Background: Men appear less interested than women in engaging in health-promoting programs. We investigated the feasibility and proof of concept of a novel intervention program targeting male supporters of professional sports clubs. Methods: Our intervention is called ViSiT and the target population in this study was overweight male supporters aged 35 - 65 years with a body mass index ≥ 28 kg/m2, recruited through one football and one ice-hockey club. The participants (n = 22) participated in a 12-week lifestyle intervention with a 52-week follow-up. Body fat was assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Results: The retention rate was high with 21 participants completing the 12-week program and 17 attending at least 10 of 12 sessions. Mean (standard deviation) body weight and fat reduction after 12 weeks was 8.2 (4.6) kg and 6.6 (3.6) kg, respectively. At 52 weeks, body weight and fat reduction were maintained at 6.4 (6.7) kg and 4.5 (6.5) kg. Even after 52 weeks follow-up, the participants appreciated most components of the ViSiT program and perceived the ViSiT program to have high impact on most health-related aspects investigated. Conclusions: The ViSiT program demonstrated a successful retention rate and clinically relevant weight reduction in Swedish overweight men. The maintenance of bodyweight reduction and positive experience after 1 year indicate a long-term effect of the ViSiT concept.


OBJECTIVE
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adulthood is associated with problems in multiple domains of everyday life, including financial decision-making (FDM). Research on FDM in adults with ADHD is, however, limited and FDM has never been examined in an objective standardized manner in these patients. The aim of the present study is to explore FDM abilities of adults with ADHD, using both subjective and standardized objective measures.

METHOD
Adults with ADHD (n = 45) and healthy controls (n = 51) completed a comprehensive test battery, including an evaluation of their personal financial situation, a neuropsychological assessment and standardized tests and questionnaires measuring various aspects of FDM.

RESULTS
Adults with ADHD reported to have a significantly poorer financial situation than healthy controls, including having less income, more often debts and less often a savings account. Furthermore, adults with ADHD showed significantly lower scores than healthy controls in standardized tests measuring financial competence and capacity (i.e., understanding bank statements/protocols and evaluating financial problems) as well as in a test measuring decision making with implications for the future. Furthermore, compared with healthy controls, adults with ADHD reported more often to buy on impulse and to use an avoidant or spontaneous decision-making style. A mediating effect of numeracy was found for 2 measures of FDM (i.e., financial competence and capacity); however, group differences on these measures remained statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS
Adults with ADHD have difficulties with several aspects of FDM. These difficulties may at least partly explain the poorer financial situation of adults with ADHD. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).


1  Monitoring of two canopy species Dicorynia guianensis and Vouacapoua americana (Caesalpiniaceae) in a tropical rain forest in French Guiana was used to investigate vegetative crown development at five organizational levels: leaf, metamer, extension unit, sympodial unit and whole crown. The effects of light availability and tree height on different traits were evaluated in trees < 25 m in height and compared with taller individuals (25–37 m). Path‐analysis is used to illustrate the consequences of trait changes at multiple levels of organization for the whole crown level. 2  Tree height and canopy openness influenced crown development at each organizational level. Crowns in higher light levels had lower specific leaf area, greater leaf spacing, greater extension of all branches, and greater extension of the leader shoot. With increasing tree height, crowns had a lower specific leaf area, greater leaf area index and greater relative crown depth. 3  Vouacapoua showed some responses to light not seen in Dicorynia. In particular, Vouacapoua increased meristem activity with light, but the lack of response in Dicorynia may be due to moderate light levels rather than inability to respond. 4  Low leaf‐display costs at low light availability may enable trees to survive light suppression. 5  Light availability cannot explain trait changes with tree height. Alternative explanations for trait changes with tree height are discussed. 6  Several of the relationships between plant traits and tree height or canopy openness became non‐linear when taller trees (25–37 m) were included. In these taller trees, vegetative growth was reduced at all organizational levels, particularly in Vouacapoua, which does not grow as tall as Dicorynia. 7  Qualitatively, plant responses to light did not differ between trees of different height, and were similar to seedling and sapling data in the literature. Responses were, however, quantitatively different, suggesting that small saplings cannot serve as model organisms for crown development in taller trees.


The possibility of multiplexing holograms in LiNbO3 by means of an applied electric field is investigated experimentally. The effect of an applied electric field on the recording of holographic gratings as well as on the Bragg condition for previously stored ones is studied in the reflection geometry. The conclusion is that two image holograms can be addressed using an electric field. This multiplexing is shown experimentally.


This conceptual contribution explains how the idea of "facets of work" can refocus traditional sociotechnical concerns to increase their relevance in increasingly automated and digitalized workplaces far removed from situations studied by early sociotechnical researchers. A background section summarizes how the sociotechnical approach seems pervasive but possibly outdated in some ways. It explains how the idea of "facets of work" emerged from attempting to bring richer, more evocative ideas to systems analysis and design. Focusing on facets of work during initial discussions of requirements could provide guidance without jumping prematurely to precision and notation needed for producing technical artifacts. Tables with one row for each of 18 facets or one row for the first 9 (reflecting length restrictions) illustrates that the 18 facets 1) point to areas where the coexistence of people and robots in workplaces poses challenging sociotechnical issues, 2) apply to both sociotechnical and totally automated systems, 3) are associated with specific sets of concepts, 4) bring evaluation criteria and design trade-offs, 5) have useful sub-facets, and 6) imply open-ended questions for starting discussions. The conclusion summarizes this paper's contribution to understanding challenges of Industry 5.0 and discusses next steps in developing and applying its ideas.


In 2005, Kayal suggested that Schoof's algorithm for counting points on elliptic curves over finite fields might yield an approach to factor polynomials over finite fields in deterministic polynomial time. We present an exposition of his idea and then explain details of a generalization involving Pila's algorithm for abelian varieties.


Exploration missions will present significant new challenges to crew health, including effects of variable gravity environments, limited communication with Earth-based personnel for diagnosis and consultation for medical events, limited resupply, and limited ability for crew return. Providing health care capabilities for exploration class missions will require system trades be performed to identify a minimum set of requirements and crosscutting capabilities which can be used in design of exploration medical systems. Current and future medical data, information, and knowledge must be cataloged and put in formats that facilitate querying and analysis. These data may then be used to inform the medical research and development program through analysis of risk trade studies between medical care capabilities and system constraints such as mass, power, volume, and training. These studies will be used to define a Medical Concept of Operations to facilitate stakeholder discussions on expected medical capability for exploration missions. Medical Capability as a quantifiable variable is proposed as a surrogate risk metric and explored for trade space analysis that can improve communication between the medical and engineering approaches to mission design. The resulting medical system approach selected will inform NASA mission architecture, vehicle, and subsystem design for the next generation of spacecraft.


As a result of alkaline neutralization of oils, a significant amount of soapstock is formed, the utilization of which creates an environmental and economic problem. The production of fatty acids from soapstock using sulfuric acid decomposition is investigated in this work.
The peculiarity of the work is the determination of regression dependences of the yield and neutralization number of fatty acids on the soapstock processing conditions: temperature and duration.
Soapstock obtained after neutralization of sunflower oil was used as raw material. Soapstock indicators: mass fraction of moisture – 15.4 %, total fat – 71.9 %, fatty acids – 64.5 %, neutral fat – 7.4 %.
Rational conditions of soapstock processing are determined: temperature (90–95) °С, duration 40 min. Under these conditions, the fatty acid yield is 79.0 %, the neutralization number is 180.0 mg KOH/g. Quality indicators of the obtained fatty acids: mass fraction of moisture and volatile substances – 1.8 %, mass fraction of total fat – 97.0 %, cleavage depth – 64.5 % of oleic acid, the presence of mineral acids – no. Fatty acids correspond to fatty acids of the first grade according to DSTU 4860 (CAS 61788-66-7).
An increase in the temperature and duration of soapstock contact with sulfuric acid increases the yield and neutralization number of fatty acids. This is due to a decrease in the viscosity of the reaction medium, an increase in the depth of cleavage of soapstock soaps with sulfuric acid, an increase in the intensity and duration of mass transfer.
The developed rational conditions allow obtaining fatty acids from soapstock, which correspond in composition to fatty acids from refined deodorized sunflower oil.
The results allow solving a number of economic and environmental problems associated with soapstock utilization and can be implemented in oil refineries and fatty acid production


We study the buckling of pressurized spherical shells by Monte Carlo simulations in which the detailed balance is explicitly broken-thereby driving the shell to be active, out of thermal equilibrium. Such a shell typically has either higher (active) or lower (sedate) fluctuations compared to one in thermal equilibrium depending on how the detailed balance is broken. We show that, for the same set of elastic parameters, a shell that is not buckled in thermal equilibrium can be buckled if turned active. Similarly a shell that is buckled in thermal equilibrium can unbuckle if sedated. Based on this result, we suggest that it is possible to experimentally design microscopic elastic shells whose buckling can be optically controlled.


The appearance of characteristic angles in the surface structure of diffusion-limited aggregates can explain the nontrivial Hausdorff dimensions of these aggregates. These angles can persist through the growth process, if the surface possesses a hierarchical form. The scaling of this form is related to the value of the characteristic angle. The growth measure of this hierarchical form possesses a nontrivial f - α spectrum.


The normative procedures of Markowitz [4], Sharpe [6], and others can be utilized to determine an optimal portfolio (set of security holdings) given estimates of risk, relevant constraints, and expected returns on securities. Building on these foundations, the positive models of Sharpe [7], Lintner [3], Mossin [5], and others assume that investors form portfolios as if they were following such procedures. We observe considerable differences in portfolio composition, some of which undoubtedly stem from differences in expectations. Yet the predictions of most investors are either made implicitly or, if made explicitly, are jealously guarded and hence cannot be observed by outsiders.


Nature-based tourism is dependent on natural capital. However, this natural capital is under threat due to global climate change. The effects of climate change are predicted to result in changes in the quantity and quality of natural capital leading to reduction in ecosystem integrity and resilience as well as loss of biodiversity. This situation makes nature-based tourism highly vulnerable since it relies largely on climate and weather to maintain its natural resource base. Subsequently, nature-based tourism is arguably susceptible to global climate change because of its heavy reliance on the environment in many destinations for their attractiveness. This requires adaptation measures to be put in place by affected parties in order to cope with or reduce the effects of climate change on the tourism business as well as to safeguard the industry's contribution to the growth of national economies.
This study aims to determine the possible impacts of climate change on Botswana's tourism industry as perceived by operators and policy makers with a view to identifying adaptation needs. Two ecologically distinct areas were targeted as case studies; these were Tshabong in dry land Kgalagadi south and Maun in the wetlands of northwest Botswana. The tourism industry was also screened for vulnerability using the Okavango Delta as a case study in order to determine appropriate adaptation needs. Empirical data on the operators and policy makers' perceptions and reaction to climate change were sourced through in-depth interviews of purposefully selected interviewees. The research material were analysed qualitatively using a simplified codes-to-theory/assertion model for qualitative inquiry. Given that the effects of climate change, like those of other global environment change constituents, take time to manifest themselves physically in a manner that is clear to observers, the results show a nonchalant stance to climate change by both tourism operators and policy makers. The results indicate that the tourism operators of Maun and Tshabong areas perceived the impacts of climate change somewhat differently given the particular spatialities of the two areas and the type of tourism activities that the two areas offered. In addition, the tourism operators in both areas were not proactive in institutionalising adaptations against the potential impacts of climate change because they saw the consequences affecting their operations only in the future. The policy makers also decried limited information and uncertainty as constraints to appropriate responses to climate change. In the end the thesis advocates that appropriate adaptation strategies need to be devised while the search for more knowledge and data in the field continues.
Even though research on tourism-climate change nexus has evolved impressively especially in recent years, it has been mainly concentrated on winter tourism in the Global North. Quite recently, however, the tourism-climate change research has been increasing gradually in the Global South and more especially southern Africa. This research therefore contributes to an improved understanding of the tourism-climate change nexus in the Global South.


Abstract At our institution a policy of early nasal continuous positive airway pressure (ENCPAP) in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants has been followed during the past 5 years. Routine intubation and surfactant administration is no longer our practice. The impact of this policy on infant outcomes is under investigation. This is a retrospective review of ELBW infants (< 1000 g) born at our institution between January 1998 and July 2002. Data on hearing deficits, visual impairment and Bayley scores at 3–6 months of corrected age were analyzed. Ninety-two ELBW infants were identified. Sixteen (17.4%) infants died and 14 (15.2%) ELBW were transferred to another institution. For the 62 survivors discharged home, mean gestational age was 26.4 ± 1.6 wks and birth weight was 797±129 g. The majority (67%) of these ELBW infants were managed with ENCPAP. Three (10.3%) infants had abnormalities on hearing evaluation. Three (4.8%) infants had retinopathy of prematurity requiring laser. Thirty infants were followed up developmentally. Four of these infants had normal neurodevelopmental evaluation at 6–8 weeks corrected age, and did not return for further follow-up. Twenty-six infants were followed at least through the three to six month visit. Six (23%) remained on high calorie formula with four (14%) infants requiring nasogastric tube feeding. Seven (25%) infants had Bayley mental developmental index < 70 (< 2 SD) and seven (25%) infants had Psychomotor Developmental Index < 70. Neurodevelopmental morbidity remains a concern for ELBW infants managed with ENCPAP. Although these results are subject to selection bias, the rates of neurodevelopmental morbidity are similar to those reported in the recent literature. (J Pediatr Neurol 2004; 2(3): 149–152).


For a country that is in the process of transforming its agricultural model for development like Vietnam, human capital development is one of the most important keys to ensure the sustainable of economy. In order improve agricultural productivity, it is needed to increase the level of human capital of the agrarian population. This study examines the relationship between human capital and labor productivity in the 1997 - 2018 period of Vietnam. This study employs a quantitative approach, using the endogenous growth model with the Cobb-Douglas production function to analyze the factor's contribution to Agriculture labor productivity. The result showed that human capital development has a significant impact on agricultural productivity in Vietnam. The result also showed that there exists a U-shaped quadratic relationship between trade openness and agricultural output. The findings also showed that the contribution rate of human capital in labor productivity growth is low, while capital investment does not reflect changes in labor productivity. Therefore, in order for human capital to become one of the important factors to promote Agriculture labor productivity in the future, Vietnam needs to raise awareness of the role of human capital and to focus on developing human resources as a tool for improving productivity of agriculture, to transform the growth model from width to depth. It should also be essential to move towards developing hi-tech agriculture with high productivity in the future.


Three cases of gallbladder agenesis (GA) have been previously reported in the English-speaking veterinary literature. Affected dogs can be either asymptomatic or symptomatic with vomiting, retching, and anorexia previously reported. The previously reported cases and the dog in this report had marked elevations in alanine aminotransferase concentrations, and liver histopathology consistently showed bridging fibrosis and biliary hyperplasia. The condition is most often diagnosed in humans during exploratory surgery, which was also the case in the previous three dogs reported with GA. Computed tomography (CT) or MRI is now recommended for diagnosis of the condition in humans, and this is the first report of CT findings in an affected dog diagnosed without surgery. Bile stasis and cholangiohepatits have been proposed as secondary pathologies in both humans and dogs with GA, and histopathology and CT findings in this case support those theories.


A modified in vivo model is dcscnbcd in which immunologically activated im· munocytes from blood are cultured in chick embryos fur kinetic studies. Whole blood from allogeneic chicken donors, immunized 3 or 4 days earlier with mouse erythrocytes (Mrbc) as antigen, when mixed with Mrbc and intravenously injected into li-day chick embryo hosts produced high levels of anh'body 6 to 8 days later. Control embryos inoculated with antigen only were negative. When the amount of donor blood or antigen in the inoculation mixture was varied, direct dose-dependent relationships were obsen-ed between donor eel) dose and antibody output, as well as between antigen concentration and antibody output. The 6-day mean anhbody titers were considerably less when older (I lktay ) embryos were used as hosts than when 14-day embryos were similarily used. Although cyclophosphamide pretreatment of H-day hosts did not alter antibody production significantly, similar treatment of 18-day recipients did result in marlced enhancement of the antibody response.


Tragia plukenetii R.Smith. (Euphorbiaceae) is an erect, prostate herb with sparsely hispid stinging hairs. In the present study, ethanolic extract and its fractions of T. plukenetii aerial parts were evaluated for antinociceptive and central nervous system (CNS) depressant effects. Among all the extracts, chloroform extract has produced significant analgesic activity at a test dose of 250 mg/kg in acetic acid induced writhing test and Eddy′s hotplate test. The analgesic effect of chloroform extract (68.83% inhibition) is comparable with aspirin (72.09% inhibition) in acetic acid induced writhing test. Chloroform extract significantly increased the latency time in hotplate test. In the study of CNS depressant effect, the chloroform extract was found to produce a significant (P < 0.01) reduction of the exploratory capacity and depressant effect in locomotor activity. From the point of CNS depressant and good protective effect on chemical and thermal pain stimuli, indicates that T. plukenetii chloroform extract may have morphinomimetic properties. The naloxone is not able to alter the T. plukenetii induced antinociceptive effect in writhing and hotplate test. Thus, the observed antinociceptive activity of T. plukenetii might have resulted from the activation of peripheral receptors.


Resveratrol (3,49,5-trans-trihydroxystilbene) is a naturally occurring phytoalexin which shows a wide spectrum of biological activity. Although the anticancer effects of resveratrol have been revealed, its clinical application is limited because of a low bioavailability and a rapid clearance from the circulation. The structural alteration of the stilbene motif of resveratrol has been found to be a promising strategy for generation of several synthetic analogues with improved pharmacokinetic parameters. The substitution of hydroxyl groups of resveratrol for methoxy groups may increase the molecule stability, making it less susceptible to phase II conjugation reactions in vivo. The structure-activity studies have revealed that introduction of additional methoxy groups resulted in an increased cytotoxic properties of resveratrol analogues. Furthermore, the methoxy groups at positions 3,5- and 3,4,5- of the trihydroxystilbene scaffold have been identified as crucial for pro-apoptotic activity of the compound. To date few reports have demonstrated the antiproliferative effect of DMU-212 (3,4,49,5-tetramethoxystilbene) in transformed fibroblasts, prostate, liver, colon, cervical, breast and ovarian cancer cells. It has been shown that DMU-212 is biotransformed to four metabolites: 39-hydroxy-3,4,5,49-tetramethoxystilbene (DMU-214), 49-hydroxy-3,4,5-trimethoxystilbene (DMU-281), 4-hydroxy-3,5,49-trimethoxystilbene (DMU-291), and 3-hydroxy-4,5,49-trimethoxystilbene (DMU-807). However, if these metabolites retain the biological activity of DMU-212 remains unknown. Therefore, we evalueted the cytotoxic activity of these four metabolites of DMU-212 and the induction of apoptosis in ovarian A-2780 and SKOV-3 cancer cell lines. CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 are known to catalyze the conversion of estradiol to 4-hydroxyestradiol. Hence, the compounds such as resveratrol or DMU-212, which are structurally similar to the endogenous oestrogen estradiol, have been suggested to undergo metabolism by these enzymes. Surprisingly, DMU-212 has been shown to entirely inhibit CYP1B1 in ovarian A-2780 cancer cell line. Since CYP1B1 has been suggested to be involved in DMU-212 biotransformation, it can be hypothesised that one or more metabolites of DMU-212 regulate the expression of CYP1B1 by the feedback inhibition. To have an insight into DMU-212 metabolites9 role in the expression of isoenzymes of CYP1 family we assessed CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 mRNA and protein levels in metabolites-treated A-2780 and SKOV-3 cancer cells. The inhibitory effect of four metabolites of DMU-212 was investigated in ovarian A-2780 and SKOV-3 cancer cell lines by MTT assays. The induction of apoptosis was assayed by Cell Death Detection ELISAPLUS test, Caspase-Glo® 3/7 luminescent test and flow cytometry analysis. The expression of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 mRNA and protein levels was investigated by RT-qPCR and Western blott, respectively. From among four metabolites of DMU-212, DMU-214 exhibited the highest cytotoxic activity (IC50 A-2780=13.26±2.11 nM; IC50 SKOV-3=29.21±3.17nM). Furthermore, DMU-214 has been revealed to exert more pronounced inhibitory effects than the prototype compound, DMU-212. In addition, we observed that the stronger cytotoxic activity of DMU-214 evoked its greater pro-apoptotic effect. DMU-214 caused an increase in nucleosomes level in A-2780 and SKOV-3 cells, EF= 15.89 and 7.91, respectively. Exposure of either cell line to DMU-214 resulted in a statistically significant decrease in CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 mRNA and protein levels as compared to control. We showed for the first time that DMU-212 undergoes metabolic activation to DMU-214 in ovarian A-2780 and SKOV-3 cancer cell lines. Since DMU-214 has been observed to decrease expression of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 in A-2780 and SKOV-3 cells our results provide a new insight into the concept of their feedback inhibition by the compound tested. Citation Format: Sylwia Borys, Malgorzata Kucinska, Dorota Trzybulska, Mariusz Kaczmarek, Marcin Wierzchowski, Marek Murias, Jadwiga Jodynis-Liebert, Hanna Piotrowska. Methylated resveratrol analogue DMU-212 undergoes metabolic activation to DMU-214 in ovarian A-2780 and SKOV-3 cancer cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Precision Medicine Series: Integrating Clinical Genomics and Cancer Therapy; Jun 13-16, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2016;22(1_Suppl):Abstract nr 40.


In this paper we consider the problem of key management in a highly-mobile wireless networking environment, such as a dynamic, distributed setting in which command and control nodes move along with individual users. In this scenario, data must be securely multicast from one source to many users, requiring that users be properly keyed. Furthermore, because users move in and out of the session (due to mobility, attrition, and reinforcement), in order to preserve confidentiality, it becomes necessary to rekey each time a user enters or leaves. We present a hierarchical framework and key distribution algorithms for such a dynamic environment, with a focus on how keys and trust relationships are transferred when users move between so-called "areas" in the hierarchy. We present several schemes including one that rekeys every time a member moves from area to area and one that delays rekeying so long as security is not compromised. Our preliminary analytical and simulation results indicate that it is possible to trade off communication throughput with computational and security overheads. We also briefly describe a prototype testbed in which we are implementing and experimenting with these algorithms.


There is increasing scientific recognition that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a heterogeneous disorder that carries a high risk of comorbidity, continues past childhood and adolescence into adulthood in many cases and may be underidentified in girls. The etiology of ADHD is unknown, although evidence from family studies of ADHD suggests a genetic origin for some forms of this disorder. A variety of pharmacologic agents are available in treating ADHD: stimulant medications remain the first-line treatment for noncomorbid ADHD, whereas tricyclic antidepressants and bupropion are recommended for stimulant nonresponders and patients with more than one psychiatric disorder. Complex cases of ADHD, however, may require rational use of combined pharmacotherapy.


The skin is the first barrier to maintain the stability of internal environment of the body and resist harmful factors of external environment, and is easily damaged because of various external factors. When full-thickness skin defects reach a certain level, it is difficult for the skin to repair itself, so wound dressings are needed to promote wound healing. Seeking an ideal dressing that can promote wound healing has long been a hot research topic. Chitosan is a unique biopolysaccharide polymer with good biocompatibility, biodegradability, antibacterial activity, and thermal stability, which has great potential in the development and application of wound dressings. Based on the introduction of properties of chitosan, this article reviews the role and mechanism of chitosan-based wound dressings in wound healing, and summarizes the hemostatic effect, antibacterial effect, delivery effect, and tissue regeneration promotion effect of chitosan, aiming to provide a certain reference for the research and development of new chitosan-based wound dressings in the future.


Both body and visuo-spatial representations are supposed to be gradually acquired during the developmental process as described in cognitive and brain sciences. A typical example is face representation in a neuron (found in the ventral intraparietal (VIP) area) of which the function is not only to code for the location of visual stimuli in the head-centered reference frame, but also to connect visual sensation with tactile sensation. This paper presents a model that enables a robot to acquire such representation. The proprioception of arm posture is utilized as reference data through the ldquohand regard behavior,rdquo that is, the robot moves its hand in front of its face, and the self-organizing map (SOM) and Hebbian learning methods are applied. The simulation results are shown and discussions on the limitation of the current model and future issues are given.


Little information is available regarding coronary artery morphology after endarterectomy. In this report, we describe coronary artery morphology seen at necropsy 10 years after coronary artery endarterectomy and compare it with the morphology of the original endarterectomy specimen. Surprisingly, in some areas, all of the internal elastic membrane and most of the media were observed in the "endarterectomy" specimen.


This paper presents the use of biosensor devices for bioanalytical purposes. In contrast to common analytical tools using sophisticated and bulky devices, biosensors should be able to perform measurements in untreated samples in a simple and inexpensive manner. As a model creating biosensors serves nature which produces a variety of selective molecules during evolution that can be used in technical sensor devices. Combining such natural molecules with methods from microelectronics, mass fabrication of laboratories on chip seems feasible. Emerging markets for such tools can be seen in medicine, drug screening and biotechnology.

After explaining the principles of biosensors different transducing methods are explained showing advantages and disadvantages for creating biosensors. The greatest emphasis is laid on electrochemical and optical principles which exhibit an overwhelming experience and the largest impact on future developments. Despite such developments, acoustic and calorimetric transducers are also explained. As biological sensing agents enzymes, antibodies and DNA are described with appropriate immobilizing procedures.

Additionally, new aspects for creating a laboratory-on-chip using microanalytical systems (μTAS) including microfluidics and actuator modules are given for creating sensing systems for metabolic parameters and also cell-based and affinity-based systems for screening purposes. The purpose of this section is to give an overview and to explain the present possibilities for creating biosensor systems and ends up with an outlook in the near analytical future for new sophisticated and miniaturized analytical systems.


Friction stir welded butt joints on 2024T3 alloy have been obtained using two different process regimes. The microstructures of all the weld joint zones have been examined and such structural parameters as grain size, particle size and volume content of particles have been determined in order to find correlations with the microhardness of the corresponding zones.


Constitutional mismatch repair deficiency (CMMRD) is a devastating cancer predisposition syndrome for which clinical manifestations, genetic screening, and cancer prevention strategies are limited. We report a case of CMMRD presenting with metachronous colorectal cancer and brain cancer. Oncologists and gastroenterologists should be aware of the CMMRD syndrome as a rare cause of very early-onset colorectal cancer.


Many studies on seed germination are carried out testing the effect of environmental factors, particularly water and temperature which are considered the main factors for successfully germination. Moreover, in most of these studies the authors ignore - either by ignorance or by unfamiliarity with the method - some analysis tools available in the scientific literature, which are useful both for data interpretation and modeling of germination based on parameters with biological meaning, thereby open new perspectives for advances in the creation of more accurate models for predicting the behavior of seed populations in the field. In this article, the hydrotime and hydrothermal time models are introduced in order to familiarize the reader with the theoretical basis of such models and provide examples of how to use them in the analysis of germination assays.


This paper studies a single crane scheduling problem arising in the cold-rolling material warehouse in an iron and steel enterprise. A set of coils stored in two levels are needed to be picked up and transported to designated positions. If a required coil is at the upper level, it can be picked up right away and transported to its designated position (transportation operation). A required coil at the lower level cannot be picked up until all its blocking coils at the upper level are moved to other positions (shuffling operation). One overhead crane is used to perform all the transportation and shuffling operations. Our problem is to schedule the crane operations so as to all required coils retrieve to their designated positions in the shortest possible time (makespan). Since the problem is shown to be NP-hard, a genetic algorithm (GA) is proposed.We identify some analytical properties which enable us to develop an effective heuristic algorithm as initial solutions of the GA.We further analyze its performance from the worst-case point of view. To evaluate the average performances, a numerical test comparedwith some existingmethods is carried out and its results show the good quality of the proposed algorithm.


One of the most critical issues facing the semiconductor industry today is the fact that the cost per transistor is increasing for the first time in decades. The semiconductor industry has several current or near-term transitions, which can be characterized as industry inflection points. Those inflection points are being driven by both technology transition issues (e.g. 450mm, EUV, 3D transistors) and industry consolidation. We will review some of the key aspects and concerns of these industry inflections. There is a continued drive for fabs to become more efficient, faster and more agile and we will highlight some of the areas where modeling will be utilized to implement smarter decision-making software tools for manufacturing.


ABSTRACT Marburg virus disease (MVD) is a lethal viral haemorrhagic fever caused by Marburg virus (MARV) with a case fatality rate as high as 88%. There is currently no vaccine or antiviral therapy approved for MVD. Due to high variation among MARV isolates, vaccines developed against one strain fail to protect against other strains. Here we report that three recombinant rabies virus (RABV) vector vaccines encoding two copies of GPs covering both MARV lineages induced pseudovirus neutralizing antibodies in BALB/c mice. Furthermore, high-affinity human neutralizing antibodies were isolated from a humanized mouse model. The three vaccines produced a Th1-biased serological response similar to that of human patients. Adequate sequential immunization enhanced the production of neutralizing antibodies. Virtual docking suggested that neutralizing antibodies induced by the Angola strain seemed to be able to hydrogen bond to the receptor-binding site (RBS) in the GP of the Ravn strain through hypervariable regions 2 (CDR2) and CDR3 of the VH region. These findings demonstrate that three inactivated vaccines are promising candidates against different strains of MARV, and a novel fully humanized neutralizing antibody against MARV was isolated.


Fecal bacteria contamination of surface waters continues to be a critical water quality concern with serious human health implications, but relatively few land use specific data sets are available to guide management, restoration, policy, and regulatory decisions. In regions with substantial poultry production, litter application sites are often assumed to be major contributors to bacterial contamination, and grazing lands often receive a similar focus. Since most states use Escherichia coli as an indicator organism for fecal contamination, this study was designed to measure E. coli concentrations in runoff from small agricultural watersheds with various land uses. Specifically, three years of water quality data were collected from 13 watersheds and analyzed to evaluate the impacts of litter application and land use on E. coli concentrations in runoff. In this study, litter application did not impact E. coli concentrations in runoff, which can at least partially be attributed to the late summer target application date. Litter was produced and removed from poultry houses during hot, dry conditions unfavorable for E. coli survival. Thus, late summer application may be a recommended practice to minimize E. coli runoff from litter application sites. Cultivated watersheds with and without litter application produced the lowest E. coli concentrations in runoff, presumably due to limited wildlife presence and livestock exclusion. In contrast, the ungrazed native prairie reference site produced relatively high E. coli concentrations in runoff, presumably due to increased fecal deposition from abundant wildlife. The high concentrations of E. coli from grazed lands emphasize the need for livestock producers to follow best management practice recommendations to minimize bacteria contribution; however, it is important to note that high E. coli concentrations were measured in runoff from well-managed grazing lands as well as ungrazed native prairie, which indicates the difficulty of managing bacterial contamination.


DRB6 has been found to be transcribed in human and apes. Promoter region and exon 1 come from a 5' LTR from a mammary tumour retrovirus. However, the putative protein structure would be very different to other DR molecules and it is doubtful that it may function as an antigen presenting molecule. Primate DRB6 alleles previously published together with the two new macaque sequences reported here support the existence of a strong selective pressure working on exon 2 to generate stop codons at the end of the exon (between codons 74 and 94) during at least 23 million years. The topology of dendrograms constructed with different primate DRB6 alleles supports the "trans-species" evolution proposed for MHC class I, class II and possibly C4 genes. Finally, DRB6, which is one of the oldest DRB genes, has been lost in the HLA-DRB3 (or DR52) group of haplotypes (DR3, DR5, DR6 and DR8) and a small DRB6 sequence is present at the exon 2 first hypervariable region of DRB4 (or DR53) gene, which is present in DR4, DR7 and DR9 haplotypes.


Between us, we have approximately 40 years of experience of designing and conducting community-based evaluations of a variety of health programmes, many of which are also struggling with integrating continuous improvement into their daily work. Our own experiences have suggested both the need and the logic of integrating our conceptual approaches to evaluation and improvement, since fundamentally they come down to the same cycle—best represented by the Model for Improvement and the PDSA cycle.1 Our reflections on evaluation and improvement were sparked by reading Lambert and Shearer.2

While readers may be very familiar with the improvement literature from reading this journal and other resources, we also want to draw their attention to the rich and always evolving literature on evaluation. At the 14th invitational 'Summer Symposium on Building Knowledge for Improvement,' a group of health professions educators were privileged to engage in discussions with our 'wizards' Ray Pawson and Nick Tilley, and explored multiple approaches to evaluation. Many of these approaches have common grounding in the disciplines (particularly in social sciences), yet they have acquired distinct reputations in both academe and practice. While this observation has not been established through the scientific method or testing via a randomised controlled clinical trial, evaluation practitioners and theorists appear to exhibit rock-star/groupie or disciple-like devotion in terms of loyalty to a specific approach. This may be a function of influence at a particular point in time because of a programme officer at a funding agency, an external evaluator or a teacher who expects or promotes a certain approach to evaluation. This sort of devotion is seen for evaluation models such …


In this keynote address to the 2004 IMHE General Conference in Paris, the author tried to lay out the profound changes that are taking place in society. These changes give rise to a new context in which institutions have to make decisions. Three principle elements characterise the new context: a rightward shift in political thinking, an intensification of competition, a more central role for knowledge in generating innovations. In terms of policy, universities are now encouraged to reduce their dependence on government funding, to regard themselves as providing a wider range of educational services, and to be global players in research. In this context, intensifying competition often operates according to static and dynamic modes simultaneously. Dynamic competition has given rise to a number of collaborative arrangements. And if universities are to prosper, they have little choice but to engage with others in developing and introducing new modes and models of teaching and research.


We use a two-dimensional deformable mirror to shape the spatial profile of an ultrafast laser beam that is then used to inscribe structures in a soda-lime silica glass slide. By doing so we demonstrate that it is possible to control the asymmetry of the cross section of ultrafast laser inscribed optical waveguides via the curvature of the deformable mirror. When tested using 1.55 mum light, the optimum waveguide exhibited coupling losses of approximately 0.2 dB/facet to Corning SMF-28 single mode fiber and propagation losses of approximately 1.5 dB.cm(-1). This technique promises the possibility of combining rapid processing speeds with the ability to vary the waveguide cross section along its length.


The effect of the existing Total Variation( TV) method for image denoising is not ideal, and it is not good at keeping the characteristics of image edge and texture details. A new method of image denoising based on rational-order differential was proposed in this paper. First, the advantages and disadvantages of the present image denoising methods of TV and fractional differential were discussed in detail, respectively. Then, combining the model of TV with fractional differential theory, the new method of image denoising was obtained, and a rational differential mask in eight directions was drawn. The experimental results demonstrate that compared with the existing denoising methods, Signal Noise Ratio( SNR) is increased about 2 percents, and the method retains effectively the advantages of integer and fractional differential methods, respectively. In aspects of improving significantly high frequency of image and keeping effectively the details of image texture, it is also an effective, superior image denoising method. Therefore, it is an effective method for edge detection.


Abstract We prove that under conditions of regularity the maximal left quotient ring of a corner of a ring is the corner of the maximal left quotient ring. We show that if R and S are two non-unital Morita equivalent rings then their maximal left quotient rings are not necessarily Morita equivalent. This situation contrasts with the unital case. However we prove that the ideals generated by two Morita equivalent idempotent rings inside their own maximal left quotient rings are Morita equivalent.


: One of the main conditions for the effective work of scientific periodicals' founders and publishers is the knowledge of the legislation to their professional activities. However, analyzing the experience of colleagues in this field can be even more useful than studying regulations of the media. The author of this article, who has considerable experience in managing the department of issuing scientific publications, presents her own view on certain disputable situations related to executing legal requirements under the condition of the absence of special legal regulation. This information can help to avoid breaches and subsequent sanctions by regulatory authorities in issuing scientific printed periodicals.


Castles, palaces, temples and cathedrals in the real world are densely decorated with ornamentation. Computer games, in contrast, usually have much less and appear Spartan in comparison. Game worlds, whether hand-made or procedural, require greater decorative ornamentation to increase their realism and beauty. Currently artists create this ornament by hand; this doesn't scale. In order to have more decorative artwork in games, procedural algorithms must be developed to generate it, for only this approach will create sufficient quantities, quickly, and at low cost. This paper justifies the importance of decorative ornamentation in computer games and provides an overview of existing research on algorithmic generation of patterns and ornamentation. A series of open research issues demonstrates the breadth of potential research that can be performed in this area. Together, these make the case that procedural decorative ornamentation is a new and interesting research subdomain within the area of procedural content generation for computer games.


Teacher education in Sweden has been subject to criticism for not providing teachers-to-be with relevant knowledge and skills concerning the pedagogical use of ICT. Only as late as in 2005 a nationwide investment was launched and three projects commenced with the overall aim of enhancing ICT competence within teacher education. One of the projects was called LIKA (Learning, Information, Communication, Administration) which brought together four institutions of higher education in Stockholm region. This six-year project engaged approx. 600 teacher educators and 6 000 pre-service teachers in 245 different activities with the scope of integrating digital literacy in teacher education programs within the participating institutions. The project developed a holistic model for integration of ICT with digital literacy as a key concept including theoretical, didactic/pedagogical, and technical competences. In a holistic model, digital literacy is established both on the individual and organizational levels with the goal of developing a learning organization where collaborative knowledge creation and learning constitute vital parts of everyday actions. This can be obtained through long term commitment of all personnel in systematic improvement of courses and curricula through experimentation and competence development.


Objective: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) has been robustly associated with preeclampsia, hyperperfusion or endothelial dysfunction suggested as possible mechanisms. In this article, we report an illustrative case of this complication in a patient with risk factors for hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, including advanced maternal age and donor oocyte fertilization. Case report: We present a case of a 40-year-old pregnant, donor oocyte recipient with sudden decreased visual acuity accompanied by hypertension, proteinuria and tonic-clonic seizures. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain showed bilateral lesions in the parieto-occipital regions suggestive of vasogenic edema, leading us to suspect posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome. The patient underwent an emergency cesarean section and labetalol and magnesium sulfate were administered intravenously. The neurological symptoms and radiological findings resolved following delivery and the patient's blood pressure normalized, supporting the diagnosis of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome. Conclusion: Pregnancy by donor oocyte fertilization may entail a higher risk of eclampsia and associated posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome.


In vitro data have recently suggested that sulfonylureas (SUs) enhance GH secretion by modulating the effects of GHRH and somatostatin in pituitary cells. The present study was undertaken to explore in more detail a possible influence of a single dose of SU (glibenclamide) and a non-SU (repaglinide) insulin secretagogue on circulating GH dynamics. Ten C-peptide-negative type 1 diabetic individuals were examined on three occasions in random order. Either glibenclamide (10.5 mg), repaglinide (8 mg), or placebo was administered after overnight normalization of plasma glucose by iv insulin infusion. Subsequently, GH concentrations were measured regularly after stimulation with GHRH (bolus 0.1 micro g/kg) alone and during concomitant infusion with somatostatin (7 ng.kg(-1).min(-1)). Insulin was replaced at baseline levels (0.25 mU.kg(-1).min(-1)) and plasma glucose clamped at 5-6 mmol/liter. Overall, there were no significant statistical differences in GH responses determined as either GH peak concentrations, integrated levels of GH, or secretory burst mass of GH during the experimental protocol. In contrast, plasma glucagon concentrations were significantly increased during glibenclamide and repaglinide exposure. The present experimental design does not support the hypothesis that acute administration of pharmacological doses of the oral antihyperglycemic agents glibenclamide and repaglinide per se enhance GH release in humans. Additionally, this study shows that these potassium channel inhibitors seem to stimulate glucagon secretion in people who have severe intraislet insulin deficiency (e.g. type 1 diabetes). However, extrapolation of our findings to type 2 diabetic individuals should be done with some caution.


Practical Applications Summary In And the Winner Is … A Comparison of Valuation Measures for Equity Country Allocation, from the July 2019 edition of The Journal of Portfolio Management, Adam Zaremba of the University of Dubai and Jan Szczygielski of the Newcastle Business School at Northumbria University examine the performance of 14 valuation ratios to see which are best for country-level equity allocation. They assess seven performance metrics and calculate ratios of each against both enterprise value (EV) and market equity (ME). For individual stocks, the ratio of earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) to EV is consistently TOPICS: Accounting and ratio analysis, mutual funds/passive investing/indexing, emerging


The Fe II-spectrum emitted from a pulsed hollow cathode has been investigated in the region 4 800-11 500 A. As a first result of the analysis 481 lines have been identified as belonging to the 3d6(5D)4d-3d6 (5D)4f transition array. The term structure shows good agreement with predictions by R. D. Cowan.


The modulational stability of the nonlinear Schr{\"o}dinger (NLS) equation is examined in the cases with linear and quadratic external potential. This study is motivated by recent experimental studies in the context of matter waves in Bose-Einstein condensates. The linear case can be examined by means of the Tappert transformation and can be mapped to the NLS in the appropriate (constant acceleration) frame. The quadratic case can be examined by using a lens-type transformation that converts it into a regular NLS with an additional linear growth term.


Traditional inductors in modern electronics consume excessive areas in the integrated circuits. Carbon nanostructures can offer efficient alternatives if the recognized high electrical conductivity of graphene can be properly organized in space to yield a current-generated magnetic field that is both strong and confined. Here we report on an extraordinary inductor nanostructure naturally occurring as a screw dislocation in graphitic carbons. Its elegant helicoid topology, resembling a Riemann surface, ensures full covalent connectivity of all graphene layers, joined in a single layer wound around the dislocation line. If voltage is applied, electrical currents flow helically and thus give rise to a very large (∼1 T at normal operational voltage) magnetic field and bring about superior (per mass or volume) inductance, both owing to unique winding density. Such a solenoid of small diameter behaves as a quantum conductor whose current distribution between the core and exterior varies with applied voltage, resulting in nonlinear inductance.


AbstractThis study tested directly the hypothesis that the mere presence of a person's pet dog produces health benefits by reducing cardiovascular arousal-induced stress. We administered mental arithmetic problems and TAT cards to 32 normotensive dog-owning college students. Half were tested with their dogs present. Dependent measures were heart rate and systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure, recorded continuously. ANOVAs revealed that mental arithmetic and TAT tasks caused significant increases in all cardiovascular measures, with no difference between dog-present and dog-absent groups. In addition, there were no significant correlations among cardiovascular responses, pet attitudes, and Type A status measured by the Jenkins Activity Survey. Although these results were negative, we recommend stronger tests of the stress-reducing effect of pet presence using larger clinically hypertensive samples and an own-control experimental design.


Medication of broilers with arprinocid [MK-302, 9-(2-chloro-6-fluorbenzyl adenine)] had 3 distinct effects on oocysts; (1) the number of oocysts produced was decreased, (2) fewer of the oocysts sporulated, and (3) those oocysts which did sporulate were less infective than those from unmedicated birds. The drug level necessary to prevent passage of oocysts depended on the species and strain of coccidia. To essentially eliminate oocyst production (less than 5% of controls) required medication with the following levels of arprinocid: 70 ppm with Eimeria maxima; 60 ppm with E. mivati, E. E. necatrix, and E. brunetti; and 50 ppm with E. tenella. With E. acervulina, oocysts were completely eliminated by 60 ppm of arprinocid with one field strain but were still numerous at 70 ppm with a second field strain. Oocysts recovered from birds on medication often failed to sporulate. No sporulation was seen at drug levels of 30 ppm or above with E. maxima and E. mivati. The level of arpinocid required to prevent sporulation with other species depended on the strain being studied, but varied from 30 ppm to 70 ppm. The oocysts of E. acervulina, E. mivati, E. tenella, and E. brunetti recovered from medicated birds that subsequently sporulated, were less infective when inoculated into susceptible birds, than oocysts from unmedicated birds. Oocysts from low medication level with E. necatrix (30 ppm) and E. maxima (10 ppm), once sporulated, were as infective as oocysts from unmedicated control birds, even though the numbers produced were less. No differences were detected in the time oocysts were produced between medicated and unmedicated birds infected with E. acervulina, E. maxima, E. brunetti, and E. tenella.


The detection and kinetic characterization of a cytochrome P450 model compound I, [OFe(IV)-4-TMPyP](+) (1), in aqueous solution shows extraordinary reaction rates for C-H hydroxylations. Stopped-flow spectrophotometric monitoring of the oxidation of Fe(III)-4-TMPyP with mCPBA revealed the intermediate 1, which displays a weak, blue-shifted Soret band at 402 nm and an absorbance at 673 nm, typical of a porphyrin pi-radical cation. This intermediate was subsequently transformed into the well-characterized OFe(IV)-4-TMPyP. Global analysis afforded a second-order rate constant k(1) = (1.59 +/- 0.06) x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1) for the formation of 1 followed by a first-order decay with k(2) = 8.8 +/- 0.1 s(-1). (1)H and (13)C NMR determined 9-xanthydrol to be the major product (approximately 90% yield) of xanthene oxidation by 1. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry carried out in 47.5% (18)OH(2) indicated 21% (18)O incorporation, consistent with an oxygen-rebound reaction scenario. Xanthene/xanthene-d(2) revealed a modest kinetic isotope effect, k(H)/k(D) = 2.1. Xanthene hydroxylation by 1 occurred with a very large second-order rate constant k(3) = (3.6 +/- 0.3) x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1). Similar reactions of fluorene-4-carboxylic acid and 4-isopropyl- and 4-ethylbenzoic acid also gave high rates for C-H hydroxylation that correlated well with the scissile C-H bond energy, indicating a homolytic hydrogen abstraction transition state. Mapping the observed rate constants for C-H bond cleavage onto the Brønsted-Evans-Polanyi relationship for similar substrates determined the H-OFe(IV)-4-TMPyP bond dissociation energy to be approximately 100 kcal/mol. The high kinetic reactivity observed for 1 is suggested to result from a high porphyrin redox potential and spin-state-crossing phenomena. More generally, subtle charge modulation at the active site may result in high reactivity of a cytochrome P450 compound I.


Abstract Some intrinsic properties of the two‐dimensional (2D) dynamical spring‐slider model, subjected to linear slip‐ or velocity‐weakening friction with a uniform, isotropic distribution of static friction strengths at all sliders and loaded by an external constant driving force are studied. First, the continuum model of the spring‐slider model is constructed. A comparison between the continuum model, without the driving force and friction, and a 2D wave equation indicates that some of the model parameters are a function of elastic properties of fault‐zone materials. The occurrence of P and S waves must be included in the model. Second, the velocities of waves propagating in the model are investigated for three cases: case 1 includes the external force but excludes friction; case 2 includes the external force and slip‐weakening friction; and case 3 includes the external force and velocity‐weakening friction. Analytical results show that there are two types of waves for the first two cases: P ‐type waves for case 1 and S ‐type waves for case 2. The velocity is higher for the former than the latter. The velocities for the two types of waves are increased when the external force is added. Slip‐weakening friction results in a decrease in the velocities of the two types of waves. For case 3, there are three types of waves. Velocity‐weakening friction makes the velocities of the first type of wave higher than the P ‐type wave velocity, while it makes the velocity of the second type of wave higher or lower than the S ‐type wave velocity, depending on the degree of weakening. The velocity of the third type of wave is lower than the P ‐type wave velocity and higher than the S ‐type wave velocity.


Community Reserves (CRs) have been advocated for increasing the protected area coverage in northeast India where the land is primarily owned and managed by local indigenous institutions. To understand the significance of these reserves for the conservation of mammals, we investigated the diversity and abundance of mammals in five CRs in the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya as well as interviewed 75 local villagers to assess the hunting practices and perceptions of the Indigenous Khasis on mammals. We employed 60 camera traps in the CRs and undertook a recce survey (day-time and night-time) for capturing the diversity in the CRs. We used photo-capture rate and encounter rate as indices of relative abundance in the CRs. We used an exact multinomial test to test differences of opinion among the respondents of the five CRs. We found a relatively low abundance of mammals in the CRs, yet they persist. A total of 28 species were detected through camera trapping and recce survey and an additional 12 species were reported by respondents to also occur in the CRs. Among the respondents, it was believed that the decline in mammal populations was largely driven by habitat loss and degradation (82.67%) while only a few believed it was also driven by hunting (5.33%). Respondents also believed that the presence of the reserves and awareness programs taken under them had also led to a reduction in hunting (20%) in their area. Although, some attributed it to a general decline in wildlife populations and forest cover (21.33%). Thus, despite these CRs being small (<2 km2) and isolated, they still harbour mammal species and are important for retaining remnant forest patches in a landscape that is highly fragmented.


Young rats, 11, 16, and 20 days of age, received bilateral injections of three antinicotinic agents into the posteroventral hippocampo-subiculo-entorhinal area, and were trained to learn a cool-draft-stimulus, passive-avoidance task shortly after (17 min). Gallamine triethiodide had no action at low doses and provoked convulsions at higher concentrations. Pempidine tartrate produced age- and dose-dependent impairments of the passive avoidance, and was much more effective in younger groups (11 and 16 days) than at 20 days. alpha-bungarotoxin also induced dose-dependent deficits. These results, together with the mecamylamine-induced deficits already reported, suggest that nicotinic cholinergic synapses located in the posteroventral part of the hippocampal complex play a role in passive-avoidance learning in the young rat as soon as this type of conditioning is possible, but become relatively less important at older ages, when muscarinic mechanisms also become involved.


In-Context Learning (ICL) combined with pre-trained large language models has achieved promising results on various NLP tasks. However, ICL requires high-quality annotated demonstrations which might not be available in real-world scenarios. To overcome this limitation, we propose \textbf{D}ata \textbf{A}ugmentation for \textbf{I}n-Context \textbf{L}earning (\textbf{DAIL}). DAIL leverages the intuition that large language models are more familiar with the content generated by themselves. It first utilizes the language model to generate paraphrases of the test sample and employs majority voting to determine the final result based on individual predictions. Our extensive empirical evaluation shows that DAIL outperforms the standard ICL method and other ensemble-based methods in the low-resource scenario. Additionally, we explore the use of voting consistency as a confidence score of the model when the logits of predictions are inaccessible. We believe our work will stimulate further research on ICL in low-resource settings.


We address the problem of computing an optimal value function for Markov decision processes. Since finding this function quickly and accurately requires substantial computation effort, techniques that accelerate fundamental algorithms have been a main focus of research. Among them prioritization solvers suggest solutions to the problem of ordering backup operations. Prioritization techniques for ordering the sequence of backup operations reduce the number of needed backups considerably, but involve significant overhead. This paper provides a new way to order backups, based on a mapping of states space into a metric space. Empirical evaluation verifies that our method achieves the best balance between the number of backups executed and the effort required to prioritized backups, showing order of magnitude improvement in runtime over number of benchmarks.


The article addresses the issue of female appearance in the fresco painting from the Byzantine era on the territory of Kosova and aims at disclosure of the methodological approach towards construction of appropriate means for depiction of feminine attributes such are: facial expression, corporal energy, fashion, charm, elegance, grace and physical attractiveness. In that regard, the iconographic configuration of female representation in several churches from the 14th century have been analyzed Shen Premte – Virgin Ljeviska in Prizren, Patrikana e Pejes -Patriarchate of Peja, the Church of the Annunciation in Gracanice and the Decan monastery where we encounter a great number of depicted female characters belonging to different categories (female saints – martyrs, female commissioners, images of Virgin Mary etc.) The main aim of the paper is to disclose the manners in which the characters were visualized according to their role in religious history, i.e. describe the iconographic methods applied to each category in order to discover the principles of aestheticism particularly designed for expression of femininity. In that regard, the spiritual tenderness of the images of Virgin Mary, the elegant sophistication of aristocratic female martyrs, the modest and calm beauty of the represented nuns, as well as the dignified portraits of the historic personalities represented as lady commissioners point to different means of iconographic and stylistic expression that were created to live different types of emotional impression by the beholders of the frescoes.


Researchers have established that alcohol is a risk factor for date rape for both victims and perpetrators. Objective: The authors tried to experimentally address the link between alcohol consumption and women's risk detection abilities in a risky sexual vignette. Participants: The authors recruited 42 women from undergraduate classrooms at a large midwestern university and randomly assigned them to drink an alcoholic (.04 blood alcohol content) or a placebo beverage. Methods: Participants completed self-report inventories and listened to a date-rape audiotaped vignette, which began with consensual sexual behavior and culminated in date rape, and the authors asked them to determine if and when the man should refrain from making further sexual advances. Results: Student's t tests and Pearson r correlations showed that women who consumed alcohol and exhibited high levels of rape myth acceptance showed a significant decrease in risk recognition (p = .000 and .001, respectively). Conclusion: These findings highlight the significance of even small amounts of alcohol on behavior and cognition in women who are self-reported experienced drinkers.


In this paper, we reported some experiments conducted by our members in the SIG team at the IRIT laboratory in the University of Toulouse within the context of the medical information retrieval (IR) task. As in our previous participation in ImageCLEF, in 2011, our re- search focuses on the case-based retrieval task. We compared the perfor- mance of different state-of-the-art term weighting models for retrieving patient cases that might best suit the clinical information need. Fur- thermore, we also combined term scores obtained by two state-of-the-art weighting models using a particular data fusion technique. Finally, a state-of-the-art query expansion (QE) technique is used for improving biomedical IR performance.


The National Health Insurance ( JKN) system is designed to provide the availability of quality health services, but until now JKN participant have not felt the quality health care. The purpose of this study is to identify threats and weaknesses in health care quality control and formulate the implications of its strategy. The study was conducted at four Regional General Hospital (RSUD) in East Java - Indonesia, namely RSUD IbnuSina Gresik, RSUD NgudiWaluyoWlingiBlitar, RSUD dr. H. SlametMartodirdjoPamekasan, and RSUD dr. H. KoesnadiBondowoso. The sampling of research samples was conducted by purposive sampling and data retrieval with questionnaires and interviews. Analysis techniques used are external factor analysis, internal factor analysis, and SWOT analysis. The results of the study found that the barriers to quality control of JKN health services are the delay in payment of hospital claims by the Social Security Regulatory Agencyof Health (BPJS Health), INA-CBGs rate, BPJS Health Regulations and low people awareness for a healthy lifestyle. In terms of internal hospitals, fraud prevention systems have not been affective. The implication of the strategy is that hospitals must develop and implement fraud prevention information systems properly.
Keywords: JKN; BPJS; quality control; health services


In the present paper, the information on the process of enzymatic conversion of free fatty acids in fatty coriander oil (FCO) was considered. Enzymatic esterification was performed according to the following algorithm: FCO was treated with enzymes, purified by adsorbents with a variation of the basic process parameters, alcohols of a different nature were added. The quality of the samples of the purified FCO was determined by the basic physicochemical index - acid number. Ethanol (96 %) and glycerin (99.3 %) were used as reagents. Enzyme preparations (manufactured by «Novozymes» Denmark): Novozym 435, Lipozym TL IM were used as catalysts. Using the FCO fining methods, given in the paper, it was managed to reduce the acid number of oil from 17.0 mg KOH/g to 0.3 mg KOH/g. It was proved that using vacuum is an appropriate technological stage of enzymatic esterification of the FCO. Using molecular sieves for the FCO fining to reduce the content of water formed in the esterification and, thus, improve the conditions for the conversion reaction of free fatty acids - reduced acid number to less than 2.1 mg KOH/g was investigated. It was found that when adding molecular sieves in the FCO - reagent - enzyme system, water removal is not observed and their use does not decrease the acid number of oil at all. The fatty acid composition of the sample of the initial FCO was investigated by means of gas-liquid chromatography. It was found that in the initial FCO the percentage of the main fatty acids are the following: palmitic - 2.4 %, petroselinum - 71.3 %, oleic - 7.8 %, linoleic - 15.6 %. The authors have examined the process of adsorption of free fatty acids from the esterified FCO using the anionite EDE - 10P. It was found that the increase in the ratio of FCO to the adsorbent does not result in complete removal of free fatty acids and, accordingly, sufficient decrease in the acid number of the purified oil.


The generation of a correctly-sized cerebral cortex with all-embracing neuronal and glial cell-type diversity critically depends on faithful radial glial progenitor (RGP) cell proliferation/differentiation programs. Temporal RGP lineage progression is regulated by Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) and loss of PRC2 activity results in severe neurogenesis defects and microcephaly. How PRC2-dependent gene expression instructs RGP lineage progression is unknown. Here we utilize Mosaic Analysis with Double Markers (MADM)-based single cell technology and demonstrate that PRC2 is not cell-autonomously required in neurogenic RGPs but rather acts at the global tissue-wide level. Conversely, cortical astrocyte production and maturation is cell-autonomously controlled by PRC2-dependent transcriptional regulation. We thus reveal highly distinct and sequential PRC2 functions in RGP lineage progression that are dependent on complex interplays between intrinsic and tissue-wide properties. In a broader context our results imply a critical role for the genetic and cellular niche environment in neural stem cell behavior.


Practice reports suggest that the oldest form of trade – barter – is taking shape in supply chain management and production research. The paper highlights the phenomenon of countertrade in supply chains and takes first steps towards the conceptualization and explanation of a potentially powerful competitive tool–the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) – in practice.To test the construct, the model is applied to an illustrative case. The illustrations and the decision model shed light into why, and how, firms use countertrade in supply chains to support long-term business success. The identified forms of countertrade in supply chains exhibit different strengths with regard to a set of business objectives. The results contribute to the academic discussion of reciprocal agreements in supply chains as well as to the field of strategic production research in general. This paper should be of interest to practitioners as well as to academics specializing in supply chain management and strategic alliances in business networks.


In most industrialised countries exposure to noise is one of major health problems which, because of its social and economic dimension has been given priority in the area of preventive activities. It is estimated that only in Europe about 25-30 million people are employed in conditions under exposure to noise at excessive levels, harmful to the hearing organ, generating the risk of hearing loss (disability), and in consequence limiting the possibility of active life. Acknowledging the significance of the problem and its consequences the World Health Organization (WHO) in cooperation with the International (ISA) and European Federation of Audiological Society (EFAS) has developed the programme for the protection against noise. The prime aims of the programme are to establish the cooperation between scientists, health services and technicians in order to promote knowledge and exchange of experience, to improve workers' health, and to identify the biological, neuropsychological and psycho-social effect of noise exposure on the hearing ability. The authors discuss basic objectives and adopted strategies of experimental and clinical studies carried out in countries of the European Union, participating in the implementation of the programme. The WHO guidelines for the reduction in noise exposure in the working, municipal and recreation environments are also presented.


Purpose
The leadership shift from conventional to digital comes from the compulsory digitalization of the workplace because the technological progress provides the opportunity of doing work remotely, and this is a great advantage of reducing costs that stem from the offline workplace. Thus, this research aims at demonstrating the relationship between digitalization of leadership and innovative work behavior.

Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from 320 Turkish department managers in the Textile Industry through digital leadership and innovate work behavior scales. The hypotheses were tested using path analysis. The analyses were conducted by using SPSS and AMOS package programs.

Findings
The results show that the employees' perceptions of digital leadership have a positive and significant effect on all dimensions of an employee innovative work behavior. Also, the leaders with high digital skills were perceived positively by the employees and the employees tend to adapt innovative behaviors when they have the digitally skilled leaders.

Originality/value
This study contributes to leadership research by providing evidence for the role of leadership shift in innovative work behavior. Extending the verification of leadership shift in innovative work behavior that can be adopted in Turkey has also been considered.


This paper presents a multiperiod energy acquisition model for a distribution company (Disco) with distributed generation (DG) and interruptible load (IL) in a day-ahead electricity market. Assuming that cost information for individual generation companies (Gencos) and Discos is known, the Disco's energy acquisition strategy is modeled as a bilevel optimization problem with the upper subproblem representing individual Discos and the lower subproblem representing the independent system operator (ISO). The upper subproblem maximizes individual Discos' revenues. The lower subproblem simulates the ISO's market clearing problem that minimizes generation costs and compensation costs for interrupting load. The bilevel problem is solved by a nonlinear complementarity method. An 8-bus system is employed to illustrate the proposed model and algorithm. In particular, the roles of DGs and ILs to alleviate congestion are analyzed


In this second article on Artificial Intelligence, we will examine how Artificial Intelligence changes production. It is precisely in this area that a particularly rapid advance of AI systems can be expected. In addition to cost reduction through more efficient use of systems and processes, flexibility in production can also be increased. Through a digital value-added chain, the necessary networks to upstream and downstream service partners are achieved. An increasing use of robots in production can lead to reshoring – a relocation of production processes back to high-wage countries.


The processes of discovery learning are well grounded in current theories of learning. This article describes how cognitive learning theory supports the components of the discovery learning model. Three main characteristics of discovery learning that relate it to cognitive theory are 1) an emphasis on active learning, 2) the development of meaningful learning, and 3) the capacity to change attitudes and values toward the subject and the self as problem solver.


Functionally graded materials (FGMs) have attracted a lot of research interest due to their gradual variation in material properties that result from the non-homogeneous composition or structure. Metal FGMs have been widely researched in recent years, and additive manufacturing has become one of the most important approaches to fabricate metal FGMs. The aim of this paper is to review the research progress in metal FGMs by additive manufacturing. It will first introduce the unique properties and the advantages of FGMs. Then, typical recent findings in research and development of two major types of metal additive manufacturing methods, namely laser metal deposition (LMD) and selective laser melting (SLM), for manufacturing different types of metal FGMs will be discussed. Finally, the major technical concerns in additive manufacturing of metal FGMs which are closely related to mechanical properties, and industrial applications of metal FGMs will be covered.


The risk of nosocomial infection remains high among intensive care unit patients, who frequently require invasive devices, which provide access for microbes to enter the body, and antibiotics, which apply selection pressure favoring colonization and superinfection by resistant organisms and also the development of antibiotic resistance among initially susceptible strains. Coagulase-negative staphylococci, Candida, and enterococci have each caused infections more frequently in recent years and multiple outbreaks of antibiotic resistant pathogens have been reported. Rates of handwashing by heath care staff after contact and between intensive care unit patients have remained as low as 40%, leading to multiple outbreaks of infection documented by molecular techniques. Other outbreaks have been linked to failure to comply with universal precautions. Scheduled replacement of central venous catheters has not resulted in lower infection rates in randomized trials and selective digestive tract decontamination remains an experimental approach that has been associated with development of antibiotic resistance in some intensive care units.


The protein metabolism of rats bearing bilateral lesions in the ventromedial area of hypothalamus (VMH) was studied in nitrogen balance experiments employing high protein and high fat diets. The catabolic effect of VMH destruction was to a great extent counterbalanced by increased protein intake. This indicates that increased amino acid catabolism, rather than impaired mechanisms for protein synthesis, is responsible for the poor nitrogen retention of VMH-lesioned rat fed normal amounts of protein. A trend of increasing nitrogen excretion with increasing dietary fat was found when the caloric intake of VMH-lesioned animals was elevated by substitution of dietary carbohydrates with fat. Persistent liponeogenesis in spite of the high fat intake, is suggested as a possible explanation for this observation.


The accelerated rate of change that we live nowadays, demands professionals to develop new learning skills to cope with it the rampant development of information technology opens up new horizons and challenges in the way that a human being can be formed through education. In response to the technological progress and rapid rate of change, the Tecnologico de Monterrey System has redesigned its education model, focusing on learning rather than teaching. This means not only acquiring knowledge on theory and concepts, but also learning skills, attitudes, and values that make students be committed with their community & country needs. It also means to be competitive in their area of knowledge at the international level. A central element in the new educational strategy is the technological platform where the academic courses are developed. This platform helps students and professors to do a great deal of the course activities on a lap-top through the computer the interaction between students with students, or professor with students has increased. At the Tecnologico de Monterrey System the implantation of the educational strategy has meant the creation of training programs for teachers, and technological development & support to attend over 5,000 teachers and 70,000 students.


The paper shows that the comparatively narrow topic of 'physics and society' crops up in two types of courses: in courses that in part deal with aspects of the so called 'science of science' and in courses where the link between physics and society, via technology, is apparent. The article concludes by showing that the very existence of the Open University provides an example of the interaction between physics and society.


Sustainable management is a complex process that involves balancing the competing interests of the human, plant, and animal communities that depend on watershed resources. It involves developing and implementing plans, programs, and projects that sustain and enhance watershed functions while taking into account the natural, social, political, economic, and institutional factors operating within the watershed and other relevant regions. Examples of such factors include crosscutting mandates by different levels of government, conflicting objectives across sectors, and the constraints and uncertainty of the availability and accessibility of the resources within the watershed. One way to address these complexities is with public participation processes designed to share knowledge among disciplinary experts, policy-makers, and local stakeholders and provide outcomes, which inform the creation of sustainable watershed management plans. Serious games (i.e., games played for purposes other than pure entertainment) are an example of such processes. Here, we present a case study of how a serious game, called the multi-hazard tournament, was used to facilitate watershed management by promoting social learning, cross-sectoral dialogue, and stakeholder participation in the planning process.


The purpose of this literature review is to evaluate the relationship between physician emotional intelligence and quality of care. Although there is movement towards placing more emphasis on emotional intelligence, its true impact on healthcare and the quality of care that is provided is seemingly unknown in terms of a comprehensive understanding. In an attempt to determine the overall impact of physician emotional intelligence on quality of care, this literature review determines three domains which seem to be impacted the most according to the literature. These three domains are impact on physician-patient interaction, impact on staff, and direct impact on physician. Each of these domains are broad categories where there is a strong proven relationship with physician emotional intelligence; in addition, under each of these domains is a large amount of sub categories that impact quality of care as well. All three domains are strongly connected to each other and throughout the literature review common themes began to develop across the domains such as trust, communication, and job satisfaction. Understanding the impact of physician emotional intelligence on all of these domains is fundamental to better understanding the importance of developing and continuously improving emotional intelligence in areas such as healthcare.


Most histories of the discipline of community psychology attribute its beginning to the Swampscott Conference that occurred in the mid-20th century. The author argues that recognition of the community perspective on human behavior and on its positive as well as pathological characteristics arose far earlier and is reflected in the work of European social scientists. Work in central Europe in the 1930s by Marie Jahoda and her colleagues, for example, should be appreciated as an earlier manifestation of community psychology. The author also argues that the very project of trying to locate the historical origin for community psychology is by its very nature problematic! He views this effort as evidence of the intellectual colonizing of diverse indigenous community psychologies around the world by a culturally specific, largely acritical, United States–based community psychology. The author proposes that, rather than focusing on the origin of the discipline, scholars share his commitment to uncovering diverse historical community psychologies with their specific pasts and the construction of diverse community psychology futures, including most importantly of all, critical community psychologies. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


With emerging trend in technology wireless networks allow user to travel from one location to another. Mobile Ad hoc network (MANET) is one of the subareas of wireless network that dynamically form infrastructure less temporary network. MANET is a collection of intercommunicating mobile nodes forming a temporary network without any centralized administration. Due to the dynamic property of mobile nodes in MANET, they require good routing protocol. This paper analyzes the effect of random based mobility models on the performance of Proactive Routing Protocol (DSDV Destination Sequence Distance Vector) and Reactive Routing Protocol (AODV- on Demand Distance Vector, DSR- Dynamic Source Routing). Performance analysis is done with respect to end-to-end delay, throughput and Packet delivery ratio for varying node densities.


This paper presents an efficient method for designing two-dimensional (2-D) half-band digital filter using the singular-value-decomposition (SVD). The SVD of zero-phase half-band frequency response generates a set of one-dimensional (1-D) frequency responses which can be approximated using the cascade of a half-advance digital filter and a set of 1-D filters. The most important point is that each 1-D filter only requires a single multiplication to get an output sample, so the resulting whole 2-D half-band filter has considerably reduced computational complexity as compared with the existing direct design approach. One example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the new cascaded structure.


A Comamonas testosteroni strain was isolated from activated sludge on the basis of its ability to coaggregate with yeast cells. On agar plates the following two types of colonies were formed: colonies with a mucoid appearance and colonies with a nonmucoid appearance. On plates this strain alternated between the two forms, making sectored colonies. In liquid medium with constant agitation no such change was observed. In the absence of agitation and in contact with a glass surface a culture with predominantly nonmucoid-colony-forming cells very rapidly shifted to a culture dominated by mucoid-colony-forming cells. In liquid medium the reverse was observed under stress conditions imposed by hydrogen peroxide, sodium dodecyl sulfate, or starvation. Nonmucoid cells formed very rapidly settling flocs with yeast cells, while coaggregation of mucoid cells with yeast cells did not occur. These findings may be relevant to the behavior of activated sludge microbial communities.


In this article, we present an exact theoretical analysis of an M / M / 1 system, with arbitrary distribution of relative deadline for the end of service, operated under the first come first served scheduling policy with exact admission control. We provide an explicit solution to the functional equation that must be satisfied by the workload distribution, when the system reaches steady state. We use this solution to derive explicit expressions for the loss ratio and the sojourn time distribution. Finally, we compare this loss ratio with that of a similar system operating without admission control, in the cases of some common distributions of the relative deadline


Left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function was studied in 12 subjects with and 12 without coronary artery disease (CAD). Six in each group received the $-blocking agent atenolol, 5 mg i.v., and six received nitroglycerin (NTG), 0.8 mg sublingually. LV cineangiograms were performed in the 400 right anterior oblique projection before and after the drug. Global systolic function was measured as ejection fraction and mean normalized systolic ejection rate. Regional function was determined as mean shortening velocity and percentage shortening of basal, middle and apical transverse diameters. Diastolic function was quantitated throughout diastole in terms of logarithmic pressure-volume (log P-V) and logarithmic midwall circumferential stress-midwall circumference (log a-C) relations. Changes in slope k and a of the log P-V and log a-C curves, respectively, were regarded as changes in passive elastic stiffness. LV geometry was analyzed in terms of 1) eccentricity, 2) minor/major axis ratios, 3) shape index and 4) the linear relation between minor/major axis ratio and diastolic volume, with slope q and intercept r. Results varied with the quantity measured and the presence or absence of CAD, but atenolol tended to reduce and NTG to increase parameters of both global and regional systolic function. Velocity indices appeared to be more sensitive than nonvelocity indices in detecting alterations induced by both drugs. With respect to diastolic function, results also varied with the parameter measured and the presence or absence of CAD, but atenolol tended to reduce and NTG to increase passive elastic stiffness of the myocardium. Log a-C relations detected NTG-induced changes when log P-V relations did not. None of the geometric parameters reflected a consistent drug-induced alteration in geometry except r. The data suggest that geometrical influences in drugs may mask alterations in LV diastolic properties and that analysis of log o--C relations may be more appropriate than log P-V relations for detection of these druginduced changes.


We should be concerned with the prevention of postoperative infections from use of unsterile solutions, dressings, and other medications, even though infections due to this cause are uncommon. The ease with which solutions and instruments (tonometers) become contaminated with microbial and viral agents indicates the necessity for vigilance and prevention of contamination. Most surgeons would not think of dressing patients without washing their hands and for the same reason should not carry a tray with contaminated solutions and instruments. The problem involved in routine changing of eye medications and materials on portable trays in eye dressing rooms, and in the clinic, called our attention to the expense involved, the danger of contamination, the risk of improper compounding, and the real problem of delay in replacing solutions which are outdated. We had the occasional experience of recovering pathogenic organisms from dressing room and tray solutions which had been used a number


Introduction/Background The purpose of the study is to compare the two operative techniques in cervical cancer and to determine whether laparoscopy is a safe and effective alternative to conventional abdominal radical hysterectomy (RAH). Methodology Fifty-one cases of radical laparoscopic hysterectomy (RLH) and 41 cases of RAH performed in Medical University in Gdansk (Poland) between 2013–2019 were compared and analyzed in a retrospective observational study. Since the publication of prospective LACC trial in 2018 reporting incomparably worse outcomes of minimally invasive techniques in cervical cancer, laparotomy or modified procedure of vaginally assisted laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (VALRH) without uterine manipulator, was carried out in all patients. We included patients with early-stage cervical cancer only: IA1–IB1 according to FIGO 2014 staging. Results There were no differences in preoperative clinical FIGO stage in both groups, with the most common Ib1 in 93% and 86% of patients respectively in RAH and RLH group. Although squamous cell cancer was the most frequent, we found a high percentage of adenocarcinoma in RLH (25%) compared to RAH (7%), which can affect the long-term outcomes. We have shown a significantly less blood loss in the minimally invasive technique (p<0.001), a lower rate of postoperative complications (p=0.003) and slightly but statistically significant shorter hospital stay (p=0.04). RLH required longer operational time (p<0.001) and was associated with a smaller number of lymph nodes removed (p<0.001), with the same rate of intraoperative complication rate (p>0.05). There were no differences in recurrences in both groups (5.8% for RLH and 5% for RAH). Conclusion As in oncology of the 21st century, we are more and more interested in patients quality of life, we have to focus on the development of minimally invasive techniques. Radical laparoscopic hysterectomy still can be a safe and effective alternative to laparotomy in early-stage cervical cancer. Disclosure Nothing to disclose.


The European Parliament and the Council have recently adopted a legal framework which aims to foster research and promote the development of new therapies for the treatment of rare diseases. It has been well recognised that the US Orphan Drug Act has been a major breakthrough in promoting product development for patients suffering from rare disorders and now after 17 years of experience it is regarded as an essential tool to promote and preserve public health. Several sources indicate that almost 8000 different severe and incapacitating conditions may exist affecting as many as 25–30 million European citizens. Of these disorders about 4000 have a genetic origin affecting primarily neonates and children. The European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA) is responsible for putting in place a community procedure for the evaluation of the applications orphan medial product designation through the creation of a new scientific body, the Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP). This paper reviews the role and the objectives of the COMP and the EMEA in the development of medicinal products for rare disorders and the key elements for submitting an application for the designation which if successful leads to several incentives.


A flexible spacecraft modeled as a rigid body which rotates in an inertial frame is considered; a light flexible beam is clamped to the rigid body at one end and free at the other end. It is assumed that the flexible spacecraft performs only planar motions. Two control problems are posed, namely, the orientation and the stabilization of the system. It is shown that suitable boundary controls applied to the free end of the beam and suitable control torques applied to the rigid body solve the problems.<<ETX>>


Many science educators, in the US and elsewhere, suppport the idea that all students should have fair and equal opportunities to become scientifically literate through authentic, real problem-based science education. However, this challenge requires teachers to find ways to help all students feel comfortable with, and connected to, science. Despite the general consensus around the ideal of science for all, science teacher education programmes have had little or no impact on preservice teachers' philosophies of teaching and learning, especially as it relates to serving underserved populations in science. In this paper, I explore community service-learning as one way of addressing the multicultural dimension of preservice education with the following three questions: In what ways does involving pre-service science teachers in community service-learning influence their views on multicultural science education, in theory and practice? What qualities of community service-learning make multicultural science education a realistic objective? How might service-learning be used to push our collective understanding of what an inclusive and liberatory multicultural science teaching practice could be? I explore these questions and propose further areas of research by using a case study involving service-learning from my own teaching-research with preservice students.