The effect of oxygen breathing on pulmonary compliance was studied in paralyzed, artificially ventilated dogs and in two normal subjects. 1 ) In the dogs and the human subjects the course of compliance during oxygen breathing for periods of 1frac12–2 hr following hyperinflation was compared with that during air breathing. 2 ) In dogs compliance after apnea on oxygen (following hyperinflation) for frac12–7 min was compared with that after apnea on air. Intrapulmonary pressure during apnea was atmospheric. 3 ) In the human subjects the course of compliance was followed during air breathing for 50–70 min, preceded by hyperinflation and immediately followed by oxygen breathing for 80–100 min. In none of these three sets of studies did oxygen breathing affect the course or magnitude of pulmonary compliance. It is concluded that breathing pure oxygen at atmospheric pressure for several hours does not enhance the development of pulmonary atelectasis in normal subjects.

Submitted on July 3, 1961


This Christian sermon uses a DNA lab experience as a basis for theological reflection on ourselves and our offering. Who are we to God? What determines the self that we offer? Can the alphabet of DNA shed light for us on the Word of God in our lives? This first attempt to introduce the language and laboratory environment of genetic testing (represented by DNA fingerprinting) within a parish preaching context juxtaposes liturgical, scientific, and biblical language and settings for fresh insights.


textabstractAcute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a blood cell disorder characterized by an accumulation
of immature blasts in bone marrow and blood. Human AML is frequently characterized by
non-random chromosome translocations resulting in the generation of specific transforming fusion genes and fusion proteins, of which a significant number has been cloned, e.g.
AML1-ETO fusion gene in AML with a t(8;21) translocation or PML-RAR in cases with
translocation t(15;17). However, in approximately 40 - 50% of AML cases no chromosomal
abnormalities are evident, indicating that other more subtle mutations are responsible for
the leukemic transformation of myeloid precursor cells. Moreover, AML, like other cancers,
is a multigenic disease resulting from an accumulation of multiple genetic aberrations.
Thus even in cases with well-characterized translocations, additional genetic defects have
likely contributed to the development of AML. The identification and functional analysis of
novel disease genes in AML is a major goal of our research group.
One approach utilized to identify novel disease genes in leukemia is retroviral insertional
mutagenesis. Mice injected with murine leukemia viruses (MuLVs) develop leukemia
following proviral insertion into or near potential disease genes. Viral insertions found in a
particular locus in independent tumors are called common virus integration sites, cVIS,
and mark the locations of potential proto-oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. The
mouse strain and the type of retrovirus used will determine the kind of leukemia that will
develop. We used NIH/Swiss mice injected with Cas-Br-M MuLV which develop frequently
myeloid leukemias. Using this combination, we previously identified the cVIS Evi11 and
demonstrated that the gene encoding the peripheral cannabinoid receptor Cb2 is the likely
target gene. Cb2 encodes a seven transmembrane receptor that belongs to the G proteincoupled receptor (GPCR) family and is predominantly present on B lymphocytes. The
main objective of the work presented in this thesis is to determine whether Cb2 is indeed
a proto-oncogene and, if so, by which mechanism it may transform hematopoietic precursor cells.


Particulate hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is a potent respiratory carcinogen with widespread human exposure. The particulate form, for example lead chromate, has been determined to be the most toxic and carcinogenic form. These particles impact at bifurcation sites of the lung and persist in the respiratory tract. Chromosome instability (CIN) is a hallmark of lung cancer with cells exhibiting both translocations and severe aneuploidy. However, the ability of Cr(VI) to induce translocations is unknown. We exposed human lung cells to lead chromate for three sequential 24 h periods, each separated by about a month. After each treatment, cells were seeded at colony forming density, cloned, expanded and retreated. Each generation of clones were tested for their chromium sensitivity, chromosome complement and DNA repair capacity. We found that after the first treatment, lead chromate-treated cells exhibited a normal chromosome complement though a few clones showed an increase in relative survival. After the second exposure, more than half of the clones acquired an abnormal karyotype including numerical and structural alterations. The third treatment resulted in more abnormal clones as well as previously abnormal clones acquiring additional abnormalities. Clones were also treated with soluble Cr(VI) for 24 h followed by a 24 h recovery period to measure DNA double strand break repair. Abnormal clones showed little or no reduction in H2A. X foci formation after 24 h recovery suggesting that these clones had acquired a DNA double strand break repair- deficient phenotype. This work was supported by NIEHS grant ES016893 (J.P.W.). Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3467.


Following the method of Damour and Ruffini, the Hawking radiation of Dirac particles on Rindler horison to a uniformly accelerating observer is studied this paper. The temperature on Rindler horizon surface and the thermal spectrum formula of Dirac particles are obtained. The result is discussed.


Ketoconazole, an imidazole derivative known to inhibit cytochrome P450-dependent adrenal enzymes was given to a patient with a functioning adrenal rest tumor of the liver in preparation for surgery. The drug was administered in a stepwise manner for 42 days starting with 400 mg and reaching 1 g the last 4 weeks of the trial. Clear clinical improvement was evident early in the trial and was associated with evidence of amelioration of her hypercortisolism and striking changes in serum and urinary levels of steroid hormones and metabolites. Sex steroids in serum and urine fell dramatically from the first day to the end of the trial. Urinary 17-ketosteroid excretion fell from a basal average of 139 mg/24 h to near normal levels within a week of therapy; serum testosterone fell from a basal level of 2.4 to 0.18 ng/ml; serum 17 beta-estradiol fell likewise from 1096 to 150 pg/ml. In contrast, cortisol levels in serum and urine increased in the first 2 weeks of the trial and subsequently fell to values below the basal levels. Similarly, serum 17 alpha-OH-progesterone levels increased 63% above the basal levels by day 6 of the trial and declined afterwards. Nine months after successful tumor resection the patient is apparently cured as judged by steroid hormone levels and physical appearance. We conclude that ketoconazole was effective in blocking tumoral steroidogenesis which resulted in clinical benefit.


In recent years, as interest in maintaining beauty and a youthful appearance has grown, filler procedures such as soft tissue augmentation have become more popular. These fillers are sometimes seen as radiopaque shadows on radiographic images, either due to the fillers themselves or because of secondary reactions; such findings may present a diagnostic challenge to dentists. The present report describes 3 cases of dermal fillers observed in panoramic and cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) images. All 3 elderly female patients had filler injected into their cheeks and chin area for cosmetic purposes decades ago. On panoramic images, multiple symmetric radiopacities were observed in the facial area; on CBCT, these calcifications were seen in the subcutaneous tissue in various shapes and with varying density. In conclusion, dentists should be aware of the imaging characteristics of dermal filler, and should be able to differentiate dermal filler from other pathological findings.


The acts of muslim extremists in recent years, from hostage taking and kidnappings to the world trade center and pentagon attacks of 9/11, lead many to ask why islam dan muslims are violent. Islam from the quran to islamic law, does not permit and in some circumstances even requires the use of force in self-defense or the defense of islam and islamic community. however there is often a fine line between legitimate and illegitimate use of force, defensive and offensive battle dan warfare, resistanace and terrorism while relegion can be wonderful force for good historically it has also been used to legitimate violence and warfare. The  three great monotheistic traditions from biblical times to the present represent long histories of the positive and negative power of religion its ability to create and destroy.


A system representing the state-of-the-art has been formulated to separate various materials contained in municipal solid waste. This materials recovery system uses equipment which is either in production or in pilot operation. The system utilizes the different physical properties of paper, glass, ferrous metals, aluminum, and other nonferrous metals to achieve mechanical separations. The first operation of the system is shredding which produces a relatively uniform particle size and liberates individual materials from composite structures. This is followed by a series of equipment which operate on size, density, magnetism, lift/drag, electrical conductance, and light reflectance to achieve separation. The materials so recovered can be utilized by industry as raw materials, thereby conserving natural resources.


A model simulation of an intense rainfall associated with a case of South Atlantic Convergence Zone that occurred during 21–24 February 2004 using the Brazilian developments on the Regional Atmospheric Modelling System was performed. The convective parameterization scheme of Grell and Dévényi was used to represent clouds of the sub-grid scale and their interaction with the large-scale environment. This method is a convective parameterization that can make use of a large variety of approaches previously introduced in earlier formulations, considering an ensemble of several hypotheses and closures. The rainfall was evaluated by six experiments, using different choices of rainfall parameterizations, providing six different simulated responses for the rainfall field. The sixth experiment ran with an average among five closures (ensemble mean). The purpose of this study was to generate a set of weights to compute a best combination of the ensemble members. This inverse problem of parameter estimation is solved as an optimization problem. The objective function was computed with the quadratic difference between five simulated precipitation fields and observation. The precipitation field estimated by the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite was used as observed data. Weights were obtained using the firefly optimization algorithm and it was included in the cumulus parameterization code to simulate precipitation. The results indicated the better skill of the model with the new methodology compared with the old ensemble mean calculation.


Proteomics and postgenomic technologies have found growing recent applications in reproductive biology and fertility research. Mice deficient in the wild-type p53-induced phosphatase 1 (WIP1) exhibit defects in reproductive organs. In this study, we aimed to understand how Wip1 deficiency affects spermatogenesis and sperm maturation using the Wip1-/- mouse model and gel-free isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry quantitative proteomic analysis of the whole epididymis, including somatic tissue and sperm. A total of 8763 proteins were identified, of which 91 were significantly differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in Wip1-/- mice. Of note, four reproduction-related DEPs (PRM2, ODF1, PIWIL1, and KLHL10) were confirmed by western blotting. Pathway analysis suggested that the Smac/Diablo-mediated apoptotic pathway and the SERPINA3-mediated inflammatory process may contribute to the atrophy and marked reduction of sperm in the epididymis. Network analysis of reproduction-related DEPs revealed possible interactions of WIP1 that may affect sperm maturation, such as reduced ODF1 and PRM2 expression and increased PIWIL1 expression by p53. Histological analysis showed a spermatid deficiency in the epididymis and was further confirmed in testis in Wip1-/- mice. Immunohistochemistry showed that testicular expressions of PRM2 and PIWIL1 were down- and upregulated, respectively. In summary, WIP1 deficiency seems to cause impaired spermatogenesis in the testis and damaged sperm maturation in the epididymis. These may be attributed in part to regulation of PRM2, ODF1, PIWIL1, and associated pathways as well as the inflammatory and apoptotic pathways. Further preclinical and clinical studies of male fertility using proteomics and multiomics research are called for.


A variety of dyes are commercially available today, there is an ongoing need for new chromophoric systems and low-band-gap materials. For example, near-infrared (NIR) emission has received increased attention for applications in bioassays and medicine while NIR absorption is demanded for laser-welding of plastics or efficient blocking of heat rays. Most of the commercially available NIR materials are not suitable for such purposes owing to their insufficient stability. We have developed a novel NIR-absorbing polyaromatic dye. By extending the system of perylenebis(dicarboximide)s along the molecular long axis, we have obtained the higher homologue pentarylenebis(dicarboximide). We have tried to introduce imide functional group to pentarylene in order to increase chemical and thermal stability.


The article concerns the problem of rationalizing the speech genre of apology. The following features of the latter are discussed: etiquette; institutional character; rhetorical character; public nature; cultural specificity. The value parameter serves as a ground for establishing the features of public apology in American top-management (presidential) discourse. Description is given to the pragmalinguistic features of B.J. Clinton's public apology televised nationwide on 17.08.1998, specifically, to its super-structure and to its strategic-tactical content. The latter is represented by two macro-strategies and by five strategies of non-uniform nature.


Polygalacturonase (PG) was isolated from Aspergillus niger ( A. niger ) (SA6), partially purified, characterized and immobilized by entrapment using calcium alginate. The polygalacturonase showed two bands on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacryamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) suggesting an "endo and exo" polygalacturonase with apparent molecular weights of 35 and 40 KDa, respectively. The enzyme was purified 9 fold with a yield of 0.18% and specific activity of 246 μmole/min/mg. The apparent K M and V max of the immobilized polygalacturonase were11.1 mg/ml and 1.65 μmole/min/mg, respectively. The optimum pH and optimum temperature of the immobilized polygalacturonase were 4.5 and 40°C, respectively. Immobilized polygalacturonase exhibited more stability to changes in pH than the temperature. The activity of the immobilized polygalacturonase reduced to 34.56 and 14.81% of the initial activity in the second and third catalytic cycles, respectively. The half life of the enzyme and the activity lost per minute on thermal storage were 10 min and 0.0213 μMole of D-galacturonic acid. Keywords: Polygalacturonase, Aspergillus niger , pectinases, enzymes


Key characteristics of thermoelectric, ballistic thermionic and quasi diffusive thermionic energy converters are compared. First, the main assumptions used to derive the linear Boltzmann transport equations for electrons are examined and the possibility that a higher order transport coefficient may become relevant is discussed. In the linear transport regime, there is a fundamental trade off between high Seebeck coefficient and high electrical conductivity for bulk materials and for many multilayer structures due to the interplay between electronic density-of-states (DOS) and electron group velocity and also due to the shape of DOS versus energy curve deep inside a band. While low dimensional structures alter the density-of-states, a similar trade off still exists. If large barrier heights and high doping concentrations could be achieved solid-state thermionic energy converters would be able to alleviate this trade off, thereby achieving a very high thermoelectric power factor. For this to occur, the electron transverse momentum perpendicular to heterostructure barriers must not be conserved. This can be achieved with non-planar structures or with embedded nanostructures. Finally, a comparison between thermoelectric/thermionic devices and thermophotovoltaic energy converters shows a difference in the average energy of the emitted hot carriers due to the difference between electronic and photonic density-of-states in the reservoirs. The use of both electrons and photons from a hot reservoir or the engineering of the reservoir density-of-states may provide additional means to achieve higher efficiency in energy conversion devices and to approach the limit given by the entropy generation more easily.


Extensive development in river flood plains should be achieved in parallel with minimization of potential inundation risk of over-bank flooding. Flood risks of property damage and loss of life can be eliminated through accurate flow predictions and by proper application of mitigating measures such as flow regulation structures. This paper presents a comparison between experimental results and a 2-dimensional unsteady flow numerical model simulations of flood propagation in a compound meandering channel. The model is based on a finite volume discretization on a staggered grid with upwind scheme in flux is presented, it handles drying and wetting process for a flood plain, complex geometry and discontinuities, which are the main requirements for modeling compound channel flows. The main objective of this research is to advance the existing knowledge on flood flow phenomenon in compound channels through comparative studies of unsteady flow experiments and numerical simulations. Comparison between measured data and model simulations show generally good agreement.


(IETF), its areas, and its working groups. Note that other groups may also distribute working documents as Internet-Drafts. Internet-Drafts are draft documents valid for a maximum of six months and may be updated, replaced, or obsoleted by other documents at any time. It is inappropriate to use Internet-Drafts as reference material or to cite them other than as "work in progress." To learn the current status of any Internet-Draft, please check the "1id-abstracts.txt" listing contained in the Internet-Drafts Shadow Directories on ftp.is.co.za (Africa),


the article discusses the possibilities for nanotechnology regulation applied to food and biofuels. in this sense, we seek to study the risks and hazards of this junction, as well as some alternative regulatory taking as reference formulas, not derived from the State and the Legislature, but coming from international agencies, the companies involved and programs voluntary compliance with the rules and principles already in place, but not directly related to nanotechnology. thus, the study address law possibilities to join the perspectives opened by the Nanotechnology revolution, encouraging the fulfillment of standards which have mainly focused on the health and safety of human and environmental preservation. KEyWoRds: nanotechnology, food, biofuels, regulation Doi: 10.3395/vd.v1i4.69pt


: A test system for enzyme immunoassay of antibodies to Bacteroides melaninogenicus has been developed. The authors describe a method for the preparation of the protein and polysaccharide antigens with the use of ultrasonic, lysozyme, and beta-naphthol treatment. A total of 105 blood serum samples, 46 samples of gingival blood and gingival fluid from patients with maxillofacial phlegmons and periodontitis were examined, making use of the 1 +/- 3 omega index (from the values in healthy donors). The results evidence statistically significant difference in antibody levels of patients from whom B. melaninogenicus were isolated and of those with the negative results of bacteriologic analysis. The titers of antibodies to B. melaninogenicus in the blood and gingival fluid of patients with periodontitis were in good correlation.


We compare measurements of radially sheared azimuthal plasma flow based on time delay estimation (TDE) between two spatially separated Langmuir probes, Mach probes and laser induced fluorescence (LIF). TDE measurements cannot distinguish between ion fluid velocities and phase velocities. TDE and Mach probes are perturbative, so we compare the results against LIF, a non-perturbative, spatially resolved diagnostic technique that provides direct measurements of the ion velocity distribution functions. The bulk ion flow is determined from the Doppler shift of the Argon absorption line at 668.6139 nm. We compare results from all the three diagnostics, at various magnetic fields, which acts as a control knob for development of drift wave turbulence. We find that while Mach probes and LIF give similar profiles, TDE measurements typically overestimate the velocities and are also sensitive to the drift wave modes being investigated.


AIM
To review the latest data available concerning the diagnosis and treatment of adults with attention deficit hyper-activity disorder (ADHD).

DEVELOPMENT AND CONCLUSIONS
A number of different instruments for evaluating ADHD have been adapted to the adult patient and allow a reliable diagnosis of the disorder to be reached. Semi-structured interviews, like the Diagnostisch Interview Voor ADHD 2.0 (DIVA), simplify the task of performing a rigorous evaluation of both the symptoms of the disorder in adulthood and the dysfunctions generated by ADHD. Quick screening instruments that allow better detection of ADHD in adults, such as the Adult Self-Report Scale 1.1 (ASRS), have been validated. In recent years, there has been a notable increase in the number of studies focused on ADHD in adults and that research has provided solid data regarding the safety and effectiveness of different treatments. According to the recommendations of the European Consensus statement by the European Network Adult ADHD, the treatment ought to be multimodal, which means combining pharmacological interventions with psychological and psychosocial ones. Methylphenidate displays a high degree of effectiveness and safety in the treatment of adults at doses of around 1 mg/kg/day. Amphetamines, such as lisdexamphetamine, have also proved to be effective in the treatment of adults with ADHD. Among non-stimulant treatments, atomoxetine has proved to be effective and safe in adults in doses of about 80-100 mg/day. Excellent studies have been conducted on the cognitive-behavioural treatment of adults with ADHD, the results of which highlight its effectiveness in both the short and the long term.


Sunshine, beaches, the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, theatre, art, music, oysters, beer, football, horse racing, and a favourable exchange rate—Sydney seems a tourist's paradise. We local physicians aren't sure that it's a paradise for us. Had this letter been written in the mid-1960s, it would have described a variety of health services that met the needs of all Australians and that remunerated physicians adequately. A letter in the mid-1970s would have described a new scheme that made little difference to health services, but considerably decreased general practitioners' incomes. This letter records the latest scheme, which has seriously damaged the delivery of health services and eroded the incomes of all physicians. Medicare, financed by a compulsory levy on income, started in 1983. It covers all charges at state hospitals and medical services at physicians' offices. Additional insurance for private hospital accommodation charges is permitted. But private insurance for physicians' fees


Ab-initio molecular dynamics simulations and transmission infrared spectroscopy are employed to characterize the structure of water networks in defect-functionalized microporous zeolites. Thermodynamically stable phases of clustered water molecules are localized at some of the defects in zeolite Beta, which include catalytic sites such as framework Lewis acidic Sn atoms in closed and hydrolyzed-open forms, as well as silanol nests. These water clusters compete with ideal gas-like structures at low water densities and pore-filling phases at higher water densities, with the equilibrium phase determined by the water chemical potential. The physical characteristics of these phases are determined by the defect identity, with the local binding and orientation of hydroxyl moieties around the defects playing a central role. The results suggest general principles for how the structure of polar solvents in microporous solid acids is influenced by local defect functionalization, and the thermodynamic stability of the condensed phases surrounding such sites, in turn, implies that the catalysis of Lewis acids will be influenced by local water ordering.


Purpose of review We review current evidence about organizational structures, patient selection criteria, safety measures, economic considerations, quality management, and staffing challenges in ambulatory anesthesia. The focus is on the facilitators and barriers related to the peri-interventional period and the potential concepts and innovations for the future development of ambulatory anesthesia services. Recent findings Recent findings shed light on organizational structures in ambulatory anesthesia, including hospital-based centers, freestanding ambulatory centers, and office-based practices. Patient selection for ambulatory anesthesia involves a two-step process, considering both surgical and anesthetic factors. Safety measures, such as standardized guidelines and scoring systems, aim to ensure patient well being during the perioperative course. Economic considerations pose challenges due to the complexities of managing operating room efficiency and the variations in reimbursement systems. Quality management in ambulatory anesthesia emphasizes the need for outcome studies and patient-centered quality indicators. Staffing requirements necessitate highly skilled professionals with both technical and nontechnical skills, and structured education and training are essential. Summary Ambulatory anesthesia is gaining importance due to advancements in surgical techniques and peri-interventional care. The review highlights the need for addressing challenges related to organizational structures, patient selection, patient safety, economic considerations, quality management, and staffing in ambulatory anesthesia. Understanding and addressing these factors are crucial for promoting the further development and improvement of ambulatory anesthesia services.


Objective: The objective of this study was to rank U.S. occupations by worker morbidity. Methods: From 1986 through 1994, morbidity information was collected on over 410,000 U.S. workers who participated in the National Health Interview Survey, an annual household survey representative of the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population. A multivariate adjusted logistic regression morbidity summary score was created for each worker group based on seven indicators: days of restricted activity, bedrest, and missed work in the previous 2 weeks; doctor visits and hospitalizations in the previous 12 months; reported health conditions; and health status. Results: Worker groups reporting the greatest morbidity included social workers, inspectors, postal clerks, psychologists, and grinding machine operators; worker groups reporting the least morbidity included dentists, pilots, physicians, pharmacists, and dietitians. Conclusions: These findings aid in the identification of worker groups that require increased attention for morbidity research and prevention.


Agricultural activities mostly food crop production are climate dependent, as change in the ideal plant requirement may affect the overall yield and productive capacity of the crop. The study examined farmers' perception on the effect of climate change and variations on urban agriculture in Ibadan Metropolis. Data were obtained through the administration of 145 copies of structured questionnaire to farmers in two prominent urban agricultural communities of Odogbo Barracks and Eleyele. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods. The result showed that 89.6% of the respondents held the opinion that climate is changing and that variability in climatic conditions had become more pronounced in the past five years. The perceived effects of climate variations were increase in temperature, reduction in number of rain days, increase in rain storms and occurrence of floods. The multiple regression result revealed that farmers' socio-economic characteristics (education, sex, age, income and length of farming experience) had no significant influence on their perception of the effect of climate variations on urban agriculture. The study further showed that farmers' perception of climate change significantly influenced the way they responded to variations in climate. The study therefore suggested the immediate adoption of irrigation and mulching as mitigating measures to cope with the phenomenon instead of the complete reliance on rain-fed agriculture.

 Key words: Farmers' perception, coping strategies, perceived effects, climate variations, mitigating measures, ibadan, multiple regression analysis.


Natural languages are the ultimate knowledge representation languages. Everything that can be expressed in any artificial language or notation can be expressed with equal precision in a natural language. For many applications, however, artificial languages can be more concise or better tailored to the requirements. A key to understanding the relationships between natural languages and artificial languages is Wittgenstein's theory of language games: the semantics of a natural language consists of the totality of all possible language games that can be played with a given syntax and vocabulary, but an artificial language is designed for a single language game. The lexical ambiguities of natural languages result from the option of using and reusing the same words in multiple ways in multiple games. Those ambiguities can be eliminated by restricting the discourse to a single language game or a limited set of closely related games called a sublanguage. This talk will present examples that illustrate these points, discuss their implications, and suggest an approach that can relate Wittgenstein's insights to current research in linguistics and knowledge


We illustrate the abilities of an advanced full-field optical coherence microscope (FF-OCM) setup for characterization of technical materials with internal micro-structures and present this technique also for dynamic process monitoring, as strain-stress tests. Additionally we briefly illustrate the potential of image processing in context of the chosen applications. Furthermore, contrast modification techniques based on Fourier plane filtering are discussed.


This short note establishes explicit and broadly applicable relationships between persistence-based distances computed locally and globally. In particular, we show that the bottleneck distance between two zigzag persistence modules restricted to an interval is always bounded above by the distance between the unrestricted versions. While this result is not surprising, it could have different practical implications. We give two related applications for metric graph distances, as well as an extension for the matching distance between multiparameter persistence modules.


Currently, plenty of sensitive electronic devices are installed in secondary circuits in substations and power plants. Electronic devices may malfunction and become damaged owing to electromagnetic disturbances caused mainly by lightning surges. To protect electronic devices properly, it is useful to predict electromagnetic transient phenomena and evaluate the effectiveness of lightning protection methodologies. Recently, the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method, which is one of the full-wave numerical approaches, has become a very powerful tool for analyzing electromagnetic transient phenomena in 3-D structures and grounding systems. In this article, first, we study the modeling of protection relay units and instrument transformers for FDTD-based surge simulations. Second, using an FDTD-based electromagnetic transient simulation code, we model a test platform of a gas-insulated switchgear (GIS), instrument transformers, and a control cable above a grounding grid. By applying a surge voltage to the center conductor of the GIS model, we calculate the transient voltage in the GIS model, the transient response of the grounding grid, and the induced voltage on the control cable, and compare the calculated results with measured waveforms for validation.


Abstract. Triple oxygen isotopes (17O-excess) of water are useful to trace
evaporation at the soil–plant–atmosphere interface. The 17O-excess
of plant silica, i.e., phytoliths, inherited from leaf water, was previously
calibrated in growth chambers as a proxy of atmospheric relative humidity
(RH). Here, using a model–data approach, we examine the parameters that
control the triple oxygen isotope composition of bulk grass leaf water and
phytoliths in natura, at the O3HP experimental platform located in the French
Mediterranean area. A grass plot was equipped to measure for 1 year, all
environmental and plant physiological parameters relevant for modeling the
isotope composition of the grass leaf water. In particular, the triple
oxygen and hydrogen isotope composition of atmospheric water vapor above the
grass was measured continuously using a cavity ring-down spectrometer, and
the grass leaf temperature was monitored at plot scale using an infrared
(IR) radiometer. Grass leaves were collected in different seasons of the
year and over a 24 h period in June. Grass leaf water was extracted by
cryogenic vacuum distillation and analyzed by isotope ratio mass
spectrometry (IRMS). Phytoliths were analyzed by IR–laser fluorination–IRMS
after chemical extraction. We showed that the traditional Craig–Gordon
steady-state model modified for grass leaves reliably predicts the triple
oxygen isotope composition of leaf water during daytime but is sensitive to
uncertainties on the leaf-to-air temperature difference. Deviations from
isotope steady state at night are well represented in the triple oxygen
isotope system and predictable by a non-steady-state model. The
17O-excess of phytoliths confirms the applicability of the
17O-excessphyto vs. RH equation established in previous growth
chamber experiments. Further, it recorded average daytime RH over the growth
period rather than daily RH, related to low transpiration and silicification
during the night. This model–data approach highlights the utility of the
triple oxygen isotope system to improve the understanding of water exchange
at the soil–plant–atmosphere interface. The in natura experiment underlines the
applicability of 17O-excess of phytoliths as a RH proxy.


Feature reduction denotes the group of techniques that reduce high dimensional data to a smaller set of components. In remote sensing feature reduction is a preprocessing step to many algorithms intended as a way to reduce the computational complexity and get a better data representation. Reduction can be done by either identifying bands from the original subset (selection), or by employing various transforms that produce new features (extraction). Research has noted challenges in both directions. In feature selection, identifying an "ideal" spectral band subset is a hard problem as the number of bands is increasingly large, rendering any exhaustive search unfeasible. To counter this, various approaches have been proposed that combine a search algorithm with a criterion function. However, the main drawback of feature selection remains the rather narrow bandwidths covered by the selected bands resulting in possible information loss. In feature extraction, some of the most popular techniques include Principal Component Analysis, Independent Component Analysis, Orthogonal Subspace Projection, etc. While they have been used with success in some instances, the resulting bands lack a physical relationship to the data and are mostly produced using statistical strategies. We propose a new technique for feature reduction that exploits search strategies for feature selection to extract a set of spectral bands from a given imagery. The search strategy uses dynamic programming techniques to identify 'the best set" of features.


Viruses and their hosts have co-evolved for million years. In order to successfully replicate their genome, viruses need to usurp the biosynthetic machinery of the host cell. Depending on the complexity and the nature of the genome, replication might involve or not a relatively large subset of viral products, in addition to a number of host cell factors, and take place in several subcellular compartments, including the nucleus, the cytoplasm, as well as virus-induced, rearranged membranes. Therefore viruses need to ensure the correct subcellular localization of their effectors and to be capable of disguising from the cellular defensive mechanisms. In addition, viruses are capable of exploiting host cell activities, by modulating their post-translational modification apparatus, resulting in profound modifications in the function of cellular and viral products. Not surprisingly infection of host cells by these parasites can lead to alterations of cellular differentiation and growing properties, with important pathogenic consequences. In the present hot topic highlight entitled "Reprogramming the host: modification of cell functions upon viral infection", a number of leading virologists and cell biologist thoroughly describe recent advances in our understanding of how viruses modulate cellular functions to achieve successful replication and propagation at the expenses of human cells.


News is one of the most essential requirements from the beginning of the history, it is anything that is exciting, that narrates to what's happening in the world, what's happening in areas of the nation that would be of interest to the particular audience. With the invention of media people get to know about the current situation of the country as well as the whole world through it. But because of the complex routines of life they are not able to allocate much time to listen news. Internet has transformed the boundaries of news with fast and easy access. But still people bothered about the validity of the news they heard. To become a good news it should be clear, precise and brief. This paper reports the design and implementation of the "Intelligent News Reader" application which can be known as a great solution to the busy scheduled users concerning their thirst of news. Basically this product is based on the natural language processing, text to speech conversion, which converts the characters in words into audio format that sounds just as the words are spoken. News which is needed for the software is taken from the prominent news websites with the use of web parsers. The news taken from the websites are finally converted into a meaningful format, which can be easily captured by the users. Keywords— Web Scrapping, HTML parsing, Text to Speech Conversion, Text comparison algorithm


Abstract Recent developments in heat exchanger design for the air-conditioning and refrigeration industry are reviewed. Particular attention is placed on describing recent developments in heat transfer enhancement on the refrigerant side for evaporation and condensation applications. Both shell-side and tube-side refrigerant enhancement are covered. Data from a number of experimental studies are presented for commercially available surfaces.


An experimental investigation of the combined influence of flow pulsation and modified duct surface on cross-flow transport and convective heat transfer intensification in laminar flow was carried out. The experiments were performed with a fluid with a kinematic viscosity of 1.8x10-6 m2/s and Prandtl number of Pr = 15. The active length L of the channel is 900 mm and lateral extension is W = 90 mm. Pulsation amplitude (A range of 0.28 mm – 0.53 mm) was used together with pulsation frequency (range of 16 Hz ? f ? 54 Hz). A steady flow Reynolds number range of 100 < Re < 600 was studied. All the geometric parameters of the device such as the relative fin spacing and relative fin thickness were constant. The results of the flow visualization showed recirculation eddies formation when flow pulsation and fins are combined. This enhances the mixing of the fluid within the channel. The intensification of the heat transfer coefficient due to pulsation and use of fins becomes more significant with increasing pulsation amplitude. The combined influence of flow pulsation and modified surface geometry on the heat transfer coefficient was found to be significant at moderately low but non-zero net flow rates or Peclet number Pe. Maximum heat transfer intensification of 2.4 was obtained. In general, no significant heat transfer was obtained at very low and very high flow rates.


Background— The novel phosphate binder sevelamer has been shown to prevent the progression of aortic and coronary calcification in uremic patients. Whether it also decreases the progression of atheromatous plaques is unknown. The aim of our study was to examine the effect of sevelamer administration on the development of atherosclerosis and aortic calcification in the uremic apolipoprotein E–deficient mouse as an established model of accelerated atherosclerosis. Methods and Results— Female mice were randomly assigned to 4 groups: 2 groups of nonuremic mice (sevelamer versus control) and 2 groups of uremic mice (sevelamer versus control). Sevelamer was given at 3% with chow. The increases in serum phosphorus concentration and calcium-phosphorus product observed in uremic control mice were prevented by sevelamer. Serum total cholesterol was increased in the 2 uremic mouse groups and remained unchanged in response to sevelamer. After 8 weeks of sevelamer treatment, uremic mice exhibited a significantly lower degree of atherosclerosis (P<0.001) and vascular calcification than uremic control mice. Of interest, sevelamer exerted an effect on both intima and media calcification (P=0.005) in uremic mice. Among possible mechanisms involved, we found no evidence for the modulation by sevelamer of inflammation or selected uremic toxins. In contrast, nitrotyrosine staining as a measure of oxidative damage was significantly decreased in response to sevelamer treatment in control and uremic mice (P<0.005). Conclusions— Sevelamer delays not only vascular calcification but also atherosclerotic lesion progression in uremic apolipoprotein E–deficient mice. It opens the possibility of a cholesterol-independent action of sevelamer on atheroma formation via effects on mineral metabolism, oxidative stress, or both.


The project aimed to propose a prototype of a mobile car rental system that is secured and enabled users to reserve the vehicle they wanted. The proposed mobile car rental system has been replaced by the traditional way of renting vehicles. General functions such as adding, editing and removing information will be added to the mobile app. Other features such as login, direct call and send email, direct location, check vehicle availability, check vehicle reservation, and so on will be added to the mobile app. The app also allowed users to view the rental car available, make payment for the rental car using a credit card that ensures that users do not have to be physically present at the rental company just to see what rental car they want to rent. Instead, users could browse the car rental list through the Mobile Car Rental System, no matter how many times, and then decide which car to choose and proceed for payment process. On the other hand, the app also allowed admin to have full control over the app where admin could add, edit, and remove any car information at any time.


We report the observation of low-frequency oscillations (LFOs) in the range 165-180 MHz in a 1.5-MW 110-GHz gyrotron operating in 3-mus pulses. The oscillations have been measured by a capacitive probe located just before the entrance to the cavity. The LFOs are observed only in a narrow region of beam parameter space, at voltages between 45 and 60 kV, where no microwave emission occurs. When the gyrotron operates near 96 kV, with high output power, they are not seen. The variation of the frequency of the oscillations with electron beam voltage and magnetic compression was measured, and the results are reported. Time-domain analysis of the probe signal shows the influence of the beam current and cathode voltage on the time of onset of the oscillations. The amplitude of the time-domain signal indicates that the trapped electron current associated with the LFOs represents a few percent of the total electron current.


For several years in the Finnish city of Oulu, if you could touch it, you could tag it. Tagging technology turned up in schools, parking meters and shopping catalogues. Elderly residents could touch a mobile phone to a menu card to order their meals-on-wheels service for the day, instead of phoning in. The city's department of education let workers use their mobile phones as office keys. And children at Hintta primary school didn't have to shout out when it came to taking the register each morning, instead checking in by touching their name badges to the teacher's mobile. The enabling technology was the near-field communication (NFC) protocol.


Abstract Male sterility is widely used in the production of hybrid seeds in rice, but the use of genic male sterility is limited because of the high labour cost for maintaining male‐sterile lines. Previous studies using T‐DNA insertional mutagenesis demonstrated that disrupting the expression of oxophytodienoic acid reductase 3 (OPR3), which is involved in the jasmonate biosynthesis pathway, results in a kind of male sterility that can be restored to fertility by exogenous jasmonate in Arabidopsis. Here, we created male‐sterile mutations by editing the second and fourth exons of OsOPR7 in rice through clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR‐associated system 9. The induced mutagenesis at these exons resulted in 31.8% and 23.9% male‐sterile plants in the T0 generation, respectively. We screened male‐sterile lines that can be restored to fertility by exogenous methyl jasmonate in the T0, T1 and T2 rice populations and characterized the anther and agronomic traits of the transgenic plants. Results showed the successful generation of male‐sterile lines through the silencing of OsOPR7, the orthologous gene of Arabidopsis OPR3, in a field crop, paving the way for the establishment of a two‐line system for rice hybrid production. The system consists of a male‐sterile line that can be maintained by spraying methyl jasmonate and a restoring line that confers pollen.


Korea Purpose: A cutaneous wound healing requires a well - orchestrated integration of the complex biological and molecular events of cell migration and proliferation, extracellular matrix deposition, angiogenesis and remodeling. Finally, skin regeneration is the main goal. Stem cells are self - renewing multipotent progenitors with the broadest developmental potential in a given tissue at a given time. The aim of this study was to examine the role of stem cells during the wound healing process of cutaneous burn in hairless mice by using immunohistochemical stainings (nestin, cytokeratin 15 and CD31). Methods: Each mouse received 2 burns at the dorsal area by applying a metal stick heated in boiling water. Burn wound sites were dressed with duoderm. The mice were sacrificed at 0, 2, 7, 14 and 21 days after burn. Histological findings and immunohistochemical expression for stem cell markers were observed. Results: Nestin was expressed in the stromal cells beneath the epidermis, hair follices, dermal cysts and endothelial cells. Cytokeratin 15 was expressed in the epidermis except in basal cells. On 7 and 14 days after burn, the regenerated epidermis didn't express cytokeratin 15. CD31 was expressed in the endothelial cells on 7 and 14 days after burn. The amount of nestin expression was the highest. Conclusion: Our results showed that nestin may have various effects on burn wound healing. Cytokeratin 15 was expressed before burn and after burn. It is likely that other cytokeratin may stimulate epithelial regeneration. CD31 may act in vascular regeneration during burn healing. (J Korean Surg Soc 2010;79:1 -


The generally accepted method of splenectomy in distal resection of the pancreas in considered unjustified. In division of the main splenic arteries the spleen is vascularized by the short gastric arteries and veins and numerous collateral vessels. The author's propositions are confirmed by 15-year clinical experience.


This study considers the design of surface-mounted permanent magnet electrical machines for high-speed applications and proposes a methodology to determine the maximum achievable power density. Power density is usually improved by increasing rotational speed. At high speed, a mechanical retaining system for the rotor magnets must be considered. As the speed increases, the thickness of the retaining sleeve becomes larger, reducing torque capability. There will be an optimal speed at which the output power will be maximised. Both structural and electromagnetic design must be considered simultaneously to properly address this design problem. To simplify the design procedure, static finite-element simulations are used for the electromagnetic analysis and analytical formulae are employed for retaining sleeve sizing. The procedure is aided by multi-objective optimisation algorithms. A case study based on the specification of an aeronautical actuator is presented. The performances that can be obtained using different iron cores, high-grade silicon steel, and cobalt iron steel are compared. Finally, results obtained from transient finite-element electromagnetic and structural analysis are presented to validate the feasibility of the proposed procedure.


Pulmonary function studies were carried out in 13 patients in whom the diagnosis of a central (laryngeal or tracheal) stenosis was confirmed by endoscopy. Following lung function tests were performed: static lung volumes (VC, RV, TLC), FEV1.0 and FIV1.0, flow-volume loops of forced expiratory and forced inspiratory vital capacity efforts from which PEFR and PIFR, maximal expiratory (VEmx50) and maximal inspiratory flow at 50 per cent of vital capacity (VLmx50) were measured, Raw, helium mixing time and pharmacological test with acethylcholine. FIV1.0 values and flow-volume loops permitted the classification of the patients into 3 groups: 1. fixed obstruction (6 cases): decrease in about equal proportions of maximal expiratory and inspiratory flows (FEV1.0 and FIV1.0); normal FEV1.0/FIV1.0 ratio; 2. extrathoracic variable obstruction (1 case): predominant decrease in maximal inspiratory flows (FIV1.0). FEV1.0/FIV1.0 ratio is twice as normal; 3. intrathoracic variable obstruction (5 cases): exclusive or predominant reduction in maximal expiratory flows, as in COPD but with the difference that the expiratory limb of the V:V loop showed an excessive reduction in PEFR, a plateau in the midzone of the VC and a terminal portion with normal configuration. Raw was almost always increased, RV sometimes, helium mixing time was prolonged only in presence of COPD or lobar stenosis; pharmacological tests were negative in 3 out of 4 cases. Pulmonary function abnormalities did not allow a prognosis of the nature of the underlying lesion. The severity of the obstruction as evaluated by endoscopic examination was not related to the functional disturbances. In one case no functional alterations were found despite a severe tracheal stenosis.


Two new compounds, pulveraven A (1) and pulveraven B (2), as well as vulpinic acid (3) and its previously unreported polymorph were isolated from the fruiting body of Pulveroboletus ravenelii. The structures were determined using a combination of NMR, MS, IR, optical rotation, molecular modeling, and X-ray analysis. The isolates were evaluated for antimicrobial activity as well as their potential to inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX) activity and carcinogen-induced preneoplastic lesion formation with mouse mammary organ culture (MMOC).


Electronic commerce is becoming more important along with fast progress of the Internet and information technology, many customers use e-cash instead of real cash in wide. An e-cash is issued by a bank with a fixed face-value. The face-value of the ecash is usually not fitted with actual amount, and it is inconvenient for customers to use. Moreover, it consumes huge amounts of computing resources and difficult to engage in electronic commerce with mobile devices for limited computing capability. This paper proposes a novel payment system with smart mobile devices, wherein customers are not limited to purchase e-cash with the fixed face-value. The amount of every transaction is deducted directly from the customer's account, eliminating the inconvenience of fixed face-value of the e-cash, and reducing online computation cost of a bank. Using a technique of trapdoor hash function to mitigate the computational cost, our system can be used with the mobile devices effectively.


ObjectiveTo clarify the relation between D-dimer and in-hospital mortality of acute aortic dissection, a meta-analysis was performed by summarizing all relevant studies.MethodsAll related studies were retrieved and identified in PubMed and Embase databases. Precise data was extracted from standard articles, such as sample size, odds ratio, and 95% confidence interval. Then pooled odds ratio (OR) accompanying 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using random model. Study heterogeneity examined by Q text and I2 statistic. Sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the stability of the results. Publication bias was assessed by Egger's test. ResultsTen studies (1954 patients) that met the inclusion criteria were included in this review. The results suggested a link between D-dimer and in-hospital mortality of acute aortic dissection (OR=1.17 95%CI=1.08-1.27). With higher of cutoff value of D-dimer, the closer for the mortality of AAD, with ORs (95% CIs) ranging from 1.13(1.09–1.16) to 4.12 (1.56–10.93). The relationship was also found in six Type A AAD studies without heterogeneity (OR=1.13 95%CI=1.08-1.18). According to sensitivity analysis, the link was stable after exclusion of one study at a time. Publication bias was find among studies (P=0.02). ConclusionsThe result of this meta-analysis indicated that D-dimer maybe a predictor in-hospital mortality of acute aortic dissection patients. What's more, the higher of cutoff value of D-dimer, the stronger for the predictive ability.


Though health benefits to households in developing countries from antiretroviral treatment (ART) programs are widely reported in the literature, specific estimates regarding impacts of treatments on household incomes are rare. This type of information is important to governments and donors, as it is an indication of returns to their ART investments, and to better understand the role of HIV/AIDS in development. The objective of this study is to estimate the impact of a community-based ART program on household incomes in a previously underserved rural region of Uganda. A community-based ART program, based largely on labor contributions from community volunteers, was implemented and evaluated. All households with HIV/AIDS patients enrolled in the treatment programme (n = 134 households) were surveyed five times; once at the beginning of the treatment and every three months thereafter for a period of one year. Data were collected on household income from cash earnings and value of own production. The analysis, using ordinary least squares and quantile regressions, identifies the impact of the ART program on household incomes over the first year of the treatment, while controlling for heterogeneity in household characteristics and temporal changes. As a result of the treatment, health conditions of virtually all patients improved, and household incomes increased by approximately 30% to 40%, regardless of household income quantile. These increases in income, however, varied significantly depending on socio-demographic and socio-economic control variables. Overall, results show large and significant impacts of the ART program on household incomes, suggesting large returns to public investments in ART, and that treating HIV/AIDS is an important precondition for development. Moreover, development programs that invest in human capital and build wealth are important complements that can increase the returns to ART programs.


On June 12, 1992, the U. S. Department of Energy Oak Ridge Operations Office and the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region IV signed a Federal Facility Compliance Agreement (FFCA) to regulate the treatment of wastes governed by the Land Disposal Restrictions (LDR) of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Compliance Requirement 5 of the agreement states that `. . . DOE shall submit to EPA for review and approval a plan for the treatment of the LDR prohibited wastes identified in Appendices 1B, 2B, and 3B. This plan must identify the treatment strategy for such wastes to meet LDR treatment standards and must include a schedule, not to exceed two (2) years after the submittal of this plan (i.e., March 1995), for the evaluation and prioritization of treatment method options, treatability studies, if required, and technology development. The FFCA divided the mixed wastes currently stored on the Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR) into two categories. Appendix A listed those wastes for which existing treatment methods and facilities exist. Appendix B listed wastes for which no identified treatment methods or facilities exist on the ORR.


Recently Chen et al. have proposed a RFID access control protocol based on the strategy of indefinite-index and challenge-response. They have claimed that their protocol provides optimal location privacy and resists against man in the middle, spoofed tag and spoofed reader attacks. However, in this paper we show that Chen et al. protocol does not provide the claimed security. More precisely, we present the following attacks on the protocol: 1. Tag impersonation attack. 2. Reader impersonation attack. 3. Location traceability attack. All attacks presented in this paper have the success probability of '1' on the cost of only one or two runs of protocol. keyword RFID, Access Control, Spoofed Reader Attack, Authentication, Desynchronization Attack.


The accuracy of an entity's accounting operations is achieved only through a clear record of all the accounting information and proper management of the threats to which they are subject. Conceiving some strategies that aim to limit the accounting risks is the main approach in enhancing the entity's performance and presenting a loyal image.


This research discusses the practice of preceptorship in Residency Programs in Family
and Community Medicine of Rio de Janeiro. In 2012, a new process was initiated in the
program for residents and instructors. The resident has assumed, under supervision, the
duties of a family health team physician, and the instructor has diminished assisting
activities, in order to enhance their responsibilites in the process of practice-learning for
the resident. The main objective of this research was to create an in-depth study of the
teaching methods of these programs, based on the training of the instructor in his or her
work schedule, and in his or her duties. Comprehensive and qualitative research has
been accomplished. The techniques of focus groups were utilized, and a survey given
with closed questions, for the development of a general profile of the instructors. Three
focus groups were formed, with 15 instructors present, from 4 different Residency
Programs in Family and Community Medicine of RJ. Note that the instructor's work
schedule is not yet fully developed, due to various external factors in the vocational
training. In the instructor's Schedule – beyond the training activities and the
accompanying resident – the coordination of services and activities related to technical
issues has been identified. Instructors will end up also assuming responsibility for the
medical care, as well as support for the resident and the health services as a whole. In
relation to the resident, the supervision of the individual clinical care remains the central
activity of the instructor. As for the necessary attributes for preceptorship, note that
there is still a lack of conceptual appropriations in relation to the pedagogical
discussion, in spite of having identified experients in active methodologies of hands-on
learning. As for the issue of being a technical reference, having professional
competency in a specialized field is assumed as an attribute of the instructor. At the
same time, it is critical the idea of completion of training. A misunderstanding has been
identified in relation to the responsibility for ethical training of the residents. Doubts
exist among instructors regarding their importance and relationship to the education
process of the learner.


Abstract A review of the sequence stratigraphic development of the Tertiary basins of the North and West Alpine Foreland domains shows that their structural and depositional history was episodically affected by brief tectonic phases. These were associated with intermittent deformation events induced by the collisional convergence and compressional coupling of the Apulian and Iberian microplates with the European Plate. The plate kinematics-related episodicity was essentially isochronously recorded in the basin fills of the Alpine Foreland region. These are generally correlative with changes in eustatic sea level. The ensuing correlative successions of so-called Cenozoic Rift and Foredeep (CRF) sequences and phases can be traced throughout the European Cenozoic Rift System and Alpine Foreland Basin. Their temporal correlation indicates that, apparently, the changes in the plate collision-related stress regime of the Alpine Foreland were repeatedly accompanied by coeval changes in eustatic sea level. To test and substantiate the validity of this inferred causal relationship between intraplate deposition, plate kinematics and eustacy, the tectono-sedimentary evolution of the basins of the Mediterranean plate-boundary zone has been analysed in conjunction with a review of the plate-boundary events in the North Atlantic. Within the uncertainty range of available datings, synchroneity could thus be demonstrated for the punctuated tectonostratigraphic development of basins of the western Mediterranean (comprising the Liguro-Provençal Basin, Valencia Trough, Sardinia Rift and Tyrrhenian Basin), the Apenninic-Calabrian Arc, the Betic domain (including the Alboran Basin) and the North and West Alpine Foreland regions. Similar temporal correlations of plate tectonicsrelated events near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the North Atlantic and tectonostratigraphic sequences and phases of the Alpino-Pyrenean Foreland basins are further evidence of a common causal mechanism. The driving mechanisms appear to have been the northward drift of Africa and the resulting mechanical coupling of Apulia and Iberia with the southern passive margin of Europe, as well as the stepwise opening of the North Atlantic and accompanying episodic plate re-organisations of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.


Advances in display technologies could soon make wearable mid-air displays---devices that present dynamic images floating in mid-air relative to a mobile user---available. Such devices may enable new input and output modalities compared to current mobile devices, and seamlessly offer information on the go. This paper presents a functional prototype for the purpose of understanding these modalities in more detail, including suitable applications and device placement. We first collected results from an online survey identified map navigation as one of the most desirable applications and suggested placement preferences. Based on these rankings, we built a wearable mid-air display mockup consisting of mobile phone, pico projector, and a holder frame, mountable in two alternative ways: wrist and chest. We then designed an experiment, asking participants to navigate different urban routes using map navigation displayed in mid-air. For map navigation, participants ranked wrist-mount safer than chest-mount. The experiment results validate the use of a wearable mid-air display for map navigation. Based on our online survey and experiment, we offer insights and recommendations for the design of wearable mid-air displays.


The purpose of this Conference is to present the main lines of base projects that are founded on research already begun in previous years. In this sense, this manuscript will present the main lines of research in Diabetes Mellitus type 1 and Machine Learning techniques in an Internet of Things environment, so that we can summarize the future lines to be developed as follows: data collection through biosensors, massive data processing in the cloud, interconnection of biodevices, local computing vs. cloud computing, and possibilities of machine learning techniques to predict blood glucose values, including both variable selection algorithms and predictive techniques.


The Social Cognition and Object Relations Scale (Westen, Barends, Leigh, Mendel, & Silbert, 1990) was used to assess four dimensions of object relations in the descriptions of relationship episodes of 41 men and 40 women entering psychotherapy and reporting physical abuse in their marital or partner relationships on the Conflict Tactics Scale (Straus, 1979) and in a matched group of 13 men and 13 women reporting no partner violence. Object relations levels were lower for men and women in the abusive relationships group. No differences were found between men and women in either relationship group. The findings provide empirical support for a hypothesis developed in the clinical literature of object relations impairment among both partners in abusive relationships.


The recent shocks in global prices of cereals and the spillover effects of trade restrictive policies adversely affected domestic markets, particularly in the net food importing countries such as Afghanistan. This paper investigates the effects of 2007–2008 spikes in global wheat prices on the dynamics of price transmission and long-run equilibrium relationship between global and domestic wheat markets. The findings indicate that domestic and global wheat markets may be cointegrated in Regime-I (pre-break), Regime-II (post-break) and the overall sample period. Moreover, the elasticity of price transmission and speed of adjustment towards the long-run equilibrium are substantially different between the two regimes, i.e., they appear to be larger in Regime-I as compared to Regime-II. Similarly, the effect of a shock in global wheat prices on domestic wheat markets might be long-lasting in Regime-I but transitory in Regime-II. This research underlines the need for mitigating the adverse effect of spikes in global wheat prices on domestic wheat markets in the context of a landlocked net food importing country.


Platelet-type von Willebrand disease (PTVWD) is a bleeding disorder in which an increase of function mutation in glycoprotein Ibalpha (GPIbalpha), with respect to binding of von Willebrand factor (VWF), results in a loss of circulating high molecular weight VWF multimers together with a mild-moderate thrombocytopenia. To better ascertain the specific perturbations in adhesion associated with this disease state, we performed a detailed analysis of the kinetic and mechanical properties of tether bonds formed between PT-VWD platelets and the A1-domain of VWF. Results indicate that the GPIbalpha mutation, Gly233Val, promotes and stabilizes platelet adhesion to VWF at shear rates that do not support binding between the native receptor-ligand pair due to enhanced formation and increased longevity of the mutant tether bond (k0 off values for mutant versus native complex of 0.67 +/- 0.11 s-1 and 3.45 +/- 0.37 s-1, respectively). By contrast, the sensitivity of this interaction to an applied force, a measure of bond strength, was similar to the wild-type (WT) receptor. Although the observed alterations in the intrinsic properties of the GPIbalpha-VWF tether bond are comparable to those reported for the type 2B VWD, distinct molecular mechanisms may be responsible for these function-enhancing bleeding disorders, as interactions between the mutant receptor and mutant ligand resulted in a greater stability in platelet adhesion. We speculate that the enhanced cellular on-rate together with the prolongation in the lifetime of the mutant receptor-ligand bond contributes to platelet aggregation in circulating blood by permitting the formation of multiple GPIbalpha-VWF-A1 interactions.


OBJECTIVE: To determine whether mobility therapy is associated with central or peripheral catheter-related adverse events in critically ill patients in an ICU in Brazil. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the daily medical records of patients admitted to the Clinical Emergency ICU of the University of São Paulo School of Medicine Hospital das Clínicas Central Institute between December of 2009 and April of 2011. In addition to the demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients, we collected data related to central venous catheters (CVCs), hemodialysis (HD) catheters and indwelling arterial catheters (IACs): insertion site; number of catheter days; and types of adverse events. We also characterized the mobility therapy provided. RESULTS: Among the 275 patients evaluated, CVCs were used in 49%, HD catheters were used in 26%, and IACs were used in 29%. A total of 1,268 mobility therapy sessions were provided to patients while they had a catheter in place. Catheter-related adverse events occurred in 20 patients (a total of 22 adverse events): 32%, infection; 32%, obstruction; and 32%, accidental dislodgement. We found that mobility therapy was not significantly associated with any catheter-related adverse event, regardless of the type of catheter employed: CVC-OR = 0.8; 95% CI: 0.7-1.0; p = 0.14; HD catheter-OR = 1.04; 95% CI: 0.89-1.21; p = 0.56; or IAC-OR = 1.74; 95% CI: 0.94-3.23; p = 0.07. CONCLUSIONS: In critically ill patients, mobility therapy is not associated with the incidence of adverse events involving CVCs, HD catheters, or IACs.


We present a simple module calculus where selection and execution of a component is possible on open modules, that is, modules that still need to import some external definitions. Hence, it provides a kernel model for a computational paradigm in which standard execution (that is, execution of a single computation described by a fragment of code) can be interleaved with operations at the meta-level, which can manipulate in various ways the context in which this computation takes place. Formally, this is achieved by introducing configurations as basic terms. These are, roughly speaking, pairs consisting of an (open, mutually recursive) collection of named components and a term representing a program running in the context of these components. Configurations can be manipulated by classical module/fragment operators, hence reduction steps can be either execution steps of the program or steps that perform module operations (called reconfiguration steps). Since configurations combine the features of lambda abstractions (first-class functions), records, environments with mutually recursive definitions and modules, the calculus extends and integrates both traditional module calculi and recursive lambda calculi. We state confluence of the calculus, and propose different ways to prevent errors arising from the lack of some required component, either by a purely static type system or by a combination of static and run-time checks. Moreover, we define a call-by-need strategy that performs module simplification only when needed and only once, leading to a generalisation of call-by-need lambda calculi that includes module features. We prove the soundness and completeness of this strategy using an approach based on information content, which also allows us to preserve confluence, even when local substitution rules are added to the calculus.


Different from traditional chemotherapy, NK cell adoptive immunotherapy has a lower incidence of severe toxicity, better tolerance, and can improve the quality of life and prolong the survival period of patients. NK cells play an important role in innate and acquired immunity. In this paper, the phenotype of natural killer (NK) cells expanded in vitro was observed, and the killing effect and mechanism of NK cells on different breast cancer cell lines were discussed. The average contents of NK cells, natural killer T cells (NKT cells) and T lymphocytes were (73.5 ± 11.2)%, (18.7 ± 10.6)%, (4.2 ± 0.7)%, respectively. The positive rates of NKG2D, NKp30, NKp44 and dnaX helper molecule 1 (DNAM-1) were (81.3 ± 5.1)%, (82.1 ± 5.4)%, (21.6 ± 2.5)% and (81.3 ± 3.7)%, respectively. The killing rates of NK cells to MDA-MB231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells were (60.5 ± 1.0)% and (62.5 ± 3.2)% respectively. After amplification, NK cells express some activated molecules, which can kill breast cancer cells. The increased antitumor activity of NK cells may be related to the high expression of these activated molecules.


Spread of technology has already mastered most aspects of human life including trade, one of the oldest areas of human work. Following the progress, business has moved to the Internet. That resulted with automation of all its aspects and processes. The aim of this article is to show, basing on the literature of the subject, some of the chosen tools supporting process of electronic negotiations and its characteristics, including the most important functions.


This report documents the project management of Question Based Assessment in Tutorial Dialogues, which was initiated to provide a solution to evaluation needs of professional or educational training environments.

The introduction presents the software, describes the background of the project which describes the motivation of the software project explaining that organisation may need a way to evaluate the focus ability their staff or student, the scope of the project. It presents the topics offered to software users. The Aims section covers what the software is and does. Technologies used such as Server2G0, AIML, PHP and JavaScript to achieve the project are also presented.

The next chapter is concerned with the background of the project. It brings details on why I have decided to work on this particular, revealing the needs for an organisation to value the ability of their resources and to be able to found if such employee can focus on a particular topic, guiding management on what needs to be corrected or applied.

The following chapter relates to the system section and identifies the potential the requirements such as functional, data, user, environment and usability requirement associated with the various concepts of the system. This chapter provides details on design and architecture of the project. It shows how the system works, its design and components tables for the various concepts developed. This section describes the implementation of the software and its code. Testing covers the evaluation of the various mechanisms. Finally others aspects of the system such as the Graphic User Interface layout, customer testing and evaluation are covered.

The conclusion describes the advantages, disadvantage, opportunities and limits of the system.

The next chapter is about further development or research carried out.

The end of the report will also provide you with the bibliography and the various appendixes.


Different fibronectin (FN) isoforms arise via alternate splicing of a single gene transcript in a celland tissue-specific manner. Antibodies were used to evaluate the presence and distribution of FN and its isoforms in Dupuytren's diseased and normal palmarfascia. Immunolocalization studies show extracellular FN fibrils, including FN isoforms containing extra domains A (A-FN) and B (B-FN), in proliferative and involutional stage Dupuytren's diseased tissue. However, B-FN appears less abundant and more restricted in its distribution as compared to AFN or total FN. Total FN and A-FN are significantly reduced in residual tissue, while B-FN is not present. A-FN and B-FN are not present in normal palmar fascia, while total FN staining is slight and restricted to the loose connective tissue surrounding the large, parallel bundles of collagen fibers. The presence of A-FN and B-FN in Dupuytren's diseased palmar fascia represents a disease-induced appearance of these FN isoforms and further evidence of an association between Dupuytren's disease and wound healing. (J Hand Surg 1994;19A: 428-434.)


Tang, S.X., Zou, Y., Wang, M., Salem, A.Z.M., Odongo, N.E., Zhou, C.S., Han, X.F., Tan, Z.L., Zhang, M., Fu, Y.F., Huang, S.Q., He, Z.X. and Kang, J.H. 2013. Effects of exogenous cellulase source on in vitro fermentation characteristics and methane production of crop straws and grasses. Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology, 13: 489-505. In vitro fermentation experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of 3 sources of exogenous cellulase products (EC) at 4 dose rates (DR) (0, 12, 37 and 62 IU/g of DM) on degradation of forage and methane production by mixed rumen micro-organisms of goats. The maximum gas production (Vf) of grasses was higher (P<0.001) in Neocallimastix patriciarum (NP) group than those in Trichoderma reesei (TR) and Trichoderma longibrachiatum (TL) groups. Quadratic increases in dry matter degradation (DMD) of forage and neutral detergent fiber (NDFD) of straw were observed for all EC, with optimum DR in the low range. Supplementation of EC originated from TR and NP increased (P<0.001) DMD of forage compared to that from TL. Addition of EC originated from TR and NP also decreased pH value, ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) and methane (CH4) production compared to that from TL. Quadratic decreases in pH value, NH3-N and CH4 of forage were noted for EC of TR and NP, and with optimum DR in the low range. For short chain fatty acid, the EC of NP increased total volatile fatty acid (TVFA) and acetate concentration and the ratio of acetate to propionate of forage compared with EC of TL and TR, and with optimum DR in the low to medium range. It was concluded that the source of EC differed in fiber degradation and methane emission, and with optimum DR of TR in the low range (from 12 to 37 U/g DM) in improving fiber degradation and decreasing methane emission.


Many studies available in the literature focus mainly on the mechanical characterization of fiber, leaving out other physicochemical and thermogravimetric analyses that allow for establishing its potential as an engineering material. This study characterizes fique fiber for its potential use as an engineering material. The fiber's chemical composition and physical, thermal, mechanical, and textile properties were analyzed. The fiber has a high holocellulose content and low lignin and pectin content, indicating its potential as a natural composite material for various applications. Infrared spectrum analysis revealed characteristic bands associated with multiple functional groups. The fiber had monofilaments with diameters around 10 μm and 200 μm, as determined by AFM and SEM images, respectively. Mechanical testing showed the fiber could resist a maximum stress of 355.07 MPa, with an average maximum strain at which breakage occurs of 8.7%. The textile characterization revealed a linear density range of 16.34 to 38.83 tex, with an average value of 25.54 tex and a regain of 13.67%. Thermal analysis showed that the fiber's weight decreased by around 5% due to moisture removal in the range of 40 °C to 100 °C, followed by weight loss due to thermal degradation of hemicellulose and glycosidic linkages of cellulose ranging from 250 to 320 °C. These characteristics suggest that fique fiber can be used in industries such as packaging, construction, composites, and automotive, among others.


This paper presents the great and challenging experience of offering a new course for Electrical Engineering students. The course, which is offered in two versions one for senior level and the other is for graduate level students, is titled: Geo-Signal Processing, with emphasis on processing of seismic data that are used to reveal the Earth's layered structure from a digital signal processing prospective. The two versions of the course were offered at the department of Electrical Engineering in collaboration with the Earth Sciences Department both at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals.


Nineteen consecutive patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome underwent electrophysiologic study 7-39 days (mean 11 days) after operative division of their accessory pathways. All patients had a poor response to medical management before surgery. The results from 16 adult patients were compared with published control data. There was no difference between control and postoperative groups in the effective refractory period (ERP) and functional refractory period (FRP) of the atria. The ERP of the atrioventricular (AV) node was significantly shorter in the postoperative group than in the control group with pacing cycle lengths 450-549 msec (275 ± 46 msec vs 336 ± 41.7, p>0.01) and 350-449 msec (244 ± 32 msec vs 333 i 30.3, p>0.01). At all cycle lengths the FRP of the AV node was significantly shorter in the postoperative group than in the control group. In addition, conduction time over the AV node during fixed-rate atrial pacing was at least 100 msec shorter in the postoperative patients than in controls.Retrograde conduction was present in 11 of 18 patients and the A-H interval in sinus rhythm was shorter in these patients than in those without conduction in the retrograde direction (52 ± 16.5 msec vs 70 + 8.6 msec, p>0.01). We assessed retrograde conduction by measuring the ventriculoatrial conduction time during fixedrate pacing of the right ventricle at progressively shorter cycle lengths. Seven of 11 patients showed > 20-msec increases in ventriculoatrial conduction time at cycle lengths down to 300 msec. Two patients showed no increase in ventriculoatrial conduction time down to cycle length 240 msec. We think these findings represent rapid conduction in the retrograde direction over the specific conduction system rather than the presence of a residual accessory pathway. In eight of 11 patients the sequence of atrial activation during ventricular pacing was determined by endocardial mapping and was consistent with atrial activation over the AV node.We conclude that accessory pathways may be divided without damaging the normal conduction system in selected patients. Moreover, the refractory periods of the AV node may be shorter and conduction faster in some patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome than in normal people. These abnormal electrophysiologic parameters may account for the rapid rate of tachycardia observed in these selected patients whose tachyarrhythmias were refractory to medical therapy.


Abstract Aims The EdoxabaN vs. warfarin in subjectS UndeRgoing cardiovErsion of atrial fibrillation (ENSURE-AF) (NCT02072434) study was a multicentre prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded-endpoint evaluation (PROBE) trial comparing edoxaban with enoxaparin/warfarin followed by warfarin alone in 2199 non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients undergoing electrical cardioversion and showed comparable rates of bleeding and thromboembolism between treatments. This prespecified ancillary analysis investigated the impact of edoxaban therapy on treatment satisfaction and utilization of healthcare services. Methods and results The Perception of Anticoagulant Treatment Questionnaire (PACT-Q2) was completed by study patients on Day 28 post-cardioversion. Higher scores represent greater satisfaction. Healthcare resource utilizations were collected from randomization to Day 28 post-cardioversion. Data from patients who received at least one dose of study drugs were analysed. Patients treated with edoxaban were more satisfied than enoxaparin/warfarin in both PACT-Q treatment satisfaction and convenience scores (P < 0.001 for both). Differences in treatment satisfaction scores were greater in patients who underwent non-transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE)-guided cardioversion than in patients who underwent TOE-guided cardioversion. Edoxaban was associated with fewer clinic visits (4.75 visits vs. 7.60 visits; P < 0.001) and fewer hospital days (3.43 days vs. 5.41 days; P < 0.05). Rates of hospitalizations and emergency room visits were not significantly different. Overall, edoxaban therapy was estimated to reduce healthcare costs by €107.73, €437.92, €336.75, and $246.32 per patient in German, Spanish, Italian, and US settings, respectively. Conclusions The convenience of edoxaban therapy over warfarin in patients undergoing cardioversion may provide greater treatment satisfaction and cost savings to the healthcare system.


Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder characterized by loss of motor neurons in the ventral horn of the spinal cord. Clinical features such as progressively lethal respiratory weakness and associated muscle wasting have been extensively studied but less attention has been given to gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction, which is common symptomatology in SMA patients with 43% constipation, 15% abdominal pain, and 14% meteorism. In the current study, the PrP92-SMN mouse model of SMA was utilized, to complement previous studies in which cells of the Enteric Nervous system (ENS) were susceptible to Smn (survival motor neuron) deficiency and could possibly be the basis of the observed GI symptoms. Necropsy of our mouse model showed impairment in feces excretion and smaller bladder mass, compared to Wild-Type (WT) animals. Along with the reduction in bladder mass, we also observed a decrease in the size of smooth muscles, due to reduction in Cross-Sectional Area (CSA). Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) provide important regulatory functions in the GI tract. To investigate if ICC are implicated in Smn deficient-induced colonic dysmotility, we assessed ICC distribution and abundance, by c-Kit, a well-established marker. SMA mice exhibited fewer c-Kit positive cells with altered localization, compared to WT. In conclusion, the observed histopathological abnormalities of our mouse model, can be secondary to SMN deficiency and could possibly underlie the GI symptoms observed in SMA patients. Future therapeutic approaches for SMA, must address not only CNS symptoms, but also non-motor-neuron-related symptoms. The PrP92-SMN mouse model could be a useful model for assessing therapeutic rescue of GI dysfunction in SMA.


Background: Multiple factors influence the survival of patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Specifically, the therapeutic outcomes of treatments and the probability of recurrence of the disease differ among patients with the same stage of LUAD. Therefore, effective prognostic predictors need to be identified. Methods: Based on the tumor mutation burden (TMB) data obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, LUAD patients were divided into high and low TMB groups, and differentially expressed glycolysis-related genes between the two groups were screened. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and Cox regression were used to obtain a prognostic model. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and a calibration curve were generated to evaluate the nomogram that was constructed based on clinicopathological characteristics and the risk score. Two data sets (GSE68465 and GSE11969) from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) were used to verify the prognostic performance of the gene. Furthermore, differences in immune cell distribution, immune-related molecules, and drug susceptibility were assessed for their relationship with the risk score. Results: We constructed a 5-gene signature (FKBP4, HMMR, B4GALT1, SLC2A1, STC1) capable of dividing patients into two risk groups. There was a significant difference in overall survival (OS) times between the high-risk group and the low-risk group (p < 0.001), with the low-risk group having a better survival outcome. Through multivariate Cox analysis, the risk score was confirmed to be an independent prognostic factor (HR = 2.709, 95% CI = 1.981–3.705, p < 0.001), and the ROC curve and nomogram exhibited accurate prediction performance. Validation of the data obtained in the GEO database yielded similar results. Furthermore, there were significant differences in sensitivity to immunotherapy, cisplatin, paclitaxel, gemcitabine, docetaxel, gefitinib, and erlotinib between the low-risk and high-risk groups. Conclusion: Our results reveal that glycolysis-related genes are feasible predictors of survival and the treatment response of patients with LUAD.


'Risk' has long been at the centre of expert and popular perceptions of transmissible and stigmatised blood-borne viral infections, such as HIV and viral hepatitis. There is a substantial body of research on transmission risk among couples with mixed viral infection status (serodiscordance). But we know very little about how families affected by HIV and viral hepatitis engage with understandings of infectiousness and how these shape family relationships in different ways. Guided by cultural theories of risk that build on Mary Douglas' work, we draw on qualitative interviews to explore the 'performativity' of risk in serodiscordant families in Australia. We show how the 'doing' of risk could be constitutive of difference, which unsettled the family connection or deepened existing fault lines. Conversely, the 'undoing' of risk enabled the preservation of the family bond by rejecting difference and reframing risk as an external threat to the family in the form of stigma. We conclude that risk in the context of serodiscordant families had relational implications far beyond viral transmission and consider what our findings might mean for service provision and health promotion campaigns related to blood-borne viruses.


Study Design. Prospective study. Objectives. To document immediate and late changes in shape and balance of the thoracic and lumbar spine and lower rib cage on the frontal plane induced by treatment with a thoracolumbosacral orthosis (TLSO). Summary of Background Data. The effect of TLSO on lateral plane of spinal deformity, frontal lower rib cage, trunk balance, and natural history are poorly understood. Methods. Twenty-four female adolescents with major thoracic and/or lumbar scoliosis, averaging 30° and 26°, respectively, were treated with a full-time TLSO program. Scoliosis, kyphosis, convex, and concave rib–vertebral angles T7 to T12, frontal trunk balance, frontal vertebral inclination, rotation and translation from T7 to L4-vertebrae were measured before bracing, 1 month after bracing, and biannually thereafter in brace and without brace for a 4-year period and reevaluated at the age of 20 years, at an average of 3.5 years after termination of bracing to measure any permanent changes. Results. Thoracolumbosacral orthosis treatment corrected both thoracic and lumbar scoliosis and reduced lateral trunk shift at the expense of significant, although temporary reduced physiological thoracic kyphosis, increased lateral displacement of T7 to T10, increased frontal inclination of L2 to L4, and elevation of the apical concave rib in favor of reduction of lateral displacement of T11 to L4; decreased frontal inclination of T7, T9, and T11; and derotated L1 and L2 and thoracic apical vertebra without affecting drooping of the 7th to 12th ribs. In this series, there was marked inconsistency in the obtained changes in several of the roentgenographic parameters in the different evaluations, which is probably because of the empiric application of the TLSO during different periods of treatment. 3.5 years after termination of TLSO-wearing, all roentgenographic parameters remained to the prebrace values. Conclusions. Thoracolumbosacral orthosis program maintained the measured roentgenographic parameters at the prebrace levels in progressive adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, but it had no effect on the droop of the seven lower ribs. The TLSO treatment stopped progression of scoliosis and reduced the number of patients requiring surgery. Thus, it changed the natural history of scoliosis.


Memory effects in quantum dynamical processes involving structured environments are presently difficult, if not impossible, to investigate using standard approaches. Progress can be made by transforming the environmental variables to a suitable chain representation which effectively performs a Markovian embedding of the dynamics. Here, we show that this effective-mode chain representation provides a unique way of unraveling the memory kernel κ(t) as a function of time. Truncated or Markov-closed chains with n effective modes exactly reproduce κ(t) to the 4nth order in time, up to an irrelevant constant of order κ(0)/n. These favorable convergence properties pave the way for efficient quantum simulations of fast (non-Markovian) processes by reduced dynamical models.


This work presents the fabrication of rewritable and highly stable photonic patterns with high spatial resolution and applications in data storage and display panels, based on direct-pressure-programmed polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) and polyurethane acrylate (TAPU) copolymer shape memory photonic crystals (SMPCs). Because of the existence of cross-linked polyurethane units and reversible plastic strain on the nanoscale, PEGDA-co-TAPU SMPCs exhibit high optical reversibility, excellent stability, and direct pressure-induced programming ability at room temperature. By taking advantage of these characteristics, various rewritable and highly stable photonic patterns are accurately fabricated at high resolution via imprinting lithography under ambient conditions. Notably, multiple optical microarray patterns can be created by sequential imprinting. These created photonic patterns are used as novel optically readable media for optical data storage and display panels by designing macro/microstructures. The SMPCs provide a new optical platform for the fabrication of rewritable and highly stable photonic patterns. Meanwhile, we anticipate that these photonic patterns could be further extended to the development of reusable photonic devices and sensors.


OF DISSERTATION EVALUATING STATE POLICY INTERVENTIONS FOR OPIOID ABUSE AND DIVERSION: THE IMPACT ON CONSUMERS, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, AND THE U.S. MARKET FOR PRESCRIPTION OPIOIDS Prescription opioid pain reliever utilization has been increasing since the 1990s, due in part to changes in recommendations for the treatment of chronic pain, but also to abuse and diversion. One innovative policy solution to the abuse and diversion of prescription opioids is state prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs), which provide prescribers and other selected parties with patient controlled substance dispensation history; thereby, correcting an information asymmetry problem between prescribers and patients. The widespread implementation of state PDMPs, which vary in program design and requirements, has resulted in a variety of intended and unintended consequences. Previous PDMP evaluations have suggested such outcomes as the reduction of consumer access to opioids, the influencing of healthcare provider prescribing behaviors for opioids, and the re-shaping of the United States market for prescription opioids. PDMPs may also be associated with unintended outcomes: namely, the restriction of pharmaceutical opioids could be associated with an increase in heroin use, as evidenced by increases in heroin substance abuse treatment facility discharges. The analyses in this project examine the influence of PDMPs on healthcare providers and the market for prescription drugs by comparing trends in opioid utilization in states with varying PDMP features using Medicaid prescription utilization data and commercial insurance claims. The effect of PDMPs on consumers is explored with an analysis comparing substance abuse treatment facility discharge data for heroin abuse with pharmaceutical opioid prescriptions before and after PDMP regulatory change. Finally, the impact of other related opioid policy interventions, opioid overdose medication access laws, are analyzed by comparing opioid overdose mortality across states with differing overdose medication access policies over time. Contributions to the understanding about the impacts of these state-level opioid abuse and diversion policies can be used to improve or amplify intended outcomes and ameliorate unintended consequences.