In this study, the separation efficiency of wind power selector (the direction of the air flow of the air to perform gravity separation method) of municipal solid waste which was landfilled was investigated to reduce amount of waste that is designed to increase the recycling rate of wastes for the ANSYS CFX Program's numerical methods with wind through the separator. When a suction device designed to suction 1000mL of a plastic bag, the separation efficiency was 100% and when the wind speed was 0.9 m /sec or more and when the wind speed was 1.6 m / sec or more, the efficiency of plastic bottles in a mixture of 500mL and 1500mL plastic bottle waste was 100% and the aluminum screening efficiency of 250mL aluminum can was 100 % when the wind speed was 2.3 m / sec. In the last, 5mm thick compressed aluminum can efficiency was 90 % when the wind speed was 2.4 m / sec.


ABSTRACT Cognitive flexibility is crucial for adaptation and is disrupted in neuropsychiatric disorders and psychopathology. Human studies of flexibility using reversal learning tasks typically contrast error trials before and after reversal, which provides little information about the mechanisms that support learning and expressing a new response. However, animal studies suggest a specific role in this latter process for the connections between the dorsal striatum and the centromedian parafascicular (CM-Pf) thalamus, a system which may recruit the striatal cholinergic interneurons, but which is not well understood in humans. This study investigated the role of this system in human probabilistic reversal learning, specifically with respect to learning a new response strategy, contrasting its function to that of the better understood orbitoftontal-striatal systems. Using psychophysiological interaction (PPI) analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data we show that connectivity between the striatum and both the lateral orbitofrontal cortex (lOFC) and CM-Pf pathways increased during reversal, but not initial learning. However, while the strength of lOFC-striatal connectivity was associated with the speed of the reversal, the strength of CM-Pf-striatal connectivity was associated specifically with the quality of the reversal (reduced regressive errors). These findings expand our understanding of flexibility mechanisms in the human brain, bridging the gap with animal studies of this system.


Molecular-dynamics calculations of the translational dynamic structure factor in liquid CO2 and CD4 are analyzed by means of the generalized Langevin equation for the intermediate scattering function in the second-order memory function approximation. We give a rigorous general relation among the decay times of the memory and the lifetimes of the modes of the density-density correlation function. The comparison of the various characteristic times among them and with the collision time, carried out as a function of the wave vector, reveals strong relationships between the memory relaxation and the density-density correlation modes, some of which have purely "collisional" and other "collective" character. We show that essential information about the life time of structural properties in a molecular liquid at nanometer dimensions can be obtained if the time behavior of the correlation function is considered in addition to that of the memory function.


The large-N behaviour of matrix theory is discussed on the basis of the previously proposed generalized conformal symmetry. The concept of `oblique' AdS-CFT correspondence, in which the conformal symmetry involves both the spacetime coordinates and the string coupling constant, is proposed. Based on the explicit predictions for two-point correlators, possible implications for the matrix-theory conjecture are discussed.


Background: The teaching process in universities had faced several challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. As most universities have shifted to online learning, this study aimed to assess nursing students' satisfaction with online learning during the pandemic. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study; it was conducted among nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors used an adopted online questionnaire to assess students' satisfaction. The data were analyzed by SPSS software. Results: The study found that nursing students age was mainly between 22-24 years (78.9%), both male (46.1%) and female (53.9%) students. The nursing students' satisfaction with online learning during COVID-19 was moderate (23.68%) to high (64.47%). A significant relationship was observed between students age and sex with satisfaction levels in online learning with a p-value less than 0.05. Conclusions: The study showed that the nursing students were satisfied with an online learning experience. Female students and those who are between 22-24 years have significantly higher levels of satisfaction.


Abstract A feedback control design method for (min, +)-linear continuous systems is proposed. The controller is proportional, the resulting control law increases the tracking performance of the system while minimizing the Work In Process (WIP). As in classical system theory, the tuning of the controller is very simple. Additive disturbances acting upon the system are also considered.


The interaction of cyanobacterial biomass (Plectonema boryanum UTEX 485) with aqueous palladium(II) chloride (PdCl2 degrees ) has been investigated at 25-100 degrees C for up to 28 days. We report that the release of organic materials from the cyanobacteria promoted the precipitation of Pd(0) as crystalline spherical and elongate nanoparticles (< or =30 nm), both in solution and as dispersed and encrusted nanoparticles on cyanobacterial cells. In contrast, under abiotic conditions at 100 degrees C, palladium hydride (PdHx) was the principal palladium phase precipitated, with only minor amounts of palladium metal.


Descriptions of poorly differentiated thyroid carcinomas, tumors with outcomes midway between that associated with well-differentiated and anaplastic carcinomas, have been prominent in the literature of the recent past. The neoplasms are characterized by the finding of poorly differentiated areas within papillary and follicular carcinomas. The work of Sakamoto clearly separates a group of poorly differentiated carcinomas, based on outcomes, from well-differentiated and anaplastic forms by the identification of schirrous, solid, and trabecular areas within papillary and follicular carcinomas. However, the presence of similar areas within more "benign" forms of papillary and follicular carcinomas may obviate the easy identification of such neoplasms in daily practice. This article presents a refinement of Sakamoto's classification and although suffering from the same limitations, may be of some practical value.


In this paper, we discuss whether, and to what extent, open innovation is a relevant perspective for policymakers seeking to foster innovation and entrepreneurship. Our analysis and discussion are structured around the authors' evaluation of a publicly co-sponsored industry incubator programme that focuses on theoretical ideas from the open innovation model. Based on our empirical example, we conclude that open innovation policies may be implemented through a hands-on approach, in which the ultimate goal is to preserve and retain knowledge that has an economic value to society, but which large corporations choose not to exploit. By acting as open innovation intermediaries, the publicly supported incubators in our example were able to transfer knowledge from large firms to society. Most of these activities would not have taken place without the incubators, suggesting a high degree of additionality.


Intrathecal triple chemotherapy (ITT) with hydrocortisone, methotrexate, and cytarabine is commonly used in treatment of pediatric acute leukemias. While prolonged systemic administration of corticosteroids is known to suppress the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, there have been no reports describing this effect following administration of ITT. We present an infant with relapsed acute myelogenous leukemia who developed clinically significant central adrenal axis suppression following six doses of ITT over 3 weeks, proven by corticorelin stimulation test. As multiple pediatric leukemia protocols incorporate ITT, particularly in infants, we feel that ITT should be considered as a potential source of adrenal axis suppression. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2010;55:386–389. © 2010 Wiley–Liss, Inc.


Several animal models have been developed to study the pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection and to evaluate vaccines and therapeutic agents for this emerging disease. Similar to infection with SARS-CoV-1, infection of Syrian hamsters with SARS-CoV-2 results in moderate respiratory disease involving the airways and lung parenchyma but does not lead to increased mortality. Using a combination of immunohistochemistry and transmission electron microscopy, we showed that the epithelium of the conducting airways of hamsters was the primary target for viral infection within the first 5 days of infection, with little evidence of productive infection of pneumocytes. At 6 days postinfection, antigen was cleared but parenchymal damage persisted, and the major pathological changes resolved by day 14. These findings are similar to those previously reported for hamsters with SARS-CoV-1 infection. In contrast, infection of K18-hACE2 transgenic mice resulted in pneumocyte damage, with viral particles and replication complexes in both type I and type II pneumocytes together with the presence of convoluted or cubic membranes; however, there was no evidence of virus replication in the conducting airways. The Syrian hamster is a useful model for the study of SARS-CoV-2 transmission and vaccination strategies, whereas infection of the K18-hCE2 transgenic mouse results in lethal disease with fatal neuroinvasion but with sparing of conducting airways.


Rationale/background Advance care planning (ACP) is recognised as being key to improving end of life care. A high proportion of people feel comfortable talking about death and dying but historically conversations have been left until a palliative diagnosis or not done at all. Families are often left to guess and make difficult decisions about care and treatment when a loved one loses capacity. Objective Aims of the project include the development of tools, a training programme and resources to help transform professional and public attitudes to ACP and reduce the barriers, including a lack of resources, limited public awareness and professional hesitancy. Method An assessment of local recording systems led to the development of a new template to simplify the creation of ACPs on the electronic patient record system. A public ACP booklet has been produced for anyone to record their wishes and preferences and to raise the profile of ACP. Training has commenced at the hospice, in care homes and at other locations, to improve competence. Results The electronic template is operational and has also been adopted by GPs and district nurses. The hospice is leading by example, aiming to offer 100% of appropriate patients an ACP conversation. The new ACP booklet is available to download online or pick up from various outlets. 200 people have attended ACP training at the hospice: evaluations demonstrate an improvement in knowledge and confidence. Conclusion It is likely that the role of hospice staff will change from creating ACPs to reviewing existing documents when patients are referred. There is no 'right time' to start an ACP, but whether in good health or not, nobody is immune from sudden illness or accidents; an ACP can help ensure everyone receives care and treatment in line with their wishes and preferences.


Canatoxin is a protein isolated from jackbean (Canavalia ensiformis), seeds. Injected intraperitoneally, the toxin is lethal to mice but it is inactive if given orally. Canatoxin is also lethal when fed to insects with cathepsin-based digestion while insects with trypsin-based digestion are not affected. The hypothesis that canatoxin is proteolytically activated by cathepsins was investigated. Experiments were performed with 4(th) instar and adult Rhodnius prolixus fed meals containing canatoxin (2.5 microg/mg weight body). While 100% of nymphs died, no effect was observed in adults. Hemolymph taken from nymphs and adults showed the presence of canatoxin's proteolytic fragments. Reduced lethality was seen in R. prolixus 4(th) instars fed meals containing canatoxin and inhibitors of cathepsin enzymes, E-64 (2.0 microM) or Pepstatin-A (2. 0 microM). In another approach, canatoxin was digested in vitro with enzymes from the bruchid, Callosobruchus maculatus, and the resulting peptides were tested in R. prolixus. Three groups of toxic peptides (8,000-12,000 kD range) were separated by gel-filtration. When these peptides were fed to the insects simultaneously with the cathepsin inhibitors, no protective effect was seen. These results confirm the proteolytic activation of canatoxin by insect cathepsin-like enzymes to produce entomotoxic peptide(s). Furthermore, our data point towards overlooked differences in the digestive physiology of distinct life stages of R. prolixus. Arch.


Pulsatile pressure at an artery is a collection of harmonics of the heartbeat. This study examines harmonics of pulsatile pressure at different ages and its effect on other pulsatile parameters and waveform-based clinical indices. Based on a vibrating-string model of the arterial tree, wave velocity and characteristic impedance are related to arterial stiffness and radius. Blood velocity, wall shear stress (WSS), and driving force on the left ventricle (LV) are related to pulsatile pressure. Reflection magnitude and return time are related to input impedance. These relations are applied to pulsatile pressure and blood velocity at the ascending aorta (AA) and the carotid artery (CA) at different ages in a database to calculate harmonics of all the pulsatile parameters and reflection magnitude and return time at each harmonic. Harmonics of pulsatile pressure varies with aging and between the two arteries. Reflection magnitude and return time vary between harmonics. While wave reflection manifests the arterial tree (i.e., arterial stiffness and radius) and termination, harmonics of pulsatile pressure is a combination of the LV, the arterial tree, and termination. Harmonics of pulsatile pressure dictates harmonics of WSS and affects endothelial function. Harmonics of pulsatile pressure needs to serve as an independent clinical index indicative of the LV function and endothelial function. Reflection magnitude and return time of the 1st harmonic of pulsatile pressure serve as clinical indices indicative of arterial stiffness and radius.


The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM) had a significant foothold in the Anatolian geography for the major-ity of the early 19 th century, through their sizeable human capital intervention. Through an extensive archival work, we study the impact of human capital intervention on development outcomes. Using the spatial variation in the built and functional mission stations, we find areas closer to ABCFM missions have presently higher income by 5%-17%, and higher general development index by 0.07-0.12 standard deviation in 10 km proximity. We identify the mission impact by exploiting a placebo set from the group that was conceived but not carried out, and also an exogenous re-partition of the working region as an instrumental variable strategy. The underlying mechanisms are labor productivity in the agriculture sector, which allows for greater skill differentiation and structural transformation. Gender roles in education are also significantly transformed.


Background: Capsaicin receptors are abundant in the esophagus of NERD (non-erosive reflux disease) patients. Heartburn may develop by acid stimulation of these receptors during gastroesophageal refluxes (GER) and may be improved by desensitization with capsaicin-containing chili. Objective: To determine the therapeutic effects of chronic chili ingestion on GER symptoms in NERD patients. Methods: Eight NERD patients with a positive 24 hr pH test were included. Patients were randomized to receive either chili powder in 2 gelatin capsules orally or identical-looking placebo capsules three times per day before meals (total capsaicin 2.7 mg/day in the capsaicin group) for 6 weeks, in a randomized double-blinded crossover fashion with a 6-week washout period. Heartburn, food regurgitation, epigastrium burning, epigastrium pain, abdominal fullness, nausea, chest discomfort, and early satiety symptom scores were assessed by 10-cm long visual analog scales (VAS) at week 0, 1, 2, 4, and week 6. Total symptom scores (the sum of all scores), GERD symptom scores (the sum of heartburn, acid regurgitation and food regurgitation scores), and each individual symptom score were compared between the chili treatment group and the placebo group. Two-hour postprandial acid and non-acid refluxes were evaluated in all patients at baseline and the end of treatment, using the MII-pH (Multichannel Intraluminal Impedance-pH) monitoring after ingestion of a cup of noodle soup with 2 grams of red chili powder. Results: All patients completed the study without serious adverse events. At baseline, the total symptom scores (26 ± 14 vs 22 ± 16), GERD scores (7.6 ± 3.7 vs 4.7 ± 2.8), and individual symptom score were not statistically different in the chili and the placebo groups (p >0.05). Ingestion of chili could significantly lower total symptom scores (10 ± 9 vs 20 ± 14), GERD symptom scores (0.9 ± 1.2 vs 4.9 ± 2.4), heartburn symptom scores (0.4 ± 0.6 vs 3.7 ± 1.6), and food regurgitation symptom scores (0.5 ± 0.8 vs 1.3 ± 1.6) in NERD patients compared to placebo at the end of treatment (p 0.05). The significant improvement of heartburn and food regurgitation was observed by the end of week-2, and persisted up to the end of treatment. Although the number of gastroesophageal refluxes was decreased, the numbers and the durations of the 2 hours postprandial acid and non-acid refluxes were not significantly different in the chili and the placebo groups, whether before or at the end of treatment (p >0.05). Conclusions: Chronic chili ingestion was shown in this study to improve heartburn and food regurgitation symptom in NERD patients compared to placebo, without significant effects on postprandial gastroesophageal acid/non-acid refluxes. The results suggested that capsaicin-containing red chili improved GERD symptoms mainly by its effect on esophageal sensation, rather than on the lower esophageal sphincter functions.


The effect of labetalol, an alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptor blocking antihypertensive, on plasma renin activity (PRA) and the hemodynamics of healthy volunteers at rest and during an ergometric exercise test was studied. Oral doses of 200 and 400 mg labetalol were tested against a placebo in a crossover manner. The labetalol plasma concentrations were determined. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures in the supine position decreased after 400 mg labetalol as did the response of the heart rate to exercise. The lower dose decreased the resting heart rate, but had no effect on the heart rate during exercise. The ergometric exercise induced an increase in PRA which was partly inhibited after 200 mg labetalol in a manner similar to that induced by beta-blockers in our earlier studies. After 400 mg labetalol PRA was already increased at one hour at sitting rest and this higher basal level was maintained for four hours. After this higher dose of labetalol the reaction of PRA to exercise was not significantly inhibited. In renin release the vasodilating alpha-blockade thus dominated the beta-blocking property of labetalol at the dose which decreased the blood pressure.


Water has been found to be one of the the main causes for some service breakdowns of high voltage XLPE cable terminations in Norway. Therefore, measurements of water content have been performed on oil samples taken from several oil-filled housings in service. In addition, measurements of water solubility of three actual oil types have been performed at different relative humidities and temperatures in order to detect the saturation contents. The results show that high water content in the oils in service can be present, and even liquid water was detected. The measurements of water solubility of actual oils show that condensation of water droplets can occur during service. It is therefore recommended to perform maintenance work on such installations with respect to monitor the water content of the insulating oils.


Objectives Public engagement describes different ways to share research outputs with the public. It is a two-way process that aims to generate mutual benefit, such as learning or developing better research. Storytelling is a creative and appealing tool to communicate science to the public. Research suggests narratives are easier to comprehend and audiences find them more engaging than communication methods used traditionally in the scientific community. Different mechanisms help explain this: the use of characters makes the concepts relatable to the audience; a story gives context to the audience, increasing understanding and memory re-call; and plot development can help make causal relationships apparent, helping audiences process complex information. Our aim was to use storytelling and narratives to develop engagement activities targeting the public (defined here as non-expert audiences), with the objective of explaining concepts related to Health Services Research. Method Since 2015, the Public Engagement Group at the Health Services Research Unit (HSRU) has developed storytelling activities to communicate two broad research concepts: randomised controlled trials and evidence synthesis. We created characters and built stories centred around them and the concepts we wanted to convey, through brainstorming meetings. We tested our activities in small practice runs, and refined them once they were ongoing to adapt to the public's reactions, level of understanding and enjoyment. We have added sensory elements to the stories, such as visual and sound cues to attract the attention of passers-by. We evaluated the activities using short questionnaires asking participants about their perceived level of understanding and enjoyment. Participants were also invited to leave their contact details if they were interested in learning more about a public involvement group. Results We have participated in four science festivals and have visited two local schools, engaging with over 2000 people. All our activities have involved a narrative: James Lind is the main character in our clinical trials activities to explain the randomisation process; we randomised 474 participants to two types of candy and asked how much they enjoyed it. Using costumes, balloons and randomisation bells resulted in attracting more people and catering to different learning styles. We have used Sherlock Holmes and a treasure hunt narrative to map out and describe the different steps of an evidence synthesis process to school children (aged 6–10). 232 children took part in the treasure hunt with the aim of finding out a health mystery. Questionnaire replies indicated 90% of the participants have enjoyed the activities. Over 50 citizens have signed up to be contacted for a public and participant involvement group after taking part. Conclusions We present here two successful and distinct examples of public engagement with science using storytelling and characters targeted at different audiences: adults and children. Storytelling is an effective way of engaging the public with science and explaining abstract concepts in a fun way. Using visual and sound cues attracts attention and curiosity that eventually develops into a conversation between researchers and the public. This is a first step in empowering and involving the public in the research process.


Abstract. Lipid is an important energy source and essential component for plasma and organelle membranes in all kinds of cells. Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy is a label-free and nonlinear optical technique that can be used to monitor the lipid distribution in live organisms. Here, we utilize CARS microscopy to investigate the pattern of lipid droplets in two live Caenorhabditis elegans mutants (fat-2 and fat-3). The CARS images showed a striking decrease in the size, number, and content of lipid droplets in the fat-2 mutant but a slight difference in the fat-3 mutant as compared with the wild-type worm. Moreover, a nondroplet-like structure with enhanced CARS signal was detected for the first time in the uterus of fat-2 and fat-3 mutants. In addition, transgenic fat-2 mutant expressing a GFP fusion protein of vitellogenin-2 (a yolk lipoprotein) revealed that the enhanced CARS signal colocalized with the GFP signal, which suggests that the nondroplet-like structure is primarily due to the accumulation of yolk lipoproteins. Together, this study implies that CARS microscopy is a potential tool to study the distribution of yolk lipoproteins, in addition to lipid droplets, in live animals.


BACKGROUND
Circulating free plasma DNA is implicated in conditions associated with tissue injury, including exercise-induced inflammation, and thus is a potential marker for athletic overtraining.

METHODS
We measured free plasma DNA along with C-reactive protein (CRP), creatine kinase (CK), and uric acid (UA) in 17 recreationally trained men participating in a 12-week resistance training regimen (8 resistance multi-joint exercises selected to stress the entire musculature: bench press, squat, leg press, snatch, hang clean, dead lifts, barbell arm curls, and rowing), consisting of 4 training periods (t1, t2, t3, and t4).

RESULTS
Plasma DNA concentrations increased markedly after t1, t2, and t3 and returned to baseline after t4. There were substantial differences between t2 and t1 and between t3 and t2 plasma DNA concentrations. CRP increased by 300% after t2 and by 400% after t3 (there was no difference between t2 and t3 CRP values) compared with baseline (t0). CK increased only after t3. UA increased after t2 and t3, with a greater increase after t3.

CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that, after chronic excessive resistance exercise, plasma DNA concentrations increase in proportion to training load, suggesting that plasma DNA may be a sensitive marker for overtraining-induced inflammation.


Piesberg quarry is famous for its Upper Carboniferous plant and arthropod fossils, including several holotypes of flying insects. The high degree of maturity of the Piesberg strata, such as the presence of anthracitic coal, quartzite, and large quartz crystals, led to controversies over a possible underlying thermal anomaly. The Piesberg is of further importance for correlation between the deep underground of northwestern Germany and the Ruhr basin coal field, as well as the Pennsylvanian coal areas in North America, and for investigations of Upper Carboniferous tight gas fields. The importance of the Piesberg for international geosciences has been enabled through its very rich mining history beginning in the Middle Ages and its long scientific history beginning at the end of the 18th century. Today, the Piesberg is not only one of the largest active quarry sites in Europe, but also a local recreation and hiking area. While the Museum am Scholerberg in Osnabruck protects its paleontological heritage through ongoing excavations and houses the world's largest fossil and mineral collection from Piesberg, the UNESCO Global Geopark TERRA.vita and the city of Osnabruck conserve its geological heritage and promote environmental education through the Piesberg Cultural and Environmental Park. This paper highlights the international importance of the Piesberg by compiling its fossil record and paleoenvironmental interpretations. We also present preliminary data on new floral and faunal elements found in a recently discovered lake deposit. Further, the very rich mining history is briefly outlined and geoconservation and geotouristic measures are described.


Snow properties relevant to the fracture processes involved in dry-snow slab avalanche release include weak layer specific fracture energy, slab elastic modulus and density. Various techniques exist to determine these snow mechanical properties, but it is presently unclear how values determined with different methods compare. In the laboratory, the 3-D microstructure of cm-sized snow samples is reconstructed by micro-computed tomography (μCT) so that density and elastic modulus can be computed. In the field, fracture energy and modulus are estimated based on particle tracking velocimetry (PTV) of the displacement field observed during propagation saw tests. Snow stratigraphy is measured with the snow micro-penetrometer (SMP) in either, field or laboratory. We compared SMP-derived properties to correspondingμCT- and PTV-derived values. Values of snow density related well toμCT results and so were SMP-derived elastic moduli related to PTV-derived values. By taking into account snow anisotropy a good relation between SMP- andμCT-derived moduli resulted suggesting the SMP-derived modulus characterizes the components of the modulus perpendicular to the axis of penetration. SMP- and PTV-derived values of fracture energy were correlated. The SMP can provide a bridge between scales and techniques, yet further improvements in signal interpretation are still needed.


There is no longer a nationally recognised, standardised training for nurses in sexual and reproductive health (SRH)1 but increasingly services and general practices are using the skills of nurses to deliver contraception and sexual health in clinical practice. In order to provide nurses with the competencies and skills to deliver optimum care at a recognised high standard, and having successfully piloted the use of the, then, new Diploma of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (DFSRH) components into the previous University of Reading course,1 the Nurse Leads in Berkshire decided to develop a training programme for nurses that matches that undertaken by doctors for the DFSRH qualification. The DFSRH is currently being independently reviewed by Professor Ed Peile of the University of Warwick and the Reading team and nurses fed their experiences into this review.

Nurses are identified either by direct contact with the services in East and West Berkshire or via the local nurse training commissioners. The two Nurse Leads support these nurses to access and complete all the elements of the DFSRH. After completing the e-SRH e-learning theory element, nurses attend a Course of 5 (C5) either individually, in small groups or as part of a C5 …


Once these epistemological approaches interact with the legal reasoning of the judge or interplay with the current patterns of organization featured by courts and legal institutions, the overall outcome is deeply and widely influenced by the degree of awareness actors enjoy with regard to 1) how to combine these different approaches, 2) how to make the best for the quality of justice out of this interplay 3) how to make for the laypeople and the society the use of sciences and technologies applied within the legal and justice sector. The author suggests a new model of professionalism for the XXI legal and justice sector, where different epistemological regimes enter into a virtuous dialogue.


Some p-type and n-type ZITO transparent and conductive films of 300 nm thickness, have been deposited by vacuum thermal evaporation and oxidation in air on different substrates. The electrical and optical properties of the thin films have been studied as a function of chemical composition, substrate nature and annealing conditions. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were used in order to investigate thin film structures. The electrical conductivity and transmittance of n-type thin films are higher than electrical conductivity and transmittance of p-type thin films.


Despite global momentum in restoration activities, their socio‐economic implications are little studied. Thus far, the limited evidence available tends to overlook equity and equality outcomes. In this work, we aimed at investigating fairness within the Chinese Conversion of Cropland to Forest Program (CCFP), given the relevance of local people's support for the long‐term success of land restoration and for the inherent belief that equity should be pursued also by environmental policies. Additionally, we propose a methodology to investigate equity and equality, from a quantitative perspective. Our results suggested a shift in the overall households' economic structure, with the main changes being a decrease in farming activities (−44 pp) and a sharp increase in out‐migration (+44 pp), with the most significant variation within the lowest income groups (−57 pp and + 75 pp, respectively). We also observed that both equality (the Gini coefficient decreased by 23%) and equity (higher income increase for low‐income groups) improved, and the best enhancement happened in the regions where the CCFP has been implemented for a longer time. Moreover, data showed that the main driver of inequality was households' income deriving from remittances, both before and after the Program implementation (with concentration coefficient equal to 1.1 and 1.0, respectively) but its effect decreased over time suggesting an increase in out‐migration opportunities for lower‐income households. Finally, we found that the level of participation in the Program holds a quite strong explanatory power for both on‐farm and off‐farm income (explaining 19% and 18% of their respective variability).


Question It is presumed that environmental stress is more pronounced at higher altitudes in Andean forests due to lower rates of temperature-constrained processes of growth, nutrient uptake and decomposition. Because community assembly theory predicts a low variation in viable traits under conditions of strong ecological filtering, we asked if the diversity in plant traits related to productivity and reproduction would decrease upslope. Location Guaramacal National Park in the Andes of Venezuela (9°05-21′N, 70°-20′W). Methods We studied altitudinal patterns in the number of trait states of seven categorical traits found among vascular plants (DBH ≥ 2.5 cm) in 35 0.1-ha plots between 1330 and 2890 m. Information on plant traits was obtained from literature and herbaria. To test the altitudinal correlations, we permuted the plot-to-species matrix by randomly selecting species from the entire species pool (conserving the species richness and the species-abundance pattern in each plot), applying no restrictions and by creating plot-wise null assemblages of species that most likely occurred near a particular plot. In addition, the altitudinal pattern of trait states was examined using fourth-corner analysis. Results Both null model tests yielded similar results. The trait state diversity in fruit size decreased upslope. Plants with small fruits were mostly, but not exclusively, found at higher altitudes, whereas plants with large fruits occurred only at lower elevations. Leaf size showed more states at higher altitudes but this pattern disappeared when rare leaf size classes were down-weighted. The upslope decrease in fruit size might be explained by the relatively low tree height of the upper montane rain forests, the increased selection for large seeds at high temperatures downslope, and the upslope decrease of large-leaved taxa (in view of Corner's rule). Conclusions The functional diversity of important plant traits changed with altitude at Guaramacal. Altitudinal effects on plant trait responses should be controlled for in studies that monitor the degradation of functional diversity in Andean forests in relation to human influence.


Background: This study was a national scan of education resources on integrating sex and gender considerations into research. The purpose was to assess capacity for educating researchers and to identify gaps, with implications for implementation of guidelines or mandates to consider sex and gender differences in research. Information sources were U.S. training programs in women's health and sex/gender difference research, Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health (BIRCWH), and published peer-reviewed biomedical literature. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study used multiple methods: a national survey and a comprehensive literature review. BIRCWH leaders responded to a survey regarding education on sex/gender difference research for BIRCWH scholars (response rate 100%, 20 of 20). A comprehensive literature review was conducted for 1993-2018. Results: Nearly half (45%) of BIRCWH institutions offered education on integrating sex or gender differences in clinical translational research; of those, roughly half (54%) offered in-person training and one-third (31%) offered content within existing for-credit courses. Respondents preferred online training (84%) to in-person offerings or reference materials (47% and 42% respectively). Published indexed literature on sex or gender differences has quadrupled since 1993, although growth in these publications remained flat in the most recent six years. Conclusions: Published resources to educate researchers on integrating sex and gender differences into medical research have increased, and BIRCWH programs connect scholars to national resources. Educational gaps remain due to limited access to curricula on applied research approaches, design, and methods for sex/gender difference research. BIRCWH programs desire curricula that are easily accessible online and asynchronously; sanctioned and supported by national thought leaders; linked to required training such as rigor and reproducibility; foster collaboration; and offer practical applications. Evidence-based, high-quality educational curricula and a dissemination plan are needed to enhance the adoption and integration of sex and gender into scientific endeavors.


The paper considers the design of energy-efficient online protocols for the basic problem of message transmission to hosts positioned at unknown distances in ad-hoc wireless networks. The paper formulates a number of variants of this problem and presents optimally competitive algorithms for those variants.


Too often, the vocabulary of IT justification is disconnected from the dominant business issues of the enterprise. The described framework for IT strategic planning can be used not only to align IT investments with business objectives, but also to provide clarity to enterprise business IT strategy.


Objective: To compare the efficacy of periprostatic nerve block (PPNB) alone versus periprostatic nerve block plus oral Tramadol+Paracetamol Tablet for pain control during and after transrectal ultrasound-guided (TRUS) biopsy of the prostate gland.
Methods: This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial. The authors randomized 40 male patients each to either PPNB or PPNB plus oral tramadol and paracetamol (37.5mg/325mg) an hour prior to prostate biopsy. A ten-point visual analog scale was used to measure pain intensity and was recorded upon insertion of the ultrasound probe, during the biopsy, and one hour after the procedure.
Results: The two groups were similar in terms of baseline characteristics. Reductions in pain scores were statistically significantly different (p<.001) for each group when comparing pain from at point of insertion of the probe versus during biopsy and versus one-hour post-operatively. However, when comparing the two groups, the pain scores were not statistically significantly different upon insertion of the probe (p=.68), during the biopsy (p=.26) and one-hour post-operatively (p=.54).
Conclusion: Tramadol and paracetamol combination in addition to periprostatic nerve block produces pain relief similar to standard periprostatic nerve block alone.


OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE
We report the case of a woman presenting with sudden neurological deficit, revealing a parasellar dermoid cyst. To our knowledge, this clinicopathological finding is the first reported in the literature.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION
A neurological examination of the patient revealed a left hemiparesis, including central facial palsy, which hampered her speech. The well-documented neuroradiological work-up (including computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and magnetic resonance angiography) demonstrated right frontorolandic ischemia caused by a right supra- and parasellar dermoid cyst leading to middle and anterior cerebral arterial stenoses.

INTERVENTION
Surgical intervention, using a right subfrontopterional approach, was successful. Complete dermoid cyst removal was achieved. The mechanism of the arterial stenoses is extensively discussed and is thought to result from an inflammatory reaction of the basal vessels.

CONCLUSION
The patient recovered fully. Nevertheless, postoperative magnetic resonance imaging confirmed cerebral infarction.


Building sustainable, collaborative solutions to contemporary sustainability challenges requires
a new generation of future professionals or 'change-agents,' the engagement of non-academic
stakeholders, and academic facilitation. Educational reform is needed in order to enhance
students' competencies in becoming effective sustainability professionals. Effective
collaborative platforms have the potential to contribute to such reform and also engage
societal actors and academic experts in building solutions for local, regional and global
sustainability problems. Sustainability research education and participatory sustainability research are
two complementary concepts which provide a framework to evaluate and understand the
processes and outcomes of participatory, solution-oriented projects between students,
stakeholders and academics. In this thesis, these frameworks are applied to gain insight to a
course within a Master's of Science program in Environmental Policy and Management. The
course, called Strategic Environmental Development (SED), is conducted yearly at the
International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics (IIIEE) within Lund
University in Lund, Sweden. It has been implemented for 20 years and has engaged over 500
students and dozens of societal actors around the world, ranging from municipalities to
companies. The course is based on a practical, real-world approach to learning using shortterm
projects in collaboration with professionals throughout various sectors of society and
from around the world.
The aim of this thesis is to describe the course as a phenomenon in it's implementation and
further describe and analyze the process and outcomes, structured according to the concepts
of sustainability research education and participatory sustainability research, as well as key competencies in
sustainability education. This research sought perspectives within three distinct stakeholder
groups; students, the academic institution and clients. The findings explore the causal links
between the recognized outcomes of the course (e.g. enhanced capacity and expanded
networks) to specific variables of the process (e.g. supervision, communication, course
structure, collaborative elements, and client interaction). This thesis recommends flexible and
dynamic but well-structured management, a combination of one-time projects and repeating
clients, making information clear and accessible, introducing tools to maximize student
learning, and cultivating a balance between stakeholder groups in allocating responsibility.


Background Social prescribing involves non-medical link workers addressing patients' personalised support needs, largely by connecting them with relevant voluntary and community sector services. Such schemes are particularly aimed at people with long-term health conditions, mental health issues, and other social needs which affect their health and wellbeing. Recently identified in the NHS Long Term Plan (2019) as a means by which to address health inequalities, social prescribing is currently being implemented on a large scale in the UK. Yet evidence of its effectiveness, how it is delivered and how it is received is scant. The qualitative study reported here is part of a larger mixed methods study, funded by the National Institute of Health Research (PHR Project: 16/122/33 https://research.ncl.ac.uk/nuspe/), evaluating the impact of link worker social prescribing on people with type 2 diabetes living in an area of high socio-economic deprivation. Methods Ethnographic methods comprising observation of 19 services-users, two waves of semi-structured interviews at the start and end of fieldwork (n=33), photo-elicitation interviews (n=9), and interviews with family members (n=7) were undertaken. The ethnography was conducted over 16 months (November 2018-March 2020) in a range of contexts enabling access to the daily practices of participants. Purposive sampling was used to ensure a sample of maximal variation. Data were thematically coded. Results The research illuminates the nuanced ways in which broader inequalities shape participants experience of both type 2 diabetes and social prescribing. Some participants responded to the intervention as anticipated, changed their behaviours and engaged in health-generating practices with positive results. In contrast, participants most affected by inequalities and the effects of factors such as changes to the benefits system, other long term health conditions, and poor housing, experienced multiple setbacks. Their very challenging immediate social circumstances took priority over the intervention. Importantly, while inequalities shaped participants' capacity to engage with the intervention, all participants recognised the value of the health capital offered by the intervention. Conclusion In a socio-political climate where significant 'upstream' changes continue to increase inequalities, our detailed observations reveal how such inequalities shape participants' priorities to engage with health and how social class features in this process. Our findings suggest that, despite aiming to address the effects of the wide range of social and economic factors that influence health, social prescribing operates as a 'downstream' intervention and, as such, has a limited impact on the health of the most disadvantaged.


In this issue and in the August issue of theArchivesappear two additional contributions to our knowledge of the involvement of skin in the human graft-vs-host (GvH) reaction. 1,2 Employed at first for the constitution of immunity in children with various congenital immunodeficiency disorders, the use of bone marrow transplantation was later extended to acquired deficiences, especially aplastic anemia. More recently, transplantation of bone marrow has become an essential component in the management of lymphomatous and leukemic malignancies. Hematopoietic reconstitution after destruction of malignant cells by radiation and chemotherapy has led to a remarkable improvement in prognosis for patients with these disorders. What were formerly almost uniformly lethal illnesses have now become diseases with a good chance for long-term remission, even apparent "cure." This is especially true of childhood leukemia. The GvH reaction has from the beginning been amajor obstacle to the use of bone marrow transplantation.


The article attempts to highlight the development of the unity of medicine and philosophy in the context of combating epidemics of two early Greek thinkers Epimenides and Empedocles. The idea that Epimenides adheres to the divine origin of the disease is justified, but at the same time, in the process of ritual purification from the plague, it attracts elements of the Pythagorean view of healing, as well as close to Indo-Iranian traditions of the time. It is proved that in the course of the development of ancient thought, the view of the disease also evolves "from myth to logos", which leads to the understanding of this phenomenon in Empedocles as an ontological problem. Accordingly, it has been established that, for the Sicilian philosopher, mass diseases (epidemics) are caused primarily by the fact that he is more prevalent in the world. If the society is engulfed by hatred and malice, then diseases will inevitably emerge and increase. Instead, overcoming and disappearing of epidemics are possible because peace and harmony between people will prevail. The author substantiates the thesis that helping residents to overcome epidemics in various ancient cities, testifies to the great importance of the early Greek thinkers, who combined not only reflection but also praxis.


This work presents a class of functions serving as generalized neuron models to be used in artificial neural
 networks. They are cast in the common framework of computing a {it similarity} function, a flexible definition of a neuron as a
 pattern recognizer. The similarity endows the model with a clear
 conceptual view and serves as a unification cover for many of the
 existing neural models, including those classically used for the
 MultiLayer Perceptron (MLP) and most of those used in Radial Basis
 Function Neural Networks (RBF). The possibilities of deriving new
 instances are then explored and several neuron models
 --representative of their families-- are proposed. These families of
 models are conceptually unified and their relation is clarified. In addition, the similarity view leads naturally to further extensions of the models to handle heterogeneous
 information, that is to say, information coming from sources
 radically different in character, including continuous and discrete
 (ordinal) numerical quantities, nominal (categorical) quantities,
 and fuzzy quantities. Missing data are also treated explicitly as
 such. A neuron of this class is called an {em heterogeneous neuron}
 and any neural structure making use of them is an Heterogeneous
 Neural Network (HNN), regardless of the specific architecture or
 learning algorithm. In this work the experiments are restricted to
 feed-forward networks, as the initial focus of study. The learning
 procedures may include a great variety of techniques, basically
 divided in derivative-based methods (such as the conjugate gradient)
 and evolutionary ones (such as genetic algorithms).


TreeTops True Stories are exciting, motivating non-fiction books which will broaden your pupils' reading experience. They are part of a structured reading programme for juniors. The events in this story are based on the actual events that took place in the village of Eyam, Derbyshire in 1665. Whilst the main protagonists of the story of fictional, they interact with real persons who lived and died during that terrible summer. Children will readily identify with Sarah the heroine of the story, or her younger brother and elder sister. The text is supported by historical fact about the plague and Eyam itself. Books contain inside cover notes to support children in their reading. Help with childrens reading development also available at www.oxfordowl.co.uk. This book is also available as part of a mixed pack of 6 different books or a class pack of 36 books of the same Oxford Reading Tree level.


Abstract It suggests that a high leptin level may increase the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in animal studies. However, clinical studies in this field are still largely unexplored. Our objective was to evaluate the relationship between the preoperative serum leptin levels and postoperative VTE incidence in osteoarthritis (OA) patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty (TKA) at our institute. We conducted a prospective and cross-sectional study in these OA patients from March 2014 to March 2016. Preoperative leptin levels were analyzed by Luminex assays. VTE was assessed preoperatively and on postoperative day 5 and 7. The potential risk factors for VTE were also documented. We enrolled 203 OA patients. No PE was detected and DVT was diagnosed in 34 patients postoperatively. There were significant differences between the median leptin levels in DVT group and non-DVT group [25.13 ng/mL (interquartile range, 14.51–44.31) vs 18.71 ng/mL (8.26–28.99), P = .007]. The relative risk of DVT significantly increased with natural logarithm (ln) leptin (per SD increase) (OR 2.37, 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.29–4.33, P = .005). Multivariate analyses adjusted for potential confounders showed ln leptin (per SD increase) was significantly associated with the relative risk of DVT (OR 2.17, 95% CI, 1.01–4.64, P = .046). When patients were subdivided into tertiles according to their leptin values, the OR for DVT increased with increasing tertiles of serum leptin (OR 1.03, 95% CI, 1.01–1.06, P for trend = .023). In the present study, our results indicate that a high preoperative leptin level may be an independent risk factor for postoperative DVT.


Background The study evaluated the relationship between conditioned pathogen clostridium and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) animal model. Methods SPF DBA/1 mice were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=6). Enema administration of clostridium which were from RA patients was started on 2 weeks before injection of the II collagen in Mouse and lasted for 5 weeks. Mouse was sacrificed 13 weeks after injection of the II collagen. Serum level of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-23 were observed, and four-point arthritis indexes were also assessed. Knee joints were assessed according to the histopathology. Results Arthritis incidence, the number of arthritic limbs per arthritic mouse and the arthritic severity scores were higher in CIA-Clostridium group than the CIA group after the 13 weeks of the immunization, however, the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). As compared with the CIA (TNF-α: 239.7±59.9pg/ml, IL-1β: 190.0±55.0pg/ml), the TNF-α: (301.1±19.2pg/ml, P <0.01) and IL-1β (247.2±32.0pg/ml, P<0.05) were significantly increased. Conclusions Present research suggests that Clostridium may not induce the arthritis directly. Enema administration of Clostridium may have effect on the disease, but the effect was not statistically significant. Clostridium vaccination combining collagen-induced could significantly increase the level of cytokines in peripheral blood of CIA mice, such as TNF-αand IL-1β. References Vaahtovuo, J., et al., Fecal microbiota in early rheumatoid arthritis. J Rheumatol, 2008. 35(8): p. 1500-5. Brand, D.D., K.A. Latham, and E.F. Rosloniec, Collagen-induced arthritis. Nat Protoc, 2007. 2(5): p. 1269-75. van de Loo, F.A., et al., Role of interleukin-1, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and interleukin-6 in cartilage proteoglycan metabolism and destruction. Effect of in situ blocking in murine antigen- and zymosan-induced arthritis. Arthritis Rheum, 1995. 38(2): p. 164-72. Zhang, F., G. Meng, and W. Strober, Interactions among the transcription factors Runx1, RORgammat and Foxp3 regulate the differentiation of interleukin 17-producing T cells. Nat Immunol, 2008. 9(11): p. 1297-306. Cua, D.J., et al., Interleukin-23 rather than interleukin-12 is the critical cytokine for autoimmune inflammation of the brain. Nature, 2003. 421(6924): p. 744-8. Murphy, C.A., et al., Divergent pro- and antiinflammatory roles for IL-23 and IL-12 in joint autoimmune inflammation. J Exp Med, 2003. 198(12): p. 1951-7. Disclosure of Interest None declared DOI 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-eular.1094


Mobile devices are pervasively used for a variety of tasks, including the processing of sensitive data in mobile apps. While in most cases access to this data is legitimate, malware often targets sensitive data and even benign apps collect more data than necessary for their task. Therefore, researchers have proposed several frameworks to detect and track the use of sensitive data in apps, so as to disclose and prevent unauthorized access and data leakage. Unfortunately, a review of the literature reveals a lack of consensus on what sensitive data is in the context of technical frameworks like Android. Authors either provide an intuitive definition or an ad-hoc definition, derive their definition from the Android permission model, or rely on previous research papers which do or do not give a definition of sensitive data. In this paper, we provide an overview of existing definitions of sensitive data in literature and legal frameworks. We further provide a sound definition of sensitive data derived from the definition of personal data of several legal frameworks. To help the scientific community further advance in this field, we publicly provide a list of sensitive sources from the Android framework, thus starting a community project leading to a complete list of sensitive API methods across different frameworks and programming languages.


Biological phase transitions form membrane-less organelles that generate distinct cellular environments. How molecules are partitioned between these compartments and the surrounding cellular space and the functional consequence of this localization is not well understood. Here, we report the localization of mRNA to stress granules(SGs) and processing bodies(PBs), which are distinct biomolecular condensates, and its effect on translation and mRNA degradation during the integrated stress response. Using single mRNA imaging in living human cells, we find that the interactions of mRNAs with SGs and PBs have different dynamics and that specific RNA binding proteins can anchor mRNAs within these compartments. During recovery from stress, mRNAs that were within SGs and PBs are translated and degraded at similar rates as their cytosolic counterparts.


In the context of the present thesis, we will be studying core principles of Business Process Management, and how we can take advantage of them in combination with Project Management Methodologies and modeling tools in the context of Software as a Service businesses and their development.
Initially we provide the reader with an introduction to Business Process Management, how it can be used, and how the life cycle is structured. We further define the first three phases of the life cycle to understand how this process is kickstarted, and how it can assist forward thinking and planning for a business that has not yet been created. We continue to present a short history of software in the market, from on premise to SaaS, and introduce the SaaS model in detail for the reader.
In the next stage we move on to project management practices that can be used to manage the development of a SaaS service, and which methodologies are best for that business model. We continue by introducing the maturity factor of a SaaS business by presenting two maturity models that could represent a SaaS business' growth phases.
Following this, we detect five distinct stages and set up a more relevant maturity model for SaaS businesses, combining information from the two theories presented before as well as utilizing personal experience.
Lastly, we implement this maturity model for a SaaS business to capture its growth utilizing Business Process Model and Notation and swim lanes, showcasing the design and evolution of processes through the model's phases.


The purpose of this research, presented at the Conference sectional meeting, is to trace peculiarities of transformation of British folk medieval ballads, which were brought to the Southern Appalachians in the east of the USA by British immigrants at the end of the XVIII th – beginning of the XIX th century and retained by their descendants, through analyzing certain texts on the levels of motifs, dramatis personae, composition, style and artistic means, as well as to outline relevant Ukrainian parallels. The analysis of such ballads, plot types and epic songs was carried out: 1) British № 10: "The Twa Sisters" (21 variants); American "The Two Sisters"(5 variants) and Ukrainian plot type I – C-5: "the elder sister drowns the younger one because of envy and jealousy" (8 variants); 2) British № 26: The Three Ravens" (2), "The Twa Corbies" (2); American "The Three Ravens" (1), "The Two Crows"(1) and Ukrainian epic songs with the motif of lonely death of a Cossack warrior on the steppe (4). In our study British traditional ballads are classified according to the grouping worked out by the American scholar Francis Child (305 numbers), Ukrainian folk ballads – the plot-thematic catalogue developed by the Ukrainian folklorist Оleksiy Dey (here 288 plots are divided into 3 spheres, cycles and plot types). The investigation and comparison of the above indicated texts witness such main tendencies: 1) the American counterparts, collected in the Appalachian Mountains, preserve the historic-national memory and cultural heritage of the British immigrant bearers on the level of leading motifs, dramatis personae, composition peculiarities, traditional medieval images, epithets, similes, commonplaces; 2) some motifs, characters, images, artistic means, archaic and dialectal English of the Child ballads are reduced or substituted in the Appalachian texts; 3) realism of American ballad transformations, which overshadows fantasy and aristocracy of their British prototypes, is similar to the manner of poetic presentation of the typologically-arisen and described events by the Ukrainian folk ballads and dumas.


Introduction Congestion in emergency departments [ED] is a significant challenge worldwide. Any delay in the timely and immediate medical care provided in the ED can affect patient morbidity and mortality. Our research analyzed the use of an innovative platform to improve patient navigation in the ED, as well as provide updated information about their care. Our hope is that this can improve ED efficiency and improve overall patient care. Objective The primary objective of our study was to determine whether the use of an automatic push notification system can shorten 'length of stay' (LOS) in the ED, improve patient flow, and decrease ED patient load. Methods This was a prospective cohort study utilizing data extrapolated from the electronic medical records of 2972 patients who visited the walk-in ED of a large-scale central hospital in Israel from January 17, 2021 to March 15, 2021. During this period, the automatic push text notification system was activated on a week-on week-off basis. We compared data from our experimental group with the control group. Results The results of this study indicate that the use of an automatic push notification system had a minimal impact on specific parameters of ED patient flow. Apart from a few significant reductions of specific timed-intervals during patients' ED visit, the majority of results were not statistically significant. Conclusion This study concluded that the anticipated benefits of a push text notification system in the ED do not, at this stage, justify the system's additional cost. We recommend a follow-up study to further investigate other possible benefits.


In recent years, the popularity of social media networks has attracted the attention of researchers, government agencies, politicians and business world alike, as a powerful platform to explore real-time trends. The data generated by these networks offers an opportunity to investigate people's behaviors and activities, but the high velocity and low quality of this data poses some unique challenges. Twitter, an example of social media networks, is particularly popular for this purpose due to its easily accessible API that is open to use for research purposes. Different techniques can be used to analyze patterns from available data. One of such techniques for extracting subjective information from any text such as opinions on various topics is Sentiment Polarity Classification, which quantifies emotions embedded in texts and classifies them as positive, negative or neutral. The focus of this paper is on preparing and analyzing real-time twitter streams to detect real-time trends on a particular topic using Sentiment Polarity Classification. We have used StreamSensing approach and have performed a supervised machine learning on real-time high velocity data using Apache Spark micro-batching technology to classify the opinions and feelings of people in real-time. Appropriate experiments for processing high rate of incoming streams have been carefully designed and conducted on live twitter data. The outcomes of these experiments were analyzed and presented. The findings of this paper fell into two perspectives: theoretical and practical. The theoretical perspective is seen in testing and confirming the validity of StreamSensing approach as well as the introduction of a sentimental polarity algorithm, while practically; this approach can be employed to perform trend analyses on any real-time streams related to live events.


An original multiobjective optimization method is used to support the generation of a new family of profiles for two-dimensional cascades suitable for subsonic compressors. The aim of the optimization is to maximize the pressure ratio and to minimize the profile losses of a cascade, while conforming to a functional constraint on the operating range. The method uses an evolutionary algorithm featuring a novel evaluation technique conceived for multiobjective problems and a blade-to-blade inviscid/viscous solver for calculating flow quantities. As an example, an excerpt of optimized profiles is presented, and their performances are compared with those of conventional NACA 65 profiles. The new profiles show superior design performances both in efficiency and pressure rise, as well as a tolerance to incidence angles comparable to conventional profiles. The reasons of this improvement are discussed in detail on the basis of rigorous loss analysis.


This article studies the legislative regulation of tourist activities in order to improve the investment climate. The authors consider the current state of the tourist services market and the reasons why the flow of tourists has significantly decreased and analyze the refund policy in case it is impossible to provide a tourist service due to the closure of the border during the pandemic. Based on the analysis of the international experience and the tourism industry in the Russian Federation, the authors developed recommendations to improve existing legislation and government policy towards the tourism industry, which should guarantee the influx of investments. In addition, they addressed the issue of attracting foreign investments to the tourism industry within the scope of public-private partnerships, as well as the issue of the creation of special economic zones of the tourist and recreational type. The authors concluded that it is necessary to form a clear political program for the development of tourism in the Russian Federation and to apply comprehensive measures to create conditions in which Russian tourism develops more effectively.


This article draws on a qualitative study of 31 Millennial and Generation Z students to examine the meaning of teacher "caring" in a higher education context. Prior research clearly documents the importance of caring to student engagement, although much of that scholarship focuses on secondary schooling. Research also examines the changing demographics of higher education and new expectations brought to college classrooms by Millennials and others. In this article, we connect the existing research on caring and on generational differences to explore how traditional-aged undergraduates define caring and the degree to which that impacts their willingness to learn. Our findings indicate that students value approachability and relatability as traits in a caring professor; we also find that in-class pedagogical practices can dramatically demonstrate care or lack thereof. Our research suggests that the student success agenda in higher education must take in-class teaching practices seriously in order to impact students' engagement and motivation to learn.


Abstract Background Human noroviruses (HuNoVs) are a prominent cause of gastroenteritis, yet fundamental questions remain regarding epidemiology, diversity, and immunity in sub-Saharan African children. We investigated HuNoV seroprevalence and genetic and sociodemographic risk factors in Ugandan children. Methods We randomly screened 797 participants of a longitudinal birth cohort (Entebbe, EMaBS) and 378 from a cross-sectional survey (rural Lake Victoria, LaVIISWA), for antibodies against HuNoV genotypes by ELISA. We used linear regression modeling to test for associations between HuNoV antibody levels and sociodemographic factors, and with the human susceptibility rs601338 FUT2 secretor SNP and histo-blood group antigens (A/B/O). Results Of EMaBS participants, 76.6% were seropositive by age 1, rising to 94.5% by age 2 years. Seroprevalence in 1 year olds of the rural LaVIISWA survey was even higher (95%). In the birth cohort, 99% of seropositive 2 year olds had responses to multiple HuNoV genotypes. We identified associations between secretor status and genogroup GII antibody levels (GII.4 P = 3.1 × 10−52), as well as ABO and GI (GI.2 P = 2.1 × 10−12). Conclusions HuNoVs are highly prevalent in Ugandan children, indicating a substantial burden of diarrhea-associated morbidity with recurrent infections. Public health interventions, including vaccination, and increased surveillance are urgently needed.


Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC

Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10), and PIK3CA (encodes the p110α subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase [PI3K]) frequently contribute to tumor progression through their ability to regulate the intracellular level of phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-triphosphate (PIP3). 3-phosphoinositide-dependent kinase-1 (PDK-1), a serine/threonine kinase, activates the catalytic domain of numerous kinases by phosphorylating their T-loop sites. PDK-1 activity is required for activation of AKT, p70S6K, and RSK which lead to cell proliferation and transformation. The interaction of the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain of AKT with the membrane bound PIP3 confers a conformational change in AKT, allowing PDK-1 to phosphorylate AKT at the residue threonine-308 (T308). This T-loop activation at T308, along with the phosphorylation of the serine-473 residue by mTOR, fully activates the AKT pathway. Although the roles of many PDK-1 substrates have yet to be characterized, the oncogenic activity of aberrant PI3K pathway signaling through PDK-1 has been extensively validated. We have developed a series of 3-Carbonyl-4-Amino-Pyrrolopyrimidne (CAP) compounds that are potent inhibitors of human PDK-1 (full length and kinase domain) which demonstrate more than 100-fold selectivity against P70S6K, PI3K, AKT, and mTOR. In this study, representative compounds from the CAP series were used to perform a variety of anti-tumor assays. We demonstrate PDK-1 compounds inhibit the phosphorylation of T308 on AKT as well as downstream molecules of the PI3K pathway, such as S6 ribosomal protein (S6RP) in breast, lung and colon cancer cell lines harboring a PI3KCA mutation. Additionally, blockade of AKT and molecules in the PI3K pathway leads to the inhibition of cell proliferation and cell transformation in cancer cells. Our data suggest that the inhibition of PDK-1 activity is sufficient to induce anti-tumor activity in cancer cells through the PI3K-PDK1-AKT axis, and that a potent and specific PDK-1 inhibitor could potentially be developed as a therapeutic agent against several cancer types.

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 4482.


Abstract Satellite imagery was used to model the distribution and abundance of Bicknell's Thrush (Catharus bicknelli) in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Image-derived data for live softwood shrub density, standing dead-tree basal area, distance to nearest fir-shrub cover type, along with a digital elevation model and point-count data, were used to supply regressor estimates in a multivariate logistic habitat model that was constructed from field vegetation sampling and point-count data. Spatially explicit predictions of probability of Bicknell's Thrush presence were made for each 28.5 × 28.5 m-pixel covering 70,000 ha. A model validation procedure using observations independent from model calibration revealed no difference (P > 0.05) between modeled and observed estimates of Bicknell's Thrush presence within probability deciles 0 to <0.1, 0.1 to <0.2, 0.2 to <0.3, 0.3 to <0.4, 0.5 to <0.6, and 0.6 to <0.7 with respective densities (40 ha−1) of 0.5, 1.6, 2.8, 4.1, 7.3, and 9.4. Transforming probabilities into relative abundance produced an estimated 4,900 Bicknell's Thrushes across the study area. Habitats supporting the highest density of Bicknell's Thrushes were predicted to be at the uppermost elevations. However, abundance estimates decreased even as density increased, owing to decreasing amounts of habitat area with increasing elevation, and suggested that lower-elevation, low-density habitats may support a significant fraction of Bicknell's Thrushes. Utilisation de l'Imagerie Satellitaire afin de Modéliser la Distribution et l'Abondance de Catharus bicknelli dans les White Mountains du New Hampshire


Th e aim of the paper is to assess the eff ect of the participants' competitiveness on their valuation for food products. Specifi cally, to investigate the eff ect of the participants' competitiveness on their bids in a non-hypothetical experimental auction. Th en, we designed an experimental auction to measure the consumers' preferences for food products with two treatments. Both treatments had all the same designed characteristics except that in the second treatment, the participants who reported the highest levels of competitiveness were not allowed to participate in the auction. Th en, we could directly compare bids from the participants with two diff erent levels of competitiveness (higher competitiveness and lower competitiveness). Because the bids from the two treatments were found statistically the same, we can conclude that the consumer's valuation for food products using the non-hypothetical experimental auctions are independent on the level of the participants' competitiveness.


This study sought answers related to the distribution of colour terms in Persian poems and their metaphoric reflection in poets' beliefs, ideas, or values. In so doing, 137 Persian verses from two poetry books with colour terms in content were considered for the analysis. Four raters who studied literature of Persian scrutinized the verses for the evaluation of the colour metaphoric conceptualizations. To validate the raters' suggestions, a focus group of sixteen commented on the recommended connotations. Results indicated that colours are not similarly distributed in Persian poems, are used with different conceptualizations and stood for both positive and negative connotations. Therefore, since colours are part of the authors' and speakers' daily lives to express information, knowledge of metaphoric expressions is suggested to be an inseparable part of language classes.


Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) is a well-known modulation technique for transmission of large amount of digital data with high data rate in both wired and wireless communication systems. High peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) is the main problem of OFDM system which can be improved by using single carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) technique. A new scheme using LFDMA and IFDMA technique is proposed for further reducing the peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR). It transforms the SC-FDMA signal by properly choosing the transform parameters for achieving a favorable tradeoff between PAPR reduction and bit error rate (BER) performances. The simulation results show better performance of the proposed scheme than the existing technique. In this paper, we have improved the PAPR performance of single carrier frequency division multiplexing (SC-FDMA) using LFDMA and IFDMA with and without pulse shaping.


The effect of an inversion layer on the current-voltage characteristics of semiconductor grain boundaries is evaluated on the basis of a recently developed inversion layer and generalized interface state model. It is found that the characteristics are considerably different from those obtained under a depletion model. Initially, the logarithmic current density varies nonlinearly with voltage and then becomes linear after a critical value of the bias voltage which is a function of interface and bulk parameters. Such nonlinear variation of the logarithmic current density is consistent with the experimental results for a silicon bicrystal.


Limited information is available on smoking among college students. This study surveyed smoking prevalence and frequency among University of Wisconsin-Madison undergraduates aged 17 to 22 (n = 6,069) during the years 1989 through 1993. Sampling was conducted before and after the implementation of a smoke-free campus policy. Daily smoking remained constant across the 5 years at just under 10% of the sample; males showed a trend toward increased daily smoking (7.8% to 11.7%), while females showed a declining trend (10.2% to 8.4%). Additionally, 27% engaged in experimental smoking (smoking every few days, weeks, or months), resulting in a disturbing overall rate of tobacco use: about 37% of all students. These data indicate a need for more directed efforts to help university students overcome the threat of tobacco addiction.


The effectiveness of the use of teaching aids that are associated with cognitive development of early childhood, with the strategy of applying the method of playing blocks in the Kindergarten Plus Cinangka Sawangan Depok conducted by the teachers will determine the success of the effectiveness of the cognitive development of students, which are then developed routinely in accordance with the learning objectives It has been planned to be associated with the strategy of applying the method of playing blocks in accordance with basic competencies and learning indicators.
Learning practices that use block media at TK Permata Plus are less than optimal due to the ratio of learners whose number exceeds the number of available beam props, so learning cannot be maximized. The active involvement of children is needed to improve their abilities and further research is needed from various variations to contribute to the learning problem.
Playing with blocks can improve cognitive abilities of early childhood including: recognizing geometric shapes, recognizing colors. Make a Beam shape creation, sort objects based on five size or color seriations and classify objects into the same or similar group or in pairs with two variations.


An all-digital on-chip jitter tolerance measurement technique for clock/data recovery (CDR) circuits is presented. A 6-Gbps CDR circuit with this proposed technique is realized in a 90-nm CMOS process. The measured jitter tolerance by using the testing equipment and the proposed technique correlate within 13 % in the frequency range of 178 kHz ~ 11.3 MHz. The measured peak-to-peak data and clock jitters are 15.56 and 13.3 ps. The power of the CDR circuit is 44.4 mW at a supply voltage of 1.2 V.


Manganese telluride (MnTe) compound is known to be a polymorphic chalcogenide. Recently, it has been reported that the MnTe shows nonvolatile memory properties with a significant change in resistance via a polymorphic transition between NiAs‐type (NC) structure (low resistance) and wurtzite‐type (WZ) structure (high resistance). This crystalline polymorphic MnTe is expected to realize a phase‐change memory with fast operation speed and ultralow operation energy. While the NC‐MnTe, generally designated as α‐MnTe, is intensively studied, WZ‐MnTe is still poorly understood. Herein this study, electrical conduction mechanism of a β‐MnTe film with a WZ‐type structure is studied. A resistivity, Hall mobility, and Seebeck coefficient of the WZ‐MnTe film are measured at various temperatures. The temperature dependence of resistivity in the temperature range 120–300 K clearly indicates that the WZ‐MnTe film shows a variable‐range hopping (VRH) conduction. In this temperature region, with decreasing temperature, the conduction mechanism changes from Mott–VRH conduction to Efros–Shklovskii VRH conduction at about 210 K. Furthermore, the low thermally activated Hall mobility, occurrence of Hall‐effect sign anomaly, and relatively low activation energy for thermopower, which are the observed results, suggest that the small polaron hopping conduction is dominant above 310 K.


This paper presents results obtained by applying two neural networks models Backpropagation (BP), and Self-Organized Feature Map (SOFM) to a new application of handwritten Arabic alphanumeric character (HAAC) recognition. A novel method for features extraction, based on a shadow projection is used. Both networks are trained using Arabic character samples written by different people (learning set). They are required, after the learning is over, to recognize characters out of the learning set. Evaluation of the recognition (classification) capability of the two models for 28 alphanumeric characters is achieved. Depending on the experimental results, a comparison of both algorithms is done.


The cytoplasmic and nuclear genomic diversity in commercially cultivated sugarcane varieties over the world is derived from few basic species clones of Saccharum complex. To impart new cytoplasmic and nuclear genome in sugarcane hybrids, untapped wild species of S. spontaneum (S), Erianthus arundinaceus (E) and E. bengalense (Eb) were utilized to produce E. arundinaceus × S. spontaneum (ES), S. spontaneum × E. arundinaceus (SE) and S. spontaneum × E. benglense (SEb) hybrids (H). These resulting hybrids were repeatedly used as pistil parent and crossed with commercial sugarcane varieties for one (G1) to four (G4) generations to produce an array of hybrids. Seventy such different generation (G1, G2, G3 & G4) derived hybrids were evaluated for juice quality and yield contributing traits at 300 and 360 d after planting during 2010-11 and 2011-12 in augmented block design layout along with standard sugarcane varieties. The presence of E. arundinaceus cytoplasmic DNA was validated in intergeneric hybrids by PCR-RFLP of the amplified chloroplast DNA for psbC-trnS segment. SEH and SEbH category G1 hybrids were superior over ESH hybrids for juice quality, while G2 hybrids could not show any difference. ESH G3 hybrids recorded more than 50% and 90% improvement over ESH G1 hybrids for juice quality (CCS %, sucrose %, brix %) and single stalk weight (SSW), respectively. Performances of ESH G3 and SEH G4 hybrids were comparable and some E. arundinaceus cytoplasm introgressed hybrids performed at par with standard sugarcane varieties for yield and quality traits. Further utilization of these near commercial wild genome introgressed hybrids in breeding programme may lead to development of genetically diversified sugarcane varieties.


An attempt was made to show a correlation between definite bioenergetic parameters of the cells of the cyclosporine-producing culture and biosynthesis of cyclosporine. It was found that the three strains producing cyclosporine used in the study had an alternative cyanide-resistant pathway along with the classical cytochrome chain. In the strain forming only traces of the cyclopeptide during fermentation of the cyanide-resistant respiration constituted 60 to 80%. In the isogenic highly productive strains the cyanide-resistant respiration appeared to be markedly decreased beginning from the 1st day of fermentation and during the maximum biosynthesis of cyclosporine (on day 4 or 5 of fermentation) it reached zero. The ATP content in the cells of the highly productive strain, despite its decrease by the antibiotic biosynthesis peak, remained at a much higher level than that in the strain producing only traces of cyclosporine. A procedure for isolating functionally active mitochondria from the protoplasts was developed and a bioenergetic characterization of the mitochondria isolated from the strains with different antibiotic productions is presented.


BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Ordering rates for imaging studies and procedures may change if clinicians are shown the prices of those tests while they are ordering. We studied the effect of 2 forms of paid price information, single median price and paired internal/external median prices, on how often pediatric-focused and adult-oriented clinicians (most frequently general pediatricians and adult specialists caring for pediatric-aged patients, respectively) order imaging studies and procedures for 0- to 21-year-olds. METHODS: In January 2014, we randomized 227 pediatric-focused and 279 adult-oriented clinicians to 1 of 3 study arms: Control (no price display), Single Median Price, or Paired Internal/External Median Prices (both with price display in the ordering screen of electronic health record). We used 1-way analysis of variance and paired t tests to examine how frequently clinicians (1) placed orders and (2) designated tests to be completed internally within an accountable care organization. RESULTS: For pediatric-focused clinicians, there was no significant difference in the rates at which orders were placed or designated to be completed internally across the study arms. For adult-oriented clinicians caring for children and adolescents, however, those in the Single Price and Paired Price arms placed orders at significantly higher rates than those in the Control group (Control 3.2 [SD 4.8], Single Price 6.2 [SD 6.8], P < .001 and Paired Prices 5.2 [SD 7.9], P = .04). The rate at which adult-oriented clinicians designated tests to be completed internally was not significantly different across arms. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of price information on ordering rates appears to depend on whether the clinician is pediatric-focused or adult-oriented.


This paper investigates the failure of a car with a 2.5-liter CRDi engine of the Hyundai Company. The failure is caused by intermittent poor acceleration while driving. To analyze the cause, we investigated the air intake volume, the fuel injection, and the air-fuel ratio, which were determined to be normal. The brake switch signal error was discovered while analyzing the function that limits the output of the engine. While investigating the cause, we discovered the corrosion of the pins on the connector of the brake switch. We determined that it was generated by soapy water flowing in the solar film. Therefore, the cause of the failure was the brake switch signal errors. Additionally, we determined that ECM was the normal fail-safe mode that implemented the override device for safety during normal acceleration. Based on these results, further solar film experiments must be conducted to fully elucidate the causes.


no adhesions to surrounding structures. The uterus, left ovary and pelvic cavity were grossly normal. Unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was performed and frozen sectioning revealed a benign tumour suggesting thecoma or fibroma. Histological examination revealed a tumour composed of interlacing bundles of fusiforme cells, with no atypia or pleomorphism and mitotic count and necrosis were absent. Immunohistochemical staining showed positive staining for smooth muscle actin, resulting in the diagnosis of primary ovarian leiomyoma. Postoperative period was uneventful. Conclusions: Ovarian leiomyomas are very rare and usually difficult to diagnose. Histological and Immunohistochemical diagnosis are essential for correctly distinguish them from other ovarian tumours.


abstract:Margaret Cavendish's The Blazing World is her most surprising work and contains characteristics from multiple forms; a reader can find elements of forms Cavendish worked on elsewhere and simultaneously recognize the text as something wholly new and unfathomable. Cavendish strategically located the entry to her utopia in the arctic in a time when the tradition of literary ideal spaces looked toward the heavens in descriptions of celestial worlds that paralleled the discovery of the New World. The farthest north offered her not only an empty landscape but the extreme, stark contrast of the binaries she wished to blur. This article will demonstrate that Cavendish's Blazing World emerges as a utopia that demands fluidity to achieve its ideality. One must move fluidly between limiting binaries to transcend spirit and matter, cold and warmth, and ultimately knowledge and ignorance as the only means to conceive, and thus achieve, utopia.


The reactivity of bioglasses, which is related to the dissolution of cations and orthosilicate groups in the physiological fluid, strongly depends on the key structural features present at the glass surfaces. On the basis of the composition and the synthetic routes employed to make the glass, surfaces with very different characteristics and thus presenting different mechanisms of dissolution can be observed. In this paper, the surface structures of two very different bioglass compositions, namely 45S5 (46.1 SiO2, 24.4 Na2O, 26.9 CaO, and 2.6 P2O5 mol %) and 77S (80.0 SiO2, 16.0 CaO, and 4.0 P2O5 mol %), have been investigated by means of periodic DFT calculations based on a PBE functional and localized Gaussian basis set as encoded in the CRYSTAL code. Our calculations show that the two glass surfaces differ by the relative amount of key structural sites such as NBOs, exposed ions, orthosilicate units, and small rings. We have demonstrated how the number of these sites affects the surface stability and reactivity (bioactivity).


We may sum up the five roles which human beings might play in the existence of the polis in the following way: (1) Human nature plays the role of the inner principle of change which explains the type of human relation a polis takes (the polis as a type); (2) General patterns of human behaviours, together with patterns of societal conditions, play the role of material conditions which explain the variety of forms of polis; (3) Statesmen or politicians play the role of political craftsmen which explains the particular form of the natural type a polis actually takes; (4) Human effort plays the role of one of the external conditions which explains the occurrence of a polis; (5) Individual human persons or groups play the role of an artificer which is responsible for and wholly explains the type of the human relation a polis takes.

What I have argued in this paper is, firstly, that (1) is compatible with (2), (3) and (4), but not with (5), and secondly, that Aristotle affirms (1), (2), (3) and (4), but denies (5). Aristotle's theory of the naturalness of the polis is, therefore, not the blundered doctrine its critics suppose it to be.


In 1988, Professor Heald found a lost manuscript of Steve Allen's groundbreaking television show, "A Meeting of the Minds." In that episode, published in 6 J. of Law & Rel. 279, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Mark Kelman, Blaise Pascal, and Richard Posner discussed the nature of law. While completing renovation of a house, possibly visited by Allen, Heald recently found another manuscript jammed on top of an old water tank. The present episode reveals a lively discussion of Columbine, the death penalty, and the nature of retribution between Lucius Annaeus Seneca (4 B.C.-65 A.D.), C.S. Lewis (1898-1963), Jerry Falwell, and Milner Ball.


Introduction NTM lung disease (NTMLD) is commonly associated with advanced pre-existing lung disease or defective cellular immunity. Lung transplant (LTx) recipients receive potent immunosuppression and often have structural lung abnormalities, so might be at uniquely high risk of NTM infection and disease. However, there is little published about NTM following LTx. Method We carried out a retrospective study of NTM in LTx recipients attending our centre between 1/1/2005 and 31/8/2009. NTMLD was diagnosed according to American Thoracic Society (ATS) guidelines. Results 326 respiratory samples (from 172 LTx recipients) were sent for mycobacterial culture, of which 51 samples (15.6%) from 39 patients (22.6%) grew NTM. Samples from 32 patients (82%) grew M avium complex (MAC), three grew M abscessus, two M gordonae, one M kansasii and one M malmoense. Nine patients had multiple positive cultures (maximum four), but only one species was ever isolated from each individual. None had NTM preoperatively, although one had a single isolate of NTM before the study period. 23 patients had positive culture from BAL or multiple sputum samples, and 21 patients had chest radiology compatible with NTM. ATS radiological and microbiological criteria were met in 13 patients (33%). Those diagnosed with NTMLD according to ATS guidelines had a significantly higher death rate than those from whom no NTM were isolated (HR 2.42, 95% CI 1.09 to 5.37), whereas those who did not meet ATS criteria did not. Four patients were treated for NTM: one was cured, while two deteriorated and died. The fourth developed renal impairment and treatment was abandoned; symptoms and lung function improved. Comment In our cohort, respiratory NTM were cultured more frequently than previously reported, but a smaller proportion met ATS criteria for NTMLD and fewer were treated than in a previous cohort (15.6%, 33% and 10% respectively, compared with 6.5%, 73% and 82%). MAC is consistently the most common isolate. Patients with NTMLD by ATS criteria do worse than those without. Our data suggest that LTx is likely to be a risk factor for NTM infection but the majority of isolates represent colonisation/contamination. We advocate following ATS guidelines for treatment decisions of NTMLD after LTx.


Epithelial ingrowth of the bleb cavity, a true Tenon cyst, is a rare complication of a glaucoma drainage implant. Previous cases have been associated with persistent bleb leak, and most have occurred in eyes with prior extraocular surgery. We describe a case of a true Tenon cyst causing strabismus and an elevated intraocular pressure that was successfully treated by surgical revision.


The development and processing of hybrid inorganic-organic thin film materials plays a critical role in advancing interdisciplinary sciences and device manufacturing. Here we present a novel approach to synthesize and deposit acrylate-containing organic/inorganic hybrid films. The material is based on a chemical solution and includes specifically desired metal dopants that are fully integrated into the backbone of the polymer structure. The film can be deposited by simple spin coating, and we confer photosensitive properties to the material making it directly patterned by traditional UV photolithography techniques. Film thickness, chemical characterization, and wet/dry etching capability of the film are also investigated. We believe this innovative material has the potential to be used in a broad range of applications for electronic, photonic, biology, and other interdisciplinary fields.


Real-time systems modeled by timed automata are often symbolically verified using Difference Bound Matrix (DBM) and Binary Decision Diagram (BDD) operations. When designing concurrent real-time systems with two or more processes sharing a resource, priorities are often used to schedule processes and to resolve conflicting resource requests. Concurrent real-time systems can thus be modeled by timed automata with priorities. However, model checking timed automata with priorities needs the DBM subtraction operation, whose result may not be convex, i.e., DBMs are not closed under subtraction. Thus, a partition of the resulting DBM is required. In this work, we propose Prioritized Timed Automata (PTA) and resolve all the issues related to the model checking of PTA. Two algorithms are proposed including an optimal DBM subtraction algorithm that produces the minimal number of DBM partitions, and a DBM merging algorithm that reduces the DBM partitions after a series of DBM subtractions. Application examples show the advantages of the proposed method in terms of support for the efficient verification of prioritized timed systems.


Phase matching is a necessity, but what happens in the extreme? Can we use the nonlinear processes to create the necessary phase matching?


Physical Vapour Deposition and PVD coatings are designed for several applications, from industrial to biomedical. Residual stresses, arising during coating deposition, have important effect on the coating's service life as their influence to the mechanical and tribological properties. Our aim was to investigate the residual stresses in five different PVD coatings (TiN, TiCN, TiAlN, TiAlN, nc-(AlTi) N/α -Si3N4) (presence of the Ti as adhesion layer) by the layer growing curvature method and the X-ray diffraction techniques using a plate and a strip as the substrate. Residual stresses were compressive and very large (2.98 - 7.24) GPa in all coatings and comparable in TiN, TiAlN, TiAlN coatings in the case of both methods. The magnitude of residual stresses is influenced by intrinsic strain in the case of layer growth rather than by thermal stress.