Electromyographic activity of the sphincter of Oddi was recorded by means of bipolar suction electrodes applied to the rabbit, in which the sphincter of Oddi is easily identifiable and independent of the duodenal musculature. Seventy animals were investigated (20 in vitro and 50 in vivo). The bile duct was catheterized so that the pressure could be recorded. The sphincteric traces show basal activity consisting of bursts of 1-8 spike potentials which recur every 3-5 seconds on average and are accompanied by a transient rise in biliary pressure. The patterns are different from those recorded for the duodenum, the activity of which does not affect biliary pressure. On the basis of these findings, it can be asserted that the sphincter of Oddi plays a part in biliary flow apart from any duodenal muscular action. This method has made it possible to study the behavior of the sphincter of Oddi under the influence of certain physical agents or drugs. Within certain limits, the frequency and amplitude of the spike potentials increase with temperature and the rise in biliary perfusion pressure. Acetylcholine, prostigmin and morphine hydrochloride increase the frequency and amplitude of the spike potentials and shorten the resting intervals. Inhaled amyl nitrite and intravenous hexamethonium reduce electrical activity. The depressant effect of atropine is much less marked in the rabbit. Intravenous administration of alcohol results in a substantial increase in the electrical activity of the sphincter and in biliary pressure. This effect is reduced by vagotomy and suppressed by hexamethonium.


This study examines team performance as affected by various trusting relationships: trust between team members and the team's trust in their direct manager and in top management. Data for the study were collected from a survey of 690 professional elite athletes (belonging to 59 different sports clubs) playing in the regular, top professional Spanish leagues. The model was tested at the team level. Findings reveal that team member trust with respect to the different foci has both a direct and indirect effect on team performance, and that team player trust and cohesion play a mediating role. This study illustrates the dynamic relationship within teams, and, as such, trust among teammates mediates the relationship between trust in the coach as well as team cohesion in determining team performance. The implications for managing teams in other contexts are also evaluated.


A thermodynamical model based on the modern ideas on hadron structure is formulated for the process of production of particles with large transverse momenta. We have also allowed for the factors important for describing the cluster-system decay which are caused by fluctuation, possible state non-equilibrium, and the causality principle. The model is used to analyse qualitatively different observed characteristics of the process. A satisfactory agreement of the model with experiment reveals the cause of difficulties of the recent picture of quark hard collisions.


What's It All for? What Types of Dissertations Are There? What Will It Be about? How Do I Get Started? What's All This about Philosophy? How Do I Write a Proposal? What about Working and Planning My Time? Where and How Do I Get Hold of All the Necessary Background Information? How Can I Manage All the Notes? Arguments: Why Do I Need Them? What Sorts of Data Will I Find? What's All This about Ethics? How Do I Get Hold of Data? What Do I Do with the Information When I've Got It? When Do I Need to Combine Data Collection with Analysis? How Can I Create a Mini-World to Manipulate? What about Referencing? Writing It up How on Earth Can I Manage Such a Long Piece of Writing? What Can I Do to Make My Work Look Interesting and Easy to Read? Who Else Might Be Interested in My Writing?


BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Spinal arteriovenous metameric syndrome (SAMS) is a subgroup of spinal arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Most SAMS cases have intra- and extradural AVMs and suffer from hematomyelia, subarachnoid hemorrhage, or venous congestive myelopathy. PURPOSE: To present a rare case of SAMS in which spinal AVMs were exclusively epidural. We reviewed previous literature and evaluated the feasibility of a treatment strategy using endovascular interventions, followed by surgical obliteration. STUDY DESIGN: A case report and literature review of SAMS. METHODS: We report a case of a 15-year-old boy suffering from SAMS in which epidural venous ectasia because of extradural AVMs caused spinal cord compression. RESULTS: The patient was successfully treated with multiple sessions of transarterial embolization followed by open surgery. After the treatment, his neurologic deficits resolved. Postoperative angiography confirmed complete obliteration of extradural AVMs. CONCLUSIONS: Although exclusively epidural spinal AVM is an uncommon type of SAMS, combined endovascular and surgical interventions can be an effective treatment for AVMs to achieve better radiologic outcomes and complete resolution of patient symptoms. 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


This qualitative dissertation employing Conversational Analysis aimed to determine the linguistic contrasts and ways of appreciation of the opposite sex in the academic milieu through the triangulated data of recorded conversations, paired up interviews and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) administered among the Elementary pupils and High School students in the University of the Immaculate Conception during the academic year 2013 – 2014. The results of the study revealed that conversational styles among young male and female vary. Young males' conversational styles were used to show status, independence, advice, information, orders and conflict, while young female's conversational styles were used to show support, intimacy, understanding, feelings, proposal and compromise. The study further exposed the generated themes on the ways on appreciation of the young male and female in conversation . These themes were speaking from the heart, showing trust and respect, listening attentively, considering one's topic, showing positive energy, complimenting each other, uttering optimistic expression, and exhibiting sympathy and empathy. In pedagogical sphere, the study calls for the acceptance of educators of the different linguistic styles, abilities, and skills of their students regardless of sex differences. Keywords - Language, genderlect, academic milieu, opposite sex, qualitative, focus group discussion, Philippines


In this paper "Freedom of expression" I' ve tried to explain the close relationship between freedom right and other constitutional freedoms, which have a direct impact on values consolidation in a democratic society and giving possibilities for the public to be active in the decision making process. The researches are based in three directions: the doctrine of international low, in Albanian literature; in native and foreign legislation and also in jurisprudence of Albanians courts and the European Court of Human Rights. The theme dedicates a wide space freedom of expression in the context of public debate, thereby guaranteeing the public's right to know. Many cases of interference in freedom of expression, has been given special importance in legal terms. This intervention must have a legitimate purpose to protect more than one of the public interests. All of this work focuses on sharing the idea that everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.


We describe two variance reduction methods for estimating the mean time to failure (MTTF) in Markovian models of highly reliable systems. The first method is based on a ratio representation of the MTTF and employs importance sampling. The second method is based on a hybrid simulation/analytic technique where the number of simulated transitions are reduced by computing partial results analytically. Experiments with a large example show the effectiveness of both techniques for highly reliable systems.


Hikikomori is a behavioral syndrome, which has appeared among Japan's adolescents over the last twenty years. The main symptom of hikikomori (hee-kee-koh-MOH-ree) is for young men and women to either virtually or literally lock themselves away in their rooms for months, years or even sometimes decades at a time, with minimal social contact. While there have been a number of important scholarly works on the causes, treatments, and consequences of hikikomori, there is a lack of detailed research looking at the syndrome in the context of Japanese health care policy. In response to the gap in the literature, this book discusses several critical dimensions of the Japanese health policy response to hikikomori. For Japanologists, this book will provide one more window into the nature of modern Japanese society, without the prejudices that are sometimes apparent in more popular treatises on the syndrome. For health policy analysts this book should provide another example of a government creating and enacting a health policy initiative – and any fresh example should add to our knowledge of how policy works in the 'real world'.


Nearest neighbor analysis (NNA)-based procedures are proposed for the quantitative characterization of the spatial distribution of corrosion pits in metals. After the exposure of a carbon steel to a 3.5% NaCl solution mist, the results derived from observation of corrosion pit initiation and growth were used to justify the applicability of this approach. The pits initially comprised clusters that were superimposed on a randomly distributed background set. The clustered pits subsequently coalesced, evolving into a more random pit arrangement. Furthermore, it was revealed that in the early stages, the spatial pit distribution can be predicted via inspection of surface inclusions prior to the corrosion process.


This study investigated: (a) the ability of the Canadian Occupational Interest Inventory (COII) and the Self Directed Search (SDS) to discriminate among Grade 12 students in 8 different subject areas; (b) the inter-scale correlations of the COII and the SDS; and (c) the relationship between the student groups' COII and SDS interest patterns and external reference points. In general, the findings indicate that the COII and the SDS scales tend to effectively discriminate among the subject areas. The correlation coefficients of similar scales for the two inventories were found to be significant. In sum, the results of the study lend some support to the concurrent validity of the COII and the SDS for high school students.


OBJECTIVE
Many neurologically constrained models of semantic memory have been informed by two primary temporal lobe pathologies: Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Semantic Dementia (SD). However, controversy persists regarding the nature of the semantic impairment associated with these patient populations. Some argue that AD presents as a disconnection syndrome in which linguistic impairment reflects difficulties in lexical or perceptual means of semantic access. In contrast, there is a wider consensus that SD reflects loss of core knowledge that underlies word and object meaning. Object naming provides a window into the integrity of semantic knowledge in these two populations.

METHOD
We examined naming accuracy, errors and the correlation of naming ability with neuropsychological measures (semantic ability, executive functioning, and working memory) in a large sample of patients with AD (n = 36) and SD (n = 21).

RESULTS
Naming ability and naming errors differed between groups, as did neuropsychological predictors of naming ability. Despite a similar extent of baseline cognitive impairment, SD patients were more anomic than AD patients.

CONCLUSIONS
These results add to a growing body of literature supporting a dual impairment to semantic content and active semantic processing in AD, and confirm the fundamental deficit in semantic content in SD. We interpret these findings as supporting of a model of semantic memory premised upon dynamic interactivity between the process and content of conceptual knowledge.


Title devised by Library staff.
Gift ; American Institute of Architects / American Architectural Foundation ; 2010 ; (DLC/PP-2010:100)
Forms part of: The AIA/AAF Collection (Library of Congress)
Unprocessed in PR 13 CN 2010:100, album HW B1.


Summary The outbreak of Monkeypox virus (MPXV) infection in May 2022 is declared a global health emergency by WHO. As of 28th July, 21067 cases have been confirmed and the numbers are on the rise. Unfortunately, MPXV pathophysiology and its underlying mechanisms are not yet understood. Likewise, the knowledge of biochemicals and drugs used against MPXV and their downstream effects is sparse. In this work, using Knowledge Graph (KG) representations we have depicted chemical and biological aspects of MPXV. To achieve this, we have collected and rationally assembled several biological study results, assays, drug candidates, and preclinical evidence to form a dynamic and comprehensive network. The KG is compliant with FAIR annotations allowing seamless transformation and integration to/with other formats and infrastructures. Availability and implementation The Monkeypox knowledge graph is publicly available at https://github.com/Fraunhofer-ITMP/mpox-kg Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. Contact firstname.lastname@example.com


Recently, the notions of Weak Measurement (WM), Weak Value (WV) and Two-State-Vector Formalism (TSVF), firstly introduced by Aharonov and collaborators, have extended the theoretical frame of standard quantum mechanics, thus providing a quantum-theoretical formalism for extracting new information from a system in the limit of small disturbance to its state. Here we provide an application to the case of two-body scattering with one body weakly interacting with its environment — e.g. a neutron being scattered from a H2 molecule physisorbed in a carbon nanotube. In particular, we make contact with the field of incoherent inelastic neutron scattering from condensed systems. We provide a physically compelling prediction of a new quantum effect — a momentum transfer deficit; or equivalently, an enhanced energy transfer; or an apparent reduction of the mass of the struck particle. E.g., when a neutron collides with a H2 molecule in a C-nanotube and excites its translational motion along the nanotube, it apparently exchanges energy and momentum with a fictitious particle with mass of 0.64 atomic mass units. Experimental results are shown and discussed in the new theoretical frame. The effect under consideration has no conventional interpretation, thus also supporting the novelty of the quantum theoretical framework of WV and TVSF. Some speculative remarks about possible applications being of technological interest (fuel cells and hydrogen storage; Li+ batteries; information and communication technology) are shortly mentioned.


BACKGROUND
Emergency service workers are exposed to experienced traumatic events related to the nature of their work. The study aimed at identifying the role of cognitive processes, namely different forms of ruminations, as predictors of consequences of experienced trauma.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
The data on 120 medical rescuers (80 men, 40 women) who had experienced in their worksite at least 1 traumatic event in the last 5 years, were analyzed. The age of the participants ranged from 25 to 61 years (mean (M) = 38.07; standard deviation (SD) = 8.92). The following Polish versions of standardized tools were used: the Impact of Event Scale - Revised (IES-R), the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) and the Event Related Rumination Inventory (ERRI).

RESULTS
The results of regression analyses indicated 2 significant predictors, intrusive rumination for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and deliberate rumination for posttraumatic growth (PTG).

CONCLUSIONS
Ruminations play an essential role in the occurrence of negative and positive outcomes of experienced trauma. The associations between PTSD and PTG, with different forms of ruminations, may be used in therapy, treating the appearance of intrusive rumination as an opportunity to turn towards active engagement in deliberate rumination, that facilitates the occurrence of posttraumatic growth. Med Pr 2016;67(2):201-211.


We report on the measurements of state of polarization (SOP) and differential group delay (DGD) in submarine fibers. The experimental autocorrelation function shows the fastest change in both SOP and DGD is faster than 15 s, which is limited by the measurement speed. The Fourier transform is utilized to study ocean-wave-induced vibrations on submarine fibers.


Around the world, the number of people displaced from their homes continues to increase due to political conflict and climate change. The Ugandan government's policy for settling refugees shifts the focus from seeing refugees as humanitarian obligations to recognizing that refugee settlements bring improved services and infrastructure that can serve both refugees and residents of the host communities. A key aspect of this policy is to provide refugees with land use rights, so they are able to achieve "self-reliance". This research investigates (1) the role of planning in establishing the physical layout of Bidi Bidi, Uganda's largest integrated settlement, (2) the host community's rationale for allowing refugees access to their land, and (3) how refugees used this land. Based on interviews, participant observation, GIS analysis, and document analysis, we learned how refugees altered the settlement's layout to better meet their needs, the unintended consequences of large- scale deforestation on the most vulnerable, and the limitations of the land-based approach to achieve self-reliance. These findings suggest expanding the avenues to achieve self-reliance, improving "integration" of service provision between refugees and residents of the host community, and protecting the area's environment to maintain needed resources.


Public knowledge concerning health, particularly the management of medicinal plants in both community and household settings, remains limited. Enhancing knowledge can be achieved through various interventions, such as focus group discussions (FGDs). This study aims to examine the impact of FGD education on improving the understanding of Butterfly Pea Flowers (Clitoria ternatea) and Red Guava Leaves (Psidium guajava L.) management on health cadres' knowledge in Srimartani Village, Piyungan, Bantul, Yogyakarta. The research is categorized as a quasi-experimental group pre- and post-test, with a sample size of 14 participants from the female farmer group (known as Kelompok Wanita Tani/KWT in Indonesia) chosen via purposive sampling. The FGD education consisted of the opening, implementation, and closing phases, while data analysis employed a questionnaire and quantitative research techniques utilizing the Wilcoxon test (alpha = 0.05). The findings revealed that the average knowledge scores of the respondents increased from 7.43 to 20.64 after the FGD educational intervention. The Wilcoxon test yielded a p-value of 0.001, indicating a significant effect of FGD education on the management of butterfly pea flowers and red guava leaves. Therefore, FGD education demonstrated a noteworthy influence on knowledge of Clitoria ternatea and Psidium guajava management in Srimartani Village, Piyungan, Bantul, and Yogyakarta.


Introduction Functional bandages have been used in physiotherapeutic practice with the purpose of minimizing disabilities and favoring functional improvement. However, there is still a shortage of research regarding the use of these devices in patients with neurological sequelae, especially those resulting from stroke. Objective To report the motor evolution of patients living with sequelae of stroke, who have been submitted to the use of functional bandages associated with conventional physical therapy. Materials and methods We assessed the active range of motion, strength and degree of spasticity in the flexor and extensor muscles of the wrist and elbow joints, and functionality of the upper limb during the performance of daily activities at the first and the twentieth session of conventional physical therapy associated with the use of functional bandages. Results There was an increase in range of motion and muscle strength of patients, and reduction in spasticity of the wrist and elbow flexor muscles. Conversely, the functionality scores remained similar before and after treatment. Conclusion The subjects of this study showed a good evolution in the aspects studied. Thus, the use of functional bandages associated with conventional physical therapy seems to contribute to the rehabilitation of patients with stroke sequelae. Further research needs to be conducted in order to increase the scientific evidence regarding the effectiveness of functional bandages in the treatment of patients with stroke sequelae.


Thermal gradient phenomena in SnAg3.5 solder joints under high current density operating were both acquired from whole device simulation and observed from experiments. A series of structural solder bump models were created and simulated by finite element software under different current density. The thermal gradient and temperature increasing were investigated under current stressing of 103 A/cm2 to 104 A/cm2 at 70°C by infrared microscopy. The magnitude of the thermal gradient is increased by increasing the applied current. The measured temperature increase due to Joule heating is as high as 55.9°C, and the thermal gradient reached 333°C/cm when stressed by 104 A/cm2 , yet only 8.3°C temperature increased and the thermal gradient reached 83°C/cm when stressed by 103 A/cm2 . The temperature increasing in this model is 53.1°C and thermal gradient in the solder is 168°C/cm under 104 A/cm2 current stressing, yet only 10.4°C temperature increased and thermal gradient decreased to 35°C/cm under 103 A/cm2 . After verification, only less than 0.5% error is achieved between simulation results and experiment results. It proves this built model can be used to project thermal characteristic of different module designs.Copyright © 2005 by ASME


DLI is commonly provided for mixed chimerism post NMT, even in the absence of measurable disease. This is with a high risk for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and a major cause of mortality and morbidity after NMT. We hypothesized that this practice may not be routinely needed in pts with indolent diseases, such as FL, and who continue to have stable mixed chimera (SMC) after NMT. We defined SMC as presence 50% to 99% donor cells by PCR analysis, and without any significant decrease of > 20% on two consecutive analysis. We treated prospectively 47 pts with relapsed FL with a NMT after conditioning with fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and high-dose rituximab as previously described (Blood89:3595, 2001). ATG was added for 2 pts receiving unrelated transplants. Tacrolimus and methotrexate were used for GVHD prophylaxis. All pts received a non-manipulated graft, from peripheral blood (45 pts) or marrow (2 unrelated donors). At the time the first analysis was undertaken post NMT (median 30 days), 13 of 18 pts (72%) in clinical complete remission (CR) and 24 of 29 pts (83%) who had evidence of active disease at study entry had mixed chimera ( P = 0.2). The % of donor cells were 93% and 75%, respectively. When the subsequent PCR analysis to assess engraftment was undertaken (median time, 89 days post NMT), median % donor cells were 100% and 95%, respectively, for the pts who were in CR or had active disease at study entry. All pts achieved CR post NST. Median time to achieve CR for pts who had active disease at study entry was 5.5 months after transplant. Twelve pts in CR continue to have SMC at the time of their last PCR analysis, undertaken at a median of 12 months (range, 6 to 55 months) post NMT. Nineteen pts were tested for the amplification of bcl-2 rearrangement from the marrow by PCR. They all had evidence of clonal disease prior study entry. All converted to PCR-negativity. Sixteen of these 19 pts had mixed chimera when they were first tested to be PCR (−) at a median time of 3 mos (range, 1–6 months) post NMT. At a median time follow-up time of 34 months, overall survival and disease-free survival of all 47 pts at 3-year were 88 and 85%, respectively. Only one relapse occurred. This occurred in a pt who had 60% donor at 3 months post NMT; it then decreased to 42% at 9 months. This was followed by graft failure and relapse. DLI was provided to only one pt with decreasing chimerism. This resulted to conversion to full donor after the infusion of to 1 x 10 5 CD3+ cells/kg, from the HLA-identical sibling donor. The incidence of acute grade II–IV and chronic (extensive and limited) GVHD in the study was 17% and 51%, respectively. These data suggest that DLI may not be needed for SMC after non-T cell depleted NMT for pts with FL who do not have evidence of progression. This strategy resulted in lower than expected acute and chronic GVHD and improved survival.


Fusion born alpha particles in burning plasmas is usually regarded to have a slowingdown distribution, which differs significantly from the Maxwellian distribution of thermal particles in the velocity space. A generalized multi-point average method has been developed for gyrokinetic Poisson equation with slowing-down equilibrium distribution using optimization in Fourier space. Its accuracy is verified in both long and short wavelength limits. The influence of changing equilibrium distribution from Maxwellian to slowing-down on gyrokinetic Poisson equation is analyzed to illustrate the significance of the new method. The effect of critical speed in the slowing-down distribution on the field solver is also presented. This method forms an important basis for global gyrokinetic simulation of low frequency drift Alfvénic turbulence in burning plasmas.


Association Rule Mining is a popular and well researched method for discovering interesting relations between variables in large databases. It is intended to identify strong rules discovered in databases using different measures of interestingness. Most ARM algorithms focus on a sequential or centralized environment where no external communication is required. Distributed ARM algorithms, aim to generate rules from different data sets spread over various geographical sites; hence, they require external communications throughout the entire process. Distributed ARM is one of the major research fields of Data Mining (DM). DARM algorithm efficiency is highly dependent on data distribution. The paper reviews different algorithms developed for DARM and also discusses the different ways in which data is distributed. Agents are software entities developed to make distributed computing more efficient. They have also been used in Data Mining. The paper discusses the role of agents in DARM.


Superfusion of isolated canine cardiac Purkinje fibers with ethanol (100-300 mg/ 100 ml) resulted in a concentration-dependent shortening of action potential duration. The effect occurred within 5 minutes of exposure to ethanol and was reversed completely after removal of the drug from the medium. Action potential amplitude, transmembrane resting potential, dV/dt of phase 0, and conduction time were not altered by these concentrations of ethanol. Superfusion with methanol, ethanol, l-butanol, n-butanol, and pentanol in a concentration of 200 mg/100 ml revealed that the magnitude of the alcohol-associated shortening of action potential duration was related directly to the water-octanol partition coefficient (lipophilic property) of the alcohol. Acetal-dehyde (0.08-0.80 DIM) prolonged the action potential duration of Purkinje fibers, but this effect was blocked by addition of the α-adrenergic blocking drug, phentolamine (10∽6 M). Acetate (1-5 mM) did not alter action potential configuration or conduction time of cardiac Purkinje fibers. Ethanol (100-300 mg/100 ml), acetaldehyde (0.08-0.80 mM), and acetate (1-5 mM) did not significantly change the rate of spontaneous depolarization of isolated guinea pig atria. These studies show that ethanol, in concentra-tions present in plasma during ethanol consumption, exerts direct reversible effects on cardiac Purkinje fibers. These effects probably result from a physical alteration of the sarcolemma secondary to interaction of ethanol with hydrophobic regions of the lipid bilayer. However, the metabolic by-products of ethanol do not exert direct electrophysiological effects on canine Purkinje fibers or guinea pig atria. Circ Res 47: 473-478, 1980


Information on the diversity and roles of two groups of arthropod predators (Neuroptera and Araneae) in Australian cropping systems is reviewed, as a foundation for discussing the properties of such predators that may render them useful bioindicators, and for discussing their ecological roles in agroecosystems. Predators are a prime target for conservation and augmentation, reflecting their perceived or actual positive roles in pest management, but most appear to have little value as true bioindicators in agricultural environments. In Australia, Neuroptera are represented by very few species in most agroecosystems, and all of these species are polyphagous generalists. Biological knowledge of Araneae, and of the factors that influence their species richness, is too scanty to enable sound understanding of changes in assemblage composition that might otherwise be regarded as 'indication'. The current value of these groups as bioindicators is minimal.


As a direct wide bandgap semiconducting material, two-dimensional, 2D, silicon carbide has the potential to bring revolutionary advances into optoelectronic and electronic devices. It can overcome current limitations with silicon, bulk SiC, and gapless graphene. In addition to SiC, which is the most stable form of monolayer silicon carbide, other compositions, i.e., SixCy, are also predicted to be energetically favorable. Depending on the stoichiometry and bonding, monolayer SixCy may behave as a semiconductor, semimetal or topological insulator. With different Si/C ratios, the emerging 2D silicon carbide materials could attain novel electronic, optical, magnetic, mechanical, and chemical properties that go beyond those of graphene, silicene, and already discovered 2D semiconducting materials. This paper summarizes key findings in 2D SiC and provides insight into how changing the arrangement of silicon and carbon atoms in SiC will unlock incredible electronic, magnetic, and optical properties. It also highlights the significance of these properties for electronics, optoelectronics, magnetic, and energy devices. Finally, it will discuss potential synthesis approaches that can be used to grow 2D silicon carbide.


Immunologic studies of a patient with agammaglobulinemia are reported. The delayed type of hypersensitivity was normally produced in response to antigenic stimuli, but circulating antibodies of the gamma globulin fraction of the serum were not. It is postulated that delayed hypersensitivity is responsible for the apparent immunity developed against measles and chicken pox. The tuberculin response is independent of gamma globulin in the serum.
 The family tree of first cousins with congenital agammaglobulinemia is presented and supports the concept that the disease is a sex-linked recessive trait appearing only in male children.


ABSTRACT How the transition to adulthood is understood by youths can be influenced by social context and cultural background/s. Employing a voice-centred relational methodology approach, underpinned by a framework of identity and belonging, this paper reports on one aspect of a larger qualitative study designed to better understand the transition to adulthood as experienced by Australian Sudanese and South Sudanese youths. The findings of this study suggest that the perspectives on the transition to adulthood held by participants were based on feelings of possessing certain character traits and values they associated with the identity 'adult'. These findings are relatively consistent with previous research. Yet, the utility and value of this transition was also presented by participants as being inherently collective (i.e. to contribute within one's community). However, several barriers relating to social belonging were identified by participants to influence, and in some instances, impede a successful transition to adulthood.


Many studies related to the use of virtual reality in education are focused on the cognitive aspects with little consideration given to the emotional domain. Thus, this study aims to identify the salient linkages between learners' emotions and design elements of a desktop virtual reality-based learning environment by employing Kansei Engineering concepts. A courseware related to the teaching of road safety skills to young learners was designed and developed to be used as a case for the study. Ten specimens of the courseware, which highlights different design elements, were presented to 90 students from three randomly selected secondary schools. They were required to rate their feelings towards the specimens using the provided checklist that consists of 30 words related to emotions. The gathered data were then analysed using Principal Component Analysis and Partial Least Squares analysis. The results revealed that the most influential design elements in inducing positive emotions are environment richness and coaching. Ultimately, the uncovered linkages could be used to inform future design of emotionally sound desktop VR-learning environments.


The main objective of this thesis is do maintenance optimization for a system using AltaRica simulation tools. Maintenance optimization is based on the assessment of maintenance policy. Stochastic simulation is applied to assessment the performance of the maintenance policy. The simulation process consists of several steps. First, build the AltaRica model. Second, compile the AltaRica model using compiler from AltaRica project. Third, prepare indicator description file and generate the simulator. Fourth, prepare mission description file and execute the simulator. After this process, the simulation is conducted and the result will be stored in a csv file. Maintenance optimization is based on the simulation process. Among a large number of candidate solutions for maintenance policy, metaheuristic algorithm can lift the searching efficiency for the optimum solution. Some algorithms help to skip unnecessary simulation and avoid repeated work. The combination of AltaRica simulation tools and metaheuristic algorithm realizes the efficient automation of maintenance optimization process. This project makes the connection of these two parts and achieves the objective.


: A study was made by the method of combination of electroencephalography (EEG) and variational pulsimetry in 157 patients to determine the background vegetative tone and that very tone during conducting functional tests aimed at activating of sympathetic and parasympathetic portions of the nervous system. Criteria have been established characterizing the vegetative tone. Particular features are described of changes in the power of the EEG wave spectra while conducting tests in those groups being different in their baseline vegetative tone. The percentage is estimated of the incidence rate of the cardiac rhythm disturbances in those groups being different in their vegetative tone.


Competition among cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) bolls for assimilates may affect boll retention and size, making it an important factor affecting productivity. A 4-yr field study was conducted on Commerce silt loam to evaluate relationships among fruiting sites (FS) on sympodial branches of cotton receiving preplant fertilizer N rates of 0, 28, 56, 84, 112, 140, or 168 kg ha -1 or a preplant + sidedress application of 56 + 56 kg ha -1 each year. For each FS on each sympodium, there were four possible competition levels based on boll retention or abscission at FS 1, 2, and 3. Competition levels were determined by natural retention or abscission of fruit. Boll retention and weight were influenced by competition level, year, sympodia, FS location on the sympodia and by N rate. Competition effects on boll retention were affected by N rate but not by sympodia. Conversely, competition effects on boll weight were not affected by N rate but were affected by sympodia. Boll weight at FS 1 increased when bolls were retained at FS 2 and 3. Retention of a boll at FS 1 increased boll retention at FS 2 but decreased boll weight at FS 2. In contrast, boll weight at FS 2 increased when bolls were retained at FS 3, or at FS 1 and 3. Fertilizer N increased boll weight at FS 2, except when a competing boll was present at FS 1. Apparent increased competition among FS on a sympodium had favorable effects on boll retention and on boll weight except for FS 2 when FS 1 retained a boll and FS 3 did not retain a boll.


The article gives a critical overview of the religious market model to assess its usefulness for analyzing religious conversion in a context of increasing pluralism. The model's central idea is that religious organizations are competing for adherents, who make (rational?) choices from the available options. I first present the main tenets, contributions, and possible short-comings of the religious market model at three different levels of analysis: micro, meso, and macro. The next section describes and assesses the conventional social science approaches to conversion. Then I describe and analyze the approach to religious conversion that follows from the religious market model, as developed in Stark and Finke ( Acts of Faith: Explaining the Human Side of Religion , Berkeley etc.: University of California Press 2000, 114–138). I end with my own evaluation of the usefulness of the market model for empirical research in a situation of religious pluralism. The conclusion will sketch the connections between individual religious demand and the supply-side of competing religious organizations.


Biomineralization technology has become a trend for the arrest and prevention of dental caries. In particular, the bioactivity and ability to release large amounts of Ca2+ and PO43- ions make amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) for hard tissue remineralization are highly desired. However, the instability of ACP limits its clinical application. Under continuous bacterial challenge in the oral cavity, the currently developed ACP-based remineralization system lacks the ability to inhibit bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation. Here, a dual-functional nanocomposite with antibiofilm and remineralization properties was designed by combining zwitterionic poly(carboxybetaine acrylamide) (PCBAA) and ACP. The resulting nanocomposite was stable in solution for at least 3 days without any aggregation. The PCBAA/ACP nanocomposite exerted a significant inhibitory effect on the adhesion and biofilm formation of Streptococcus mutans and exhibited bactericidal activities under acidic conditions resulting from bacteria. Moreover, compared with fluoride, this nanocomposite demonstrated superior effects in promoting the remineralization of demineralized enamel and the occlusion of exposed dentinal tubules in vivo and in vitro. The present work provides a theoretical and experimental basis for the use of the PCBAA/ACP nanocomposite as a potential dual-functional agent for arresting and preventing caries.


The transcription factor RUNX3 is a prominent regulator of multiple hematopoietic cell lineages. Gene loss of function studies demonstrated the unique and essential roles of this master regulator in differentiated lymphoid and myeloid cells. As a complementary approach, RUNX3 was upregulated in various leukocyte subsets to probe the instructive role of this 'multilineage'-specific transcription factor. In this report, we overview the immunomodulatory functions of RUNX3 within the hematopoietic compartment to gain insight into the consequences of Runx3 deletion or overexpression in committed immune cells. Genetic studies revealed the essential role of RUNX3 in Langerhans cell development. Moreover, this transcription factor is necessary for the differentiation and maintenance of the cytotoxic CD8+ T cells. In addition, T helper, natural killer, and B cells are also influenced by RUNX3. Importantly, the ectopic expression of Runx3 enhances the immunogenicity of cytotoxic T cells and pluripotent stem-cell-derived dendritic cells, suggesting that this protein can be applied in cell-based immunotherapies.


Introduction . Radionuclide imaging is included in diagnostic methods after PCI and CABG in patients with symptoms, but the recommendations caution against routine testing in all asymptomatic patients after revascularization. The paper shows the results of single-photon emission computed tomography after hybrid coronary myocardial revascularization; an analysis of the sensitivity and specificity of three methods of surgical myocardial revascularization was carried out in 12 months. Aim of the study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of SPECT in determining coronary artery stenosis ≥ 50 % after performing three methods of surgical myocardial revascularization: CABG, PCI, and hybrid myocardial revascularization in patients with coronary artery disease and multi-vascular coronary lesion. Material and methods . A retrospective analysis of 82 patients with stable forms of coronary artery disease who underwent myocardial revascularization for the presence of the multivascular coronary lesion was carried out. The patients were divided into three groups: the first group consisted of 40 patients who underwent CABG, the second – 29 patients after PCI, and the third – 23 patients who underwent hybrid myocardial revascularization. Results. All patients after myocardial revascularization, on average, after 21.8±8.6 months, were hospitalized, where singlephoton emission computed tomography of the myocardium with 99mTc-technetril (SPECT) and control coronarography/ shuntography were performed. The frequency of the presence of significant stenosis during coronary angiography with a perfusion defect of ≥5 % on SPECT during exercise was 50, 50 and 33 % in the CABG, PCI, and hybrid revascularization, respectively (p=0.894). The least sensitivity of SPECT was after hybrid myocardial revascularization (20 %), while in the CABG group, the sensitivity was 71.4 % (p = 0.190). The SPECT specificity indices were much higher: in the GABG, PCI, and hybrid revascularization groups, respectively, 75.8, 79 and 88.9 % (p=0.530). Conclusion . There is no significant relationship between the size of the defect on SPECT and coronary angiography data, regardless of the type of surgical myocardial revascularization in patients after myocardial revascularization. Detection of a perfusion defect with a load of more than 10% in SPECT after surgical myocardial revascularization is the basis for coronary angiography in order to exclude stent restenosis or shunt dysfunction, as well as progression of coronary atherosclerosis.


Blockchain has become an epidemic and significant decision that organizations may make in the next few years, enabling institutions to integrate business functions, operations, and processes in a decentralized distributed ledger technology. This technology will transform the business world and economy in solving the limitations created by centralization and system inefficiency. Accordingly, with the high demand and complexity of growing economies such as the Gulf Cooperation Council GCC countries, the need for a typical solution technology is a game changer. This will lead GCC to a solid economic base. Blockchain technology can be applicable in many different fields such as Banking, education, Health, finance, government and trade. This article will address the literature review and methodology of Blockchain technology and innovation at the GCC, particularly in Saudi Arabia. Also, more research can be conducted in the future as the system may be integrated in these countries.


Species of the genus Lophopyrum are closely related to the genus Triticum and have been extensively used in wheat breeding. To facilitate the detection of the Lophopyrum chromatin in wheat, two repeated nucleotide sequences were isolated from L. elongatum (Host) Love (= Agropyron elongatum Host, Elytrigia elongata (Host) Nevski), which hybridized strongly with the DNAs of Lophopyrum species but weakly (pLeUCD1) or essentially not at all (pLeUCD2) with those of Triticum species. Both sequences were shown to be on all chromosomes of L. elongatum. Each chromosome arm of L. elongatum showed a unique pattern of restriction fragments hybridizing with pLeUCD2. The analysis of chromosomes recombinant between chromosome arm 3AgL of L. ponticum (Podp.) Love and chromosome arm 3DL of wheat (T. aestivum L.) showed that regional heterogeneity of the pLeUCD2 family occurs also within the arm. It was demonstrated that this heterogeneity can be exploited for identification of Lophopyrum chromatin in wheat and mapping of ...


Medicago sativa L. is one of the main forage crops widely grown throughout the world. The yield quality and quantity of the alfalfa crop are influenced by many factors. Weeds, as the most problematic pests in agriculture, compete with crops obtaining water, nutrients, light, and space, and parasitic weeds are becoming a threat to food production. Weed species, such as Cuscuta spp., are particularly noxious since they also directly extract valuable water and nutrients from the host plant, and in some cases can also be difficult to eradicate.


Methods for interference reduction in the Wigner distribution (WD) have traditionally relied on linear filtering. This paper introduces a new nonlinear filtering approach for the removal of cross terms in the discrete WD. Realizing that linear smoothing kernels are unable to completely cancel the cross-terms without compromising time-frequency concentration and resolution of the auto-terms, a nonlinear filtering algorithm is devised where the filter automatically adapts to the rapidly changing nature of the WD plane. Varying the filter behavior from an identity operation at one extreme to a lowpass linear filter at the other, a near-optimal removal of cross terms is achieved. Unlike traditional smoothing and optimal kernel design techniques, this algorithm does not reduce the time-frequency resolution and concentration of the auto-terms and performs equally well for a very large variety of signals.


In 1986, Louise Russell published her landmark book, "Is Prevention Better Than Cure?", in which she evaluated the health and economic benefits of preventive health care interventions and tested the validity of the common assumption that prevention saves money. While debunking the myth that prevention is invariably cost-saving, Russell insisted that prevention is only rightfully judged on whether it is a worthwhile investment in health, rather than on its cost-saving potential. Almost three decades later, the notion that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" still grips the imagination of policymakers and members of the public. We were commissioned by the Canadian Medical Association to review the economic evaluation evidence on prevention in the hope that such a review would assist health and health care priority setting in Canada. Prevention Versus Cure? In discussions of health policy and resource allocation, prevention is often pitted against cure and illness care. Prevention and illness care are not inherently competitive for resources. They serve different objectives and respond to different needs. In the quest for resources, prevention faces a difficult challenge in obtaining public and political support. In contrast to illness care, prevention has no identifiable beneficiaries and is usually characterized by immediate costs and delayed benefits. Economic Evaluation and its Use in Priority Setting It is widely argued that evidence of efficiency derived from economic evaluations should play an important role in health care priority setting and coverage decisions. Indeed, to our knowledge, every recently proposed priority-setting framework includes efficiency assessment as a crucial step. A limited number of jurisdictions require and use evidence of efficiency as part of coverage decision-making within public health care insurance programs. These examples are notable, however, precisely because they are exceptions. Overall, the use of economic evaluation evidence in priority setting lags far behind both the prescriptions of priority-setting frameworks and the expectations of many health policy makers and analysts. A number of factors are likely responsible for this. Some stem from the fact that integration of economic evaluation evidence into decision-making is neither simple nor straightforward. But more fundamentally, most health care interventions have never been subject to an economic evaluation and the interventions that have been assessed tend to be those that are most easily studied (rather than those for which the need for such evidence is most pressing). Many more economic evaluations exist for clinical prevention interventions, for example, with more easily defined populations, interventions, and settings, and more easily measured outcomes, than for interventions drawn from the areas of health promotion, health protection or healthy public policies. To the extent that priority-setting exercises restrict consideration to interventions for which such evidence exists, only a limited and non-representative set of interventions can be considered. One hope, of course, is that in the long run demand by those setting priorities and making coverage decisions will bring forth a larger supply of such studies. Economic Evaluation Evidence for Preventive Interventions. Deciding which topics to include in this review was a formidable task. While economic evaluation of preventive activities is not as frequent as for treatment, the volume of the prevention literature is vast. (Initial explorations of potentially relevant literature for this paper, for example, yielded over 5000 articles.) To guide our work, we identified 290 recommended prevention interventions and an additional 23 preventive interventions with potentially large population health impacts. We found no economic evaluations for 159 of the 290 recommended interventions (55 percent). Our literature identified 672 economic evaluations of the remaining 154 preventive interventions. The majority (55 percent) evaluated clinical prevention interventions. The next largest group of evaluations assessed health protection interventions (31 percent), a significant proportion of which were universal or mandatory screening or immunization programs. Health promotion interventions represented 12 percent of the evaluations and healthy public policy interventions represented 2 percent. The volume of relevant economic evaluations was far greater than we anticipated at the outset of the project. Accordingly, after categorizing available economic evaluations of recommended preventive interventions by type of intervention, the condition or issue targeted by the intervention, the study setting, and the availability and strength of effectiveness evidence, we summarized the results of economic evaluations of a sample of five diverse interventions that are not universally provided in Canada and for which a considerable body of economic evaluation evidence is available. Synthesis of Economic Evaluation Evidence for Five Selected Preventive Interventions • Varicella vaccination • Colorectal cancer screening using fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) • Needle exchange programs • Community water fluoridation • Day care or preschool programs In summarizing and interpreting the results of economic evaluation evidence for these five syntheses, we addressed three questions: • Does the intervention produce a net benefit from the societal perspective? • Is the intervention cost-saving from the payer perspective? • Where cost-benefit from a societal perspective has not been adequately assessed and the intervention is not cost-saving from the payer perspective, might the intervention nonetheless be a worthwhile investment in health (i.e., give value for money)? For each intervention we found a high degree of consistency among economic evaluation studies, despite differences in methods and settings. In particular, we did not observe systematic differences in findings between economic evaluations set inside or outside of Canada. All of the interventions we examined produce a net benefit to society. Needle exchange programs and water fluoridation are also cost-saving from a payer perspective. In both cases, there are sometimes multiple payers, which means that program costs may be born primarily by one payer while another payer may be the principal beneficiary of cost-savings resulting from the intervention (e.g., reduced treatment costs). The remaining interventions—varicella vaccination, colorectal cancer screening with FOBT, and day care or preschool programs—while not cost saving from the payer perspective (with the possible exception of preteen varicella vaccination), may still be sound investments in health. Decisions about whether to make those investments will appropriately depend on a variety of factors, some related to and others external to the economic evaluation evidence. Next Steps. A large volume of unappraised and unsynthesized economic evaluation evidence is available for many preventive interventions. On the other hand, economic evaluation evidence is completely lacking for the majority of recommended preventive interventions. If economic evaluation evidence on prevention is to be used to assist health and health care priority setting in Canada, the gaps that we have identified need to be filled. Critical activities include: • Systematic reviews of effectiveness evidence for health promotion, health protection, and healthy public policy interventions • Economic evaluations of individual preventive interventions for which economic evaluation evidence is currently lacking • Systematic reviews of economic evaluation evidence for effective preventive interventions These activities will require substantial resources. Significant work in this area has been and continues to be undertaken outside of Canada, particularly in the United States. Application of Economic Evaluation Evidence to Policy Decision Making. Policy decision making that incorporates economic evaluation evidence cannot be reduced to rank ordering of programs by summary measures of efficiency and the mechanical application of thresholds to determine which programs will be implemented or continued. Even if such an approach were desirable, its feasibility is questionable given that economic evaluation evidence based on a common metric and common comparator is unlikely to be available across a full range of programs under consideration. Decisions regarding public investments in health care programs are inevitably influenced by a variety of factors—some economic, some political, and some having to do with social values and preferences. These include: • Differential timing of costs and benefits • Opportunity costs • Availability of required technology and human resources • Program scope • Nature of benefits • Who benefits • Who pays Economic evaluation evidence can make a useful contribution to policy decision making. Given the dearth of economic evaluation evidence for preventive interventions, however, it is not reasonable to make such formal evidence a pre-requisite for policy action. Requiring economic evidence as a mandatory input to decision making would, in the short term, delay the implementation of preventive programs with demonstrated large population health effects that had not yet been subjected to economic evaluation. Perhaps more importantly, in the long term such a requirement would discriminate against health promotion, health protection and healthy public policy interventions whose costs and consequences are often difficult to measure credibly because they are spread across multiple health and social domains. In spite of these challenges, we hope that this review demonstrates the value of increasing the use of economic evaluation methods to inform decision making for preventive interventions.


As models are trained and deployed, developers need to be able to systematically debug errors that emerge in the machine learning pipeline. We present MDB, a debugging framework for interactively querying datasets and models. MDB integrates functional programming with relational algebra to build expressive queries over a database of datasets and model predictions. Queries are reusable and easily modified, enabling debuggers to rapidly iterate and refine queries to discover and characterize errors and model behaviors. We evaluate MDB on object detection, bias discovery, image classification, and data imputation tasks across self-driving videos, large language models, and medical records. Our experiments show that MDB enables up to 10x faster and 40\% shorter queries than other baselines. In a user study, we find developers can successfully construct complex queries that describe errors of machine learning models.


The oxidation by cytochrome P450cam (CYP101) of ethylbenzene and a series of substrates derived from it by addition of one, two, three, or four carbon atoms has been examined. For each of the 18 substrates, the shift in spin state due to substrate binding, the extent of coupled turnover to give organic products and uncoupled turnover to give H2O2 and H2O, and the identities of the organic products have been determined. The same studies have been carried out with the T185L and T185F mutants of P450cam in which the active site volume is decreased. The results show that no detectable correlation exists between the observed spin state change and any other parameter studied. For substrates of equal size, coupled and uncoupled turnover vary widely but both are maximized when the phenyl ring bears one large alkyl substituent or a methyl ortho to the largest alkyl substituent. The presence of substituents in addition to these decreases activity. In the absence of other changes, coupled turnover is correlated with the size of the largest substituent, but no such correlation exists for uncoupled turnover. Decreasing the size of the active site cavity by a T185L mutation generally increases coupled turnover without altering the dependence on the alkyl group size. A T185F mutation causes too great an active site perturbation for structure-activity studies. Substrate oxidation occurs preferentially at 2 degrees or 3 degrees C-H bonds of the largest substituent or on the benzylic methyl ortho to it. Aromatic hydroxylation only competes with the oxidation of nonbenzylic 1 degree C-H bonds. The extent of coupled turnover is a function of substrate shape, substrate size, and cavity size, but still elusive parameters control the extent of uncoupled turnover.


This paper is a study of the application of integrated intelligent computation to solve the problems of error compensation for high-precision a NC machining system. The primary focus is on the development of integrated intelligent computation approach to get an error compensation system which is a dynamic feedback neural network embedded in a NC machine tool. Optimization of error measurement points of a NC machine tool is realized by way of application of error variable attribute reduction on rough set theory. A principal component analysis is used for data compression and feature extraction to reduce the input dimension of a dynamic feedback neural network and reduce training time of the network. Taking advantage of ant colony algorithm on training of a dynamic feedback neural network does the global search so that network can converge to get a global optimum. Positioning error caused in thermal deformation compensation capabilities were tested using industry standard equipment and procedures. The results obtained shows that this approach can effectively improve compensation precision and real time of error compensation on machine tools.


Since the introduction by Gorlin and Gorlin of the hydraulic formulae for calculating valve area, it has become the best parameter for quantitating valve stenosis. Recently Hakki et al proposed a simplified formula for valve area calculation that does not take into account either heart rate (HR) or left ventricular filling or ejection time. The purpose of this study was to analyze the validity of Hakki's formulae under different physiological conditions and to propose an easy correction to improve its accuracy. Our study suggests: (1) that an easy correction for heart rate in certain cases, dividing by 1.35 when HR less than 75 beats per min in mitral stenosis and when HR greater than 90 beats per min in aortic stenosis, significantly improves the accuracy and validity of Hakki's formulae (p less than 0.02 and p less than 0.05); (2) the instantaneous valve gradients (peak gradient for aortic stenosis and average of instantaneous early, middle, and late diastolic gradients for mitral stenosis) are as valid as mean planimetric gradients for valve area calculation. Thus the simplified formulae proposed in this study allow mitral and aortic valve area calculations by means of instantaneous gradients, cardiac output, and heart rate.


Serratia marcescens has been reported to be associated with infections of the lungs, 1,2 meninges, 3 endocardium, 4 burns, 5 and urinary tract, 6 although its pathogenic role was not clearly defined in every instance. It has also been seen without apparent infection in the intestinal tract of the newborn. 7 The isolation of Serratia from the urine of 20 further patients is recorded here, and some evidence is given as to its etiological role in cases of urinary tract infection. Methods and Materials Patients were selected for study when organisms with the characteristics of Serratia were isolated from urine specimens sent to the laboratory for culture. Infection was considered present when organisms were cultured in moderate amounts from clean-caught or catheterized urine and over 10 WBC per high power field of urine sediment were seen. A moderate growth of bacteria was that amount which grew in heavy growth into


Alternative methods of connecting similar mutually coupled coils to their power supplies and dump resistors are investigated. The circuits are evaluated for both operating and fault conditions. The factors considered are the voltage to ground during a dump, short circuits, open circuits, quenches, and failure of the protection system to detect a quench. Of particular interest are the currents induced in coils that remain superconducting when one or more coils quench. The alternative connections include combined power supplies, individual dump resistors, combined resistors and series and parallel dump resistors. A new circuit that contains coupling resistors is proposed. The coupling resistors do not affect normal fast dumps but reduce the peak induced currents while also reducing the energy rating of the dump resistors. Another novel circuit, the series circuit with diodes, is discussed. The MFTF-B central-cell solenoids are used as an example.


In this article, we present the creative strategies implemented on the practice-based research project Threaded Edition 21, an international design magazine published in Aotearoa New Zealand. The editorial model draws from a cultural and collaborative framework situated in Tikanga (customary practices of the Indigenous people of New Zealand), Mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) and kawa (protocols). In this Special Edition, the structural format was inspired by Māori Maramataka (lunar cycles) and whakapapa (genealogy), and incorporated queues to communicate the multi-layered Māori creation narrative of Te Kore (nothingness), Te Pō (night realms and darkness), Te Whē Ao (coming in to being) and Te Ao Mārama (light realms). These narratives resided primarily in the virtual realm of augmented reality (AR) (as a spiritual encounter), while the printed matter functioned as an enigmatic vessel, creating an ontological reversal where the 'virtual' (AR) answered to the ambiguities of 'real' (publication). AR-animated vignettes and sonic artistry were activated through printed motifs to incorporate hau (breath of life) into the pages. The AR-animated sonic experience expanded the connection with the audience that when synthesized, provided a sense of immersion into the domain of the unseen which is felt aurally and visually. Structurally, the AR pages open with a chanted karakia (a welcoming prayer) and end with a mihi (closing speech), creating a balance that acknowledges aspects of Māori cultural significance and dualities. When scanned, the AR-animated sonic experiences direct the audience to the accessibility of the Instagram platform, expanding the materiality of printed matter. This approach afforded distinct modes of cognitive processing that combined the visual and the linguistic, the spatial and the temporal, sound and virtual reality to graphically symbolize the many layers and dimensions of things unseen: the realm between being and non-being.


A printed textile sold in 1913 by the Abbey Players to raise money for a gallery for Hugh Lane's pictures. With reproduced portraits by John Butler Yeats.


We model and analyze three dimensional rigid body impact with Coulomb friction and Poisson restitution. The differential equations that describe the progress and outcome of the impact induce a flow in the tangent velocity space which defines the qualitatively different sliding behavior that can occur. We show that the flow patterns depend only on the inertial parameters at the point of contact. We associate each of the possible flow patterns with a distinct region in a three dimensional parameter space. By examining the mass parameters and the initial conditions, we can determine the corresponding flow pattern and the possible outcomes of the impact. The equations of motion cannot be solved in a closed form, but by analyzing the flow at the point of sticking, we can avoid instabilities in the numerical integration of the equations.<<ETX>>


Background: After the stroke, the development of the second motor neuron degeneration can reduce muscle strength and functional capacity. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the electro-myographic findings in the acute phase of stroke and to correlate them with the severity and muscle strength. Material and Methods: Twenty patients were studied in the first 72 hours after stroke. The severity of the lesion was assessed using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and muscle strength was assessed using the Medical Research Council Scale (MRC). Sensory conduction and motor conduction were studied to exclude peripheral polyneuropathy, radiculopathies, or other neuro-muscular diseases, and electro-myography (EMG) was performed with co-axial needle electrodes in the deltoid, carpal radial extensor, vastus lateralis, and anterior tibialis at rest, slight effort and maximum effort. The associations between qualitative and quantitative variables were studied using the Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test. Results: Among the patients, 40% had abnormal EMG [positive sharp waves (PSWs), fibrillation, fasciculations, and abnormal patterns in maximum effort]. Positive correlations were found between NIHSS and PSW (p = 0.005; r = 0.65) and abnormal EMG (p = 0.017; r = 0.72), and negative correlations were found between MRC and PSW (p = 0.041; r = -0.83) and abnormal EMG (p = 0.027; r = -0.81). Conclusion: It was concluded that the main EMG findings in the acute phase of stroke were the presence of the denervation process and polyphasic motor unit potentials. These changes in EMG were correlated with stroke severity and lower muscle strength.


In order to investigate some properties of a medium with a low number of particles in a Debye sphere, the electrical conductivity of high-pressure ionized Argon has been measured. A special emphasis is laid on the so-called "non-ideality" effects in the collective behaviour of charged particles. A kind of threshold for these effects is observed at nD ≦ 4. The observed asymptotic behaviour of the screening parameter indicates that heavy charged particles have the same influence on the screening mechanism as electrons. The experimental values of the electrical conductivity are in excellent agreement with similar recent measurements.


An imagining camera that is used with X-Ray radiography systems in high explosive experiments has been built and fielded. The camera uses a 40mm diameter Micro-Channel Plate Itensifier (MCPI) for optical gain and photographic film for image recording. In the normal location of the X-ray film pack, a scintillating screen is placed instead. The camera system views the screen and records the image. The sensitivity of the MCPI to light makes the camera design sensitive to small details that a film pack does not need to consider. The X-ray image recording system was designed and bulit for situations where the film pack of the X-ray shadowgraph is not retrievable after the experiment. The system has been used in a number of experiments.


Introduction Small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is characterised by diarrhoea and malabsorption. Identifying those at risk is key to diagnosis and treatment. We reviewed all glucose-hydrogen breath tests (GHBTs) performed for suspected SIBO, over a 6-year period in a single teaching hospital to identify associated risk factors and assessed the effectiveness of antibiotic treatment among those with a positive test. Methods We collected data retrospectively for all GHBTs performed to investigate possible SIBO from 2006 to 2011. Demographic data and information concerning potential risk factors for SIBO were collected by review of clinic letters. A positive GHBT was defined as a rise of post-glucose end-tidal hydrogen reading > 20 parts per million from pre-dose baseline during the 2-hour 20 minute test period. Frequency of potential risk factors for SIBO among those with a positive GHBT compared to those with a negative GHBT were assessed using an odds ratio (OR) along with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Success of treatment with antibiotics for confirmed SIBO was judged according to patient report. Results 316 patients underwent GHBT during the 6-year period. Of these, 17 were tertiary referrals and were excluded. Among the remaining 299 patients median age was 52 years (range:17–91) and 201 (66.9%) were female. 59 (19.7%) patients had a positive GHBT, 232 were negative, and 8 had equivocal results. Among these 59 patients median age was 61 years (range:20–91) and 39 (66.1%) were female. Of those with a positive test the principal indications for GHBT were diarrhoea in 35 (63.6%), diarrhoea and bloating in 9 (16.4%), high stoma output in 4, bloating alone in 3, abdominal pain in 3, and weight loss in 1. Presence of type II diabetes (OR 2.71; 95% CI 1.08–6.54) and previous intestinal surgery (OR 2.44; 95% CI 1.31–4.56) were significantly associated with a positive GHBT. Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use (OR 0.98; 95% CI 0.49–1.88), previous radiotherapy (OR 0.84; 95% CI 0.30–2.09), presence of scleroderma (OR 1.27; 95% CI 0.39–3.51), opiate-use (OR 1.21; 95% CI 0.55–2.52), and presence of Crohn's disease (OR 1.35; 95% CI 0.65–2.70) were not significantly associated with a positive GHBT. In total, 43 patients with a positive GHBT received antibiotic treatment. Of these 21 (48.8%) improved, 18 (41.8%) had no improvement and in 4 the response to therapy could not be ascertained. Conclusion Almost 20% of patients undergoing GHBT tested positive. Risk factors among our series of patients included type II diabetes and previous surgery. Interestingly, despite assertions from others, PPI use was not significantly associated with a positive GHBT. Almost 50% of patients with a positive GHBT responded to antibiotic treatment on clinical grounds. Disclosure of Interest None Declared.


Microstructural and chemical composition studies on fossil reptile teeth from Upper Cretaceous localities of Alberta, Canada, show that the quality of preservation exhibits great variability within a formation, as well as within a locality or even a single tooth. The chemical composition of fossil enamel is close to that of modern enamel, whereas the chemical compositions of fossil and modern dentine are very different. It seems that fossil enamel may have retained some paleodietary information in its chemical composition, whereas dentine, as well as bone, likely did not. Paleodietary interpretations may thus be drawn from the chemical composition of some elements in tooth enamel, such as strontium, but more studies on recent reptiles are urged for comparison.


The results of this study suggest that changeable message signs may be an effective tool for communicating with urban freeway drivers. Through motorist diversion, they contribute to the reduction in overall delay to the motorist as well as the reduction in total demand on the freeway. Especially important was the significantly positive reaction to the signs and toward the Texas Department of Highways and Public Transportation for their attempts at reducing congestion. Five specific findings are drawn from the results of this research. First, the freeway sign was visible and had a high target value (96 percent of the motorist responding to questionnaires had seen the signs). Second, a majority of motorists understood the signs and the several messages. Of those who understood, 82 percent used the information. Third, the motoring public did not satisfactorily learn the letter grade and freeway condition relationship. Lack of anchoring of the rating scale may have been a contributing factor. Fourth, a majority (78 percent) of the respondents rated the system useful or very useful, including a slight majority (51 percent) who indicated that the system could be improved. Fifth, the analysis of motorist comments revealed that the indication of which lane is blocked when LANE BLOCKED is displayed is highly desirable.


Free amino acids levels in the milk of 11 healthy Indian mothers were determined using automatic precolumn derivatization procedure. The aim of the study was to find out the relative concentration of glutamic acid and glutamine in the milk. Glutamic acid is the dominant free amino acid found in the milk of Indian mothers. Glutamic acid and glutamine together formed the major nonessential amino acids present in the human milk. Although glutamic acid has been shown to be the major amino acid in human milk in many studies, to the best our knowledge, this is the first report to confirm that glutamic acid is the most abundant amino acid in milk in Indian mothers.


This paper is about the risks of knowledge management process in the multinational environment. This research paper has given a try to analyse the relation between the knowledge dissemination and the effectiveness of working processes in the case of a Hungarian metal industrial company. The inadequacy appearing in the knowledge management processes hides lot of risks, which impact on the performance of the individuals, groups and the whole company. The knowledge dissemination and the usage of knowledge are the most important key processes if we think about the question of co-operation versus competition. It could be more interesting if the leader also be the part of this process. Besides the knowledge basis and processes, a real serious IT support can be found, but there are many still opened questions as in the field of risk management. It is true in general and especially in the case of knowledge management. This paper is trying to walk around the topic, to make the reasons clear why could not be any well-built process although the working group's willingness to cooperate is bigger than their willingness to compete.


Preliminary results from the DØ experiment on jet production with rapidity gaps in pp collisions are presented. A class of dijet events with a forward rapidity gap is observed at center-of-mass energies √ s = 1800 GeV and 630 GeV. The number of events with rapidity gaps at both center-of-mass energies is significantly greater than the expectation from multiplicity fluctuations and is consistent with a hard single diffractive process. A class of events with two forward gaps and central dijets are also observed at 1800 GeV. This topology is consistent with hard double pomeron exchange. We also present proposed plans for extending these analysis into Run II through the use of a forward proton detector.


The target of the experience consists in establishing the level critical temperatures and the mode preservation during cold period of the year for the species and cultivars of conifers in containerized culture. Because of at the plants are fortified in container conditions, frequently occurs the phenomenon of spiraling root system, standing at the periphery of the substrate, endangered by frost and, proceeding from the need of protection during the winter, we suggest the following objectives: * the comparative comportment of the species and cultivars during the cold season, depending on the way of storage; * the species and cultivars resistance at low temperatures, depending on the ecological requirements of plants. For containerized culture of ornamental species and cultivars were established following conservation cold season: V1 – protected plants displayed in greenhouse; V2 – protected plants and exposed outdoor but covered with protective acrylic cloth; V3 – plants unprotected and exposed outdoors throughout the cold period. As a result of the study it was found that the species and cultivars of conifers remarked the highest coefficient – 100% resistance at low temperatures, where all three variants of wintering (V1, V2, V3), at the end of the cold period the plants were started in vegetation and there were no damages caused by the frost.


This paper presents the design and performance analysis of different slot of microstrip patch antenna operating at ultra-wide band (UWB) frequency for wireless applications. The effectiveness of an antenna has been tagged with a Conventional Antenna to enhance its overall characteristics that mainly includes out Bandwidth, Reflection Coefficient, Directivity, Gain and Power Handling Capability etc. This paper describes the microstrip patch antennas for the different applications such as WLAN, Bluetooth, wireless communication and Artificial neural network applications.  The microstrip patch antenna provides better efficiency for wireless applications.


Democracy is in danger, as fewer people seem to think of it as a desirable form of government. Current explanations based on economic development and governmental performance offer a narrow explanation for why some people reject democracy and subsequently support autocratic forms of governance. I offer a novel argument based on personality psychology. I argue that individuals who are low on the personality trait of openness – what I term closed personalities – are more supportive of autocracy. Closed personalities tend to seek political arrangements that repress diversity and enforce submission to authorities. Moreover, I hold that under conditions of crisis and civil disobedience threats, closed people activate their tendency to support autocracy. Using data from the 2010 AmericasBarometer and original survey experiments in Chile and Ecuador, I show how closed individuals tend to be highly supportive of autocracy and how conditions of crisis and civil disobedience affect closed personalities.


Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL

Vanadium is a transition metal and occurs naturally in a variety of minerals. In mammals, vanadium has been shown to promote cancer cell death and can also mimic insulin action, most probably through the inhibition of cellular tyrosine phosphatase and subsequent activation of signaling pathways. The mechanism by which vanadium causes cancer cell death is still not known. Interestingly, it has been shown that various mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) members are activated upon vanadium treatment. However, the contribution of any specific MAPK member that mediates vanadium-induced cell death has not been clearly delineated. It has been reported that JNK is activated by vanadium and therefore we investigated the role of Mixed Lineage Kinase 3 (MLK3) on vanadium-induced cell death. MLK3 is a MAP3K member that is known to specifically activate JNK pathway. We have earlier reported that MLK3 activation promotes cell death in cancer and neuronal cells. Our results demonstrated that endogenous MLK3 was activated by vanadium and MLK3 was highly phosphorylated on tyrosine residues. We also identified Src as a tyrosine kinase that phosphorylated MLK3 on specific tyrosine residues and phosphorylation of these tyrosine residues by Src was essential for MLK3 activation. Vanadium-induced cancer cell death was mediated by MLK3 or MLKs, because CEP-1347, a pan MLK inhibitor, prevented this cell death. Furthermore, the tyrosine phospho-deficient mutants of MLK3 also prevented vanadium-induced cell death. Interestingly, the activity of Src was seen to be in parallel with MLK3 kinase activity in human primary breast tumors. Taken together, our data demonstrate that tyrosine phosphorylation of MLK3 by oncogenic Src leads to MLK3 activation, which subsequently promotes vanadium-induced cell death in cancer cells. Our results also implicate a paradoxical pro-apoptotic role of Src in cancer cells, and thus it is conceivable that in tumors where both Src and MLK3/MLKs activities are higher, targeting of this axis might promote cell death.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4957. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4957


The timing of rifting and subduction in the Meliata, Vardar, and Pindos zones of the Hellenic-Dinaric-Carpathian region indicates that they cannot be considered remnants of a single ocean basin, in contrast to several recently published Mesozoic paleogeographies. Sea-floor spreading in the Meliata zone culminated in Middle Triassic (Ladinian) time and ceased in the Late Triassic, and subduction occurred from this time until Late Jurassic closure. In contrast, sea-floor spreading in the Vardar zone began in Early Jurassic time and culminated in the Middle Jurassic, and subduction occurred from latest Jurassic time. In the Pindos zone, sea-floor spreading was initiated in the Early Triassic, with Late Jurassic and early Tertiary subduction.


Background and aim: The discharge process (DP) is full of well-known risks. The general aim of this thesis was to shed more light into how different stakeholders experience the DP and evaluate the older persons' and their relative's preparedness for life at home after hospital discharge. Materials and methods: Both qualitative (Studies I, II, IV) and quantitative (Study III) research methods were selected. In Study I different care professionals (n=32) were interviewed in eight focus groups. Study I used a phenomenological method. In Study II older persons with home care nursing (HCN) and their relatives (n=26) were interviewed, and a grounded theory method was used. In Study III data were collected through a questionnaire among older persons and their relatives (n=152) and the questionnaire's psychometric properties were evaluated. Study IV was based on the data in Studies I and II and used an excursive interpretation based on a phenomenological approach and reflective lifeworld research. Results: The older persons and their relatives, as well as the care professionals, viewed the DP as ambiguous. Care and planning were described as fragmented. Three themes were important for care professionals' cooperation, actions and the outcome of the DP, but also associated with various difficulties and problems. The main concern of the older persons and their relatives was worry about not being sufficiently prepared for life at home. A theoretical model was created that illustrates whether the older persons and their relatives felt prepared or unprepared for life at home at discharge. The care professionals' skills were shown to be of utmost importance to satisfy the preparatory needs of the older persons and their relatives in three significant areas. The questionnaire showed that fifty-three per cent of the older persons and their relatives reported being insufficiently prepared. Factors associated with being insufficiently prepared were poor health at the time of the discharge and not asking for information. The DP is shown to be a critical event with illness making the meaning of life's fragility abruptly explicit and an unpredictable threat to getting on with one's life. The DP is characterised by experiences of being in-between that is contextual, bodily and existential for the older persons and the relatives accentuating their vulnerability. The relationship with care professionals and others, bodily conditions and life circumstances influence the in-between experience. Without the professional support and cooperation among them in the DP, the older persons run the risk of being lost and powerless throughout the DP. Conclusions: The DP deeply affects older persons and their relatives. When care professionals use a disease-led approach in their encounter with older patients and follow solely medical routines, they may lose focus on the patients' health processes. The older persons' and their relatives' experiences of exposedness and vulnerability due to illness, bodily, existential or contextual uncertainty indicate a threatening existence in the DP. The older persons and their relatives can easily be lost in an in-between experience illuminating the difficulties embedded in the illness, care and the DP in an older person's life. Care professionals need to acknowledge the individual and their everyday world and give follow-up support at home. This would make the DP a strong bridge between the hospital and home. The PPLH questionnaire developed from the theoretical model can be used to provide information that may prove useful in improving the DP from the perspective of older persons and their relatives and also as an assessment tool to identify and satisfy needs among older persons and their relatives both at hospital and at home.


Objective: Isobaric levobupivacaine has been recently introduced for intrathecal use and there are very few studies comparing it with widely used hyperbaric bupivacaine. So this randomized trial was planned to study the effectiveness of intrathecal low dose isobaric levobupivacaine with fentanyl and compare it with low dose hyperbaric bupivacaine with fentanyl in transurethral resection of prostate. Materials and Methods: This prospective, randomized, double blinded study was conducted in 60 ASA physical status I and II patients, aged between 50-80 years and posted for transurethral resection of prostate under subarachnoid block. Enrolled patients were divided into two groups of 30 each. Patients in Group B received 7.5mg, 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine with 25mcg fentanyl intrathecally while patients in Group L received 7.5mg, 0.5% isobaric levobupivacaine with 25mcg fentanyl intrathecally. Time to achieve sensory block to T10 level, max spread of sensory block, time to two-segment regression and time to S1 regression were recorded. Motor blockade was assessed at every 2 minute for 20 minute, at the end of the surgery and in recovery room. Onset time of motor block, maximum motor block and duration of motor block were also recorded. Results: A total of 60 subjects were enrolled. Baseline parameters were comparable. Onset of sensory block was significantly faster in group B compared to group L. The mean time of onset in Group B was 4.75±0.79 min. and in Group L was 6.60±0.61 min. Both group had statistically significant difference in onset and duration of motor block. The mean time of onset of motor block in Group B was 6.4±1.6 min and in Group L was 9.9±2.3 min. The mean duration of motor block in Group B was 164.17±22.8min and in Group L was 138.27±23.5min. Group B had statistically significant dense block compared to group L. The median MBS in Group B was 1(95% C.I. 1.18-1.68) and in Group L was 2 (95% CI 2.13-2.86). In group B, 20 patients had complete motor block while in group L number of patient with complete motor block was only 4. Conclusion: Our results, suggest that subarachnoid low-dose isobaric levobupivacaine fentanyl provides lesser degree of motor block & for short duration when compared with heavy bupivacaine.


Our article yields new statements about macroscopic anatomy of the sympathetic lumbar chain, after the dissection of 480 corpses in a 15 years period. Our observations state new conclusions, with implications in surgical practice, about the function and the vegetative territory of the lumbar sympathetic chain.


This paper is a study of 1,680 consecutive unselected cases of acute appendicitis which occurred at the Beth-El Hospital between the years 1930 and 1938, inclusive. The report is based only on cases in which there was pathologic evidence that warranted classification of the condition as acute. No case in which the condition was not diagnosed pathologically as acute is included, regardless of the clinical diagnosis. Parenthetically, it may be noted that during the period under survey there were 194 cases, or 11.6 per cent of the 1,680, in which the patients were admitted with a diagnosis of acute appendicitis which pathologic examination including microscopy failed to confirm. In evaluating our figures, a brief description of the service is important. The hospital, of some 280 beds, is situated in one of the most congested and densely populated districts in the city of New York (population about 350,000 in about 3


A series of lanthanide complexes based on asymmetrically substituted cyclen ligands were designed and synthesised in this project in order to develop ROS-responsive luminescent molecular sensors. A synthetic strategy involving the synthesis of an intermediate ligand was applied to the asymmetrically functionalisation of the cyclen ring. The intermediate ligand was called "the generic ligand" since it possesses a generic chemical structure that could be modified in many ways in order to produce different types of ligands. The generic ligand was designed and synthesised by exploiting an orthogonal protection strategy. The synthetic strategy involving the synthesis of the intermediate generic ligand proved to be very versatile and successfully applicable to the synthesis of different asymmetrically substituted cyclen-based ligands. Seven types of ligands (L1-L7) were synthesised in this project exploiting the synthetic strategy mentioned above. The ligands were complexed with trivalent lanthanide ions giving arise to eleven lanthanide complexes EuL1-EuL7.

The photophysical properties of the lanthanide complexes were measured using absorption and emission spectroscopy. The photophysical properties of two Eu(III) based complexes were measured in presence of ROS species generated in situ by H 2 O 2 and Fe(II) perchlorate. The ROS response of these Eu(III)-based complexes was also measured in vitro by using a cellular ROS assay. In this assay H 2 O 2 and tBHP were used to increase the ROS production within the cells.

A mitochondrial stress test (MST) was performed on EuL1-TbL4 with the aim to identify compounds that exhibit a potential mitochondrial and/or cellular toxicity. A calcium loading capacity assay was performed on the same lanthanide complexes tested with the MST with the aim of investigating their effect on the mitochondrial capability to uptake and internalize Ca 2+ .


Quorum sensing (QS) is a cell density-dependent mechanism used by many pathogenic bacteria for regulating virulence gene expression. Inhibition or interruption of QS by medicinal plant remedies has been suggested as a new strategy for fighting against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This study aimed to assess the impact of sub-inhibitory concentrations of licochalcone A (LAA) and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) as natural plant products on the QS-associated genes (sdiA and luxS) expression. The PCR test was used to confirm the presence of sdiA and luxS genes in 23 S. Typhimurium isolates from poultry. The quantitative real-time PCR assay was used to analyze the expression of sdiA and luxS in S. Typhimurium isolates in response to the treatment with sub-inhibitory concentrations of LAA and EGCG at 45-min time point. All S. Typhimurium isolates showed the presence of sdiA and luxS genes (100%). As result, the expression of QS-related genes was significantly reduced in S. Typhimurium isolates following treatment with LAA and EGCG. In conclusion, LAA and EGCG showed anti-QS activity with down-regulation of both sdiA and luxS genes in S. Typhimurium, suggesting potential therapeutic use of them against salmonellosis. However, it must be pointed out that the safety and efficiency of these compounds need more thorough research.


Changes in environmental conditions often reverse outcomes of competitive interactions among species. Such context dependency implies that the speed, persistence, and ubiquity of anthropogenic habitat alterations may suddenly put even previously well-adapted native species at a competitive disadvantage with non-native species. That is, anthropogenic disturbance may so drastically alter environments that a native species finds itself in an environment that in key ways is just as novel as it is to a non-indigenous species. Extreme disturbances may thereby erase a native species' prior advantage of local environmental adaptation accrued during its long-term incumbency over evolutionary time. I document examples from two areas of dramatic human alteration of selection regimes - eutrophication and the selective removal of top predators - that support this mechanism. Additionally, I highlight ways in which this mechanism is experimentally testable. Alteration of selection regimes may prove to be a powerful explanation for the enhanced success and impact of biological invasions in our globally disturbed biosphere.


: Radical emergency operations were performed on 5 elderly patients with a combination of cancerous tumor of the stomach and such complications as bleeding and perforation. Based on this material the authors make a well-reasoned conclusion that such surgical strategy is justified.


Internet of Things is an ever-growing network of heterogeneous and constraint nodes which are connected to each other and the Internet. Security plays an important role in such networks. Experience has proved that encryption and authentication are not enough for the security of networks and an Intrusion Detection System is required to detect and to prevent attacks from malicious nodes. In this regard, Anomaly based Intrusion Detection Systems identify anomalous behavior of the network and consequently detect possible intrusion, unknown and stealth attacks. To this end, this paper analyses, evaluates and classifies anomaly detection approaches and systems specific to the Internet of Things. For this purpose, anomaly detection systems and approaches are analyzed in terms of engine architecture, application position, and detection method and in each point of view, approaches are investigated considering the associated classification.


Septic shock is the most severe form of sepsis. It is widely accepted that cytokines play pivotal roles in the pathophysiology of septic shock. We reported previously that continuous hemodiafiltration (CHDF) using a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) membrane hemofilter removed various cytokines from blood continuously and efficiently, mainly by adsorption to membrane matrix of the hemofilter. Furthermore, in April 2000, we introduced to clinical practice a rapid assay system that determines blood levels of IL (interleukin)-6 in approximately 30 min. This enabled us to routinely measure blood IL-6 as an index of cytokine cascade activation in critically ill patients for real-time clinical monitoring of hypercytokinemia. The aim of the present cohort study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of PMMA-CHDF in septic shock, a typical condition associated with hypercytokinemia. Forty-three patients with septic shock were assessed by monitoring of blood IL-6 level with a rapid assay system and immediate initiation of critical care including PMMA-CHDF for cytokine removal. Following initiation of PMMA-CHDF, early improvement of hemodynamics was noted, as well as an increase in urine output. PMMA-CHDF treatment improved both hypercytokinemia (assessed by measurement of blood IL-6 level) and dysoxia (assessed by measurement of blood lactate level). The present findings suggest that cytokine-oriented critical care using PMMA-CHDF might be an effective strategy for the treatment of septic shock.


In many application areas, such as meteorology, traffic control, etc., it is desirable to employ swarms of Unmanned Arial Vehicles (UAVs) to provide us with a good picture of the changing situation and thus, to help us make better predictions (and make better decisions based on these predictions). To avoid duplication, interference, and collisions, UAVs must coordinate their trajectories. As a result, the optimal control of each of these UAVs should depend on the positions and velocities of all others - which makes the corresponding control problem very complicated. Since, in contrast to controlling a single UAV, the resulting problem is too complicated to expect an explicit solution, a natural idea is to extra expert rules and use fuzzy control methodology to translate these rules into a precise control strategy. However, with many possible combinations of variables, it is not possible to elicit that many rules. In this paper, we show that, in general, it is possible to use model reduction techniques to decrease the number of questions and thus, to make rules elicitation possible. In addition to general results, we also show that for the UAVs, optimal control indeed leads to a model reduction - and thus, to a drastic potential decrease in the corresponding number of questions.