institutional training and have been assigned to an operational field unit. However, the second line of research addresses some issues associated with the use of flight simulators for institutional training at the U.S. Army Aviation Center received before the aviator's first assignment to an operational unit. Keywords: Army flight simulator research requirements, Helicopter pilot training, Transfer of training, Backward transfer, Training device, Training effectiveness assessment.


Waveform modeling in the time domain matches the various frequency components of seismic signals unevenly; the agreement is better at low frequencies and becomes progressively worse towards higher frequencies. The net effect of this kind of time-domain modeling is that the resolution in the spatial details of the source is less than optimal since the high-frequency components of the signal with their short wavelengths to resolve finer details do not fit the data. These problems are demonstrated by numerical simulations and by the reanalysis of some aspects of the El Golfo earthquake in using a new seismic imaging technique based on a generalization of an f-k algorithm. This procedure computes a statistic that can be used to derive confidence limits of the parameters sought in the inversion, thus providing a quantitative measure of the uncertainties in the results.


Restoration technology has different characteristics from mechanical, chemical, and industrial technologies. In fact, it concerns objects recognised as cultural heritage as evidence of historical, cultural, aesthetic values, which the intervention has to preserve. The observation of the damages caused by wrong restoration interventions has led to the formulation of guidelines to limit the risks of such interventions. One of the basic principles of these guidelines is reversibility: since degradation is an inevitable process, construction works will likely require restoration and functional adaptation over time. The historical timber floor is the technology system that embodies and tells the history of a building in a more reliable way: it is the most evident testimony of the technological-cultural-economic characteristics that have conditioned the design and construction of a given building in history.
In accordance with the need to preserve these historical testimonies, the study aimed to develop an innovative method for the quantitative evaluation of reversibility in the restoration and static consolidation of timber floors. The method aims to evaluate the most reversible intervention, i.e., more sustainable in terms of future revision and modification.


The paper deals with the thermal expansion of pistons for refrigeration compressors, that were in the past of gray cast iron, but presently are made of sintered steel.. The design must ensure the compatibility of components thermal expansion to obtain correct gap between piston and cylinder, both for performance and reliability reasons. Sintered steel parts have a broad range of porosity distribution, according to the pressure distribution during the powder pressing. The overall elastic and thermal properties of the sintered piston were estimated by combining the properties of each constituent (ferrite, pearlite, void, magnetite). The local constituent volume fraction was measured by quantitative metallographic analysis. To predict steady-state thermal dilatations, the thermo-mechanical modeling was carried out by a simplified coupling between structure and thermal-fluid, using overall heat transfer coefficients estimated at average temperature and velocity conditions.


The effect of surface remelting treatment on the microstructure and corrosion resistance of the AZ91 magnesium alloy was studied. The surface layer was remelted by GTAW (gas tungsten arc welding). An original two-burner system with welding torches operating in a tandem configuration was used, allowing the combination of cleaning the surface from oxides with the remelting process. The studies of the corrosion resistance of the alloy included electrochemical tests and measurements of the rate of hydrogen evolution. The results showed that surface remelting treatment leads to favorable microstructural changes, manifested in strong grain refinement and a more uniform arrangement of the β-Mg17Al12 phase. The changes in the microstructure caused by remelting and the accompanying fast crystallization contributed to an increase in the corrosion resistance of the remelted samples in comparison to their non-remelted equivalents. The results obtained on the basis of the polarization curves showed three-fold lower values of the corrosion current density in the case of the remelted material than the value of the corrosion current density determined for the starting material. In turn, in the case of measurements of the electrochemical noise and corrosion rate determined by the method of measuring the rate of hydrogen evolution, this value for the remelted alloy was two times lower. The research also showed that GTAW technology is highly effective and can be a valuable alternative to laser techniques. The complete experimental details, obtained results and their analyses are presented in this paper.


Thin films of La{sub 1{minus}x}Sr{sub x}MnO{sub 3} (x = 0.4) were fabricated using pulsed laser deposition (PLD) methods. The surface morphology of the films was sensitively affected by oxygen pressure during deposition. At high oxygen pressure ({approximately} 150 mTorr), randomly aligned grains were nucleated on the epitaxial film. When the pressure was reduced to 100 mTorr, the epitaxial film had very smooth surface. Under this condition, the thickness dependence of resistivity and magnetization were analyzed. Even 6 nm thick film showed ferromagnetic metallic behavior. The AFM images of ultra thin films deposited on wet-etched SrTiO{sub 3} showed atomically flat terraces and 0.4 nm steps. The film growth mode can be tuned to either layer by layer or step flow by the deposition temperature.


In a world where financially valuable assets are increasingly being stored in digital form, questions arise as to the legal categorisation of such assets. The question of whether crypto-assets can constitute property has been the subject of some recent litigation and thus legal analysis. If the answer to such question is in the affirmative, as the recent Cryptopia case suggests, this raises a plethora of further questions that need to be resolved by the courts before investors, regulators and accountants alike can approach digital assets with a sufficient degree of legal certainty. One such question, on which this paper focuses, concerns the relationship between a crypto-asset intermediary (such as a crypto-asset stock exchange or custodian), and its clients that store crypto-currencies or crypto-securities ('clients').

This question is of practical importance because the vast majority of crypto-assets are kept by intermediaries, yet we simply do not know with any reasonable certainty the basis on which these assets are being held. Most agreements between clients and intermediaries are extremely vague, and are silent as to the legal relationship between the parties. Yet, since common law courts will have to determine the legal category into which the agreement falls, they should be guided by a consistent set of principles that allow them to characterise agreements with a degree of certainty and practical justice that is acceptable to commercial parties. This is essential for the determination of clients' entitlements on the intermediary's insolvency, a question of high public policy importance which has arisen frequently in recent litigation. In addition, as crypto-assets are (at least at present) not subject to extensive regulation, intermediaries of such assets will not be constrained by many regulatory requirements in relation to investor protection. The determination of the precise legal relationship between the parties, therefore, becomes of even greater public policy importance. This paper addresses the situation where the applicable law to the question of the proprietary characterisation of the client-intermediary relationship is the common law.

This paper argues that the most likely (default) relationship between a crypto-asset intermediary and a client is one of trustee and beneficiary, although there are also other possible legal characterisations, namely outright title transfer, 'quasi-bailment', and mere obligations sounding in contract. Ultimately, in a particular case, the legal characterisation of the relationship, as well as the precise obligations undertaken by the intermediary, will depend on the client-intermediary agreement itself. In many cases it is difficult to determine whether a particular client-intermediary agreement gives rise to one type of legal relationship or another, but all turns on the interpretation of the agreement in accordance with settled principles of construction and characterisation. Furthermore, it is uncertain whether the law will develop in a way such that bailment analysis will be accepted in the context of crypto-assets, for the objections relating to possession, transmission and (possibly) exclusivity would need to be surmounted before the concept can be applied. In the final analysis, it is concluded that the most likely type of legal relationship that would appear in practice is the trust, because this accords with the objective intention of the parties who wish to have commercial certainty, and (possibly) wish to comply with the relevant regulatory requirements within the particular jurisdiction in question.


The significant increase in the prevalence of obesity has led to an increase in the number of obese women who become pregnant. In this setting, in recent years, there has been an exponential rise in the number of bariatric procedures, with approximately half of them performed in women of childbearing age, and a remarkable surge in the number of women who become pregnant after having undergone bariatric surgery (BS). These procedures entail the risk of nutritional deficiencies, and nutrition is a crucial aspect during pregnancy. Therefore, knowledge and awareness of the consequences of these techniques on maternal and fetal outcomes is essential. Current evidence suggests a better overall obstetric outcome after BS, in comparison to morbid obese women managed conservatively, with a reduction in the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus, pregnancy-associated hypertensive disorders, macrosomia, and congenital defects. However, the risk of potential maternal nutritional deficiencies and newborns small for gestational age cannot be overlooked. Results concerning the incidence of preterm delivery and the number of C-sections are less consistent. In this paper, we review the updated evidence regarding the impact of BS on pregnancy.


This paper focuses on simulation analysis of Maximum Power Point Tracking Algorithm (MPPT) for small scale Wind Energy Conversion System (WECS) and Solar Photovoltaic (SP) module for power generation. The existing MPPT algorithms for WECS use DC current as the perturbing variable whereas change in wind speed is detected with the help of change in dc voltage. While in case of Solar (PV) maximum power is tracked by DC power taking voltage as a perturbing variable. The algorithms have implemented in PSIM ® 9.1.4 software. The performance of the algorithm is found to be satisfactory for power generation application as the MPPT efficiency obtained is of the order of 80% and 98.32% for wind and solar respectively.


The subject of this research is mining data stream. It is one of the most challenging and widely researched areas in Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining (KDD). A data stream is a continuous, voluminous, and unpredictable flow of data which occurs in many application domains. In a previous study, Data Stream Mining (DSM) algorithm was proposed to overcome these problems on association rules mining. It was built using various techniques such as closed frequent itemsets, tree data structures, itemsets pruning, and statistical sampling. We have developed Near Closed Nodes algorithms, which can be applied to algorithms for mining association rules that utilised closed itemsets structure. In this study, we look into the characteristics of closed frequent itemsets and propose a novel concept called Near Closed Nodes (NCN). This concept was thoroughly explored and later developed in conjunction with an existing DSM algorithm. By incorporating NCN into the DSM algorithm, we were able to increase the performance of both speed and memory usage. A comprehensive experimental study was performed to compare the performance of DSM and DSM-NCN using both simulated and real world datasets. Based on the results from the experimental study, we concluded that DSM-NCN outperformed DSM in most circumstances, especially when the datasets were dense.


The aim of this paper is to show the application of videography in communication research.
Having overcomed the debates on the epistemic weakness of audiovisual anthropology,
we can adopt these tools characterized by the diversity of formats and supports for social
research. For the study of non-fiction audiovisual production, interdisciplinarity allows flexible
work based on the interrelation of elements of the various disciplines involved. We propose a
methodological model composed of visual analysis, interview and videography for the study of
audiovisual documentary. We have applied the method to a sample of documentaries and to
three case studies of documentary productions in different formats. The expanded or immersive
nature of the documentaries we analyse have led us to create specific categories of analysis for
these new formats. Complementary we have introduced the 360o video in one of our case studies
to know its possibilities. Among the results obtained we highlight the creation of a visual, textual
and audiovisual material that provides us with information for the study of the documentary. The
article fournishes a comparison between video formats and a theoretical reflection around the
researcher's gaze and the self-referential nature of research that shares the audiovisual simultaneously
as an object and method.


This paper presents a multimodal fuzzy inference system for emotion detection. The system extracts and merges visual, acoustic and context relevant features. The experiments have been performed as part of the AVEC 2012 challenge. Facial expressions play an important role in emotion detection. However, having an automatic system to detect facial emotional expressions on unknown subjects is still a challenging problem. Here, we propose a method that adapts to the morphology of the subject and that is based on an invariant representation of facial expressions. Our method relies on 8 key expressions of emotions of the subject. In our system, each image of a video sequence is defined by its relative position to these 8 expressions. These 8 expressions are synthesized for each subject from plausible distortions learnt on other subjects and transferred on the neutral face of the subject. Expression recognition in a video sequence is performed in this space with a basic intensity-area detector. The emotion is described in the 4 dimensions: valence, arousal, power and expectancy. The results show that the duration of high intensity smile is an expression that is meaningful for continuous valence detection and can also be used to improve arousal detection. The main variations in power and expectancy are given by context data.


Introduction Human factors, such as teamwork and communication, have an important impact on patient safety in hospitals. Hospitals have a patient safety problem, with more than every 10th patient experiencing errors and adverse events during their hospital stay. Root cause analysis have showed that ineffective teamwork and communication failures are the most common causes of errors and adverse events. To improve patient safety in hospital units, healthcare professionals needs competency in teamwork, such as communication, decision making, leadership, situational monitoring and mutual support. Interprofessional team training is a key strategy for improving teamwork and patient safety in hospital units. Previous research on interprofessional team training in specialty units has showed promising results; however, the impact on surgical wards is uncertain. The Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety (TeamSTEPPS) program had not been implemented in Norway. Team decisionmaking has not yet been studied previously among multiple healthcare professionals across diverse hospital units. Aim The overall aim of the thesis is to gain knowledge about teamwork in hospital units and to evaluate and explore the impact of an interprofessional team training intervention regarding teamwork and patient safety culture in a surgical ward. The specific aims of the sub-studies are as follows: 1) To translate the CSACD-T questionnaire into Norwegian and test it for psychometry properties. The further aim is to describe and compare healthcare personnel's perceptions of collaboration and satisfaction about team decision-making across hospital units (Study I, paper 1). 2) To evaluate the professional and organizational outcomes of an interprofessional teamwork intervention among healthcare professionals in a surgical ward after 6 and 12 months (Study II, paper 2). 3) To explore if an interprofessional teamwork intervention in a surgical ward changes the healthcare personnel's perceptions of patient safety culture, perceptions of teamwork, and attitudes toward teamwork over 12 months (Study II, paper 3). Methods Study I (paper 1) had a cross-sectional design. The Collaboration and Satisfaction About Care Decisions in teams (CSACD-T) questionnaire was used for the survey conducted among healthcare professionals across multiple hospital units (hospital A and B). Study II (paper 2) used a pre-post design with re-measurement (hospital C), with surveys (CSACD-T, TeamSTEPPS Teamwork Perceptions Questionnaire (T-TPQ), and Hospital Survey of Patient Safety Culture (HSOPS)) distributed to healthcare professionals in the intervention ward at baseline and after 6 and 12 months. Study II (paper 3) used a controlled quasi-experimental design, with surveys (CSACD-T, T-TPQ, HSOPS, and TeamSTEPPS Teamwork Attitude Questionnaire (T-TAQ)) distributed to all healthcare professionals in the intervention ward and control ward (hospitals C and D) at baseline and after 12 months. The intervention was a 6-hour TeamSTEPPS interprofessional team training included simulation training, followed by implementation of teamwork tools and strategies in the ward over 12 months (hospital C). The implementation followed Kotter's eight steps for leading change. The human factors systems engineering initiative for patient safety (SEIPS) model was used as a theoretical perspective. Results The CSACD-T questionnaire showed promising psychometric properties in terms of construct validity and internal consistency. The scores of collaboration and satisfaction with care decisions in teams varied among unit types and were highest among the healthcare professionals in the wards, with a significant difference between the maternity ward and emergency room (paper I). The outcomes from the intervention study showed significant changes in organizational outcomes after six months, and were in the following areas of patient safety culture: "Organizational Learning and Continuous Improvement" and "Communication Openness" (paper 2). After 12 months, significant changes were found in professional outcomes within the intervention ward, which were in three perceptions of teamwork dimensions: "Situation Monitoring," "Mutual Support," and "Communication", in addition to organizational outcomes, which were in three patient safety culture dimensions: "Communication Openness," "Teamwork Within Unit," and "Manager's Expectations & Actions Promoting Patient Safety" (papers 2 and 3). The improved teamwork dimension "Mutual Support" was found to be a predictor of "Patient Safety Grade" (paper 2). The controlled results revealed significant differences favoring the intervention ward in three patient safety culture measures: "Teamwork Within Unit," "Overall Perceptions of Patient Safety" and "Patient Safety Grade" (paper 3). Conclusion This thesis presents new insights into team decision-making in diverse hospital units, as reported by healthcare professionals from multiple healthcare professions. The thesis also presents new insights into the impact of an interprofessional TeamSTEPPS intervention in a surgical ward in Norway. The outcomes are promising, indicating that TeamSTEPPS intervention improves teamwork and patient safety culture in a surgical ward. The causal relationships among inputs, processes, and outcomes are, however, not certain, and further studies are required to confirm the outcomes of this comprehensive and well-described interprofessional team-training intervention. Nevertheless, the knowledge from this thesis adds to the vast field of teamwork and patient safety research internationally.


Alcoholic and water extracts of the stem and root of Blumea eriantha DC were prepared and evaluated for in-vitro antioxidant activity by methods like total reducing power, scavenging of us free radicals like as 1,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), super oxide, nitric oxide, and hydrogen peroxide. The percentage scavenging effect of free radicals was compared with standard antioxidants like ascorbic acid and Butylated- hydroxyl anisole (BHA). Different extracts were also tested for anti-hyperlipidemic activity in triton WR-1339 (iso-octyl polyoxyethylene phenol)-induced hyperlipidemia in albino rats by determination of serum triglyceride like VLDL, LDL, HDL levels. Significant antioxidant activity was estimated in different methods, (p<0.01) for reducing power and (p<0.001) for scavenging DPPH, super oxide, nitric oxide, and hydrogen peroxide radicals. The different extracts having significant reduction (p<0.01) in cholesterol at 6 and 24 h and (p<0.05) at 48 h. There was significant reduction (p<0.01) in triglyceride level at 6, 24 and 48 h. There was significant increase (p<0.01) in HDL at 6, 24 and 48 h. From the VLDL was also significantly (p<0.05) reduced from 24 h and maximum reduction (p<0.01) results, it is clear that alcoholic and water extracts of Blumea eriantha DC can remarkably decrease plasma cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL, and VLDL and increase plasma HDL levels. In addition, the alcoholic and aqueous extracts have shown significant antioxidant activity.


To the Editor.— Progressively, over the last few decades, advances in medicine have increased the life expectancy and potential of persons with all varieties of disability. Simultaneously there has been a development of social consciousness and awareness that is spreading over our shrinking planet. The status of the handicapped person must be seen in the overall context of the developing awareness of ourselves as fellow voyagers in the same craft. I believe that they are the same general forces that have produced the development of the third world, an appreciation of the importance of preserving our ecology, and the awesome need to truly appreciate the brotherhood of man that has culminated in our area of interest in the proclamation by the United Nations designating 1981 as the International Year of Disabled Persons. The stated mission of the US Council for the International Year of Disabled Persons is to promote "the